Cryptocurrency
Saudi Arabia looks to blockchain gaming and Web3 to diversify economy

Saudi Arabia has ramped up its economic diversification efforts driven by its ambitious Vision 2030.
In a bid to diversify its economy away from a dependence on oil, the kingdom has embraced emerging technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), and tapped into booming markets like gaming.
But while the country has yet to leave a significant mark in the global game and AI development, the ripples of its investments in the gaming sector could extend far beyond — at least, that’s what Web3 experts say.
“Based on our work and communications that we have, Saudi [Arabia] is very, very interested in Web3,” Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu told Cointelegraph.
Given the kingdom’s partnerships with entities such as The Sandbox and even Animoca, Siu sees that there’s an effort from Saudi to venture into the new iteration of the internet. The executive said:
“I think Saudi [Arabia] understands the principle that Web3 gaming or blockchain gaming — the one that we actually prove the owner assets — is going to be the future of gaming.”
Thanks to the interest of its young, tech-savvy population, Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, is driving the growth of the Middle East’s gaming market. According to a Boston Consulting Group report, the kingdom represents 45% of the sector in the region, with a value of more than $1.8 billion. It also boasts one of the largest game revenues in the area, according to game content studio Allcorrect.
In 2017, the kingdom established the Saudi Esports Federation to regulate and develop the country’s gaming industry.
Recent: Ron DeSantis’ falling polls: Could crypto lose its candidate?
Bloomberg reported in April that Saudi Arabia, through its Public Investment Fund, invested $38 billion in the sector as it looks to become a global gaming hub.
Although the Saudi government understands the “high-level concept” of Web3, its potential, and how it can align with esports — where teams can own stakes in games they play — Siu said it remains unclear what its integrations to gaming would be due to the absence of clear rules on cryptocurrency and other virtual assets:
“Cryptocurrency is something that is still to be explored. It’s being investigated. I think [Saudi Arabia is] quite forward about how to deal with it. But they haven’t come up with anything yet.”
“In places like Hong Kong, Japan and the UAE, there’s much more clarity as to what you can do with crypto and Web3. You can map out a strategy,” Siu added.
While it remains to be seen what Saudi Arabia’s Web3 gaming applications would look like, Siu noted that the kingdom is looking at other markets and learning.
“That’s why they’re talking to us. Because they want to know what the best practices are and how they can learn,” the executive explained. “There are very few places in the world that we’ve seen such a hunger and desire to sort of be at the cutting edge.”
“You can feel sort of the desire to have progress and to lead in Saudi Arabia. I think that’s kind of unique,” Siu added.
How gaming can spur Web3 adoption
While pushback from the traditional gaming community and developers persists, Siu claims a successful conversion of users into Web3, whether it’s in gaming or not, should come with financial literacy.
“You can’t really be a true Web3 user if you don’t have at least a certain level of financial literacy that goes above and beyond having a bank account,” Siu said.

The Animoca co-founder claimed that most Web2 users are not capital investors because they’re mostly labor people compared to Web3 people who understand investing.
“What we found is that the path to Web3 mass adoption isn’t giving [Web2 users] just a wallet. That’s actually the easiest part. The harder part is how to make them aware that what they now have is an asset that has potential value, and it could do things and has different network effects that need to be maintained as real value.”
Meanwhile, Mythical Games CEO John Linden told Cointelegraph that he already sees Web3 adoption in the gaming sector, albeit at a slower pace.
“I think we’re seeing some [adoption] already. We’re seeing people that they’re introducing the [Web3] concept. They do understand the concept of buying and selling assets,” Linden said.
Magazine: NFT collapse and monster egos feature in new Murakami exhibition
The gaming industry veteran pointed out that Web3 should enhance user experience and not just give them the means to generate income:
“[Web3 gaming developers] have to focus on new game models. When you start doing that, it introduces creator economy, digital supply chain, ownership of guilds and the ability to come up with your own theory within the game itself.”
“Those are principles I think gamers will attach to,” Linden added.
The Mythical Games CEO projects that the Web3 gaming segment could onboard 50 to 100 million players in the next two years, with their own titles targeting 10 million by the end of 2023.
Cryptocurrency
The Open Platform is the first unicorn in Web3 ecosystem in Telegram at $1bn valuation

[PRESS RELEASE – Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 3rd, 2025]
The Open Platform raises $28.5M in Series A equity funding round, showcasing investor confidence in TON’s ecosystem
- The equity round was led by Ribbit Capital, a leading fintech and crypto investor, with Pantera Capital also participating.
- The investment underscores strong confidence in The Open Platform’s continued development of the blockchain ecosystem in Telegram, being built on TON.
- The involvement of prominent investors and the raised capital will support the launch of TOP’s portfolio companies across the U.S., EU, and other key regions.
The Open Platform, the leading tech company developing TON-based innovations in Telegram, has announced the completion of its Series A and subsequent extension funding rounds, reaching a $1 billion valuation and becoming the first unicorn in the TON-based ecosystem in Telegram.
The Open Platform raised $28.5 million in an extended Series A funding round, led by Ribbit Capital, with Pantera Capital also participating. Including this latest raise and previous seed investments, The Open Platform has now secured over $70 million in total funding. These investments demonstrate the confidence that leading investors have in The Open Platform’s ability to spearhead the growth of the blockchain ecosystem in Telegram. This ecosystem is being built on TON Blockchain – a fully decentralized and highly scalable blockchain that is the exclusive blockchain partner of Telegram Messenger.
The current strategic focus of The Open Platform centers on geographical expansion. The involvement of prominent investors, along with the newly raised capital, will support the launch of TOP’s portfolio companies across the U.S., EU, and other key regions — in alignment with TON Foundation’s global vision. This expansion will involve significant investment in go-to-market strategies, regulatory licensing, compliance infrastructure, and security enhancements, all aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success in these new jurisdictions.
Andrew Rogozov, CEO and Founder of The Open Platform, said, “This investment supports our long-term strategy to scale the adoption of blockchain-based products by leveraging the power of Telegram as a distribution channel. By combining TON Blockchain with Telegram’s global reach, we’re building both the infrastructure and the consumer-facing apps needed to onboard a billion users to crypto.”
The Open Platform is driving the growth of the TON-based ecosystem within Telegram, building both core infrastructure and consumer-facing apps across finance, gaming, and entertainment. Products that The Open Platform has powered include Wallet in Telegram, a digital asset solution seamlessly embedded into Telegram’s interface; Tonkeeper, TON’s leading non-custodial crypto wallet; STON.fi, the leading swap dApp on TON and the developer of a liquidity aggregation protocol, Omniston; Getgems, TON’s foremost NFT marketplace; Tribute, a monetization platform for creators in Telegram; and Notcoin, a viral Tap-to-Earn game, along with many more products.
By integrating blockchain technology into everyday digital experience, The Open Platform is creating a seamless, scalable platform designed for a billion users, accelerating the mainstream adoption of crypto — expanding global access to financial services, and enabling a new generation of builders and developers to build the next wave of consumer dApps.
This latest investment from Ribbit Capital, which has previously provided early-stage investment to Coinbase, Nubank, and Revolut, amongst many others, and Pantera Capital, is a testament to the potential these investors see in the integration of blockchain technology into a messenger application with over a billion users.
Micky Malka, Founder of Ribbit Capital, said, “We back teams that reimagine how the world experiences money and technology. The Open Platform’s vision of building an intuitive and open platform that enables a robust digital ecosystem to form within Telegram — a platform used by hundreds of millions — opens a new frontier of opportunities for builders and users on a global scale.”
“We’re thrilled to back this exceptional team led by Andrew. The opportunity to support groundbreaking tech and financial products that reach 1 billion people is inspiring,” said Ryan Barney, Partner at Pantera Capital. ”We’re excited to collaborate with the TOP team and strengthen our commitment to TON and Telegram’s ecosystems.”
TON Blockchain has been the subject of increased institutional interest throughout this year. In March, TON Foundation announced that several leading investors, including Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, Benchmark, Draper Associates, Kingsway, Vy Capital, Libertus Capital, CoinFund, SkyBridge, Hypersphere, and Karatage, have acquired and now hold $400 million worth of Toncoin, signaling growing interest in the TON-based ecosystem in Telegram.
About The Open Platform:
The Open Platform (TOP) is the leading tech company developing Web3 innovations in Telegram. TOP is fueling the Telegram economy through both foundational infrastructure and consumer-facing apps. By integrating blockchain technology into day-to-day digital experience, TOP is building a seamless, scalable platform designed for a billion users — accelerating the mass adoption of crypto.
For more information, users can visit: top.co
Stay connected on: LinkedIn | X | Telegram
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions, Recent Binance Changes, and More: Bits Recap July 4th

TL;DR
Analysts remain bullish on XRP, with some eyeing a move to $2.65 or even $3, while others dream of a historic surge to $30.
Binance added NEWT and SAHARA to its VIP Loan program, removed several trading pairs (impacting FIO the most), and launched new staking options for SOL-related tokens.
After closing Q2 at a record $107,500, BTC hovers near $109K; while some foresee a rally toward $120K, Arthur Hayes warns of a short-term drop to $90K due to US liquidity shifts – though he stays bullish long term.
XRP Forecasts
Despite its daily decline of around 2.5%, the XRP price is up 6% on a weekly scale and remains the subject of bullish predictions.
Just a few days ago, the X user World of Charts argued that an XRP breakout and retest has already been confirmed, anticipating a pump above $3 sometime in July.
For their part, Maxi thinks the token could mirror its impressive performance from the end of 2017 and experience a 1,200% rise in a matter of days. A jump of that type would push the price to a new historic peak of around $30, which, as of the moment, seems quite unlikely.
Other popular analysts who made more realistic forecasts include Ali Martinez and Crypto Beast. The former claimed XRP could be forming an inverse head and shoulders pattern, “potentially setting the stage for a 15% breakout to $2.65.” Crypto Beast expects the price to make a 3x during the ongoing bull run.
What’s New Around Binance?
The world’s largest crypto exchange recently added Newton Protocol (NEWT) and Sahara AI (SAHARA) as new loanable assets on its VIP Loan program. Despite the support, the tokens witnessed substantial price corrections.
Additionally, Binance scrapped the following spot trading pairs: ACT/EUR, FIO/BTC, TNSR/FDUSD, and TST/FDUS. Such actions usually have a negative effect on the involved coins due to reduced liquidity, less visibility, and reputational blow. FIO took the biggest blow, plunging by 8% after the announcement.
Earlier today (July 4), Binance came up with another disclosure. It informed its users that they can stake their SOL, HODL BNSOL, sBNSOL, or bzSOL holdings and earn up to 6.5% APR, with boosted LAYER, ACE, and DYM airdrops distributed automatically.
“But that’s not all, something new is launching soon,” the exchange teased.
How’s BTC Doing?
Last but not least, we will delve into the leading cryptocurrency and explore some interesting price forecasts. Bitcoin (BTC) made history in May, reaching a new all-time high of almost $112,000. In the weeks that followed, it saw a slight pullback but still closed Q2 at around $107,500 – the highest quarterly finish in its history.
The crypto community remains quite bullish that the asset, currently trading just south of $109,000, could be on the verge of a rally toward a fresh peak. X user CRYPTOWZRD thinks a breakout above $110,500 could push the price to $120,000.
On the other hand, Arthur Hayes (co-founder of BitMEX) predicted a short-term pullback to $90,000 due to a potential liquidity drain from the US Treasury issuing new debt following Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.“ However, he remains a bull for the long term, viewing the possible pullback as just a temporary event.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
Crypto Price Analysis July-04: ETH, XRP, ADA, SOL, and HYPE

This Friday, we examine Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Solana, and Hyperliquid in greater detail.
Ethereum (ETH)
ETH closed the week with a 4% price increase and is currently sitting comfortably above $2,500. This is impressive considering that only two weeks ago it was at $2,100.
With buyers returning, optimism is increasing across the market which may finally allow it to test and break the resistance at $2,800. As long as the price is above $2,500, bulls have the advantage and higher price levels are likely.
Looking ahead, ETH shows a clear bullish bias across momentum indicators such as the MACD and RSI which are making higher lows. The only missing piece to make a breakout possible is buy volume which still lags behind and has not made higher highs yet.
Ripple (XRP)
Bulls had a good week and tested the resistance at $2.3 again. While they did not have the strength to break this level yet, the price still managed to increase by 6%.
With clear higher highs and lows, XRP is found in an uptrend which may eventually break the key resistance. If successful, the buyers may aim to initiate a rally towards $2.6 next, which is a key target as soon as $2.3 falls.
This long consolidation above $2 indicates that this cryptocurrency may experience a sharp increase in volatility as soon as it leaves its current range. The bias is bullish and a quick rally to $2.6 and beyond is likely if buy volume explodes later.
Cardano (ADA)
After a difficult period in June, ADA appears to have finally found a local bottom above 50 cents. Most recently, the price made a higher high and managed to close the week with a 5% increase. This is encouraging and may allow it to reverse its downtrend.
With buyers in control, theh altcoin has a good chance to test the resistance at 64 cents which used to act as a key support in the past. To turn the bias bullish, ADA will have to move its price above $0.64.
This cryptocurrency has a difficult road ahead since it has been making lower lows for over six months. To reverse this, buy volume has to increase significantly. A first step towards that is to reclaim $0.64.
Solana (SOL)
Solana managed to return above $150 which is a key psychological level. This allowed the price to close the week 6% higher. While this is encouraging, buyers have to keep the price above this level if they want to maintain control.
Considering the recent rally, the price action may be forming an inverted head and shoulders reversal pattern on the daily timeframe. However, to confirm it, SOL has to move above $170 and secure a higher high.
Moreover, the volume has to increase since it has been flat for months. Right now, the momentum indicators are bullish, but without increasing volume it will be hard for buyers to push this cryptocurrency higher. As long as $150 holds, bulls still have the upper hand.
Hype (HYPE)
HYPE had a good week and increased by 5%. However, the price action shows buyers are becoming exhausted. Every time it tried to reclaim and stay above $40, sellers returned to push it lower.
With weakening momentum and volume, HYPE appears to struggle right now and is not able to make higher highs. On the contrary, if the price cannot move above $40, sellers will have an opening to push it lower.
Looking ahead, HYPE could be establishing a complex local top formation that may prolong its current correction after its most recent ATH at $46. Based on this, it is unlikely for this cryptocurrency to make new price records any time soon.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoPotato is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoPotato on whether to buy, sell, or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk. See Disclaimer for more information.
Cryptocurrency charts by TradingView.
- Forex3 years ago
Forex Today: the dollar is gaining strength amid gloomy sentiment at the start of the Fed’s week
- Forex3 years ago
Unbiased review of Pocket Option broker
- Forex3 years ago
Dollar to pound sterling exchange rate today: Pound plummeted to its lowest since 1985
- Forex3 years ago
How is the Australian dollar doing today?
- Cryptocurrency3 years ago
What happened in the crypto market – current events today
- World3 years ago
Why are modern video games an art form?
- Commodities3 years ago
Copper continues to fall in price on expectations of lower demand in China
- Economy3 years ago
Crude oil tankers double in price due to EU anti-Russian sanctions