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

1.png

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

rlusd, ripple stablecoin.png

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.

suilend tutorial.png

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

DEC24_R50_Layer 1 banner.png

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

Bybit Learn

Strategies

Excited about the Vasil upgrade? Find out more about Cardano's Vasil hard fork and how you can profit from it with out ADA trading strategies.

ADAUSD_2022-09-16_00-05-59.png

Sign_Up_Welcome_Bonus.png

759_Cardano_Vasil_Hard_Fork-_3_Trading_Strategies_To_Consider_(1).jpg

As Cardano pushes toward their latest major upgrade, the Vasil hard fork aims to improve the network by making it faster, more functional and secure. 

According to the team, the Vasil hard fork, previously said to come in June, is set to go live on September 22 or about a week after The Merge takes place. Read on as we detail what is in store for Cardano and the possible courses of action you can consider to take advantage of the upcoming volatility.

The Cardano Vasil Hard Fork is an upgrade in which the Cardano network will become more robust and scalable as it fixes security loopholes, boost connectivity, and improve the overall functionality of the network.

In 2021, Cardano introduced smart contract compatibility after their previous upgrade known as the Alonzo hard fork. This feature has greatly helped the Cardano ecosystem as many new decentralized applications (DApps) are now building their platforms on the Cardano blockchain.

How will the Vasil Hard Fork improve Cardano?

Prior to the upgrade, there were several Cardano Improvement Proposals (CIPs) posted on the forum on how to improve the overall state of the Cardano blockchain. The Vasil hard fork will roll out many of these CIPs and work on fixing any bugs or security loopholes. There were three critical improvement proposals made in line with one another: CIP 31, CIP 32, and CIP 33.

CIP 31 introduces a new reference input to facilitate access to information stored on the Cardano blockchain and allows anyone to look up outputs without processing them. This means that DApps can now access transactional output without having to recreate it as before.

CIP 32 is simple and aims to bring an on-chain data storage feature for the community and developers. This is expected to improve the decentralization of Cardano's structure.

CIP 33 will allow for lighter transactions, quicker processing and lower fees. It points the Cardano Virtual Machine to a reference script instead of having to include the whole script with the transaction. Since apps built on the blockchain are written in a programming language known as Haskell, it has to be converted into a different language for smart contract compatibility. This results in slower performance and increased cost when making transactions due to the additional transfer of app logic along with the transaction. 

Other small improvements include CIP 40 and diffusion pipelining. CIP 40 will introduce a new type of output transaction and diffusion pipelining is said to improve block transmission without full validation. All of these changes put simply, will increase the throughput of Cardano and improve the development of smart contracts and DApps.

The Vasil hard fork has been getting a lot of attention from the Cardano community. While the upgrade is largely overshadowed by The Merge, we‘ll explore three potential outcomes of the Vasil hard fork and what you can do with each strategy. For reference, we’ll be using ADA's price as of 15th September 2022, which is at $0.47.

Before diving into specifics, here’s a table that summarizes each trading strategy:

According to Cardano's founder Hoskinson, the Vasil hard fork will be the most complicated upgrade in Cardano's history. The current upgrade will include changes to their smart contract language and new primitives to further optimize the blockchain.

The crypto community is very optimistic about the upgrade and expects the price of Cardano to move upward from now until the end of September. It is clear that hard forks have been a catalyst in pushing the price of ADA up previously. Of the last two upgrades, ADA prices have soared by more than 10 times, and the latest Alonzo hard fork in 2021 saw the price of Cardano soar more than 3 times in less than 3 months. 

Additionally, the blockchain is set to become a developer's paradise which could eventually lead to more usage of the blockchain should useful DApps start to appear on Cardano. This is a positive sign for investors and some might look to pick up some ADA if the hard fork commences as scheduled on September 22.

Optimal Strategy: Stop Market Leveraged Long Order

If you’re bullish about the Vasil hard fork following its previous trends and believe that the price of ADA will once again soar upon a successful upgrade, an optimal strategy would buy a leveraged perpetual token ADA2L on Bybit. To open a stop market long order, you have to change your order type from 

 then set your entry above the resistance levels for ADA and choose the amount you would like to enter into the trade.

This strategy is designed to help short term investors take advantage of leveraged positions to increase their profit when an asset goes up in value. Leveraged tokens have rebalancing mechanisms and could be seen as buying into perpetual contracts without the risk of liquidation.

First, check the ADA chart for an area with strong resistance. You can use an indicator like the 20 Weekly Moving Average which shows a strong resistance for ADA between $0.51 and $0.58.

To open the trade, ensure that you have funds in your Bybit Spot Trading wallet. Next, buy the ADA2L leveraged token above the resistance area at a price of your choice, using the stop market order. This would tell the exchange to execute your order if ADA goes above your price target.

 Difference between Entry - Exit before rebalancing

Sometimes there might be unforeseen problems before the upgrade which could cause sentiments to turn negative. We have seen this with the Vasil hard fork previously as it was originally pushed from June to July and now to September. 

While some think the Ethereum merge could be beneficial for the price of Cardano, many believe a successful merge could see ETH taking market share away from ADA, this could cause a bearish short term outlook for Cardano regardless of the completion of the upcoming Vasil hard fork.

Another bearish factor could be the lack of developer interest after the upgrade, which could be due to the complexity of their programming language. As one of the slower growing Layer 1 ecosystems, Cardano has seen competitors like Solana and Near grow over 4 times in developer size despite having a much smaller market cap than Cardano.

Optimal Strategy: Stop Market Leveraged Short Order

If you’re bearish about the Vasil hard fork and believe the hype around it will fizzle out after the upgrade, you can set a stop market short order on Bybit. A leveraged short order is the opposite of our previous example, which means that you will be entering a short position of ADAUSDT perpetual contracts with leverage.

It’s designed to help short term investors take advantage of leveraged positions to increase their profit when an asset goes down in value. Entering a short position with leveraged can be safer than purchasing the underlying contract as there is no margin or liquidation price to worry about.

First, check the ADA chart for an area with strong support. Similarly, you can use an indicator like the Fibonacci Retracement which shows strong support for ADA at around $0.43.

To open the trade, ensure that you have funds in your Bybit Spot Trading wallet. Next, buy the ADA2S leveraged token below the support area at a price of your choice, using the stop market order. This would tell the exchange to execute your order if ADA goes below your price target.

While this seems unlikely to happen due to historical data, we should not leave out the possibility of a non-event. This happens when the market decides on the value of a coin before its event and moves before anything occurs. In this situation, the price would trade sideways which means ADA would neither pump nor dump.

Since you can stake ADA on Cardano without sending your coins out (unlike Ethereum), long term holders might continue to stake their ADA while earning yield. This combined with a low buying pressure could cause the price of ADA to stay neutral. This could be possible as Cardano has been known to roll out developments at a slower pace and the community could just see the Vasil hard fork as another upgrade among many others in the future.

This is a popular neutral strategy that involves buying spot assets, staking them and shorting the same amount of assets. This would allow you to earn from the staking yield instead and ignore any price movements. 

. If you still have USD, you can short the same USD amount on 

 to hedge your position, and proceed to stake your ADA. If you don't have anymore USD, you can use half the ADA you bought and short it on 

 to hedge your position, and stake the remaining half to earn staking rewards. Both methods will ensure you are delta neutral, but do take note of funding rates and liquidation prices. 

You can also hedge using leveraged tokens but ensure you use half the amount as they are innately leveraged, however, because they get rebalanced daily, it is not recommended for long term holds. 

As Cardano runs on a PoS blockchain, you can earn yield on your ADA by staking them with 

. Similar to our other staking products, you won't be able to trade, send or sell the amount you’ve staked, but you may withdraw your ADA balance at any time unless you’ve chosen fixed term staking.

Here’s how you can start earning yield on your ADA with Bybit:

Your first rewards payout should appear two days after each deposit. Your reward payout depends on the amount of ADA staked, and should appear daily after your yield has been calculated.

Like all major upgrades, the hype around Cardano will rise as the date draws near. If you decide to pick up some ADA, it’s worth looking through the above strategies and how you can use them in the event of a bullish or bearish market reaction. Should this upgrade be successful with no delays, Cardano could become a serious competitor to Ethereum and steal some market share even after The Merge.

Cardano has been maintaining its position well in the top 10 cryptocurrency spots. However, similar to post-merge Ethereum, Cardano still has a long way to go as the Layer 1 is known for pushing out developments at its own pace. The Vasil hard fork is a step in the right direction, but if Cardano wants to hold its spot among the top cryptocurrencies, it will need to get more users onboard to its ecosystem.

Whether you’re a long-term investor or short-term speculator, you can invest in ADA and other kinds of cryptocurrencies by 

 to begin your crypto investing journey today.

For an abridged version of our recommended trading strategies, check out our handy infographic below.

Cardano Vasil Hard Fork: 3 Trading Strategies To Consider

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards