Bitcoin’s governance row, Solana ETF momentum, Meta’s AI bets, and Vietnam’s sovereign AI push. Here’s this week’s Web3 and AI roundup.
What’s up, Pasar Crew?
This week in Web3 and AI, the spotlight falls on both governance debates and rapid-fire innovation across the industry. From disputes over Bitcoin’s future direction to Meta’s new push into humanoid robotics, the headlines highlight both friction and ambition in equal measure.
In crypto, a leaked hard fork proposal has stirred controversy around Bitcoin’s governance, while altcoins have surpassed BTC as newcomers’ entry point into the market. Meanwhile, both ETH and BTC ETFs are facing record outflows, Solana ETFs edge closer to launch, and stablecoin competition heats up as Hyperliquid rolls out its own USDH stablecoin.
On the AI front, Meta is doubling down with an AI-generated video feed and ambitious robotics plans, while Microsoft launches Windows ML to bring AI into everyday apps. Elsewhere, Spotify has removed 75 million AI spam tracks, YouTube is testing AI-powered music hosts, and Vietnam is placing AI at the centre of its national growth strategy.
Get up to speed with the latest in Web3 and AI with this week’s Pasar Pulse.
Crypto and Web3
Bitcoin Developer Denies Hard Fork Proposal Amid Governance Row
Bitcoin developer Luke Dashjr has denied leaked claims that he supported a controversial hard fork allowing a multisig committee to alter the blockchain and remove illicit content, describing the claims as undermining his work to save BTC. The row reflects divisions between his Bitcoin Knots project, which blocks non-monetary data such as Ordinals, and the more permissive Bitcoin Core.
Altcoins Overtake BTC as Popular Entry Point for New Investors
A CoinGecko survey of 2,549 participants found only 55% of newcomers began their crypto journey with Bitcoin, while 10% have never purchased BTC at all. Many investors are drawn to altcoins for their lower unit costs and strong community appeal, which made up 37% of entry points.
Buterin Warns EU Chat Control Law Threatens Online Privacy
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has warned that the EU’s proposed Chat Control regulation poses serious risks to digital privacy. He argued that mandatory data collection creates vulnerabilities for hackers and foreign governments, and weakened individual security cannot make society safer.
Analyst Warns Crypto Treasury Boom Echoes Dotcom Bubble
Ray Youssef, founder of NoOnes, has likened the current enthusiasm for crypto treasuries to the over-investment that drove the dotcom crash 25 years ago. He warned many firms could eventually ‘fizzle out’ and be forced to sell holdings, potentially triggering the next bear market.
Ethereum and Bitcoin ETFs Post Record Weekly Outflows
Spot Ethereum ETFs saw record weekly outflows of US$795.6 million for the week ending 26 September, according to SoSoValue. Spot Bitcoin ETFs also reported heavy withdrawals, totalling US$902.5 million. The sell-off coincided with ETH falling below US$4,000, though it later recovered the threshold.
Hyperliquid Launches USDH Stablecoin as Rivalry Intensifies
DEX platform Hyperliquid has launched USDH, a native stablecoin backed by cash and US Treasuries, in a bid to strengthen its ecosystem. The release comes as rival exchange Aster, backed by YZi Labs, overtook Hyperliquid in weekly trading volume, generating US$147 billion compared with Hyperliquid’s US$81 billion.
Solana Staking ETFs Edge Closer Following SEC Filings
Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and VanEck have updated S-1 filings for proposed spot Solana ETFs, with analysts predicting launches could come within weeks. The filings detail plans to stake SOL to generate yield, and their coordinated timing is seen as evidence of constructive dialogue with the SEC.
Trump-Affiliated WLFI Burns US$1.43 Million in Tokens
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi project linked to Donald Trump, has burned 7.89 million WLFI tokens worth around US$1.43 million following a US$1.06 million buyback. Funded by fees and liquidity income, the move was approved by 99% of token holders and is designed to reduce supply and ease selling pressure.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Meta Launches AI-Generated Video Feed, Vibes
Meta unveiled Vibes, a new feed in the Meta AI app made entirely of AI-generated videos. Examples of content shown include fluffy animals, an Egyptian princess taking a historical-style selfie, and a father calculating a restaurant tip. The system uses video-generation models from Midjourney and Black Forest, although naysayers have criticised it as ‘AI slop’.
DeepMind’s Gemini 1.5 Models Let Robots Use Web Search
Google DeepMind has introduced Gemini Robotics 1.5 and Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5, enabling robots to carry out complex, multi-step physical tasks with genuine problem-solving. The models allow robots to access online tools such as Google Search, turning findings into practical actions.
Meta Invests in Humanoid Robots Next
Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth has confirmed that humanoid robots, codenamed Metabot, are the company’s next major investment, described as an ‘AR-sized bet’ worth billions. He stressed that progress depends more on software than hardware, with Meta intending to license its robotics platform to external manufacturers.
Microsoft Rolls Out Windows ML for AI in Everyday Apps
Microsoft has launched Windows ML for general production, making it easier to integrate AI into Windows applications. The platform acts as a hardware abstraction layer, connecting apps to CPUs, GPUs, or NPUs for optimal performance.
OpenAI and AARP Partner to Train Older Adults in AI Safety
OpenAI has partnered with AARP and OATS to launch a multi-year initiative focused on AI confidence and digital safety for older adults. The effort includes nationwide training and updated guidance materials, such as a refreshed ‘AI for Older Adults’ Guide.
Spotify Removes 75 Million AI-Generated Spam Tracks
Spotify has taken down 75 million AI-generated spam tracks in the past year, nearly equivalent to its catalogue of 100 million legitimate tracks. The rise of generative AI has enabled large-scale fraud through fake music uploads and impersonations. Scam tracks longer than 30 seconds generate royalties which dilutes income for genuine artists.
YouTube Music Tests AI Hosts for Trivia and Commentary
YouTube is piloting AI-powered hosts in its Music app for radio and curated mixes. These hosts provide trivia, background stories, and light commentary on songs. The experiment is available to a small group of US users under the YouTube Labs programme.
Vietnam Places AI at the Core of Its National Economic Strategy
Vietnam is prioritising AI development as part of its sovereign growth plans, building on its strong STEM base. The government aims for Vietnam to rank among the top four AI nations in Southeast Asia by 2030 and is planning three national data centres. Local firms such as GreenNode, FPT, and Zalo are already developing culturally and linguistically tailored large language models.
That’s all for this week’s Pasar Pulse. Want more insights? Stay tuned to our site or subscribe via email!
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