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⌐◪-◪ → CryptoPunk #6915 just sold for 620 ETH ($1.48M), one of 24 Apes in the 10,000-piece collection. The only attribute rarer than “Ape” is “Alien” — of which there are only 9.

While this is a massive sale in the current market, it’s significantly lower than the last Ape sales in 2021–2022:

• #2924 → 3,300 ETH ($4.45M)

• #4156 → 2,690 ETH ($3.31M)

• #4464 → 2,450 ETH ($4.7M)

• #2,900 → 2,900 ETH ($4.21M)

• #4156 → 2,500 ETH ($10.26M)

If you look closely at the Punk’s transaction history, you’ll see that the same seller turned down various bids between 900–950 ETH earlier this year. I can’t imagine they’re stoked about that — but hey, you can’t always play the perfect game.

Considering they picked this Punk up in 2017 for $2.5k, I’d call this a win.

⌐◪-◪ → Magic Eden just segregated services for U.S. users with a new dedicated website, magiceden.us. Now, if you try to access their main site (magiceden.io) from the U.S., you’ll be instantly redirected.

Naturally, the international website has “even more features” — a painful reality check on the regulatory pressures here in the U.S.

While I understand Magic Eden’s need to run a legitimate business, I hate seeing the internet go this way. This trend isn’t limited to crypto either; take for example:

• Brazil’s decision to ban X and freeze Starlink assets; or

• Telegram’s statement about leaving “incompatible” countries

The most frustrating part is how futile these efforts are, given how easy it is to set up a VPN these days.

Anyway, I hope we get some regulatory clarity on NFT marketplaces soon as the story on OpenSea’s Wells notice unfolds. In the meantime, maybe the Trump or Harris campaigns will comment on the matter.

⌐◪-◪ → Japan’s big 3 banks (MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho) are about to commence “Project Pax” to trial stablecoins for faster and cheaper cross-border payments.

The initiative will be run by blockchain firms including Progmat, Datachain, and TOKI — with further participation from banks worldwide.

If Project Pax goes well, it could revolutionize the way international transfers are done, not only generating efficiencies but creating a more open and liquid global economy.

Remember, not all banks/countries are on the SWIFT network. And SWIFT payments are cumbersome — you need tons of information (full name, bank name, account number, SWIFT/BIC code, and more).

There’s no reason international transfers should be this difficult — and don’t hit me with the “but it’s for security” objection. One of the largest bank robberies in history (The Bangladesh Bank Heist) was made possible thanks to the SWIFT network.

Our international payment infrastructure is almost as much of a joke as ink signatures or U.S. train infrastructure — leave it to Japan to bullet train us into the future. Gotta love them for that.

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