chainwire

PIN AI secures $10M from a16z CSX, Hack VC, and All-Star angels to launch open platform for personal AI

San Francisco, United States, September 9th, 2024, Chainwire

Innovative startup from Ethereum Core research, Google Brain, Stanford, MIT, and CMU aims to democratize on-device intelligence, empowering users with control over their personal AI, and receiving investment from a16z CSX, Hack VC, and investors from projects like Solana, Polygon, Near, Worldcoin, etc.

PIN AI, a pioneering AI infrastructure company, announces $10 million in pre-seed funding to develop the world’s first open-source Personal Intelligence Network (PIN). A16z CSX, Hack VC, and notable investors, including Blockchain Builders Fund (Stanford Blockchain Accelerator), Illia Polosukhin (Transformer paper author; Founder, NEAR Protocol), Anagram/Lily Liu (President, SOL Foundation), Symbolic Capital (Co-Founder, Polygon), Evan Cheng (CEO, Mysten Labs/SUI), dcbuilder (Worldcoin Foundation), Foresight Ventures (parent company of the Block), Nomad Capital, Tim Shi (Co-Founder, Cresta), Ben Fisch (CEO, Espresso), Scott Moore (Co-Founder, Gitcoin), Alumni Ventures, and Dispersion Capital, have backed the project.

Offering an open-source, web3-enabled alternative to Apple Intelligence, PIN AI’s platform turns smartphones into privacy-focused AI personal assistants. By redirecting profits from users’ data and attention, it empowers users to regain control and monetize their data. The platform leverages personal, contextual data and cryptography, deploying cutting-edge AI models on-device to handle tasks across apps—like shopping, ordering food, wealth management, and interacting with centralized exchanges, DeFi, and prediction markets.

This AI-driven assistant ensures robust privacy and user-controlled data management, disrupting ultra-profitable models of web2 giants, including Apple’s 30% app revenue cut (over $100 billion) and Google’s mobile ads and Android store revenue cuts.

Davide Crapis, Co-Founder leading Protocol Research, said, “We’re building a movement towards an open-source future where personal AI assistants can work on PIN AI’s platform like smart contracts on Ethereum.” He added, “PIN AI will take back the $100b+ profit from tech giants and return it to users, allowing them to control and monetize their data. Our platform offers access to a wider range of AI agents, developed by the open-source community, capable of handling tasks across popular apps.”

PIN AI’s mission is to foster innovation for personal AI agents by offering access to personal, contextual data that reflects individual users’ needs and preferences. Unlike closed ecosystems like Apple, PIN AI’s open platform connects privacy-protected user data via a Layer-2 blockchain. This enables more flexibility in AI application development without the constraints of traditional, closed systems.

Bill Sun, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, said, “On-device multi-modality models will revolutionize daily life. We are building a personal index for each user to create an on-device model that evolves via distributed training on the user’s phone. Soon, users won’t need to open multiple apps to complete tasks. The personal AI assistant will understand preferences and manage tasks efficiently.” PIN AI’s assistant will connect users with apps and services bidding on its blockchain protocol to fulfill tasks like shopping or crypto activities.

PIN AI shifts data monetization from big tech to users, allowing secure monetization of personal data. Users receive token incentives through data onboarding and intent fulfillment, only providing necessary data with matched Personal AI Agents, while maintaining control of their information.

At launch, PIN AI partners with Worldcoin and is developing a front-end product similar to Siri, expanding its reach and enhancing user experience.

Leading the team are co-founders Davide Crapis and Ben Wu. Crapis, formerly of Ethereum Core Research, leads Protocol Research. Ben Wu, heading Strategy, is an MIT graduate, Y Combinator alum, and serial entrepreneur. The technical leadership includes Bill Sun, a Stanford AI/Math PhD and early Google Brain researcher, as Chief AI Scientist, and Regan Peng, a CMU graduate and former lead at Didi Fintech and Yahoo Data Infra, as Founding Head of Engineering.

PIN AI collaborates with a16z crypto research, Flashbots, Espresso Systems, and academics from Stanford, Columbia, and NYU. Ben Wu emphasized the importance of an open platform, saying, “The open internet has made large language models possible. We need to build an open platform for users on their trusted device, allowing access to their various data, making their Personal AI possible.” Unlike Apple Intelligence, PIN AI’s system can run on low-spec smartphones by dynamically shifting between edge AI (on-device) and server AI to optimize performance, ensuring wide accessibility.

The funding will expand research, grow the team of AI and blockchain experts, and accelerate the deployment of PIN AI’s technology. The company will join the a16z CSX Fall 2024 cohort in New York City.

About PIN AI

PIN AI is developing an open-source personal AI operating system that leverages smartphone and app data to empower users with control and privacy. The company’s approach aims to connect AI developers with users, promoting data sovereignty and developer empowerment. PIN AI collaborates with Ethereum Core Research and is committed to privacy and innovation.

For more updates, visit pinai.io, X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, Discord, and Linkedin.

Contact

PIN AI
contact@pinai.io

Bitunix Enters Top 15 on CoinGecko Rankings, Achieving Milestone in the First Week of September 2024

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 9th, 2024, Chainwire

Bitunix, a rapidly growing player in the cryptocurrency exchange market, has made a significant leap by ranking as the 13th global exchange on CoinGecko, categorized by trust score on September 2, 2024. This milestone comes on the heels of Bitunix unveiling its reserves through the implementation of Proof of Reserves (PoR), a move that has set a new standard for transparency in the industry.

By disclosing the Proof of Reserves, Bitunix has solidified its reputation as one of the most secure, liquid, and transparent derivatives exchanges worldwide. The exchange has established its place amongst some of the most eminent names in the crypto industry. 

Source: CoinGecko

Factors Behind Bitunix’s Growth

The crypto industry comprises of 1,000+ exchanges, making it a saturated market to break in. Bitunix, one of the fastest growing crypto derivatives exchanges, climbed up the ladder by adopting different practices required to maintain a transparent and secure environment for all kinds of traders.

Bitunix’s PoR initiative reassures users that their funds are backed by real, verifiable reserves, setting a benchmark for accountability. Besides a secure platform, the exchange also allows users to execute trades directly on the chart with minimal effort, making the user experience phenomenal. In addition to this, Bitunix also accounts for high liquidity across 250+ trading pairs and 24*7 customer support.

A Testimony For Crypto Users

CoinGecko’s Trust Score, evaluates exchanges based on factors including transparency, security, and liquidity. Achieving a high rank on CoinGecko, a trusted and widely respected platform in the cryptocurrency space, is more than just a number; it can signify a vote of confidence from the broader crypto user base and communities.

These rankings collectively reinforce Bitunix’s reputation as a reliable and user-centric exchange. With the launch of PoR, Bitunix joins the ranks of other trusted exchanges such as Bybit, OKX, and Bitget, further establishing its credibility and appeal. In fact, this success comes along with another of Bitunix’s great achievements in such a short time, which is to surpass 1 million users.

There are other platforms and rankings that are also validating Bitunix’s achievements, either by showing the exchange’s proof of booking, ranking it at the top of the rankings, etc. Some of these platforms are Coinmarketcap and DeFiLlama.

This achievement highlights the progress Bitunix is making in its commitment to becoming the world’s leading derivatives exchange. With every milestone, Bitunix brings users closer to an environment where trading is effortless, secure, transparent, and increasingly liquid. Moreover, as the company itself points out on its social media, this is just the beginning, as 2024 still brings major releases that they claim will revolutionize the way cryptocurrency trading is done to date.

About Bitunix

Bitunix is a global crypto derivatives exchange founded in 2021, and dedicated to offering intelligent, social, highly secure, and cost-effective trading services to its users. Bitunix specializes in both crypto spot and perpetual futures trading, boasting more than 250 trading pairs with up to 125x leverage.

With attributes such as best liquidity, 24/7 customer support, and a strong commitment to regulatory compliance, Bitunix remains at the forefront of delivering a reliable trading experience for the global crypto community. Bitunix has attracted over 1,000,000 users from 100+ countries and has facilitated a cumulative daily trading volume that exceeds $1 billion on the platform.

Website | Telegram | X | LinkedIn

Contact

COO
KX
Bitunix
kx.wu@bitunix.io

Merlin Chain Emerges as Bitcoin’s Largest Layer 2, Surpassing $1.2 Billion TVL in Just Six Months

Singapore, Singapore, September 9th, 2024, Chainwire

Merlin Chain, a revolutionary Bitcoin Layer 2 platform, has achieved unprecedented milestones in just six months, solidifying its position as the largest Layer 2 in the Bitcoin ecosystem. With a Total Value Locked (TVL) surpassing $1.2 billion and bridge transactions exceeding $16 billion, Merlin Chain has redefined how users interact with Bitcoin, empowering native assets, fostering liquidity, and driving innovative ecosystem developments.

Since its launch in early 2024, Merlin Chain has grown into the largest Bitcoin-native network, with 1.9 million on-chain addresses and over 12.7 million transactions processed. The platform has also become the leading hub for Bitcoin-native assets, hosting over 80% of all Bitcoin-native asset holders.

Merlin Chain’s remarkable achievements in the first half of 2024 include:

  • Adoption and Network Growth: With rapid TVL growth of $3.9 billion within 50 days of the mainnet launch and 1.9 million unique addresses, Merlin Chain continues to lead the Bitcoin Layer 2 space.
  • Strength in Liquidity: Merlin Chain has facilitated over $16 billion in BTC bridged volume, with $1 billion in spot trading and $1 billion in perpetual trading, securing its position as a key player in Bitcoin liquidity.
  • Thriving Ecosystem: Merlin Chain now supports more than 200 decentralized applications (dApps) across DeFi, BTCFi, gaming, NFTs, and more. Leading platforms such as UniCross, Solv Protocol, Avalon Labs, and MerlinSwap have contributed to this robust ecosystem growth, providing the community with innovative services and liquidity solutions.
  • Fair Token Distribution: Token fairly distributed to the community. $MERL’s inflation slowed significantly, to only 0.4% in the next 12 months. 

210M $MERL Ecosystem Grant to Accelerate Expansion

To further solidify its leadership, Merlin Chain launched its 210M $MERL Ecosystem Grant Program in June, focusing on enhancing user experience, Bitcoin-native asset innovation, ecosystem engagement, and developer tools. The grant is aimed at expanding the platform’s ecosystem by empowering builders and innovators to contribute to the future of Bitcoin Layer 2.

Technical Advancements and Security

Merlin Chain’s commitment to innovation is supported by its advanced technical architecture. The platform has implemented ZK-Rollup technology and multi-token staking Oracle nodes to enhance security, scalability, and transparency. By integrating solutions like Babylon and BTC Staking/Restaking, Merlin Chain is pioneering new ways to optimize Bitcoin-native asset yields.

Merlin Chain has also partnered with leading security firms such as Celestia for data integrity and Cobo for advanced MPC wallets, ensuring that users have access to cutting-edge technology to safeguard their assets. Additionally, Merlin Chain established the Merlin Security Council, which includes renowned partners like Slowmist and BlockSec, further fortifying its security infrastructure.

Looking Ahead to 2024

As Merlin Chain continues to lead in Bitcoin Layer 2 innovation, it is preparing for even greater expansion in the second half of 2024. With plans to integrate Bitcoin’s latest protocol updates and drive further growth in its ecosystem, Merlin Chain aims to become the dominant force in Bitcoin-native assets, liquidity, and interoperability across multiple chains, including EVM, Solana, and TON.

“We are incredibly proud of the strides we’ve made in such a short time,” said Jeff, Founder of Merlin Chain. “Our success wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community and our innovative partners. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for Bitcoin and its Layer 2 ecosystem.”

Users can read Merlin Chain’s full report here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PtDSlqIHxAC1eiQXI2vB7DRTSXI-NQR_/view?usp=share_link

About Merlin Chain

Merlin Chain is a Bitcoin Layer 2 that integrates the ZK-Rollup network, decentralized oracle network, and on-chain BTC fraud-proof modules. Merlin Chain is committed to empowering Bitcoin’s native assets, protocols, and products on Layer1 through its Layer 2 network to Make Bitcoin Fun Again. Merlin Chain is a subsidiary product line of Bitmap Tech, a premier OG team boasting an overall market cap exceeding $500 million. The BRC-420 “Blue Box” collection under Bitmap Tech has become one of the hottest assets on Ordinals.

For more information, users can visit Merlin Chain’s Website | Twitter | Discord

Contact

Head of BD and Partnership
Jonathan
Merlin Chain
contact@merlinchain.com

German Memecoin OceanDoge Launches with a Focus on Ocean Preservation

Frankfurt, Germany, September 9th, 2024, Chainwire

OceanDoge, a German-based cryptocurrency project, has announced the official launch of its token presale, offering a unique opportunity to participate in a blockchain initiative that combines digital asset development with marine conservation efforts.

OceanDoge is committed to supporting marine conservation while creating a sustainable ecosystem for its token holders. With 71% of the Earth’s surface covered by oceans and 78% of the world’s wildlife living in the seas, OceanDoge recognizes the urgent need for action.

A central part of the project is supporting environmental organizations such as Oceana and other major ocean preserving foundations, which will be funded through donations to protect the oceans and their inhabitants.

OceanDoge as an Environmental Movement in the Crypto Space

OceanDoge sees itself not only as a cryptocurrency but also as a movement that brings people together and promotes collective action for a better planet. By supporting major environmental organizations, the project aims to make a positive impact on the environment.

With a clear token distribution, thoughtful planning, and a solid roadmap, OceanDoge aims to play a long-term role in the crypto world. The developers invite interested parties to join the “OceanDoge Revolution” and work together to protect the oceans and the planet.

Presale Stages and Targets

The OceanDoge presale is divided into several phases, each with different price and sales targets. The presale will involve a total of 54 billion tokens and aims to raise up to $21.15 million:

| Stage | Token Price (USDT) | Tokens Sold (ODG) | Target Fundraise (USDT) |

| 1 | 0.0001 USDT | 28,500,000,000 ODG | $2,850,000 USDT |

| 2 | 0.0004 USDT | 18,750,000,000 ODG | $7,500,000 USDT |

| 3 | 0.0016 USDT | 6,750,000,000 ODG | $10,800,000 USDT |

| Total | – | 54,000,000,000 ODG | $21,150,000 USDT |

Summary:

The OceanDoge presale offers an opportunity for early investors who may value a tiered pricing model. A total of 54 billion tokens will be sold in three phases at varying prices, with an expected total raise of $21.15 million.

OceanDoge’s Future Plans

OceanDoge has outlined its roadmap in five phases, ranging from the introduction of the token to supporting marine conservation projects and strengthening its community. The key milestones include:

1. Initial phase with the creation of smart contracts and token presale.

2. Marketing campaigns and exchange listings.

3. Supporting environmental projects and donating to foundations.

4. Enhancing security measures and community growth.

5. Loyalty programs, governance, and the establishment of its own foundation to support ocean conservation.

Tokenomics and Further Details

The total supply of OceanDoge tokens is 180 billion. Of these, 30% are allocated for the presale, with the token price starting at 0.0001 USDT and increasing through multiple phases. Long-term investors may have opportunities to earn additional rewards by holding and staking their tokens.

About OceanDoge

OceanDoge is a German-based cryptocurrency project that combines blockchain technology with a mission to support marine conservation. By funding environmental organizations and promoting sustainable practices, OceanDoge aims to create a positive impact on ocean preservation while building a long-term ecosystem for its token holders. With a clear roadmap and token distribution, the project seeks to engage a global community in protecting the planet’s oceans. For more information, readers can visit the website: https://oceandoge.com/

Contact

OceanDoge Official
OceanDoge memecoin 2024
info@oceandoge.com

Aleph Zero Joins CAMARA as the First Blockchain Organization

Brussels, Belgium, September 6th, 2024, Chainwire

Aleph Zero will work alongside the world’s largest telecommunications organizations to help to develop standardized blockchain APIs for the industry

Aleph Zero, a blockchain ecosystem engineered for speed, data confidentiality, and ease of development, has officially joined the CAMARA Foundation as a General Member. This strategic move marks a significant step towards integrating advanced blockchain technology with global telecommunications standards, particularly in the realm of Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs).

As a General Member, Aleph Zero will work closely with global telecom and tech leaders within CAMARA to develop and contribute to blockchain-specific initiatives. A key focus of this collaboration will be the Blockchain Public Address API, which has the potential to revolutionize how users interact with blockchain technologies through their mobile devices.

The CAMARA Project, launched in 2021 under the Linux Foundation and GSMA, aims to create standardized APIs for telecommunications networks. This initiative is designed to simplify network complexities and provide seamless access to network capabilities across different operators and countries. A cornerstone of this effort is the Blockchain Public Address API, which was initiated in June 2023 and is currently in version 0.1.0. The CAMARA Project now includes over 230 companies – including Deutsche Telekom, stc, Vodafone and Telefónica – and 650 individual participants.

This API allows for the management of blockchain addresses associated with phone numbers, offering features such as retrieval of blockchain public addresses linked to phone numbers, and the binding and unbinding of these addresses. By utilizing blockchain public addresses as Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), the API enables telecom service providers to offer third parties the capability to pair phone numbers with blockchain addresses, thereby simplifying transactions for end-users.

Aleph Zero’s expertise in zero-knowledge proofs and privacy-preserving technologies will contribute significantly to the further development and refinement of the group’s blockchain-related solutions. 

Antoni Zolciak, co-founder at Aleph Zero, said: “The integration of blockchain technology into mainstream infrastructure is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Forward-thinking organizations across various sectors are recognizing the transformative potential of distributed ledger technologies. We’re looking forward to collaborating with various members of the Foundation and contributing to the telecommunications APIs from a blockchain standpoint.”

Aleph Zero, known for its cutting-edge blockchain ecosystem, offers secure, scalable, and privacy-focused solutions for Web3 applications. With its zkOS and EVM Layer 2 network, Aleph Zero continues to push the boundaries of blockchain technology, focusing on privacy, scalability, and interoperability. Aleph Zero recently launched its EVM-layer, an exceptionally fast and efficient blockchain, boasting a block time of up to 250 milliseconds with near-instant transaction finality.

For more information about the CAMARA Project, visit https://camaraproject.org/

About Aleph Zero

Aleph Zero is an ecosystem of blockchain solutions that are engineered for speed, data confidentiality, and ease of development. It achieves efficiencies akin to conventional web2 systems, upholds rigorous standards for data protection via highly optimized Zero Knowledge Proofs, and offers a comprehensive toolset for development across web3 that range from WASM to EVM environments. Aleph Zero’s versatility is highlighted by over 40 use cases being actively developed, showcasing its adaptability across various sectors and applications. These use cases are part of an engaged community and growing ecosystem of web3 applications that are supported by Aleph Zero programs.

For all media inquiries, users can contact josh@serotonin.co

Contact

PR Manager
Josh Adams
Aleph Zero
josh@serotonin.co

Agora-Backed AUSD Stablecoin is Live on Sui

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, September 5th, 2024, Chainwire

After successful launches on other major networks, AUSD has deployed on Sui, tapping into the scalable, high-performance network and strengthening Sui’s stablecoin ecosystem.

Agora, the stablecoin company led by early-stage finance and technology industry veterans Nick van Eck, Drake Evans, and Joe McGrady, has launched its industry-disrupting AUSD stablecoin on Sui, the Layer 1 blockchain offering industry-leading performance and infinite horizontal scaling. AUSD adds a key dimension to Sui’s surging list of native assets, being the first institutional-grade US dollar stablecoin to deploy in the Sui DeFi ecosystem.

“By integrating first-class assets like AUSD natively on the network, Sui is empowering developers and offering essential access to DeFi for a new class of institutional users,” said Gap Kim, Global Head of Marketing for Sui Foundation. “As the Sui ecosystem continues to grow, opportunities for innovation and financial accessibility on Sui will also expand exponentially, benefiting the entire Sui community.”

Building on its prior successes on Ethereum and Avalanche, AUSD’s integration into the Sui Network immediately enhances its utility, accessibility, and interoperability. Within the first six weeks of contract deployment on Ethereum and Avalanche, nearly $60M AUSD has been minted with $5M+ of daily DEX volume. The integration has already begun improving liquidity and market efficiency within Sui’s rapidly expanding DeFi ecosystem, which at the time of writing boasted over $600 million in Total Value Locked (TVL) and consistently ranks among the top chains in weekly DEX trading volume. 

“AUSD’s remarkable growth and early success across the industry sets the stage for the next even more impactful chapter on Sui,” said Nick van Eck, Co-Founder of Agora. “Leveraging Sui’s cutting-edge infrastructure and unparalleled scalability, AUSD will thrive and drive significant advancements within the DeFi and Payments ecosystem. This collaboration is a pivotal step forward in our mission to create a more inclusive and accessible financial future for all.”

AUSD joins a growing number of stablecoins on Sui, which drive the development of robust DeFi applications and expand the adoption of blockchain technology. By leveraging Sui’s scalable, high-performance network, these stablecoins contribute to a high-performance environment where developers and users can innovate and focus on delivering superior experiences without being restricted by the technological limitations that have constrained other networks. Agora’s integration with Sui also continues to expand the reach of AUSD and furthers the growth of the global AUSD network and liquidity.

Contact

Sui Foundation
media@sui.io

CUBE3.AI Unveils AI-Driven Technology to Detect and Block Rising Tide of New Scams and Fraud

Palo Alto, California, United States, September 5th, 2024, Chainwire

AI-driven platform detects fraud at its earliest stages, preventing billions in potential crypto losses

As scams grow more sophisticated and increasingly target crypto for laundering billions in losses, CUBE3.AI is pioneering a new era in fraud prevention. Today, the company announced major enhancements to its platform that bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3, enabling real-time risk assessment and the proactive blocking of scams like pig butchering, ransomware, sextortion, and others.

In 2023, investment scams alone led to more than $4.5 billion in losses, with 86% linked to cryptocurrency. A substantial portion of these scams originate in Web2—through social media interactions, fraudulent websites, or other online channels—before transitioning into crypto where recovering stolen assets becomes nearly impossible. While the industry has traditionally focused on either Web2 or Web3, CUBE3.AI leverages unique expertise and proprietary AI technology that seamlessly integrates both realms, enabling the detection and prevention of fraud across the entire digital landscape. This approach addresses a critical gap by offering a holistic view of fraud patterns across both Web2 and Web3, enabling early detection, thorough risk assessment, and timely intervention.

“The most damaging scams often involve complex journeys that span both traditional and crypto spaces. We’ve built a solution that looks at the full picture, from initial contact in Web2 all the way to final transactions in Web3,” said Einaras Gravrock, CEO of CUBE3.AI. “Real-time fraud prevention is a complex challenge that requires expertise in both realms, along with advanced technology capable of interpreting diverse data and understanding context. Our platform is more than just technology—it’s about restoring trust. Whether it’s protecting businesses from dirty money or safeguarding people from devastating losses, this solution marks a significant step forward in the fight against digital fraud.”

CUBE3.AI’s enhanced platform integrates data from social media, online platforms, and dark web sources, combining it with real-time Web3 transaction monitoring. Proprietary AI models trained to interpret the context of this data generate a comprehensive risk score, empowering businesses to act swiftly before scams escalate. By offering seamless visibility into both Web2 and Web3 activities, CUBE3.AI allows organizations to preemptively block threats that would otherwise go unnoticed until it’s too late.

“As criminals increasingly rely on AI to scale their attacks, our response has to be just as sophisticated. Our AI-powered tools connect the dots between Web2 and Web3, giving us a unique edge in identifying threats before they escalate,” said Chris Griffiths, CTO of CUBE3.AI. “By offering this level of visibility and speed, we empower businesses to make informed decisions and protect their users in real time.”

These new capabilities provide exchanges, financial institutions, and service providers with the early detection and risk management they need to avoid facilitating fraud, protect user trust, and minimize financial losses. By offering a solution that integrates data from both Web2 and Web3, CUBE3.AI sets a new standard in fraud prevention, helping businesses stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats.

About CUBE3.AI

CUBE3.AI is an innovative platform dedicated to real-time fraud and crypto crime prevention. Utilizing proprietary artificial intelligence models, CUBE3.AI protects digital assets and transactions from fraud, cyber exploits, hacks, scams, and compliance risks, empowering businesses to protect their assets, reduce chargebacks, and minimize financial losses. Our technology not only responds to incidents but also anticipates and prevents them before they occur, safeguarding businesses and individuals from the risks associated with crypto transactions.

The company was founded by a team of machine learning researchers, fraud prevention specialists, white hats and blockchain engineers, and is backed by leading investors – including Blockchange Ventures, Dispersion Capital, Symbolic Capital, Hypersphere Ventures, ICLUB and TA Ventures. Users can learn more at www.CUBE3.AI and join CUBE3.AI on LinkedIn, Twitter and Telegram

Contact

Head of Marketing
Rasa Petuch
CUBE3.AI
rasap@cube3.ai

Floki Announces Partnership with OG Esports for Valhalla Metaverse Game

Miami, Florida, September 4th, 2024, Chainwire

Floki is thrilled to announce a new partnership with OG Esports, aligning with Valhalla, an innovative play-to-earn metaverse game built on blockchain technology, designed to offer players a unique and rewarding gaming experience.

Valhalla is an MMORPG that combines open-world exploration with strategic turn-based combat. Players can earn rewards through gameplay and unlock in-game advantages through their skills and strategies.

This collaboration will see Valhalla featured as a jersey sleeve sponsor for OG Esports, highlighted at all upcoming events, and creating new collaborative experiences and content for fans. 

Mr. Brown Whale, Valhalla lead and core advisor, stated:

“Together with OG Esports, we’re ready to redefine the battlegrounds of the web3 and GameFi space — where strategy meets immersion, and every move shapes an epic world of endless possibilities.”

Sujoy Roy, Head of Partnerships at OG Esports, added:

“This collaboration represents an exciting convergence of esports and blockchain gaming technologies. It aligns perfectly with our commitment to staying at the forefront of the gaming industry. By integrating Valhalla’s cutting-edge platform with our team’s competitive spirit, we aim to enhance the gaming experience for our fans and pave the way for new opportunities in digital gaming.”

About Valhalla 

Valhalla is a spin on the classic Creature-Collection adventure set in a vibrant, lively, MMORPG open-world inspired by Norse mythology. Players interact with a diverse set of eccentric creatures called Veras, discovering, taming, training, and trading them. Alone or as a clan, players partake in a dynamic, player-driven economy to rise in community ranks and achieve tactical supremacy on the hexagonal-grid battlefield. 

About OG Esports 

OG Esports is a leading esports organization renowned for its championship-winning teams and unwavering dedication to excellence. With teams across multiple disciplines, their ethos centers on their fans and players, prioritizing their experience above all else and pushing the boundaries of competitive gaming, shaping a brighter future for all of esports. 

To follow Valhalla and OG Esports:

Valhalla: Website

Socials: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

OG Esports: Website

Socials:  Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Contact

Vidal
Pedro
Community Relations Officer
Marketing@floki.com

Polyhedra’s zkBridge Integrates Flare to Enhance Cross-Chain Security with ZK Proofs

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 28th, 2024, Chainwire

The Polyhedra community has approved a proposal to integrate Flare with Polyhedra’s zkBridge DVN. This integration will empower Flare developers to create secure and efficient cross-chain applications using LayerZero while benefiting from the cryptographic guarantees of ZK proofs.

zkBridge is a trustless, efficient, and secure cross-chain interoperability protocol and one of LayerZero’s Decentralized Verifier Networks (DVNs). It supports more than 30 layer-1 and layer-2 networks, and has successfully verified more than 20 million cross-chain transactions. zkBridge uses zkSNARKs to enable a prover to efficiently convince the receiver chain that a certain state transition happened on the sender chain. In addition to robust bridging safety, enabled by ZK proofs, zkBridge offers strong liveness guarantees, since only one honest member of the validator set is required for bridging.

Hugo Philion, Flare Co-founder, said: “Polyhedra’s zkBridge adds an additional security layer to LayerZero’s interoperability protocol and will be welcomed by Flare developers and users alike. Its integration is a sign of the growing support for Flare from cross-chain protocols and demonstrates the value of ZK technology in making it easier for value to flow freely between networks.”

Eric Vreeland, Chief Strategy Officer of Polyhedra said: “We are excited that the Polyhedra community has voted to support the integration of Flare with zkBridge. The level of activity on Flare has been ramping up and reliable bridging protocols are the key to accelerating this while maintaining decentralization. We look forward to seeing how Flare developers utilize zkBridge to create dapps that draw data from a rich variety of multi-chain protocols.”

zkBridge utilizes zkSNARKs to securely relay and verify block headers and consensus across different chains. It uses a 2-layer recursive proof system to achieve fast proof generation and low on-chain proof verification cost to support cross-chain applications. Polyhedra’s zkLightClient technology in particular dramatically reduces onchain verification costs and latency by allowing for the efficient batching of multiple transaction verifications into a single proof.

On-chain light clients allow for the source chain’s validator set to attest to an event that occurred on their chain to a destination chain. Dapps deployed on Flare, for example, can draw data from other networks using zkBridge, allowing them to create powerful cross-chain financial applications for DeFi, including trading, perps, prediction markets, and much more.

The integration of Polyhedra’s zkBridge adds a layer of security on top of the LayerZero messaging protocol while making it easier for data and assets to flow freely to Flare, whose TVL has reached all-time highs. The number of wallets on Flare has also surpassed 1M as users have onboarded to its growing DeFi ecosystem.

About Flare

Flare is the blockchain for data: an EVM smart contract platform specifically designed to support data intensive use cases, including Machine Learning/AI, RWA tokenization, gaming and social. With decentralized, enshrined oracles secured at the network layer, Flare is the only smart contract platform optimized for decentralized data acquisition: price & time series data, blockchain event & state data, and web2 API data. By giving developers trustless access to the broadest range of data and data proofs at scale and for minimal cost, Flare expands the utility of blockchain and supports the development of new and improved use cases.

About Polyhedra

Polyhedra Network designs and develops scalable and efficient zero-knowledge proof protocols for large-scale ZKP systems with distributed computing networks. Its products include zkBridge, zkLightClient, and Expander, the world’s fastest ZK prover. Polyhedra applies zero-knowledge technology to web2 and traditional financial (TradFi) sectors to provide improved security, privacy, and efficiency. 

Learn more: https://www.polyhedra.network/

Contact

Dasi Kaplan
pr@marketacross.com

Legion Raises $2M for Merit-Based ICO Platform

Road Town, British Virgin Islands, August 27th, 2024, Chainwire

Legion plans to become one of the first MiCA-compliant CASPs and bring access to early fundraising and token offerings to non-accredited investors.

Today, Legion emerges to mark a new era of merit-based on-chain fundraising.

According to the team, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) revolutionized how blockchain projects fundraise. They offered equal opportunity to participate in the early stages of new projects, and as a result, created some of the strongest communities crypto has ever seen, such as the LINKMarines, ThorChads, and ETH maxis.

“I participated in half a dozen ICOs. I loved them, but it was clear they had flaws. Scams, bots, and a regulatory clampdown killed on-chain fundraising. Now price discovery occurs in back-room deals. Investment upside is fully extracted off-chain, before everyday users have access. These private markets stand in stark contrast to crypto’s decentralized ethos and leave projects well-funded, but without any organic community.” – Legion cofounder Matt O’Connor

Legion exists for a singular purpose: to provide equal opportunity access to on-chain fundraising for new crypto projects. It achieves this mission with its investor reputation and accountability layer, as well as by providing regulatory clarity offered by the latest regulations. Together, these features ensure that for teams using Legion, the risk-to-reward ratio of raising from retail users on-chain is competitive to that of raising from VCs.

Legion’s founding team are no strangers to on-chain fundraising, having worked for multiple projects funded by ICOs – including current and former Top 50 projects by market cap such as Stacks, “the first SEC-qualified [token] offering in U.S. history”.

“Raising from retail investors on-chain is the best way to build an incentive-aligned community, but it can be risky because you don’t know who your early investors are. Will they be long-term supporters? Are they real or just sniping bots? Legion’s accountability layer allows teams to assemble their retail army based on on-chain and off-chain criteria, and slash the reputation of short-term actors. It changes the incentives, and aligns everyone to act long-term.” – Legion cofounder Fabrizio Giabardo

Legion is backed by a number of mission-driven previous founders, accelerators, and angels, completing a $2M Seed round led by Cyber Fund, with participation from AllianceDAO, Delphi Labs, CoinGecko, Mike Dudas, Alex Svanevik, Peter Smith, Maggie Love, Jon Wu, Ryan Watkins, LongHash, and others.

“For projects, it’s all about maximizing the amount of value per dollar raised. Raising from the right mix of retail and venture capital investors is crucial for the right community. Just as your first ten employees define company culture, your first 100 -1,000 token holders define community culture.” – Cyber managing partner and former Lido cofounder Konstantin Lomashuk

With this latest round, Legion is building its reputation system and accountability layer, and securing the necessary VASP/CASP licenses to facilitate pre-token fundraising rounds and token sales for non-accredited investors under MiCA.

About Legion

Legion makes investing in on-chain fundraises accessible to retail investors through regulatory compliance and investor accountability. Projects using Legion can customize allocation, whitelist, discounts, and more using on-chain and off-chain criteria about each investor, assembling an organic, die-hard, community of supporters. Each user on Legion is assigned a Legion Score, as well as subcomponent scores and achievements, reflecting their ability to add-value across multiple facets and heavily reducing bot and Sybil activity. These reputation scores change based on how investors support the projects they invest in, disincentivizing short-term, value-extractive type behaviors.

To learn more about Legion and user’s Legion Score:

X | Farcaster | Website

Contact

Co-founder
Matt O’Connor
Legion
hello@legion.cc

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