Major Gaming Tournament Announced at HyperX Arena Las Vegas

Privacy features are becoming increasingly recognized as a critical requirement for institutional adoption of blockchain technology, not just a supplementary feature. - **Institutional Demands**: Financial institutions require privacy safeguards for transaction details and trading strategies - **Avalanche Progress**: Platform continues to develop privacy-focused solutions to attract institutional players - *Market Impact*: Enhanced privacy features could accelerate institutional participation in digital asset markets The trend suggests privacy will be a defining factor in the next wave of institutional blockchain adoption, particularly for traditional finance entities looking to enter the space.

Avalanche network witnessed significant growth with nearly 3 million contracts deployed last week, marking its second-largest spike ever. Approximately 1,500 first-time developers contributed code - the highest since March 24. The surge appears driven by two key initiatives: - **Octane upgrade**: Major network enhancement - **Retro 9000 program**: Offering up to $40M in retroactive grants This follows the successful Bounty9000 program, which recently awarded top developers for building payment applications using $USDC as gas token. *Key winners:* 1. XKOVA by Chris Fusillo 2. Attos by atometurqan 3. FAAL-Teleporter by FAArik

The upcoming Avalanche Summit London (May 20-22) has announced additional industry leaders joining the speaker lineup: - Maryam Ayati (Watr Protocol) focusing on $20T commodities trade - Nick van Eck (AUSD) presenting digital dollar solutions - Carmen Rodríguez-Roda (Fitchin) representing LATAM gaming - Morgan Krupetsky (Ava Labs) discussing institutional infrastructure The event will feature panels on real-world assets, digital currencies, gaming, and institutional adoption. Previous announcements included speakers from Enclave Markets, Galaxy, and WiBTalks. Register at [Avalanche Summit London](http://avalanchesummitlondon.com)

Beam is developing infrastructure for true ownership of in-game assets on blockchain. The system features: - Permissionless validator nodes - NFT staking model - ACP-99 upgrade for enhanced player control The platform enables players to truly own their game items, including swords, skins, and trophies. This allows for: - Real asset ownership verification - Open market trading - Cross-game item utility Learn more in the detailed breakdown: [Full conversation](https://youtu.be/4KARyy1Tr8U) [Builder Spotlight blog](https://www.avax.network/blog/builder-spotlight-beam-builds-the-next-generation-of-tools-for-gaming-on-blockchain)

The Avalanche Summit London is set to begin in one month, offering a comprehensive blockchain experience beyond traditional conference formats. Key features: - Interactive panels with industry leaders on gaming, stablecoins, and governance - Hands-on Web3 gaming demonstrations - Live cultural performances and art exhibitions - Direct networking with founders and developers - Exclusive merchandise The event emphasizes community engagement and real-world blockchain applications. Previous summit in Buenos Aires attracted 2,000 participants. Early bird tickets are limited: [Register now](https://app.moongate.id/e/avalanche-summit-london) More details: [Official Summit Website](https://www.avalanchesummitlondon.com/)