The first quarter of 2021 has brought many exciting new updates to the blockchain industry. During half a billion dollars NFTs were negotiated, i.e. close to $ 50 billion has been locked into various DeFi protocols, and mainstream adoption has exploded with VISA, Tesla, and other institutions actively participating in the market. Without a doubt, one of the driving factors behind this growth has been the consistent innovation emerging from specific blockchain and DeFi startups.

As we look to the future, these innovative startups will be at the forefront of global adoption by helping to solve challenges like scalability, liquidity, and security. On the consumer side, we’re starting to see dApps with real-life use cases and traction happening. The following list presents some of the most promising companies and their respective launches expected in the second quarter.

1. Crowned

Crowned is an innovative advertising platform built and supported by Solana and the Serum Foundation. By using the Crowny app, users and advertisers are encouraged to view and interact with relevant content that benefits all parties. Brands can also take advantage of the platform to create free loyalty programs, with a robust content delivery system and analytics.

The platform helps solve one of the most difficult aspects of advertising – providing the right brands with the right people in a secure and data protected way. Crowny is targeting an IDO in mid-April 2021, with the backing of some of the top blockchain investors.

2. Equalizer

Equalizer is the first marketplace dedicated to flash loans connecting liquidity providers and borrowers while democratizing access to flash loans. Equalizer will provide users with the ability to access loans, provide cash in exchange for rewards, and enjoy the benefits of the platform. This includes low dynamic loans and fees, multi-chain capabilities, and a unique governance model using Equalizer’s native governance token (EQZ).

Built by a team of seasoned blockchain entrepreneurs, Equalizer is well positioned to have a drastic impact on the DeFi market in 2021. Equalizer will launch an IDO on Paid Ignition and Zeroswap (BSC) on April 9, 2021.

3. Shards of genesis

Shards of genesis is the premier marketplace for pre-IDO tokens on NFTs, helping to reinvent NFTs as DeFi options rather than mere collectibles. Genesis Shards is looking to address the growing problem of OTC liquidity and confidence in the pre-IDO market and has assembled a team of DeFi experts to get the job done. This will open up a whole new world of opportunities for fungible tokens, investors, and projects looking to leverage Genesis Shards’ wide range of DeFi products.

Recently, Genesis Shards announced that it will lead the very first Dual-IDO with an IDO on Polkastarter and an IDO on Binance Smartchain in April 2021. In recent weeks, Genesis Shards has announced partnerships with Kylin Network, PolkaFoundry and Polygon.

4. Beyond finance

Beyond finance is a revolutionary protocol and ecosystem bringing synthetic assets to the world in a practical, inclusive and decentralized approach. Using Beyond, users will be able to strike, bet, earn, and trade synthetic assets on the company’s decentralized exchange, without compromising security or liquidity. The company is helping solve one of the blockchain industry’s most pressing challenges around a reliable and accessible synthetic asset infrastructure.

Beyond will launch an IDO on DuckDAO and Ignition (+ DAO Maker Pool) on April 12, allowing community members to acquire Beyond’s native token (BYN) at the public sale price. Beyond Finance previously raised $ 7.5 million in its private round from leading funds such as Moonwhale Ventures, A195, Rarestone Capital, DuckDao, etc.

5. Cryptocurrencies.AI

Cryptocurrencies.AI (CCAI) is a next generation trading platform with advanced trading tools for spot / futures traders and the world’s fastest decentralized exchange (DEX) based on Solana. CCAI’s DEX, which is already live, offers a solid alternative to Ethereum-based DEXs that are riddled with high fees and congestion. CCAI’s DEX benefits from Solana’s low fees and faster transaction times, without sacrificing user functionality.

Led by Bloomberg alumnus Hisham Khan, CCAI will also launch a centralized exchange that will provide the tools necessary to integrate newbie and institutional traders. This includes features such as Smart trading and Orders, TradingView alerts, portfolio tracking, and more. The company has already partnered with Binance to prepare for an upcoming launch this quarter.

6. Polkalokr

Polkalokr is a highly customizable escrow platform for token savings built on Polkadot. The company’s multi-chain token escrow platform will place token distribution in the hands of network participants through governance as a service. A truly unique value proposition, Polkalokr removes the human element and adds full customization to its product suite to provide a streamlined solution to today’s market challenges with transparency and liquidity.

The highly anticipated Polkalokr IDO will take place on April 7, 2021 on Polkastarter. With one of the largest pre-launch communities of over 100,000 people, Polkalokr is expected to impact the DeFi industry in Q2 2021.

7. XFai

XFai is a DEX liquidity oracle aimed at solving liquidity inefficiencies on DEXs through their revolutionary set of autonomous liquidity management smart contracts. The company’s DEX Liquidity Oracle (DLO) allows small to mid-cap tokens to start earning APYs on their token holdings in a safe and simple way without the risk of slippage or sky-high fees.

XFai will host the world’s premier cash generation event (LGE) on April 8, 2021 and a double on Paid Ignition and Poolz on April 29, 2021. The company also recently announced a strategic investment and partnership with Roger Ver.

8. AIOZ

AIOZ Network is a Layer 1 Content Delivery Network (CDN) built with blockchain technology. Using a decentralized approach, AIOZ will revolutionize the way digital media is created and consumed. The company’s CDN network uses p2p edge nodes to store, broadcast, and transfer data compared to traditional data centers. This creates a faster, cheaper, and more dynamic platform for streaming content.

Currently, AIOZ has over 7000 live nodes and a working product which can be experienced at AIOZ tube. AOIZ conducted an IDO on Paid Ignition and BSCPad on April 2, 2021, which saw incredible community support and participation.

9. Cryptographic prophecies

Cryptographic prophecies is an innovative peer-to-peer price prediction game that uses NFT characters (called Crypto Prophets) to access games and betting. The Crypto Prophecies uses a real-time points-based system to reward players for their accuracy in predicting the in-game candlelight (Battle Arena). Winners will walk away with the amount wagered less a 3% kingdom fee.

Crypto Prophecies combine games, NFTs, and rewards into one experience. The game will be built on Polygon, giving users a quick and inexpensive way to compete and collect as NFTs will be available on OpenSea. Keep an eye out for the company’s next IDO.

10. GlobeDX “Globe”

World is a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange that seeks to become the “Coinbase for Derivatives” by providing robust functionality to institutional and retail traders. Using Globe, traders can access a wide range of tools such as short selling via margin trading options and perpetual futures, while enjoying the highest trading discounts in the industry (5 to 40%). Globe is expected to announce an upcoming IDO in the coming weeks. The company is backed by Pantera, Y Combinator, Draper Dragon, etc.

11. Sigmadex

Sigmadex is a decentralized perpetual liquidity protocol based on Polkadot merging DeFi, blockchain technology and game theory. Sigmadex will be able to achieve a balance that outperforms existing guaranteed liquidity models by involving risk optimized through penalty and reward mechanisms. Liquidity providers will be offered various short and long term incentives based on collective models and multiple levels of rewards.

Sigmadex eliminates the need to trust middlemen, is community driven, and is completely gas efficient using the Substrate framework. With their recently closed private patrol, Sigmadex is a project to watch closely.

12. Relite Finance

Relite Finance is a cross-chain lending protocol built on Polkadot with a specific goal of democratizing lending and borrowing for people around the world. To do this, Relite has built a user-friendly, expense-optimized platform that is interoperable, fast and convenient. The Enterprise Native Governance Token (RELI) will be used to reward users, can be staked to earn additional rewards, and offer community participation in the enterprise DAO. This is a project not to be missed before the second trimester.

13. Orakuru

Orakuru is a decentralized network of independent oracle nodes and off-chain data focused exclusively on Binance Smart Chain (BSC). Given the nascence of BSC, there are limited oracle options available as reliable data sources. Orakuru’s data will be available for on-chain use in DEXs, prediction markets, insurance, lending, and more, using their feeds to power different dApps. Orakuru will also take the essence of BSC’s community-centered approach to delivering a community-driven oracle.

Currently, Orakuru has seven experienced validators and will recruit more validators later in the year based on the number of ORK tokens wagered by a candidate. Orakuru will be launched in April as first official project on the Kickpad dashboard.