With its testnet live since early September, @0xSonicLabs boasts a diverse ecosystem of projects and campaigns, and as its mainnet launch looms closer, these are definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Introduction On August 1 this year, Fantom officially rebranded to Sonic Labs, the main body behind the new and upcoming L1, Sonic. Sonic's launch at the end of the year will also mark the 1:1 transition from $FTM to $S as its new native token.
Some of Sonic's new features include:
A native, trustless, decentralised bridge between Eth and Sonic with a fail-safe mechanism
Sub-second time-to-finality and 10k TPS (Opera - 2k TPS)
Up to 90% gas rebates returned to protocols
A native stablecoin
While the utility of $S will remain largely similar to that of $FTM, the migration will include several changes to its tokenomics:
Airdrop: 190.5m (6%) $S will be distributed to users
Funding: 47.6m (1.5%) $S will be used for network growth
Ecosystem:
While most projects launching on Sonic are already live on Fantom, there is no shortage of new developments.
@Coven_fi enables users to create custom index tokens to maximise yield, even providing a DCA tool for those who opt for a gradual approach to investing.
@FateAdventure is a fully on-chain 2D RPG that aims to provide rich PvE and PvP content while abstracting elements of the blockchain.
@ThunderDomeSo is a SocialFi platform that introduces purchasable hashtags and combines social shares with revenue sharing.
Funding:
New developments are also likely to surface with Sonic Labs' bounty program - Sonic Boom (https://soniclabs.com/boom) Offering up to 71.5m $S tokens, it awards diverse and innovation applications across a multitude of categories.
These protocols may even choose to pass these on to their users. November 4 will be the date to watch. Sonic Labs also has an Innovator Fund that provides grants to both incumbent Fantom Opera projects and leading applications native to Sonic.
Campaigns:
To participate in its ongoing testnet,users can also look to take part in Sonic's ongoing campaigns. Sonic Arcade features P2E games where users can play and earn $S airdrop points.
The Road to Sonic is a Galxe campaign launched to encourage users to explore various applications within the Sonic ecosystem - https://app.galxe.com/quest/SonicLabs For completing weekly tasks across, users are rewarded with a total of 6 Shards, which can be combined for an exclusive NFT.
DWF Ventures Investments:
Overall, we at DWF Ventures are extremely excited for Sonic's launch and the various projects that will surface along with it. If you are building within the Sonic ecosystem, feel free to reach out to us -
As we anticipate the resurgence of Fantom's DeFi Summer, the excitement surrounding @0xSonicLabs and its expanding ecosystem is palpable. With a variety of innovative projects and campaigns already underway on their testnet, the stage is set for significant developments as the mainnet launch approaches. This is an opportune moment for both investors and enthusiasts to engage with the promising initiatives emerging within this dynamic landscape. Stay tuned, as the next chapter of Fantom’s DeFi journey is about to unfold, and it promises to bring a wave of opportunities for all involved.
Bitcoin reached a new peak of $118,254 on July 11, 2025, driven by institutional demand, favorable macro conditions, and supportive crypto regulations. With a 100%+ year-over-year surge, what's next for BTC?
🔮 Bitcoin Outlook
📆 Short Term (6–12 Months)
Expect volatility post-ATH
Spot BTC ETFs attract significant capital
Potential range: $95K–$135K
🕰 Medium Term (1–3 Years)
2024 halving impact continues
More institutions may adopt BTC as reserve/collateral
Global regulatory clarity boosts confidence
Potential range: $120K–$200K+
🌐 Long Term (5–10+ Years)
BTC may solidify as digital gold
Used in cross-border settlements and emerging markets
👉 Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
Custom AI assistants that print money in your sleep? 🔜
The future of Crypto x AI is about to go crazy.
👉 Here’s what you need to know:
💠 'Based Agent' enables creation of custom AI agents
💠 Users set up personalized agents in < 3 minutes
💠 Equipped w/ crypto wallet and on-chain functions
💠 Capable of completing trades, swaps, and staking
💠 Integrates with Coinbase’s SDK, OpenAI, & Replit
👉 What this means for the future of Crypto:
1. Open Access: Democratized access to advanced trading
2. Automated Txns: Complex trades + streamlined on-chain activity
3. AI Dominance: Est ~80% of crypto 👉txns done by AI agents by 2025
🚨 I personally wouldn't bet against Brian Armstrong and Jesse Pollak.
👉 Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
👉 Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
Ripple has officially filed an application to become a national trust bank, aiming to launch what would be called Ripple National Trust Bank.
This move is designed to bring Ripple’s crypto and stablecoin operations under direct federal regulation and marks a major step toward mainstream integration with the U.S. financial system.
🤔 What This Means:
🔹 If approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Ripple would be able to operate nationwide under federal oversight, expanding its crypto services and allowing it to settle payments faster and more efficiently—without relying on intermediary banks.
🔹 Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin would be regulated at both the state and federal level, setting a new benchmark for transparency and compliance in the stablecoin market.
🔹 Ripple has also applied for a Federal Reserve master account, which would let it hold reserves directly at the Fed and issue or redeem stablecoins outside normal banking hours, further strengthening ...
Musk Turns On Starlink to Save Iranians from Regime’s Internet Crackdown
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a visionary behind SpaceX, has flipped the switch on Starlink, delivering internet to Iranians amid a brutal regime crackdown.
This move comes on the heels of Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, as the Islamic Republic cuts off online access.
The former Department of Government Efficiency chief activated Starlink satellite internet service for Iranians on Saturday following the Islamic Republic's decision to impose nationwide internet restrictions.
As the Jerusalem Post reports, that the Islamic Republic’s Communications Ministry announced the move, stating, "In view of the special conditions of the country, temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet."
This action followed a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.
Starlink, a SpaceX-developed satellite constellation, provides high-speed internet to regions with limited connectivity, such as remote areas or conflict zones.
Elizabeth MacDonald, a Fox News contributor, highlighted its impact, noting, "Elon Musk turning on Starlink for Iran in 2022 was a game changer. Starlink connects directly to SpaceX satellites, bypassing Iran’s ground infrastructure. That means even during government-imposed shutdowns or censorship, users can still get online, and reportedly more than 100,000 inside Iran are doing that."
During the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, Starlink enabled Iranians to communicate and share footage globally despite network blackouts," she added.
MacDonald also mentioned ongoing tests of "direct-to-cell" capabilities, which could allow smartphone connections without a dish, potentially expanding access and supporting free expression and protest coordination.
Musk confirmed the activation, noting on Saturday, "The beams are on."
This follows the regime’s internet shutdowns, which were triggered by Israeli military actions.
Adding to the tension, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people on Friday, urging resistance against the regime.
"Israel's fight is not against the Iranian people. Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,” he said.
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch,called on military and security forces to abandon the regime, accusing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Persian-language social media post of forcing Iranians into an unwanted war.
Starlink has been a beacon in other crises. Beyond Iran, Musk has leveraged Starlink to assist people during natural disasters and conflicts.
In the wake of hurricanes and earthquakes, Starlink has provided critical internet access to affected communities, enabling emergency communications and coordination.
Similarly, during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Musk activated Starlink to support Ukrainian forcesand civilians, ensuring they could maintain contact and access vital information under dire circumstances.
The genius entrepreneur, is throwing a lifeline to the oppressed in Iran, and the libs can’t stand it.
Conservative talk show host Mark Levin praised Musk’s action, reposting a message stating that Starlink would "reconnect the Iranian people with the internet and put the final nail in the coffin of the Iranian regime."
"God bless you, Elon. The Starlink beams are on in Iran!" Levin wrote.
Musk, who recently stepped down from leading the DOGE in the Trump administration, has apologized to President Trump for past criticisms, including his stance on the One Big Beautiful Bill.
GENIUS Act lets State banks conduct some business nationwide. Regulators object
The Senate passed the GENIUS Act for stablecoins last week, but significant work remains before it becomes law. The House has a different bill, the STABLE Act, with notable differences that must be reconciled. State banking regulators have raised strong objections to a provision in the GENIUS Act that would allow state banks to operate nationwide without authorization from host states or a federal regulator.
The controversial clause permits a state bank with a regulated stablecoin subsidiary to provide money transmitter and custodial services in any other state. While host states can impose consumer protection laws, they cannot require the usual authorization and oversight typically needed for out-of-state banking operations.
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors welcomed some changes in the GENIUS Act but remains adamantly opposed to this particular provision. In a statement, CSBS said:
“Critical changes must be made during House consideration of the legislation to prevent unintended consequences and further mitigate financial stability risks. CSBS remains concerned with the dramatic and unsupported expansion of the authority of uninsured banks to conduct money transmission or custody activities nationwide without the approval or oversight of host state supervisors (Sec. 16(d)).”
The National Conference of State Legislatures expressed similar concerns in early June, stating:
“We urge you to oppose Section 16(d) and support state authority to regulate financial services in a manner that reflects local conditions, priorities and risk tolerances. Preserving the dual banking system and respecting state autonomy is essential to the safety, soundness and diversity of our nation’s financial sector.”
Evolution of nationwide authorization
Section 16 addresses several issues beyond stablecoins, including preventing a recurrence of the SEC’s SAB 121, which forced crypto assets held in custody onto balance sheets. However, the nationwide authorization subsection was added after the legislation cleared the Senate Banking Committee, with two significant modifications since then.
Originally, the provision applied only to special bank charters like Wyoming’s Special Purpose Depository Institutions or Connecticut’s Innovation Banks. Examples include crypto-focused Custodia Bank and crypto exchange Kraken in Wyoming, plus traditional finance player Fnality US in Connecticut. Recently the scope was expanded to cover most state chartered banks with stablecoin subsidiaries, possibly due to concerns about competitive advantages.
Simultaneously, the clause was substantially tightened. The initial version allowed state chartered banks to provide money transmission and custody services nationwide for any type of asset, which would include cryptocurrencies. Now these activities can only be conducted by the stablecoin subsidiary, and while Section 16(d) doesn’t explicitly limit services to stablecoins, the GENIUS Act currently restricts issuers to stablecoin related activities.
However, the House STABLE Act takes a more permissive approach, allowing regulators to decide which non-stablecoin activities are permitted. If the House version prevails in reconciliation, it could result in a significant expansion of allowed nationwide banking activities beyond stablecoins.
Is it that bad?
As originally drafted, the clause seemed overly permissive.
The amended clause makes sense for stablecoin issuers. They want to have a single regulator and be able to provide the stablecoin services throughout the United States. But it also leans into the perception outside of crypto that this is just another form of regulatory arbitrage.
The controversy over Section 16(d) reflects concerns about creating a regulatory gap that allows banks to operate interstate without the oversight typically required from either federal or state authorities. As the two Congressional chambers work toward reconciliation, lawmakers must decide whether stablecoin legislation should include provisions that effectively reduce traditional banking oversight requirements.
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