Gala Games Announces Partnership With Animoca Brands, GALA Token Plunges 6.7%

Web3 and blockchain gaming firm Gala Games partnered with Animoca Brands to boost its native token. The companies joined forces to develop the altcoin and enhance users’ experience. Nonetheless, GALA has faced a 6.7% price decline following the news.

Gala Games To Boost User Experience

On Wednesday, Gala Games announced its partnership with Hong Kong-based game software and Venture Capital company. The collaboration aims to enhance the token experience for users.

The Web3 and blockchain gaming platform focuses on video games compatible with blockchain technology. Additionally, it allows players to earn crypto tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through gameplay.

Per the announcement, the companies will work together to develop the token. Animoca Brands will receive GALA tokens from the firm’s treasury to “provide liquidity provisioning services” to the Web3 gaming platform. This move aims to facilitate the token’s orderly trading.

As highlighted in the X post, Animoca Brands operates nine Gala Founder’s Nodes and plans to serve as a GalaChain Validator.

Many users and crypto investors received the news well. Some users considered the news was bullish for the token. Others stated that the company is finally “making some noise.”

The announcement also sparked interest in the gaming and NFT community. LordBenalez, COO of community-driven NFT project Mittaria, expressed interest in the collaboration. “About time. Glad to see the two big companies joining hands. Looking forward to hearing more about the collaboration,” read the reply.

GALA’s Price Sees 7% Retrace

Despite the overall positive reaction, GALA’s price plunged after the news. The token fell from the $0.0275 price range to the $0.0255 mark, a 7.2% price drop. The recent price action represents a 6.7% retrace in the last 24 hours.

The token’s performance also shows red numbers in the longer timeframes. GALA’s price has been downtrend since its March high of $0.081. Following the retrace at the beginning of Q2, the token hovered between the $0.04 and $0.5 range.

However, the sideways movement was halted by the late May security breach to which the company fell victim. As reported by NewsBTC, the web3 gaming company suffered an exploit, which resulted in the minting of 5 billion tokens worth $219 million.

The incident saw the unauthorized sale of 600 million GALA tokens, worth around $21 million. Additionally, 4.4 billion tokens were burned. This resulted in the price falling from $0.046 to $0.037, a 20% decline following the exploit.

Since then, the token has continued the downtrend, registering a 43.5% decrease in the past month. Some market watchers suggest that the token might be getting ready to bounce off the lower trendline and break out of the $0.035 resistance zone before soaring to the $0.1 price target.

Gala Games, GALA, GALAUSDT

Gala Games Recovers $23M Stolen By Hacker, Plans Token Buyback Program

In a recent security incident, Gala Games, a Web3 gaming company, fell victim to an exploit that led to the unauthorized minting of 5 billion tokens, equivalent to approximately $214 million. 

The hacker behind the breach subsequently sold 592 million GALA tokens, amounting to $21.8 million in value, as blockchain analysis firm Lookonchain confirmed.

CEO Of Gala Games Takes Responsibility For Breach

Gala Games responded to the breach, assuring the community via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the security incident involving the GALA token had been contained and that the affected wallet had been frozen. 

The company acknowledged the isolated nature of the incident and stated that it had addressed the cause while collaborating closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate the individuals responsible for the breach.

Eric Schiermeyer, CEO of Gala Games, expressed his regret over the incident, referencing his previous stance on projects experiencing hacks. 

Schiermeyer disclosed that the breach led to the unauthorized sale of 600 million GALA tokens, equivalent to $21 million, and the subsequent burning of 4.4 billion tokens. Within 45 minutes, Gala Games identified the compromise and effectively secured and removed unauthorized access to the GALA contract.

Reassuring stakeholders, Schiermeyer emphasized that the Ethereum (ETH) contract for GALA remained secure and protected by a multi-signature (multi-sig) wallet, with no compromise detected. 

Acknowledging internal control shortcomings, Schiermeyer also admitted responsibility for the incident and outlined the steps being taken to prevent its recurrence.

Gala Games expressed confidence in identifying the culprit behind the breach. They confirmed active collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and a network of international authorities to ensure appropriate legal actions are pursued.

The incident raised concerns regarding the project’s daily distribution, prompting Gala Games to propose a node vote to address the issue. As per their community-driven approach, the decision on how to proceed will be determined by the community itself.

DFW Labs Support

In response to the incident, DFW Labs, a Web3 investor and market maker, took action to alleviate selling pressure in the market. They purchased 28 million GALA tokens from the open market to stabilize the value of the token, which had fallen to $0.037 on Monday following the exploit. 

However, with the investment from DFW Labs, the token rebounded to its current trading price of $0.0431, representing a loss of 7.8% in the last 24 hours. 

Gala

Ultimately, Gala Games assured the public that the issue had been contained, with all contracts being secured and increased safeguards being implemented to prevent future occurrences.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Altcoin Watchlist: Analyst Shares What’s Hot In Crypto This Week

The crypto market is always in flux, with new narratives and trends emerging each week. Renowned crypto analyst Miles Deutscher recently took to Twitter to share his insights on the altcoin space, shedding light on the tokens that are catching his attention.

Crypto Watchlist For This Week

Starting with UNIBOT, Deutscher highlighted its recent performance, noting that it’s down significantly (-60%) from its highs. He attributed this decline to a combination of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) and a decrease in key metrics. However, he remains optimistic, suggesting that the accelerated selling might be slowing down.

“I used the dip as an opportunity to add to my position. I don’t think there’s a rush – but if you believe in the narrative you’re now getting another chance to accumulate in the double digits,” he shared, indicating a belief in the token’s long-term potential.

KAVA is another token on Deutscher’s radar. He pointed out several positive developments, including its addition to Fireblocks, a platform that serves as a gateway for institutions. Furthermore, the involvement of DWF Labs and Kava’s role as a gateway to the Cosmos ecosystem for Tether are promising signs. The recent launch of their first perpetual decentralized exchange (perp dex) further underscores Kava’s growing momentum in the market. “Recently added to my accumulation list + I’m watching the chart closely,” Deutscher stated.

However, not all tokens are receiving a positive nod. The analyst expressed concerns about GALA, citing internal disputes between its founders. “The situation over there is crazy, with both founders suing each other,” he remarked. This ongoing legal battle could potentially hinder the token’s performance and future developments. Deutscher also raised concerns about GALA’s centralization because of the fact that both the founders own 7,000 nodes and 50,000 nodes respectively, a revelation that emerged from recent documents.

In the gaming altcoin space, PYR stands out. Following the turbulence surrounding GALA, liquidity seems to be moving towards other gaming tokens, with PYR emerging as a strong contender and probably the closest counterpart. Deutscher praised its resilience and positive accumulation phase, hinting at its potential for growth. “Upon checking the PYR chart, we rarely see a token in such an extended/positive accumulation phase”, Deutcher remarked.

Another altcoin to watch is Maker (MKR). Currently, the community is abuzz with the news of their “End Game” initiative. Deutscher highlighted the project’s ambitious plans, including the proposal to launch their own native chain and move away from Ethereum. This move, however, has not been without controversy. “Vitalik obviously didn’t like it, as he sold his remaining MKR,” Deutscher mentioned, pointing to the Ethereum founder’s recent actions.

Sui Network (SUI) is another token that’s been performing well, with a 70% increase in its Total Value Locked (TVL) over the past month. Deutscher sees potential in SUI, hinting at its explosive growth when it gains momentum: “When SUI pumps, it pumps hard. Definitely not one I’m fading when it wakes up (from a price perspective).”

Short Solana (SOL)?

Lastly, Deutscher touched upon Solana (SOL), a high-performance blockchain platform, which has recently been the subject of much discussion and speculation in the crypto community. The analyst pointed out that there’s been “negative noise” building around Solana, particularly in relation to the upcoming FTX liquidations.

These liquidations have raised eyebrows due to the potential impact they could have on the token’s price. While some in the community believe that the effects of these unlocks and the eventual “forced selling” are already priced in, Deutscher suggests that the current lack of liquidity in the market might amplify the price fluctuations more than many expect.

The situation is further complicated by the involvement of Galaxy, who are responsible for handling the funds. They are scheduled to appear in court on September 13th to present a liquidation plan. The figures being discussed are significant, with potential liquidations of up to “$100m weekly, and up to $200m for select tokens.”

Despite these challenges, Deutscher remains strategically optimistic about Solana’s long-term prospects. He hinted at the possibility of adding to his long-term positions if a price correction occurs. However, he also noted that the current environment might present “interesting short opportunities” for those with a keen eye and a willingness to navigate the risks.

At press time, SOL traded at $19,22. After falling below the 50% Fibonacci level ($20.22), a deeper retracement to $17.33 could be on the cards.

Solana crypto price

GALA Sinks 72% In 2023 Alone – Blame Internal Wrangles And Lawsuits?

GALA, the native token of Gala Games, is under immense selling pressure as of early September 2023. Trackers show that the token is down 72% from 2023 peaks when it soared to $0.062 in late January 2023. From there, the token has been edging lower, sinking to $0.017 at spot rates, unwinding over 95% of gains posted in early 2023. To illustrate, GALA is cents away from retesting all-time lows registered in late 2022 at around $0.016.

GALA price on September 3| Source: GALAUSDT on Binance, TradingView

GALA Plunging

The drawdown could be pinned to the unfavorable market-wide bear market conditions that have seen top coins, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, surge before dumping, dragging altcoins even lower. The slowdown across Bitcoin has been mirrored in GALA as the token edges lower, reversing gains posted on August 29. 

On this day, Bitcoin rose after a US Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Grayscale, the issuer of GBTC. Even though the court didn’t direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to convert GBTC trust to an exchange-traded fund (ETF), the judge didn’t provide clear reasons why they denied Grayscale’s request. BTC prices rallied as odds of the US approving a spot Bitcoin ETF rose, lifting altcoins, including GALA. However, bears have successfully peeled back losses, as the daily chart shows.

CEO Versus Co-Founder

Beyond market factors, GALA may plunge to all-time lows primarily because of internal wrangles that could heap more pressure on the token that’s already struggling against unrelenting bears. Court documents show that CEO Eric Schiermeyer and co-founder Wright Thurston filed lawsuits against each other. 

Filings show that Schiermeyer blames the co-founder for illegally obtaining and selling $130 million of GALA. The CEO also claims the co-founder stole node licenses for operating nodes within the Gala game ecosystem. He also cites Thurston’s history of founding companies that often in bankruptcy. The CEO wants the co-founder replaced as director.

The co-founder and his investment vehicle, True North Investments, accuse the CEO of wasting millions of dollars in company assets and engaging in fraudulent practices that harmed the company. The co-founder claims the CEO misused millions, including $600 million of assets, and lending millions of dollars from Gala Games to himself. They also alleged that the CEO created entities in Switzerland and Dubai that, in reality, should belong to Gala Games. The co-founder wants to kick out the CEO, who has held the office since 2021.

Why GALA’s 190% Rally May Be Just Getting Started

GALA, the native token of the non-fungible token (NFT) gaming project, has recently seen significant bullish price action. The token moved independently during these periods, with larger cryptocurrencies barely catching up on this massive rally.

As of this writing, GALA’s price trades at $0.04 with a 16% profit in the last 24 hours. Since late December 2022, the token has recorded a 194% rally and stands amongst the best-performing digital assets in the sector. Is the rally sustainable, or will the token retrace on its recent gains?

GALA GALAUSDT

GALA With More Room To Grow

Data from analytics firm Santiment indicates that GALA was able to trend to the upside due to a spike in on-chain activity. An increase in whale activity supported the token’s price action and allowed it to push beyond resistance at $0.048.

The last time GALA saw its current levels was in Q4, 2022. At that time, the cryptocurrency crashed behind a market-wide downtrend. The chart below shows that the spike in activity preceded the rally and suggests further appreciation. Santiment noted:

Amongst the many surging altcoins in 2023, $GALA has been making a tremendous run. The price of the #Ethereum-based asset is up +194% since December 30th, and has exceed $0.048 for the first time since mid-September, backed by big whale transactions.

GALA GALAUSDT Chart 2

Further data provided by Santiment indicate that GALA’s upside move was supported by negative overall market sentiment. As digital assets trended to the upside, sentiment went to a bearish extreme and hinted at a bounce to squeeze short positions. Santiment added:

Altcoins have continued aggressively pumping throughout the weekend. As we have seen time and time again, markets move in the direction of the crowd’s unlikeliest expectation.

NFT Gaming And Metaverse With Strong Long-Term Fundamentals

The mini-altcoin season will continue if investors allocate capital to the NFT gaming and Metaverse sector. Coingecko records appreciation for similar projects, such as Decentraland (40%+), and The Sandbox (34%), in the previous seven days.

In addition, at the Consumer Electronics Shows (CES) 2023, several companies and providers announced their Metaverse-related products. The sector has created much buzz in major markets and is likely to continue seeing interest from investors.

According to the CEO of OVR Technology, Aaron Wisniewski, the Metaverse is here to stay. Crypto and GALA are bound to operate a critical components for this sector. Wisniewski said:

We are entering an era in which extended reality will drive commerce, entertainment, education, social connection, and wellbeing. The quality of these experiences will be measured by how immersive and emotionally engaging they are. Scent imbues them with an unmatched power.

This Sub-$1 Billion Crypto Is Leading Market Gains, Here’s The Reason

The crypto market is in another full recovery mode and bitcoin has since crossed the elusive $17,000 price level. However, while the largest digital assets in the space are seeing a lot of green, one underdog is taking the space by storm. GALA is right at the top of the list of gainers for the past 24 hours, surpassing second-place Zilliqa (ZIL) by a considerable margin.

Why Is GALA Pumping So Much?

In the early hours of Monday, Gala Games took to Twitter to announce a new partnership. The blockchain gaming company which had been working on its film projects revealed that it had gotten movie stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Mark Wahlberg to star in its film. But this was not the only bullish development of the company.

Another revelation from the Twitter post was that moviegoers would be able to scan a QR code on a purchased ticket to claim a digital item that is being sold on different marketplaces. Furthermore, Gala Games also put another use case where QR codes could pop up to claim an item while viewers were watching a movie on a streaming platform such as Netflix. “That item has been selling on OpenSea so why wouldn’t you at least take a look?” the announcement said.

The GALA token fits into all of this by being the gas token of Gala Film, which is the blockchain that powers the film arm. These items from the movies are not limited to Gala users, so individuals who want to claim items from the scanned QR codes will need to purchase GALA tokens to use as gas fees; therefore increasing the demand for the cryptocurrency.

Leading Crypto Market Gains

The price of GALA has responded positively to the news of Johnson and Wahlberg working with the ecosystem. It has seen the highest gains of any digital asset over the last 24 hours, rising over 67% in this time period, more than 100% of the gains posted by ZIL (29%) which is the second-highest in the space.

GALA top gainers

It has wiped out losses from GALA over the last week and the coin is now seeing gains above 114% in the 7-day period. Interestingly, this is a digital asset with a less than $300 million market cap, but trading volume for the last day was almost $1 billion, an almost 400% increase from the previous day.

GALA is currently changing hands at a price of $0.0366 at the time of this writing after being rejected at the $0.04 resistance point. This has now become the level to beat and if the bulls are able to pull above $0.04 while the trading volume remains elevated, then it will flip this to support and reach $0.045.

Gala price chart from TradingView.com