TL;DR

Wizard Updates (v0.2 & 0.3):

• Merged updates will enhance real-time data queries and simplify actions like trading, bridging, and staking.

Merlin’s AI Infra:

• AI infrastructure will be released on GitHub, supporting multiple chains.

• Easy integration for developers; plans for open-source and "Merlin AI" launch.

BNB Integration & Partnership:

• 6M+ MERL bridged to BNB, with 13K+ active addresses in the trading competition.

Bitcoin’s Market Outlook:

• Strong recovery potential for Bitcoin, with growing institutional adoption and MERL outperforming altcoins.

Summary

Black Monday and Bitcoin's Resilience

Jeff: Most people expect a major dip followed by recovery, but the timing of the bottom is uncertain. The current downturn could be the last for the market, with figures like Mr. Trump possibly shifting sentiment. I remember March 12, 2020, when I bought Bitcoin after a significant dip and saw gains as Bitcoin never dropped below $3K. Even if Bitcoin drops to $65K now, it's not catastrophic because it could signal the bottom, unlike the continuous drops seen in 2022.

Impact of Global Trade Shifts on Bitcoin

Jeff: Bitcoin has been on a positive trend, with more institutions and governments buying in. Given global uncertainties, like potential tensions between China and the U.S. and concerns about the U.S. national debt, Bitcoin is benefiting as a store of value. Compared to assets like the NASDAQ, Bitcoin's stability stands out, while gold has approached all-time highs. More institutions adopting Bitcoin is a positive sign, although many altcoins and meme coins are struggling. I've noticed MERL performing better than others, highlighting the importance of choosing the right assets. Overall, I remain bullish on the long-term outlook for crypto.

Reassessing Assets and Shifting Focus for Long-Term Vision

Jeff: Right now, it's tough to decide what to invest in because of uncertainty. You can't be sure if you're buying at the bottom, and the narrative may lose relevance in the future. For instance, staking and DeFi have lost momentum, and Ethereum is still trading at 2022 bear market prices. I believe in clearing your portfolio to reassess and focus on assets worth reinvesting in. It's important to narrow your focus to a few assets—ideally two or three—and be patient for the right opportunities.

Bitcoin Holders Move Into ETH Now?

Jeff: It's a tough question. While ETH has driven significant innovation in crypto, especially with its smart contracts, I wouldn't recommend buying ETH at the moment. Instead, I think looking at Web3 protocols could be more beneficial. I also want to point out the hype around meme coins from a few months ago—most of those projects lacked a real community or substance.

Wizard Updates: v0.2 & 0.3

Jeff: We'll versions 0.2 and 0.3 into a single update, which will be released soon. In the new version, the wizard will offer expanded capabilities, allowing users to query real-time on-chain data like TVL, token holders, and whale activity. It will also simplify actions like bridging, trading, lending, borrowing, and staking. You can instruct the wizard to perform these actions, and it will generate the transaction for you, only requiring your review and signature. This update aims to streamline interactions with the chain, making on-chain data and actions more accessible.

Future of Merlin AI

Jeff: The AI product is live, but the focus is on its underlying structure and framework. There’s potential in open-sourcing the AI infrastructure to allow other teams to use it, creating more impact. Many teams are already using Merlin's AI, though it's not publicly branded yet. There are plans to launch it as its own brand, like "Merlin AI," and offer permissionless access, while building partnerships and enhancing public recognition. This is being considered for future development.

BNB Integration and Partnership Progress

Jeff: Over 6 million MERL tokens have been bridged to the BNB chain. Trading competition on PancakeSwap with more than 13,000 active addresses is helping expand MERL's user base. The trading competition has been successful, and incentives are being offered to both LPs and traders. The bridge to BNB chain is also aiding in listings on more exchanges, simplifying the process for platforms by allowing deposit and withdraw through BNB chain. Future initiatives to maintain this growth will continue.

AI Infrastructure

Jeff: Merlin plans to release its AI infrastructure, available on GitHub with APIs for data access. The infrastructure will support multiple sources, including Merlin Chain, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana, and more. Even without AI experience, developers can easily integrate this infrastructure into their projects to access data from various platforms, including social media and exchanges.