Crypto Morning Brief: MegaETH Mainnet Launches, Backpack Seeks Funding at $1 Billion Valuation

marsbitОпубліковано о 2026-02-10Востаннє оновлено о 2026-02-10

Анотація

Crypto Morning Brief: MegaETH Mainnet Launches, Backpack Seeks Funding at $1B Valuation Key market developments include comments from White House economic advisor Hassett, who expects slightly lower job data but maintains strong GDP growth projections. Binance's SAFU fund purchased 4,225 BTC worth $300M. Story Protocol delayed its token unlock to 2026, citing a shift toward AI training data licensing. Backpack unveiled its tokenomics: 25% of tokens (2.5B) will be released at TGE, with 24% allocated to points holders and 1% to Mad Lads NFT holders. The team confirmed no insider token allocations—all team tokens are locked until after a planned U.S. IPO. Backpack is in talks to raise funds at a $1 billion valuation. MegaETH announced its mainnet launch alongside an ecosystem frontend called "The Rabbithole." Meanwhile, Bitmine acquired 20,000 ETH ($41M), and Cango sold 4,451 BTC ($305M) to fund its AI infrastructure transition. Metalpha will allocate up to 20% of its annual net profit to Bitcoin purchases. Jump Trading will provide liquidity for equity in prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket. The article also covers market trends and recommended reads on topics like Bitcoin cycles, RWA token standards, and critiques of crypto market behavior.

Author: Deep Tide TechFlow

Yesterday's Market Dynamics

Hassett: Expect Slight Decline in Employment Data, But This Should Not Cause Panic

According to Jinshi Data, White House National Economic Council Director Hassett stated in an interview with CNBC regarding the labor market that a decline in employment data should be expected, but this should not cause panic. Hassett believes that, given slow population growth but a "surge" in productivity growth, lower employment data would still be consistent with high GDP growth. Hassett's comments on labor market data pushed U.S. Treasury prices higher, with commodity trading advisors and short-term trading accounts chasing the rally. Additionally, Hassett mentioned that GDP growth is "very strong," expecting a year-end growth rate of 4.0%, with an overall annual growth rate of 3.0%, and attributed the negative growth in the first quarter of last year to the Biden administration.

Binance SAFU Fund Address Purchases Another 4,225 BTC, Worth $300 Million

According to on-chain data, the Binance SAFU fund address has purchased another 4,225 BTC, worth $300 million.

Story Protocol Co-founder Responds to "Token Unlock Delay": Project Needs More Time to Build Use Cases

According to CoinDesk, blockchain intellectual property protocol Story Protocol has postponed its first major token unlock by 6 months to August 2026. Co-founder SY Lee responded to this in an interview, stating the project needs 'more time' to build use cases.

Lee said that near-zero on-chain revenue is a "wrong metric" because Story's business model focuses on off-chain licensing of AI training datasets, not gas fees. He compared the project's decision to Worldcoin's extension of investor and team lock-up periods in 2024, viewing it as a signal of long-term commitment. Story Protocol is shifting from general intellectual property registration to human-contributed data and enterprise licensing agreements that "cannot be scraped," focusing on recording ownership terms and usage rights for datasets and models used to train AI systems. This shift has slowed visible on-chain revenue but aims to reduce token oversupply pressure.

Backpack Announces Token Allocation Plan, TGE to Release 25% of Tokens, with 24% Allocated to Points Holders

Backpack announced its token allocation plan, divided into three phases. The TGE will release 25% of the total token supply, totaling 250 million tokens, of which 240 million (24%) are allocated to points holders and 10 million (1%) to Mad Lads holders.

The second phase of token allocation is pre-IPO, accounting for 37.5%, or 375 million tokens, which will be "growth-triggered unlocks" released gradually based on key milestone achievements. The third phase is post-IPO, also accounting for 37.5%, with these tokens deposited into the company treasury, subject to a one-year lock-up period post-IPO.

The total token supply is 1 billion, with the pre-IPO total supply being 625 million tokens (62.5%). Backpack stated that tokens in the company treasury will serve as a strategic digital asset reserve for long-term value creation, with team members and investors gaining token exposure through the company treasury.

Backpack CEO: Team Tokens Entirely Held in Company Treasury, Locked Until at Least One Year Post-IPO

According to Backpack CEO Armani Ferrante, Backpack's tokenomics will follow two core principles: insiders cannot "dump on retail," and all liquid tokens will be allocated to users. Ferrante stated that founders, executives, employees, and venture investors have not received direct token allocations; all team tokens are held in the company treasury and locked until at least one year post-IPO. Team members only hold company equity and can only profit from the project after a successful company IPO. Backpack plans to IPO in the U.S., with the exchange gradually opening more regions and launching more products, including traditional financial services, securities products, etc. Each time a new region is opened or a new product is launched, tokens will be unlocked to users in a predictable manner, driving platform growth.

Previous news: Backpack announced its token allocation plan, with TGE releasing 25% of tokens, of which 24% is allocated to points holders.

Backpack in Talks to Raise Funds at $1 Billion Valuation

According to Axios, the centralized cryptocurrency exchange Backpack Exchange, created by former FTX and Alameda executives, is discussing a new round of funding with a pre-money valuation of $1 billion. The company plans to raise $50 million, but the final fundraising size could be larger.

MegaETH Announces Mainnet Launch and Introduces Ecosystem Frontend "The Rabbithole"

According to an official announcement from MegaETH, the mainnet is fully live, and the MegaETH ecosystem frontend "The Rabbithole" has been launched.

This platform, serving as the user interface for the MegaETH ecosystem, will provide users with multiple functions, including discovering online and upcoming applications, cross-chain asset bridging and swapping, ecosystem event notifications, and more.

Bitmine Accumulates Another 20,000 ETH from FalconX, Worth $41.07 Million

According to Arkham data, Bitmine purchased another 20,000 ETH (worth $41.07 million) from FalconX approximately 7 hours ago.

Cango Announces Sale of 4,451 Bitcoin for $305 Million to Support AI Transformation

According to an announcement from Cango Inc., the company has completed the sale of 4,451 Bitcoin, directly exchanging them for approximately $305 million worth of USDT in the open market. The proceeds have been used to partially repay Bitcoin-collateralized loans.

Cango stated that this Bitcoin sale aims to strengthen the balance sheet and reduce financial leverage, providing funding support for the company's strategic expansion into AI computing infrastructure. The company is executing a strategic transformation, leveraging its globally grid-connected infrastructure to provide distributed computing power for the AI industry.

Cango will continue its Bitcoin mining operations while seeking the optimal balance between hash rate scale and operational efficiency.

Asset Manager Metalpha Initiates Bitcoin Allocation Plan, Allocating Up to 20% of Annual Net Profit to Purchase Bitcoin

According to Prnewswire, digital asset management company Metalpha Technology Holding Ltd. has begun executing a Bitcoin allocation plan that will allocate up to 20% of the company's annual net profit for Bitcoin purchases. This plan is part of Metalpha's long-term digital asset strategy, aiming to optimize the company's balance sheet by converting a portion of profits into Bitcoin assets. Metalpha stated that this move reflects the company's long-term confidence in Bitcoin as a store of value and hedge against inflation.

Jump Trading to Provide Liquidity in Exchange for Small Equity Stakes in Kalshi and Polymarket

According to Bloomberg, market maker Jump Trading is set to acquire small equity stakes in prediction market platforms Kalshi Inc. and Polymarket in exchange for providing liquidity to these platforms. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Jump's agreement with Kalshi involves a fixed percentage of company equity, while its stake in Polymarket will grow over time based on the trading volume Jump provides for its U.S. operations.

Market Trends

Recommended Reading

Kyle Criticizes Hyperliquid Four Days After Leaving, Arthur Hayes Responds with a $100,000 Bet

This article discusses the dynamics of the cryptocurrency industry, particularly the controversy surrounding the Hyperliquid project. It starts with Kyle Samani's criticism of Hyperliquid after his departure, analyzing the conflict between ethics and interests in the crypto industry and the importance of price within the sector. The article also mentions the bet between Arthur Hayes and Kyle, exploring how industry participants use price as a means to respond to criticism.

Reviewing Bitcoin Bear Market Cycles: At What Price Should You Buy the Dip?

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After Mainland China's Document No. 42 Sets the Tone, What is the Best RWA Token Standard?

This article analyzes the regulatory stance on real-world asset tokenization (RWA) as defined in China's "Document No. 42," exploring the definition, application scenarios, and compliance paths of RWA. It also provides an in-depth discussion on the development status of the global RWA market and the evolution of related token standards, analyzing successful cases of on-chain asset tokenization (such as Atoken and stETH) and the future potential of on-chain stock models.

FT Column: Bitcoin's "La Haine" Moment - It's Not the Fall That Matters, But the Landing

By referencing a classic line from the French film "La Haine," this article criticizes the crypto community's blind faith in Bitcoin and its moral victories during crises. Although Bitcoin has rebounded after multiple crashes in the past, the author believes that this faith-based bubble will eventually burst, and market trust in Bitcoin is gradually fading.

Conversation with Cathie Wood: Eight Insights on the Big Ideas for 2026

This article summarizes a deep conversation between veteran investor Peter Diamandis and ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood about the "Big Ideas 2026" report, pointing out that we are currently at a 125-year technological inflection point. The article focuses on the exponential convergence of five major platforms—AI, robotics, energy storage, blockchain, and multi-omics sequencing—and their profound impact on the global economy and technological development over the next five years. It also delves into前沿 trends such as the migration of data centers to orbit, autonomous driving, and the nuclear energy renaissance, offering investment and development suggestions for the future.

Пов'язані питання

QWhat is the valuation Backpack is seeking in its latest funding round?

ABackpack is seeking funding at a pre-money valuation of $1 billion.

QHow much of the total token supply will be allocated to points holders at TGE according to Backpack's token distribution plan?

A24% of the total token supply (240 million tokens) will be allocated to points holders at TGE.

QWhat did the White House's Hassett say about the expected job data and GDP growth?

AHassett stated that the job data should be expected to decline slightly, but this should not cause panic. He also predicted GDP growth would be 4.0% by the end of the year and 3.0% for the full year.

QWhat major milestone did MegaETH announce?

AMegaETH announced that its mainnet is fully live and it launched an ecosystem front-end called 'The Rabbithole'.

QWhy did Story Protocol delay its token unlock, according to its co-founder?

AThe co-founder stated the project needed 'more time' to build use cases, shifting its focus to off-chain licensing for AI training datasets rather than on-chain gas fees.

Пов'язані матеріали

Platform Token Surges 15-Fold in Half a Month, Pons Tops Both Token Issuance and Trading on Robinhood Chain

The article details the rapid rise of Pons as the leading token launch and trading platform on Robinhood Chain. Following NOXA's halt of new token issuance, several platforms vied for the resulting traffic. By mid-July, Pons surged ahead, achieving the highest daily token creation volume (over 15,000 tokens on July 15th) and soon after capturing the largest daily trading volume ($40.7M on July 18th), consistently maintaining both top positions. Pons's key advantage is its streamlined, single-transaction process that deploys a token's contract and its Uniswap V3 liquidity pool simultaneously, eliminating the need for bonding curves or subsequent DEX migrations. This simplicity caters to the demand for fast, low-cost launches on Robinhood Chain. The platform's native token, PONS, played a pivotal role in its growth, experiencing a price surge of over 15x from mid-July. A tokenomics model that uses 80% of protocol fees to buy back and burn PONS has contributed to its value and heightened platform visibility. Looking ahead, Pons V2 aims to expand beyond meme tokens by integrating support for paying transaction fees with assets like USDG or RWA tokens, aligning with Robinhood Chain's focus on on-chain finance and real-world assets.

marsbit36 хв тому

Platform Token Surges 15-Fold in Half a Month, Pons Tops Both Token Issuance and Trading on Robinhood Chain

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Apple's Q3 Results Largely Meet Expectations, Supply and Memory Pressure Drive After-Hours Drop of 6%

Apple's Q3 (FY2026) earnings largely met expectations, but weak guidance and rising costs drove the stock down 6.3% after hours. Revenue of $109.42B slightly beat estimates, and EPS of $2.02 was boosted by a $0.11 tariff refund. Core EPS was $1.91, aligning with forecasts. iPhone and Mac sales were strong, but iPad and Services revenue fell short. Greater China growth slowed. The outlook for the next quarter is concerning. Apple guided for 9-11% revenue growth, below the ~12% consensus, citing significant supply constraints for iPhones, Macs, and iPads due to advanced chip shortages. Gross margin guidance of 47-48% includes a 1-point tariff benefit, implying a core margin of 46-47%, down from 48.1% this quarter. Management highlighted rising memory costs as a major pressure point. While Apple's AI initiatives like Siri are progressing, monetization remains early. With the stock near all-time highs, the combination of in-line results, segment weaknesses, and a cautious outlook triggered significant profit-taking. The focus has shifted from resilient demand to supply chain execution and cost management.

marsbit41 хв тому

Apple's Q3 Results Largely Meet Expectations, Supply and Memory Pressure Drive After-Hours Drop of 6%

marsbit41 хв тому

Platform Token Soars 15x in Half a Month, Pons Tops Robinhood Chain Charts for Both Token Launches and Trading

In just half a month, the Pons platform token (PONS) surged over 15x in value as Pons solidified its position as the leading token launch and trading platform on Robinhood Chain, capturing both the highest daily token creation volume and transaction volume. Following the exit of previous leader NOXA, competition initially favored Flap before Pons emerged dominant around mid-July. By July 26th, Pons accounted for 77.1% of total trading volume across all Robinhood Chain launchpads. Pons's success is attributed to its streamlined, one-transaction process for deploying a token contract and its corresponding Uniswap V3 liquidity pool simultaneously, eliminating the need for bonding curves or complex migrations. This simplicity, combined with low creation costs and immediate tradability, attracted significant creation activity and speculative trading. The meteoric rise of its native token, PONS, further fueled platform growth. A tokenomics model directing 80% of protocol fees to buy back and burn PONS created a reinforcing cycle: platform usage boosted PONS value, which in turn attracted more users. Looking ahead, Pons V2 aims to expand beyond meme tokens by integrating support for paying fees in stablecoins (USDG) and RWA assets, aligning with Robinhood Chain's broader focus on on-chain finance and stock tokens.

Odaily星球日报42 хв тому

Platform Token Soars 15x in Half a Month, Pons Tops Robinhood Chain Charts for Both Token Launches and Trading

Odaily星球日报42 хв тому

Qualcomm Chip Price Hike Deals a Blow to Android Phones

Qualcomm has officially announced a new round of price increases for its entire chip portfolio, effective September 1. The hikes, reaching up to 18% for the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, follow similar moves by MediaTek, intensifying cost pressures on the already strained smartphone industry. CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed the plan, citing the need to offset rising industry-wide costs and restore declining profit margins. Qualcomm's Q3 FY2026 results showed a 25% drop in net profit, with mobile revenue plunging 20% year-over-year, hitting its lowest level since 2021. The surge in AI computing demand has led memory manufacturers to prioritize HBM production, creating a shortage in general-purpose DRAM and NAND Flash chips. Their prices soared by 93%-98% and 55%-60% respectively in Q1 2026, causing the memory cost share in smartphones to jump from 10%-15% to over 30%. Coupled with the soaring cost of advanced nodes like TSMC's 2nm and packaging, overall chip costs have reached historic highs. These upstream pressures are forcing downstream smartphone brands like Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo to cut orders for mid-to-low-end models by up to 20% and use cost-saving measures like older chipsets. Reportedly, the Snapdragon 8E5 will be repurposed as a "long-lasting" chip for sub-brand phones in H2 2026. Amid this cost crisis, the Android market remains sluggish. Q2 2026 smartphone shipments in China fell 4.3% year-over-year, marking five consecutive quarters of decline. Major Android brands saw market share drop, while Huawei and Apple, with their in-house chip advantages, gained share. Qualcomm is diversifying into automotive and IoT sectors to reduce reliance on smartphones, but these new segments cannot yet fill the mobile revenue gap. Industry observers warn that the full impact of component cost hikes will hit in the second half of 2026, likely leading to higher-than-expected price increases for Android flagships and a further contraction in the Chinese smartphone market.

marsbit52 хв тому

Qualcomm Chip Price Hike Deals a Blow to Android Phones

marsbit52 хв тому

Breaking: GPT-5.6 Prices Slashed Effective Today

OpenAI has announced significant price cuts for its GPT-5.6 model API, effective immediately. The entry-level **GPT-5.6 Luna** sees the most drastic reduction, with input prices dropping 80% to $0.20 per million tokens and output prices falling to $1.20 per million tokens. The mid-tier **GPT-5.6 Terra** is reduced by 20%, now costing $2.00 (input) and $12.00 (output) per million tokens. The flagship **GPT-5.6 Sol** maintains its original price but introduces a new **Fast mode**, offering speeds up to 2.5 times faster for double the cost. The company attributes these price reductions to efficiency gains achieved through **GPT-5.6 Sol's own involvement in optimizing its production systems**. The model assisted in rewriting GPU kernels and improving speculative decoding, leading to a 20% reduction in end-to-end service costs and over 15% improvement in token generation efficiency. OpenAI emphasizes this process remained human-led. A key focus of the降价 is to lower the barrier for running **AI agent workflows**. By making the capable, tool-calling Luna model significantly cheaper, OpenAI aims to enable more frequent use in cost-sensitive, high-volume tasks like code review and monitoring. This creates a potential feedback loop: model-assisted efficiency gains lead to lower costs, which enables broader agent deployment, which in turn drives further optimization. The new pricing and features will also apply to Codex and ChatGPT Work subscriptions. The changes intensify competition in the large language model market, with OpenAI directly challenging rivals like Anthropic to respond.

marsbit1 год тому

Breaking: GPT-5.6 Prices Slashed Effective Today

marsbit1 год тому

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