After a turbulent 2022 in the crypto sector, people are hoping for brighter times in 2023. For the fourth consecutive year, Cointelegraph is unveiling its list of the Top 100 most influential in the crypto and blockchain space, weighing the impact of 2022 and the potential ahead for 2023. Over the course of the next three weeks, Cointelegraph will release the list’s entries, starting from 100. DISCOVER COINTELEGRAPH’S TOP 100 IN CRYPTO AND BLOCKCHAIN 2023 The Top 100 comprises the 100 most impactful players in crypto and blockchain. Each entry gets its own profile featuring general information, a biography and …

DeFi’s use case in traditional finance could grow in the coming years as new protocols attempt to support the securitization of real-world assets, according to a new research report from credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings. The financing of real-world assets, or RWAs, will likely be a key focus area for DeFi protocols moving forward, S&P said in a report titled "DeFi Protocols For Securitization: A Credit Risk Perspective." Although the industry is still in its nascent stages, S&P highlighted several benefits DeFi could bring to securitization, including reducing transaction costs, improving transparency on asset pools, reducing counterparty risks and …

A little-known Bitcoin (BTC) price metric has just given a new bull run signal — and it has never been wrong. As noted on Feb. 8 by Caleb Franzen, senior market analyst at Cubic Analytics, the Williams %R oscillator has left its bottom zone for the first time since May 2022. Analyst: Oscillator crossover is "great sign" Bitcoin gaining 40% in January and continuing to hold higher levels has produced breakout signals across various on-chain indicators. Some analysts are cautious, opting to wait and see if the improved conditions last, but for Franzen, the data coming from the Williams %R …

The Graph (GRT) price slipped on Feb. 8 alongside a broader correction across the top crypto assets. GRT price skyrockets wi other data management tokens GRT price plunged nearly 14.5% intraday to $0.18, showing signs of short-term upside exhaustion after rising over 200% earlier in the year. At its sessional high, the token was changing hands for $0.23 on Feb 7, its highest level in nine months Buy flocked into the GRT market amid a relatively stronger risk-on mood, led by the Federal Reserve's slower interest rate hikes and a strong recovery witnessed in the Bitcoin (BTC) market, which typically …

According to a press release published on Feb. 8, blockchain carbon credit transaction network Carbonplace has secured $45 million in an investment round from its nine founder banks with a combined $9 trillion in assets under management. The banks are BBVA, BNP Paribas, CIBC, Itaú Unibanco, National Australia Bank, NatWest, Standard Chartered, SMBC, and UBS. The London-based fintech has also announced that it will become an independent entity, led by new CEO Scott Eaton. As told by Carbonplace, the company will use the investment to strengthen its platform and workforce, allowing it to scale its services to a larger client …

This year, investors are watching for big spikes in biotech companies working with psychedelics, especially as the once-controversial compounds return to the spotlight touting mental health benefits — and uniting lawmakers at the United States Capitol across party lines. The category’s future could make big legal gains in 2023, but due to the American government’s built-in checks and balances, even a Congress in agreement can’t shape drug policy alone. In May 2022, New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker and Hawaii Democratic Senator Brian Schatz co-published a letter imploring the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) …

The concept of virtual worlds and the Metaverse has been growing in popularity over recent years, with the introduction of AI and NFTs offering new opportunities for immersive experiences. However, there are still many challenges that lie ahead for these technologies to be adopted by the masses. According to RFOX VALT co-founder and CEO Ben Fairbank, there is a lot of untapped potential for AI and NFTs in the space. However, the challenges developers face in the journey toward mainstream adoption of the Metaverse and virtual reality are also numerous. RFOX VALT is an up-and-coming virtual reality and Metaverse platform …

Artist name: Justin Aversano Location: Los Angeles Date minted first NFT: Feb. 15, 2021 Which blockchains? Ethereum Bio: Unintentionally, the healing process of losing his twin sister at birth sparked Justin Aversanos career to become the poster child for NFT photography. His most famous collection, Twin Flames, has 5,900 ETH in total sales volume on OpenSea and multiple million-dollar sales, including one auctioned at Christies. A multidisciplinary artist with a great eye and passion for photography, Aversanos journey into NFTs started with a trip to Peru to work with local shamans to try to get over an addiction and depression. …

The Indian government doesn’t want to rush its central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot despite joining the CBDC race just a few months ago. India’s recently launched CBDC pilot has amassed 50,000 users, and 5,000 merchants since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the digital rupee pilot last year, local news agency The Economic Times reported on Feb. 8. Announcing the first public milestones of India’s digital currency at a policy press conference, RBI deputy governor Rabi Sankar stressed that the government plans to proceed with CBDC testing in the smoothest way possible. “We have our targets in terms …

Data science plays a critical role in supporting decision-making processes by providing insights and recommendations based on data analysis. In order to create new products, services and procedures, businesses can use data science to gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior, market trends and corporate performance. By giving businesses a competitive edge in the market through better decision-making, increased consumer involvement and more efficient corporate processes, it enables companies to achieve a competitive advantage. The demand for data science experts is rising quickly, opening up new possibilities for development on both a personal and professional level. Here are five high-paying …

Initiatives toward metaverse development continue to be a significant focus and key interest in the Middle East region, as the LEAP conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlights key topics in the industry. On Feb. 7, a partnership ceremony was held at the conference, which acknowledged a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Sandbox and the government of Saudi Arabia. According to social media posts from Sebastien Borget, the co-founder and COO of the Sandbox, the MOU is with the Saudi Arabia Digital Government Authority (DGA) for the purpose of “exploring, advising and supporting” one another in metaverse development. It …

With Ethereum showing resilience through the latest cryptocurrency winter, Consensus founder Joe Lubin says he’s ‘bullish’ over Ether's (ETH) relative stability through compounding macro events. Cointelegraph Magazine editor Andrew Fenton spoke to Lubin at the Web3 event Building Blocks 23 in Tel Aviv, Israel, for an all-encompassing interview around the current state and future of the Ethereum ecosystem landscape. The co-founder of the preeminent smart contract blockchain protocol touched on a number of subjects, including ETH’s market performance over the past year. A myriad of macro events, including the collapse of algorithmic stablecoin Terra/LUNA and the demise of cryptocurrency exchange …