Hello Tezos community! As we bask in the heat of these summer days and ride the high of Tez/Dev, we have some exhilarating news to share. Baanx and Tezos are kicking off this week’s headlines with the launch of the first non-custodial on-chain payment card. This innovative card, powered by Etherlink, a Smart Rollup blockchain on Tezos, marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more decentralized future.

A New Era of Financial Freedom

Baanx is merging the best of traditional finance with the innovative spirit of Web3, giving users a powerful tool that’s not only functional but also secure. This isn’t just another crypto card—it’s a gateway to a more decentralized, user-controlled financial ecosystem. Imagine being able to use your crypto assets for everyday purchases, with the confidence that you hold full control over your funds.

The Power of Non-Custodial Payments

What sets this card apart from the rest? It’s all about non-custodial management. With this card, you’re not handing over control of your assets to a third party. Instead, you keep your private keys secure, dramatically reducing the risk of hacks and unauthorized access. In essence, it’s your keys, your crypto.

Key Features

• Self-Custody: Say goodbye to third-party custodians. With account abstraction, you have complete control over your crypto assets.

• Fast and Affordable Transactions: Etherlink, the EVM-compatible layer 2 blockchain, ensures sub-second block times and low gas fees, making real-time payments practical and cheap.

• Financial Inclusion: Lower fees and fast transactions open doors for the unbanked, providing advanced financial services to anyone with a mobile phone.

• User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive UI makes it easy to link wallets, set spending limits, and manage funds, even for non-technical users.

• Decentralization: Tezos Smart Rollups bring high decentralization, eliminating the need for complex smart contract workarounds and centralized sequencers.

Seamless Integration and Usage

Available in both physical and virtual formats, including compatibility with Google and Apple Pay, this card is designed for versatility. Whether you're making online purchases, shopping in-store, or withdrawing cash from an ATM, the Baanx card handles it all with ease. Users can link their wallets quickly and manage their spending effortlessly.

Bridging the Gap Between Web2 and Web3

The Baanx card is more than just a payment solution; it’s a bridge between traditional finance and the decentralized future. By integrating with popular wallets like Ledger, Exodus, Trust Wallet, and 1inch, Baanx is paving the way for mass adoption of crypto payments. With plans to expand globally, Baanx aims to attract one million users within the next year, bringing the benefits of non-custodial crypto payments to a worldwide audience.

Looking Ahead

This pioneering solution addresses major pain points in the current financial system, offering a secure, accessible, and cost-effective alternative to traditional banking. It’s a bold step forward, not just for Tezos and Baanx, but for the entire crypto community.

For more insights, don't miss our TezTalks interview with Baanx, where we dive deeper into this groundbreaking initiative. You can also learn more about Baanx’s new venture from our detailed article here.

Etherlink Momentum: Rarible's Exclusive BattleRise Drop

Continuing from our exciting news about Baanx, Etherlink's momentum keeps growing with an exclusive drop on Rarible that you won't want to miss. Tomorrow, BattleRise Game’s Founders Pass will be available for mint on Rarible.

What’s Happening?

Rarible has announced an exclusive drop tomorrow featuring the highly anticipated BattleRise Founders Pass. BattleRise, a captivating free-to-play and earn game inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, offers immersive mobile gameplay with live PvP battles and tournaments. This drop is a significant milestone for Etherlink, demonstrating its growing influence and integration within the NFT and gaming communities.

Key Details

• Drop Schedule:

  • Allow List Mint: 9:30 AM ET

  • Public Mint: 12:30 PM ET

• Game Overview: BattleRise combines the thrill of Dungeons & Dragons with mobile gaming, creating an engaging play-to-earn experience. Players can participate in live PvP battles and tournaments, earning rewards as they progress through the game.

• Learn More: For more information on BattleRise and the exclusive drop, visit Rarible.

Join the Conversation

To celebrate this exciting drop, Rarible is hosting an AMA tomorrow where you can learn everything you need to know about BattleRise and this exclusive Etherlink drop. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage with the community and get your questions answered.

• AMA Schedule:

  • Time: 6:30 AM

  • Location: BattleRise AMA

This Week in the Tezos Ecosystem

TZ Apex Season 1: Get Ready for the Finale!

As we shift our focus this week’s headlines, let's dive into the ongoing TZ Apex Season 1 by TZ APAC. This community rewards program is designed for early adopters of new Tezos projects, offering a chance to earn experience points (EXP) and redeem them for incredible rewards.

Season 1 of TZ Apex ends on July 31

Join TZ Apex by TZ APAC, a community rewards program for early adopters of new Tezos projects. Complete quests on the DMission platform, earn EXP, and redeem them for rewards. Join Here

What's Up for Grabs?

Up to $10,000 in rewards are available as you become the first to experience the latest and most exciting projects building on Tezos.

Rewards Breakdown

• Up to 3,000 tez

• An artwork NFT from Indonesian artist Tommy Chandra, whose work has been showcased at Art Moments Jakarta. Tommy is known as Google’s first doodle artist and has collaborated with brands like Coca Cola, ELLE, and Nissan.

• Exclusive TZ APAC Artist Collaboration T-Shirts featuring breathtaking artworks by:

  • Bjorn Calleja: A Filipino contemporary painter and interdisciplinary artist featured in events like Art Basel Hong Kong.

  • Arya Mularama: An Indonesian artist inspired by comic books, skateboard culture, and '90s pop culture. His artwork was featured in Times Square during NFT NYC, and his GOGOS collaboration sold out quickly.

  • Mumu the stan: A Malaysian visual artist and poet whose works have been showcased at Art Basel Miami and recognized by Tatler. Her first NFT collector? Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park fame.

• Extra EXP boost for the next season of TZ Apex to win more rewards.

Season 1 Details

• Season 1 Duration: June 14 - July 31, 2024

• At the end of each season, participants are credited with APEX points at a 1:1 ratio with their accumulated EXP. To qualify, a minimum of 500 EXP per season is required. These APEX points can then be used to draw from the gacha and redeem various rewards.

TZ Apex offers a unique opportunity for the Tezos community to engage with new projects and earn fantastic rewards. Whether you’re a collector, artist, or general Tezos enthusiast, this program is designed to bring the community together and celebrate the spirit of Tezos.

For full details, check out the official TZ Apex page

TezTones Artletics Premier League: Season 2 Kicks Off!

From Season 1 with TZ Apex, we’re jumping forward with Season 2 from TezTones. TezTones Artletics Premier League Season 2, beginning with Draft Day on August 6th at 11am PT promises to be even more exciting with 12 teams of 4 artists, featuring a total of 24 audio artists and 24 visual artists.

What's New This Season?

• New and Returning Teams: We'll see the formation of new teams as well as the return of some favorites from last season.

• Live Matches: This season will feature live matches where two teams will go head-to-head during a 4-hour live stream, creating pieces of art based on a common theme.

• Pre-Season Match: After the draft, teams will have one pre-season match to get accustomed to the season format.

• Regular Season: The regular season will span 12 weeks, with each team playing a match every other week. In rare cases, teams may have back-to-back matches, resulting in a total of 6 matches per team.

• Post-Season: The top 6 teams will move on to the post-season, consisting of 3 additional weeks of matches to determine our Season 2 champions!

Key Dates

• Draft Day: August 6th, 11am PT

• Season Duration: August 6th - December 21st

• Final Match: December 21st

Join us for an exciting season of creativity and competition. Whether you are an artist or a fan, TezTones Season 2 is an event you won’t want to miss!

For more details and to sign up, visit TezTones Sign Up.

This Week in Tezos Development

Launch of the New Tezos Developer Portal

The newly revamped Tezos Developer Portal is live! This redesigned hub is a one-stop destination for developers looking to dive into the Tezos ecosystem. With a more intuitive interface and extensive resources, it simplifies the journey for both new and seasoned developers.

Key Features:

• Tezos Developer Docs: Detailed guides and tutorials.

• OpenTezos: Technical and economic concepts.

• Octez Suite: Implementation guides.

• Frameworks and Libraries: Tools for application development.

• Languages: Support for multiple languages.

• Etherlink: Documentation on this non-custodial scaling solution.

Explore the portal and start building on Tezos today at Tezos Developer Portal.

🔴 NOW STREAMING — TezTalks Radio: Johnny Dean Mann

Tune in as Johnny shares his fascinating journey into the Web3 art world and the creation of The Tickle. Discover the early days of NFTs and how Tezos has impacted the digital art community. Johnny dives deep into the evolution of The Tickle from a weekly 15-page publication to a comprehensive monthly magazine that documents the NFT art space's growth.

In this episode, you'll hear Johnny's take on:

• The current state and evolution of the Tezos art scene, including the role of platforms like FXHash.

• The importance of balancing recognition for established artists while supporting emerging talent.

• Johnny also discusses the Tezos Foundation's role in supporting the art ecosystem and offers insights on how the community can support The Tickle magazine.

Now Streaming Everywhere:

Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music | YouTube | X