Hey Cardanians! Welcome aboard the Weekly Cardano Digest #33!!

We've filtered through all the noise to distill crucial updates into a breezy, 5-minute read. No need for you to sift through endless info — we've got you covered. Ready to delve into this week's top Cardano news? Let’s dive in.

Here are the topics of the week:

• 400+ Attendees: Argentina Digital Nation Was a Success

• Charles Hoskinson Meets With Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates

• Cardano Wallet Snap: Metamask Integrates ADA Compatibility to its Smart Wallet

• Input Output Launches Alpha V1 Release to Enhance Cardano Network Security

• Weekly Development Report

• & More!

This newsletter is segmented into categories of less technical news topics to those that are more technical, in an effort to make it easier for our readers to follow. The first category will focus on news involving the Cardano ecosystem, while the second category will focus on projects that have been announced recently. The third category, which will be found towards the end of the newsletter, will focus on the most technical topics.

This week on Cardano…

400+ Attendees: Argentina Digital Nation Was a Success

This week, Buenos Aires hosted Argentina Digital Nation, an event organized by the Latam Cardano Community that gathered political figures, representatives from the country’s public and private sectors, and spokespeople from prominent technological companies on a national and global level. 

The event took place in Puerto Madero’s Hilton Hotel and saw more than 500 attendees, who participated in the six panels included in the agenda: Government, Finances, Culture and Society, Business, Education, and Innovation. The event concluded with a keynote speech by Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson.

The event was filled with enthusiastic individuals who debated on how blockchain technology can change the course of coming times, while Hoskinson’s address focused on the ways it can be implemented to improve political, economic, and social problems, and how it can introduce more equitable and democratic changes in society for a more sustainable and transparent future. READ MORE

Charles Hoskinson Meets With Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates

During his stay in Buenos Aires this week, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson met with Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) H.E Saeed Al Qemzi and Rogelio Frigerio, the governor of the province of Entre Ríos in Argentina, to explore existing and potential collaborations.

Hoskinson was accompanied by Cardano Foundation representatives, including Rafael Fraga, who oversees operations in Latin America, and J.J. Siler, Chief of Staff at Input Output Global. During the meeting, the UAE Ambassador encouraged the Entre Ríos government to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation in finance and commerce. The meeting also laid the groundwork for technical discussions on potential collaborations to drive economic and social development in the region.

A key component of these efforts is the upcoming Cardano Summit in Dubai, which will bring together global heads-of-state and business leaders in discussing blockchain technology. This event will serve as a platform for fostering partnerships and exploring new applications for blockchain adoption.

In addition to the summit, the Cardano Foundation has partnered with the Dubai Blockchain Center to launch a specialized certification program. This initiative aims to enhance blockchain education and awareness in the region. READ MORE

Cardano Wallet Snap: Metamask Integrates ADA Compatibility to its Smart Wallet

MetaMask users can now interact with Cardano dApps seamlessly thanks to a new Cardano Wallet Snap. This open-source tool integrates Cardano functionality directly into the MetaMask interface, eliminating the need for users to download additional wallets.

The Cardano Wallet Snap, developed with Project Catalyst funding, simplifies access to the Cardano ecosystem. Users can now manage Cardano accounts, send and receive ADA, and interact with Cardano dApps directly from their MetaMask wallet.

In a recent X post, the NuFi Web3 Wallet announced that Metamask can now be connected to the dApp VyFinance, a Decentralized Finance (DeFi) protocol built on Cardano that includes features such as a decentralized exchange (DEx), redistributive mechanism (BAR), governance, lottery and token/NFT Vaults, by using its service that acts as a bridge to connect the MetaMask user's Cardano account to the dApp.

Though Metamask users will be able to connect to any Cardano dApp that’s using the service when Metamask auto-updates to v12.0.0 on or after August 12th, users can already connect to VyFi by manually updating the wallet’s software by managing the platform’s extensions. This multiplatform alliance serves to open up the Cardano ecosystem to millions of new users. READ MORE

Input Output Launches Alpha V1 Release to Enhance Cardano Network Security

Input Output, the technology company behind Cardano, has released the alpha v1 version of its partner chains toolkit. This new tool aims to bolster the security of emerging blockchains by leveraging Cardano's extensive network of stake pool operators (SPOs).

By allowing new blockchains to share Cardano's SPOs as validators, the toolkit addresses a common security vulnerability faced by young networks. This approach enhances network resilience and reduces the risk of low-cost attacks.

The toolkit introduces several key innovations:

1. Shared Security: Leveraging Cardano's SPOs to strengthen partner chain security.

2. Flexible Validator Structure: Allowing for a mix of trusted and Cardano SPOs.

3. Consensus Model Adaptability: Enabling partner chains to choose their preferred consensus mechanism.

4. Independence Option: Providing a path for partner chains to fully transition away from Cardano.

5. Simplified SPO Participation: Making it easy for Cardano SPOs to become validators for partner chains.

These features empower developers to build more secure and independent blockchains while benefiting from Cardano's robust infrastructure. READ MORE

Weekly Development Report

Interesting Stories:

1. Cardano Marks 2,500 Days of Mainnet Stability

2. Hoskinson attends blockchain course graduation organized by ADA Labs UTN

3. Check out where the upcoming Cardano constitutional workshops will be held

4. Hoskinson visits Globant’s offices in Argentina

🎊 A Message from Lucas 🎊

What a fantastic week that it has been. Argentina Digital Nation was an absolute success and I couldn’t be happier with the turnout. More than 500 people were able to attend this event and really get to know Argentina’s entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm surrounding blockchain technology. 

I was able to speak with government representatives, leaders from public and private sectors, educators, and entrepreneurs about the different ways blockchain technology can be implemented to provide real-life solutions to everyday problems. Charles Hoskinson’s keynote speech made me feel hopeful and proud of Argentina’s potential for innovation and technological development.

I also wanted to take a second to thank everyone who participated and to the sponsors that made the event possible. I am especially grateful to the amazing staff that made the event happen in the first place– keeping tabs on hundreds of people simultaneously and making sure everything turns out perfectly is no easy feat. 

I can’t wait to see what comes next. 

–Lucas Macchiavelli