Market
EigenLayer Airdrop Scandal Causes $351 Million TVL Plunge
Eigen Layer, a leading restaking protocol on Ethereum (ETH), saw at least $351 million worth of capital ooze out in the last 24 hours.
The drop follows shocking revelations about the protocol’s airdrop policy, with EigenLayer coming to its own defense.
EigenLayer Airdrop Policy Controversy
Users on X (formerly Twitter) were abuzz on Thursday following reports that Eigen Labs extorts millions of dollars in airdrop tokens from projects looking to launch protocols on their platform, EigenLayer.
Renzo, AltLayer, and ether.fi are reportedly among the projects affected by an arrangement where portions of their new tokens are set aside as a “thank you” for Eigen Labs and Eigen Foundation employees. Allegedly, in exchange for smooth operations on the restaking protocol, Eigen Labs provides employee wallet addresses whenever a project announces an airdrop, requesting reward tokens.
These tokens are supposedly intended to secure successful exchange listings, with estimated “bribes” totaling nearly $5 million. Each employee is said to receive an average of $80,000 as part of this arrangement.
Read more: What Is Liquid Staking in Crypto?
Some say Eigen Labs’ actions are warranted, as they align the interests of both parties, but call for more transparency.
“Curve functions essentially on bribes. If you want to go down that semantic path. But IMO bribery is essentially implicit corruption. A payment to neglect codified duties. Protocols exchanging tokens or issuing them to actors to align their fates are different,” one user said.
However, others challenge the perspective, calling out project leaders for unethical fraud and greed.
“This is why crypto market participants are more interested in memecoins now more than ever over “utility” tokens. The unethical fraud conducted by, and greed in the leadership of some of these companies is undeniable,” another user stated.
As BeInCrypto reported, Ethereum Foundation’s Justin Drake came in as EigenLayer advisor in May amidst another bribe controversy. This inspired a new policy, including the “prohibition on team members accepting airdrop tokens or selling airdrop tokens” to “ensure trust, transparency, and avoid conflicts of interest.”
The Team Defends Extortion Claims
In its defense, EigenLayer published a blog denying “knowledge or evidence of any employee at Eigen Labs pressuring any team to unduly benefit the Eigen Labs corporate entity or its employees.” The protocol also articulated having mitigated any incentive misalignment for Eigen Labs employees in May. The protocol’s position is that Eigen Labs employees have not received airdrops since the May changes.
“We realized that airdrops to employees may create misaligned incentives and updated our internal policies in May so that if projects wanted to airdrop to Eigen Labs in the future, it could only go to the company,” EigenLayer explained.
Despite the explanation, the EigenLayer restaking protocol still suffered a loss of $351 million in total value locked (TVL). Data from DefiLlama shows a sharp decline from $12.653 billion to $12.302 billion between Thursday and Friday.
Read more: Ethereum Restaking: What Is It And How Does It Work?
A drop in TVL typically indicates users are withdrawing funds from the platform, which can lead to reduced liquidity, popularity, and usability — key factors for a project’s success. A higher TVL reflects more capital locked in DeFi protocols, offering participants greater benefits and returns. Conversely, a lower TVL signals limited funds and reduced yields.
Despite this decline, EigenLayer remains dominant in Ethereum restaking. In Q2 2024, restaking on EigenLayer surged by 36%, with 4.3 million ETH restaked. Liquid Restaking Protocols (LRTs) accounted for most of this, holding 2.28 million ETH.
The appeal of restaking isn’t limited to Ethereum. As BeInCrypto previously reported, Jito, a liquid staking protocol on Solana, also introduced its own restaking services.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Trump Media Files Trademark for Crypto Platform TruthFi
Trump Media & Technology Group is exploring the development of a crypto payment platform, as revealed by a recent trademark filing.
The application, submitted by Donald Trump’s social media company on Monday, outlines plans for a service named TruthFi. The proposed platform aims to offer crypto payments, financial custody, and digital asset trading.
Following the trademark announcement, Trump Media’s stock rose approximately 2%. At the time of writing, the stock was trading at $30.44, up by nearly 75% this year.
However, details about TruthFi remain scarce, including its timeline or operational specifics. This initiative suggests an effort by Trump Media to expand its business model beyond Truth Social.
The social media platform was established back in 2022, after Trump was banned from Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Nevertheless, launching a large-scale cryptocurrency platform could require Trump Media to acquire additional resources or partner with an established firm. This is because the firm currently has a small workforce of less than 40 employees.
“The filing, made with the USPTO on Monday, indicates that Trump Media plans to offer: Digital wallets, Cryptocurrency payment processing services, and A digital asset trading platform,” US Trademark Attorney Josh Gerben wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
As reported by BeInCrypto earlier, Trump Media is also in discussions to purchase the b2b crypto trading platform Bakkt. Shares in Bakkt surged by nearly 140% since the news earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the President-elect’s crypto plans seem to be in full swing even before he takes office in January. He is also reportedly considering the first-ever crypto advisor role for the White House, and interviewing several potential candidates.
Earlier today, the current SEC chair Gary Gensler announced his resignation before Trump’s term begins. Gensler’s resignation boosted the crypto market, as it signals a major change in the SEC’s regulatory stance.
Notably, XRP surged 7% to its highest value in three years. Bitcoin also neared $99,000, as the overall crypto market cap reached $3.4 trillion.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Banana Gun Rises After Justin Sun’s $6.2 Million Art Purchase
Justin Sun, founder of TRON and Poloniex CEO, has purchased the viral art piece Comedian—a banana duct-taped to a wall—for $6.2 million at Sotheby’s.
Following the purchase, Sun announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he plans to eat the artwork. This has ignited a frenzy of memes, commentary, and market reactions, even causing the crypto token Banana Gun to spike in value.
Crypto Reacts: Banana Gun on the Rise
Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian gained international fame in 2019 when it was first displayed at Art Basel Miami. Its simplicity and absurdity—a banana taped to a wall—sparked debates about the nature of art. The so-called artwork became viral when performance artist David Datuna ate it in a stunt dubbed Hungry Artist.
Sun’s pledge to eat the $6.2 million fruit has also drawn parallels, adding another layer of humor to the piece’s history. The Tron founder even said he’s willing to donate the banana to Elon Musk and send it to Mars.
Meanwhile, several users even recreated their own version of Comedian and shared it on social media. One fan followed up by taping bananas around the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus, encouraging others to “tape all over the world” and start a movement.
What they are campaigning for, precisely, remains to be seen.
“In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture. Stay tuned,” Sun said on X.
The ripple effects of Sun’s purchase eventually trickled beyond the confines of art and humor and into crypto markets. The token Banana Gun, which shares its name with the theme, surged nearly 16% following the news. Traders and enthusiasts, ever attuned to cultural moments, appear to have seized the chance to capitalize on the buzz.
Sun’s acquisition and the banana’s virality bring to mind another recent development in the art-crypto nexus. Earlier this week, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin allegedly minted 400 Patron NFTs. This development sparked hopes of a resurgence for the NFT market.
This aged well…. $BANANA is an insane project. For me, this is in the same league as $ZIG. Fundamentals are truly insane. No matter which narrative will cook next, $BANANA will profit from it,” said one trader on X.
The combination of Sun’s high-profile purchase and the market’s reaction to Banana Gun demonstrates how art, humor, and technology continue to blur boundaries. Whether Sun’s banana-eating spectacle will leave a lasting impact or peel away (pun intended) into meme history, one thing is certain—the intersection of crypto and culture remains as unexpected as ever.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Cardano (ADA) Price Hits 41% Weekly Growth, $1 Target in Sight
Cardano (ADA) price has surged 41.89% in the last seven days, signaling strong bullish momentum in the market. The uptrend remains strong, supported by key technical indicators like the ADX and Ichimoku Cloud, which point to sustained positive sentiment.
However, signs of consolidation and narrowing gaps in short-term indicators suggest that the rally could face challenges if buying pressure weakens.
ADA Current Uptrend Is Still Strong
Cardano DMI chart shows an ADX of 42.7, indicating a strong trend. The metric has remained above 40 since November 7. This high ADX value confirms the robustness of ADA ongoing uptrend, signaling solid momentum behind the recent price movements.
With the positive directional index (D+) at 21.3 and the negative directional index (D-) at 11, bullish pressure continues to outweigh bearish activity, further supporting the upward trajectory.
The ADX measures the strength of a trend without considering its direction. Values above 25 indicate a strong trend, while those below 20 suggest a weak or nonexistent trend. With an ADX at 42.7, ADA is clearly in a strong uptrend, showing significant market confidence.
The gap between D+ and D- reinforces the bullish dominance, suggesting that ADA price could sustain its upward movement if current conditions persist.
Cardano Ichimoku Cloud Shows An Important Signal
The Ichimoku Cloud chart for Cardano indicates a generally bullish trend, as the price remains above the cloud (Kumo). The Tenkan-sen (blue line) and Kijun-sen (red line) are relatively flat, showing signs of consolidation after ADA’s recent rally.
While the price is still trading above these lines, the narrowing gap between the price and the Tenkan-sen suggests weakening short-term momentum.
The green cloud ahead signals potential support for ADA uptrend, but the current consolidation phase highlights the need for sustained buying pressure to maintain this momentum.
If the price drops below the Kijun-sen or approaches the cloud, it could signal a possible shift toward bearish sentiment.
ADA Price Prediction: Can It Reach $1 In November?
If Cardano (ADA) maintains its strong uptrend, it could test the resistance at $0.85. Breaking this level could pave the way for further gains, with the potential to reach the $1 threshold, marking a 20% rise from current levels and the highest price for Cardano since April 2022.
However, as indicated by the Ichimoku Cloud, a potential reversal could be on the horizon. If bearish momentum takes over, ADA price could face significant downward pressure, potentially dropping to $0.51.
If this support fails, the price could decline further to $0.32, representing a steep 59% correction. This highlights the importance of the current support and resistance levels in determining ADA’s next direction.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
-
Market18 hours ago
This is Why MoonPay Shattered Solana Transaction Records
-
Ethereum15 hours ago
Fundraising platform JustGiving accepts over 60 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum
-
Market19 hours ago
Steady Climb Toward New Highs
-
Regulation23 hours ago
US SEC Pushes Timeline For Franklin Templeton Crypto Index ETF
-
Market23 hours ago
RENDER Price Soars 48%, But Whale Activity Declines
-
Regulation22 hours ago
BitClave Investors Get $4.6M Back In US SEC Settlement Distribution
-
Market22 hours ago
Nvidia Q3 Revenue Soars 95% to $35.1B, Beats Estimates
-
Market21 hours ago
Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Momentum Weakens Despite Rally