Cryptocurrency
Forget about price! Polkadot Decoded 2023 says bear markets are for building

The Polkadot Decoded 2023 conference just wrapped up and this year more than 100 speakers and 100 blockchain projects were in attendance.
The beauty of crypto bear markets is they catalyze a realignment of perspectives and objectives.
All the hidden leverage is gone and most of the speculation is gone.
SBF is gone.
Do Kwon is gone.
Three Arrows Capital, Su Zhu, Kyle Davies and a handful of other hucksters and snake oil salesmen have been exiled.
And good riddance to all of them. Crypto doesn’t need hopium, messiahs, populists and dream peddlers. What we need are builders, fresh ideas, solutions that have product-to-market fit and some sort of realistic real world application.
That’s what I like about blockchain conferences. Especially during a bear market.
The buidl first mentality is the whole vibe of Polkadot Decoded. For the past two days, a tightly knit community of ecosystem siblings composed of developers, investors, ambassadors and a few curious journalists such as myself rendezvoused at the Øksnehallen conference center which is tucked away from the bustling, cobblestoned streets of central Copenhagen, Denmark.

The location is almost poetic given that it is a surprisingly quiet spot that is discreetly nestled within a thriving city center, and that ethos carried on through the conference events where the focus has been:
- Creating better interoperability between the projects in the Polkadot ecosystem;
- Making the blockchain more welcoming to builders; and
- Refining the cross-chain bridges that connect Polkadot to Ethereum, Cosmos and other blockchains.
Hardly anyone is talking about airdrops, token prices, memecoins, Bitcoin (BTC) hitting a new all-time high or any of the general conversational fodder that forms the bulk of most crypto discussions.
It’s bigger than a dollar sign
Rather than price, panellists discussed the challenges and occasional successes of helping TradFi and Web2 companies transition into Web3, the steps being taken to make the VC funding of projects more transparent, and the need for all the crypto jargon and rigamarole to be placed on the backend of DApps and the frontend UX to be more seamless.
Many folks even suggested that “blockchain,” “crypto,” and “Web3” should not be mentioned on projects’ websites, apps, roadmaps and so on.
According to Public Pressure CEO Giulia Maresca:
“I think it’s not about talking about the technology because mass adoptees don’t know how the phone or Google maps or any technology is working. We need to create products that are really easy for the user, but given the benefit that they are built on Web3 tech. It should be really easy for the user; it shouldn’t be complicated. We shouldn’t talk about wallets, or bridging or doing complicated crypto things. People get scared the minute you start talking about wallets. It should be as easy as using Instagram.”
Speaking of Web3 and the need for crypto to have a better product-to-market fit and connection to real-world assets, I moderated the opening panel at Polkadot Decoded, which focused on on-chain entertainment within music and film. It was an intriguing conversation, given that the general consensus among creators and builders is that music and film will be the most sticky when it comes to user growth, retention and mass application of NFTs within everyday life.

During the panel, Maresca explained why she believes that there is a natural synergy between creative industries and Web3 ideology:
“Web3 is a very socratic and creative space, and that aligns with the workflow and ideas of artists and creators.”
Maresca also firmly believes that phygital NFTs and experiences will gain a firm foothold in the areas of fashion design, the film industry and all aspects of the music industry.
Providing a real-world example of how fashion labels like Diesel were making entry to the Web3 space, Maresca explained:
“Diesel would like to be more into Web3, so we’ve helped them to build a really strong concept using music at the center of their strategy, so Diesel acting like a discovery label, discovering emerging and breakthrough artists to give voice to their art. And they’ve done a few drops with us already which were really successful, but we’re planning a big drop at the beginning of September that is going to be a phygital drop. So, I think now a big part of the future is phygital; it is giving experience, utilities, what the community wants, which is to have a VIP experience. They want something from the brand, not only the garments. They want to be part of the Diesel family. It’s a long process and lots of education to the C-level, but there are a lot of opportunities for brands to work with the music community, to fans, and to new fans.”
Ed Hill, senior vice president of media services at Beatport, emphasised that rather than being a mere buzzword, Web3 needs to become a tangible and actionable ideology within the corporate structure of the entertainment industry.
When asked about the disconnect between consumer desires, creators’ objectives and the products and experiences currently provided by the entertainment industry, Hill said:
“That’s a tough one to crack, but we have to go deeper and build better communities. If you look at YouTube and Facebook, those platforms are audience builders, and all anyone has cared about is views, and reach, and impressions and things like that. We have to go deeper into community building, and failure to do that is why younger audiences have been splitting away from traditional Web2 social media platforms, and I think, in time, if we build better, authentic communities from the ground up, that space between the corporate to creator to consumer gap begins to tighten.”
Related: New Web3 ID app lets users find each other based on proven interests
Community members are stakeholders, not just consumers
From my vantage point, and that of most conference attendees, crypto is about community, and the most viable projects tend to have a very grassroots approach where community members are stakeholders and their desires factor into the direction of the project. Historically, every time the crypto sector strays from this ethos and falls victim to the whimsy of money chasers and demagogues, investors and community members are essentially robbed of their agency within the project.
In order for corporations to transition into Web3 in an authentic way that bears fruit, creators, consumers and community members have to be viewed as more than a simple proletariat within a system purely focused on spinning up revenue and co-opting culture and turning creator IP into corporate marketing trinkets. Crypto media should take note too, but I digress.
Similar sentiments, which culminated with an optimistic take on the future of Web3, were expressed by Define Creative founder Finn Martin, who said:
“What gets me excited about Web3 is it offers all the tools and solutions to actually fix the problems that traditional Web2 has. By moving the assets on a chain, you can make it transparent for creators, you can give them direct revenue because, currently, the streaming model is broken. As a music creator, you own a fraction of a cent from each stream, and all of that can be addressed and solved via Web3.”
Blockchains should stop aspiring to be a jack of all trades

Generally, vast blockchain ecosystems tend to have a disjointed feel where a multiplicity of objectives and philosophies have investors and advocates feeling lost at sea. These projects tend to struggle with clearly defining their purpose, and this has a knock-on effect of impacting market fit efficacy.
They basically still struggle with the age-old crypto problem, which entails creating solutions for problems that aren’t actually problems for normal people. What stands out most to me at Polkadot Decoded 2023 is a unified goal of making the chain easier to use for builders, investors and users.
Regardless of whether the project is an AMM, DEX, lending market, blockchain-gaming startup, IPFS storage solution or a cross-chain bridge, each panel has made some reference to the need for composability, interoperability and turning the concept of Web3 from a thought to reality by building infrastructure for projects to thrive on.
Which is why I again emphasize the importance of getting out from behind the screen and TradingView token price action charts and into fellowship with the community at conferences. No man is an island, and there’s value in finding a safe space to socialize, ideate, test and refine one’s investment thesis and views on the evolution of blockchains.
Hat tip to Polkadot Decoded for having the right narrative on lock this year.
This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
Cryptocurrency
Coinbase Tanks 11% Pre-Market After $1.5B Q2 Revenue Miss

Coinbase shares fell sharply after the company reported second-quarter earnings that missed expectations. Total revenue for the quarter came in at $1.5 billion, representing a 26% decline from the previous quarter.
The shortfall was largely driven by weaker-than-expected transaction revenue, which fell 39% quarter-over-quarter to $764 million.
Missing Expectations
In the official release, Coinbase revealed that its subscription and services revenue also declined 6% to $656 million. Despite efforts to reduce variable costs, operating expenses climbed 15% to $1.5 billion. Coinbase attributed this largely to the $307 million hit related to the data breach disclosed in May.
The crypto exchange recorded a net income of $1.4 billion, but this figure included $1.5 billion in pre-tax unrealized gains from strategic investments, including in Circle, as well as a $362 million pre-tax gain from its crypto investment portfolio. On an adjusted basis, net income stood at just $33 million, with adjusted EBITDA reaching $512 million.
Coinbase’s trading activity also underperformed the broader crypto spot market, as global and US crypto spot volumes declined 31% and 32% respectively. Meanwhile, its total trading volume fell 40% to $237 billion, and the consumer segment witnessed a 45% drop to $43 billion.
Consumer transaction revenue plunged 41% to $650 million, as volume shifted toward Simple trades amid low volatility. Institutional transaction revenue also saw a similar pattern, down 38% in both volume and revenue.
While Base Chain activity grew, other transaction revenue dropped 21% as average revenue per transaction declined.
As of the close on the previous trading day, Coinbase (COIN) shares were priced at $377.76, up slightly by $0.28. However, pre-market trading shows a sharp decline, with the stock down $42.30 (-11.20%) to $335.46. This steep drop suggests a strong negative reaction from investors, likely in response to recent earnings results.
Despite grappling with declining revenues and rising costs, Coinbase is doubling down on product innovation.
“Everything App”
Earlier this month, Coinbase rebranded its Wallet as the Base app, launching a crypto-focused “everything app” that merges trading, social media, USDC payments, mini-apps, and tokenized posts.
Announced at its “A New Day One” conference, the app runs on Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2 network and integrates Farcaster for social feeds, Zora for post tokenization, and encrypted XMTP chat. Users can earn from tips, interact with AI agents, and make one-tap payments.
The platform also introduced Base Pay for Shopify merchants and plans 1% USDC cashback in the US. The app is in beta, while a full public release and developer tools are expected soon.
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Cryptocurrency
Dogecoin Slides 8% but Long-Term Channel Holds, Can DOGE Rebound?

TL;DR
- Dogecoin dropped to $0.20, moving in a $0.23 to $0.20 range during heavy selling.
- Analysts see support in the long-term channel and a wedge pattern aiming for $0.265.
- Large holders bought 310 million coins, while Bit Origin added 40 million to reserves.
Dogecoin Records Sharp Daily Decline
Dogecoin (DOGE) fell 8% in the past 24 hours, dropping from $0.22 to $0.21. This was one of the steepest daily moves for the token in July. The price action moved within a $0.23 to $0.20 range, facing resistance at the top and heavy selling near the session close.
However, trading volumes spiked, with a midnight surge to 1.25 billion DOGE, which points to large liquidations and cascading sell orders from leveraged positions.
Dogecoin trades at $0.20 as of press time, down 11% over the past week, giving it a market cap of $31 billion.
Long-Term Channel Remains Intact
Trader Tardigrade shared a 1-month chart showing DOGE inside a long-term ascending channel that has held since 2014. DOGE has often bounced from the lower boundary of this channel, shown in pink on the chart.
$Doge/M1#Dogecoin Long term Channel has been established pic.twitter.com/m8nfq29Q8M
— Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) August 1, 2025
Meanwhile, the current price is near the lower-middle part of the channel, an area that has led to multi-month rallies when the trend held. Dogecoin’s long-term structure stays intact while it trades within this ascending channel, even after the recent decline.
In addition, Trader Tardigrade also noted that Dogecoin’s monthly candle closed as the third consecutive bullish engulfing candle, which he described as a setup for a potential “move to Valhalla.”
Short-Term Wedge and Institutional Activity
Ali Martinez noted that DOGE may be forming a falling wedge on the 1-hour chart, with a projected target of $0.265. A move above $0.229–$0.230 would confirm bullish momentum, while $0.215–$0.210 remains key support if the wedge fails.
Dogecoin $DOGE could be forming a falling wedge, which projects a target of $0.265! pic.twitter.com/P9WQbMrXfI
— Ali (@ali_charts) July 31, 2025
Institutional wallets acquired 310 million DOGE during the correction. Bit Origin added 40 million DOGE to its treasury under a $500 million diversification program. Broader crypto markets remain pressured by macroeconomic uncertainty, with inflation and equity risk shaping short-term demand.
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Cryptocurrency
Pepe Dollar ($PEPD) Presale Picks Up Pace as Ethereum (ETH) Hovers Over $3,600

[PRESS RELEASE – Covina, United States, August 1st, 2025]
Within the Ethereum ecosystem, Pepe Dollar ($PEPD) has entered its presale phase. Described as a meme token with integrated utility and cultural references, $PEPD introduces a tokenomics structure intended for long-term application. Certain Ethereum wallet holders have initiated ETH transfers to the presale, indicating early transactional activity.
Overview of $PEPD’s Positioning
Pepe Dollar ($PEPD) enters the market as a parody token referencing central banking themes, aiming to engage users through cultural commentary and decentralized finance (DeFi) mechanisms. Unlike traditional meme tokens, which often adopt simplified or repetitive token structures, $PEPD integrates design elements that combine cultural motifs associated with Pepecoin and components of DeFi architecture.
Comparison to Prior Meme Tokens
Pepe Dollar ($PEPD) enters the Ethereum ecosystem following the emergence of other meme tokens such as Pepecoin ($PEPE), $BONK, $LILPEPE, and $HYPER. The $PEPD model incorporates a tokenomics framework that includes a burn mechanism framed as a commentary on centralization. Its listing on CoinMarketCap has contributed to broader visibility. On-chain data indicates that several large Ethereum wallets have begun transacting with the token during its presale phase.
Pepe Dollar Presale – ETH’s Capital Rotation
Pepe Dollar’s presale architecture and project identity offer a compelling setup:
Presale Fundamentals:
- Current Price: $0.004688
- Tokens Sold: 166,938,905
- Next Presale Price (Stage 2): $0.006495
- Launch Price: $0.03695
Tokenomics and Supply
Pepe Dollar ($PEPD) will have a fixed supply of 3.6951 billion tokens. According to the project, 29% of the total supply is scheduled to be permanently removed at launch through a mechanism termed the “Federal Burn,” which is framed as a symbolic reference to traditional inflationary monetary systems.
Additional details disclosed by the development team include:
- No developer tax mechanisms
- No backdoor unlock functions
- A publicly documented tokenomics model
Ethereum-Native Infrastructure
Pepe Dollar is designed to launch natively on Ethereum and integrate with existing Ethereum-based DeFi tools. The protocol includes functionality to support a meme asset minting platform, enabling users to create, deploy, and govern new assets using $PEPD. The project describes itself as operating at the intersection of cultural commentary and decentralized finance.
Project Links and Official Channels
About Pepe Dollar ($PEPD)
Pepe Dollar ($PEPD) is a decentralized Layer-2 payment infrastructure designed for the meme economy. Positioned as a satirical digital asset, $PEPD offers an alternative approach to traditional financial systems and aims to facilitate value creation within decentralized ecosystems.
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