Ethereum challenger Avalanche has raised a $230 million investment led by Singapore-based hedge fund Three Arrows Capital and Olaf Carlson-Wee’s Polychain Capital (Carlson-Wee was the first employee at now the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., Coinbase, and ultimately led its risk management).
Announced today, the capital raise, conducted as a private sale of the platform’s AVAX token, closed in June and also included investors such as R/Crypto Fund, Dragonfly, CMS Holdings, Collab+Currency, Lvna Capital as well as a group of angel investors and family offices. Similar to initial coin offerings (ICOs) that raised over $20 billion from the public a few years ago, this fundraising mechanism allows blockchain projects to raise capital from accredited investors in exchange for cryptographic tokens. Last year, the project raised approximately $60 million through token sales from prominent venture firms including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Initialized Capital.
The Singapore-based non-profit Avalanche Foundation, which oversees the blockchain’s ecosystem, will use the funds to subsidize projects building decentralized finance (DeFi), enterprise, and other applications developed on the Avalanche blockchain. The support will include grants, token purchases and other forms of investment, according to Emin Gün Sirer, the founder of the project and director of the foundation.
The investment comes as a number of similar networks dubbed “Ethereum killers”, including Solana, Algorand, Cardano and Polkadot, have exploded in value over the past year and shows a continued appetite for innovation beyond the original blockchain that popularized smart contracts and enabled the next generation of decentralized applications.
“When you have a war chest like this, it’s a very comfortable situation to be in,” says Sirer. “We will certainly have partnership announcements coming up. I am really excited about the new unique deployments that are already in the pipeline.” Sirer also told Forbes that he had recently stepped down from his teaching position at Cornell University to focus on Avalanche.
Conceived in 2018, the platform claims to process transactions hundreds of times faster than its competitor, more than 4,500 transactions per second vs. Ethereum’s 14, for a fraction of Ethereum’s fees. Commonly known as gas, transaction fees on Ethereum have skyrocketed earlier this year due to the high on-chain activity, peaking near $70 in May.
Avalanche’s main network launched in September 2020 and has since claimed a stake in the swelling market. Over 225 projects are building on the platform, and the total amount of assets locked in Avalanche’s DeFi ecosystem, encompassing peer-to-peer exchanges and lending applications that operate without intermediaries, grew at the end of last month to over $1.6 billion from about $250 million in mid-August. Avalanche’s AVAX token, 14th largest cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of $13.13 billion, more than doubled in price, reaching an all-time high of $66.45 earlier this week, Messari’s data shows.
Much of that growth can be attributed to the launch of the “Avalanche Rush” initiative, announced on August 18. Over the next few months, the program will inject $180 million worth of AVAX into the Avalanche ecosystem with the aim to lure blue-chip DeFi applications to the network by providing the tokens as liquidity mining incentives for users of protocols like Aave, which facilitates cryptocurrency lending, and decentralized exchange Curve, though additional integrations may follow. “We’re in talks across the board with every single category of DeFi projects you might imagine,” Sirer says.
As the program kicked off following the introduction of the Avalanche Bridge, a technology that enables the transfer of assets between blockchains, namely Ethereum, market watchers, including Joseph Young and Nick Chong, authors of the DeFi-focused Forbes newsletter Alpha Alarm, noted the resemblance of Avalanche’s growth with Polygon, a platform for Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development. Many Ethereum-native DeFi applications, including the money market protocol Aave, have migrated to Polygon to escape Ethereum’s rising transaction fees due to the network’s congestion.
Yet Avalanche is also capitalizing on the burgeoning popularity of non-fungible tokens. On August 11, it was revealed that legacy trading cards and collectibles company Topps partnered with Avalanche to build a marketplace for NFTs and launched the first collection featuring highlights from the German football league’s 2020–2021 season. A few days later, however, it became known that Major League Baseball, Topps’ major partner for 70 years, is ending its licensing agreement with the company in favor of a deal with the up-and-coming sports collectible brand Fanatics. But Sirer says Avalanche has more in store: “We are a big believer in NFTs and their future, and we plan to grow in that area in many different ways.”
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 250 points in late-morning trading, led by strength in the base metal and technology sectors, while U.S. stock markets also charged higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 254.62 points at 23,847.22.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 432.77 points at 41,935.87. The S&P 500 index was up 96.38 points at 5,714.64, while the Nasdaq composite was up 486.12 points at 18,059.42.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.68 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was up 89 cents at US$70.77 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down a penny at US2.27 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$9.40 at US$2,608.00 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.33 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Losing a loved one is never easy, and the legal steps that follow can add even more stress to an already difficult time.
For years, families in Vancouver (and Canada in general) have struggled with a complex probate process—filled with paperwork and legal challenges.
Thankfully, recent changes to Canada’s probate laws aim to make this process simpler and easier to navigate.
Let’s unearth how these updates can simplify the process for you and your family.
What is probate?
Probate might sound complicated, but it’s simply the legal process of settling someone’s estate after death.
Here’s how it works.
Validating the will. The court checks if the will is legal and valid.
Appointing an executor. If named in the will, the executor manages the estate. If not, the court appoints someone.
Settling debts and taxes. The executor (and you) pays debts and taxes before anything can be given.
Distributing the estate. Once everything is settled, the executor distributes the remaining assets according to the will or legal rules.
Probate ensures everything is done by the book, giving you peace of mind during a difficult time.
Recent Changes in Canadian Probate Laws
Several updates to probate law in the country are making the process smoother for you and your family.
Here’s a closer look at the fundamental changes that are making a real difference.
1) Virtual witnessing of wills
Now permanent in many provinces, including British Columbia, wills can be signed and witnessed remotely through video calls.
Such a change makes estate planning more accessible, especially for those in remote areas or with limited mobility.
2) Simplified process for small estates
Smaller estates, like those under 25,000 CAD in BC, now have a faster, simplified probate process.
Fewer forms and legal steps mean less hassle for families handling modest estates.
3) Substantial compliance for wills
Courts can now approve wills with minor errors if they reflect the person’s true intentions.
This update prevents unnecessary legal challenges and ensures the deceased’s wishes are respected.
These changes help make probate less stressful and more efficient for you and other families across Canada.
The Probate Process and You: The Role of a Probate Lawyer
(Image: Freepik.com)
Working with a probate lawyer in Vancouver can significantly simplify the probate process, especially given the city’s complex legal landscape.
Here’s how they can help.
Navigating the legal process
Probate lawyers ensure all legal steps are followed, preventing costly mistakes and ensuring the estate is managed properly.
Handling paperwork and deadlines
They manage all the paperwork and court deadlines, taking the burden off of you during this difficult time.
Resolving disputes
If conflicts arise, probate lawyers resolve them, avoiding legal battles.
Providing you peace of mind
With a probate lawyer’s expertise, you can trust that the estate is being handled efficiently and according to the law.
With a skilled probate lawyer, you can ensure the entire process is smooth and stress-free.
Why These Changes Matter
The updates to probate law make a big difference for Canadian families. Here’s why.
Less stress for you. Simplified processes mean you can focus on grieving, not paperwork.
Faster estate settlements. Estates are settled more quickly, so beneficiaries don’t face long delays.
Fewer disputes. Courts can now honor will with minor errors, reducing family conflicts.
Accessible for everyone. Virtual witnessing and easier rules for small estates make probate more accessible for everyone, no matter where you live.
With these changes, probate becomes smoother and more manageable for you and your family.
How to Prepare for the Probate Process
Even with the recent changes, being prepared makes probate smoother. Here are a few steps to help you prepare.
Create a will. Ensure a valid will is in place to avoid complications.
Choose an executor. Pick someone responsible for managing the estate and discuss their role with them.
Organize documents. Keep key financial and legal documents in one place for easy access.
Talk to your family. Have open conversations with your family to prevent future misunderstandings.
Get legal advice. Consult with a probate lawyer to ensure everything is legally sound and up-to-date.
These simple steps make the probate process easier for everyone involved.
Wrapping Up: Making Probate Easier in Vancouver
Recent updates in probate law are simplifying the process for families, from virtual witnessing to easier estate rules. These reforms are designed to ease the burden, helping you focus on what matters—grieving and respecting your dead loved ones’ final wishes.
Despite these changes, it’s best to consult a probate lawyer to ensure you can manage everything properly. Remember, they’re here to help you during this difficult time.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was higher in late-morning trading, helped by strength in energy stocks, while U.S. stock markets also moved up.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 34.91 points at 23,736.98.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 178.05 points at 41,800.13. The S&P 500 index was up 28.38 points at 5,661.47, while the Nasdaq composite was up 133.17 points at 17,725.30.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.56 cents US compared with 73.57 cents US on Monday.
The November crude oil contract was up 68 cents at US$69.70 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up three cents at US$2.40 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$7.80 at US$2,601.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.28 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
