Crypto election is coming to a close 🚪

GM Builders. 🚧 

Welcome back to the BW3 newsletter, where we bring you the spiciest crypto scoops, wrapped in a warm blanket of sarcasm and served with a side of "wait, they actually did that?" moments…

Here’s the feed today:

• Crypto Election Recap 🇺🇸 

• AI Agent protocol makes noise 🤖 

• Top News in the Mainstream Today 📰 

• Deal flow over last 7 days 💸 

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1ST OFFICIAL CRYPTO ELECTION COMES TO CLOSE 🗳️

It’s been a long campaign season in the US for crypto in its first official “crypto election”, and as we near the Nov. 5th finish line, the industry’s been rolling out political plays like it’s the next bull run.

• Biggest Bags: Crypto’s dropped a cool $120M this cycle on political contributions—no small investment. Super PACs like Fairshake are making it rain across both parties, but there's a noticeable red tilt this time around, wonder why...

• Candidates in the Ring:

  • Trump is in full “crypto bro” mode, promising to fire SEC Chair Gensler and even dabbling in NFTs. He’s got the vibe of someone ready to “send it” straight to Capitol Hill for the crypto crowd launching world liberty financial.

  • Harris is playing it safe, with crypto occasionally mentioned but not a major focus. She’s got the HODL approach—cautious and steady, likely trying to avoid shaking the regulatory tree too much so no apples fall on her head. It seems like there’s a late push to put Harris in front of a new crypto friendly dem agenda.

• Voter Sentiment: Over on X, it looks like Trump’s got the “crypto voter” hype, but is there a real bloc here? Some say it’s not about a “crypto army” at the polls but about funding and influence behind the scenes. After all, stacking PACs might be the ultimate staking strategy.

• What’s at Stake: A GOP sweep could mean some legislative wins for the industry, especially with bills like FIT21 that promise to untangle regulatory knots. Pro-crypto policies could be on the horizon if they play their cards right like a good hand of euchre.

• Market Sentiment: Markets seem to be pricing in a Trump boost, with chatter on X suggesting a pump for crypto stocks if he pulls through. Regulatory leniency? It’s the moonshot everyone’s hoping for.

(PS Robinhood just launched election prediction betting contracts… yea its getting bit) 

So here we are—crypto’s first major election push is almost done. The real question is: will all this lobbying buy crypto a golden ticket, or just another wild headline? Buckle up for the final lap; this saga isn’t over yet.

AI AGENT PROTOCOL MAKES NOISE 🤖 

Imagine creating your own AI bot in under three minutes—no code required. That’s exactly what Virtuals Protocol is bringing to the table, allowing even non-technical users to dive into the world of tokenized AI agents. Here’s how it works:

• What is Virtuals Protocol? Built on Base, the platform enables users to launch and co-own AI agents in the virtual world, opening up opportunities across gaming, entertainment, and more.

• AI Autonomy: These agents can act independently, setting goals and achieving them. They can chat, interact through 3D animations, and even pick up items in a game or engage users on social media.

• Tokenized Ownership: When an AI agent is created, it’s tokenized with a specific supply of agent tokens (like $LUNA), paired with the platform’s native $VIRTUAL token. Owning these tokens gives users governance rights and a stake in the agent’s revenue.

• Revenue Opportunities: As these AI agents integrate across apps, they generate income from user interactions. And yes, co-owners get a share!

With a mission to bridge the gap between AI and blockchain, Virtuals Protocol makes it easy for anyone to get a piece of the AI-driven action, even if coding isn’t your thing.

TOP 5 IN MAINSTREAM 📰 

Alright, crypto fans—today’s mainstream highlights are spicier than a hot wallet on fire. Let’s see what’s pumping, dumping, and making headlines.

Top 5 in the Crypto Mainstream Today:

1. Bitcoin Breaks $73,000, Markets Buzz 📈 Bitcoin’s back in the spotlight, climbing 3% to reach over $73,000, its highest since March. Anticipation around the upcoming U.S. presidential election and the return of crypto ETFs has fueled the surge. Traders and investors are holding their breath as BTC inches closer to its all-time high, with many hoping this rally’s here to stay.

2. Crypto.com Steals Coinbase’s Thunder in North America ⚡️ Crypto.com has pulled off a massive coup, overtaking Coinbase as the top crypto trading platform in North America. Thanks to a 300% spike in trading volume since July, the exchange now handles the lion’s share of U.S. crypto trading. The key? More token options and increased traffic from American users. Coinbase, it might be time to watch your back.

3. China’s $1.4 Trillion Economic "Earthquake" May Shake Up Crypto 🌏 As Bitcoin races past $70,000, a leaked report hints that China is ready to inject $1.4 trillion into its economy—a move that could have ripple effects across global markets, including crypto. Analysts are eyeing this as a potential catalyst to push BTC even higher. Could this be the next big Bitcoin booster?

4. U.S. Treasury’s Financial Inclusion Strategy Ghosts Crypto 👻 The U.S. Treasury just released a strategy on financial inclusion, but guess what? Crypto barely got a mention—and when it did, it was only in the context of “risks.” For an industry aiming to promote accessibility and inclusion, this feels like a cold shoulder from Uncle Sam. Looks like crypto’s still got some convincing to do in D.C.

5. Nigerian Pressure Campaign Frees Crypto Exec from Prison 🎉 Crypto executive Tigran Gambaryan is safely back in the U.S. after a high-stakes release campaign got him out of a Nigerian prison. Details are scarce, but sources say the pressure from crypto advocacy groups and international diplomats helped secure his freedom. It’s a reminder that the crypto world has a strong network when it counts.

And that’s your top stories rundown! Will Bitcoin keep climbing, or is there a plot twist waiting around the blockchain corner?

DEAL FROM OVER LAST WEEK 💵 

Here's a roundup of this week's top deal flow highlights in the crypto space:

1. Bluesky

   • Round: Series A

   • Raised: $15M

   • Category: Media, Social Network

   • Notable Investors: Blockchain Capital, Alumni Ventures, True Ventures

   • Summary: Bluesky is diving into the decentralized social network space, aiming to reshape media by enabling user-owned and user-controlled networks.

2. Gelato Network

   • Round: Series A

   • Raised: $11M

   • Category: Infrastructure, Multichain

   • Notable Investors: Hack VC, Animoca Brands, IOSG Ventures

   • Summary: As an automation layer for decentralized applications, Gelato Network is pushing the boundaries on smart contract automation across various blockchains.

3. Variational

   • Round: Seed

   • Raised: $10.3M

   • Category: DeFi, Derivatives, Trading

   • Notable Investors: Bain Capital Crypto, Peak XV Partners, Coinbase Ventures

   • Summary: Focusing on DeFi derivatives, Variational is building a platform for dynamic and flexible trading products in the decentralized finance space.

4. BitSmiley

   • Round: Unknown

   • Raised: $10M

   • Category: Bitcoin Ecosystem, DeFi, Derivatives

   • Notable Investors: nxgen, IBC, CA Capital

   • Summary: This quirky Bitcoin-focused DeFi platform brings a blend of lending and derivatives products aimed at both traditional and crypto-native investors.

5. PumpBTC

   • Round: Seed

   • Raised: $10M

   • Category: Babylon Ecosystem, DeFi, Derivatives

   • Notable Investors: SevenX, Mirana, UTXO

   • Summary: PumpBTC is making moves within the Babylon ecosystem with staking and derivatives offerings, tapping into the growing DeFi market with a focus on Bitcoin assets.

That wraps up the deal flow highlights! Whether they're stacking DeFi derivatives or automating the next wave of social networks, these projects are attracting major capital and attention. 👷 

MEME CITY 🏙️ 

Until Next Time Builders! 🏗️ 

Keep shaking and baking. 🥧