Crypto custodian company BitGo decided to release new stablecoin USDS and start competing with Tether and Coinbase.
USDS is going to be pegged 1:1 with US dollar and they are claiming this is the first open-participation stablecoin.
Just a reminder that Bitgo is backed by Goldman Sachs, and they recently made big changes with their WBTC token.

USDS comparison with USDC and USDT

https://usdstandard.com/

Forum accounts are getting hacked all the time so I decided to create one general info topic for all Hacked Bitcointalk and Altcoinstalks accounts.
 
If we notice any suspicious behavior or hacked accounts in Bitcointalk forum than we should report those cases here, especially if they have teleported account in Altcoinstalks forum.

Last example of reported hacked account is WWZSCOCKI in this topic:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5507214.0

WWZSCOCKI bitcointalk account:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=131333

Some former monero developers are working on new token called Tari that promises to have easy mining for everyone.
Tari is going to have it's own blockchain with proof-of-work algorithm like Bitcoin but with privacy benefits from Monero technology.
This should be hybrid solution with half blocks mined on Tari and other half with merge mining on Monero.

Tari is starting in 24 days and you can join the whitelist:
https://universe.tari.com/

Anyone interested of finding more information about different Bitcoin Layers now there is a website bitcoinlayers.org
There you can find Risk Snapshot for each network, Type, Status, Unit of Account and BTC amount locked.
Lightning network has most bitcoins locked 5122 and Liquid Network is in second place with 3873 BTC.
https://www.bitcoinlayers.org/

Another good reasource for other Bitcoin Layers is Jameson Lopp website.
This inlcudes sidechains, drivechains, statechains, spacechains, spiderchains, and others:
https://www.lopp.net/bitcoin-information/other-layers.html

Here is one article that is criticizing most of Bitcoin Layers as marketing scams:
https://blockspace.media/insight/most-bitcoin-layer-2s-are-marketing-scams/

After many big exchanges removed Monero we should not consider price from CMC to be that accurate anymore since they are directly owned by Binance.
That is why @kawaiicrypto had to jump in with new website for tracking real Monero price with data coming from Haveno and Coingecko.
I would also like to see data used from Bisq and other sources like eXch in future.

Monero.boats is now showing that 1 XMR is worth 175.83, CMC in the same time is showing $162.91 and Coingecko is showing $163.07.


https://monero.boats/

Tether announced new stablecoin that is backed by Tether Gold another of their token.
Alloy is Tethered Asset that is using Tether Gold as collateral to provide stability and value for Alloy by Tether.
There is also aUSD₮, that is the first Alloy by Tether token that you can mint or return yourself.
https://alloy.tether.to/

This is a bit confusing to me, but what do you think about this new stablecoin?

I decided to ask Brave AI few questions about AltcoinsTalks forum, and I am sharing it here.
You can easily find Brave AI answers in any browser with typing search.brave.com in address bar.
Note that I am very reserved with AI answers, and I know they can make big mistakes sometimes.

Q1: What is AltcoinsTalks?

Brave AI answer:

AltcoinsTalks is a cryptocurrency forum and revenue-sharing platform that allows users to discuss various topics related to cryptocurrencies, tokens, and blockchain projects. The platform was established in October 2017 and has gained popularity among cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

Key Features:

    Revenue-Sharing Model: AltcoinsTalks has a unique revenue-sharing model, where users can earn the platform’s native token, ALTS, by creating and sharing content on the forum. This model incentivizes users to participate in discussions, share their knowledge, and engage with the community.
    Cryptocurrency Discussion Forum: The platform provides a space for users to discuss various topics related to cryptocurrencies, including market trends, trading strategies, and project updates.
    ALTS Token: AltcoinsTalks has its own altcoin, ALTS, which can be earned by users through the revenue-sharing model. The token is listed on EtherDelta and can be traded or used within the platform.
    User-Friendly Interface: AltcoinsTalks has a user-friendly interface, making it easy for new users to navigate and engage with the community.
    Karma System: The platform has a karma system, which allows users to thank or punish each other based on their posts, promoting a positive and respectful community environment.

Advantages:

    Earn ALTS Token: Users can earn the platform’s native token, ALTS, by creating and sharing content, making it a unique revenue-generating opportunity.
    User-Friendly Interface: The platform’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for new users to navigate and engage with the community.
    Karma System: The karma system promotes a positive and respectful community environment, encouraging users to create high-quality content and engage with each other.

Conclusion:

AltcoinsTalks is a cryptocurrency forum and revenue-sharing platform that offers a unique opportunity for users to earn the platform’s native token, ALTS, by creating and sharing content. With its user-friendly interface, karma system, and revenue-sharing model, AltcoinsTalks has become a popular destination for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and investors.

Q2: Can you compare Bitcointalk and AltcoinsTalks?

Brave AI answer:

Ranking and Referral Program: Both Bitcointalk and AltcoinsTalks have a ranking system, but Altcoinstalks doesn’t require merits to proceed to the next rank, allowing members to rank their accounts faster. Altcoinstalks also has a referral program that allows members to earn ALTS tokens by referring others to the forum.

User-Friendliness: Altcoinstalks is considered more user-friendly compared to Bitcointalk, with a simpler and easier-to-navigate interface.

Earning Opportunities: Both forums offer opportunities to earn, but Altcoinstalks allows members to earn ALTS tokens for writing posts, whereas Bitcointalk does not have a similar system.

Banning: Altcoinstalks is known for not banning members for unclear reasons, unlike Bitcointalk, which has been known to ban members without explanation.

Traffic: Altcoinstalks attracts around 20,000 visitors per month, whereas the traffic of Bitcointalk is not publicly disclosed.

Conclusion: Altcoinstalks seems to have a more user-friendly interface, a simpler ranking system, and more opportunities to earn, making it a viable alternative to Bitcointalk. However, it’s essential to note that both forums have their unique features and advantages, and the choice ultimately depends on individual preferences.

Q3: How many active users are in Altcointalks?

Brave AI answer:

Based on the provided search results, it is difficult to determine the exact number of active users in Altcointalks. However, we can gather some information about the platform and its users.

    The search results mention that r/AltcoinTalk is a community for discussing crypto and altcoins, with a description that includes “Everything about crypto & altcoins in general. Free to shill your project”.
    Another search result mentions a forum called “Altcoins Talks - Cryptocurrency Forum - Index”, which has a section for users active in the past 120 minutes.
    Unfortunately, the search results do not provide a specific number of active users in Altcointalks.

In summary, while we cannot determine the exact number of active users in Altcointalks, the platform appears to be a community for discussing crypto and altcoins, and has a dedicated forum for users to engage with each other.

Q4: Was AltcoinsTalks forum ever hacked?

Brave AI answer:

According to the search results, there is no direct mention of a hacking incident on the AltcoinsTalks forum. However, there is a mention of a user’s account being hacked and used for spamming. The user’s account was used to post spam messages, including links to earn ALTS tokens and promote banner placement.

It is essential to note that the forum’s administrators and moderators emphasize the importance of doing one’s due diligence before joining any campaign or project, as they will not be held accountable for the failure or lack of professionalism of some of these campaigns.

While there is no explicit mention of a hacking incident, the forum’s emphasis on security and the user’s account being compromised for spamming suggest that the forum may have experienced some security issues in the past. However, without further information, it is difficult to determine the extent of the incident or whether it was a hacking incident.

Q5: What are the most popular topics in AltcoinsTalks??

Brave AI answer:

Karma System: AltcoinsTalks has a unique feature called Karma, which allows users to thank or punish their fellow members for their contributions. This system encourages positive behavior and helps maintain a healthy community.

Earning Opportunities: The forum offers various ways for members to earn online, including token distributions from ICOs, referrals, and subscriptions to immortals groups.

No Restrictions: Unlike other forums, AltcoinsTalks has no restrictions on account pumping, no two-week periods, and no Merit system. This allows members to participate freely and engage in meaningful discussions.

Well-Structured Topics: The forum is well-organized, with topics structured in a way that makes it easy to find the necessary information. This is a significant advantage for new members who may struggle to navigate other forums.

No Spam or Garbage: AltcoinsTalks is committed to providing only relevant and necessary information, ensuring that members can focus on meaningful discussions without being bombarded with spam or irrelevant topics.

Growing Popularity: The forum is gaining popularity, with a growing community of members and a wide range of topics to explore.

These topics are the most popular and discussed in AltcoinsTalks, making it a vibrant and engaging community for cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

Some time ago PayPal created their own version of stablecoin PYUSD that has the value of $1 USD and it is backed by dollar deposits, US treasuries, and cash equivalents.
Until recently PYUSD was a token on ethereum blockchain, but now they added support for solana blockchain with confidentiality transfers, and that part was interesting to me.
Sender, receiver and government regulators will be able to see this transactions, but for everyone else they will be not be visible.
For the record, I don't trust solana at all, they had multiple downtime flaws, bugs and it is centralized blockchain.
You can read more about that on Solana blog post:
https://solana.com/news/pyusd-paypal-solana-developer



PYUSD official website:
https://www.paypal.com/us/digital-wallet/manage-money/crypto/pyusd