MOODENG surged significantly following a donation from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus, and contributed a substantial amount to support wildlife conservation. 

The S&P 500 dropped 0.04%, halting a potential "Santa Claus rally." It has risen 26% in 2024, with attention now turning to the Fed's 2025 policy and geopolitical risks. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 3.15%, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 3.65% and 3.81%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is ME, which surged 13.9% following the launching of 'Mooz' by Cool Cows on the Magic Eden Launchpad.

Magic Eden (ME), launched in September 2021, is the largest NFT marketplace on the Solana blockchain, allowing users to buy, sell, mint, and manage tokens. Cool Cows announced the launch of "

" on Magic Eden Launchpad on December 27th. They encourage joining their Discord for a chance at WL or OG spots before launch day.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

MOODENG surged significantly following a 

 from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus, and contributed a substantial amount to support wildlife conservation. Despite the explosive price increase, analysts warn that the gains may be temporary due to broader market volatility and overbought conditions. Trading volumes spiked, but technical indicators suggest potential corrections. Overall, market sentiment remains cautious, with predictions of possible price dips before stabilization.

Yesterday, the total flow for BTC Spot ETFs was 418.7 million, with 442.9 million in non-GBTC and a -24.2 million flow in GBTC.

 is scheduled for January, with draft criteria revealed during an AMA. Participants can earn JUP tokens based on their swapping volume, starting at $800 for 50 JUP. Higher volumes can earn up to 20,000 JUP. Additional allocations are available for users of Jupiter's Perps, DCA, Limit Orders, or VA features, as well as JUP stakers and governance participants. These criteria are draft and may change.

Beginner

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MOODENG Soars After Vitalik Buterin's Wildlife Donation

Ripple USD (RLUSD) is a stablecoin designed to provide efficient, low-cost solutions for cross-border payments and DeFi, backed by U.S. dollar reserves.

 are the key to solving major financial challenges such as cross-border payments, and may soon replace many traditional fiat uses. 

 (RLUSD) aims to play a central role in this shift, offering stability and efficiency for global transactions and 

 (DeFi). This article will dive into what Ripple USD is, how it works, its main features, use cases and its potential impact on the broader stablecoin market.

Ripple USD is a stablecoin from Ripple Network, designed to maintain a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar for stability. This stability is achieved through a collateralization mechanism supported by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term government treasuries, and other cash-equivalent assets, offering a secure and reliable digital currency.

Ripple USD is designed to provide a reliable digital currency for everyday use and to solve several challenges in the crypto and financial worlds:

Ripple introduced RLUSD in June 2024 primarily to streamline cross-border transactions for institutional players. The stablecoin has been in beta testing since August on XRP Ledger and the Ethereum blockchain, and achieved a significant milestone in December 2024 when it received approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This regulatory nod highlights RLUSD's commitment to meeting stringent standards, strengthening its credibility and earning trust from users and investors alike.

With the NYDFS approval in place, RLUSD is set to launch on both the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum’s blockchain. Ripple will follow up with listings on exchanges including Uphold, Bitstamp, Bitso, MoonPay, Independent Reserve, CoinMENA and Bullish, with plans to expand its presence across other platforms and DeFi protocols in the future. Given Ripple's strong reputation for collaborating with financial institutions, RLUSD is poised to give established stablecoins like 

The Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin is built for efficient and reliable cross-border transactions. Each RLUSD is fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, ensuring it maintains a 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar. This backing provides the stability users need for secure and predictable transactions.

RLUSD will run on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains as an 

 token to maximize compatibility with a wide range of wallets and DeFi applications. Transactions are processed via Ripple’s decentralized network, which uses a unique 

 to achieve near-instant settlement times — typically within three to six seconds. Unlike traditional blockchain systems, this process doesn’t rely on energy-intensive mining, making it faster and more eco-friendly.

 integration adds another layer of functionality, enabling RLUSD to power automated financial operations. This opens the door to innovative DeFi products and services, from lending and borrowing to yield farming. Currently in beta testing with enterprise partners, RLUSD is undergoing rigorous testing to meet high standards of security and efficiency before its official launch.

Ripple emphasizes transparency, with third-party audits of RLUSD’s reserve assets and regular progress updates. This commitment positions RLUSD as a trustworthy and versatile player in the growing stablecoin market.

Ripple USD (RLUSD) offers strong liquidity for key trading pairs on select 

 (CEXs). This feature ensures that users can buy and sell RLUSD with ease without causing major price fluctuations, resulting in a smooth and efficient trading experience.

RLUSD is issued on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchain, giving it broad compatibility across multiple ecosystems. This dual issuance ensures that RLUSD can easily be integrated into various platforms and applications, increasing its accessibility and usability across different networks.

With RLUSD, transactions can be settled almost instantly and at minimal cost, no matter where you are in the world. It reduces fees and speeds up cross-border payments and makes the process faster and more cost-effective by cutting out traditional banking intermediaries.

Integrating RLUSD into smart contracts enables automated financial operations, which are more efficient and accessible. This enhanced accessibility empowers users to easily buy, on-ramp, trade and engage in other activities within the DeFi ecosystem. RLUSD thus simplifies financial transaction management to create a more user-friendly DeFi experience.

, a trusted platform for securely managing digital assets, is already widely used by financial institutions and innovators. It combines institutional-grade security with 24/7 real-time execution, ensuring assets are safe while also easily accessible for fast transactions. Ripple Custody’s advanced governance framework streamlines operations, integrates seamlessly into existing technology systems and offers valuable additional services.

Designed for efficiency, Ripple Custody automates manual tasks and simplifies back-office operations, making asset management smoother and faster. The platform also supports flexible deployment options — Software as a service (SaaS), customer-hosted or hybrid models — so organizations can customize it to their needs. Whether for tokenization, stablecoin issuance or overall asset management, Ripple Custody is a key tool for building a strong digital asset strategy.

Ripple Custody plays an essential role in managing the security and integrity of Ripple USD (RLUSD). It ensures the underlying assets — such as U.S. dollar deposits, short-term Treasury bonds and other cash equivalents — are securely held and transparently managed, providing the stability needed for RLUSD to function effectively.

Ripple USD is designed to streamline various financial applications within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Following are some of the key use cases for RLUSD.

Ripple USD has received final approval from NYDFS and is expected to launch soon. Initially planned for a Dec 4, 2024 release, the launch was delayed due to regulatory processes, but is now anticipated to occur before the end of 2024, as 

Ripple USD is a stablecoin designed to offer a reliable, low-cost solution for cross-border payments and DeFi. Backed by U.S. dollar reserves, it ensures stability while offering quick transactions and broad blockchain compatibility. With regulatory approval and strong institutional backing, RLUSD is positioned to challenge established stablecoins. However, its success will depend upon widespread adoption and effective integration into Ripple's ecosystem, making it a promising yet competitive investment.

Intermediate

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Ripple USD (RLUSD): A Stablecoin Built for Payments

In this tutorial, we’ll explore how you can complete a series of tasks in Suilend for Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade.

Task: Complete Suilend Bybit Wallet Check-In for Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade

button in the top right corner of the page, and connect your 

: Stake at least 10 SUI to deposit sSUI in Suilend, click on 

 to confirm the transaction request in your Bybit Wallet.

: Once the deposit is completed, you’ll receive a confirmation message. 

10 SUI is now staked as sSUI via Suilend. Please navigate back to the Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade campaign page to check your completion status and earn your reward.

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How to Complete Suilend Tasks for Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade

Smart contract platforms serve as decentralized frameworks that enable self-executing contracts, with terms directly embedded in code

Smart contract platforms serve as decentralized frameworks that enable self-executing contracts, with terms directly embedded in code. This functionality is crucial for the operation of numerous on-chain applications, including 

, facilitating transactions without intermediaries. The landscape is divided into Layer 1 (L1) and Layer 2 (L2) networks.

L1 blockchains, such as Ethereum and Solana, provide the foundational infrastructure for 

 (DApps), while L2 networks like Arbitrum and Optimism enhance the capabilities of L1s by improving scalability and efficiency. 

Heading into 2025, Ethereum remains the dominant L1, holding a 70% share of total TVL within DeFi. However, the market is evolving, with new entrants like 

The competitive L2 space is also transforming, with 

 leading the pack, boasting a market cap exceeding $5 billion. Newcomers such as 

 are reshaping the landscape, demonstrating a trend toward diversification and innovation in blockchain technology.

Several emerging platforms are redefining the smart contract landscape through unique technological innovations and community engagement. 

, derived from Meta's Diem project, utilizes the Move programming language to enhance security and scalability. With over 200 projects in its ecosystem, Aptos has seen a 13.5x increase in TVL, reflecting strong growth.

Sui, which shares a similar heritage, focuses on scalability through its object-centric model and unique consensus mechanism that allow for individual transaction confirmation. This innovative approach has led to a remarkable 14.9x increase in TVL, signaling Sui’s potential as a formidable player in the market.

 introduces a modular blockchain architecture that bridges Move and 

 (EVM) ecosystems, aiming to enhance DeFi 

 and NFTs. Launched in late 2024, Movement emphasizes community building through hackathons and developer engagement, while its unique features appeal to a diverse user base.

 technologies with Telegram's vast user base, and 

, an L1 solution designed for high throughput and low latency. Finally, Berachain introduces a Proof-of-Liquidity consensus mechanism that focuses on aligning liquidity and security within its DeFi-centric ecosystem.

As the landscape of smart contract platforms continues to evolve, several challenges must be addressed. Security vulnerabilities remain a significant concern, as smart contracts are prone to bugs that can be exploited. Continuous auditing and robust security practices are essential to mitigating these risks.

Market saturation poses another challenge, as the influx of new platforms intensifies competition for developers and users. To stand out, new entrants are forming strategic partnerships and focusing on niche markets to differentiate themselves from established players. 

Centralization is also a critical issue, and governance structures and validator reliance must be scrutinized in order to ensure long-term viability.

Looking ahead, the outlook for smart contract platforms remains promising. Innovations in modular architectures and interoperability are improving user experience within web3, while increasing institutional interest could bring additional resources and innovation to the space. As the ecosystem continues to mature, these platforms are likely to play a pivotal role in redefining interactions with digital assets, driving demand within DeFi and beyond.

Advanced

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Smart Contract Platforms Report: Up-and-Coming Challengers to Ethereum and Solana

Bybit Learn

Even if you don't have any artistic talent, these best AI-powered NFT creator apps and art generators can help you get inspired and started in the world of NFTs.

 (NFTs) growing by leaps and bounds, more and more apps to create NFT art are hitting the market, allowing anyone to create unique works of art and potentially profit from their sale. Best of all, with AI-generated NFTs, no paintbrush is needed.

AI-generated NFTs are software designed to generate NFTs quickly using base art for text or sample images. Sometimes, they’re called AI art generators, due to the AI-based software.

Since coming out in 2014, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have gained plenty of traction, creating a $24 billion marketplace. Not long after, in 2018, AI-generated NFTs began appearing. Today, art created entirely by artificial intelligence is being touted as the “next big thing.”

A collection of AI-generated NFTs created by Botto, a robot artist, recently sold for over $1 million, and some generative art NFTs almost perfectly resemble Monet, van Gogh and other artists of note. In the end, however, AI-generated NFTs are completely unique pieces that transcend the limits of creativity beyond the human touch.

Artificial intelligence is widely understood as the ability of a non-human machine to perform sophisticated tasks and human-like cognitive functions, such as learning, reasoning, perceiving and problem-solving.

When it comes to creating art, the concept of AI is based on the notion that machine learning algorithms can produce original, unique images when trained to parse through massive amounts of image data using GANs, which is short for general adversarial networks. Similar to a painter who has spent years perfecting their craft, AI can learn from intense training to generate original images never before produced.

With one of today’s best NFT generators, you simply need to enter keywords or phrases to create an AI NFT. Using algorithms, an AI art generator analyzes endless pieces of art and creates its own images as unique visual interpretations of the original texts.

This allows AI NFT app users to produce new abstract pieces of art that are based on chosen texts or images. The AI-generated work can then be minted directly to OpenSea, knowing there will never be another NFT like it.

How to Choose the Best AI-Powered NFT Creator Apps and Art Generators

As you can imagine, there are several things to consider when choosing the best NFT creator app. Although deciding on the best NFT generator will largely depend on the type of AI NFT you want to create, here are some important factors worth keeping in mind.

User-friendliness is key when trying to create NFT art, especially for those new to the process. The best apps to create NFT art feature intuitive, beginner-friendly platforms anyone can use to create original works of art.

The best NFT creator apps also provide solid editing capabilities. While some AI art generators only allow for basic color grading, others offer users full control in terms of image manipulation.

When deciding on the best NFT generator for your needs, check to see if the software comes with tools and templates to make the job easier. Unlimited tools often lead to unlimited creativity, and more is sometimes better than less.

Lastly, check to see if the software applies its watermark when you export it. Some AI art generator apps automatically splash their watermark over their users’ art. The best NFT generators don’t use such programmed watermarks, ensuring your work won’t feature someone else’s branding.

There are many options worth considering when researching the best NFT creator apps. What’s important is to understand your needs and account for the factors above while selecting the best NFT generator software for you.

Best AI-Powered NFT Creator Apps and Art Generators

Also, unlike standard online AI NFT generators, Starry gives its users full ownership of the images they create, for both personal and commercial uses. While the AI used by StarryAI isn’t as advanced as Hotpot.ai and some other software on this list of best NFT creator apps, it’s improving daily, and is still better than many other AI art generators.

That said, if your idea of the best NFT generator is one that doesn’t charge you for its service, you may want to look elsewhere, because StarryAI charges a recurring fee for its service. However, if you’re unhappy with StarryAI and don’t think it’s the best NFT creator app ever, you can cancel the service and claim a refund.

• Constantly learning and improving from scanning images folder

Since NightCafe is widely considered the best NFT creator app for bulk art, the simplicity in its design and digital creation process shouldn’t be surprising. Just upload an image, choose from the various art styles available within the software, and let the AI art generator take care of the rest.

Not only will it create awe-inspiring, high-resolution artworks up to 2.2 megapixels, but the bulk-creation mode lets you create hundreds of images simultaneously. With so much to offer, it’s easy to see why NightCafe is one of the most popular apps for creating NFT art on the market today.

• Must buy or earn credits at $0.08/credit and $0.20/credit to continue creating

Similar to NightCafe and a few of the other top NFT generators on this list, using the Fotor AI NFT generator simply requires you to upload an image and select the style of art you want to convert the image to.

That’s really all there is to it. Creating layers, brushing up and adding personal touches can also be performed with nothing more than the click of a button. Furthermore, unlike many of the other apps for creating NFT art, Fotor doesn’t require its users to register an account in order to use the software and download the created artwork.

• Wide variety of art styles and editing options to choose from

In a nutshell, it’s an “AI-powered Amazon and Instagram” for celebrity and art NFTs. However, the AI NFT platform also connects buyers and sellers of physical art, and offers global shipping for physical works in an effort to help artists and patrons transition to the digital art world.

As another of today’s best NFT creator apps, PONS.ai is also the first AI art generator to utilize “Scan & Buy” AI vision technology for art. The people behind this AI NFT app want to empower artists to achieve financially sustainable careers, and it shows — both in the technology used, and the approach they take.

• AI-powered NFT generator and social marketplace

• “Scan & Buy” AI vision technology

• Somewhat more focused on selling than creating

Even if you completely lack the creative gene, Hotpot.ai makes it possible to take part in the NFT movement. As one of the best NFT creator apps, it generates unbelievable art combinations for you.

Best of all, unlike several other apps to create NFT art, Hotpot is simple, fast and scalable. Its users can create NFTs one at a time, or mass-produce them to create NFT collections — and take the market by storm with minimal time and effort, thanks to AI and automation.

• Affordable plans starting from $10/month

• Plans can get pricey, depending on your needs

This AI art generator is unique, and is one of the best NFT creator apps. It targets not just one or two, but a variety of art and painting styles, such as da Vinci, van Gogh and Munch, to name just a few.

In addition to Deep Dream, Deep Style and Thin Style functions, you can also choose from other settings such as enhancement, color preservation, iterations boost, and more. You can even adjust the image resolution and depth.

• Dozens of painting and art styles to choose from

The Dream AI NFT creator app by Canadian startup WOMBO became a viral hit toward the end of 2021, and has continued to evolve into what many consider one of the best all-around NFT creator apps.

Far from being a glorified filter app, Dream does much more than transform existing photos into cartoonish caricatures or faux paintings. Instead, Dream’s AI art generator uses a complex algorithm involving exposure to an immense number of diverse images to transform words or phrases into unique, completely original artwork.

15 Best AI-Powered NFT Creator Apps and NFT Art Generators

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards