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
Bitcoin Hits $100K, Signalling Crypto’s Maturity
1️⃣ Bitcoin’s recent price surge to $100k is linked to factors like the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs and Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance. While the journey to this milestone has been marked by volatility, experts attribute this rally to rising institutional investment and shift from the dollar.
Venture Capitalist Predicts Altcoin Decline
2️⃣ Venture capitalist Felix Hartmann has warned of an impending shakeout in the altcoin market, foreseeing drops in altcoin prices driven by perpetuals traders rather than strong spot volume. But some remain optimistic, suggesting altcoin season could extend into March.
Dogecoin Soars to Three-Year High
3️⃣ DOGE has hit its highest price since May 2021, surging to $0.48. This milestone comes alongside Bitcoin’s $100,000 breakthrough and XRP’s multi-year high. DOGE has risen 4% in the past 24 hours, though it remains 37% below its all-time high.
Decentralised Sequencers Critical for Layer-2 Networks
4️⃣ The co-founder of Metis emphasised the need for decentralised sequencers in Ethereum’s Layer-2 scaling solutions. She argues that current reliance on single sequencers compromises security, and adopting decentralised sequencers could enhance Layer-2 networks.
Pudgy Penguins Teams Up with MYRIAD for Contest
5️⃣ MYRIAD and the Pudgy Penguins community has launched a Community Contest offering prizes such as Lil’ Pudgys NFTs and Faces of Web3 NFTs. Participants can earn points through ecosystem activities and prediction markets with bonus points for NFT holders.
NFT Market Off to a Strong December
6️⃣ The NFT market has started December on a high note, recording over $187 million in sales volume. Ethereum-based NFTs led the surge, with sales increasing by 45%. Popular collections like Pudgy Penguins and CryptoPunks have seen notable price gains.
Pepe Memecoin Reaches New Heights
7️⃣ PEPE has surpassed Uniswap in market capitalisation, hitting an all-time high. With a market cap exceeding $11 billion, Pepe’s value has surged 18x this year. Its popularity among traders has grown further after its listing on Binance.US.
Ether ETFs See Record Inflows Amid Price Surge
8️⃣ Spot Ethereum ETFs have recorded their longest streak of positive inflows, reaching ten consecutive days. Total inflows have hit record levels, supported by a rally in Ether’s price and increased trading volume.
AI
Aptos Co-founder Advocates Blockchain for AI Training
1️⃣ Aptos co-founder Avery Ching sees blockchain as a tool to give content creators control over how their data is used in AI training. He highlighted that the blockchain’s immutability as a way to establish clear consent mechanisms, crucial as AI increasingly relies on user-generated.
Google CEO Warns of Tougher AI Challenges Ahead
2️⃣ Google CEO Sundar Pichai has cautioned that the era of straightforward AI advancements is ending. He predicts that scaling AI with more data is no longer sufficient and deeper technological breakthroughs will be needed to address challenges.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro Sparks Accessibility Debate
3️⃣ OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Pro, priced at $200 per month, featuring its latest AI models, including o1 and GPT-4o, and advanced voice capabilities. The steep price increase from the $20/month Plus tier has raised concerns about accessibility.
Polytrader AI Launches Autonomous Trading Agent
4️⃣ Polytrader AI has introduced an autonomous agent to optimise trading in prediction markets. By analysing real-time data from Polymarket’s API, the tool identifies and exploits price discrepancies, potentially boosting user returns.
Sekai Secures $3M to Revolutionise AI Storytelling
5️⃣ AI startup Sekai has raised $3.1 million in seed funding to create a generative AI platform for collaborative storytelling. By integrating blockchain and Story Protocol for IP protection, Sekai aims to empower creators, challenge traditional media models.
Tencent Unveils Free Open-Source AI Video Generator
6️⃣ Tencent has launched Hunyuan Video, a free open-source AI tool for generating high-quality videos. Claimed to outperform rivals like Runway Gen-3 and Luma 1.6, Hunyuan Video’s open-source model allows developers to customise and improve it.
Crypto Czar Criticises OpenAI’s For-Profit Shift
7️⃣ David Sacks, appointed by Donald Trump to oversee AI and crypto policy, has criticised OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model. Echoing Elon Musk’s concerns, Sacks argued the move betrays OpenAI’s philanthropic origins.
VCs Cautious on Crypto-AI Ventures
8️⃣ Venture capitalists remain sceptical about crypto-AI projects, doubting their ability to disrupt the AI industry. Experts argue decentralised AI is unlikely to challenge centralised leaders like OpenAI in the near term.
