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Hackathon Project Winners Declared as Season 1 of the Hackathon Closes

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With the immense sensation of the TRON Grand Hackathon 2022, which came to a stop on March 14, we’re delighted to see the winners declared in all four tracks, Web3, NFT, GameFi, and DeFi, on the TRON DAO Forum.

The Forum has been an essential establishment for developers to come together, share ideas, create threads, and interact with each other about the crypto community, and activity on the Forum accounted for 40% of the overall score. 

Consisted of crypto experts, KOLs, and a public community review board, each track’s final review panel scores accounted for 30%, 30%, and 40%, respectively. Community reviewers transparently voted on the TRON DAO Forum.

The crypto community has been very passionate and exhilarated to see the results of the judging period, which began on March 8 and closed on March 11.

Here are the winning entries in each of the four tracks:

In the Web3 track, the winner is dCloud by cctechmx.

Their mission is to create an Open Source Web3 Cloud storage mobile app enabling its own ecosystem to enjoy a self-sustainable and shared economy. By separating dCloud code like this, we’ll be able to reduce the developing effort. BitTorrent team delivers the binaries, dCloud team devs focus on implementing them to the specific OS environment and coding a single Graphical Interface for both major mobile platforms: Android and iOS.

“Wow, what a piece of application! There is nothing like supporting decentralization hand in hand with cryptocurrencies. Better yet, still supporting it in TRON and BTTC blockchain technology. I will be waiting to be able to use it in our daily lives!” Said a commentator.

In the GameFi Track, the winner is TronNinja Arcade by the TronNinja Team.

TronNinja is a NFT GameFi project on the TRON blockchain where you will be able to use your NFTs as characters in-game while earning our in-game token TronNinjas Token (TNT) in the TronNinjas Arcade. Their goal is not only to play games but bring back the social aspect that arcades had.

“Congrats to the team for their dedication in building what adds great value to the experience of their users. So excited for the great success achieved so far and looking forward to achieving more success in the future,” a commentator said.

As for the DeFi track, the winner is JustMoney Exchange by JustMoney.

They aim to build an ecosystem for the next generation of decentralized applications to power Web3 by allowing crypto users to trade and offer cryptocurrencies on several chains and facilitate the creation of a payment system that will allow crypto users to purchase goods and services online using cryptocurrency.

“New features that truly come in handy for newcomers. You don’t have to risk any money due to failed transactions on JustMoney Exchange. It’s the little things that matter, and the team ensures it does its best to cover any issues,” a commentator said.

For the NFT track, the winner is VersacBrickSquad by TuruGlobal.

Their goal is to make real estate investment available for all since most people don’t have sufficient funds to buy their own real estate. The Versac Brick Squad is a collection of DAOs investing in real estate assets jointly managing the assets in a platform structure provided by TuruGlobal and with that making Real Estate investment accessible for the people.

“This is something we really need in this space. Community power should not be underestimated. The DAOs are the perfect tool to make the most out of all the smart people out there. Thanks for the explanation,” another commentator said.

The Hackathon community is ecstatic to see the project winners and looking forward to Season 2. Registration begins May 16, 2022.

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Crypto

US Soldier Charged Over $400K Polymarket Bet on Maduro’s Capture

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A US Army soldier is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly using classified military information to profit from bets placed on a prediction market platform.

Insider Knowledge Used for Betting

According to the US Department of Justice, Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke was involved in planning and executing a military operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January.

Prosecutors allege that Van Dyke used this insider knowledge to place bets on Polymarket, including contracts tied to:

  • Maduro being removed from power
  • Potential US military actions in Venezuela

Authorities say he placed multiple bets before the operation became public and ultimately made more than $400,000 in profit.

Attempt to Cover Tracks

Investigators claim Van Dyke took steps to conceal his actions, including:

  • Requesting Polymarket to delete his account
  • Moving funds through cryptocurrency channels
  • Changing account details to obscure his identity

He allegedly transferred a large portion of his profits to external accounts before converting them into traditional financial assets.

Charges and Legal Consequences

Van Dyke now faces multiple charges, including:

  • Wire fraud
  • Commodities fraud
  • Theft of government information
  • Unlawful use of confidential information

Some of these charges carry potential prison sentences of up to decades, reflecting the severity of using classified intelligence for personal gain.

First Major Insider Trading Case in Prediction Markets

Officials say this may be the first major US case of insider trading linked to a prediction market, marking a turning point for regulation in this emerging sector.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has also taken action, highlighting concerns about how easily confidential information can be monetized through such platforms.

Polymarket Responds

Polymarket stated that it detected suspicious activity tied to the case and cooperated with authorities.

The platform emphasized that:

  • Insider trading is not tolerated
  • Monitoring systems are in place to detect misuse
  • The case demonstrates enforcement mechanisms are working

Broader Concerns Around Prediction Markets

The incident has intensified scrutiny of prediction markets, which allow users to bet on real-world events.

While these platforms have gained popularity, critics argue they may:

  • Enable trading on non-public or sensitive information
  • Create ethical concerns around betting on geopolitical or military events
  • Require stronger regulatory oversight

A Warning for the Industry

The case underscores a growing risk as financial innovation intersects with sensitive information.

Authorities made it clear that:

  • Using classified data for profit is illegal, regardless of the platform
  • Blockchain-based or decentralized systems do not provide immunity
  • Enforcement is catching up with new financial technologies
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Blockchain

LayerZero Blames Kelp Setup for $290M Exploit as Aave Fallout Deepens

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The fallout from the recent Kelp DAO exploit continues to ripple across the crypto ecosystem, with LayerZero pointing to a flawed system setup as the root cause of the attack.

Single Point of Failure Led to Exploit

LayerZero said the breach stemmed from how Kelp DAO configured its decentralized verifier network (DVN).

The attacker drained roughly 116,500 rsETH, valued at nearly $293 million, from Kelp’s LayerZero-powered bridge.

According to LayerZero:

  • Kelp relied on a 1/1 DVN setup, meaning only one verifier was used
  • This created a single point of failure
  • Prior recommendations to diversify verifiers were not followed

As a result, the attacker was able to exploit the system without needing to bypass multiple verification layers.

LayerZero Distances Itself

LayerZero stressed that the issue was not a flaw in its protocol, but rather how Kelp implemented it.

The company is now:

  • Urging all projects to adopt multi-DVN configurations
  • Warning it may stop supporting apps that continue using single-verifier setups

Aave Hit With $195M in Bad Debt

The impact quickly spread to Aave, where the attacker used stolen assets as collateral to borrow funds.

This led to:

  • Around $195 million in bad debt
  • A sharp drop in Aave’s total value locked
  • Billions withdrawn by users amid rising concerns

Liquidity issues have also emerged, especially around Ether-based lending pools.

Liquidity Risks Raise Alarm

Reduced liquidity on Aave is now creating additional risks.

Analysts warn that:

  • Markets are nearing 100% utilization
  • A 15% to 20% drop in Ether price could trigger further instability
  • Liquidations may fail under current conditions

To limit further damage, Aave has frozen rsETH markets across its platforms.

Who Covers the Losses?

With no clear recovery plan, debate has intensified over who should absorb the losses.

Suggestions from industry figures include:

  • Negotiating with the attacker for a partial return of funds
  • Using ecosystem funds to cover losses
  • Spreading losses across users
  • Attempting a rollback to pre-hack balances

Each option carries trade-offs, and no consensus has emerged.

Broader Implications for DeFi

The incident highlights how interconnected DeFi protocols can amplify risk.

A vulnerability in one protocol can quickly:

  • Spill into lending markets
  • Trigger liquidity crises
  • Impact multiple platforms simultaneously

Security Practices Under Scrutiny

LayerZero’s criticism of Kelp’s setup underscores a key lesson: security configurations matter as much as the underlying technology.

As protocols grow more complex, ensuring robust multi-layer verification systems may become essential to preventing similar exploits.

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Crypto

US Admiral Says Bitcoin Could Strengthen National Security and Cyberpower

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A senior US military official has highlighted Bitcoin’s strategic potential, arguing that its value goes far beyond finance and into the realm of cybersecurity and national defense.

Bitcoin Seen as a Strategic Technology

US Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo described Bitcoin as a “valuable computer science tool” during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

Paparo said Bitcoin’s underlying proof-of-work (PoW) system plays a key role in strengthening cybersecurity by making attacks more costly and difficult to execute.

He emphasized that:

  • Bitcoin is not just a financial asset
  • Its architecture can support broader security applications
  • It contributes to what he called US “power projection”

Beyond Money: Cybersecurity Applications

According to Paparo, Bitcoin’s PoW mechanism introduces computational costs that act as a deterrent to malicious actors.

This model could potentially be applied to:

  • Securing sensitive data
  • Protecting communication systems
  • Strengthening digital infrastructure

The idea is that systems built on similar principles could make cyberattacks more resource-intensive and less effective.

Echoing Earlier Military Views

Paparo’s comments align with earlier statements from Jason Lowery, who has argued that Bitcoin’s architecture could be used to secure not just money, but also:

  • Messages
  • Command signals
  • Critical data systems

Lowery has previously warned that focusing only on Bitcoin’s financial use underestimates its broader strategic importance.

Rising Cyber Threats Drive Interest

The discussion comes as cyber warfare becomes an increasingly important part of global conflict.

State-linked groups, including North Korea’s Lazarus Group, have:

  • Stolen billions in crypto
  • Used ransomware and phishing attacks
  • Targeted financial and infrastructure systems

These threats are pushing governments to explore new defensive technologies, including blockchain-based solutions.

Bitcoin’s Role in US Strategy

Paparo described Bitcoin as a “peer-to-peer, zero-trust system”, suggesting it aligns with modern cybersecurity principles.

While he did not directly address policy questions raised during the hearing, he noted that technologies supporting US national power are inherently valuable.

Policy Momentum Building in Washington

The growing strategic interest in Bitcoin is also influencing legislation.

US Senators Cynthia Lummis and Bill Cassidy recently introduced the Mined in America Act, which aims to:

  • Boost domestic Bitcoin mining infrastructure
  • Reduce reliance on foreign hardware
  • Strengthen supply chain security

The proposal also ties into broader efforts to formalize a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

A Shift in How Bitcoin Is Viewed

Bitcoin is increasingly being seen not just as a digital asset, but as a strategic technology with implications for national security.

As governments continue to assess its potential, its role may expand into areas like cybersecurity, defense infrastructure, and geopolitical strategy.

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