Bitcoin and stock prices surged following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on most trade tariffs, excluding China. 

The S&P 500 surged 9.52% in its biggest gain in five years after Trump paused some tariffs for 90 days despite continued trade tensions with China. Gold jumps 2.6% to $3,059.76, set for best day since October 2023, as investors seek safety amid US-China trade tensions and inflation fears. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, are up by 12.20%, with Bitcoin and Ether up 7.23% and 13.32% respectively in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is ETH, up 13.5%, followed by the SEC's approval of options trading for spot Ether ETFs, boosting institutional interest.

Ethereum (ETH), launched on July 30, 2015, is a decentralized network supporting digital assets, smart contracts, and decentralized applications. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), powers various sectors like finance, art, and gaming. However, investment risks include uncertainty, environmental concerns, and competition. 

, including BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust and others like Bitwise and Grayscale. This approval, granted on April 9, 2024, offers institutional traders a lower-cost investment and hedging tool for Ether exposure. The move is seen as a significant step in increasing institutional interest in Ether. Despite regulatory progress, inflows into Ether funds remain modest compared to Bitcoin.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

Bitcoin and stock prices surged following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on most trade tariffs, excluding China. Bitcoin jumped 4.6% to $81,300, Ethereum rose 6.1% to $1,600, and XRP spiked 10% to $2.03. Stock indices also saw significant gains, with the S&P 500 and Dow climbing over 5%, and the Nasdaq rising more than 8%. However, Chinese goods will face 125% tariffs, escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. The crypto market increased by 3.1%, reaching a value of $2.63 trillion.

Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $37.5 million in net outflows, led by $33.8 million from GBTC and $3.7 million from non-GBTC funds.

 that its long-awaited TGE and airdrop will take place after Points Season 2, which runs from April 11 to July 11, 2025. Season 1 has ended, and the snapshot has been taken. To qualify for the upcoming airdrop, users must supply supported assets like BNB, BTCB, ETH, CAKE, and USDT during Season 2—borrowing doesn’t count.

Beginner

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Bitcoin and stocks surge after Trump announces 90-day tariff pause, excluding China

The SUI Spot ETF proposal by Canary Capital aims to provide regulated exposure to SUI, making it more accessible to both retail and institutional investors.

Canary Capital, a key player in the crypto spot ETF scene, has now added a SUI Spot ETF to its growing list of 

. The filing, submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Mar 17, 2025, seeks to offer investors exposure to the price movements of SUI, the native token of the 

 Sui blockchain. This article dives into the details of the proposed spot ETF, how it works, its current status and the potential impact it could have on the broader crypto market.

 that directly holds SUI, the native cryptocurrency of the 

 network, and tracks its spot price, allowing investors to gain direct exposure to SUI's market performance without directly holding the token.

The Sui Spot ETF’s issuer would establish a fund designed to acquire and hold SUI tokens, aiming to mirror the cryptocurrency's market value. This process involves Authorized Participants (APs), typically large financial institutions that purchase SUI tokens on behalf of the issuer from cryptocurrency exchanges or over-the-counter (OTC) markets. These SUI tokens are then handed over to the fund's custodians for safekeeping. In return, the ETF issues shares that reflect the value of the SUI tokens it holds.

APs play a crucial role in maintaining the ETF's liquidity and ensuring its price stays in line with the underlying SUI tokens. If the ETF's market price exceeds its net asset value (NAV), APs can step in to take advantage of the price difference by buying SUI tokens from the market and exchanging them with the ETF issuer for new ETF shares. This increase in shares helps bring the ETF's price back in line with its NAV.

On the flip side, if the ETF's market price drops below its NAV, APs can buy ETF shares at the discounted price and redeem them with the issuer for an equivalent amount of SUI tokens. This reduces the supply of ETF shares and helps push the market price back toward its NAV. These mechanisms ensure the ETF's price remains closely aligned with the value of the underlying SUI tokens.

Once the ETF shares are issued, they’re listed and traded on traditional stock exchanges, providing investors with a familiar, regulated platform on which to gain exposure to SUI without the need for 

Also, the ETF issuer must comply with regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction where the fund is offered. This includes obtaining the necessary approvals from financial authorities, ensuring transparent reporting and adhering to laws designed to protect investors and maintain market integrity.

With this strategic structure, investors can seamlessly incorporate SUI exposure into their portfolios, benefiting from its performance without the complexities of direct crypto ownership.

On Mar 17, 2025, Canary Capital submitted the first-ever 

 filing. Prior to this, the firm had taken the crucial step of registering a statutory trust for the SUI ETF in Delaware on Mar 7, 2025, a procedure that’s common ahead of an ETF application. Canary Capital is now expected to file a corresponding 19b-4 form with the SEC, which will formally kick off the review process for listing the ETF on a national securities exchange. As of now, no other firms have submitted applications for a SUI Spot ETF, making Canary Capital’s move a significant milestone in the crypto investment space.

The SEC’s response to the SUI ETF application is still pending. However, Steven McClurg, founder of Canary Capital, has 

 confidence that many cryptocurrency ETFs, including the SUI Spot ETF, will receive approval before the end of 2025. This optimism stems from a perceived shift in the regulatory landscape, with the new US administration easing enforcement actions against large cryptocurrency firms and reconsidering some of the stricter custody rules proposed by the previous administration. That said, the final decision 

 until Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump's nominee for SEC chair, is confirmed by the Senate.

Current impact of the Sui Spot ETF application on the crypto market

The SUI Spot ETF filing by Canary Capital has sparked significant price volatility and a wave of bullish sentiment within the market. In the short term, the announcement triggered an 

 within just 24 hours, as it reached a weekly high of $2.50. This rally was accompanied by a notable 45% spike in daily trading volumes, which soared to $842 million, highlighting the market's excitement and immediate reaction to the ETF news.

. This growth is being fueled not only by the anticipation of the ETF filing, but also by increasing institutional interest and strategic partnerships, such as 

's decision to integrate SUI into its reserve. These developments have helped position SUI as a key player in the digital assets space.

Despite this positive momentum, market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. Analysts have drawn comparisons between the potential impact of the SUI ETF and previous Bitcoin ETF-driven rallies, though 

. This reflects the broader volatility within the crypto market, reminding investors of the unpredictable nature of digital asset pricing in the face of market fluctuations.

The ETF filing signals growing confidence in altcoins as legitimate assets. Canary Capital’s strategy to diversify crypto ETFs (including Solana, XRP and Hedera) highlights a shift toward expanding regulated exposure beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

What will it mean if a Sui Spot ETF application is approved?

The approval of a Sui Spot ETF by the SEC would provide a regulated way for investors to gain exposure to SUI, and would also reinforce the legitimacy of digital assets in mainstream finance. Here’s what such an approval could mean:

Canary Capital’s SUI Spot ETF proposal marks a major step in merging crypto innovation with traditional finance. By making SUI more accessible and attracting institutional investors, such an ETF could boost market liquidity and strengthen regulatory trust. If approved, it would not only validate SUI as an investment asset but also set the stage for broader adoption of blockchain-based financial products, shaping the future of crypto investing.

Intermediate

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Sui Spot ETF: Investing in the speed of blockchain evolution

Diversifying into gold, forex and other assets through Bybit Gold&FX helps crypto traders manage risk and stabilize their portfolios amid market volatility.

Navigating financial markets can feel like riding a roller coaster, with sharp twists and turns driven by economic events, inflation and global uncertainty. While crypto offers exciting opportunities, its volatility can be overwhelming. That’s why savvy traders look beyond digital assets, incorporating gold and forex into their strategies to create a more balanced portfolio. 

 makes this approach easier, giving traders the chance to diversify their portfolios into gold, commodities and forex. At the same time, Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX allows traders to tap into expert strategies and advanced tools to 

 and capitalize on macro trends. This handy guide explores three simple steps to embrace macro volatility with Bybit Gold&FX so you can build a more resilient trading approach.

Volatility is a measure of how much asset prices fluctuate over time, indicating the level of uncertainty in financial markets. Higher volatility means bigger price swings, while lower volatility suggests more stability.

Why crypto traders should pay attention to gold, stocks and forex

, with prices often fluctuating dramatically and creating potential risks for investors. To 

, many crypto traders look toward diversifying their portfolios by incorporating traditional assets, such as gold, stocks and foreign exchange (forex), etc. Let’s look at why this matters.

Gold has long been viewed as a hedge against economic uncertainty, inflation and currency devaluation. Unlike crypto, which can experience extreme price swings due to factors like sentiment-driven movements or regulatory shifts, gold tends to retain or even grow in value during economic downturns. 

In April 2025, gold reached a historic milestone, hitting an 

. This rally was largely driven by geopolitical tensions, including renewed trade tariffs and Middle East instability, as well as expectations of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve. During times of global stress, investors often shift capital into gold to preserve wealth — a pattern that has repeated strongly this year. 

For crypto traders, gold presents a way to counterbalance the volatility of digital assets. When crypto markets dip due to regulatory news or macroeconomic shocks, gold may provide stability and a steady store of value.

Equities remain one of the most established investment classes for long-term capital growth and dividend income. In contrast to many cryptocurrencies, which are highly speculative in nature, blue chip stocks and broad indices offer relatively stable returns and are influenced by business fundamentals and macroeconomic trends.

In early 2025, Chinese stocks posted an impressive comeback, with the 

. This growth was fueled by China’s economic stimulus measures, investor-friendly reforms and optimism around industrial recovery. Sectors like electric vehicles, technology and infrastructure saw particularly strong inflows.

For crypto traders, exposure to stocks can provide a more predictable and income-generating component to their portfolio — which is especially useful during periods when the crypto market is consolidating or correcting.

The forex market is the largest and most liquid market in the world, with over $7 trillion traded daily. Unlike crypto, forex operates 24/5 (instead of 24/7), and is deeply influenced by macroeconomic policies, interest rates and geopolitical developments.

In 2025, one standout example of forex movement came from the South African rand, which 

 as gold surged past the $3,000 mark. Since South Africa is a major gold exporter, the rise in gold prices naturally supported South Africa’s local currency. This is a clear example of how commodities, national economies and forex are closely linked, offering savvy traders multiple angles for profit.

For crypto traders, forex offers the opportunity to diversify into another high-liquidity market with its own rhythm and drivers. It’s especially attractive for those looking to apply 

 across different assets or hedge macro exposure.

Platforms like Bybit provide features that make it easier for traders to add traditional assets into their portfolios. Bybit Gold&FX, for example, allows users to access gold and forex markets alongside their crypto holdings, helping them create more diversified and sturdy investment strategies. This integration gives traders the flexibility to take advantage of diverse market conditions — so they can better manage their risk.

 offers traders a powerful and versatile platform to access a wide range of global markets — from crypto and forex to CFDs on commodities and 

Built for both beginning and more seasoned traders, Bybit Gold&FX comes packed with over 90 technical indicators, customizable charting tools and support for automated strategies through Expert Advisors (EAs). Its robust order management system ensures flexibility and precision, making it ideal for executing complex trading strategies in real time.

Investors and traders who prefer a more laid-back approach can consider 

 instead, a copy trading feature on the Bybit platform that allows users to replicate expert strategies in 

 (MT5). It offers a way to diversify portfolios with traditional assets by leveraging the expertise of advanced traders, helping reduce risks tied to crypto market volatility.

How to embrace macro volatility with Bybit Gold&FX

Managing macroeconomic volatility with Bybit Gold&FX requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. The following short description will show you how traders can embrace this volatility and play the macro game in three simple steps.

Understand the broader economic forces that drive market movements, including inflation rates, central bank policies and geopolitical events. Keep an eye on key developments, such as 

 (FOMC) meetings and Federal Reserve speeches, as well as factors like political instability and trade wars that can have an impact on global markets. 

 in early 2020. As uncertainty began to spread, gold prices surged because investors saw it as a safe-haven asset. Studies found a strong link between rising global COVID-19 cases and increased gold prices, with the pandemic contributing to significantly more volatile gold returns.

Bybit offers insights into macro trends and volatility, helping traders make fact-based decisions. Tools such as

 can provide a clearer picture of current market conditions and potential shifts, allowing traders to adjust their strategies with confidence.

Diversify your portfolio with a mix of assets on Bybit Gold&FX, including gold, forex and contracts for difference (CFDs) in order to navigate market fluctuations more effectively. As a traditional safe-haven asset, gold can help hedge against crypto volatility, inflation and currency devaluation. 

Forex pairs like EUR/USD or USD/JPY offer opportunities to capitalize on global economic trends, while commodities like oil and silver add another layer of diversification. 

 allows traders to amplify potential gains in these markets without directly owning the underlying assets. However, CFD trading and leverage carry significant risks, as they can amplify both gains and losses that potentially exceed your initial deposit.

Historically, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have shown 

 with traditional assets like gold and stocks, meaning their relative price movements don’t always align. This weak correlation suggests that adding traditional assets to your portfolio can help offset potential losses in the crypto market.

To track these relationships, traders can use tools such as correlation matrices. In addition, platforms such as Chainalytics Labs provide 

 that map out connections between major blockchains, gold, silver and 

, an open-source tool that helps visualize the relationship between cryptocurrencies and other financial assets.

Step 3: Execute trades efficiently on Bybit Gold&FX

Bybit Gold&FX gives you direct access to global markets — all with your USDT, no fiat conversion required. As the only crypto exchange offering this unique product, Bybit Gold&FX offers fast execution, advanced charting capabilities and customizable trading strategies, enabling traders to analyze markets effectively and respond swiftly to price movements. This is especially helpful for traders looking to act on major news — such as gold’s recent all-time high of $3,167.

 and create your MT5 account, then proceed to download the MT5 platform and fund your account to start trading.

When you’re ready to start using Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX, head to the 

 tab. Once you've selected a trader whose strategy aligns with your goals, configure your settings to 

. From there, you can automatically copy their trades and gain exposure to gold, forex and CFD markets with ease.

Bybit Gold&FX provides crypto traders with a powerful way to navigate market volatility by diversifying into gold, forex and other traditional assets. By understanding macro trends, strategically positioning across multiple asset classes and leveraging Bybit’s advanced trading tools, traders can build more resilient portfolios. 

Diversification helps you reduce risk, stabilize returns and take advantage of opportunities beyond the crypto market. Whether through Bybit Gold&FX’s advanced features or Copy Trading Gold&FX, Bybit empowers traders to adapt and thrive in uncertain market conditions. In the dynamic financial market, embracing a well-rounded investment strategy is key to long-term success.

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3 easy steps to embrace macro volatility with Bybit Gold&FX

Particle Network is a Layer 1 blockchain powering chain abstraction that unifies users and liquidity across all blockchains through Universal Accounts.

 world remains divided by invisible walls that force users to manage multiple wallets and navigate complex 

 processes. Particle Network aims to tear down these barriers through chain abstraction, creating a unified 

 experience whereby users interact with any blockchain through a single account.

This article examines Particle Network's vision for chain abstraction, its Universal Accounts technology and the PARTI token, which powers this ecosystem. We'll also analyze the project's history, technical infrastructure and market position to evaluate its potential as both technological innovation and potential investment opportunity.

 powering chain abstraction. It unifies users and liquidity across all blockchains through Universal Accounts, which provide a single address and combined balance for interacting seamlessly with any chain or 

Founded in 2022, Particle Network initially focused on wallet abstraction services, allowing users to create wallets linked to their Web 2.0 social accounts. This foundational approach evolved into Particle Network’s current comprehensive chain abstraction technology, which aims to bridge the divide between traditional internet experiences and the decentralized world.

Co-founders Pengyu Wang and Tao Pan launched Particle Network in April 2022 with a vision born from their mobile gaming experience. They recognized that blockchain adoption was hindered primarily by poor user experience, and so they set out to build back-end infrastructure that would make web3 as intuitive as traditional applications.

The project quickly secured $25 million from notable investors, including Spartan Group, Animoca Ventures and Alibaba Group. This backing accelerated Particle Network’s development, allowing it to serve over 30 million wallets and integrate with more than 7,000 

The project has demonstrated rapid progress, evolving from a wallet abstraction service to a comprehensive account abstraction provider — and now, to a full-fledged chain abstraction layer. This progression demonstrates the team's agility and commitment to systematically eliminating the barriers between users and web3's potential.

What does Particle Network aim to achieve?

Particle Network aims to solve the three most critical barriers preventing web3 mass adoption. The first challenge is fragmented user experience (UX). Today's web3 users juggle multiple wallets, memorize various 

 and navigate different interfaces for each blockchain. This complexity creates an overwhelming entry barrier for newcomers.

The second barrier is fragmented liquidity. As users spread assets across thousands of blockchains and 

, they must perform complex bridging operations to use their tokens where needed. These bridging processes are confusing and time-consuming, exposing users to additional security risks.

The third obstacle is gas token fragmentation. Each blockchain demands its native token for transaction fees, forcing users to maintain small balances of various tokens just to perform basic actions. This requirement adds unnecessary complexity and costs that further discourage participation.

Particle Network addresses these challenges by creating a truly borderless web3 ecosystem. Its founders’ vision enables users to interact with any application on blockchain through a single, unified interface — without needing to understand the complex technical infrastructure working behind the scenes.

Particle Network achieves chain abstraction through its Layer 1 blockchain, which orchestrates three innovative technologies working together as an integrated system. 

 wallets that maintain the same addresses and balances across all blockchains, eliminating the need for multiple wallets and creating a unified entry point to web3.

 enables seamless cross-chain asset movement. When users interact with a blockchain in which they don't hold native assets, the system automatically routes and executes the necessary transfers behind the scenes. Users simply see their combined balance — without ever having to deal with complex bridging operations.

 completes this seamless experience by solving the token fragmentation problem: users can pay transaction fees with any token they own on any chain, since the system handles all conversions transparently. All fees ultimately settle in PARTI tokens on Particle Chain, creating a unified gas experience across the ecosystem.

This infrastructure is powered by a technical backbone of 

Particle Network's technology stack includes three innovative features working together to unify the blockchain experience.

Universal Accounts is Particle Network's flagship product. It enables chain abstraction by providing users with a single interaction point for the multichain web3 ecosystem. This feature removes the need for manual bridging, or for managing multiple wallets and assets across different networks.

When users connect their existing wallets or create new ones through Particle Network, the system assigns them a Universal Account that maintains a consistent state and balance of information across all supported blockchains.

 is the first chain-agnostic trading platform that leverages Universal Accounts. It's 100% noncustodial, and allows users to trade any token on any chain without bridging. Users can trade, send and receive assets using a unified balance for all chains, and pay for gas with any token.

The platform enables users to buy tokens regardless of their existing chain, and to view comprehensive price and on-chain data with zero 

. Users can send assets directly between any chains and purchase tokens using fiat via various payment methods. The system also provides fast confirmation times and full 

Particle Network’s Universal SDK allows developers to create and manage Universal Accounts for their users and execute cross-chain transactions seamlessly. They can implement gasless transactions for which applications cover the gas fees, leverage session keys for improved user experience and customize access control for enhanced security.

By providing this tool kit, Particle Network makes it simple for developers to build chain-abstracted applications. These applications can then offer a superior UX while leveraging the strengths of multiple blockchain networks.

Currently in its Permissioned Ecosystem phase (Q1 2025), Particle Network is focusing on building flagship applications that showcase Universal Accounts. They've already launched UniversalX, the first chain-agnostic trading platform, and plan to release two more applications targeting essential web3 use cases.

Next comes the Collaborative Ecosystem phase (Q3 2025), whereby Particle Network will partner with key players in AI, trading and 

 to expand adoption. By Q1 2026, the project will enter its Permissionless Ecosystem phase, allowing any chain or application to integrate Universal Accounts and provide users with a seamless cross-chain experience.

With a fixed supply of 1 billion tokens, PARTI serves as the economic powerhouse of the Particle Network ecosystem. The token operates at three fundamental levels: 

When users interact with any blockchain via Universal Accounts, all transactions ultimately settle in PARTI on Particle Chain. This creates continual utility and demand for the token as the ecosystem grows, without requiring users to directly hold PARTI themselves.

The token’s distribution balances immediate ecosystem needs with long-term sustainability:

This structured distribution, combined with the token's essential utility, supports sustainable growth while preventing excessive concentration of ownership.

To drive early adoption, Particle Network launched the 

, which rewards testnet participation with PARTI points. Users earn points by sending transactions, paying for gas with USDG (Universal Gas) on the testnet and completing daily check-ins. Consistent participation yields progressively higher rewards to encourage regular engagement.

Committed community members can boost their earning potential by acquiring Particle Pioneer NFTs, which increase point earnings by 2–30%. The program has gained remarkable traction, attracting over 1.7 million registered accounts and distributing more than 57 billion PARTI points.

These accumulated points qualify participants for several benefits, such as upcoming PARTI token airdrops, bonuses on the 

 and whitelist spots for ecosystem projects. The strategic distribution of points and eventual token airdrops aims to reward early supporters, while creating a broad and engaged community of PARTI holders.

Looking to trade Particle Network tokens? Bybit now offers the PARTI/USDT trading pair. To get started, you'll first need to create a Bybit account, then fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

While Particle Network demonstrates significant promise in the chain abstraction space, investors should carefully consider both its growth potential and risk factors before making investment decisions.

PARTI shows promising potential with its comprehensive approach to chain abstraction and strong foundation of existing integrations. However, potential investors should 

 before investing, particularly given the innovative nature of chain abstraction technology.

Particle Network solves the fragmentation problem that has effectively limited web3 adoption. Instead of juggling multiple wallets, managing separate balances and navigating different gas tokens across chains, Particle Network users have a single unified account that works everywhere. PARTI powers this seamless experience, potentially becoming the crucial link that finally makes blockchain technology accessible to everyone.

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Particle Network (PARTI): The backbone of web3 chain abstraction

DeFi

GameFi

web3

Earn-and-play, collect NFTs and stake $ILV. Here, we take a look at the Illuvium game, how it works, and what you can do with its assets. Earn-and-play, collect NFTs and stake $ILV. Here, we take a look at the Illuvium game, how it works, and what you can do with its assets.

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Blockchain games have evolved by leaps and bounds over the last few years, going from games for simple non-fungible token (NFT) collectibles like CryptoKitties to fully fleshed-out play-to-earn games, where players can farm crypto and NFTs that can be traded on the market. 

Illuvium is the latest blockchain gaming sensation to take the crypto world by storm. It’s an open-world sci-fi role-playing game (RPG), monster collector and auto battler built on Ethereum, scheduled to be released on Mac and PC in 2022. 

The game features a play-to-earn structure. Players can earn in-game crypto token rewards by participating in competitions and quests. It uses the blockchain to guarantee the collectibility of in-game items and create a working digital economy. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at what Illuvium is, how it works, and what you can do with its assets.

Illuvium is a role-playing game (RPG) that allows players to create 3D characters for real-time, character-focused gameplay in an open-world setting. Players can traverse the alien world of Illuvium and participate in quests to uncover the mysteries of the planet, hunt and capture native creatures called Illuvials, earn in-game rewards, and stake their assets in a decentralized, zero-fee framework.

In Illuvium, players can interact with items and Illuvials. These in-game assets — including skins, items, emotes and collectibles—exist as 

 that are stored in player wallets. In simplest terms, NFTs are cryptographically unique digital assets that are written using smart contracts, making it easy to trace individual ownership. NFTs which players acquire from playing Illuvium can be traded in-game, or on Illuvium’s decentralized exchange, IlluvDEX, and third-party platforms like OpenSea. 

The Illuvium platform’s native ERC20 token, ILV, is available on crypto exchanges. Players don’t need to hold tokens to play Illuvium. In fact, the game is free to play in 

 regions. The main functions of ILV tokens are governance, liquidity mining and vault distributions. The game is completely decentralized and features a governance structure that revolves around the ecosystem’s native coin. 

Play-to-earn games such as Illuvium are commonly referred to as 

, which is a portmanteau of “Game” and “Finance.” They represent an entirely new class of blockchain games that reward players who complete quests or participate in tournaments with something tangible, albeit digital, for putting in the time and effort to play. 

Illuvium isn’t the first play-to-earn blockchain game to enter the market. In 

, players can collect, trade and battle pets, and create kingdoms for them to live in. 

, scheduled to debut in spring 2022, takes its inspiration from popular multiplayer builder games like Minecraft. 

What sets Illuvium apart from these blockchain gaming titles is its 3D open world with a massive explorable landscape, high production value NFTs and carefully crafted storytelling, which gradually reveals parts of the plot as players progress. It’s specifically designed to appeal to video game aficionados and players who enjoy big-budget AAA-rated game titles. In comparison, Axie Infinity is a quirky 2D game that’s more akin to Pokémon, and My Neighbor Alice is a 2D farm builder that shares a lot of similarities with Animal Crossing. 

If Illuvium manages to make good on its promises and deliver, it could potentially become the first successful AAA-rated game ever built on the blockchain — ushering in a new era of synergy that merges online gaming with cryptocurrencies. 

Naturally, Illuvium has generated a lot of buzz among gamers by offering crypto enthusiasts the first-ever AAA-rated blockchain gaming experience on the Ethereum blockchain. Since there are currently no immersive open-world RPG games with quality 3D special effects in the crypto universe, it’s a significant step up from simple NFT-collectible games like CryptoKitties. 

Within the in-game world, players take on the role of a member of a transport ship from an intergalactic space fleet, investigating a distress beacon from a mysterious ruined planet that’s almost completely covered by a vast crystal ocean. An extreme weather event on the surface of the planet creates a burst of radiation that disables the ship’s engines, causing it to crash-land on the planet’s surface.

Your character is the only survivor of the wreckage. As you explore the land around you, you discover majestic creatures with godlike elemental powers. Fortunately, your race has already mastered similar energies, so you’re able to capture and control these creatures, called Illuvials, and store them in slivers of crystal called “shards.”

To uncover the mysteries of this strange planet, characters take on the role of a hunter and travel across the land to capture Illuvials and unlock obelisks that grant access to new, more challenging regions on the planet. 

More than 100 Illuvials populate the planet, each with unique stats and abilities. Some are easy to find, while others are incredibly rare. These deity-like creatures are divided into a variety of classes (Fighter, Rogue, Guardian, Psion and Empath), and have elemental affinities (water, air, fire, earth and nature) that dictate their abilities. 

The successful capture of an Illuvial results in the minting of a new NFT that’s stored in the player’s wallet. The creatures can synergize and form symbiotic relationships with one another, based on common classes or affinities. Different synergies create different bonuses. Players can fuse multiple captured Illuvials to make them evolve into more powerful forms. This is achieved with a burning mechanism which destroys their source NFTs, and mints a new one that represents a more powerful beast. 

Illuvium is also an auto-battler game. Hunters are encouraged to use their upgraded Illuvials to build the ultimate fighting team and battle other characters’ Illuvials in player-versus-environment (PvE) and player-versus-player (PvP) battle arenas. Players earn rewards and maintain a winning streak to acquire the rank of best hunter on the planet. Training your team through combat will make them level up and grow stronger as they develop their powers. 

Players can also earn in-game rewards in the form of ILV tokens by completing quests or participating in competitions. In-game assets and ILV tokens can be traded on IlluviDEX, the in-game marketplace. 

The game is still in development and some of the details above are subject to change. 

Illuvium released a cinematic gameplay trailer in October 2021. A full trailer release is slated for November 2021. Watch the first gameplay trailer below to get a taste of what the world of Illuvium will look like from a player perspective: 

Illuvium is expected to launch its public beta in Q1 2022. The developers haven’t yet released an exact date, but according to the 

, the first Illuvium title will be released on PC and mobile in 2022. A second title is tentatively scheduled for 2023.

, which is an advanced real-time 3D creation tool.

Battles in the game occur in a simulation coded in C++ that’s hooked up to Unreal Engine to create stunning visual elements and ensure game instances are executed in a matter of milliseconds. The game also features a cinematic mode (showcased in the gameplay trailer) that allows players with less powerful machines to render matches in high quality. 

Every region within the game world features assets created by professional digital artists. The game uses proprietary technology to seamlessly render these assets, achieving a cinematic feel with a fast graphics load time. 

, its back end is hosted on infrastructure provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Core back end services are built using a serverless model with 

 to enable cost-effective, unlimited scalability.

All of the above sounds like what you’d expect from a standard modern game — which begs the question: Why is Illuvium opting for 

, the primary goal of the project is to create a fully decentralized and autonomous game. DeFi projects have experienced tremendous growth over the past year, and the developers are hoping to leverage this growth to bootstrap a platform that can hit the ground running. 

There are currently no AAA-rated games offering an immersive open-world experience with cinematic quality 3D graphics on the blockchain. Illuvium is poised to capture that market by merging cryptocurrency and gaming in a way that’s alluring for hardcore gamers, crypto enthusiasts and the general public.

NFTs on Illuvium represent verifiably unique entities which exist inside the game. One of the biggest selling points of Illuvium is that its NFT transactions are instant — and require zero gas fees. Illuvium is integrated with

, which gives it Layer 2 scaling capabilities. That means it can support fast transactions, and requires no gas fees. 

Digital media in the crypto space have long struggled with slow transaction speeds and high gas fees, pushing the Ethereum network’s transaction throughput to its limit. Immutable X is a project that’s specifically seeking to increase transaction throughput in blockchain gaming systems. 

 (or zk-rollups) to enable players to securely maintain the self-custody of NFTs while scaling the network to over 9,000 

. Immutable X is considered one of the best solutions for scaling Ethereum, and the technology it uses has even been endorsed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in his 

Immutable X is essential for making the exploration of the Illuvium world efficient and free of distractions, such as constant gas fees and transactional delays. This scalability gives players the freedom to explore, collect, battle and earn. There’s already a collection of cosmetic and promotional NFTs that have been 

 token that exists on the Ethereum blockchain. Its function as an in-game reward is pretty self-explanatory, and it’s not required for gameplay, so we’ll focus on its other uses in this section. ILV tokens have two core functions: 

All in-game purchases in Illuvium require Ether (ETH), not Illuvium token (ILV). ETH will function as the primary currency for Illuvium for the foreseeable future. 

Illuvium has an additional token called sILV, which stands for Synthetic ILV. As the name implies, it’s a synthetic version of ILV that’s used as in-game currency; however, it can’t be used for player-to-player transactions, such as buying or selling Illuvials. Anyone can earn sILV by staking ILV in the protocol. The value of sILV is pegged to the value of ILV. 

 to increase community engagement and decentralize the DAO. ILV holders have the option to stake and lock up their tokens in a smart contract to access the liquidity mining program. Through yield farming or liquidity mining, a person lends their crypto to a protocol to help keep its funding pools liquid. In exchange, the lenders earn lucrative incentives. 3 million ILV have been set aside for yield farming rewards. 

Illuvium’s liquidity mining program creates a more liquid and transparent market for trading ILV. It has two core staking pools and flash pools, where users can stake their tokens to earn additional earn rewards. Let’s break that down:

Users who stake in the core pools have the option to lock their tokens for a period of up to one year to increase their token weight. The higher your token weight, the higher your ILV token distributions. You essentially compound your rewards if you opt to lock up your tokens for a year. 

The rewards for users who choose to lock up their coins are escrowed for the duration of the lockup period. Staking users who don’t want to wait can choose to instantly claim their rewards in sILV, which again is pegged to the price of ILV and only functions inside the game. 

Even though ILV only hit the market in March 2021, it’s already available on numerous top cryptocurrency exchanges with good trade volume. Illuvium’s price managed to reach an all-time high of $2,868.95 in May 2021, and in November 2021 its 

 reached an astonishing $838 million. There’s a lot of demand for the token in anticipation of the official launch of Illuvium in Q1 2022. 

Illuvium is the most ambitious blockchain game announced to date, and the first to offer an AAA-rated gaming experience on the blockchain. As a fully decentralized protocol, it represents a new age in gaming where players can earn distributions and vote on issues related to the game itself. There’s a lot of hype around the project, and for good reason. It’s definitely worth keeping an eye on this ambitious project. 

Keen to find out more play-to-earn crypto games and more? Here’s our esssential guide to 

Illuvium Game: Collect NFTs, Earn ILV and Stake Tokens

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards