Here is what MS.NOW is.
MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) is an American cable news channel owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. Launched on July 15, 1996, and headquartered at 229 West 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan, the channel primarily broadcasts rolling news coverage and liberal-leaning political commentary.
The channel was first established in 1996 as a joint venture between NBC News and Microsoft (with its original name being a portmanteau of MSN and NBC), encompassing the channel and the news portal MSNBC.com. Microsoft divested its stake in the channel in 2005, followed by the website in 2012; the website was subsequently rebranded as NBCNews.com, and MSNBC.com was later taken over by the cable channel's editorial staff.
MSNOW is a decentralized oracle protocol within the Leo ecosystem, designed to deliver real-time, verifiable data from multiple off-chain sources to on-chain applications on Arbitrum. Launched in 2024 by the Leo Finance team (led by @khaleelkazi), it addresses DeFi pain points like oracle manipulation by aggregating data from diverse providers, ensuring tamper-proof feeds via consensus mechanisms and LEO token staking for security.
Core Functionality: MSNOW acts as a bridge for RWAs (real-world assets), price oracles, and social data. For LeoDex, it enables instant swaps with accurate cross-chain pricing using THORChain tech, as highlighted in recent updates. In InLeo, it powers SocialFi rewards by verifying user engagement metrics for SIRP payouts. The protocol uses a multi-source model: data from APIs, sensors, and blockchains is cross-validated, with disputes resolved through staked LEO challenges—losers forfeit tokens to incentivize honesty.
Token Integration: LEO powers governance, staking for node operators, and fee payments. Node runners earn LEO rewards proportional to data accuracy, creating a flywheel where higher adoption boosts network utility and token demand. Unlike centralized oracles (e.g., Chainlink), MSNOW emphasizes decentralization with over 50 initial providers, including community validators, reducing single-point failures.
Recent Developments: As per Khal's Nov 15 video, MSNOW supports tokenized RWAs like TTSLA (Tokenized Tesla) and SURGE (on-chain bonds yielding 15-20% APY). It integrates with LeoStrategy's DAO for market making, where oracle data drives arbitrage and liquidity pools for LSTR/SURGE. The protocol's EVM compatibility allows seamless Arbitrum deployment, with upcoming features like agentic AI feeds for predictive analytics in the LeoVerse.
Ecosystem Impact: By reducing float via POL buys (as in Oct 6 clip), MSNOW enhances LEO's deflationary mechanics. It's key to the $10B ecosystem goal by 2035, enabling tokenized equities, commodities, and options trading with delta-neutral strategies. Challenges include scaling data volume, but overcollateralization (150%+ for assets) mitigates risks.
In summary, MSNOW transforms Leo into an agentic hub, blending oracles with RWAs for secure, yield-generating DeFi. For deeper dives: LeoDex RWAs Video (Nov 15). (198 words)