The Block

Microsoft-backed blockchain and AI startup Space and Time raised another $20 million.Aave Labs proposed integrating BlackRock’s BUIDL with the GHO stability module.MakerDAO rebranded to Sky, with the DAI stablecoin optionally upgradeable to USDS.The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.

Quick Take Anthony Scaramucci explains how the crypto vote has become a key issue in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Quick Take Gameplay Galaxy has raised $11.17 million in a new funding round from Blockchain Capital, Merit Circle and other investors. The round brought Gameplay Galaxy’s valuation to $71 million, founder and CEO Doron Kagan told The Block.

Quick Take KOR Protocol has unveiled a new streaming service called KOR Player. The KOR Player enables users to remix music using a suite of tools including a “sound library” and authentication service.

Quick Take A Telegram mini-app that allows people to sign a letter in support of freeing the messaging platform’s CEO and founder, Pavel Durov, quickly attracted over 300,000 signatures. The messaging app has said it has close to 1 billion users.

Toncoin and ether have decreased in value by around 4% and 5%, respectively, over the past day.The cryptocurrency market has experienced over $144 million in daily long liquidations.

Quick Take Space and Time Labs announced it raised $20 million in Series A financing in a round led by Framework Ventures, Lightspeed Faction, Arrington Capital and Hivemind Capital. The startup, which previously raised capital in a 2022 round led by Microsoft’s venture arm M12, has raised a total of $50 million.

Nasdaq has filed with the SEC to list and trade bitcoin index options.The proposed Nasdaq Bitcoin Index Options (XBTX) will track the CME CF Bitcoin Real-Time Index.

Quick Take Binance is urging the U.S. government to exert political pressure to secure the release of its executive, Tigran Gambaryan, on humanitarian grounds. Gambaryan has been held in Nigeria for six months amid money laundering charges, with his latest court hearing brought forward to Sept. 2.

Quick Take MakerDAO has rebranded to Sky and is set to roll out new upgradeable versions of its stablecoin and governance tokens on Sept. 18. DAI holders will be able to upgrade to USDS 1:1, while MKR holders can convert to SKY at a 1:24,000 ratio.