Polkadot Blockchain Academy (PBA) has launched its fifth cohort in Singapore, marking a significant milestone in the region's blockchain development. The initiative aims to nurture developer talent and provide a comprehensive learning experience for participants, led by 18 experienced instructors and featuring 184 lecture hours.

The curriculum includes modules on Smart Contracts, Governance, Economics, and Polkadot-SDK, offering participants an in-depth understanding of Polkadot and blockchain technology. Pauline Cohen Vorms, CEO and Co-Founder of Polkadot Blockchain Academy, highlighted Asia as a dynamic market for blockchain, particularly for Polkadot, citing the region's strong projects, contributors, developers, and founders.

In addition to the launch of the new cohort, Polkadot has introduced Asynchronous Backing, an optimized approach for validating parachain blocks by the Relay Chain. This upgrade has resulted in blocks being produced twice as fast, and available block space has increased by 6-10 times. This development is expected to enhance the overall performance and scalability of the Polkadot network.

Polkadot has also partnered with the Founder Institute, a leading business incubator, to launch the first Web3 cohort in its Core Program, set to begin on May 28. This partnership is expected to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the Web3 space.

Despite these developments, the price of Polkadot's native cryptocurrency, DOT, has remained steady at around $7. Some analysts believe that DOT is poised for a rally, with predictions ranging from $75-$100 in a bullish market. However, others advise investors to sell during the next pump, claiming that outperforming the rest of the market is unlikely.