Blockchain
Asosiasi Blockchain Indonesia: What’s Up with Crypto in Indonesia?
The global crypto market is currently experiencing a complete decline. If people consider the increase in the last few years, the total market capitalization of crypto assets has reached more than 3 trillion US dollars, but currently, the overall capitalization value has been observed to fall below 1 trillion US dollars or around 901 million US dollars on Wednesday (29/6). This figure is the lowest achievement for the first time since February 2021. This phenomenon of falling market prices for crypto assets is known as a bear market, a cycle that is currently being faced by crypto markets globally. Unlike other asset markets, the cycle of the crypto asset market moves much faster.
In the crypto industry, bear markets are commonplace and only temporary. From this bear market phenomenon, according to Asih Karnengsih, Chairwoman of the Indonesian Blockchain Association (A-B-I) that “bear markets have become commonplace in the crypto space, lastly happened in 2018, and we all know what happened after that, this momentum is a natural process of eliminating players who enter this industry only because of valuation or numbers alone, while the real players are increasingly focusing on building and developing.” In addition, there are several factors that have influenced the condition of the crypto asset market in recent months, namely:
- Bitcoin (BTC) showed its worst price movement in more than a decade in the second quarter of 2022, with the price of BTC touching $17,600 on June 18.
- The fall in the value of Terra and its two assets (LUNA and UST) which were previously crypto assets with a market capitalization of 40 billion US dollars in April, was in the top 10 according to Coin Market Cap. In July, its market capitalization value was only 800 million US dollars. The LUNA coin is down 99% and the stablecoin UST lost its peg value against the US dollar (depeg).
- Solana’s crypto asset ecosystem, which was in trouble after the discovery of thousands of Solana-based wallets, has been hacked. According to Bloomberg, Elliptic, a blockchain forensics company, said that more than 7,900 of Solana’s wallets had been stolen and the loss was estimated at more than 5.2 million US dollars. Meanwhile, PeckShield as one of the security companies said that due to the Solana-based wallet hacking, the victim had suffered a loss of about 8 million US dollars.
- Several crypto asset service providers who are in financial trouble due to the current bear market conditions have gone bankrupt, as happened in:
- Three Arrows Capital (3AC) was unable to meet its liquidity on June 29 due to a default on crypto loan payments of more than US$650 million.
- Celsius Network announced the termination of all drawdowns due to the bankruptcy of illiquid assets. However, Celsius is currently proposing another solution to restructure the company by mining BTC on Monday (18/7).
- Vault has also suspended withdrawals for its more than 800,000 customers.
- Babel Finance has temporarily suspended the withdrawal and redemption of crypto assets because according to the management, Babel Finance is facing high liquidity pressure.
The existence of financial problems that led to the issue of bankruptcy in the midst of bear market conditions caused several companies that deposited their digital assets in these companies to experience a direct impact. One of them is the Prospective Crypto Asset Physical Trader/Exchange registered with Bappebti/CoFTRA, Zipmex. In its official release, Zipmex explained that it had deposited assets with Babel Finance and Celsius since the beginning of ZipUp+’s operations and had announced a temporary suspension to the process of withdrawing funds and crypto assets. Zipmex has made various efforts to overcome these problems, including fundraising, legal action, and restructuring, and now Zipmex has reactivated the withdrawal of funds and digital assets on Trade Wallet. In addition, since August 2, 2022, Zipmex has also released Solana, Ripple, Cardano, and Ethereum crypto assets from Z Wallet to users’ Trade Wallet on a regular basis. Zipmex through its official communication channel also announced that the management has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) which are part of the restructuring plan by introducing fresh funding to the company through an investor group led by Zipmex’s shareholders to keep the company’s operations running and maintained their integrity.
Then, what will happen to the future of the crypto market industry? Asih said, “Actually, even from a valuation point of view, 2 years ago the value of bitcoin was around $8000, currently even though it’s a bear market, the value of bitcoin reaches $20,000 so it can be seen from a long-term perspective, crypto is here to stay.” Oscar Darmawan, as CEO of Indodax also shared his opinion that “at a time of bearish market like this, it is the right moment for investors to collect crypto portfolios”.
With the challenges faced by the crypto industry, the regulation from Bappebti/CoFTRA has been very accommodating in terms of consumer security with the necessity of a Crypto Futures Exchange. Malikulkusno Utomo, who is often called Dimas, General Counsel of PINTU, participated in giving his views on the formation of a crypto exchange, according to Dimas “the establishment of a crypto futures exchange can be immediately realized to encourage the advancement of the crypto industry in Indonesia, increase public trust, provide information distribution, and protect the investors, PINTU believes “it is more appropriate if the futures exchange is an exchange that has gone through a series of strict processes and complies with the requirements according to applicable regulations”. Oscar also added that he hopes that the relevant government “can soon inaugurate the Digital Future Exchange (DFX) crypto futures exchange which will later serve to help oversee crypto transactions to be more secure and protect crypto asset traders. I am optimistic that the establishment of this futures exchange can advance the crypto ecosystem in Indonesia to be even better”.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga said that the establishment of the Indonesian Crypto Exchange is almost complete, “the point is that it is close, hopefully as soon as this year,” Jerry said on Thursday (28/7). In terms of the readiness of the DFX consortium, Alex Kim as CEO of Upbit APAC who is part of the consortium said “risk mitigation to institutions regulated and supervised by Bappebti/CoFTRA, when market conditions are bad, business actors and consumers’ funds can be protected by this ecosystem. DFX as a prospective crypto exchange is ready to operate and contribute to the Indonesian crypto asset industry ecosystem, in accordance with the mandate of government regulations, especially Bappebti/CoFTRA. This is why we really welcome and look forward to the finalization of the DFX”.
SOURCE Asosiasi Blockchain Indonesia
A Pivotal Moment for Blockchain’s Many Frontiers
Today’s briefing arrives at a crossroads in blockchain’s evolution. From AI-driven Layer-1 grant programs to gamified resets in Web3, from supply-chain trust revolutions to exchange-driven token incentives, and high-stakes regulatory leadership shifts, the industry is charting new territory on multiple fronts. As builders, investors, and policymakers navigate this shifting terrain, five stories stand out for their potential to reshape blockchain’s trajectory:
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Lightchain Protocol AI unveils a $150,000 developer grant program to onboard top builders in AI × blockchain.
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Blockchain gaming experiences its lowest engagement of 2025, signaling a sector reset toward sustainability.
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Norwegian Seafood Council research highlights blockchain’s trust-building power in global supply chains.
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MEXC Exchange announces the Einstein (EIN) listing on July 20, 2025, buoyed by a $50 million rewards event.
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Summer Mersinger, a US CFTC commissioner, is tapped as CEO of the Blockchain Association, marking a pivotal regulatory turn.
In this op-ed–style briefing, we’ll unpack each development, explore its implications for blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, DeFi, and NFTs, and assess how these narratives intersect to define today’s momentum.
1. Lightchain Protocol AI’s $150K Grant: Catalyzing Decentralized Intelligence
What happened: On May 15, 2025, Lightchain Protocol AI—a Layer-1 blockchain optimized for AI workloads—launched its Developer Grant & Ecosystem Incentive Program, pledging up to $150,000 in total funding to on-board teams building dApps, explorers, wallets, analytics dashboards, DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, and AI-powered modules on its network. Grants are milestone-based (up to $5,000 per milestone), accompanied by technical support, co-marketing, and ecosystem visibility. Source: Bitcoin News
Why it matters: Lightchain’s move underscores the growing fusion of AI and blockchain. By allocating resources to builders at the intersection of these technologies, the protocol signals that the next wave of innovation will hinge on intelligent smart contracts, federated learning coordination, and on-chain decision-making. For developers, this grant lowers barriers to entry and emphasizes sustainable, value-driven growth over token speculation.
> “We’re seeking impactful projects that align with Lightchain AI’s goal of bridging AI and blockchain—everything from AI prediction markets to compute marketplaces.” > — Lightchain Protocol AI Core Team
Implications:
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DeFi & NFTs: Expect AI-augmented lending protocols and NFT platforms with dynamic metadata driven by on-chain models.
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Ecosystem Growth: Lightchain’s aggressive grant strategy may spur competitors (e.g., Ethereum layer-2s) to bolster their own builder incentives.
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Governance & Sustainability: The milestone-based approach aligns funding with tangible progress, a model DeFi DAOs may increasingly adopt for resource allocation.
Source: Bitcoin News
2. Blockchain Gaming’s 2025 Low: A “Reset” Toward Quality
What happened: According to Crypto.news, blockchain gaming saw daily active wallets dip to 4.8 million in April 2025—a 10% month-over-month decline and the lowest point of the year for Web3 gaming. Share of the DApp ecosystem for gaming fell to 21%, now tied with DeFi, while AI projects surged to 16% of on-chain activity. Funding also plunged nearly 70% from March to $21 million in April, though Arbitrum Gaming Ventures deployed $10 million from its $200 million fund to support titles like Wildcard, XAI Network, and Proof of Play. Source: Crypto.news
> “Capital is harder to secure, but that’s not necessarily bad. Weak projects are falling away, and funds are flowing into builders laying the groundwork for the next generation of blockchain games.” > — Sara Gherghelas, DappRadar Analyst
Why it matters: The downturn reflects a market recalibration from token-centric models toward user engagement, game mechanics, and interoperability—key for mainstream adoption. High-profile missteps (e.g., Square Enix shelving Symbiogenesis, Sega’s experimental launch of KAI: Battle of Three Kingdoms) contrast with enduring partnerships like Ubisoft + Immutable’s Might & Magic card game.
Implications:
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DeFi and Gaming Convergence: As DeFi’s share remains steady, expect crossover innovations (e.g., on-chain staking integrated into gameplay).
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Investor Focus: Sustainable tokenomics over ‘yin-yang’ hype; capital will favor projects with robust retention metrics and revenue models.
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NFT Utility: Gaming’s reset may accelerate evolution of NFTs beyond collectibles into dynamic, utility-driven assets.
Source: Crypto.news
3. Deepening Trust in Seafood with Blockchain Transparency
What happened: Perishable News reported on May 15, 2025, that the Norwegian Seafood Council found 89% of consumers desire more information on seafood sourcing. Producers are piloting decentralized blockchain solutions to trace products “sea to shop floor,” sharing immutable data on species, harvest location, handling, and quality checks to reassure ethically conscious buyers. Source: Perishable News
Why it matters: While most blockchain discourse orbits finance and gaming, supply-chain applications represent a mass-market use case for Web3. Immutable provenance data combats fraud, illegal fishing, and mislabelling—an urgent concern as global seafood consumption climbs.
Implications:
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Consumer Engagement: Brands adopting on-chain traceability can premium-price products by verifying sustainability standards, fair labor practices, and environmental impact.
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DeFi Integration: Tokenized incentives could reward ethical producers or create staking mechanisms for supply-chain stakeholders.
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Broader Web3 Adoption: Success in seafood may catalyze blockchain tracking in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and luxury goods.
Source: Perishable News
4. MEXC’s Einstein (EIN) Listing & $50 Million Rewards Event
What happened: PR Newswire announced on May 16, 2025, that MEXC, a leading global crypto exchange, will list the Einstein (EIN) token on July 20, 2025 (UTC). To celebrate, MEXC has launched a $50 million EIN rewards event, offering incentives through trading competitions, referral bonuses, staking pools, and community tasks. Source: PR Newswire
Why it matters: Large-scale rewards events can drive short-term volume spikes and social engagement, but they also test community loyalty and tokenomics viability. EIN’s positioning as a “science-minded” utility token in educational and research partnerships adds thematic depth to what might otherwise be a routine exchange listing.
Implications:
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Trading & Community Growth: Expect surges in trading volume, potentially setting new ATHs for MEXC’s platform metrics.
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DeFi Crossplay: EIN holders may see integration into DeFi protocols for governance, liquidity mining, and educational grants.
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Regulatory Watch: Large-scale token events continue to attract scrutiny over securities classifications and promotional compliance.
Source: PR Newswire
5. Summer Mersinger Becomes CEO of the Blockchain Association
What happened: Gadgets360 reported that on May 14, 2025, the Blockchain Association confirmed that Summer Mersinger, currently a commissioner at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), will step down on May 30 and begin as the Association’s CEO on June 2. Mersinger has championed balanced, consumer-focused digital asset rules and will spearhead advocacy for fit-for-purpose legislation alongside US regulators. Source: Gadgets360
> “Summer’s knowledge of how elected officials think through complex questions will be vital as we await next steps on stablecoin and market structure bills.” > — Blockchain Association
Why it matters: The appointment bridges regulatory expertise and industry advocacy at a moment when Congress is eyeing stablecoin frameworks and broader crypto oversight. Mersinger’s shift signals a blurring of lines between government and industry, with potential to accelerate law-making and foster public-private collaboration.
Implications:
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Policy Acceleration: Expect renewed momentum on stablecoin legislation, DeFi disclosures, and market-structure rules by August 2025, per administration timelines.
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Industry Confidence: Firms may feel emboldened to innovate under clearer regulatory signals, supporting growth in DeFi, NFT marketplaces, and tokenized asset offerings.
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Global Alignment: US-led regulatory frameworks often influence EU and APAC regimes—this leadership change could ripple through the international policy landscape.
Source: Gadgets360
Conclusion: Five Threads Weaving Tomorrow’s Blockchain Fabric
Today’s headlines paint a multifaceted portrait of blockchain’s ongoing maturation:
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Ecosystem Incentives: Grant programs like Lightchain’s signal a builder-first ethos, turbocharging AI × blockchain synergy.
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Quality Over Hype: Gaming’s dip reflects a necessary market reset, steering capital to sustainable, engagement-driven projects.
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Real-World Utility: Supply-chain transparency demonstrates blockchain’s power beyond finance, enhancing consumer trust.
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Tokenomics in Motion: Exchange listings and rewards events underscore the ever-evolving interplay between liquidity, community, and utility.
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Regulatory Convergence: Leadership moves like Mersinger’s appointment highlight the tightening feedback loop between policymakers and the Web3 sector.
As blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, DeFi, and NFTs continue to intersect, today’s developments underscore a pivotal shift: the industry is moving from speculative frontiers to pragmatic, real-world applications—backed by funding, governance, and policy frameworks that prioritize longevity and trust. Keep these threads in mind as we watch the next chapters unfold.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 16, 2025 appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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