Arbitrum, the largest layer-2 network on top of Ethereum, has awarded its biggest-ever developer grant to Lotte Group, the multibillion-dollar South Korean conglomerate known for its vast portfolio of shopping malls, media companies and entertainment properties. According to Offchain Labs, the developer behind Arbitrum, the grant cements Arbitrum as the main blockchain infrastructure provider for Caliverse, Lotte`s metaverse gaming platform. Offchain Labs shared the news at CES 2025, the technology tradeshow happening this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. A representative for the company declined to disclose the exact size of the grant "at this stage." It was technically awarded by the non-profit Arbitrum Foundation, which periodically doles out grants in $ARB tokens to help spur development in the Arbitrum ecosystem. "Lotte is Arbitrum Foundation`s largest grant recipient to date. And we`re proud to be working with partners so closely aligned with our vision," said John Park, Head of Korea at The Arbitrum Foundation. Lotte`s Arbitrum integration could signal renewed interest from traditional companies in building blockchain-based virtual worlds—the "metaverse" concept that earned mainstream buzz a few years ago but has since become less top-of-mind for many technologists and investors. Lotte first showed interest in releasing metaverse-related products in 2022 and announced that it was entering a "strategic partnership" with Arbitrum last year . Caliverse is mainly a venue where the South Korean megacompany experiments with emerging tech trends like artificial intelligence, virtual reality and crypto. Caliverse users can explore virtual worlds featuring differing kinds of media content and futuristic shopping experiences. The app currently features content from a grab-bag of big brands, ranging from 7-Eleven to the Tomorrowland music festival. Much of the content on Caliverse comes from fashion and beauty companies like Givenchy, MCM, and L’Occitane. Users can currently shop for those brands or experience concerts and other kinds of media within the Caliverse app. The new integration with Arbitrum means that blockchain users will be able to pay for certain services using crypto, and systems like in-game transactions could start running on-chain. The Arbitrum blockchain has become a popular choice among gaming platforms, with the network experiencing a 72% year-over-year growth in 2024 for gaming, according to Offchain Labs. According to a press release the company shared with CoinDesk, Arbitrum currently hosts 119 game titles and 23 gaming-focused blockchains through its Arbitrum Orbit stack, a customizable toolkit that lets developers create their own blockchains based on Arbitrum’s technology. “Arbitrum’s blockchain is the ideal home ground for Lotte Caliverse, delivering industry-leading 250ms block times that ensure high-quality performance within virtual worlds and gaming experiences,” said Steven Goldfeder, the co-founder and CEO of Offchain Labs. “With Arbitrum now powering Lotte Caliverse, in-game transactions will be seamlessly integrated on-chain and will eliminate transaction latency, providing users with a smooth, consumer-friendly experience that sets a new standard for Arbitrum-based interactions in virtual worlds.” Read more: Trading Platform Robinhood, Layer-2 Arbitrum Team Up To Offer Swaps To Users
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Dogecoin Liquidations Cross $24 Million As Bulls Suffer Double-Digit Beat Down
Amid the wider market decline, meme coin Dogecoin has seen its price retrace by about 10% in the past 24 hours. At the same time, data from Coinglass shows that over $24 million worth of Dogecoin positions have been liquidated in the ensuing decline in the past 24 hours. Coinglass Data Highlights Extent Of Dogecoin Liquidations According to data from Coinglass, Dogecoin liquidations have been among the most significant in the market in the past 24 hours, as leveraged positions failed to withstand the rapid price drop. Particularly, Dogecoin traders lost over $24.37 million in liquidations during the past day, coming in behind only Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana, who have witnessed $136.9 million, $111.54 million, and $31.48 million, respectively, in liquidations. Related Reading: Bitcoin Weekly PPO Turns Red At $102,000, What It Means For The Bull Market Long positions accounted for the majority of liquidations, as bullish traders were caught off guard by the unexpected sell-off. In the case of DOGE, $21.42 million worth of long positions were liquidated, while about $2.95 million worth of short positions were liquidated. These liquidations have also been accompanied by a strong decline in open interest in Dogecoin futures positions. According to Coinglass data, the open interest on Dogecoin is currently at 10.31 billion DOGE tokens, reflecting a 12.37% decline in a 24-hour timeframe. This corresponding drop in open interest suggests a cautious sentiment among Dogecoin investors as crypto bulls push through double-digit beatdowns. DOGE To Bounce Back? The dominance of liquidated long positions shows how bullish traders were blindsided by the abrupt sell-off, which swiftly erased many of the gains in the previous four days. This sharp correction has interrupted Dogecoin’s upward momentum, which had been gearing up to break above the $0.40 price level. Instead, Dogecoin bulls now face the challenge of defending key support at $0.35. Related Reading: Dogecoin Price Faces ‘Moment Of Truth’ As It Battles The Macro 0.5 Fib Extension Dogecoin’s price action in the past seven days has been characterized by intense activity, with a surge from $0.31 on January 1 to $0.395 on January 7, representing a 27.4% increase in six days. However, the past 24 hours have been riddled by a 10% correction. Nevertheless, Dogecoin continues to hold on to this intense trading activity, with data from Coinmarketcap showing a 90% increase in trading volume in the past 24 hours despite the liquidations. Furthermore, these sorts of liquidations and declines are not unusual for Dogecoin, and many holders have seen them as part and parcel of the market. Looking ahead, Dogecoin retains the potential for a strong rebound, particularly if bulls can maintain support around the $0.35 level. A recovery in Bitcoin’s price above the critical $100,000 mark could further provide the broader market momentum needed to resume Dogecoin’s rally. At the time of writing, Dogecoin is trading at $0.3505. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com CoinDesk
Market Analysis Report (08 Jan 2025)
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