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Ether continued to rise whilst Bitcoin fell this week, setting the stage for an interesting start to the new month in this final week of April. Here are your top stories for the final week of April 2023 from the world of Web3. 

Bitcoin drops after a hectic month in the markets.

Bitcoin’s price consolidation around $27.3k may appear as a negative sign to some investors who were hoping for a price surge. However, this drop in price could be an indication of a stable market after experiencing several months of volatile fluctuations. In the past month, the cryptocurrency market has seen significant price swings, with Bitcoin reaching an all-time high of $64.8k in April, followed by a steep drop in value to below $30k.

Despite this, there are still positive indications for the cryptocurrency market, such as the increased adoption of Bitcoin as a form of payment by major companies such as Tesla and Mastercard. Additionally, the upcoming events in the US, such as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, could have a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market.

Analysts predict that the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates could result in a sell-off of risky assets such as cryptocurrencies. On the other hand, the continued stimulus measures taken by the government to support the economy could increase demand for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as an alternative investment option.

As a result, the cryptocurrency market is expected to remain highly volatile in the upcoming month, with the potential for significant price movements depending on the outcome of these events. Therefore, investors in the cryptocurrency market should be cautious and keep a close eye on market developments to make informed investment decisions.

Ether continues to gain, reaching $1.8K

The rise of Ether, the cryptocurrency powering the Ethereum blockchain, to a high of $1800 this week has been a significant development in the cryptocurrency market. This impressive increase in value is a result of several factors, including the growing interest and adoption of the Ethereum network, increased use cases for Ether, and the recent Shanghai update.

As the flagship coin of the Ethereum blockchain, Ether’s value is directly tied to the success and growth of the Ethereum network. The Ethereum network has been gaining momentum over the past few months, with several large companies and organizations adopting its blockchain technology. This has led to increased demand for Ether, as it is the primary means of exchange within the Ethereum network.

In addition, the recent Shanghai update has addressed some of the scalability concerns surrounding the Ethereum network, reassuring investors and users alike. The update has improved the network’s transaction processing speed and reduced gas fees, making it more efficient and affordable for users to transact on the network.

Overall, these developments have led to increased confidence in the Ethereum network and its cryptocurrency, Ether. With no signs of slowing down, it is expected that the value of Ether will continue to rise as more companies and individuals adopt the Ethereum network for their applications and transactions. However, as with any cryptocurrency, the market remains highly volatile, and investors should be cautious and conduct thorough research before investing.

Bitcoin beats gold as investors prepare for a weakened dollar.

The American markets have faced several challenges this month, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq falling from their start-of-month standings. These declines have been driven by a variety of factors, including concerns over rising inflation, global supply chain disruptions, and uncertainty around the ongoing pandemic.

Typically, during times of market volatility and uncertainty, investors turn to safe-haven assets such as gold. However, over the past few weeks, Bitcoin has been outperforming gold in value, signaling a shift in investor sentiment towards cryptocurrencies.

Despite recent controversy and pressure from American regulatory bodies, investor confidence in Bitcoin has remained strong, which is a positive sign for the future of cryptocurrency technology as a whole. The recent rise in Bitcoin’s value is a testament to the growing mainstream acceptance and adoption of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate investment option.

While there have been concerns about the potential risks and uncertainties associated with cryptocurrencies, many investors are beginning to see them as a viable alternative to traditional asset classes. The ability to conduct fast and secure transactions across borders without the need for intermediaries has been particularly attractive to investors looking to diversify their portfolios and hedge against inflation.

Twitter ends the blue-check, paving the way for rival Bluesky. 

Twitter’s recent decision to end its legacy blue tick support has left many of its users confused and frustrated. The blue tick was a symbol of authenticity and credibility, used to verify notable public figures or journalists. However, the original verification scheme has been replaced by a paid option, leading many of Twitter’s native audience to seek alternative, more secure social media platforms.

One such platform that has seen a surge in interest is Bluesky, a decentralized social protocol-based social media site. Within a short period of time, over 30,000 people have signed up to its beta waitlist, attracted by its promise of a more open and transparent social media experience.

According to Jay Graber, the main blockchain developer of Bluesky, the platform aims to create a social media architecture that brings together third-party services into a seamless user experience. The goal is to create an open ecosystem that can evolve more quickly than a single approach to curation or moderation developed within one company.

Bluesky’s decentralized approach is built on the principles of Web3 technology, which aims to create a more democratic and decentralized internet. By using blockchain technology, Bluesky hopes to create a platform that is more secure, transparent, and resistant to censorship, making it a more appealing alternative to centralized social media platforms like Twitter.

It is hoped that platforms like Bluesky will play a significant role in bringing the benefits of Web3 technology to a mainstream audience. By providing a more secure and transparent social media experience, they can help to restore trust and confidence in social media, which has been eroded by concerns around fake news, misinformation, and data privacy.

Overall, the interest in Bluesky and other decentralized social media platforms is a positive sign that there is a growing demand for more open, transparent, and secure social media alternatives. As the industry continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see more innovation in this space, with new platforms emerging that offer even greater levels of security, privacy, and transparency.