Blockchain Press Releases
Madame Rachida Dati, French Minister of Culture, has granted official recognition to thierry Ehrmann’s Abode of Chaos as a ‘total work of art’, the global headquarters of Artprice by Artmarket.
PARIS, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — La Demeure du Chaos (“The Abode of Chaos” – dixit the New York Times) was conceived in 1999 as “a mirror of our world” by thierry Ehrmann. Besides his many business accomplishments, his certified biography in Who’s Who In France describes Ehrmann as a ‘visual artist since 1980’. https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2025/02/2025-Biographie_de_Thierry_Ehrmann-Who-s-Who-In-France.pdf
The Abode of Chaos is managed by a contemporary art museum baptised “Organe” and located in the village of Saint-Romain-Au-Mont-d’Or just outside Lyon, France.
This unique open-air museum spans 7,555m² and features a one-of-a-kind museum trail set in the heart of nature. Open to the public free of charge, it was conceived as a total work of art, ensuring accessibility and inclusion for all audiences, in line with the vision of its founder and creator, thierry Ehrmann. It is classified by the Prefecture as an ERP open-air museum. Since its opening in 2006, the Contemporary Art Museum has received 2.5 million visitors free of charge, 25% of whom are from outside France.
In 25 years, the Abode of Chaos has been the subject of nearly 3,600 written and audiovisual press reports from 72 countries. Its activities are followed around the world by more than 10.9 million subscribers on its social media accounts and it counts 720,000 signatories to the petition for its preservation and recognition by France’s public authorities.
The Abode of Chaos has three imposing buildings dating back to 1630 that have been completely re-sculpted in an alchemical transmutation that gave birth to nearly 7,200 distinct works of art created by thierry Ehrmann. Each work has its original name, its original medium and its original shape. There are 4,500 laser-sculpted steel artworks, some weighing several hundred tons. There are also portraits, paintings, street artworks, mural engravings, installations, digital artworks created with AI, works of land art and an all-encompassing electronic system, which together constitute a ‘total work of art’:
https://ftp1.serveur.com/abodeofchaos_singular_architecture.pdf
“Dear Sir,
For several years you have been practicing a proteiform artistic activity alongside your energetic development of Artprice, the company you founded.
Not long ago, you drew the attention of one of my predecessors and my ministerial services (DRAC and DGCA) to the complex situation surrounding the product of your artistic activity: the Abode of Chaos.
Originally an old farm in the Monts du Lyonnais, you made the property your personal residence as well as the headquarters of your company Artprice. At the same time, you developed a multi-faceted and abundant artistic project on the entire site, part of which has National Historical Monument protection, called “La Demeure du Chaos” (Abode of Chaos). This project, which integrates the architecture of the existing building as well as its surroundings, while preserving and respecting the remains of an old Protestant cemetery, is a total work of art, in perpetual evolution. It’s primary artistic objective is to reflect the historical and societal convulsions at the end of the 20th century and the promises and uncertainties of our 21st century. The work is both indoors and outdoors, integrating public and private spaces, notably those dedicated to the daily activities of your company.
Its integrated contemporary art museum offers a hallucinatory and fascinating promenade through the recesses of human memory via portraits of the prominent personalities of our modern era, as well as key quotes, sculptures and architectural extensions that modify the existing buildings. Repurposed car and plane wrecks also play a key role, alongside contemporary ‘factories’ installed in the park.
I would like to inform you that my ministerial department officially recognizes the value of this unique work, which I understand is in perpetual motion and will only stop evolving when you are no longer.“
According to Madame Dati, thierry Ehrmann’s work, “is in line with great ‘total works of art’ like Postman Cheval’s Ideal Palace and the Cyclops in Milly la Forêt…
By this letter I wish to inform you that the Ministry of Culture recognizes the artistic value of the work already created and encourages you to continue it.”
Recognition by public authorities constitutes the highest point in the process of protecting the artworks of the Abode of Chaos and, with regard to the law, it is the principal factor that triggers the work’s inclusion in the History of Art and its preservation for posterity. The different protection measures constitute a subsidiary factor, while the Minister offers a range of legal solutions to allow the transmission of the Abode of Chaos to future generations:
“I also hope that a dialogue can be initiated with State Services and in particular with the Regional Prefecture and the Regional Office of Cultural Affairs (DRAC), in both directions.
The first concerns allowing greater access to the Abode by extending the openings hours that you already practise.
The second concerns implementing the right conditions to ensure the sustainability, conservation and accessibility of the Abode to future generations. I will also ask my services, both central and decentralized, to collaborate with your teams to examine the various legal frameworks that could be used to allow the perennity and transmission of the Abode to future generations: endowment fund, a protected foundation, or a foundation recognized as being of public utility, or any other suitable device.”
With great emotion, upon reading this letter, thierry Ehrmann – founder of Artprice, historian and visual sculptor – cannot help but reflect on the extensive study he dedicated to the sculptor Constantin Brancusi:
“Exactly a century ago, the U.S. High Court (Brancusi/USA) redefined the cognitive value of a work of art through a landmark trial involving Constantin Brancusi’s The Bird in Space. Today, after 25 years of legal struggle, France, through its Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati, has officially recognized the value of my work, defining it as unique through my artistic creation embodied in The Abode of Chaos and its total work of art. Furthermore, it acknowledges that my work is in constant evolution and encourages me to continue, while supporting its dissemination, conservation, and sustainability. This moment forms a true ‘mise en abîme‘, linking Brancusi’s The Bird and his portrait painted in my studio at the heart of The Abode of Chaos. It represents both my Great Alchemical Work and my 45 years of artistic creation. I receive this recognition with deep gratitude towards the Minister of Culture, her team, and all my long-standing supporters, as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Abode of Chaos. Today, France, through the voice of its Minister of Culture, is writing a new chapter in the history of art.”
The process of recognition and legal protection of the Abode of Chaos relies on in part, on the creation of an in-depth bilingual architectural study titled “The Abode of Chaos: Gesamtkunstwerk & Singular Architecture”. This study is now freely accessible to the public at:
https://ftp1.serveur.com/abodeofchaos_singular_architecture.pdf
The brief description provided in this press release is not exhaustive. The reader is encouraged to consult the typescript for a comprehensive reading of the referenced works.
The study examines the Abode of Chaos from a historical, archaeological, sociological, artistic, architectural and scientific points of view, with the help of international experts, distinguished professors, and multidisciplinary researchers.
This Study constituted the core requests led by Sandra Béchiche – Director of thierry Ehrmann’s office, in charge of international relations and heritage conservation, for legal protection addressed to the French Ministry of Culture, and more specifically to the General Director of the General Department of Artistic Creation (DGCA) in the person of Christopher Miles, as well as to Marc Drouet, Regional Director of Cultural Affairs Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (DRAC AURA).
These initiatives began in December 2019 in order to obtain recognition from the public authorities of thierry Ehrmann’s total work of art, and to ensure its sustainability and a peaceful resolution to the 25-year legal dispute initiated by the Commune of Saint-Romain-Au-Mont-d’Or, based on town planning law in the face of artistic creation. This dispute was initially protected by the Malraux laws and later by the law of July 7, 2016, concerning freedom of creation, architecture, and heritage. thierry Ehrmann contributed to this through the legal debate he initiated on the status of the artist in France and the freedom of artistic creation.
The surveys, plans, sections, illustrations, orthophotographs for the complete digitization of the 7200 artworks connected to the buildings, outbuildings and surrounding walls over 7,555 m² (generating a digital heritage of 1.2 Terra-Bytes [1 pixel IPTC/GPS DMS = 1mm]) was carried out in 18 months by Philippe Barthélémy, founder of ICONEM (which has done extensive work of the Bamiyan cliffs, Palmyra site etc.) as well as TT Géomètres Experts Group and its 3D Lab. This work was based on the European Commission’s standards for the digitization and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation (2011/711/EU).
The study and the complete digitization of the Abode of Chaos was overseen by martyr heritage specialists led by Dr. Nicolas Detry, a specialized Heritage Architect. N. Detry wrote the main corpus of the section on “Formativity of the Abode of Chaos” with reference to the work of Luigi Pareyson. Raphaëlle Rivière, historian of art & architecture and archaeologist, studied the Total Work of Art (Gesamtkunstwerk) and the Singular Architecture that is the Abode of Chaos / Demeure du Chaos with Nicolas Detry. They were both also the curators of the exhibition “The Abode of Chaos: History of a Sustainable Heritage from the 17th Century to the Present Day” in 2022.
Finally, from a purely pedagogical perspective, the notion ‘total work of art’ (from the German Gesamtkunstwerk) that Madame Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, has officially recognized in the Abode of Chaos, is an aesthetic concept originating from German romanticism and appearing in the 19th century in Europe. A ‘total work of art’ is characterized by the simultaneous use of numerous artistic mediums and disciplines, and by the symbolic, philosophical or metaphysical significance it holds. Such projects are born from a desire to reflect the interconnectedness of all elements of existence.
thierry Ehrmann opens the doors of the total artwork La Demeure du Chaos to Loïc Ballet & Sébastien Chabal for the TV program En vadrouille on March 9, 2025 (France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France Télévisions group, LB Production):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF_W2e4NeCc
thierry Ehrmann’s Abode of Chaos is regularly cited by art historians as the artistic continuity of the Merzbau, a monumental spatial assemblage, the culmination of the ‘total work of art’ that the artist Kurt Schwitters worked on in his studio and home in Hanover as of 1923.
At the same time, a number of other studies were conducted, notably on the conservation and restoration of the corpus of works at La Demeure du Chaos. The eminent specialist, Simona Sajeva, a civil engineer and international specialist in the conservation-restoration of historic buildings, and President of the International Scientific Committee on Mural Paintings of ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites) played a key role in these studies.
La Demeure du Chaos is regularly included in international nominations for selections such as the Watch List of the World Monument Fund proposed by the DIVA (Documentation Interpretation and VAlorization of Heritage) research laboratory of Liège University in Belgium. The DIVA specializes in conservation sciences for art and architecture under the direction of Claudine Houbart, professor, architect, art historian, and specialist in the conservation of monuments and sites. She is also a Doctor in engineering sciences, and President of the Doctoral School at the FNRS (Scientific Research Fund) dedicated to building arts and urban planning, and a member of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on the theory and philosophy of conservation.
This nomination benefited from prestigious sponsorships including the support of Giovanni Carbonara (1942-2023) – professor, architect and Director Emeritus of the School of Specialization of Architectural Heritage and Landscape at the University of Rome, “La Sapienza“, and Special Advisor to UNESCO – and Pierre Hallot – Doctor of Philosophy and Geospatial Information Sciences, professor at Liège University, member of ICOMOS, expert and Belgian Representative of the CIPA (International Committee of Architectural Photogrammetry – Heritage Documentation).
In addition, La Demeure du Chaos has been subject to restoration after thierry Ehrmann reluctantly agreed to the destruction of part of his works to comply with requests from the public authorities. This work was conducted by specialists in listed monuments, including the company Comte (Vinci Group), which, among other projects, has restored the Primatiale Saint Jean in Lyon on several occasions, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The memory of this artistic loss will remain in the martyred heritage thanks to the “Catalogue Raisonné of an Artistic Loss Necessary for Republican Peace” created in 2023, which lists the 450 destroyed works.
Lastly, the dimentions of the “total work of art” of the Abode of Chaos include the global headquarters of Artprice by Artmarket, World Leader in Art Market Information since 1987, listed on the Paris Euronext’s regulated market, as well as Groupe Serveur (Artprice’s principal shareholder) and its legal, scientific, and press agency subsidiaries (since 1985).
The Abode of Chaos is also home to the world’s largest collection of manuscripts, codices and art market sales catalogs kept under exceptionally high security standards. These documents represent the history of the art market from 1700 to the present day, a modern-day ‘Library of Alexandria‘. All the archives belong to Artprice by Artmarket and they have all been scanned annotated and studied by the company’s historians and experts. The company’s underground area also hosts its various data centers, hosting more than 180 data banks of art market information which constitute the global reference for art market professionals all over the world, and for more than 9 million Artprice by Artmarket subscribers. Artprice’s press agency, ArtMarketInsight, distributes Art Market news with its long-standing partner of 27 years, Cision PR Newswire, to 122 countries and in 11 languages.
Of the many descriptions of the Abode of Chaos proposed over the last 25 years, many art historians have used the term ‘total work of art’, while others have described it as a “Black Work of hermetic tradition feeding on the Alchemical Chaos of our tragic and sumptuous 21st century, whose embers were ignited on September 11, 2001“.
Various studies from different parts of the world suggest that the genesis of the Abode of Chaos can be traced back to first Masonic trestle boards by thierry Ehrmann at the National Grand Lodge of France in 1985, referring to the remarkable alchemical work “The Philosophers’ Mansions“ by Fulcanelli.
In addition, over the last twenty-five years, thierry Ehrmann’s Abode of Chaos has regularly been compared to the famous ‘total work of art’ created by “Postman Cheval” with his “Ideal Palace”. Indeed, the reference work on Postman Cheval’s work (published by Postman Cheval’s Ideal Palace in conjunction with the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts and the Musée de la Poste in 2008) described thierry Ehrmann as The Postman Cheval of the 21st century (section titled “Cheval and his artistic lineage”, page 18). The Postman Cheval lineage is clear and unambiguous, and there exists a cultural tour incorporating visits to the two sites for more than 15 years now.
The Abode of Chaos is also home to more than 1,800 geopolitical, literary, scientific, philosophical, artistic, and historical portraits. The portraits reference personalities involved in 90% of the global news regularly covered by written and audiovisual media around the world, as well as thousands of alchemical engravings.
The international press sees the Abode of Chaos as a “body of distinct works” and as an “essential and unique ‘Factory’” that has a key place in the History of Art as the most significant major work of the beginning of the 21st century (see press review, notably the special issue of the The New York Times and Artpress).
It also exists within the realm of ideas. It has sparked exhibitions, debates, numerous books, short and feature films by renowned directors, theses, research, and reverberations across different continents.
In 2024, the 36th Congress of the International Committee of Art History (CIHA) convened in Lyon. On a global scale, the CIHA Congresses have constituted the most unifying events for the entire community of researchers and professionals in the world of art and heritage since 1873.
thierry Ehrmann, CEO and Founder of Artprice declared: “Considering our strategic mission, it is natural for Artprice and the Organe Museum of Contemporary Art that manages the Abode of Chaos, to sponsor the 36th CIHA Congress as one of its principal patrons, with contributions from all of Artprice’s historians and researchers. We were delighted to welcome delegates to the global headquarters of Artprice by Artmarket in the heart of the Organe Contemporary Art Museum and its Abode of Chaos.”
This extraordinary event for Art History, held every four years, contributed to re-emergence of France, which – according to Artprice’s 30th Annual Art Market Report – is now positioned as the second largest public art market in the world in terms of transaction volumes, just behind the United States. In 2024, Paris generated the 4th largest art auction turnover in the world, surpassing both Beijing & Shanghai.
https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2024
Copyright 1987-2025 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com – www.artmarket.com
Artprice’s econometrics department can answer all your questions relating to personalized statistics and analyses: [email protected]
Find out more about our services with the artist in a free demonstration: https://artprice.com/demo
Our services: https://artprice.com/subscription
About Artmarket.com:
Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris. The latest TPI analysis includes more than 18,000 individual shareholders excluding foreign shareholders, companies, banks, FCPs, UCITS: Euroclear: 7478 – Bloomberg: PRC – Reuters: ARTF.
Watch a video about Artmarket.com and its Artprice department: https://artprice.com/video
Artmarket and its Artprice department were founded in 1997 by thierry Ehrmann, the company’s CEO. They are controlled by Groupe Serveur (created in 1987). cf. the certified biography from Who’s Who In France©:
Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information (the original documentary archives, codex manuscripts, annotated books and auction catalogs acquired over the years) in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 865,100 artists.
Artprice Images® allows unlimited access to the largest art market image bank in the world with no less than 181 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians.
Artmarket, with its Artprice department, constantly enriches its databases from 7,200 auction houses and continuously publishes art market trends for the main agencies and press titles in the world in 119 countries and 9 languages.
Artmarket.com makes available to its 9.3 million members (members log in) the advertisements posted by its Members, who now constitute the first global Standardized Marketplace® for buying and selling artworks at fixed prices.
There is now a future for the Art Market with Artprice’s Intuitive Artmarket® AI.
Artmarket, with its Artprice department, has twice been awarded the State label “Innovative Company” by the French Public Investment Bank (BPI), which has supported the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the art market.
See our 2024 Global Art Market Annual Report, published in March 2025 by Artprice by Artmarket: https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2024
Artprice by Artmarket publishes its 2024 Contemporary Art Market Report: https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2024
Summary of Artmarket press releases with its Artprice department: https://serveur.serveur.com/artmarket/press-release/en/
Follow all the Art Market news in real-time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter:
www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (more than 6.5 million subscribers)
Discover the alchemy and the universe of Artmarket and its Artprice department: https://www.artprice.com/video
whose head office is the famous Museum of Contemporary Art Abode of Chaos dixit The New York Times / La Demeure of Chaos:
https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013
La Demeure du Chaos/Abode of Chaos – Total Work of Art and Singular Architecture.
Confidential bilingual work, now made public: https://ftp1.serveur.com/abodeofchaos_singular_architecture.pdf
- L’Obs – The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o
- https://www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (more than 4.1 million subscribers)
- https://vimeo.com/124643720
Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department – Contact: Thierry Ehrmann, [email protected]
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Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation
Blockchain’s metamorphosis from niche ledger technology to the backbone of Web3 has never been more evident. Today, we cover five stories that illustrate the evolving ecosystem: a gaming platform issuing its own token on Solana; Europe’s marquee Web3 summit; a major bank forecasting a “ChatGPT moment” for blockchain; a Southeast Asian conference aimed at busting crypto myths; and a foundation rebuilding blockchain from the ground up to solve scalability. Each development—whether product launch, industry gathering, macro forecast, educational initiative, or infrastructure innovation—offers a window into the trends shaping decentralized finance, NFTs, DeFi, and beyond.
1. BitNile.com to Launch Nile Coin on Solana
News Summary
Hyperscale Data’s subsidiary BitNile.com will introduce the Nile Coin on Solana starting May 1, 2025. The U.S.–based social gaming site chose Solana for its high throughput and low fees, aiming to enhance in-game economies, reward engagement, and deliver seamless micro-transactions. Details on tokenomics and governance are forthcoming, but management touts Nile Coin as a cornerstone of future gaming experiences.
Source: CoinTrus
Analysis & Commentary
Launching a proprietary token underscores two converging trends: the gamification of finance and finance-ification of gaming. By minting Nile Coin, BitNile.com taps into DeFi mechanics—staking, liquidity pools, NFT rewards—while leveraging Solana’s scalability. Strategically, BitNile.com positions itself for partnerships with NFT marketplaces and DeFi protocols, potentially opening secondary markets for in-game assets and generating new revenue streams beyond ad sales or subscription fees.
2. Dutch Blockchain Week 2025 Gears Up in Amsterdam
News Summary
From May 19–25, Amsterdam will host the sixth annual Dutch Blockchain Week, culminating in the two-day summit (May 21–22) at De Meervaart. Tier 1 exchanges (Bitvavo, Kraken, Coinbase), Web3 pioneers (WOW.ai, Blockrise), regulators (European Commission, De Nederlandsche Bank), and industry partners (Mastercard, Deloitte) will convene. Side events range from AI-powered hackathons tackling compliance to padel networking meetups—underscoring the event’s blend of technology, policy, and community.
Source: Dutch Blockchain Week
Analysis & Commentary
Dutch Blockchain Week typifies the maturation of blockchain conferences into multidisciplinary forums. Beyond token talk and yield farming, panels on regulation, institutional adoption, and security reflect Web3’s integration into mainstream finance. Anticipate announcements on CBDC pilots, DeFi compliance frameworks, and cross-chain interoperability projects that may emerge from the Block & Order Hackathon.
3. Citigroup Predicts Blockchain’s “ChatGPT Moment”
News Summary
In an April 23 report, Citigroup analysts argue that 2025 could be blockchain’s “ChatGPT moment,” driven by regulatory clarity around stablecoins and integration with traditional financial systems. They forecast stablecoin market capitalization ballooning to $1.6 trillion (base case) or as much as $3.7 trillion (bull case) by 2030—anchored by dollar-denominated issuers and collateralized with U.S. Treasuries. Regulatory frameworks like the GENIUS Act could catalyze adoption among banks and fintechs.
Source: Cointelegraph
Analysis & Commentary
Drawing parallels to generative AI’s explosive growth, Citigroup envisions a tipping point where blockchain moves from experimental to essential infrastructure. Successful integration will hinge on robust compliance tools, auditability, and clear governance models. Enterprise blockchain vendors should prepare for surging demand in tokenized payments, on-chain settlements, and embedded DeFi rails within legacy systems.
4. Philippine Blockchain Week 2025 Debunks Crypto Myths
News Summary
Scheduled for June 10–11 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2025 will tackle misinformation and spotlight real-world use cases. Highlights include “Crypto, Unpacked” sessions demystifying the technology; “Smart Regulation” panels uniting policymakers and innovators; and “Blockchain for Impact” showcases on remittances, disaster relief, and digital identity. Founding President Donald Lim emphasizes government support and public–private collaboration to spur inclusive growth.
Source: UseTheBitcoin
Analysis & Commentary
PBW exemplifies how emerging markets leverage education to accelerate Web3 adoption responsibly. By engaging regulators early, PBW can shape balanced frameworks that encourage innovation while protecting consumers—an instructive model for markets wrestling with both hype and skepticism.
5. D.O.G.E Foundation Launches New Blockchain, Opens Seed Round
News Summary
The D.O.G.E Foundation announced a ground-up blockchain rebuild designed to solve the scalability and reliability challenges plaguing existing networks. This modular architecture separates validation from execution to enable parallel transaction processing—targeting real-time gaming, DeFi under high load, and AI-driven applications. A seed funding round is now open to investors who share the vision of a performant, decentralized infrastructure.
Source: D.O.G.E Altcoin GlobeNewswire
Analysis & Commentary
As layer-1 congestion and high gas fees persist, new entrants must justify a “why now” with clear architectural advantages. If the D.O.G.E blockchain delivers real-world throughput and maintains decentralization, it could spur a renaissance of high-performance DeFi protocols and NFT platforms hungry for cost-effective base layers.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
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Tokenization of Entertainment: BitNile’s Nile Coin on Solana highlights blockchain’s expansion into gaming economies and NFT reward systems.
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Convergence of Tech, Policy & Community: Dutch Blockchain Week showcases Web3’s evolution into an ecosystem engaging regulators, enterprises, and developers under one roof.
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Mainstream Inflection Point: Citigroup’s “ChatGPT moment” thesis suggests blockchain is poised for exponential adoption given regulatory support.
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Education as Catalyst: Philippine Blockchain Week’s myth-busting curriculum underscores the importance of public–private dialogue in emerging markets.
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Infrastructure Innovation: The D.O.G.E Foundation’s modular, high-throughput chain exemplifies the next wave of layer-1 networks addressing real-time, real-world use cases.
Today’s stories convey that blockchain’s next chapter will be written through strategic token launches, global convenings, regulatory clarity, educational outreach, and radical infrastructure redesign. By tracking these threads, industry participants can anticipate opportunities in DeFi, NFTs, Web3 games, and enterprise integration. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blocks & Headlines, where we’ll continue to decode the innovations shaping decentralized finance.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
DUBAI, UAE, April 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, and the first mainstream cryptocurrency exchange to incorporate Gold & FX trading on its trading platform, is thrilled to introduce the Gold & FX Referral Program as Gold price skyrockets. This exclusive offer is available to eligible Bybit users only, with up to 10,000 USDT in bonuses available for top referrers.
In April 2025, Gold prices surpassed $3,500 per ounce for the first time in history, soaring by 42% year-on-year. Despite brief corrections, the oldest safe haven asset’s price growth continues to seem unstoppable as macroeconomic uncertainty intensifies. Live since August 2024, Bybit’s Gold & FX trading volumes also hit an all-time-high — exceeding $24 billion over a 24 hour period on April 17, 2025.
To help traders capture the momentum, Bybit has unlocked a total 180,000 USDT prize pool for Gold and FX traders from now until 10AM UTC, May 22 on a first-come, first-serve basis. Eligible referrers may register at the campaign page to join the referral mania, refer friends to make a first-time deposit and trade Bybit’s MT5 platform to win rewards:
- Referrers can each earn up to 10,000 USDT if their successful referees make an eligible first-time deposit and trade the minimum required number of lots.
- Referees shall automatically qualify for zero fees when trading the following indices with MT5 on Bybit: DJ30, NAS100, CHINA50, SP500, GER40, US2000, HK50, FRA40, Nikkei225, UK100, EU50, ES35, HKTECH, BVSPX, SA40, SPI200, SGP20 and TWINDEX.
With Gold forecast to reach new heights and Bybit expanding its multi asset class products across its various exchange trading capabilities, more traders are expected to turn to the exchange for access to their comprehensive suite of trading tools, with unique market offerings ranging from trending tokens to global indices. Bybit is committed to leading in user experience and redefining rewards in the crypto trading space.
Restrictions apply. Users may refer to the campaign page for further details.
#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk
About Bybit
Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
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Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 24, 2025 (Decrypt, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, 80 Level, UNDP/BGA)
In an era defined by rapid innovation and ever-shifting regulatory landscapes, blockchain continues to prove its mettle across diverse sectors—from data privacy and prediction markets to gaming and sustainable development. Today in Blockchain, we explore five major developments shaping the decentralized world on April 24, 2025:
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Europe’s New Privacy Guidelines: How the EDPB’s draft rules may redefine on-chain data handling.
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Canada’s Blockchain Advantage: Lessons from Consensus Toronto on agility, talent, and national strategy.
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Prediction Markets for Science: DeSci’s leap toward crowdsourced validation and the reproducibility crisis.
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Ubisoft’s NFT Gaming Gamble: Yet another Web3 pivot in mainstream video games—and why it matters.
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Blockchain for Good Accelerator: The UNDP joins forces with the Blockchain for Good Alliance to fuel SDG-focused innovation.
This op-ed–style briefing strips away the noise to deliver concise yet detailed coverage, incisive commentary, and big-picture implications for developers, entrepreneurs, regulators, and enthusiasts alike. Strap in as we decode today’s key blockchain headlines.
1. Europe’s Data Privacy Guardrails: EDPB’s Draft Blockchain Guidelines
What happened:
On April 22, 2025, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) published draft guidelines clarifying how personal data must be stored and accessed on blockchain networks to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Key takeaways include:
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Minimize on-chain data: Avoid embedding personally identifiable information directly into immutable ledgers.
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Data Protection by Design & by Default: Mandate early-stage DPIAs (Data Protection Impact Assessments) for any blockchain project touching personal data.
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Controlled access & erasure mechanisms: Develop off-chain storage layers and governance protocols to satisfy “right to rectification” and “right to be forgotten” requirements.
Source: Decrypt
Why it matters:
GDPR’s foundational principles clash with blockchain’s inherent immutability and transparency. By issuing these guidelines, the EDPB seeks to preserve individual privacy rights without stifling decentralized innovation. However, the tension between censorship-resistant networks and regulator-mandated mutability raises profound design challenges.
Analysis & Commentary:
Today’s guidance is overdue but pivotal. As Bryn Bennett of Hacken reminds us, “Privacy isn’t an add-on—it’s infrastructure.” Projects that ignore privacy-by-design risk not only fines but also eroded user trust. Conversely, decentralized privacy pioneers like Nym Technologies warn that retrofitting GDPR onto public blockchains can compromise both privacy and sovereignty. In my view, the next frontier lies in hybrid architectures—leveraging off-chain zero-knowledge proofs, secure enclaves, and permissioned sidechains—to reconcile transparency with confidentiality. Europe’s blueprint could become a global reference, influencing regulators in Asia-Pacific, North America, and beyond to articulate their own blockchain-specific data rules.
2. Canada’s Blockchain Advantage: Small Enough to Move Fast, Big Enough to Matter
What happened:
At Consensus Toronto 2025, CoinDesk columnist William Mougayar argued that Canada is uniquely positioned to outpace other G7 nations in blockchain adoption, thanks to:
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Homegrown talent & heritage: Ethereum’s origins in Toronto and thriving developer ecosystems in Montreal and Vancouver.
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Regulatory agility: Streamlined federal-provincial coordination, pro-innovation tax credits, and pilot sandbox frameworks.
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Strategic national vision: Proposals to mandate crypto access in Canadian banks, integrate digital assets into capital markets, and even explore a national cryptocurrency reserve.
Source: CoinDesk
Why it matters:
While the U.S. grapples with interagency turf wars between the SEC, CFTC, and others, Canada’s structural simplicity offers a template for coherent blockchain policymaking. This could accelerate capital inflows, enterprise pilots, and global competition for fintech talent.
Analysis & Commentary:
Canada’s playbook hinges on being “small enough to pivot, yet big enough to impact”. As blockchain matures beyond niche use cases, national champions will emerge from jurisdictions that marry regulatory clarity with creative incentives. I predict that within two years, Toronto and Montreal will rival Miami and Dubai as leading hubs for DeFi, tokenization, and digital-asset custody. But execution is everything—if Canada can streamline licensing, shore up AML/CTF safeguards, and embed digital literacy into its education system, it could truly leapfrog entrenched incumbents.
3. Prediction Markets in Science: DeSci’s Bold Experiment
What happened:
In an opinion piece for Cointelegraph, Dr. Sasha Shilina explored how blockchain-powered prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket, Pump.science) are being repurposed to address the scientific reproducibility crisis. Highlights include:
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Crowdsourced forecasting: Researchers and investors stake tokens to bet on experimental outcomes, incentivizing rigorous study design.
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Financial accountability: Monetary losses for flawed work create a rapid feedback loop, potentially weeding out irreproducible findings.
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Regulatory hurdles: Jurisdictions still classify these markets as gambling, complicating mainstream adoption.
Source: Cointelegraph
Why it matters:
Traditional peer review can take months or years to expose methodological flaws. Decentralized prediction markets promise near-real-time validation, democratizing scientific oversight and reducing wasteful replication studies.
Analysis & Commentary:
Prediction markets offer an “open-science complement”—not a replacement—to scholarly publishing. By aligning economic incentives with truth-seeking, they could elevate data integrity and funders’ confidence. However, unchecked speculation risks gaming the system, especially if liquidity pools are dominated by a handful of whales. The solution lies in multi-stakeholder governance: academic consortia, journal publishers, and veteran researchers collaborating to set market parameters, oracle standards, and dispute-resolution mechanisms. In my view, the coming year will determine whether DeSci moves from proof-of-concept to institutional legitimacy—or remains a fascinating experiment.
4. Ubisoft’s NFT Gaming Bet: Might & Magic Fates
What happened:
On April 24, 2025, gaming giant Ubisoft announced Might & Magic Fates, its third blockchain game in under six months, developed in partnership with Immutable. Key features:
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NFT trading cards: Creatures, spells, and artifacts minted as on-chain assets.
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Optional Web3 layer: Players can choose between traditional gameplay or unlocking digital ownership via NFTs.
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Community backlash: Early reactions decry “Web3 slop,” with seasoned gamers lamenting lack of gameplay previews.
Source: 80 Level
Why it matters:
Ubisoft’s persistence underscores a broader corporate push into play-to-earn and digital-ownership models. Despite vocal skepticism, top publishers see NFTs as a path to new revenue streams and player engagement metrics.
Analysis & Commentary:
I admire Ubisoft’s willingness to iterate—but will “third time be the charm”? Past misfires suggest they’ve yet to nail the balance between token mechanics and fun. If Fates can deliver rich narrative, balanced tokenomics, and genuine secondary-market value, it might convert skeptics. Otherwise, gamers will continue associating NFTs with pump-and-dump schemes. Successful blockchain gaming will require tight integration of on-chain assets with deep, off-chain gameplay loops—think on-chain skins that evolve with player achievements or governance tokens that shape in-game lore. Ubisoft’s true test will be fostering an ecosystem where NFT ownership enhances, rather than distracts from, core gameplay.
5. Blockchain for Good: UNDP & Alliance Launch Global Accelerator
What happened:
The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and EMURGO Labs, launched the SDG Blockchain Accelerator on April 24, 2025. Program highlights:
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4-month accelerator: Tailored training, mentorship, and technical support via UNDP AltFinLab and EMURGO Labs.
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Multi-chain innovation: Encourages solutions across Cardano, Ethereum, and other protocols.
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Up to $1.5 million in post-acceleration grants: Equity-free funding to scale blockchain solutions addressing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Source: UNDP Innovation
Why it matters:
This initiative bridges Web3 technology with humanitarian impact, channeling blockchain’s transparency and efficiency into real-world challenges—financial inclusion, supply-chain traceability, carbon credits, and more.
Analysis & Commentary:
SDG-focused accelerators signal a shift from speculative token swaps to impact-driven development. By equipping UNDP personnel and global innovators with blockchain toolkits, the program can catalyze projects that deliver measurable social value. Success stories—like transparent vaccine distribution chains or micro-loan platforms for underserved communities—will validate blockchain’s promise beyond hype cycles. I urge stakeholders to watch for pilots that blend on-chain verification with off-chain delivery, ensuring that funding flows transparently and outcomes are independently audited. If this Alliance proves out, it could redefine public-private partnerships in digital development.
Conclusion: Today’s Takeaways & Tomorrow’s Roadmap
These five headlines illustrate blockchain’s multifaceted evolution:
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Regulatory Maturation: Europe’s privacy guidelines spotlight the need for nuanced frameworks to guide on-chain data use.
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National Strategies: Canada’s agile approach demonstrates how government policy can catalyze ecosystem growth without heavy-handed bureaucracy.
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Decentralized Science: Prediction markets could revolutionize research validation, forging new alliances between academia and DeFi.
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Corporate Experimentation: Ubisoft’s repeated NFT forays reveal both the promise and pitfalls of integrating blockchain into mainstream entertainment.
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Mission-Driven Innovation: The SDG Blockchain Accelerator aligns decentralized tech with societal goals, charting a course for truly “blockchain for good” outcomes.
As blockchain technology accelerates, the imperative for thoughtful design, cross-sector collaboration, and impact measurement has never been clearer. Whether tackling data privacy conflicts, mobilizing global talent, democratizing scientific rigor, reinventing digital ownership, or driving sustainable development, today’s stories offer a roadmap for the next chapter of decentralized innovation.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s edition of Blocks & Headlines, where we continue decoding the daily pulse of the blockchain revolution.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 24, 2025 (Decrypt, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, 80 Level, UNDP/BGA) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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