We bring you the latest in the Web3 and AI industry, structured in bite-sized news that you can read in a minute!
Here’s what’s happening in Web3 and AI in 1 minute.
Web3
Crypto.com Secures In-Principle MiCA Licence Approval
1️⃣ Crypto.com has obtained in-principle approval for a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence. Although the company has yet to secure a full licence, this preliminary approval paves the way for Crypto.com to operate within the European Union under the MiCA regulations.
Trump Memecoin Joins Top 20 Cryptos
2️⃣ The Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin, tied to President-elect Donald Trump, has soared to a market cap of $13.5 billion, ranking among the top 20 cryptocurrencies on CoinGecko. Recent listings on major exchanges, including Binance and Coinbase, have contributed to its rapid rise in value.
Crypto ETF Applications Surge Amid Gensler’s Exit
3️⃣ Ahead of Gary Gensler’s departure, a wave of cryptocurrency ETF applications has flooded the agency. Firms such as ProShares, CoinShares, and Tidal DeFi are aiming to capitalise on potential regulatory changes under the incoming Trump administration.
Bitcoin Rallies Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration
4️⃣ Bitcoin has seen significant volatility, briefly dipping below $90,000 before surging past $105,000 as markets anticipate crypto-friendly policies from President-elect Donald Trump. Expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut could further boost its appeal.
Vitalik Buterin Outlines Ethereum Leadership Reforms
5️⃣ Vitalik Buterin has announced leadership changes within the Ethereum Foundation, aiming to prioritise technical expertise and improve communication. These adjustments follow community criticism over the foundation’s spending in 2024.
Regulatory Questions Surround Trump Memecoin
6️⃣ The launch of the TRUMP memecoin has sparked discussions about its regulatory implications. Legal experts are divided, with some viewing it as a positive regulatory shift and others warning of potential Constitutional concerns due to foreign ownership risks.
Institutional Crypto Trading Sees 240% Growth
7️⃣ Wintermute reported a 240% year-on-year increase in institutional crypto trading via its OTC desk in 2024. Traditional financial institutions are showing increased interest in cryptocurrencies, particularly memecoins, spurred by clearer regulations.
XRP Approaches Record High
8️⃣ XRP has surged 45% in the past week, nearing its 2018 all-time high. The rally is linked to anticipation of a favourable regulatory environment under the incoming Trump administration, including the potential approval of XRP-focused ETFs.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI Agent Gets a Physical Form
1️⃣ ElizaOS, a well-known AI agent, is being transformed into a humanoid robot to act as an AI companion capable of performing tasks and building meaningful connections with humans. Its creators have clarified that the robot is not intended for sexual purposes.
AI Tokens See 222% Surge in Q4 2024
2️⃣ The market capitalisation of AI agent tokens soared by 222% in the fourth quarter of 2024, reaching $15.5 billion. This growth was primarily driven by the success of $GOAT on the Solana blockchain, which now holds a 56.48% market share for AI agents.
AI Token Market Set to Hit $60 Billion by 2025
3️⃣ The AI token market is projected to grow to US$60 billion by 2025, driven by increasing adoption in areas such as crypto trading on exchanges. Investors are encouraged to focus on tokens backed by practical applications that automate tasks.
New AI Architectures Challenge Transformers
4️⃣ Google’s ‘Titans’ is a new neural network designs that aim to surpass traditional transformer models. Inspired by the human brain, Titans incorporates different memory stages to process longer data sequences.
ChainOpera Introduces CO-AI Alliance
5️⃣ ChainOpera AI has unveiled its whitepaper and launched the CO-AI Alliance, which promotes the collaborative development of AI agents and applications. The alliance offers co-training, co-serving, and co-owning opportunities for AI agents.
ChatGPT Fails Chess Tournament
6️⃣ Generative AI models struggled to adhere to the rules in a recent chess tournament, making illogical moves such as teleporting pieces, while specialised AI engines like Stockfish, designed solely for chess, claimed victory.
Maserati Debuts AI-Powered MC20 Supercar
7️⃣ At CES, Maserati revealed its AI-driven MC20 Coupé supercar which combines autonomous driving capabilities with high-speed performance. The AI system, developed with Politecnico di Milano, has been rigorously tested in extreme conditions.
The Rise of AI in DeFi: DeFAI
8️⃣ DeFAI, the integration of AI into decentralised finance, continues to gain traction in 2025 with projects such as Griffain, Orbit, and aixbt incorporating AI features such as real-time insights, automated trading, and personalised strategies.
