This year’s International E-Waste Day will focus on critical raw materials, the elements essential to the economy that have a high risk of supply disruption and limited substitutes.

Taking place on 14 October 2025, the 8th edition of International E-Waste Day will focus on highlighting how critical raw materials (CRMs) can be recovered from unused or broken electronic products.

A study by WEEE Forum and UNITAR showed that households own an average of 74 EEE items – excluding lamps and luminaires – of which 61 items are in use, nine are hoarded but working, and four are hoarded and not working.

The total mass of items in households is 90 million tonnes (Mt) of which 7 Mt is hoarded and working, and 3 Mt is hoarded and broken, according to the study.

Research published by Material Focus last year, found UK households are hoarding 880 million unused electrical items, and throwing away 103,000 tonnes of electricals annually.

The research, ‘Electrical Waste: Challenges and Opportunities’, found that the materials contained inside these “lost electricals” are worth £927 million.

By returning electrical items through official collection channels, consumers play a role in keeping critical resources in the loop and supporting the circular economy.

International E-Waste Day organisers will provide guidance, tools, and local events to help people make informed choices and dispose of their electricals in a way that allows CRMs to be recovered.

The post International E-Waste Day 2025 to focus on critical raw materials appeared first on Circular Online.

Host of the Festival of Circular Economy 2025 and owner of sustainable innovation studio Ape, Mark Shayler, explains why a circular future has arrived by examining two successful circular economy businesses.

The future is circular we hear – and it is. It offers a vital shift in how we manage resources and stimulate economic growth, especially at a time when resource scarcity is becoming more pressing.

Globally we currently wastes more than 90% of the materials we extract, all that circularity attempts to do is to stop the economy leaking.

The circular model reduces our dependence on finite resources, helping to mitigate the economic risks associated with supply shortages and price volatility.

For instance, transitioning to a circular economy could unlock up to $4.5 trillion in economic benefits by 2030.

This approach not only supports environmental sustainability but also offers economic opportunities by enhancing innovation, reducing waste management costs, and creating new markets for recycled materials.

Let’s take a look at a couple of inspiring organisations who have developed successful circular economy businesses, brought them to market, and are now scaling them.

Toast Brewing – Brewing Beer with Surplus Bread (UK)

Toast Brewing uses surplus bread to brew beer, exemplifying the circular economy by turning food waste into a product.

Founded in the UK in 2015, Toast partners with bakeries to collect unsold bread to replace a portion of barley in the brewing process.

The results is an award-winning craft beer that not only reduces waste but also lowers raw material costs – using 25% less barley than typical brews.

Notably, all profits from Toast are donated to charities fixing the food system, aligning economic success with social impact.

This innovative business model demonstrates how a business can generate revenue and tackle waste simultaneously using a circular economy approach.

Key impacts in the last five years include:

• Waste Diversion: Saved over 3.3 million slices of surplus bread from going to waste since they began brewing in 2016, which saved bakeries disposal costs and created value from a would-be waste stream.
• Resource Savings: By using surplus bread, Toast also avoided 5.3 tCO2e in emissions.
• Economic & Social Impact: Toast donated £116,000 (as of 2024) to food waste charities.

It’s also important to make a great beer not just a waste beer, Toast Brewing has won numerous taste awards and is a firm favourite in our house.

Toast has built a viable brand carried by major retailers, and has a growing customer base of ‘planet-friendly’ beer drinkers and a small but passionate team, proving the approach makes business sense.

MUD Jeans – Leasing Denim for Circular Fashion

MUD Jeans is a Dutch denim brand pioneering a lease model to keep jeans in circulation for longer.

The company’s trademark ‘Lease A Jeans’ programme lets customers rent jeans for a monthly fee instead of buying them outright​.

This service-based model ensures MUD Jeans retains ownership of raw materials, enabling efficient recycling and waste reduction, but also quality.

It also fosters strong customer loyalty (free repairs are provided during the lease) and a steady revenue stream.

Over the past five years, the company has successfully scaled this model while maintaining a focus on sustainability and fair labour.

Key outcomes include:

• Business Performance: The circular model has gained traction and they now have over 5,000 people leasing jeans – this is around 50% of their customers.
• Environmental Impact: Each MUD jeans results in roughly 93% less water use and 74% lower CO₂ emissions compared to a conventional pair of jeans​. For example, an average industry pair may require around 7,000 litres of water, whereas MUD reduce this to around 460 litres.

Overall, the company reports a 42% year-on-year reduction in its corporate carbon emissions in 2022​. By using up to 40% post-consumer recycled cotton in each product, MUD Jeans also diverts textile waste and reduces demand for virgin cotton.

Celebrating the circular economy in action

What I love about these two examples is that they are centred around great products first-and-foremost. You would buy them because the products are great rather than circular.

They prove that circular economy principles – from product design to end-of-life recovery – can enhance profitability, innovation, and positive impact in parallel.

As more companies adopt such models, we move closer to a regenerative, waste-free future and at the same time show how rethinking the lifecycle of products can create economic value.

So put on your jeans and grab a beer (zero ABV available too).

The post Toast Brewing & MUD Jeans: Making circular work for business appeared first on Circular Online.

The UK Government has announced grants totalling £13.6 million have been offered to 12 food redistribution charities across England.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) says the grants will help redistribute an estimated 19,000 tonnes of food from farms to homeless shelters, food banks and charities.

Commenting on the grants, Waste Minister Mary Creagh, who is also responsible for the circular economy, said: “This government’s Plan for Change is acting on food poverty and tackling Britain’s throwaway culture, ensuring more good food ends up on plates and not in bins.

“I am delighted to see this support go to 12 outstanding redistribution charities to form closer relationships with our hard-working farmers, and ensure their good food goes to those in need.”

Successful redistribution organisations that applied for funding through the grants include City Harvest, a food charity which rescues surplus food and delivers it to more than 130,000 people a week, which will receive more than £303,000.

Sarah Calcutt, CEO of City Harvest, commented: “This new funding will allow us to increase the amount of food we pick up directly from farms, reduce farm costs and increase further the amount of fresh food we can offer our customers.”

A consortium bid led by FareShare UK and its network partners, including Felix Project, will receive more than £9.2 million.

Food in Community, based in Devon, will also receive more than £1.5 million to partner with local farmers and food producers to redistribute surplus food.

These Government grants will go a long way to supercharge more charitable networks to capture some of the estimated 330,000 tonnes of food that could be redistributed from UK farms every year

Last year, the UK Government established an independent Circular Economy Taskforce to develop a Circular Economy Strategy.

The Taskforce is focusing on five priority sectors, including agri-food, the built environment, chemicals and plastics, transport, and electronics.

The UK Government also reaffirmed its continued support for the UK Food and Drink Pact, managed by WRAP, which looks to deliver a more sustainable supply chain and reduce food waste in the home.

Catherine David, CEO of WRAP, said: “Food waste happens wherever food is grown, made, sold and consumed – from farm to fork.

“Redistributing surplus food from retail and manufacture is a real success story, stopping thousands of tonnes of good food from going to waste every year.

“These government grants will go a long way to supercharge more charitable networks to capture some of the estimated 330,000 tonnes of food that could be redistributed from UK farms every year – and use it for good – in communities around the country.”

Commenting on the grants, David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Reconomy Connect, a brand by international circular economy specialists Reconomy, said: “We’re very pleased to see Defra tackling food waste through these grants, which rightly prioritise redistribution in line with the food waste hierarchy and ensure that high-quality, surplus food is used to feed people first.

“Initiatives like this not only offer vital support to families facing food insecurity, but also help to retain the highest possible value from our food system, preventing fresh, nutritious produce from going to waste unnecessarily.”

The post Defra announces £13.6m in grants for food redistribution charities appeared first on Circular Online.

Generative AI has become one of the focal points of discussion in the AI landscape for all the right reasons. The rise of large language models or LLMs has made AI more accessible to users. ChatGPT, for example, has become incredibly popular and widespread. We are excited to announce that our Mastering Generative AI with LLMs course launched recently and has already become popular among our learners who wish to become generative AI experts. Generative AI is an innovative subdomain of AI focused on language models. As the name implies, generative AI models generate completely new output based on user inputs. For instance, generative AI tools have proved useful in areas like content generation.

The growing demand for generative AI jobs is proof of the fact that it is an in-demand skill. You can use your generative AI skills to craft new language models for existing real-world challenges. The new generative AI course in our training library helps you move beyond the simple explanation for how LLMs work. Let us show you some unique details of our new generative AI course and its promising advantages for your career.

Enroll now in the Mastering Generative AI with LLMs Course to discover the different ways of using generative AI models to solve real-world problems.

Mastering Generative AI with LLMs Course 

The first thing to know about the new generative AI course is that it is unlike any other introductory course. The Generative AI with LLMs course launched on our platform is a comprehensive learning resource on generative AI that covers basics as well as advanced subjects and offers a practical and engaging experience. It is the ideal choice for anyone who wants to gain expertise in generative AI from scratch. Learners can start from the fundamentals of generative AI and acquire the skills to use generative AI for real-world challenges.

The modular design of the course helps beginners and seasoned professionals learn how to work with generative AI. Learners can begin with an introduction to generative AI and LLMs to gain an in-depth understanding of the basic concepts. In the subsequent chapters, you will learn the practical applications of LLMs and how to implement them in different scenarios.

The new generative AI course introduces you to the best practices for monitoring and optimizing the performance of language models. At the same time, the course sheds light on the ethical implications and challenges of using generative AI. You will also learn about the future trends expected in generative AI and improvements you can see in LLMs.

Enroll in our Certified ChatGPT Professional Certification Course to master real-world use cases with hands-on training. Gain practical skills, enhance your AI expertise, and unlock the potential of ChatGPT in various professional settings.

Target Audience for the Mastering Generative AI with LLMs Course 

The new generative AI with LLMs course might seem like an exclusive resource for AI experts. However, anyone who wants to learn generative AI with LLMs can take this course without any prior knowledge or experience. This course helps you become a generative AI expert with practical LLM skills you can use in the real world. While the new generative AI course is a technical manual for aspiring AI experts, it also serves promising advantage for other groups of learners.

• Software developers or software engineers can use the course as a means to improve their professional portfolio with generative AI expertise.
• Innovation managers and entrepreneurs can discover new insights for business ideas based on generative AI and LLMs from this course.
• IT professionals can rely on the new generative AI course to learn how to leverage generative AI and LLMs to improve productivity.

Understand the true potential of generative AI and become an expert with the Generative AI skill path

Basic Information about the Mastering Generative AI with LLMs Course

The basic details of the latest generative AI course in our training library will help you understand more about its value for your career. For instance, the learning objectives of the course will provide a glimpse of what you can learn from the course that will help you grow as a generative AI professional. The following learning objectives of the course stand out as prominent highlights for every learner.

• Acquire hands-on expertise in generative AI models to solve different real-world challenges.
• Utilize LLM architectures for different use cases like image creation, text generation, and others.
• Learn how to use evaluation metrics for measuring the reliability and accuracy of generative AI in different applications.

The design of the new generative AI course launched on our platform follows a modular pattern. It includes the following lessons that provide a strategic direction to accomplish all the specified learning objectives.

• Introduction to generative AI
• Basic concepts of large language models
• Practical use cases of LLMs
• Best practices for LLM implementation
• LLM performance assessment and optimization
• Ethical implications and challenges of LLM usage
• Future trends for generative AI and LLMs

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Top Reasons to Choose the Mastering Generative AI with LLMs Course

The generative AI course teaches you not only what LLMs are, but also helps you acquire the skills required to implement them in real-world scenarios. The following reasons showcase why it is the ideal learning resource for people who want to become generative AI and LLM experts.

• Learn from a Qualified Instructor

The foremost benefit of the new generative AI course is the assurance of learning from an experienced instructor. You will find pre-recorded video lectures in each module of the course, featuring insights drawn from the vast professional experience of our instructors. Learners will also receive personalized guidance from our instructor when they encounter questions or any issues. 

• Seamless Learning Experience

The rising demand for generative AI experts has pushed many aspiring professionals to choose courses that run on strict deadlines. With 101 Blockchains, you get a new generative AI course with certificate that allows you to learn at your own pace. It is important to remember that you can become a valuable generative AI professional for employers only when you have the essential skills. The new generative AI course in our library helps you cover all learning outcomes conveniently while managing your other responsibilities.

• Practical Generative AI Skills

Another crucial reason to trust our new generative AI course is the assurance of enhancing your practical skills. Learning about how generative AI and LLMs work is not enough to solve real-world challenges. The Mastering Generative AI with LLMs course gives you a comprehensive learning resource to familiarize yourself with different approaches for using LLMs in practical applications. Without hands-on expertise, you will be in the same position as a hunter without bullets in their gun. Our new generative AI course gives you the perfect opportunity to earn the abilities required to implement your generative AI skills in any workplace.

• Assurance of Responsive Support

Learners should also pick the Generative AI with LLMs course launched recently on our platform because of the responsive support you get from our experts. One of the common aspects of any learner’s experience is the questions or misunderstandings they may have arising from the lessons of the course. We provide the assurance of responsive support at any time of the day for all our learners, thereby making their learning experience seamless.

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Final Thoughts 

As we launch the new Mastering Generative AI with LLMs course, we invite learners to discover a promising resource that will expand their generative AI expertise. The impact of this course on the career of generative AI professionals revolves around the opportunity to acquire practical skills. You will not only know how generative AI and LLMs work but also acquire the practical skills to use them in different real-world scenarios. Learn more details about the course and prepare for a career as a generative AI expert now.

The post Announcement – Mastering Generative AI with LLMs Course Launched appeared first on 101 Blockchains.

The Irish Government announces over €27 million in funding to support a wide range of initiatives aimed at advancing Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.

The €27 million in funding comes from the Circular Economy Fund, which is financed through environmental levies on plastic bags, landfill, and waste recovery.

Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, announced the new funding.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Brien said: “This year’s circular economy funding continues to advance initiatives that rethink waste, restore and protect environmental balance and empower communities to shape climate solutions.

“We are proud to support these initiatives as we endeavour to build a more resilient future for all.”

This funding represents a significant investment in Ireland’s sustainable future.

The Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment states that the annual allocation will support local authorities, community groups, and organisations across Ireland in implementing projects that reduce waste, extend the life of materials, and promote sustainable resource use.

Speaking at the announcement, Minister of State Dillon said: “This funding represents a significant investment in Ireland’s sustainable future.

“By supporting circular economy initiatives, we are not only reducing waste and protecting our environment but also fostering innovation and creating green jobs.

“The projects funded through this allocation will serve as powerful examples of how communities and businesses can lead the way in building a more resilient, resource-efficient Ireland.”

CIWM (The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) Ireland Centre Chair, Enda Kiernan, welcomed the announcement.

Kiernan said: “The fund is intended to support communities to make a move from the traditional linear ‘take-make-use-dispose’ model towards a ‘circular economy’ where resources are reused or recycled as much as possible, waste generation is minimised, and towards more sustainable practices that prioritise reuse, repair, and recycling.”

The post Irish Gov announces €27 million in funding for circular economy appeared first on Circular Online.

The world of blockchain is growing at a consistent pace with innovative technologies and applications grabbing headlines now and then. Cross-chain bridges are one of the most effective technological advancements in the crypto landscape that have solved a critical problem. The Synapse Bridge crypto utility is a standout offering by Synapse and can be a frontrunner for achieving cross-chain interoperability. As the domain of blockchain focuses more on DeFi, NFTs, and web3 technologies, interoperability serves as a major influence on the growth and adoption of blockchain. Let us learn more about the Synapse Bridge and its distinctive features.

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Understanding the Fundamentals of Synapse Bridge

Synapse is one of the innovative projects aimed at capitalizing on the need for cross-chain bridges. Cross-chain bridges connect different ecosystems and allow users to experience the crypto landscape without barriers of accessibility. The most common answers for queries like “What is a Synapse bridge?” focus on its identity as a blockchain bridge. It is also important to ask about the factors that make it one of the most effective picks to solve interoperability issues.

Synapse has come up with a comprehensive cross-chain messaging system that serves as a crucial differentiator. Developers can leverage the messaging capability to create cross-chain dApps, which can make the most of the features of different blockchain protocols. The Synapse Bridge uses the innovative messaging infrastructure to ensure seamless transfer of assets throughout an ecosystem of supported networks. 

How Does the Synapse Bridge Work?

The Synapse Bridge offers a combination of bridging methods to ensure effective optimization of transactions. The cross-chain bridge also stands out for its compatibility with EVM and non-EVM blockchain protocols. As a result, it allows cross-chain transfers and swaps for a wide range of tokens. The Synapse protocol uses liquidity-based bridging, RFQ bridging, and canonical token bridging in its blockchain bridge. Each method offers a distinct advantage, thereby making Synapse Bridge one of the top cross-chain bridges that you should use.

Synapse Bridge offers canonical token bridging that enables seamless transfer of wrapped assets across networks. The liquidity-based bridging method leverages cross-chain swap pools that offer stability and efficient transfer of native tokens to different chains. On top of it, the RFQ or Request for Quote bridging feature optimizes the bridging process by identifying the ideal routes for faster and cost-effective transactions. The hybrid approach adopted by Synapse Bridge offers better functionality than other cross-chain bridges.

Enhanced Focus on Security 

One of the notable risks associated with blockchain bridges is the list of potential security vulnerabilities. Can you use the Synapse Bridge Metamask integration without any threats? Synapse has embraced a comprehensive security model to ensure the integrity of cross-chain asset transfers. The most striking highlight of the Synapse Bridge is the optimistic security model, which assumes that all transactions are valid. You might wonder about the effectiveness of a security model that allows every transaction to pass through.

Synapse brings in the next element in its security model to play, the off-chain actors and fraud proofs. Off-chain actors monitor the transactions and could submit proof of fraud within a specific timeframe to avert malicious transactions. The biggest strength of the security model of Synapse Bridge is the single honest verifier who identifies malicious behavior. 

Interestingly, the single honest participant is not the only one contributing to integrity of transactions on the Synapse Bridge. The cross-chain bridge also relies on collaboration between different roles, such as guards, notaries, executors, and broadcasters for validation of cross-chain transactions. Furthermore, Synapse also maintains commitment to security through governance, slashing mechanisms, and audits, which strengthen its security model.

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Governance Model for the Synapse Bridge

The next critical concern associated with cross-chain bridges is the risk of centralization. As a matter of fact, critics state that cross-chain bridges entrust the power in one specific platform to take care of your asset transfers. Who is in charge of making decisions about how the platform will operate? The Synapse protocol bridge also has to face such questions that challenge its transparency and decentralization. Synapse offers a promising solution to this challenge in the form of Cortex DAO, the latest updated version of its governance system.

The members of Cortex DAO who hold more than 550,000 native CX tokens become eligible to submit proposals. DAO members can exercise their vote on multiple chains with CX or use the option of delegating votes to other token owners. The native token of Synapse, SYN, can be converted into CX tokens in the conversion portal offered by the protocol. 

The components of Cortex DAO that make it an effective solution for the governance of Synapse include Forum, Discord, and Snapshot. Forum offers a useful platform for posting and discussing about proposals before passing them for a vote. The Synapse protocol leverages Discord to encourage community discussion on general matters related to the protocol. Synapse also uses Snapshot to ensure decentralized voting on governance proposals that reach the voting stage.

Exploring the Synapse Bridge SDK 

Developers can use the Synapse Bridge SDK to integrate cross-chain token transfers in their applications. It also serves as a valuable tool for adding cross-chain liquidity transfer feature in various applications. You can use the Bridge SDK on the client side and server side for different use cases. The SDK helps in integrating a front-end application with Synapse Bridge or cross-chain arbitrage features in an application. Another use case of the Synapse Bridge SDK is the integration of Synapse JavaScript SDK with non-JavaScript applications.

The general discussions about Synapse Bridge crypto service miss one of the notable elements in the Bridge SDK. Synapse REST API is another powerful tool for developers as it facilitates integration of Synapse liquidity network in your applications. Developers can use HTTP requests to ensure dynamic integration of Synapse cross-chain liquidity and token transfers in different applications. The read-only REST API also helps in retrieving quotes and generating relevant call data for Synapse Bridge transactions.

How Does Synapse Bridge Perform Against Competitors?

Synapse Bridge has a lot of competitors who have been in this space, with some of them being pioneers of cross-chain interoperability. However, the crypto space always rewards innovation, and the same has happened in the case of Synapse. Their cross-chain bridge has an edge over other blockchain bridges with additional emphasis on security and decentralized governance. 

The Synapse Protocol Bridge has accommodated a wide range of tokens and blockchain networks under its umbrella. It features optimized bridging to ensure that you find the best path to transfer assets between networks. The primary goals of optimizing the bridging process include speed and cost efficiency. On top of it, the bridge service has been adopted in large numbers, registering significant growth in transaction volume.

Enroll now in the Blockchain Scalability and Interoperability Mastery Course to learn the skills needed to develop faster, scalable, robust, and interoperable dApps.

Final Thoughts 

The introduction to Synapse Bridge reveals a lot about the innovative efforts made by Synapse. It follows a hybrid approach to bridging, thereby achieving better speed and cost-effectiveness in cross-chain asset and liquidity transfers. The optimistic security model used in the Synapse Protocol provides the guarantee of secure cross-chain asset transfer and communication. The design of Synapse and recent advancements like the transition to Cortex DAO, address the risks associated with traditional cross-chain bridges. While Synapse has the potential to emerge as one of the biggest players in the crypto space, future trends and evolution of the protocol will determine its fate. Learn more about the Synapse Bridge with the help of experts right now.   

*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!

The post Synapse Bridge: The Leading Cross-Chain Solution appeared first on 101 Blockchains.

G2 has announced the Spring 2025 reports, and 101 Blockchains came out as a top performer again with 32 badges. Thanks to this extraordinary outcome, we can proudly state that we are one of the leading platforms for professional training and accredited certification in blockchain technology. Our efforts to expand our training library have helped us provide learners with new resources on web3 technologies, AI, fintech, and IoT. 

The G2 Spring 2025 Reports solidify our existing reputation as the top online course provider for technical skill development. We have garnered the appreciation of our users, which is the biggest reason why we have achieved multiple ‘High Performer’ badges. 

Most importantly, we have earned the ‘Users Love Us’ badge once again in another consecutive G2 Report. It signifies the unwavering love and trust of our users in our courses, certifications, and services. Let us show you some more details about what we have achieved in the G2 Spring Reports for 2025.

Check Now: 101 Blockchains Reviews at G2

Key Takeaways for 101 Blockchains in G2 Spring 2025 Reports

101 Blockchains began its journey as a pioneering platform for blockchain education and research with a few training courses and certification programs. In the last few years, we have evolved as one of the leading platforms for blockchain training and certification with a massive library of courses. Thousands of working professionals from top companies have used our courses and accredited certifications for their professional growth. On top of it, we have also introduced courses and certifications on new technologies, such as fintech, AI, IoT, and web3. 

You can find the proof of our commitment to becoming one of the best in the business in our training library. The collection of more than 60 professional training courses showcases that we didn’t aim to become just another blockchain course provider; we strive to be the best. Over the course of time, we have introduced new courses, masterclasses, and certifications to offer better opportunities for skill development. 

We also provide various types of learning resources, including free courses on blockchain fundamentals, ebooks, on-demand webinars, presentations, and flashcards.  Our learning plans offer distinctive benefits like unlimited access to the entire training library and the opportunity to become a member of a community of experts. We empower our learners in their professional journey with our Job Portal, which is the ideal platform to find jobs according to your skills and career path.

The latest G2 Report announcement brings good news for everyone at 101 Blockchains as the findings serve as a very positive review of our performance. The results of the reports showcase proof of our dedication to becoming one of the top online course providers. We have achieved 32 badges in the latest reports by G2 in two categories, i.e., Online Course Providers and Technical Skill Development. However, the biggest achievement for us in the new G2 reports is the ‘Users Love Us’ badge.

Our performance in the recently announced G2 reports is a testament to the fact that we have successfully delivered technical education to our target audience. How? Most of the badges we have received in the two categories are the ‘High Performer’ badges for different types of customers in different markets. We have also earned the ‘Users Most Likely to Recommend’ badge in the Technical Skills Development category. The new badges we have earned in this year’s spring G2 report include the ‘Fastest Implementation’, ‘Easiest Setup and ‘Easiest Admin’ badges.

Check 101 Blockchains’ Performance in:

G2 Winter 2024 Reports
G2 Summer 2024 Reports
G2 Fall 2024 Reports

What Have We Accomplished in the G2 Spring 2025 Reports?

The G2 reports for Spring 2025 have shown us a clear overview of our top performance as an online course provider for technical skills development. We acknowledge the G2 Spring 2025 Reports and their findings as a review of our competence as a professional skill development platform. The results of the reports have been awarded with badges that showcase how we have successfully helped our customers solve their educational-related problems. As a ‘High Performer’ in different markets worldwide and a favorite of businesses of all sizes, 101 Blockchains has achieved recognition for excellence in service.

G2 has rewarded us with 32 badges for acknowledging our role as a professional platform for technical skill development. Every year, G2 shows us a clear impression of how we have performed in each quarter. The badges offered by G2 have helped us evaluate our performance and have guided us through the journey of continuous improvement. We believe in the judgment of G2 as it evaluates performance by using authentic reviews of users who have actually used our courses and accredited certifications. Here are the notable badges we have achieved in each category in the Spring 2025 reports by G2.

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Online Course Providers

We have achieved 15 badges in the Online Course Providers category of the G2 Reports for Spring 2025. It is a special category dedicated to the evaluation of platforms that provide self-paced training courses. We have achieved 12 ‘High Performer’ badges in this category and one ‘Fastest Implementation’, ‘Easiest Setup’, and ‘Easiest Admin’ badge each. The ‘High Performer’ badges for small businesses, enterprise clients, and different markets worldwide showcase proof of our growth. Here is a list of the badges we’ve earned in the Online Course Providers category.

• High Performer Online Course Providers
• High Performer Enterprise Online Course Providers
• High Performer Small-Business Online Course Providers
• Fastest Implementation Online Course Providers
• Easiest Setup Online Course Providers
• Easiest Admin Online Course Providers
• High Performer Middle East & Africa Online Course Providers
• High Performer United Kingdom Online Course Providers
• High Performer Europe Online Course Providers
• High Performer EMEA Online Course Providers
• High Performer Asia Online Course Providers
• High Performer Asia Pacific Online Course Providers
• High Performer Small-Business Middle East & Africa Online Course Providers
• High Performer Small-Business Europe Online Course Providers
• High Performer Small-Business EMEA Online Course Providers

Technical Skills Development 

The Technical Skills Development category in the G2 Report focuses on the evaluation of platforms that offer resources to learn technical skills. We have earned 16 badges in this category, with all of them being the ‘High Performer’ badges, except one ‘Users Most Likely to Recommend’ badge. The ability to address the needs for technical skills development for businesses of different sizes and in different markets will push us forward to long-term growth. Here is a list of badges we have earned in the Technical Skills Development category.

• High Performer Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Enterprise Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Canada Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Southeast Asia Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Middle East & Africa Technical Skills Development
• High Performer EMEA Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Europe Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Asia Pacific Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Asia Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Small-Business Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Small-Business Europe Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Small-Business Middle East & Africa Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Small-Business EMEA Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Small-Business Asia Technical Skills Development
• High Performer Small-Business Asia Pacific Technical Skills Development
• Users Most Likely To Recommend Technical Skills Development

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Users Love Us

The most coveted achievement for us in all the G2 Reports is the ‘Users Love Us’. You may wonder why we are so excited about this badge when we have achieved 31 other badges. The special thing about the ‘Users Love Us’ badge is that it recognizes the effort of everyone at 101 Blockchains. It is a credential awarded to only a few platforms that earn user trust, evaluated through genuine user feedback and reviews. The badge is proof of the fact that our users are happy with our products and services. It also shows that they have taken some time to write a good word for us.

Final Thoughts 

The list of badges we have earned in the G2 Spring 2025 Reports is a reward we look forward to with anticipation. We have used G2 reports as the benchmark of our performance and capabilities to deliver excellent technical education to our learners. Over the course of time, we have evolved into a comprehensive technical skill training platform. You can not only learn about blockchain but also AI, fintech, and IoT with our courses. As we introduce new courses and certifications, the G2 badges will push us a little higher to accomplish our dreams. Become a part of the 101 Blockchains community and shape your dreams into reality now.

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The Bitcoin blockchain is almost similar to a secure digital vault safeguarded with an unbreakable chain. Every transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain stays there for eternity, without the fear of anyone modifying the transaction details. The capability of Bitcoin blockchain to revolutionize money is obviously one of its biggest strengths. You must also know about a unique opcode, OP_RETURN in Bitcoin, to understand how Bitcoin can store arbitrary data.

It is important to note that storing arbitrary data is not about saving your family photos on the Bitcoin blockchain. On the contrary, it focuses on embedding small and immutable chunks of information that open the doors to create multiple innovative applications. Let us learn more about the “OP_RETURN” opcode and its utility in the Bitcoin blockchain.

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Exploring Bitcoin Beyond the Crypto Transactions

The first introduction to Bitcoin painted it as a decentralized electronic cash system. With the help of blockchain technology, the blocks of Bitcoin network record every transaction on the ledger. At the same time, the distinctive traits of Bitcoin blockchain such as decentralization, public verification and tamper-proof nature attracted developers. The attention of developers on Bitcoin blockchain created new avenues for using Bitcoin for something more than virtual currency. 

The thought of storing data on blockchain emerged for the first time as developers discovered that the Bitcoin ledger can store non-financial data. However, early attempts to store data on Bitcoin were inefficient and resulted in various issues. For instance, storing unspendable addresses created blockchain bloat since all the nodes have to track the unspendable outputs. It resulted in expansion of the size of Unspent Transaction Output or UTXO set, which requires more memory for operation of the nodes.

How Does OP_RETURN Help in Storing Arbitrary Data?

The need for data embedding alongside addressing the concerns of blockchain bloat led to the arrival of OP_RETURN. The Bitcoin developer community introduced the “OP_RETURN” opcode in 2014. You can review answers to “What is OP_RETURN in Bitcoin?” and discover that it is just a special script opcode for adding arbitrary data to the output of a transaction. One of the distinctive highlights of “OP_RETURN” outputs is that they cannot be spent. Any Bitcoin tokens linked to an “OP_RETURN” output will be burned and the UTXO set does not need to track the output. As a result, the opcode ensures a more efficient approach with reduced overheads for data storage on blockchain.

You can notice that making “OP_RETURN” outputs unspendable is an effective design choice. Since “OP_RETURN” transactions are not included in the UTXO set, they don’t consume memory of the full nodes. The unique design choice addresses the concerns of ‘blockchain bloat’ by supporting limited data storage without affecting the decentralization and efficiency of the network. 

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Workflow of OP_RETURN

The most crucial highlight in any guide on ‘OP_RETURN’ is its working mechanism. You can use a Bitcoin OP_RETURN example transaction to understand how the special opcode works. The standard Bitcoin transaction involves the output specifying the address of the recipient and the amount of Bitcoin you want to send. The ‘OP_RETURN’ opcode ensures that Bitcoin transactions can have an output which will not receive any Bitcoins. In addition, the transaction also includes a script featuring the “OP_RETURN” opcode accompanied with arbitrary data.

Here is a breakdown of the individual steps in the working of ‘OP_RETURN’ opcode.

• The first step begins when a user initiates a Bitcoin transaction. 
• In the second step, you have to add a special output i.e. the OP_RETURN output, which has a zero value. 
• You will note that the locking script or scriptPubKey of the zero-value output starts with ‘OP_RETURN’ and then includes the desired data pushed on it. The pushed data is generally a hexadecimal code for the arbitrary information that you want to store.
• Once the data embedding is complete, the transaction will be broadcast across the Bitcoin network. Miners will add the transaction to a block when it complies with the consensus rules and mempool policies. 
• After confirmation of a transaction in a block, the embedded data will become an immutable component of the Bitcoin blockchain.

Discovering New Use Cases of Bitcoin with OP_RETURN

With the introduction of OP_RETURN in blockchain, you can find a wide array of applications that can transform Bitcoin into a trusted platform for data-anchoring services. The following use cases of OP_RETURN prove why it is an innovative advancement for the Bitcoin blockchain.

• Decentralized Apps and Layer-2 Protocols

The utility of ‘OP_RETURN’ in Bitcoin blockchain is seen in the fact that it helps in anchoring data from different layer-2 protocols and decentralized apps. Sidechains or state channel networks can leverage ‘OP_RETURN’ to embed a summary of the off-chain state on the Bitcoin blockchain. It will help in supporting scaling solutions that need occasional interactions with the main blockchain to achieve better integrity and security.

• Asset Issuance and Colored Coins 

Prior to the arrival of advanced token standards, OP_RETURN served as a primary factor for encouraging the development of ‘Colored Coins’. The opcode helped in coloring specific Satoshis or the smallest units of Bitcoin with metadata for representing other assets like shares in digital collectibles or shares in an organization. It helped in tracking and transferring ‘colored’ assets on Bitcoin, which served as a blueprint for tokenization. 

• Proof of Existence 

The earliest example of applying OP_RETURN in Bitcoin is evident in timestamping of documents and digital files. The process involved taking a cryptographic hash of a document and embedding the hash in the OP_RETURN output. It ensures that you can prove the existence of the specific document at a particular point of time. The OP_RETURN opcode serves a significant role in safeguarding intellectual property rights and documentation of legal agreements.

• NFTs and Digital Collectibles

The OP_RETURN opcode has a limited data capacity and many would think twice about its usability for NFTs and digital collectibles. The workflow of ‘OP_RETURN’ involves data embedding, which paved the path for introducing more sophisticated approaches to represent digital collectibles. You can notice how ‘OP_RETURN’ is a vital tool for promoting the rise of Bitcoin Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens which require larger storage. Future developments on Bitcoin blockchain, like Runes, might use ‘OP_RETURN’ in their protocol and BRC-20 tokens can shift to ‘OP_RETURN’ after limit removal.

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Limitations of OP_RETURN

The different ways to use OP_RETURN for storing data on blockchain prove that it is an innovative advancement for Bitcoin. On the other hand, you must also know that the opcode has some limitations that have been subject to debates within the Bitcoin community. You should keep an eye on the following limitations of ‘OP_RETURN’ to make the best use of it.

• Limited Data Size

The first aspect that you notice in the setbacks of the Bitcoin opcode for arbitrary data storage is the data size limit. OP_RETURN has an extremely small data size limit, 80 bytes, which restricts the amount and type of information that you can embed directly in the output. The limitation is in place for preventing excessive growth of the network and maintaining the network efficiency.

• No Direct Utility 

While the concept of storing non-financial data on Bitcoin with OP_RETURN seems interesting, it does not qualify as a valuable utility. The data embedded in ‘OP_RETURN’ output does not have any significance for the Bitcoin protocol. The utility of ‘OP_RETURN’ depends largely on the external applications which interpret the data.

• Burden of Additional Costs

One of the prominent highlights in answers to “What is OP_RETURN in Bitcoin?” focuses on the fact that OP_RETURN outputs have null value. However, the transactions will still impose the burden of fees according to their size. Imagine storing data in small chunks that adds up to the transaction size. For a network like Bitcoin, increased transaction size automatically translates to higher costs that you have to pay to miners.

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Future Direction for OP_RETURN and Data Storage on Bitcoin

The prospects for storing arbitrary non-financial data on Bitcoin blockchain herald the beginning of a series of innovative advancements. The OP_RETURN opcode can become a focal point for innovation, as evident from its utility. For instance, OP_RETURN will emerge as a formidable driver for expanding the extensive data capabilities of Bitcoin. However, the adoption of OP_RETURN will depend a lot on whether the size limit will be reduced. The impact of OP_RETURN on expected advancements like Runes will help in reducing dependence on more complex data embedding techniques. 

Final Thoughts 

The uses of OP_RETURN in blockchain data storage prove that it is an advancement way ahead of its time. OP_RETURN emerged as a solution to blockchain bloat that resulted from ineffective data storage methods. Over the course of time, the opcode has evolved with diverse applications such as anchoring layer-2 protocols or timestamping documents. One of the biggest highlights of OP_RETURN is their adoption in emerging solutions like BRC-20 tokens and Bitcoin Ordinals. The limited data capacity of OP_RETURN is one of the biggest obstacles for its large-scale adoption. However, it will have a significant role in the future of Bitcoin by helping preserve its core identity while encouraging innovation. 

*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!

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Morrisons has become the ‘first UK supermarket’ to prevent three million Too Good To Go food bags from going to waste.

Since 2019, when Morrisons became the first UK supermarket to partner with Too Good To Go, the supermarket has redistributed over three million ‘Surprise Bags’ containing surplus food to customers.

The scheme is rolled out in almost 500 Morrisons supermarkets, 930 Morrisons Daily convenience stores and 344 Morrisons cafés across the UK.

Commenting on the milestone, Rebecca Cranshaw, Corporate Responsibility Manager for Morrisons, said: “We are incredibly proud to be the first UK retailer to have reached the milestone of saving three million ‘Surprise Bags’ from going to waste through our partnership with Too Good To Go.

“This achievement reflects our continued commitment to reducing food waste whilst helping our customers access great food at great value.”

Each ‘Surprise Bag’ contains surplus food worth at least £10 at retail value, including items such as fruit, veg, dairy and baked goods, which are available at a reduced price,

In the café, the contents of each bag have a value of up to £11 and are packed with hot and cold items, including bacon, beans, hash browns and sauces.

This achievement reflects our continued commitment to reducing food waste whilst helping our customers access great food at great value.

Too Good To Go is a certified B Corp social impact organisation working with companies to prevent surplus food from going to waste.

Its app allows customers to purchase Surprise Bags from local retailers at a lower rate than their original value.

Sophie Trueman, Country Director UK & I, Too Good To Go, commented: “We are incredibly delighted to have reached the milestone of three million Surprise Bags saved in partnership with Morrisons.

“Every Surprise Bag saved means good food enjoyed instead of wasted – and that’s a win for both people and the planet.

“Tackling food waste is only possible through strong, long-term partnerships like this one, and together we’re making real progress towards a more sustainable food system.”

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Blockchain technology initiated a revolution that has grown to a stage where it has become a core element of Web3. As the blockchain and crypto space grows bigger, it becomes more fragmented, thereby creating significant challenges for users. Different blockchain networks operate as isolated ecosystems with their unique strengths and communities. Blockchain bridges offer a promising solution to address the interoperability challenge, enhance liquidity, and provide a better user experience.

This multichain bridges guide aims to introduce you to one of the versatile options among blockchain bridges. Let us learn about the significance of blockchain bridges and how multichain bridges have been challenging traditional benchmarks.

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Decoding the Importance of Blockchain Bridges

Interoperability might not appear like a big problem for the blockchain and crypto ecosystem when you see big players performing well. The lack of interoperability creates a massive barrier to accessibility as users on one blockchain could not interact with another network. In the long run, this problem may lead to reduced adoption rates and threats to growth of blockchain technology. 

The arrival of multichain bridges in crypto has been possible due to the efforts of some pioneers who recognized the interoperability problem. Crypto bridges helped in overcoming the isolated nature of blockchain networks and opened new avenues for collaboration. The utility of blockchain bridges ensures easier access to decentralized applications in different networks and seamless cross-chain transactions.

Bridges also reduce barriers to entry for interacting with multiple blockchain networks and contribute to the maturity of blockchain ecosystem. As the demand for crypto bridges continued growing, developers came up with different types of bridges. Some of the notable types of crypto bridges include centralized and decentralized bridges. Most recently, multichain bridges have been garnering all the praise for connecting multiple blockchain networks at once. 

Definition of Multichain Bridges

The term ‘multichain bridges’ might sound a bit confusing as all bridges are supposed to connect multiple blockchain networks. Apparently, the answers to “What is multichain bridge?” leave out the existence of single-chain bridges that work between two specific networks. Multichain bridges are just like any regular software protocol that features smart contracts to facilitate asset transfer or communication between multiple chains. You can also think of multichain bridges as a web of interconnected blockchain networks that offers the best of every protocol.

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How Does a Multichain Bridge Work?

Multichain bridges manage the conversion of native assets on one blockchain to wrapped or pegged tokens on the destination blockchain. At the same time, the bridges also ensure secure asset transfer between networks making them almost similar to international bank transfer systems. The common method followed by almost all entries in a multichain bridges list is the ‘lock and mint’ approach. The ‘lock and mint’ method involves locking the native assets on the source blockchain and minting the equivalent amount of wrapped tokens on the destination blockchain.

Do you want to know what happens if you want to release the locked tokens on the source blockchain? You can release the locked tokens by reversing the process or burning equivalent amount of wrapped tokens on the destination blockchain. 

Let us assume a scenario where you want to send ETH tokens to the Polygon blockchain with a multichain bridge. The bridge with lock the amount of ETH tokens you want to send on the source blockchain i.e. Ethereum. In the next step, the bridge will mint the equivalent amount of tokens on Polygon blockchain. When you want your ETH tokens back on the Ethereum blockchain, the wrapped ETH tokens on Polygon will be burned to unlock the original ETH tokens. 

Significance of Multichain Bridges in the Crypto Space

The value of multichain bridges is not limited to cryptocurrencies only as they aim to have an impact on the broader blockchain landscape. Imagine the possibilities that would emerge from services that allow users to explore DeFi apps, NFTs, metaverse platforms, and other solutions without any barriers. The impact of multichain bridges on Ethereum or any other popular blockchain might not be explicitly evident as of now. However, multichain bridges have proved effective for new users who have been seeking opportunities to explore multiple blockchain networks.

You don’t have to exit the blockchain network that you want to capitalize on the offerings of DeFi applications on multiple networks. The solution to the interoperability challenge with multichain bridges also opens new doors for improving liquidity in newer or smaller blockchain ecosystems. In addition, multichain bridges also offer a trusted solution for seamless movement of NFTs between blockchain networks. As a result, bridges improve utility of NFTs alongside opening new marketplaces for them. Another advantage of multichain bridges is the assurance of solution to scalability problems as they can reduce congestion on popular chains. 

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Do Multichain Bridges Have Any Risks?

The use cases of multichain bridges show that they are the next big thing for the future of blockchain and crypto. The rising number of multichain bridges in crypto indicates that the interoperability challenge has remained unaddressed for a long time. At the same time, something’s good does not mean that it won’t have any bad qualities. Multichain bridges also present certain risks, such as security concerns in the form of smart contract vulnerabilities or centralization issues.

Multichain bridges are likely to present liquidity risks as they can face liquidity crunches during fluctuations in the crypto market. On top of it, bridges also become the most obvious target for attackers as they work as conduits for transferring large amounts of crypto assets.

Navigating Regulatory Risks for Multichain Bridges

The regulatory uncertainty that creates problems for cryptocurrencies also affects multichain bridges. If you use multichain bridges for Ethereum tokens in the United States, then you must comply with certain regulations. One of the key regulatory concerns for multichain bridges is the possibility of classifying them as money transmitters. On the other hand, FinCEN guidelines suggest that multichain bridges don’t hold direct custody of user funds, which excludes them from the definition of money transmitters.

Even if multichain bridges work within the ambit of law, the regulatory landscape can come up with new surprises. Take the worst case scenario as an example in which multichain bridges are classified as money transmitters. It would lead to a huge burden of compliance obligations on bridges, such as registering with the authorities, implementing KYC and AML programs and obtaining money transmitter licenses. 

The cross-border transactions with multichain bridges also create concerns about the applicable laws and jurisdiction. Since multichain bridges, blockchain networks and crypto assets work with decentralization, it is difficult to assign any regulatory responsibility. Multichain bridges will also have to adapt to regulatory frameworks that call for ethical and responsible use of crypto. 

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Final Thoughts 

The different features of multichain bridges and their benefits prove why they have been gaining traction. One of the biggest advantages of multichain bridges is the solution to interoperability problems. The addition of new entries in the multichain bridges list every day indicates their effectiveness and growing demand. They can address the need for seamless asset transfer between blockchain networks. However, multichain bridges are vulnerable to security risks and technical challenges. On top of it, regulatory uncertainty also poses many problems for bridges. Learn more about the utility of crypto bridges and use them to your advantage right now.

*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!

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