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Up-and-Coming Cryptocurrency Chia Blamed for SSD/HDD Shortages

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In 2017, Bram Cohen, author of the BitTorrent protocol, founded the Chia Network and developed Chia (XCH) as a potential rival to Bitcoin (BTC). Although hardly considered among the top cryptocurrencies of 2020, Chia has been making waves in recent months. The platform was valued at $500 million in a recent investment round and will reportedly aim for an IPO before the end of the year. David Fraze, a managing partner at Richmond Global, likened Chia to “what Bitcoin would look like if it was designed with knowledge from the last 13 years.”

Prior to its launch in May 2021, countries like China, Taiwan, and Vietnam reportedly experienced shortages of hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs), with producers like Seagate working hard to adjust to market demand. This is because Chia aimed to replace the energy-intensive system of Bitcoin by instead requiring miners to devote hard drive space to generating and storing data. This means that Chia miners must find ways to build PCs with enough hard drive space to earn the most, as rewards are given out to those with the most space used up. As more drives are built into circuit boards and circuits become more complex, PCB grounding design becomes a problem. Mixed-signal integrated circuits, with both digital and analog ports, compound problems. As such, Chia miners opt for large-capacity drives – and NVMe drives, in particular – to be able to support the mining process.

The price for these types of drives has reportedly gone up in the past week, particularly as some SSDs can only be used a certain number of times for mining Chia before they inevitably break. David Gerard, author of Libra Shrugged, explains that, “Instead of just wasting electricity, Chia chews through SSDs at a fantastic rate, and also has thoroughly wrecked the market for big HDs.” This could potentially cause not just an extended shortage of hard drives, but also an increase in the amount of electronic waste generated by the mining community. Aggelos Kiayias of the University of Edinburgh emphasizes that it’s important to analyze whether the benefits of these new cryptocurrency technologies justify the massive resources they consume. “Given the current numbers, being merely less resource hungry compared to bitcoin is a rather low bar as far as ‘green’ technology is concerned,” he says.

Of course, other cryptocurrencies have also had similar effects on hardware markets. Bitcoin has notoriously been implicated in blackouts in Iran. As a result, the Iranian government has banned the resource-draining process until at least late September. Mining Ethereum (ETH) also caused huge shortages in high-end graphics cards, causing Nvidia to release products with restrictions preventing them from being used for mining. As cryptocurrencies gain more traction, demand for the tools needed to mine them grows.

Cohen has discouraged the use of consumer hardware to mine Chia, but the platform’s own website says that it can be done by “anyone with a mobile phone [or] laptop”, encouraging many more speculators to attempt to jump on board before the currency sees increased demand.

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TT Chain Positions Itself as an RWA-Focused Blockchain Targeting Enterprise Supply-Chain Adoption

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TT Chain (TT) is emerging as a blockchain project focused on real-world asset infrastructure, supply-chain traceability, and enterprise-grade transparency solutions. The network’s design centers on enabling organizations to verify product origins, monitor logistics, and ensure compliance using immutable on-chain data — a positioning that aligns with the growing institutional appetite for blockchain-based audit systems.

Enterprise-Focused Architecture

TT Chain promotes itself as a purpose-built ledger for supply-chain activity. Its framework allows manufacturers, logistics operators, and retailers to record each stage of a product’s lifecycle on-chain, from raw material sourcing to final delivery. This structure is intended to reduce fraud, strengthen authentication processes, and build trust between stakeholders across complex value chains.

Several early use cases highlight the platform’s potential applications, including agricultural tracing, sustainable product verification, and industrial logistics coordination. These examples illustrate TT Chain’s attempt to bridge blockchain technology with day-to-day operational requirements inside physical industries.

Token Model and Supply Structure

The TT token functions as the native asset for the network. Public supply data indicates a capped supply of 210 million TT, with a significantly smaller portion currently identified as the active supply. Circulating supply remains unreported, suggesting that liquidity is constrained or subject to controlled release schedules.

Such supply conditions may influence market behavior, particularly during early ecosystem development, when token distribution and unlock pacing play a large role in user participation and exchange liquidity.

Market Positioning and Recent Performance

TT trades in a niche segment of the market, with price activity showing low-volume movements reflective of early-stage liquidity. Despite modest trading activity, the project continues to gain visibility due to its distinct enterprise-first focus — a narrative increasingly resonant in sectors exploring real-world asset tokenization.

RWA Momentum and Competitive Landscape

The broader blockchain industry is seeing accelerated interest in real-world asset systems, especially in logistics, sustainability, and compliance-oriented workflows. TT Chain aims to position itself within this rising category by offering a structured environment for data integrity and provenance tracking.

Its success will depend on measurable enterprise adoption, clarity around tokenomics, and the network’s ability to scale with business-grade performance needs.

Outlook

With a clearly defined target audience and a roadmap centered on real-world integration, TT Chain is working to differentiate itself from generalized L1 ecosystems. Whether it secures meaningful traction will be determined by its technological delivery, enterprise partnerships, and transparency around token circulation.

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Zcash Proposes Dynamic Fee Model to Protect Users Amid Rising Network Costs

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Zcash developers have introduced a new proposal to overhaul the network’s fee structure, aiming to address rising costs and prevent users from being priced out during periods of high demand. The announcement, which mirrors the principles behind Ethereum’s EIP-1559 upgrade, sparked immediate market interest—sending ZEC up by roughly 12% within hours.

A Dynamic Fee Model Focused on User Protection

The proposal, introduced by core contributors from the Electric Coin Company (ECC) and the Zcash Foundation (ZF), outlines a dynamic mechanism that adjusts fees in response to network congestion. By linking fees to real-time demand, Zcash aims to reduce the impact of speculative usage and sudden spikes that can erode network accessibility.

The model may also include a fee-burn component, similar to Ethereum’s EIP-1559, which permanently destroys a portion of fees. This approach not only helps counteract volatile fee environments but may also contribute to greater long-term economic sustainability.

Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn, Zcash Founder and former ECC CEO, emphasized the motivation behind the proposal, stating:
“Dynamic fees are designed to prevent users from being priced out of the network while ensuring sustainable miner economics.”

Market Response and Broader Implications

Following the announcement, ZEC saw a sharp price increase as traders responded to the potential of a more efficient fee system. The proposal arrives at a time when Zcash has become one of the highest fee-generating networks in the broader cryptocurrency landscape, an indicator of both demand and the need for structural reform.

If implemented, the dynamic fee model may enhance miner revenue consistency while improving user affordability—two critical components for long-term ecosystem health. The upgrade could also reinforce Zcash’s positioning among privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, especially as institutions increasingly explore regulated exposure through vehicles such as the Grayscale Zcash Trust.

While the proposal is still under discussion, ECC and ZF highlighted that any change must balance sustainability for miners with usability for everyday participants. As stablecoin and privacy-preserving tools gain traction globally, optimized fee structures could determine which networks remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

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Giggle Fund AI (GIGGLE) Debuts as BNB-Chain Meme Token With Charity-Minded Mechanics

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A new BNB-chain token, Giggle Fund AI (GIGGLE), has entered the memecoin scene with a blend of playful branding and a stated charitable vision. The project aims to combine meme-style appeal with a community-driven funding model, positioning itself as a fun but socially conscious entry among recent token launches.

Token Basics & Supply Structure

GIGGLE operates on the BNB (BEP-20) chain and comes with a fixed maximum supply of 21 million tokens — a relatively modest cap compared with many newer meme tokens. The tokenomics include an 8% tax applied to both buys and sells, designed to support liquidity, project marketing, and community growth. These characteristics align GIGGLE with early-stage tokens that attempt to balance hype with a basic sustainability mechanism.

Narrative: Memes, AI Theme & Community Focus

Embracing a playful, tech-inflected vibe, Giggle Fund AI wraps its branding around a lighthearted, AI-themed meme aesthetic. Rather than positioning itself purely as a speculative asset, the project promotes itself as a community and fun-driven token, aiming to stand out with a slightly different tone from high-volatility “pump-and-dump” style coins. This comedic, community-oriented positioning could attract investors looking for lower-stakes exposure with a dash of novelty.

Charity-Wing Ambitions

One of GIGGLE’s differentiators is a stated commitment to charitable causes. According to the project’s description, a portion of transaction fees is allocated to charitable or community-oriented funding initiatives. This gives GIGGLE a dual identity: part meme coin, part socially conscious experiment. For some investors, that added narrative may provide an emotional or ethical incentive beyond speculation.

Risks & What to Watch

As with many early-stage meme tokens, GIGGLE’s future is tied heavily to community interest, trading volume, and sustained engagement. The charitable mechanism and overall utility remain unproven — without transparent reporting, donations, or verifiable impact, the charity aspect may remain largely symbolic. Additionally, the tax on transactions reduces liquidity for frequent traders, which may deter active trading or speculative volume.

With a small supply but moderate tax structure, GIGGLE’s price could remain volatile — beneficial for risk-tolerant investors, but risky for those expecting stability. The project will heavily depend on community growth and transparency to avoid typical pitfalls seen in meme-coin cycles.

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