## Introduction

Bitcoin is experiencing a monumental surge in value. With its sights set on the $60,000 mark, Bitcoin is poised to achieve its biggest monthly rally since late 2020. So we will explore the factors driving Bitcoin's meteoric rise and its potential implications for the cryptocurrency market.

## Bitcoin's Resurgence: A Historic Rally

Bitcoin has witnessed an astonishing resurgence, with its value skyrocketing in recent weeks. This remarkable rally marks the largest monthly surge for Bitcoin since late 2020, capturing the attention of investors and enthusiasts worldwide. The cryptocurrency's renewed momentum has reignited discussions about its long-term potential and solidified its position as a force to be reckoned with in the digital asset landscape.

## Factors Driving the Surge

Several key factors have contributed to Bitcoin's surge. Firstly, the growing acceptance and adoption of cryptocurrencies by mainstream financial institutions and major corporations have infused the market with renewed confidence. As more companies embrace Bitcoin, its legitimacy as a viable investment option strengthens.
Additionally, the ongoing volatility in traditional financial markets, coupled with concerns over inflation and economic uncertainty, has further fueled the demand for Bitcoin. Investors are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies as a hedge against potential economic downturns and a means of preserving wealth in a rapidly changing financial landscape.

## Implications for the Cryptocurrency Market

Bitcoin's impressive rally has broader implications for the entire cryptocurrency market. As the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin often sets the tone for other digital assets. Its sustained upward trajectory could instill renewed confidence in the market, attracting new investors and stimulating further innovation in the blockchain space. The positive sentiment surrounding Bitcoin's surge may also lead to increased mainstream adoption and regulatory clarity, further bolstering the overall cryptocurrency ecosystem.

## Conclusion

Bitcoin's current rally, with its eyes on the $60,000 mark, represents a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency world. As Bitcoin continues to break barriers and gain wider acceptance, its impact on the financial landscape becomes increasingly evident. However, it's important to note that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and investors should exercise caution and conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. As Bitcoin's rally unfolds, the cryptocurrency market awaits with anticipation, eager to witness the next chapter in its ongoing evolution.

Bitcoin is experiencing an extraordinary rally, eyeing the $60,000 mark, in its biggest monthly surge since late 2020. Discover the factors behind this remarkable rise and the implications for the cryptocurrency market. Stay informed about the latest developments in the world of Bitcoin and its potential as a store of value.

Bitcoin breaks $60,000!

## Introduction

Calling all visionary entrepreneurs! Bits&Pretzels, in partnership with TechUkraine, European Association for Software Engineering (EASE), and Kyiv IT Cluster, is thrilled to extend a special invitation to Ukrainian startups for the highly anticipated Bits & Pretzels 2023.

Are you the mastermind behind a groundbreaking tech startup? Does your innovative product or solution possess the power to revolutionize industries and transform the world? If you're ready to embark on an exhilarating journey, we invite you to join the most exhilarating tech event of the year!

Bits & Pretzels\
September 24-26\
Munich, Germany

## About the Event

Prepare to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Bits & Pretzels, where the brightest minds, innovators, and disruptors from every corner of the globe converge. This grand festival will unite 5000 participants, including founders, investors, and influential figures in the startup realm. The event will take place at the prestigious ICM Internationales Congress Center.

We're on the lookout for startups in diverse tech-related fields that meet the following criteria:

* Companies that launched their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in 2013 or later.
* Startups with a team size not exceeding 100 employees and funding amounting to less than 15 million euros.

At the festival, a dedicated Ukrainian stand, spanning an impressive 2x4 meters, will proudly showcase four handpicked Ukrainian startups. The primary goal of the stand is to demonstrate the immense potential of Ukraine's thriving technology sector and foster valuable connections.

As a gesture of support, the conference organizers offer pavilion space free of charge, with EASE generously covering half the cost of the booth. Participating startups are required to contribute a participation fee of €560, along with any associated logistics expenses.

## How to Apply

To seize this extraordinary opportunity, complete the comprehensive [application form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVPEFtI_G_GPIVyy12dCPSCgRBX64DjFedbAo-8DQDOy9avw/viewform), ensuring you provide detailed information about your startup, your exceptional team, and the purpose of your attendance at this illustrious conference.

Application Deadline: **September 20**

## Action Plan

* Accepting startup applications until September 20.
* On **September 21**, a captivating offline Open Call with the esteemed jury will be held in Kyiv, where four deserving startups will be selected to shine at the festival.
* On the same day, **September 21**, participants must transfer the participation fee to the EASE account and provide essential company details for stand branding.
* Stand preparation and publication of captivating startup information will be carried out **until September 22**.
* Finally, mark your calendars for the grand event itself, Bits & Pretzels 2023, taking place f**rom September 24 to 26**.

Don't let this golden opportunity slip through your fingers! Be a part of Bits & Pretzels and propel your startup to unprecedented heights. [Join us](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVPEFtI_G_GPIVyy12dCPSCgRBX64DjFedbAo-8DQDOy9avw/viewform) in shaping the future of technology, where innovation knows no bounds!

Join the exhilarating Bits & Pretzels 2023 tech event in Munich, Germany! Open call for Ukrainian startups to showcase their innovative products and disruptive solutions. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders, investors, and fellow visionaries shaping the future of technology. Apply now and be part of the most exciting startup festival of the year!

Unleash Your Startup's Potential at Bits & Pretzels 2023: Open Call for Innovators

Blockchain gaming is moving fast, and it's all coming together these years. Gamers and developers are starting to latch on to decentralized technologies, so it's important to know what's currently going on with trends for anyone looking into this space. This article combines the major trends transforming the blockchain gaming industry.

## 1. The Rise of Play-to-Earn Models

## What is Play-to-Earn?

In blockchain gaming, a major trend is the play-to-earn (P2E) model, where players can indeed earn real value through in-game activities such as quests and battles. Unlike traditional games that offer no tangible return for time and money spent, P2E rewards users for their engagement and skills.

P2E has been popular for a variety of reasons:

1. Monetization of Skills: Players earn cryptocurrency or NFTs through their skills.
2. Flexibility: Players can freely decide how they will play the game, whether by grinding resources or engaging in competitive events.
3. Economic Opportunities: P2E games open entirely new economic opportunities for players, especially in regions where job opportunities are limited.

### Case Studies

The following P2E games have become industry benchmarks: in Axie Infinity, players can breed and battle Axies for tradable tokens; in The Sandbox, anyone can create and monetize gaming experiences.

### Future Directions

P2E games are gaining popularity as the gaming community seeks ways to monetize their game skills. Developers try to create experiences that will be both engaging and rewarding to the skill and strategy shown by players, thus cementing the dominance of P2E in blockchain gaming.

## 2. NFTs for Real Ownership

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are revolutionizing the way players engage with in-game assets. Blockchain gaming gives true ownership of these assets, unlike the traditional games of limited ownership. Players can safely buy, sell, and trade unique digital items on the blockchain.

### Requisite of True Ownership

1. Asset Value: Players can invest in unique items, like skins, characters, or even weapons, that could appreciate over time.
2. Interoperability: NFTs can often be used across different games and platforms, enhancing their value and utility.
3. Community Building: Ownership of unique assets that can be traded or sold makes players more engaged in the game.

### Success Stories

The NFT integration has already been done with games such as Gods Unchained and Decentraland. In Gods Unchained, every player owns tradable cards that have given birth to a very active economy. In Decentraland, users are allowed to buy and sell blockchain-verified virtual land.
NFT Marketplace Surge

The growth of NFT gaming has caused marketplaces for in-game assets to emerge. In that way, platforms like OpenSea and Rarible are now a haven for gamers looking to trade collectibles and further fuel blockchain gaming.

![Image from Pexels](img/pexels-jeshoots-21067.jpg "Image from Pexels")

Image from [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/ru-ru/)

## 3. DAOs

## What are DAOs?

Those DAOs are governed by the operation of blockchain smart contracts. In gaming, DAOs allow players to take part in the development and governance of a game, thus creating a democratic environment.

### Benefits of DAOs in Gaming

1. Community Empowerment: The community gets to vote on critical issues that concern updates, features, and even resources.
2. Transparency: DAO decisions are recorded on the blockchain for accountability.
3. Participation Incentives: Participants are motivated to join governance through rewards, increasing participation.

### Examples of Gaming DAOs

Some gaming projects have adopted DAO structures. Yield Guild Games (YGG) allows players to pool their resources for collective investment and game development decisions. Aavegotchi also allows community voting on game mechanics and economic changes.

### Future of Player Governance

DAOs have democratized the experience of playing and the required cooperation in games, valuing the voices of the community.

As more games incorporate DAO structures, the players will be even more integrated into game development.

## 4. Better AR and VR Games

The Role of AR and VR in Gaming
AR and VR uses in blockchain games create immersion. Players enjoy better graphics and interactive gameplay, which makes gaming more dynamic.

### Benefits of AR and VR for Blockchain Gaming

1. Immersive Environments: AR and VR create lifelike gaming worlds that draw players in.
2. Innovative Gameplay—These technologies enable fresh mechanics, such as location-based games or fully immersive worlds.
3. More Social: AR and VR allow for social interaction—players are brought together in a common virtual environment.

### Notable AR and VR Games

Games like Pokémon GO show AR's potential in gaming, while VR titles like VRChat provide immersive social interactions. Blockchain games are starting to use these technologies for unique player experiences.

### Future of Immersive Gaming

With the increasing availability of AR and VR within blockchain gaming, new possibilities in gameplay and monetization will be seen. The developers who will adopt these technologies can get an upper hand in the market.

![Image from Pexels](img/pexels-garrettmorrow-682933.jpg "Image from Pexels")

I﻿mage from [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/ru-ru/)

## 5. Further Investment and Development

### Investment Splurge

Investment in blockchain gaming is growing, along with interest from venture capitalists. Tens of millions of dollars have been put into startups to build cool new games on top of blockchain. This capital influx accelerates advancements and game releases.

### Investment Drivers

1. Increasing Market Potential: The global gaming market is expected to surpass the $200 billion mark by 2024, which attracts investors. 2. New Business Models: Blockchain attracts investors with new revenue from P2E and NFT sales.
2. Technological Development: Improving the scalability and interoperability of blockchains makes it easier for developers to create complex games.

### Major Investments

High-profile investments in blockchain games have shot up. Animoca Brands has raised hundreds of millions to grow its games and NFTs, with projects like Illuvium and Star Atlas attracting significant support to prove the potential in the industry.

## 6. Nurture Community Involvement

Community is everything in gaming. Community engagement reigns supreme in Blockchain gaming. Developers gain feedback from players into improving the design and features of a game. Social media and forums are racked with debates concerning game mechanics and user experiences, thus creating a rich culture of communities.

### Community Solutions

1. Feedback Loops: Developers are creating infrastructure for obtaining and incorporating player response to update the game.
2. Social Media: strong foothold on Twitter, Discord, and Reddit to drive community loyalty.
3. Community Events: Host tournaments, competitions, and live Q&A sessions to give players a sense of community.

### Case Studies in Community-Led Development

Games like Splinterlands and Axie Infinity have built strong communities by engaging with players and implementing their feedback. This boosts the gaming experience and builds loyalty.

### The Future of Community Engagement

With this increase in community involvement, developers that will listen to their players are most likely to see increased loyalty and success in blockchain gaming; proving that good developer-player relations is a must.

## 7. Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities 

### Key Takeaways Regulations 

Blockchain gaming is growing, but regulatory challenges are increasing. Governments are having trouble classifying cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and P2E models, which is causing confusion among developers and players. 

### Key Regulations 

1. Taxation: The taxation of cryptocurrency earnings and NFT sales varies by jurisdiction, creating complexities for players and developers.

2﻿. Consumer Protection: Regulators are also looking to protect players from fraud and ensure fairness in P2E models. 

3. Securities Laws: Some blockchain games might be subject to securities regulations, complicating development and marketing.

### Regulatory Opportunities

Regulatory challenges are opportunities to innovate. Developers can win player trust and differentiation in the space by dealing with compliance and transparency. Clearer regulations will also likely draw in more mainstream players and investors.

![Image from Pexels](img/pexels-alscre-3977908.jpg "Image from Pexels ")

I﻿mage from [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/ru-ru/)

## C﻿onclusion

The blockchain gaming space is developing fast, with a focus on aspects touching on player engagement, ownership, and community. 2024 will be an important year for these trends to be known by gamers, developers, and investors in the gaming industry. Unlock the potential of insights coming out of play-to-earn models, NFTs, DAOs, and AR/VR to be at the forefront of blockchain gaming. Knowledge of these dynamics will help players, developers, and investors make sense of this exciting space.

Explore how blockchain is rewriting the rules. Players are no longer just consumers - they're creators, earners, and decision-makers.

Blockchain Gaming: Trends to Watch!

On December 20, 2023, Kyiv — Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship [/nnov8](https://www.cyberinnov8.com/) and [Unicorn Nest](https://unicorn-nest.com/), with the support of the [USAID Program "Competitive Economy of Ukraine"](https://www.facebook.com/usaidcep.ua/), are launching the Fundraising Lab project to increase investment maturity and help attract investments for 10 Ukrainian startups.

The 6-month initiative will run from January to June 2024 and will help startups raise capital from local and international investors, including venture capital funds and business angels. The FundraisingLab project offers practical support in the form of development of investment attraction skills, assistance in organizing and supporting an investment round, as well as building connections with the community of local and international investors.

“One of the biggest current challenges for technology companies is access to international capital. FundraisingLab project is designed to improve the level of investment maturity of Ukrainian startups and help ten of them with practical experience of growth and fundraising from local and international investors and business angels,” Sviatoslav Sviatnenko, CEO of /nnov8.

Unicorn Nest, which has already helped more than 300 startups from different countries to attract capital, and whose team members have facilitated investments for Ukrainian startups and scaleups in the total amount of more than $70 million (including Dmarket, SOCPrime, Dreamteam, Lemon.io and others) will become a partner of the project , providing its unique experience and innovative services in the field of fundraising.

FundraisingLab project allows you to use the unique experience of attracting investments in combination with the use of innovative services and online tools for attracting capital.

“We believe that Ukrainian startups have incredible potential and are proud to support their path to fundraising. FundraisingLab was created to help them realize their ambitions in attracting investments and grow in the international market through practical experience and a relevant community,” Denis Dovgopoliy, CEO of Unicorn Nest.

Ukrainian technology startups that attract an institutional round of investments in the amount equivalent to $1 million or more are invited to participate in the project.

Applications for the project will be accepted until January 19, 2024 inclusive.

The start of the project is January 22, 2024.

Read more details about the project and apply [via the link](https://fundraisinglab.com.ua/).

**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**

The [USAID program “Competitive Economy of Ukraine](https://www.facebook.com/usaidcep.ua/)” supports Ukrainian business in order to increase competitiveness in the domestic market of Ukraine and in international markets, helps in building a simplified and transparent business climate, and also provides Ukrainian companies with opportunities to take advantage of international trade.

[/nnov8](https://www.cyberinnov8.com/) is a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, founded for the development of the technological ecosystem in Ukraine. The center helps potential and existing entrepreneurs create and scale startups as well as technology businesses.

[Unicorn Nest](https://unicorn-nest.com/) is a Ukrainian SaaS company in the FinTech industry, which with the help of services meets all the fundraising needs of startups.

MEDIA CONTACT\
Al’ona Guseva\
Head of PR and Communications at /nnov8\
[aguseva@cyberinnov8.com](mailto:aguseva@cyberinnov8.com)

Join the Fundraising Lab project launched by /nnov8 and Unicorn Nest in collaboration with the USAID Program "Competitive Economy of Ukraine." This 6-month initiative aims to enhance investment maturity and assist 10 Ukrainian startups in attracting capital from local and international investors. Benefit from practical support, development of investment attraction skills, and connections with a vibrant investor community. Apply now until January 19, 2024, and kickstart your fundraising journey in January 2024.

Fundraising Lab project announces a set of 10 startups to help attract investments

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