The first reserve-yield payment awaits transfer to the Assistance Fund, adding buyback funding tied to USDC balances rather than trading volume…. Read the full story at The Defiant
Program
EMCD launches Miner Support Program with up to $30M for miners amid industry’s steepest profitability squeeze
Panama City, Panama, July 27th, 2026, Chainwire
EMCD, a global crypto-fintech platform and one of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pools, announced the launch of its Miner Support Program, providing eligible miners with access to up to $30 millions* in financing, fee relief and partner benefits.
The program launches against a challenging backdrop. Bitcoin’s hashprice — the key measure of mining revenue per unit of compute — has declined to approximately $28/PH/day, a 50% drop from its October 2025 peak and an all-time post-halving low, per CoinShares Q1 2026 data. An estimated 252 EH/s has been taken offline (According to Hashrate Index data, cited in CoinCentral, April 2026) as operators running older-generation hardware found margins no longer viable. Three consecutive negative difficulty adjustments, the first such streak since July 2022, signal broad capitulation across the sector. EMCD, which has operated its mining pool since 2017 and processed over 4,550 BTC mined by its users in 2025, sees the current period as both a stress test and a structural opportunity for operators who remain active.
Program Structure
As margins compress across the industry, EMCD has put together a concrete response: restructured fees, negotiated hardware and infrastructure deals, and opened access to its liquidity and yield products — a toolkit built around how mining businesses actually work, available to operators in any region.
Miners facing cash flow pressure can access EMCD’s secured liquidity facilities at 3.9% APR — to cover operational costs without selling assets into a down market. Unlike generic crypto-backed credit lines, EMCD products are built around mining-specific cash flow cycles and are bundled with the rest of the program, so the effective cost of capital comes down further when combined with fee relief and hardware savings rather than being judged on rate alone.
Those looking to protect margins on every block can apply for zero pool commission for 60 days, reducing overhead while hashprice remains depressed. Miners running older or underperforming hardware can unlock preferential pricing on Vnish firmware — the market’s leading third-party ASIC optimization software. Those looking to expand or relocate capacity get access to special terms on equipment and data center services through EMCD’s partner network.
Partner Participation
EMCD is inviting hardware manufacturers, data centers, and hosting providers to join the program by offering exclusive terms to eligible miners. Partner applications can be submitted at the website: https://support-miners.emcd.io/.
“We’ve been through every cycle in this industry since 2017 — the rallies, the winters, the halvings. What we’ve learned is that the operators who survive aren’t the ones who wait out the downturns. They’re the ones who use them. This program is our commitment to making sure our miners have the tools to do exactly that.” — Michael Jerlis, Founder & CEO, EMCD.
*The stated amount reflects the maximum aggregate value of support (including financing, fee reductions and partner offers) that may be made available under the program and does not constitute a reserved fund.
About EMCD
EMCD is the global cryptocurrency mining pool and infrastructure provider. Founded in 2017 as an early industrial BTC mining operation in Europe, EMCD now serves users and businesses across 120+ markets. With over 30 EH/s of hashrate and a place in the global top ten, EMCD committed to security, reliability and transparency. EMCD’s mission is to make it simpler for individuals and businesses to build, earn and transact with digital assets. EMCD was recognised as Best Mining Pool by Coingape in 2026 and Finance Feeds in 2025.
Contact
PR
Nadia Pereira
EMCD
pr@emcd.io
RISEx Launches ‘Ignite’ Season 1 Points Program, Following $3B in Volume During the Early Access Phase
Singapore, Singapore, July 24th, 2026, Chainwire
Backed by Galaxy Ventures and Vitalik Buterin, the ultra-high-performance perp DEX has officially launched its public rewards program.
RISEx, the fully on-chain perpetuals exchange built on the high-throughput RISE Chain, has officially launched Ignite: Season 1, its core loyalty and ecosystem points program. Following an invite-only beta phase that generated over $3 billion in cumulative trading volume, the program marks the next major step in RISEx’s broader ecosystem rollout as the protocol builds toward long-term community ownership and future token distribution.
Launch week concluded today with the distribution of the Season 0 retroactive points, recognizing the users who traded on a merit-based, invite-only venue with no guarantee of reward.
The program also carries a claim no competing venue can make: 100% of RISE points are allocated to RISEx users, including traders, LPs, and builder code integrators. RISE is an exchange chain, and RISEx is its product. Rather than splitting rewards across a diffuse ecosystem, the entire network’s incentive weight routes through the venue where activity actually happens.
The launch arrives amidst a massive structural shift in crypto derivatives, with decentralized perpetuals rapidly devouring centralized venue market share. Following the successful live deployment of its core exchange infrastructure, including cross-asset netted-margining and native Real-World Asset (RWA) trading, the public opening of RISEx’s rewards system marks the platform’s formal transition into global scale and growth mode.
Ecosystem Traction: By the Numbers
Prior to opening public rewards, the RISEx closed beta cultivated organic, institutional-grade liquidity and deep user engagement over three months:
- $3 Billion+ in cumulative trading volume processed since genesis.
- $26 Million+ in Open Interest (OI).
- $15 Million+ in Total Value Locked (TVL).
- 15,000+ Registered users accumulated entirely through a merit-based referral network.
Source: DUNE
Product First, Incentives Second “Much to the frustration of our growth team, I was adamant that we would not launch an incentives program until our core exchange engine reached absolute stability,” said Sam Battenally, CEO and co-founder of RISE Labs. “Too often, points programs are deployed prematurely to mask unfinished infrastructure or buy empty, temporary volume. We spent the last few months doing the hard engineering work instead by stabilizing core features like reduce-only GTC and bootstrapping deep, quality liquidity. If you are fueling the engine, it has to perform. Now that our core architecture is fully live, optimized, and performing at a world-class level, we are ready to scale.”
Ignite Season 1 Structure & Timeline
Ignite runs according to a product roadmap, and that is RISEx’s commitment to the RISE mission. As the exchange ships and reaches milestones, the season moves with it. AutoYield, Permissionless Portfolio Margin, and equity listings are all part of a larger vision to bring full-scale composable finance on-chain.
This is a deliberate design choice. Rewards should track real product progress rather than a marketing calendar that forces a program to overspend early or thin rewards later, penalizing the early contributors and active traders who showed up first.
- Live Since: Week 1 of Ignite began on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 00:00 UTC.
- Public Distribution: RISEx will distribute 200,000 points per week, settled every Tuesday, with the first weekly distribution on July 28, 2026, at 14:00 UTC.
- Season Length: Ignite is expected to end no later than Q2 2027.
- Allocation: 100% of RISE points are allocated to RISEx users, including traders, LPs, and builder code integrators.
Inside the Ignite Mechanics
Engineered to reward genuine, long-term ecosystem participation over predatory Sybil farming and artificial wash trading, Ignite evaluates user contribution across multiple health metrics rather than volume alone.
- Multi-Layered Earning: Qualifying activity spans higher-order activity, total costs including fees, slippage and negative markouts, trading volume, and open interest and hold time.
- Referral Rewards: Referrers earn an additional 10% of their referee’s points.
- Undisclosed Weightings: The exact methodology and weightings are not published. This protects the program from being gamed.
- Affiliate Program: For those who qualify, the affiliate program offers additional incentives such as fee rebates, point boosts, and more.
Institutional-Grade Architecture
RISEx achieves centralized-exchange execution speeds with full self-custody by utilizing RISE Chain, an EVM-compatible Layer 2 network delivering unprecedented 5 Ggas/s throughput and 1-millisecond latency. Because the exchange and the underlying blockchain share the same state, users benefit from a fully on-chain orderbook where collateral and interconnected DeFi positions exist within a single, atomic execution environment.
With the core perpetual exchange engine stabilized, the platform’s mid-term product roadmap is shifting toward the launch of native EVM Spot trading, AutoYield, and Permissionless Portfolio Margin.
Traders can clear the gate, check their retroactive allocations, and begin earning Season 1 points by visiting rise.trade.
About RISEx
RISEx is a fully on-chain perpetuals exchange built on RISE Chain. Delivering centralized-exchange execution speeds with full self-custody, RISEx features an on-chain orderbook that shares state and liquidity with the entire RISE DeFi ecosystem in a single transaction. RISEx offers institutional-grade crypto perpetuals with flexible collateral, with plans to expand into equities, forex, and commodities.
About RISE Chain
RISE Chain is a next-generation Ethereum Layer 2 purpose-built for high-performance DeFi, delivering 5 Ggas/s throughput and Web2-like latency via its proprietary Shreds architecture. Developed by RISE Labs, the network is backed by Galaxy Ventures, Vitalik Buterin, Finality Capital Partners, EtherFi, OrangeDAO, DACM, P2 Ventures, Stani Kulechov, and other leading digital asset investors.
Contact
Grigory Prelovskiy
grigory@riselabs.xyz
MEXC Launches VVIP Futures Loss Coverage Program 2.0 With 1,000,000 USDT Prize Pool
Victoria, Seychelles, July 10th, 2026, Chainwire
MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, announced the launch of its VVIP Futures Loss Coverage Program 2.0 from July 10 to July 30, 2026 (UTC), an upgraded initiative offering enhanced trading protection and a 1,000,000 USDT prize pool for futures users to share.
The Loss Coverage Program 2.0 introduces three key enhancements. Losses Covered Instantly gives eligible VVIP users same-day compensation on qualifying losing trades, with coverage chances and limits tiered according to VVIP level. Elite VVIP users with a credit score of 800 or above enjoy real-time compensation upon triggering loss coverage. Liquidation Protection allows users with eligible liquidated positions to receive up to 2,000 USDT in additional coverage. The Lucky Lottery allows qualifying losing trades to earn users’ lucky tickets, with additional tickets awarded based on loss size, giving ticket holders a chance to share a 100,000 USDT prize pool.
To ensure a transparent and verifiable result, the Lucky Lottery grand prize draw will be determined using the last six digits of the first Bitcoin block hash generated after July 31, 2026, 12:00 (UTC). Prizes include a grand prize gold bar valued at 4,000 USDT, ten gold bars valued at approximately 2,000 USDT each, ten gold bars valued at approximately 1,200 USDT each, and futures bonus rewards of up to 500 USDT.
As a one-stop trading platform, MEXC offers users access to a wide range of assets—including cryptocurrencies, US equities, gold, silver, and more—alongside a growing suite of protective mechanisms designed to support users through market volatility. In addition, MEXC Futures Insurance Fund stood at over 759 million USDT as of July 10, 2026, providing an additional layer of protection against extreme market conditions. These reflect MEXC’s continued commitment to user experience and protection.
Full event details and participation are available on the MEXC VVIP Futures Loss Coverage Program 2.0 page.
About MEXC
MEXC is the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchange, trusted by more than 40 million users across 170+ markets. Built on a user-first philosophy, MEXC offers industry-leading 0-fee trading and access to over 3,000 digital assets. As the Gateway to Infinite Opportunities, MEXC provides a single platform where users can easily trade cryptocurrencies alongside tokenized assets, including stocks, ETFs, commodities, and precious metals.
MEXC Official Website| X | Telegram |How to Sign Up on MEXC
For media inquiries, contact MEXC PR team: media@mexc.com
Risk Disclaimer:
This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
Contact
MEXC PR team
media@mexc.com
AFX Launches Mainnet Points Program To Reward Real Traders, Liquidity Providers, And Communities
ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, May 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AFX, a high-performance sovereign L1 purpose-built for decentralized derivatives, has officially launched its Points Program, introducing a multi-season incentive system designed to reward genuine ecosystem participation ahead of the protocol’s future token launch.
Unlike traditional DeFi farming models that primarily reward raw trading volume, AFX’s points system is built around a different principle: rewarding real contribution. Active traders, liquidity providers, and community participants can now earn points through meaningful participation across the protocol, with all accumulated points eventually redeemable into tokens at TGE.
This program will run across three consecutive seasons, with each season featuring its own dedicated points pool. Importantly, points do not reset or expire between seasons. All accumulated points will be merged and redeemed together at a unified rate during TGE, encouraging long-term ecosystem participation rather than short-term farming behavior.
A Multi-Layered Incentive System Built for Real Participation
AFX users can earn points through three independent participation methods simultaneously:
- Active trading across supported markets
- Providing liquidity through the AFX LP Vault
- Participating in the Guild League ecosystem
The protocol evaluates trading contribution across multiple dimensions — including trade execution, position holding, and market diversity — rather than relying solely on trading volume. Liquidity providers who contribute capital to the AFX LP Vault are also rewarded based on their actual contribution to protocol liquidity depth, supporting healthier and more efficient market conditions for all participants.
Season 1 Now Live
Season 1 officially begins on May 25, 2026, and will run for eight weeks through July 20, 2026. During this phase, AFX will distribute points across two independent pools:
- Trading + AFX LP Vault Combined Pool: 2,885,714 total points
- Guild Pool: 914,286 total points
Points will be settled weekly and distributed every Monday at 00:00 UTC.
The launch of the Mainnet Points Program marks the next major step in AFX’s broader ecosystem rollout as the protocol continues building toward governance token launch and long-term community ownership.
About AFX
AFX is a high-performance sovereign L1 purpose-built for decentralized derivatives. By synthesizing the rapid execution of a centralized exchange with the immutable sovereignty of blockchain, AFX delivers a professional-grade Perp DEX environment characterized by sub-100ms finality, institutional liquidity, and unmatched capital efficiency.
Nexpace Announces NXPC Buyback Program To Reinforce User-Centered Ecosystem Growth In MapleStory Universe
Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 22nd, 2026, Chainwire
Up to $10 million buyback program designed to strengthen long-term token circulation structure and support sustainable ecosystem operations.
Nexpace, the Abu Dhabi-based blockchain company behind MapleStory Universe (MSU), today announced the launch of an NXPC buyback program of up to $10 million.
The initiative is intended to reinforce a token circulation structure centered around real users and participation, while supporting long-term ecosystem sustainability. NXPC is the native token of MSU, the blockchain-powered expansion of Nexon’s iconic MapleStory IP, powering user engagement, including contribution rewards and item unlocks.
Under the program, Nexpace will conduct open market purchases of up to $10 million worth of NXPC across global digital asset exchanges. To minimize potential market impact, open market purchases will be executed progressively over a three-month period through multiple tranches and delegated to an external execution partner.
The initiative was developed based on insights gathered during MSU’s first year of live operations. Over the past year, more than 850,000 wallets engaged with the platform, with approximately two-thirds spending NXPC on a monthly basis, contributing to 49.1 million NXPC in ecosystem revenue, equivalent to $31 million. By Q1 2026, player spending had outpaced rewards distributed, reflecting the depth of organic engagement across the ecosystem.
Combined with the 8.32 million NXPC burned to date, the buyback program is designed to support healthy token circulation as MSU evolves into a broader IP-powered ecosystem driven by active onchain participation. It also reinforces the long-term ecosystem alignment of NXPC for users who actively participate in and contribute to the ecosystem.
Sun Young Hwang, Chief Executive Officer at Nexpace said, “As MapleStory Universe continues to evolve, our focus remains on building an ecosystem where participation and utility remain closely connected. This program reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting healthier long-term ecosystem dynamics as engagement continues to grow. Year one gave us confidence that we are on the right path, and we want to ensure long-term users, builders, and contributors are meaningfully rewarded for what they help build.”
NXPC acquired through the program will be retained within the treasury for future use in supporting long-term ecosystem sustainability. For more information, users can visit Nexpace’s IR page.
About Nexpace
Nexpace, an innovative blockchain company based in Abu Dhabi, pioneers an IP-expansion initiative powered by blockchain technology and NFTs to build a community-driven ecosystem. With a mission to redefine interactive entertainment, Nexpace creates a vibrant space for exploring, sharing, and engaging with diverse content and gameplay crafted by community members.
At the heart of Nexpace’s ecosystem are principles of transparency, security, and trust, empowering builders to freely share their ideas and enabling users to enjoy immersive experiences. By fostering a culture of creative expression, Nexpace envisions a secure, collaborative environment that unites ecosystem participants in a thriving digital community.
Disclaimers: This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding MapleStory Universe, MSU 2.0, and related plans. Nothing herein constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell NXPC or any digital asset; availability may be restricted in certain jurisdictions. All metrics are based on internal data or third-party sources as indicated and measured under the definitions and periods specified.
Contact
PR Manager
Bee Shin
Wachsman
bee.shin@wachsman.com
Blockchain technology has not only set new benchmarks for innovation but also introduced new career opportunities. If you are interested in Blockchain and want to become a blockchain professional with a thriving career, try the new blockchain career accelerator program launched by 101 Blockchains. Our blockchain career accelerator program is not just a collection of courses and certification programs. It offers the most structured roadmap you can find to build your career in the domain of blockchain and Web3.
Do you want to become a blockchain expert and don’t know where to start? You can pursue the career path you want as a blockchain expert with our blockchain career accelerator program. We have created the career accelerator program to help you land high-paying jobs in specialized roles. Let us share some unique details of our new blockchain career accelerator program and its advantages for your career.
The Blockchain Career Accelerator Program
We at 101 Blockchains have been known as the most trusted online platform for blockchain training and accredited certifications for over a decade. We strive to offer the best learning resources that shape the minds of future blockchain experts and change our world for the better. Thousands of professionals working in top companies worldwide have already leveraged our courses, masterclasses, and certifications and switched to lucrative and exciting blockchain roles.
As the competition for blockchain jobs continues to increase, beginners often experience trouble in finding proven ways to achieve their career goals. Our primary motive behind launching the blockchain career accelerator program is to help you gain the necessary skills you need for the blockchain job you want. You will find a curated roadmap with the program that will help you acquire job-ready skills.
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Fast-track your career: get hired quicker, stand out on LinkedIn, and master Web3 with the Blockchain Career Accelerator
Target Audience for the Blockchain Career Accelerator Program
Contrary to your assumptions, the blockchain career accelerator program is not restricted to tech professionals alone. Anyone (yes, anyone!) can build the foundations of their blockchain career with our career accelerator program. We aim to offer more than professional training and certifications for blockchain skills in the new program. Our blockchain career accelerator also empowers aspiring learners with job-ready skills and expert career guidance to help you find and land the best jobs. The world’s first blockchain career accelerator program can help different types of candidates with unique benefits.
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Basic Information about the Blockchain Career Accelerator Program
The detailed info of our new blockchain career accelerator program will provide a deeper understanding of its significance. With an overview of the objectives of the career accelerator program, you will figure out how it prepares you for high-paying jobs. Here are some highlights:
- Create a personalized career path with the help of our career experts that is tailored to your goals and level of knowledge.
- Gain job-ready blockchain and web3 skills and use globally recognized credentials to boost your portfolio.
- Pursue top blockchain jobs that match your career goals and skills with guidance from experienced mentors.
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One of the notable strengths of our blockchain career accelerator program is the structured roadmap to land high-paying jobs in blockchain and web3. The roadmap will help you achieve the skills and recognition required to become one of the most valuable assets in the blockchain job market. You can build your blockchain and web3 expertise one step at a time with a strong foundation and the support of industry leaders and expert instructors.
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- Prepare for a career in blockchain with practical courses that prepare you for real-world roles.
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Build your identity as a certified blockchain expert with 101 Blockchains’ Blockchain Certifications designed to provide enhanced career prospects.
Top Reasons to Choose the Blockchain Career Accelerator Program
Here are the top reasons to choose the accelerator program and how it can help your career before making the final decision.
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Learn Everything in One Place
The foremost thing we had in mind while launching the blockchain career accelerator program was the possibility of empowering learners with all learning resources in one place. We offer a special selection of training courses and certification programs that can help learners prepare for top blockchain jobs, no matter what knowledge level they start the accelerator with. As a result, you don’t have to waste time in courses that contribute nothing to your professional development.
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Structured Roadmap for Career Development
You can become a blockchain professional with our career accelerator program by following a structured path. The program encompasses professional certifications, specialization courses, and mentorship opportunities in a strategic manner. The structured roadmap will help you face the challenges in your job search and provide a boost to your professional development journey.
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Empowering Learners with Job-Ready Skills
The most appealing highlight of our blockchain career accelerator is that it helps you learn how to use your skills to solve real-world problems. You will learn not only the theoretical concepts but also acquire the practical skills required to implement your knowledge in real-world scenarios. With the world’s first blockchain career accelerator program, we want to empower every aspirant with confidence to land high-paying jobs.
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Treasure of Career Support Services
The best aspect of our blockchain career accelerator program is the emphasis on career support. You will find more than training courses and certification programs, as we offer services such as a personal career guide, job search assistance, CV perfection, interview preparation, and more. Our mentors will guide you every step of the way, from building your personal training program to the interview process, and also offer access to broader professional networks. The assistance in finding jobs serves as a valuable feature for candidates who are new to the blockchain and web3 job markets.
Final Thoughts
The launch of our new blockchain career accelerator program will open new doors for everyone to pursue the blockchain career path they want. It is not just another collection of training courses and certifications tailored to transform you into a blockchain expert. On the contrary, the blockchain career accelerator program helps you build your skills from the ground up and prove it with globally recognized certifications. In addition, you will receive guidance from mentors, support for job search, and services to increase your visibility. Explore the full details of the accelerator program to know more right now.