Tech
Memecoin Trading Dynamics: From Excitement to Frustration
Explore the thrilling world of memecoin trading, where excitement quickly turns to frustration. Uncover the dynamics that drive this volatile market and learn how to navigate the highs and lows of investing in memecoins.
Memecoin Trading: A Mixed Bag of Fun and Frustration
Memecoin trading is often seen as a potentially lucrative yet entertaining venture. However, recent fee cuts at the Solana-based memecoin launchpad, Pump.fun, have left many traders feeling that the excitement is waning. While it may not be as enjoyable for traders, the ongoing spectacle surrounding former President Donald Trump and his connections to the memecoin world is captivating for observers. Read on for more insights.
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Network News
TRUMP.FUN
Former President Donald Trump’s recent speech at the Bitcoin Nashville conference feels like a distant memory. He has now been overtaken by Vice President Kamala Harris as the frontrunner in this year’s U.S. presidential election, at least according to punters on the prediction-betting site Polymarket. Meanwhile, Trump’s name and that of his family members have increasingly become central to discussions about memecoins.
- Last week, Eric Trump tweeted about his newfound passion for Crypto and DeFi, hinting at a “big announcement,” as reported by CoinDesk’s Krisztian Sandor.
- The buzz escalated on Thursday with the launch of a cryptocurrency on Solana called Restore the Republic (RTR), which was rumored to be the official token of Donald Trump. Within hours, RTR’s market capitalization skyrocketed to $155 million.
- However, Eric Trump cautioned users against “fake tokens,” asserting that the “only official Trump project has not been announced.” Shortly after, RTR plummeted by 95%.
- Donald Trump Jr. also weighed in, expressing his appreciation for the crypto community’s enthusiasm for Trump but advising traders to be cautious of fake tokens claiming to be part of the Trump project.
On Monday, the former president held a Spaces session with X owner Elon Musk, during which they notably didn’t mention Bitcoin or crypto. This omission reportedly caused a decline in prices for tokens with names like MAGA Hat and Doland Tremp. According to Decrypt, around 10,000 tokens were launched during the session on the memecoin launchpad Pump.fun, which had eliminated its $2 issuance fee earlier that week, making token launches easier and cheaper.
One account on X noted that after Trump repeated the phrase “rough people” multiple times, at least 10 distinct memecoins were launched with that name. Some memecoin traders expressed their frustrations, stating that using Pump.fun was “not fun anymore” due to the overwhelming proliferation of “10,000 scams.” Yet, for some observers, the activity felt like a live news feed: “I don’t even need to watch the space when there’s Pump.fun,” one commenter remarked.
Elsewhere in the Crypto World
Ethereum Set For Overhaul of Crucial Programming Standard With ‘EVM Object Format’
Ethereum developers are gearing up for a significant upgrade that could bring transformative changes to the network’s programming environment, marking one of the most critical updates since the original smart-contract blockchain launched nearly a decade ago. The Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) known as EVM Object Format (EOF) has been the subject of extensive discussions this year among developers, particularly due to security concerns raised by some participants. This proposal is set to be included in the upcoming Pectra hard fork, a major package of changes expected later this year or early next.
The EOF proposal consists of a series of smaller changes aimed at modernizing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), the programming environment that executes smart contracts on the blockchain. This environment has been pivotal in differentiating Ethereum from Bitcoin and other earlier distributed networks since its launch in 2015. The EOF aims to enhance developer experience, particularly for those creating decentralized applications using Solidity or Vyper programming languages. Given the delicate nature of these changes, which could potentially disrupt existing smart contracts, developers have introduced a new versioning system that allows dapp builders to choose which version of the EVM to deploy.
“EOF will be the first major EVM-related change in years,” noted Parithosh Jayanthi, a core developer at the Ethereum Foundation, in a text message to CoinDesk. “It sets the stage for future upgrades to the EVM and showcases the base layer’s commitment to ongoing improvements.”
Protocol Village
Top picks of the past week from our Protocol Village column, highlighting key blockchain tech upgrades and news.
- Fedi has launched a “community superapp” atop Fedimint, a protocol designed for community custody of bitcoin. On August 6, Fedi announced its commitment to fully open-source its software by January 2026, backing this pledge with a cryptographic hash of a PDF memo from May 4.
- Manta Pacific has become the first layer 2 (L2) blockchain to adopt a Multiple Data Availability (MultiDA) framework, promising uninterrupted service and cost efficiency without compromising user experience or fees. Collaborating with partners like Celestia and Nuffle Labs, Manta has reportedly saved users over $6 million since December 2023.
- Cubist introduced CubeSigner, a key management platform that claims to be the first dedicated solution for Babylon, a Bitcoin staking protocol, offering secure policy-protected workflows.
- Aleph Zero, a project focused on privacy, has launched an EVM-compatible layer-2 network using Arbitrum Orbit to enhance transaction speeds and efficiency.
- Stacks Foundation confirmed August 28 as the new target date to initiate the activation sequence for its long-awaited “Nakamoto upgrade,” which aims to enhance security, speed, and transaction throughput while ensuring “100% Bitcoin finality” and mitigating miner extractable value (MEV).
Tech
Tesla Semi Fire: NTSB Preliminary Report Released
The NTSB’s preliminary report on the Tesla Semi fire has been released. This content includes important information about the details of the incident, the causes of the fire, and Tesla’s safety measures. Explore the impact on Tesla’s electric vehicles and its future steps.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report stating that a Tesla Semi electric truck in California required firefighters to use “50,000 gallons” (approximately 190,000 liters) of water to extinguish a roadside fire. Firefighting teams also deployed an aircraft to drop fire retardant on nearby areas as a precautionary measure to control the fire.
The accident occurred on August 19 at 3:13 AM local time on the I-80 highway east of Sacramento. The electric truck went off the road while navigating a curve, collided with a roadside boundary marker, and then struck a tree, coming to a stop. Fortunately, the driver was not injured in the accident; however, considering their health condition, they were taken to the hospital.
The Tesla Semi’s large 900 kWh battery caught fire upon impact, and toxic smoke began to spread during the fire. While the fire continued with temperatures reaching up to 538°C, firefighters worked intensively to cool the blaze with water. However, due to the fire’s effects, the vehicle continued to burn until late in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Tesla sent a technical expert to the scene regarding fire safety and high voltage hazards.
The highway reopened to traffic at 7:20 PM local time, 16 hours after the accident. The NTSB, as an organization that can only make recommendations and cannot enforce regulations, sent a team to the area for investigation purposes. This major accident raised several issues, including dangerously hot fires and toxic smoke, which will attract the attention of many international organizations.
The NTSB had previously stated in 2021 that fires in the batteries of electric vehicles pose serious risks to emergency response teams and that the guidelines provided by manufacturers for such fires are inadequate.
Tech
New Leaks and Features About the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Discover the latest leaks and features about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Equipped with new technologies and advanced features, this smartphone elevates the user experience to a new level. Check it out for details!
New Leaks About Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy S25 Ultra along with the Galaxy S25 series at the beginning of 2024, likely in January. Although no official announcement has been made yet, leaks regarding the upcoming flagship continue to spread rapidly on the internet. Notable leak source IceUniverse shared several new visuals of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in a post on the X platform. These visuals reveal the design differences between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
One of the notable features in the leaked images of the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the rounded corners of the phone. In contrast, this year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra has quite sharp corners, which has led to feedback from some users indicating discomfort while holding the device. Previous leaks have suggested that the Galaxy S25 Ultra may be somewhat larger.
A tweet shared by IceUniverse: Galaxy S25 Ultra Image
According to leaks, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be thinner and lighter compared to previous models. In August, rumors emerged that the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra would be lighter than its competitors, with a weight of under 221 grams.
Another image featured in IceUniverse’s post shows close-ups of the sides of both next year’s expected flagship phone and Samsung’s current flagship. In this image, the side of the Galaxy S25 Ultra appears flatter with rounded corners. While these changes may not create a major revolution, they will generally positively affect the feel of the phone in hand.
Looking at other rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, it is expected that the company will offer top-tier screen and camera upgrades next year. Additionally, there is a strong expectation that the satellite connection feature will also be introduced alongside the Galaxy S25.
Tech
iOS 18 Officially Released: Innovations and Features
iOS 18 has been officially released! This update, packed with new features and innovations, elevates the user experience to the next level. Check out our article for details and discover the new offerings of iOS 18!
iOS 18 Officially Released: Here Are the Innovations!
Apple officially launched iOS 18 yesterday, as promised. After a long beta testing phase, this update brings many exciting new features for iPhone users.
New Features in iOS 18
- Advanced Customization Options on the Home Screen: With iOS 18, users can now arrange app icons freely without sticking to the traditional grid layout. Additionally, there’s an option to change the colors of the icons and adjust their darkness levels. In short, you are no longer bound to a boring layout. It raises questions why Apple waited until 2024 to offer this feature.
- Revamped Control Center: The Control Center is completely redesigned in iOS 18. Users will be able to group controls more comfortably, and developers can easily add controls from their applications. Also, there’s an option to divide the Control Center into pages, allowing different controls on each page.
- RCS Messaging Support: With iOS 18, Apple introduces Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging support. Users can add various effects to their texts and react with new emojis for more colorful responses.
- Updated Photos App: The Photos app is presented with a new opening page and a modern layout. Users can now browse photos by time, people, and many other criteria, reorder media files, and explore more with the “Collections” feature.
- App Lock Feature: Users can now lock specific applications. For example, they can activate Face ID protection from the menu that appears when long-pressing an app icon. Thus, anyone wanting to open the app will have to pass the Face ID protection first.
- Apple Intelligence: One of the important features of iOS 18 is Apple’s artificial intelligence kit, Apple Intelligence. However, to fully benefit from this feature, you’ll need to wait for the iOS 18.1 update. More information about Apple Intelligence can be found here.
How to Install iOS 18?
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Select Software Update.
- Your iPhone will notify you that the new iOS 18 update is available.
- Click on “Download and Install” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Which iPhone Models Can Install iOS 18?
- iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
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