Blockchain
Parity Releases Zebra, the First Alternative Zcash Client, to the Zcash Foundation
Today marks the alpha release of Zebra, the first Zcash client written entirely in Rust. Tasked by the Zcash Foundation to create a new alternative client to zcashd, Parity Technologies completed the initial implementation of a new Zcash client two months ahead of schedule. The codebase has now been handed over to the Zcash Foundation, which will develop and maintain Zebra. The client offers the Zcash community an independent alternative to the Electric Coin Company’s zcashd.
The project united Parity’s experience in building blockchain clients with the Zcash Foundation’s expertise in cryptography and zero-knowledge proofs. Both teams gained new knowledge and skills, while providing the Zcash community with a multi-client ecosystem.
“During our work on this Zcash client at Parity, we’ve gained insight and expertise into what it takes to build a Zcash client, while laying the foundations for a future Polkadot bridge. At the same time, the Zcash Foundation has been able to quickly kickstart a client implementation, creating a useful, competitive alternative to zcashd.
The community wins across the board, as there are now more core developers working on clients, with more interests represented and clients taking different approaches on how to build apps on top. Zcash can now boast a more diversified community that can effectively tailor experiences for Layer 2 developers as well as end-users.”
—Parity Technologies CTO, Fredrik Harryson
Alternative client implementations help developers quickly detect implementation-specific bugs that could cause consensus-related issues. Multiple client implementations also attract a broader audience of developers, who can start contributing in a language they’re familiar with. Zebra allows Rust developers to easily start hacking on and contributing to Zcash.
Open-source and licensed under GPL v3.0, Zebra has already been handed over to the Zcash Foundation’s Github repo where it will continue to be developed into a full-featured Zcash client. Zebra was derived from Parity Bitcoin, which led to a quick turnover and fast roadmap after the announcement of the partnership several months ago.
View Lightning Talk: Anna Kaplan (Zcash Foundation) & Marek Kotewicz (Parity)
With Zebra, users, developers and miners have a new avenue to engage with the Zcash ecosystem. Read the documentation in the Zebra repo as it continues to update and new features are added by the Zcash Foundation.
The release of Zebra marks the fourth major public network client implementation delivered by Parity Technologies. While Zebra will be primarily maintained by the Zcash Foundation going forward, Parity has learned a great deal in the development process, adding to the team’s extensive knowledge and experience in building core Web3 infrastructure. Special thanks to Anna Kaplan, Josh Cincinnati, and the rest of the Zcash Foundation team for making this partnership so successful and enjoyable.
SOURCE Parity Technologies
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – January 30, 2025 (Dogecoin, U.S. Army, DeepSeek, Web3)
Introduction
The blockchain and cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, with major advancements in institutional adoption, regulatory modernization, and innovative applications. Today’s roundup covers Dogecoin’s new blockchain strategy, the U.S. Army’s use of blockchain for tracking aid, notable blockchain startups, domain challenges for Web3 companies, the first AI blockchain agent, and Luxembourg’s legal updates for custody chains. Let’s break down the biggest headlines shaping the future of blockchain technology and decentralized finance.
Dogecoin Unveils Strategic Blockchain Movement
Expanding Beyond a Meme Coin
Dogecoin, often viewed as a lighthearted cryptocurrency, is making serious strides toward blockchain utility with a new strategic initiative aimed at expanding its use case beyond simple transactions. The Dogecoin Foundation has announced plans to integrate layer-2 solutions, smart contracts, and interoperability features, potentially positioning DOGE as a serious competitor in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space.
This move signals a shift in the perception of Dogecoin, which has long relied on community-driven momentum. With the new strategy, DOGE could become an integral part of the growing Web3 ecosystem.
Source: Crypto Briefing
U.S. Army Utilizes Blockchain for Aid Tracking in Ukraine
Military Adopts Emerging Tech for Transparency
The U.S. Army is leveraging blockchain, big data, and generative AI to track billions of dollars in aid sent to Ukraine. This marks a significant step in blockchain’s adoption by governments and defense agencies to enhance transparency and prevent fraud.
By using blockchain for immutable record-keeping, military officials aim to improve logistics tracking, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure secure auditing of aid distribution. This could set a precedent for future government adoption of blockchain-based verification systems.
Source: Breaking Defense
10 Blockchain Startups to Watch in 2025
Innovation Driving the Next Wave of Web3
A new report highlights ten emerging blockchain startups poised to disrupt industries from finance to supply chain management. These companies are working on scalable smart contracts, decentralized identity solutions, and improved cross-chain interoperability.
Among the standout names are startups focusing on privacy-preserving transactions, institutional DeFi tools, and real-world asset tokenization, reinforcing blockchain’s growing role in mainstream finance and enterprise adoption.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Web3 Companies Struggle with Domain Name Challenges
Decentralization vs. Traditional Domain Ownership
As blockchain companies push forward with Web3 adoption, many are encountering significant hurdles in securing relevant domain names. Unlike traditional domains governed by ICANN, blockchain-native domains such as .crypto and .eth exist outside standard regulatory frameworks, leading to disputes and accessibility issues.
Industry experts are calling for greater collaboration between blockchain projects and domain registrars to ensure seamless Web3 adoption while maintaining online accessibility for users.
Source: Domain Name Wire
Klaus Agent Becomes the First Blockchain AI to Use Custom DeepSeek Model
AI and Blockchain Converge
The Klaus Agent, an AI-powered blockchain agent, has integrated the DeepSeek AI model to enhance decision-making, smart contract automation, and decentralized application (dApp) intelligence. This innovation represents a major step in merging artificial intelligence with blockchain networks, allowing for more sophisticated automation in DeFi, NFT trading, and DAO governance.
As AI and blockchain continue to converge, the potential for autonomous smart contract execution and predictive analytics is expected to grow, leading to more efficient decentralized systems.
Source: GlobeNewswire
Luxembourg Modernizes Custody Chain Laws for Blockchain
A Legal Framework for Tokenized Assets
Luxembourg, a key financial hub in Europe, has updated its custody chain regulations to accommodate blockchain-based assets. These changes are designed to facilitate institutional adoption of tokenized securities and digital asset custody solutions.
By providing a clear regulatory framework, Luxembourg aims to attract fintech firms, investment funds, and digital asset custodians, further strengthening its position as a leader in blockchain finance.
Source: National Law Review
Conclusion
The latest blockchain developments underscore the rapid evolution of the industry, from Dogecoin’s strategic shift to military adoption of blockchain for transparency. As AI and blockchain begin to merge, and governments refine regulations, we are witnessing a pivotal moment in decentralized technology.
With institutional interest growing and regulatory frameworks taking shape, blockchain and Web3 technologies are moving closer to mainstream acceptance. Stay tuned for the next Blocks & Headlines briefing as we continue to track the most significant trends shaping the future of decentralized finance and digital assets.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – January 30, 2025 (Dogecoin, U.S. Army, DeepSeek, Web3) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Blockchain
Fintech as a Service Business Research Report 2025: Global Market to Reach $1.1 Trillion by 2030 from $387 Billion in 2024 – SMB Adoption of Fintech Services Spurs Market Expansion Opportunities
Fintech as a Service (FaaS) Market
Blockchain
From Apes to Humans: ApeChain Joins Humanity Protocol’s zkProofer Network to Scale Proof of Humanity
The post From Apes to Humans: ApeChain Joins Humanity Protocol’s zkProofer Network to Scale Proof of Humanity appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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