GM HEARTLAND |
Next time your uncle asks you to explain the blockchain again, just give the old Jeff Bridges response: It’s biodigital jazz, man. |
—El Prof, Muhammed & Chad |
TOKEN | PRICE CHANGE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
Solana ($SOL) | -9.45% | $135.77 |
Helium ($HNT) | +4.65% | $6.88 |
Pyth ($PYTH) | -15.30% | $0.27 |
Save ($SLND) | -15.75% | $0.72 |
(Price changes reflect past 7 days as of 8.30.24)
Casual crypto market observers may have heard a lot about TRON recently —and may be wondering, didn’t the ‘80s already have their comeback, like five years ago?
For those not in the know, the TRON in question is actually a blockchain operating system that’s been blowing up lately, and for good reason. TRON’s meteoric rise in recent years has positioned it as a key player in the burgeoning web3 ecosystem. With its high-performance network, innovative decentralized applications (dApps), and strategic partnerships, TRON is paving the way for — wait for it — mass adoption of blockchain technology. 😩
TRON is basically the iOS of the crypto space. One of its most significant strengths lies in its developer-friendly environment. The platform’s intuitive tools and robust infrastructure make it easy for developers to create a wide range of dApps, from decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to gaming platforms to social media networks. For instance, the JustSwap decentralized exchange, built on TRON, has become a popular destination for trading various cryptocurrencies.
TRON’s commitment to user experience is equally impressive. The platform’s seamless integration with various devices and wallets ensures a smooth and secure interaction with dApps. This accessibility is crucial for attracting a wider audience to the world of web3.
Businesses are also recognizing the benefits of TRON’s technology. The platform’s efficient transaction processing and lower fees than other blockchains make it an attractive option for merchants. By leveraging TRON, businesses can expand their customer base and streamline operations.
To break it down further, here are some of the main factors behind the recent surge in adoption:
Strategic alliances with various companies and organizations like BitTorrent and Poloniex to expand TRON’s reach and attract new users.
Focus on decentralized entertainment, including gaming and content creation, which has resonated with a wide audience.
Implementing upgrades and optimizations to improve its network’s scalability, making it more capable of handling increased transaction volumes and supporting a growing ecosystem.
An active and engaged community contributing to development and fostering a positive and supportive environment.
Favorable regulatory frameworks in some jurisdictions that support blockchain innovation and adoption, encouraging businesses and investors to explore the platform.
These have provided TRON with some unique use cases, including:
Lending, borrowing, and trading services on platforms like JustSwap and SunSwap.
Numerous gaming projects, offering players unique experiences and opportunities to earn rewards within the blockchain ecosystem.
Improving supply chain transparency and efficiency, ensuring traceability and reducing the risk of counterfeiting.
As for its advantages compared to other blockchain platforms, TRON offers:
High Transaction Speed: TRON’s network can process a large number of transactions per second, making it suitable for applications that require fast and efficient execution.
Low Transaction Fees: TRON’s fees are generally lower than those of other blockchains, making it more cost-effective for users and businesses.
Developer-Friendly Ecosystem: TRON provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources for developers, making it easier to build and deploy dApps on the platform.
Looking ahead, TRON’s roadmap includes plans to further enhance its scalability, expand its ecosystem, and address emerging challenges. The team is committed to fostering innovation and supporting the development of new DApps.
In other words, TRON is the relatively rare blockchain project that’s blowing up for it’s usefulness, not just its community management team. Those are exactly the kind of properties we’re predisposed to trumpet — and the kind that have a shot at catching on with the masses.
TRON’s native cryptocurrency $TRX can be traded on KuCoin, Poloniex, and more.
—Muhammed
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Pavel Durov, the CEO of encrypted messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France earlier this week. The allegations: allowing drug and human trafficking markets to proliferate on the platform, while claiming an inability to intervene.
Now I’m not here litigate the charges. (Or the crypto influencer girlfriend who unwittingly honeypotted him into his detainment.) (Or his claims of absurd biohacking success that are as evident as, well, a bad toupée.) There’s no doubt Telegram has become, in many ways, the seedy underbelly of web2 social media platforms. Given its encrypted, free speech trappings, Telegram has come to host chatrooms from the likes of conspiracy theorists, militia groups, and neo-Nazis. Also, crypto degens.
Now, Telegram is probably about as encrypted as WhatsApp — although the Big Brother on the other end of the line is likely Russian oligarchs and other authoritarian regimes, rather than Western intelligence, or Zucc and friends. Ergo, very much a web2 platform. But it has carved a significant place in the world of web3, too. It’s lack of moderation and regulation appeals to both crypto scammers and legitimate builders alike, many of whom have been conflated and as a result boxed out of more mainstream platforms.
Look no further for an example than yours truly. Our playhaus account was banned from X for alleged “meme coin shilling” — when in reality, you’d have to look hard to find a web3 business more focused on utility than we are. You know the space needs a more permanent gathering place when even Elon Musk is willing to play the moderation card.
Now, given Durov’s delicate situation, many of Telegram’s patrons are up in arms that Telegram will go the way of the telegraph. And to this free speech maxi, it’s sad to see another purportedly uncensored platform on thin ice, while open source software continues to prove capable of implicating its creators in crimes. (Pour one out for the Tornado Cash boys while we’re at it.)
But at the same time, it’s safe to say Telegram talked the talk more than it walked the walk. So maybe it’s for the best. Maybe it’s most valuable contribution to the space is what it might leave behind: proof that there is high demand for a crypto-friendly commons, and a vacuum for a better one to fill it.
On an ideal platform, Durov’s alleged crimes wouldn’t be allegations. The proof would be on chain. That’s what is so promising about these decentralized information protocols that are proliferating across the web3 industry. They present the opportunity to create truly private digital messaging systems, free from spyware.
Wouldn’t that mean these blackmarkets could continue using these technologies without recourse? In some instances, yes, but they are also often the same ones upholding their marketplaces with blackmail in the first place, and web3 technologies can help us address that. By enabling radical levels of transparency, they make it much easier to hold bad actors accountable.
Sure, the software might not be there yet. Then again, that’s probably what the inventors of the telegraph said, while good old Alex Graham Bell was hard at work building the phone.
—El Prof
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