While many of the most popular games this year demand spaceship-level tech or are out of reach due to costs, you don’t need a GeForce RTX 4090 to play a handful of this year’s memorable experiences via the Steam store.
For once, we’re not suggesting you throw your wallet into a fire as a sacrifice to the Mighty Retail Lords.
In fact, you could get every title on this list for the cost of a little more than two full-price retail games. Let’s look at the best games of 2024 under $25.
Editor’s note: All of the games on this list are traditional “Web2” games without crypto or blockchain integrations. But you might enjoy ’em anyway!
Echo Point Nova ($25)
Platform: PC
Echo Point Nova is simultaneously the highest-priced game on this list and the least memorable name. However, that’s where the negatives end.
Tasked with fighting a powerful mercenary force taking over the planet you’ve landed on, the world ahead of you is enormous. Luckily, you’re blessed with some incredible traversal options.
Before long, you’ll be leaping, surfing, and grappling all over this sci-fi world, taking down massive ships and overwhelming enemy forces. Echo Point Nova feels like a PC game from a different time—it’s simple, straightforward, and a whole lot of fun.
Rise of the Golden Idol ($20)
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Switch, PlayStation 5/4, Xbox Series X/S + One
Something happened here. You have all of the clues right in front of you. You just have to make sense of the situation and put them together to find the right answer.
That’s the basic premise of the Golden Idol games. We’d generally recommend that you play Case of the Golden Idol (currently $18 on Steam) first, but it’s not necessary to enjoy solving the brain-teasing mysteries in The Rise of the Golden Idol.
Each level presents you with some kind of chaotic situation or its aftermath. As you click around, you’ll pick up different words, which you can then use in your handy-dandy notebook to fill in the blanks.
These games feature unique graphics and compelling mysteries that can keep any wannabe Sherlock Holmes hooked.
Tactical Breach Wizards ($20)
Platform: PC
We’re going to invent a new genre for this one: The Breach-like.
In this turn-based tactics game, you control a team of renegade tactical wizards. You’ll uncover a conspiracy using their various abilities, alone or in combination.
The gameplay reminds us of Into the Breach while still doing its own thing, and it might just be the best-written game of the year.
Dread Delusion ($20)
Platform: PC
You don’t need photoreal graphics to make a killer open-world RPG, and Dread Delusion is proof.
Borrowing a page or two from games like The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Dark Souls, Dread Delusion sets you off exploring a strange, new world with a 15-30 hour campaign and a truly special sense of discovery.
If you long for the good ol’ days of PC gaming or want to get a feel for what it might’ve been like to play a game like Morrowind when it was new, Dread Delusion is a great place to start.
1000xResist ($15)
Platforms: PC, Switch
1000xRESIST is a narrative-heavy game with a heavy narrative.
You play as Watcher, whose job it is to walk her sisters through the distant memories of the Allmother. As she explores those memories, she begins to see the state of the alien-occupied world they live in differently.
The game has sharp writing, and the graphics are minimalist but visually striking. It combines light platforming and time travel with dialogue to tell a thoughtful and compelling story.
Fields of Mistria ($14)
So you’ve played 400 hours of Stardew Valley and want something new. Fields of Mistria is in early access, but it already offers lots to do and is garnering strong word of mouth from both critics and fans.
This farm-life-sim game gives you a plot of land to tend, a town to restore, and 12 potential characters to romance.
The pace of development on this early access title has us convinced that the planned features will see the light of day in good time.
Balatro ($15)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Mac, Switch, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S + One
If you’re reading an article like this, then there’s a fair chance you already have Balatro. This roguelike deck-building poker-solitaire hybrid is the belle of the indie ball this year.
You start with a deck of 52 cards and work from there, adding joker cards that modify your deck.
A joker might give you $1 in spending money after each round, or provide a 5x multiplier once you’ve discarded enough cards. Many of the jokers are weird, but can become game-changers under the right circumstances.
This is the perfect example of a “just one more round, please” game, and you might accidentally lose sleep.
Mouthwashing ($13)
Platform: PC
Mouthwashing might sound like a weird dental hygiene simulator, but it is, in fact, a short and intense psychological horror game… much like a visit to the dentist.
We don’t usually just grab the official description for a game, but we don’t want to spoil this one either.
“The five crew members of the Tulpar are stranded in the empty reaches of space, shrouded in perpetual sunset. God is not watching.”
At $13 and just a few hours of gameplay, this one is enough to fill up an evening of creepy gameplay without overstaying its welcome or dinging your wallet.
Cabin Factory ($3)
Platform: PC
Set your expectations properly: This is a $3 game when it’s not on sale.
Cabin Factory has you employed by an unknown company that manufactures haunted cabins for use in places like theme parks.
Your job is to inspect each one for anomalies, like a twitching body or getting locked in a basement with a mirror that shows you as a little girl.
It has some rad vibes and good scares, and looks surprisingly good for the price. It’s a great game if you stream or you’re after a spooky evening with your friends on Discord.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
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Celebrities and crypto? Nothing new about that, right? Ever since Brock Pierce—who as a child starred in the Walt Disney movie, The Mighty Ducks—co-founded Blockchain Capital, in 2013, some of the world’s most famous humans, from Donald Trump to Lindsay Lohan, have leaned into crypto to see what was in it for them.
Some celebrities were able to use their glitzy names to pump existing crypto projects, with predictable results. The SEC brought actions in a dozen cases over the past decade, ranging from Kim Kardashian to Floyd Mayweather Jr., who were fined over their promotional activities. Celebs were also among the many people tarnished in the FTX scandal that practically brought down the crypto industry.
So celebrities being a part of crypto—not new. What is new, and became a dominant theme last year, was the advent of the celebrity meme coin. As meme coins replaced NFTs as the degen’s favorite way to gamble, the celebrity meme coin emerged, with nearly a dozen stars launching their own coins in the past year.These influencers are not just promoting the coins, they’re actually creating coins in their own image, promoting them and, in some cases, trying to find businesses around them. For better—and, far more common, for worse.
Traditional investors often believe that Bitcoin investors have high risk tolerances, but meme coin degens are the real mavericks—shooting it out in the Wild West with tokens that can skyrocket or collapse with a moment’s notice.
And nowhere is that more evident than on the popular meme coin-launching platform, Pump.fun.
It was the Olympic decathlete Caitlyn Jenner who kicked off the celebrity meme craze by launching her meme there. Pump.fun, it should be noted, is where people do outrageous things to get attention. One fellow threatened to kill a goldfish unless you bought his meme coin; another threatened to sit on the toilet until his token reached a $50 million market cap (and actually shaved off one eyebrow when it hit $10 million). Some went even further off the deep end, including a dude who set himself on fire.
In May, in this circus environment, Jenner decided to launch her token—posing with Donald Trump, who was then mounting his re-election bid.
It’s hard to overstate how insane this moment was—in fact, lots of people believed that there was no way this was Jenner. Obviously her X account had been hacked. And then she posted a video with a bizarre Snapchat filter on, leading some observers to believe it was an AI deepfake scam. Even the creator of Pump.fun was initially gobsmacked.
“I was shitting my pants,” pseudonymous Pump.fun co-founder Alon told Decrypt. He said the event was one of the craziest moments in the company’s short but lively history: “We published a tweet about it—that she launched a coin and stuff—and then we were like, ‘Did she even launch a coin?’ I was wondering what was going on. It was so weird.”
It turns out that Jenner’s stunt had been enabled by crypto promoter Sahil Arora, who had signed a contract with Jenner promising to launch the token. According to the contract shared by Arora and reviewed by Decrypt, he agreed to pay the “talent”—Jenner— $50,000 upfront and to provide her 80% of all generated revenue.
It may have been the real deal at the start, but Jenner almost immediately cried foul, claiming that Arora didn’t uphold his side of the bargain.
“FUCK SAHIL,” Jenner tweeted at a Decrypt reporter, who had asked about Arora. “He SCAMMED us.” Jenner told Decrypt in May that Arora had gone “radio silent after showing a couple of wire transfers” and that the crypto promoter still owed her “lots of money.” Arora did not respond to Decrypt’s request for comment at the time—but that was only the beginning for Sahil.
After launching a Pump.fun token with R&B singer Jason Derulo, who similarly claimed he’d been bamboozled by Arora, the promoter told Decrypt the drama had been “orchestrated.” When asked why Derulo would be calling him out publicly, Arora said it was all “part of the script.”
Arora then went on to launch tokens for rappers Rich the Kid and Lil Pump—allofwhom later complained about the experience. Other celebs then followed suit, with rappers Cardi B and Waka Flocka Flame and singer Sean Kingston also launching their own respective tokens—though without any public involvement from Arora.
Data visualization startup Bubbleworks, who went after Arora in a long X thread, said the promoter made $30 million representing celebrities who launched meme coins this year.
“Many of these tokens were launched with obvious red flags from day one,” Nick Vaiman, co-founder and CEO of Bubblemaps, told Decrypt. He pointed to factors such as “heavily controlled supply, malicious intent, and clear strategies to rug-pull and dump on retail investors.”
Not all the celebrity meme coin launches ended in tears. The exception was SCENE’S Person of the Year, Australian musician Iggy Azalea. Though her token MOTHER caught heat from Bubblemaps because 20% of its supply was sniped at launch, she claimed this was done without her knowledge. That may be true, but as Bubblemaps on-chain sleuths pointed out at the time, the only way a token gets sniped like that is by someone leaking the coin’s contract address to a group of insiders early.
Nevertheless, the tides of perception turned after Azalea held a Twitter Spaces, demonstrated her crypto knowledge, and slammed Arora in the process.
“When we found that she knew what she was doing, we were super bullish on her,” Alon told Decrypt. “It was amazing—a great feeling.”
As the months passed, more celebrities created tokens and abandoned them. Jenner even launched an Ethereum token, causing her origins Solana token to crash in price.
So how are these celebrity meme tokens doing?
At the time of writing, Jenner’s Solana token sits at a market cap of $357,000 while her Ethereum is at just $139,000—a fraction of the $42 million and $7.5 million peak market caps they respectively hit before plunging.
Jason Derulo’s JASON token is down 97.8% from its peak to a market cap of $783,000, Waka Flocka Flame’s FLOCKA is down 99% to $238,000, and the hugely bundled WAP is down a whopping 99.65% to less than $138,000.
“Most celebrities go in here with the worst fucking intentions,” Azalea told Decrypt. “I don’t think a single fucking one of them wants to make a crypto token. I think they think this is something they can extract quick liquidity out of, and then they want to fuck off.”
Needless to say, with these tokens crashing and celebrities abandoning their projects, the first lawsuit has been filed. In November, a group of investors filed a class action lawsuit against Jenner and her manager Sophia Hutchins, accusing her of fraudulently misrepresenting her Solana meme coin and failing to register it as a security.
Jenner’s team did not respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.
Some crypto law experts say get ready for more civil litigation: “We are going to see an uptick in lawsuits involving celebrity-endorsed meme coins,” cyber law attorney Andrew Rossow told Decrypt. “Celebrities will begin to find themselves increasingly accountable not just for their promotional activities, but potentially as ‘sellers’ of these digital assets, opening them up to a wider range of legal repercussions.”
“The Jenner lawsuit serves as a clear warning to any celebrity who believes they can use their fame to overpromise and underdeliver a meme coin launch solely to make a quick buck,” digital assets lawyer Carlo D’Angelo told Decrypt.
Celebrity meme coins have been framed by advocates as being great for onboarding the next generation of crypto traders. Arora, for example, told Decrypt that he kick-started the celebrity meta to make crypto more mainstream than ever.
“For a trend to succeed, it should appeal to a mainstream audience and it should generate at least a small number of winners to sustain hope and inspire others.” Bubblemaps’ Vaiman finished. “Instead, celebrity projects have only extracted liquidity from retail, leaving everyone else as losers.”
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For many of us, the upcoming holiday break means having a lot of time on our hands.
We’re at home with the family, off work or school, and we can only stand so many Christmas movies, so many cookies, and so much time with our beloved family members.
Instead of looking for a million little ways to distract ourselves or doomscrolling on our phones, why not look for a single game to invest time in?
The following games will each provide you with dozens of hours of fun, and the only regret you’ll come away with is that you spent less time with them.
Editor’s note: All of the games on this list are traditional “Web2” games without crypto or blockchain integrations. But you might enjoy ’em anyway!
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S
Have you ever watched one of the classic “Indiana Jones” movies and wondered what it would be like to step into his shoes, put on his hat and leather jacket, and dive into some bone-filled catacombs?
If so, then Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is your game.
This game gives you tons of mysteries and places to explore, and—going against the worries of the critical community ahead of release—it’s anything but a rehashing of Uncharted, now with Indiana Jones characters.
As Indy, you’ll rock clever disguises and blend into the crowd, using your social stealth knack to crack mysteries.
Dive underground, and it’s all classic Indy vibes—hat, whip, and wit—tackling puzzles, outsmarting fascist goons, and delivering knockout blows with whatever melee weapon you can scrounge up. Guns? Strictly a last resort.
It feels like a genuinely authentic Indiana Jones adventure that lets you role-play as the titular character in just about every way you can think of.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
The Like a Dragon series started in the early 2000s (when it was originally called Yakuza) and has 10 games in its canon storyline. But you can totally start with Infinite Wealth, the most recent mainline game in the series.
As Ichiban Kasuga, you’ve just been fired from a job and are heading to Hawaii to find your long-lost mother. What sounds like a paradise vacation, however, quickly turns into a tank of barracudas, sharks, and more.
You’ll go on an epic adventure, make awesome friends, beat up Danny Trejo, and save Hawaii—stopping along the way to deliver pizzas, fill up your social network, and sing karaoke.
Infinite Wealth is equal parts heartfelt, deadly serious, and goofy fun, and it all works together.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a weird game, and even its developers are probably surprised that the original got a sequel.
This game puts you on a quest to retake your rightful place on the throne, but it truly is the journey, not the destination. Journeys can be long and arduous, and you must prepare for them.
You can’t take everything with you, but the more damage you take, the less you can heal back. You’ll choose a class for yourself and your AI-controlled companion and borrow a couple from other players.
Dragon’s Dogma is a strange, beautiful game, and there’s nothing else quite like it.
Astro Bot
Platform: PlayStation 5
Role-playing games are fun, but they’re a big lift. Sometimes, you just want to have some chill fun. Astro Bot is perhaps the closest that anyone has ever come to replicating the simple joy of a Mario game outside of Nintendo.
As Astro Bot, you’ll visit themed planets, rescuing other bots inspired by a startling array of PlayStation franchises, both new and ancient.
This game sports an incredible amount of variety; in one level you might get some grabby monkey hands to climb and fight with. In another scenario, you transform into a sponge that absorbs and releases water as it interacts with the environment.
The game is packed with delightful surprises at every turn, features outstanding music, and delivers a particularly satisfying experience for older gamers with fond memories of PlayStation. It offers a complete and engaging experience for anyone capable of holding a controller.
Balatro
Platforms: Switch, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, iOS, Android, PC, Mac
You can play Balatro for just half an hour if you have the willpower of a mighty warrior. Or you can play it all day and night, forgetting to shower and eat as you try just one more round.
Balatro, developed by just one person, combines poker, solitaire, and roguelike game mechanics.
Each playthrough starts with 52 cards, and you’ll build your deck, adding special cards—and most importantly, unique jokers that modify your deck, multiplying what might’ve been a few hundred points into tens of millions with the right combinations.
When you score high enough, your score meter sets on fire. That’s really all we need to say.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Platforms: PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Metaphor: ReFantazio might be a strange title, but stick with it.
This is the new series from the developer of the beloved Persona series. It carries over many elements of those games into a brand new fantasy world—an opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Metaphor tells a thoughtful story about democracy and religion, features brilliant turn-based gameplay, and iterates on the time mechanics from Persona to keep them familiar and refreshing.
It has some of the most memorable music of the year and retains the studio’s high standard of visual design in both the characters and user interface alike. Extra points for the enemies inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights.”
Satisfactory
Platforms: PC (consoles soon)
Out here in the real world, we should strive to leave a minimal environmental impact on the world around us. In video games, though, why not do the opposite?
Exploit the living daylights out of a beautiful alien planet, turning it from an unspoiled natural world into a sprawling complex of machines belching out smoke and creating a ruckus, all for the sake of profit… of the company you work for.
That’s Satisfactory.
FICSIT, Inc. drops you on an empty planet, and you must build a space elevator and orbital space station. By the time you’re done, you’ll have nuclear power plants, multiple train lines, and hundreds of machines spread across countless installations.
You can play this one in multiplayer if you like, or you can play it alone. You can do lots of math, or you can wing it. You can work hard to make all of your machines aesthetically pleasing, or you can create a gnarly network of noodly conveyor belts. That’s the FICSIT way.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
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The world of fashion is ever-evolving, with designers and brands constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Each week brings new trends that capture the imagination and set the tone for what is to come. This week, we delve into the latest trends that are making waves in the fashion industry. From the season’s hottest colors to groundbreaking textures and the rise of sustainable fashion, these trends are shaping the way we dress and express ourselves. Let’s explore the vibrant and dynamic world of fashion through the lens of these exciting developments.
Unveiling the Hottest Colors of the Season
The fashion world is buzzing with excitement as designers unveil their latest collections, each showcasing a palette of colors that are destined to dominate the season. This week, vibrant jewel tones are taking center stage, with deep emerald greens and rich sapphire blues leading the charge. These colors are not only eye-catching but also exude a sense of luxury and sophistication, making them perfect for the colder months when layering and opulence are key.
Alongside these bold hues, softer pastels are making a surprising comeback, offering a refreshing contrast. Shades like blush pink and lavender provide a gentle, romantic touch to any ensemble. They evoke a sense of nostalgia while remaining contemporary, proving that pastels can be both timeless and trendy. Designers are creatively incorporating these colors into their collections, from delicate dresses to statement coats.
Earthy tones continue to make their mark, with warm browns, terracottas, and rusts offering a grounded, organic feel. These colors are versatile and can seamlessly transition from day to night, making them a staple in any wardrobe. Their natural allure resonates with the ongoing trend of sustainability, as they often pair well with eco-friendly materials and designs.
In addition to the traditional spectrum, neon accents are adding a pop of excitement and energy to the fashion scene. Electric yellows, neon pinks, and bright oranges are being used sparingly to create striking contrasts and bold statements. These vibrant flashes of color are perfect for those looking to make a daring fashion statement, whether through accessories or key pieces.
Monochromatic looks are also gaining traction, with head-to-toe ensembles in a single shade creating a powerful visual impact. This trend allows for creative experimentation with textures and silhouettes while maintaining a cohesive and polished appearance. From all-white winter outfits to striking red ensembles, monochrome is proving to be a versatile and chic option.
Finally, metallics are shining brightly this season, with golds, silvers, and bronzes adding a touch of glamour to the runway. These reflective hues are being used in everything from evening gowns to casual wear, offering a futuristic edge to traditional designs. Metallics are perfect for the festive season, providing a dazzling option for holiday parties and celebrations.
Innovative Textures Redefining Modern Style
As fashion continues to evolve, textures are playing a pivotal role in redefining modern style. This week, we are witnessing an array of innovative materials and techniques that are transforming the way fabrics are perceived and utilized. From tactile surfaces to unexpected combinations, these textures are breathing new life into fashion.
One of the standout trends is the use of quilted fabrics, which are adding dimension and warmth to garments. Quilting, traditionally associated with outerwear, is now being applied to dresses, skirts, and even accessories. This technique not only provides a unique visual appeal but also enhances comfort, making it ideal for the colder months.
Another texture gaining popularity is the use of velvet, which exudes a sense of opulence and luxury. Velvet’s soft, plush surface makes it a favorite for eveningwear, but designers are also incorporating it into daytime pieces, such as blazers and trousers. The versatility of velvet allows it to transition effortlessly from casual to formal settings.
Sheer fabrics are making a bold statement this season, offering a delicate and ethereal quality to designs. Layering sheer materials over solid bases creates a captivating interplay of opacity and transparency, adding depth and intrigue to outfits. This trend is particularly popular for eveningwear, where it adds a hint of allure and sophistication.
The fashion world is also embracing the use of textured knits, which provide a cozy yet stylish option for the winter months. From chunky cable knits to intricate patterns, these fabrics offer both warmth and visual interest. Designers are experimenting with oversized silhouettes and asymmetrical designs, pushing the boundaries of traditional knitwear.
Leather continues to be a staple in modern fashion, but this season it is being reimagined with unique finishes and treatments. From embossed patterns to glossy sheens, leather is being transformed into a versatile material that can be both edgy and elegant. This trend is evident in everything from jackets to skirts, offering a fresh take on a classic fabric.
Finally, the use of metallic threads and embellishments is adding a touch of sparkle to garments. These shimmering details are being used to create intricate patterns and designs, elevating simple silhouettes into works of art. Metallic textures are perfect for adding a festive touch to holiday outfits, making them a must-have for the season.
Sustainable Fashion: A Growing Global Movement
In recent years, sustainable fashion has emerged as a powerful movement within the industry, and this week it continues to gain momentum. As consumers become more conscious of their environmental impact, brands are responding with innovative solutions that prioritize eco-friendly practices and materials. This shift is not only reshaping the industry but also challenging traditional notions of fashion.
One of the key trends in sustainable fashion is the use of organic and recycled materials. Brands are increasingly sourcing fabrics that are kinder to the planet, such as organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo. Recycled materials, including plastics and textiles, are being repurposed into new garments, reducing waste and promoting a circular economy.
Transparency and ethical practices are also becoming crucial components of sustainable fashion. Consumers are demanding to know where their clothes come from and how they are made, prompting brands to provide greater insight into their supply chains. This transparency helps build trust and encourages more responsible consumer choices.
The concept of slow fashion is gaining traction, as more people reject the fast-paced, disposable nature of traditional fashion. Slow fashion emphasizes quality over quantity, encouraging consumers to invest in timeless pieces that can be worn for years. This approach not only reduces waste but also promotes a more thoughtful and intentional approach to style.
Innovative technologies are playing a significant role in advancing sustainable fashion. From 3D printing to fabric innovations, technology is enabling designers to create more efficient and sustainable production methods. These advancements are helping to reduce the environmental footprint of fashion while opening up new possibilities for creativity and design.
Collaboration is another driving force behind the sustainable fashion movement. Brands, designers, and organizations are coming together to share resources, knowledge, and ideas in pursuit of a more sustainable future. These partnerships are fostering a sense of community and collective responsibility, driving positive change across the industry.
Finally, consumer education is vital in promoting sustainable fashion practices. As awareness grows, more individuals are making informed choices about their clothing purchases. This shift in consumer behavior is encouraging brands to prioritize sustainability, ultimately leading to a more environmentally conscious and responsible fashion industry.
As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of fashion, it is clear that these trends are shaping the future of the industry. The vibrant colors of the season, innovative textures, and the growing emphasis on sustainability are redefining how we perceive and interact with fashion. These developments reflect a broader shift towards creativity, responsibility, and inclusivity, offering exciting opportunities for both designers and consumers. As we continue to explore these trends, we are reminded of the power of fashion to inspire, transform, and connect us all.
The digital landscape is undergoing a transformative shift with the advent of Web3 technology, a new paradigm that promises to redefine the way we interact with the internet. Unlike its predecessor, Web2, which is largely centralized and controlled by a few major entities, Web3 is built on decentralization, transparency, and user empowerment. This article delves into the cutting-edge innovations in Web3 technology, explores how it is transforming digital interactions, and envisions the future of decentralized technology within this revolutionary framework.
Unveiling the Latest Web3 Innovations
Web3 technology is built on the foundation of blockchain, a decentralized ledger that offers transparency and security. The latest innovations in this space are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. One such innovation is decentralized finance, or DeFi, which allows for financial transactions without intermediaries like banks. This has democratized access to financial services, enabling anyone with internet access to participate in the global economy. DeFi platforms offer services like lending, borrowing, and trading, all executed through smart contracts that automatically enforce agreements.
Another groundbreaking innovation in Web3 is non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These digital assets represent ownership of unique items, from digital art to virtual real estate, and have exploded in popularity. NFTs leverage blockchain technology to provide proof of authenticity and ownership, creating new opportunities for artists and content creators to monetize their work directly. This innovation is reshaping industries by offering new revenue streams and disrupting traditional models of ownership and distribution.
Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) represent another leap forward in Web3 innovation. These organizations operate on blockchain technology and are governed by smart contracts, allowing for decentralized decision-making and management. DAOs have the potential to revolutionize corporate governance by eliminating hierarchical structures and enabling collective decision-making. This innovation empowers communities to come together, pool resources, and manage projects in a transparent and democratic manner.
Interoperability is a key focus in the development of Web3 technologies. Projects like Polkadot and Cosmos are working on creating networks that allow different blockchains to communicate and share information seamlessly. This innovation is crucial for the scalability and usability of Web3 applications, as it enables a more connected and efficient ecosystem. By facilitating cross-chain interactions, these projects are paving the way for a more integrated and cohesive decentralized web.
Privacy and security are paramount in the Web3 space, and innovations like zero-knowledge proofs are making significant strides in this area. Zero-knowledge proofs allow for the verification of information without revealing the information itself, enhancing privacy while maintaining trust. This technology is being integrated into various Web3 applications to ensure that user data remains secure and private, addressing one of the major concerns in the digital age.
Finally, the development of decentralized identity solutions is set to redefine how we manage and protect our digital identities. Projects like DID (Decentralized Identifier) are creating frameworks that give users control over their personal information, allowing them to share only what is necessary and with whom they choose. This innovation has the potential to shift the power dynamic from centralized entities to individuals, promoting data sovereignty and privacy.
How Web3 is Transforming Digital Interactions
Web3 technology is fundamentally changing the way we interact with the digital world by prioritizing user agency and decentralization. One of the most significant transformations is the shift towards peer-to-peer interactions. In the Web3 ecosystem, users can interact directly with one another without the need for intermediaries, thanks to decentralized applications (dApps). These applications run on blockchain networks and offer services ranging from social media to marketplaces, allowing users to connect and transact directly.
Social media platforms are experiencing a transformation with the integration of Web3 technologies. Decentralized social networks are emerging as alternatives to traditional platforms, offering users more control over their content and data. These networks leverage blockchain to ensure that users retain ownership of their posts and can monetize their contributions. This shift is empowering users and challenging the dominance of centralized social media giants.
Web3 is also reshaping digital commerce by introducing decentralized marketplaces that operate without intermediaries. These platforms enable direct transactions between buyers and sellers, often using cryptocurrencies as a medium of exchange. This model reduces transaction fees and increases transparency, offering a more equitable system for participants. As a result, Web3 is creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and consumers alike, fostering a more inclusive digital economy.
The concept of digital ownership is being redefined through Web3 innovations like NFTs. In traditional digital interactions, users rarely own the content they create or purchase. However, NFTs provide a mechanism for true ownership, allowing users to buy, sell, and trade digital assets freely. This transformation is particularly impactful in the creative industries, where artists and creators can engage with their audiences directly and retain control over their intellectual property.
Web3 is enhancing collaboration and governance through DAOs, which facilitate decentralized decision-making and resource management. These organizations operate transparently on blockchain networks, allowing members to propose and vote on initiatives. This model is transforming how communities and organizations function, enabling more democratic and inclusive participation. DAOs have the potential to disrupt traditional corporate structures, offering a new way to organize and collaborate on a global scale.
Finally, Web3 is transforming digital interactions by prioritizing privacy and security. Traditional digital platforms often require users to surrender personal information, which can be exploited or mishandled. Web3 technologies, such as decentralized identity solutions and zero-knowledge proofs, empower users to control their data and protect their privacy. This shift is fostering a more secure and trustworthy digital environment, where users can interact with confidence.
The Future of Decentralized Technology in Web3
The future of Web3 technology is poised to be a transformative force in the digital landscape, driving decentralization and innovation. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, we can expect Web3 to become more scalable and efficient, addressing current limitations such as transaction speed and energy consumption. Advances in consensus algorithms and layer 2 solutions are set to enhance the performance of blockchain networks, making them more viable for widespread adoption.
Interoperability will play a crucial role in the future of Web3, as it enables seamless communication between different blockchain networks. This connectivity will allow for a more integrated ecosystem, where users can access a wide range of services without being confined to a single platform. Projects focused on cross-chain compatibility will continue to be at the forefront of Web3 development, fostering collaboration and innovation across the decentralized web.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is expected to expand and mature, offering a broader array of financial services to a global audience. As regulatory frameworks evolve to accommodate DeFi, we can anticipate increased integration with traditional financial systems. This convergence will open up new opportunities for innovation and create a more inclusive financial landscape, where individuals have greater control over their assets and financial decisions.
The rise of decentralized identity solutions is set to redefine how we manage our personal information and interact with digital services. In the future, users will likely have more control over their digital identities, choosing what information to share and with whom. This shift towards data sovereignty will enhance privacy and security, reducing the risks associated with centralized data storage and breaches.
Web3’s impact on governance and collaboration will continue to grow, with DAOs leading the charge. As these organizations become more sophisticated, they will offer new models for managing resources and making decisions. The future may see DAOs playing a significant role in various sectors, from corporate governance to community management, offering a more democratic and transparent approach to organization.
Finally, the future of Web3 will be shaped by its ability to foster innovation and creativity. As the technology matures, it will enable new forms of expression and interaction, empowering creators and users alike. The decentralized nature of Web3 will encourage experimentation and collaboration, leading to the development of novel applications and experiences that redefine how we engage with the digital world.
Web3 technology is at the forefront of a digital revolution, offering a new vision for the internet that emphasizes decentralization, transparency, and user empowerment. From cutting-edge innovations in blockchain and DeFi to the transformative impact on digital interactions, Web3 is reshaping the way we engage with the digital world. As we look to the future, the continued evolution of decentralized technology promises to unlock new possibilities and opportunities, paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and innovative digital ecosystem.
This guide delves into the seamless deployment of Avail Light Client using Supernoderz, a user-friendly platform that simplifies node configuration and participation. Supernoderz makes deploying an Avail Light Client simple, even for non-technical users. This guide will take you through each step to set up your node and contribute to the Avail ecosystem.
What is Avail?
Avail is a Web3 infrastructure layer that allows modular execution layers to scale and interoperate in a trust-minimized way. It is a powerful base layer for next-generation trust-minimized applications. Avail light client (LC) lets you interact with Avail DA without requiring a full node and without trusting assumptions about remote peers.
Deploy Avail Light Client using Supernoderz ✅
1.Create a wallet with an Avail Address. Go to https://www.subwallet.app/ and download the Chrome extension.
2. Open the extension and select Create New Account. During setup, you will receive a Seed Phrase. This phrase is crucial for recovering your account, so store it securely in a safe location.
3.After setup, click on Get Wallet Address.
4.Once there, Search for Avail and select Avail Mainnet from the list. Copy your Avail address for use in later steps.
5.Now, go to https://www.supernoderz.com and log in using your Gmail account.
6.Navigate to the marketplace and select the Avail Light Client option.
7. Fill in Deployment Details
Enter a name for your deployment.
Paste the Seed Phrase you saved in Step 1.
Click Deploy to begin the setup.
8. Once deployed, your node will be live, and you’ll see it listed on your Supernoderz dashboard. That’s all it takes—your Avail Light Client is now successfully deployed!
Why Use Supernoderz?
User-Friendly Interface: Deploy nodes with minimal technical expertise.
Quick and Efficient: Complete the process in just a few clicks.
Supports Decentralization: Contribute to the Avail network effortlessly.
Conclusion
Deploying an Avail Light Client using Supernoderz is a straightforward process that makes node configuration accessible to a wide audience. By following this guide, you can set up your node quickly and start contributing to the decentralized ecosystem.
If you encounter any issues or need assistance, refer to the Avail Documentation or join the community on Discord for support from the team.
Crypto was dumb in 2024—like, really dumb. This year’s meme coin supercycle spawned the most bizarre characters the industry has ever seen, which is saying a lot, and conferences had us cringing weekly, all while politicians begged on their knees for the crypto vote (or at least its money).
And with this, we’ve enjoyed some of the dumbest moments ever inscribed on the perfectly distributed, immutable, uncensorable Blockchain of Life. From a meme coin developer setting himself on fire to promote his meme coin (#6, below) to FARTCOIN itself piercing a billion-dollar market cap (a late breaker that we didn’t even count, but Stephen Colbert did), this year was truly something all of us can be proud of. These are the moments that define us, and which we can retell endlessly to our children, and our children’s children, all of whom will doubtless be basking in the generational wealth we created in 2024, and beyond.
To commemorate crypto’s awesomely idiotic year that was, we’ve randomly gathered an unranked list of 69 of the Dumbest Moments of the Year.
1. Meme coin mammories
LIVEMOM may be peak crypto degeneracy. Image: Kick Livestream
An alleged mother joined her alleged son on a livestream to shake her boobs, begging viewers to invest in her son’s real meme coin.
“Do you wanna see him pour milk over these 36DDs?” she asked, noting—in case we weren’t already horrified enough—that her son “actually suckled on these. Now he’s going to get to pour milk on them.”
2. Getting cheeky
The viral success of LiveMom kick started a live streaming meta where meme coin devs would do stupid shit to boost their Pump.fun tokens—some would call it performance art.
One dude tied his hands so he couldn’t dump on investors, another claimed to have no arms at all (before he revealed them and sold everything), and a third dev said he had kidnapped someone. We wish that was the worst of it, but it definitely wasn’t: one guy lost his tooth while boxing, and another genius simply streamed their spread ass cheeks.
Recently, a guy created a token called $Hands and posed with a paper under his chin saying, “I have no hands, I can’t do a Rug Pull.”
But when it peaked, he pulled his hands out from behind his back and sold his tokens like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat pic.twitter.com/MalhNvz3Pb
— Rizz God (@Hirizzy) May 6, 2024
3. Making a lot of Mollah
Since the release of the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008, people have wondered who Satoshi Nakamoto is. In October, one man stepped forward claiming to be the real deal.
British-Asian macroeconomist Stephen Mollah said he had been trying to reveal his true identity for some time but people kept stopping him. At the event (which he charged an entry fee of £500 for) he also claimed to have created the Twitter logo, ChatGPT, and the Eurobond, a type of debt.
Mollah rambled for over an hour, eventually claiming that he would move Bitcoin from the Genesis block “very soon” but he had to prepare for it. (Sadly, this still hasn’t happened.) When diving through his Twitter account, we found a spree of 2018 posts calling out all of the “Faketoshis” out there accompanied by some interesting images.
A man called Stephen Mollah has taken to the stage. He claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto – the mystery inventor of Bitcoin. He’s claimed this before and is currently in legal dispute about it. He will now provide evidence, he says. pic.twitter.com/XkapPT7y3c
— Joe Tidy BBC News (@joetidy) October 31, 2024
4. See the kitty? Pet the kitty. No, not that kitty…
Solana meme coin factory Pump.fun has been the home to some of the most jaw-dropping, idiotic moments in crypto. A case in point was when degens started trading a coin based on an “invisible cat” called Kieth… it’s just a photo of an empty room. And yes, it’s spelled that way.
5. Slerf’s up!
Image: Slerfsol on Twitter
A developer accidentally burned $10 million worth of pre-sale tokens raised for the about-to-launch Slerf meme coin—rather than sending them to pre-sale participants. What happened next? The token shot up to a market cap over $700 million, of course.
6. Florida man says to Slerf dev hold my beer, burns self to pump token
TruthorDare dev after being lit on fire. Images: Screenshots from Kick, Telegram, and Twitter live streams.
A Florida meme coin dev set himself on fire in an attempt to pump his token. It worked, and the token spiked over 2,000% to a market cap of $2 million in just a few hours. But he was hospitalized with third-degree burns and couldn’t sell, due to the intense medical attention he immediately required. Once he recovered, he couldn’t properly use his hands and claimed his phone’s face ID didn’t recognize him.
Months later, he quit the project claiming he was taken advantage of. His biggest regret? Not selling.
7. Does this ass make my tattoo look fat?
Hop doesn’t regret his tattoo mistake Image: Twitter @Hop_Duneski
A Gigachad investor decided to get his Solana meme coin’s contract address tattooed… but he spelled it wrong.
8. Does this hair make my head look fat?
A crypto degen started to collect his girlfriend’s hair, one strand at a time, placing them on a styrofoam mannequin head. As day two dawned, budget airline Ryanair reposted the account suggesting that the owner ought to fly to Turkey for a hair transplant, which apparently is a thing there. Of course, the token skyrocketed over 470% as it garnered more mainstream attention.
9. Unreality TV
A tour of the “Solana Villa,” part of a crypto reality TV show, went viral this year simply because it was so obnoxious.
“Check out this helipad. If you don’t have this, you’re poor. HA HA speed tour!” the influencer said, showing off an Airbnb property.
10. Remilia King
Remember Joe Exotic (the Tiger King)? Remember when he joined an NFT community called “Retardio” out of the blue? And then got airdropped a DeGod? Nah, didn’t think so.
11. Gold medal grifting
Caitlyn Jenner. Image: Shutterstock
Caitlyn Jenner (inventor of the tokenized Olympic medal ploy!) kick-started a whole celebrity meme coin meta. What was particularly dumb was that Jenner launched a token on Ethereum the same week she launched her initial meme coin on Solana. The new token claimed to have the goal of supporting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Months later, both tokens had crashed below $1 million market caps.
12. This little Iggy never went to market
Caitlyn Jenner lashes out at Sahil Arora, the person behind her JENNER token. Image: Twitter + Sahil Arora.
Part of the reason Caitlin Jenner wanted to relaunch her celebrity project was because she claimed to have been “scammed” by the person who helped her create it: Sahil Arora. Arora made a name for himself this year as the mastermind behind countless short-lived celebrity projects and the odd Twitter hack.
That’s why it was so dumb that people fell for his trap by sending $380,000 to a pre-sale wallet for an Iggy Azalea token that that disavowed by Ms. Azalea. One pre-sale participant said that Arora had “lost all his rep” as a result.
13. Who’s your DADDY?
Andrew Tate announces a world tour. Image: Andrew Tate
Who can forget the heartwarming story of Andrew Tate, who in July was allowed to leave Romania while he awaited trial on charges of alleged human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women? (All of which he denies.)
Upon hearing the news, Tate immediately announced a “global tour” for DADDY, a Solana token he’d been promoting to flip Iggy Azalea’s token MOTHER. Problem was, though Tate announced his tour would take him to “Tokyo, Dubai, [and] Miami,” he wasn’t allowed to leave the European Union.
Tate, who’s still awaiting trial, has denied the charges.
14. No, Iggy: Vitalik isn’t keeping your gas money
Iggy Azalea at her Motherland Ranch event. Photo: Iggy Azalea
OK, we love Iggy Azalea, who is our SCENE Person of the Year, because she launched her own token and could be the only celebrity to actually keep supporting her project (MOTHER) months after launch. But it’s not all been smooth sailing for her.
In response to criticism from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, the Australian singer questioned what he’s doing with ETH gas fees. This caused Crypto Twitter to clown Azalea since these fees don’t touch Buterin’s wallet—they feed back into the Ethereum ecosystem. She was younger then and we believe better educated now!
15. Crypto’s got ass…
Su Zhu throwing cash on a stripper. Image: Twitter
Azalea upped the ante by hosting a stripper-filled party in Singapore, where some of the most degenerate clips of the year were born… which is saying a lot. Some examples:
16. …But Ethereum’s got talent!
Crypto conferences are usually serious events, filled with lengthy talks about blockchain technicalities and ever-imminent mainstream adoption. But at Token 2049: Singapore, Buterin decided to spin it up with a little crypto sing song—very much reminiscent of his 2019 rap.
“It’s mathematical. No more double spend, it’s encryptable,” he sang onstage. “A new form of wealth begins.”
Today, the massive cryptocurrency conference TOKEN2049 kicked off in Singapore!
Among the speakers? Ethereum’s own Vitalik Buterin. And guess what? He broke into song right on stage check out the video!
PS: Twitter’s losing it. Commenters are joking they’re selling all their pic.twitter.com/oiQehwo7YN
— kukat ⭐️ (@kukat23) September 18, 2024
17. Buying tokens like these is insane!
Insane Labz, an Arkansas-based supplements company known throughout the MMA and Barstool Sports world, allegedly paid a group of online trolls to impersonate celebrities, fool its investors, and pump its token. And the scheme worked—until it didn’t. The trolls impersonated UFC President Dana White, MMA legend Nate Diaz, and social media sensation Hasbulla to hype up the LABZ token in the company’s Telegram group.
“We just did it for a laugh that got a bit out of hand,” one of the impersonators told Decrypt.
Dana White apparently hopped on FaceTime with the LABZ team. Image: Telegram.
18. Simping for rug pulls
As an industry full of incels, virgins, and generally lonely men, it’s no surprise that thirst trap pump-and-dumps became commonplace this year. The recipe was simple: be a girl or know a willing one, create a Pump.fun token, wear few clothes, livestream, then sell all your tokens once a few people buy in. Easiest money you’ll ever make.
Kim entered the bath,
Kim launched the coin,
Kim sold all the coins in 1 minute,
Kim earned 0.30 SOL,
Kim got wet for nothing.
don’t be a Kim. pic.twitter.com/HbP6wMhSOg
— ferb (@ferbsol) May 12, 2024
19. Drugging for rug pulls
It was a banner year for drug addicts using the blockchain. First we had Meth’d Up Dev that, you guessed it, did meth on a livestream to pump his token. Then, we had Crack Head Dev who—actually, you didn’t guess it—overdosed on fentanyl while livestreaming. He later faked his death before becoming a full right-wing, racist Twitter personality. Who says there are no second acts in life?
Finally, we wrapped up the year with Meth Girl, who struggled to gain much traction since her Twitter accounts kept getting banned. Still, you go Meth Girl!
20. Currying for rug pulls
Image: Twitter
An enterprising fellow set up a meme coin for a curry stall in Lahore, Pakistan. But Decrypt did some digging, and it turned out the stall owners weren’t getting any money made from the token. So the streamer stopped the stream, and the CURRY coin tanked 92% in just a few hours. You’re welcome, Curry Guy.
21. Jumping the frog
Image: Flog Team Telegram
Flog the Frog (FLOG) was one of the most-hyped meme coin launches of the year due to its impressive artwork and influencer support. But its core team accidentally dumped on investors after an embarrassing miscommunication.
“DUMP IT,” project manager Breezy said in the leaked team chat, meaning to sell just a small percentage. Once he saw the token crash 91% in just one minute, he wrote, “Bro, did you sell it all?” Pyro, who was in control of the team funds, responded, “YES YOU SAID DUMP MY BRO.”
“You’re a fucking idiot,” Breezy explained. Fortunately for the artist, Flog relaunched as Fwog, ultimately becoming one of the more successful meme coins of the year.
22. Jumping the squirrel
PNUT is a meme coin based on social media sensation Peanut the Squirrel. Image: Shutterstock
Poor, Peanut the Squirrel. Only the good die young: The rodent, suspected of having rabies, was a general election meme—and, of course, meme coin. PNUT saw $150 million in daily volume in November, and became one of the largest meme coins by market capitalization.
In a tragic post-mortem twist, it was revealed that Peanut never had rabies and was murdered for nothing. RIP little buddy, may your meme coin live on and your memory be a blessing.
23. But wait! The squirrel coin lives!
Less than a month after the story of the not-rabid but very dead Peanut the squirrel captivated a world gone mad, the rodent’s owner—apparently miffed that carpetbaggers got rich off his personal tragedy—launched his own token. Never mind that “the PNUT community” supposedly donated $50,000 to the owner.
“The fact that people wanna make money off this is nothing short of despicable,” the bereaved owner stated in a Twitter video, before pivoting to launch the token called JUSTICE. Sadly, there was no justice for the JUSTICE token, which died deader than the fucking squirrel.
24. The father, the son, and the holy chicken
Lord Fishnu sitting in some broth. Image: Church of the Smoking Chicken Fish.
This year spawned a religion with followers worshipping a raw chicken with a fish head smoking a cigarette called “Lord Fishnu.” But that’s not the dumbest moment.
Known as the Church of the Smoking Chicken Fish, the meme coin-based religion baptizes followers in what’s called a “brothism.” Normally this is just done by reading out the “10 chickemandments” on Twitter Spaces, but one follower took it a step further by reading them aloud in a bath, while fully dressed, and with raw chicken on his head.
And that’s not even the dumbest moment: the church was planning on opening a physical space in Marfa, Texas.
25. And, even that wasn’t the dumbest moment
A few months later, the church’s leader Pastor Kelby went rogue and started using his influence over the religion to take payments and shill micro-cap meme coins. In turn, he got banished from the church.
Does this throw the physical church plans into turmoil? 🙁
26. The father, the wife, and the holy token
Image created by Decrypt using AI
A Colorado pastor faced fraud allegations after he and his wife created, then sold “illiquid and practically worthless” crypto tokens to investors to fund their “lavish lifestyle,” authorities there alleged. In response, the pastor admitted that he made $1.3 million, but said that he was instructed by God to sell the tokens.
“God is not done with this project; God is not done with INDX coin,” he vowed.
27. In God we trust. All others pay in Solana
The CFTC filed a lawsuit against the former pastor of a Washington-based church of a multilevel marketing scheme that allegedly took more than $5.9 million in cash and digital assets for a fake “Solanofi platform.” The ex-holy man allegedly targeted “unsophisticated investors,” promising they could earn up to 34.9% monthly through a so-called leveraged staking platform, according to the complaint.
28. You can never trust a cabal
Image: $CABAL/Twitter
Meme coin devs, promising a massive “social experiment” on Solana, tried to jumpstart a spike in a token called CABAL after airdropping $10,000 worth to 10 Crypto Twitter influencers in August. Within a couple days, most of the influencers had dumped the thing. It now sits at a market cap of less than $15,000.
“I don’t know why they expected to hand someone $10,000 and have them not sell,” said one of the influencers. Notably, the list of influencers included Beaver, the person who said he paid Crack Head Dev (#16, above) to fake his own death.
29. Dog WIF your funds
Artist’s fervid rendition of Sphere Wif Hat. Image: Wif on Sphere Campaign
As Dogwifhat (WIF) was establishing itself as a “blue-chip meme coin,” a group of investors—including one of the CABAL influencers, Ansem—decided to raise $700,000 to put the doggie meme coin on the Las Vegas Sphere. Eight months later, this still hasn’t happened… with Bitcoin even beating WIF to the punch. As time passes, more pressure mounts on those in control of the funds.
30. Anything WIF hat
Meme coin enthusiasts started putting pink beanies on everything they could, thanks to Dogwifhat’s popularity. “The hat stays on,” applied to pets, celebs, every meme coin in existence, and even cars.
31. You’re fired/rehired!
Polymarket, one of the most successful crypto projects of the year, not to mention a source of truth during the U.S. election, fired its intern for shilling an NFT project called “Retardio” on its Twitter.
Once there was enough backlash—against Polymarket that is—the intern was brought back into the fray.
UNRELATED: The UK’s Conduct Financial Authority subsequently issued a scam alert about the token, causing one to wonder: WHY JUST THAT ONE?
32. Buy the rumor…
When Trump went on a rant about Haitian migrants eating pets during his debate with Kamala Harris, degens rubbed their hands hungrily. That’s because there were already meme coins about the wild rumors, of course.
But their excitement was short-lived: The shitcoins quickly fell in value when the ABC debate moderator fact-checked the baseless claim in real time.
33. …Sell the news
Tim Walz. Photo: Shutterstock
As the rumor spread that Kamala Harris was picking Tim Walz as her running mate, we watched as meme coin communities that had formed around other potential VP picks began to tank. Sad!
Take for instance SHAPERO, the intentionally misspelled Josh Shapiro meme coin, which quickly dropped 94% as the Walz news started to spread across social media. Unbowed, the project’s anonymous leader urged followers on Telegram to stay the course and claimed that FUD (not the coin, but honest to god fear, uncertainty and doubt) was being orchestrated to push down the price.
Literally four minutes later, CNN reported that Walz was Harris’s VP pick.
“Oh my fuckin’ god, who rugged my bag?” one SHAPERO investor wailed in lament.
34. The President is not dead, he is just sleeping
Source: Shutterstock
Before he dropped out of the Presidential race, crypto degens were convinced that Joe Biden had died. Naturally, a flurry of meme coins hit the blockchain, though they were surpassed by a two-month-old token that predicted the exact date he would pass; it touched a market cap of $660,000.
All of these tokens tanked once the rumors were debunked. At the time of writing, Biden is still allegedly alive.
35. Who actually shot Trump?
Remember when Trump was nearly assassinated? No, not the second time, the first time.
Well, Pump.fun traders somehow identified the shooter hours before the FBI confirmed who had shot at the former president. While this was an impressive feat from our beloved degens, there were also countless coins that got it painfully wrong—including a popular token claiming it was an Italian journalist who, as it turned out, was peacefully sleeping at the time.
Also, just to add a bonus layer of crypto stupidity to the pile, then-popular Telegram tap-to-earn game Hamster Kombat turned Trump’s defiant fist pump into an absolutely bizarre tribute.
36. Vote crypto, mate
While crypto was a talking point—not to mention a massive source of funds—in the U.S. election, with Trump running on a number of pro-crypto policies, not a single U.K. political party mentioned crypto in their manifestos.
This was called a “missed opportunity” by a U.K. lobbying firm, as it ignored 10% of U.K. adults who own cryptocurrency, and, presumably, bet on foolish things. To make matters worse, the leader of the Tory party, Rishi Sunak, had previously made pro-crypto stances… but failed to bring it into the election. He went on to lose miserably.
37. Rug-pulled my Grandma
Once you’re invested in a meme coin, you can’t take your eyes off the chart—so much so that one trader posted a photo of them looking at DEX Screener next to their dying Grandma in a hospital bed.
“RIP Grandma,” they posted on Twitter. “Onboarding her estate though, it’s what she would have wanted.”
rip grandma fr 🙏🙏
onboarding her estate though it’s what she would have wanted
retardio in paradise pic.twitter.com/idc1nAK68g
— Booby Shill 🫷🤡🫸 (@BoobyShill) May 28, 2024
38. No (Dr.) Disrespect intended
Dr. Disrespect, popular streamer and co-founder of the studio behind crypto shooter Deadrop, admitted to inappropriately chatting with a minor on Twitter only to subsequently claim he didn’t.
In fact, he claims to have made the admission via a tweet to intentionally catch journalists out. Well, consider us caught, Doc. If that’s something you want to say in black and white, go ahead.
there’s no way Dr Disrespect is claiming he edited the word ‘minor’ out of his original statement on purpose to see if journalist would pick up on it 😭 pic.twitter.com/fMe4wOzGpl
— iqkev (@iqkev) September 6, 2024
39. Degens take their revenge on sassy kid who rugged them
A teenage Solana meme coin creator rug-pulled holders after his token hit a $1 million market cap. Exhilarated from the $30,000 he’d pocketed, the punk gave the punters a one-finger salute in a home video and yelled, “Thanks for the 20 bandos,” while skittering around his bedroom.
Humiliated but vowing retribution, our degens bravely fought back, massively trading the shitcoin until it surged to a $85 million market cap. Had the kid held on and treated his elders with respect, his little coin would have been worth more than $4 million. Take that, insolent child!
40. Top DOGE
When the fine specimen of a canine we all know as Doge (the mascot for Dogecoin) went to heaven in May, the owner got a replacement dog—a rescue Shiba Inu named Neiro. Predictably, the new, old Shiba spawned a raft of Neiro-themed coins, with major in-fighting and accusations of scams, cabals, and hatred. All of this despite the owner refusing to endorse any of them. Is nothing sacred?
Months later, in December, it was announced that members of the Own the Doge DAO will be voting on which meme coin will get the Neiro IP. “This is not wholesome,” the Twitter post said.
I see many tokens related to Kabosu and Neiro. To clarify, I do not endorse any crypto project except @ownthedoge $dog because they own the original Doge photo and IP (which I gave to them) and are committed to doing only good everyday, charitable works, and Doge culture. pic.twitter.com/9qsycpdQGV
— かぼすママ (@kabosumama) July 28, 2024
41. Fun with Bitcoin ETFs!
Gary Gensler look-alike, riding the Wall Street Bull while declaring a new era for crypto. Image: UNFK (Image created with AI)
In January, the SEC’s official account tweeted that all 13 spot Bitcoin ETFs had been approved. But in fact, the SEC’s account had been hacked and none had been approved just yet.
SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s revelation that the tweet was fake sent the price of Bitcoin plunging from $47,680 to just above $45,500. It was a good opp for someone to fill their bags, probably MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor. (The actual ETF approval came one day later FYI.)
42. Bull dreams of Satoshi Nakamoto
Satoshi Nakamoto came to me in a dream last night and handed me Santa’s list. I saw Bitcoin next to Gates and Bezos… history’s being written.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) December 9, 2024
Scottie Pippen, the legendary NBA star, claimed to have several dreams this year wherein he met the legendary Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto.
In the first of the year, Pippen claimed that Satoshi was “proud” of his work for tokenizing the basketball used in game five of the Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers 1991 finals. Then in September, Satoshi visited him in a dream again to tell him that Bitcoin would be worth exactly $84,650 on November 5—which was about $14,000 off.
Pippen also claimed that Satoshi was sending him photos in his dream, that he kept laughing at the price of Bitcoin, and that Bitcoin, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos are on Santa’s list—he did not specify if it was naughty or nice.
43. Booing for Bitcoin
Crowd reactions to pro-bitcoin remarks at OSU’s commencement are telling. Bitcoin is a brand. And to this audience, an annoying or possible grifty one.pic.twitter.com/HinpbdMEup
— Andrew M. Bailey (@resistancemoney) May 6, 2024
Who among us hasn’t loaded up on ayahuasca, had a vision about the sanctity of alt assets, and given a commencement address shilling Bitcoin at Ohio State University? Chris Pan, the commencement speaker who was rudely (!) booed when he brought up crypto, spoke truth to power nonetheless.
His moving address ventured beyond digital currencies, too: “I didn’t go to give a speech,” he said later in an Instagram story. “I went to share truth so we stop funding wars. We have to stop the bloodshed.” Oh, he also gave a Michael Scott-esque karaoke rendition of “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes.
I find it funny while everyone was concerned about the person who fell to their death at OSU Stadium, the commencement speaker is over here doing this pic.twitter.com/z22vuP6TZY
— Spotted Cat (Isaiah) (@Spottedcat123) May 5, 2024
44. Malaysia is crushing it, Bitcoin-wise
Malaysian authorities crushed 985 Bitcoin mining rigs as part of a countrywide crackdown on electricity theft. Yes, yes, extravagant use of electricity is, on occasion, sometimes associated with crypto miners. But had they simply invested in Bitcoin instead of destroying those precious miners, perhaps it would rank higher among the world’s countries by GDP. Actually, it is 37th of 195, which isn’t all that bad.
45. No sweetie, when a $6.5 million payment is made in error, you can’t keep it
This one seems a bit unfair: After centralized exchange Crypto.com mistakenly refunded a woman $6.8 million—instead of $65! LOL!—she (and her erstwhile partner) apparently spent $4.42 million of the money. Among other things, such as artwork, the couple apparently bought four homes in Australia. The woman was arrested while she was waiting to fly to… wait for it… Bitcoin-hating Malaysia!!! She served 209 days in prison and had to give back the money and other ill-gotten gains.
46. When scribbled on a legal pad, the words “BUY BITCOIN” are worth 10x more than a bitcoin
The “Buy Bitcoin” sign. Image: Scarce.City
In 2017, Christian Langalis, a 22-year-old Cato Institute intern, scrawled “Buy Bitcoin” on a yellow legal notepad, then photobombed Janet Yellen with it during a televised House Financial Services Committee hearing.
Obviously the price of Bitcoin spiked by 3.7% right after the broadcast, making Langalis a BTC hero. In April, our man auctioned off his 15 minutes of fame for $1.019 million. Said he: “It’s good to finally liberate this number from my sock drawer and offer it back to the Bitcoin public.”
47. Betting on Bryan’s boner
If anyone is looking for evidence of the decline of Western civilization—indeed, civilization in general—look no further than the biohacker Bryan Johnson and his long-suffering penis. Johnson, a multi-millionaire who wants to live forever, makes your average health nut look like Homer Simpson.
In December, Polymarket bettors wagered on whether he could maintain a nighttime stiffy for more than two hours during sleep. Nighttime erections are “a significant biological age marker representing sexual, cardiovascular, and psychological health,” Johnson said, citing research that correlates a higher risk of death for men who don’t get wood in the night. As if you didn’t have enough to worry about.
There’s now an active betting market on @Polymarket for my nighttime erections.
A few things to consider when making your wager:
+ I return from China on the 16th of Dec and measurement will take place during the final week of the month. I’ve not previously measured how much… pic.twitter.com/1yZtCFkE1U
— Bryan Johnson /dd (@bryan_johnson) December 10, 2024
48. Heads I win, tails you’re a l0ser
It’s a good thing Polymarket became popular enough to allow degens to bet on anything, even Johnson’s johnson. In June, deep in the doldrums of a lifeless market, they were so bored that the poor bastards were actually betting on coin flips. Yep, just connect your wallet to a site called Degen Coin Flips. What could possibly go wrong?
49. What is it with hamsters?
In August, degens, apparently tired of betting on coin tosses, found a new obsession: Betting on live hamsters racing in little plastic cars. It was the second straight year that the premise had been tested, but the added cars arguably juiced the appeal.
50. Annals of stupid token launches, #1 in an infinite series
One of the largest DEXs on Solana, Raydium deployed a meme coin on a new token launchpad, but it backfired and “didn’t exactly go as expected,” with two identical tokens created and the first dropping 92% in just 10 minutes. The token initially had spiked to a $7 million market cap, before plummeting to $488,000. “Is it rug?” asked one well-trained Discord user.
51. Annals of stupid token launches, #2 in an infinite series
Imagine a meme coin that failed to pump before it could be dumped. That was the case with a celebrity coin apparently promoted by Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr, bassist and lyricist for Pink Floyd Roger Waters, and a number of other highly-followed accounts, including the CEO of a luxury lifestyle brand.
Despite the celeb tweets reaching over 3 million people, the token barely hit a market cap of $19,000. In fact, it was held by just two dozen holders, and had a scant $4 worth of liquidity. You’ve probably guessed by now that those luminaries had nothing to do with the token, and their X accounts had been hacked.
“It was the saddest launch I’ve ever seen,” said the CEO of on-chain analytics company Bubblemaps,
imagine hacking a Neymar jr fan account with 2M followers and Roger Waters’ account to promote a token
only to end up with $4 in liquidity
the celebrity meta is officially dead 😭 pic.twitter.com/WuT7vZ9Hle
— Bubblemaps (@bubblemaps) September 13, 2024
52. Binance says some of its best friends are people of color
Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange, posted a meme to X in June that appeared to suggest that it was discriminating against its users based on skin color. The exchange, of course, blamed an intern on its social media team who “lacks the corresponding cultural background” needed to understand what racism is.
“When they saw this MEME image in the community, they did not understand its meaning and posted it on X. This is our fault, and we will make sure to rectify this issue,” Binance wrote. The solution, the firm said, was to hire a new intern.
“WE CLEARLY NEED A NEW INTERN” – BINANCE APOLOGIZES FOR RACIST MEME POSTED TO ITS TWITTER ACCOUNT
“The social media team has recently been onboarded and lacks the corresponding cultural background” ~ Binance co-founder, Yi He.
– Only yesterday, the official @Binance X/Twitter… pic.twitter.com/6Z35pc8Gop
— BSCN (@BSCNews) June 16, 2024
53. Note to Kraken hackers: Your halloween mask doesn’t fool anyone
Some genius attempted to access a Kraken account in June by trying to talk a customer service rep into giving him access. The guy was literally wearing a cheap Halloween mask.
“Our agent was like: This is absolutely ridiculous. This is a rubber mask the guy’s wearing,” Kraken Chief Security Officer Nick Percoco told Decrypt.
54. The rugging and resurrection of the TrumpCoin
The Solana-based meme coin TrumpCoin—which launched in June amid a flurry of boasts over its claimed but still unproven connection to former U.S. President Donald Trump—lost 92% of its value after a hearty rugging.
The DJT token, inspired by the President-elect, went into freefall after the largest whale and owner (20% of the supply) sold off $2 million in tokens—some 2 billion of the suckers—in one massive dump. The token’s market capitalization plummeted from $55 million to $3 million in minutes. Ah, but who’s laughing now? The token nearly doubled its all-time-high price after Trump won the election, before plunging back to the floor.
55. America’s sweetheart awakens
Haliey Welch, aka the Hawk Tuah Girl, launched a HAWK token. Faster than you can say “spit on that thang,” the token climbed to a market capitalization of $490 million… before immediately collapsing by more than 93% in value. Some $3 million was pocketed by persons unknown.
“Haliey’s team has sold absolutely no tokens whatsoever,” her people said, denying they orchestrated a rug pull.
Welch attempted to answer questions from heartbroken investors in a Spaces, but when the going got tough, Welch got going: “I’m gonna go to bed” she said, and quit the chat, seemingly never to return to Crypto Twitter or our hearts again. Finally, on December 20, Sleeping Beauty awoke from her 372-hour slumber to proclaim that she’s working with the law firm that sued the HAWK token’s creators.
56. Hamster massage
Image created by Decrypt using AI
Who knew that those personal massage devices were good for something other than sex toys? Russian gamers, that’s who!
Online retailer Wildberries reported a 179% month-over-month sales spike for percussion massagers in June, which was attributed to players of the massively popular Telegram game, Hamster Kombat.
Apparently someone figured out that they could jack up their in-game coin earnings by using the thing, which pulses rapidly to deliver faster screen taps than a human player can. But given that the game’s broadly disappointing airdrop delivered “dust,” we’d be surprised if they earned enough to even cover the cost of the vibrating device.
57. Too big to fail and not return as a crypto company
It’s baaaack: Enron, the symbol of fin de siècle dotcom excess, announced via X in early December that it was returning to “solv[e] the global energy crisis” with the aid of decentralized technology. Whether it’s a parody, real attempted comeback, or real attempted comeback that ends in parody remains to be seen. In the meantime, the firm says “permissionless innovation” will be central to its comeback.
58. Biting the banana that feeds you
We don’t know anything about art, but we know about dumb. And it is debatable what’s dumber: Buying a high-concept piece of art—a banana duct taped to a wall—for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction, or eating the banana later. Both of which Justin Sun, the P.T. Barnum of crypto, did in November. That said, he was encouraged to routinely replace the banana anyway.
As a gesture of good will, Sun announced that he would purchase 100,000 bananas from the same New York sidewalk stall where the original banana came from—claiming he’d distribute them worldwide for free. But it was quickly revealed that this just isn’t possible. The vendor said they’d barely make any profit, and even then the logistics are a nightmare.
59. Even in jail, the scammer known as Razzlekhan keeps on shilling
Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan, notorious for her role in the infamous $10.8 billion Bitfinex hack in 2016, has written a song! It is, apparently, a rap dedicated to the love of her life, husband and partner in crime, Ilya Lichtenstein, whom she hasn’t seen outside of a courtroom for three years. The song, which she says was written during a stint in solitary confinement, was released in a video and ends on an upbeat note: “Keep on praying for what the future brings. Inshallah.”
60. Congressman digs dog wif ski mask
A meme coin based on a dog in a ski mask pumped this month, apparently because U.S. Congressman Mike Collins (R-GA) acknowledged that he bought as much as $30,000 of it.
“I liked the coins, so I bought them,” the no-nonsense Collins told Decrypt. “Washington and Wall Street have stigmatized emerging technology in the crypto ecosystem for far too long, and it’s about time that we start treating this industry with the respect it deserves.” This is not dumb.
61. “Don’t worry about it”
Remilia Corporation took $20 million in a pre-sale for its CULT meme coin, then nothing happened for six months. Anyone who expressed concern was flooded with comments of “Don’t worry about it” from CULT members, despite those same people spreading fake news that the token launch had been cancelled.
Community members told Decrypt that they found it “humorous” that people were worried. The token did eventually launch in December.
62. Saving Democracy, one battle royale at a time
Image: Off the Grid
Popular battle royale game Off the Grid added player skins inspired by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris via its November “Save Democracy” content pack. The pack included two “Epic” weapons, as well as character emotes that show the faux politicians either building a wall or tossing a molotov cocktail. Best of all, the skins use true-to-life voices, with Trump saying “I feel like a Democrat” when he’s injured, or Harris quipping “Tax that fucker” when shooting at an enemy.
63. Rug your friends for fun and profit, without risk
Image: Rug.fun
Don’t have the ‘nads to create a meme coin, pump it up to a billion market cap, and then rug the poor schmuckos holding it? Then Rug.fun is the game for you! It simulates all the fun—and dumbnasity—of the real deal. Built on Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network Base, players gamble on 10 tokens, eight of which will be rug pulled.
64. Every time you tickle a cat an angel gets its wings
Tapos is a “tickle-to-earn” game on the Aptos network that prompts users to tickle an on-screen cat for HEART tokens, helping the network record over 200 million transactions during two days in May. The Notcoin-esque cat clicker game records every click on-chain.
In August, the site claimed to have surpassed a total of 500 million transactions. But weirdly, it has since stopped giving updates.
65. X Empire players whine to an indifferent Elon Musk
Elon Musk. Image: Shutterstock
Guys, despite the unusual “X” in its name, X Empire has absolutely nothing to do with X the social platform—despite it being previously called Musk Empire. Got that? In October, the Telegram tap-to-earn game X Empire revealed airdrop allocations to users, prompting a bunch of dim, ineligible players to tweet their complaints to Elon Musk.
“Totally scam project backed by your name,” tweeted one player. “X Empire. Elon Musk. Musk Empire. Do interrogation on X Empire team. They are just like scammer.”
Needless to say, the owner of X and master of all he surveys did not reply. Note, lads: In the future, do not vent at Musk for x-rated movies or anything having to do with x chromosomes. He is not responsible for those either. Yet.
66. See you, wouldn’t wanna be you
When Fantasy Top, a SocialFi game that incentivized influencers to farm Twitter engagement, went viral this summer, a degen known as Franklin decided to post every five minutes to maximize his points. Deadpan and consistent, gotta respect it.
Franklin, for those who were around for the NFT bull run, is also well known for sharing his Ls, including losing $150,000 in a “prank” NFT bid that he admitted was the “fumble of the century.”
67. Kamala is nowhere to be found-ala
Kamala Harris. Photo: Shutterstock
For a while, it looked like Kamala Harris was actually taking an interest in crypto and might reconsider the Biden administration’s clueless crypto policies. It also appeared like she might even speak at Permissionless, Blockworks’ annual conference. And for a while, it even looked like she might win the General Election.
None of these things came to pass.
68. Donald Trump loves him some crypto
Source: Shutterstock
The President-elect, by contrast, embraced the crypto community. Notably, he delivered a rambling speech in July at the big Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, where he exposed how little he knew about crypto. His connection to crypto hardly stopped there.
In an interview with Rug Radio (like Decrypt, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dastan), Trump shilled his new “World Liberty Financial” project, which appears to be headed toward some kind of stablecoin offering. This seems very much in keeping with the whole ethos of crypto!
69. Litecoin? More like shitecoin
Due to current market conditions I now identify as a memecoin.
— Litecoin (@litecoin) November 14, 2024
After years of establishing itself as a legitimate decentralized digital currency, Litecoin’s Twitter intern decided to rebrand the project into a meme coin.
“Due to current market conditions I now identify as a meme coin,” the Twitter account posted, followed by a spree of shitposts including the creation of a stickman mascot called Lester. Ironically, this preceded a 79% price bump. Gosh, what a dumb—and lovable—industry this is!
Bonus Item: Let he or she who is without dumbness cast the first stone…
Decrypt had a metric shit ton of dumb errors last year, but delicacy prevents us from printing them all again. Here’s to many more in 2025.
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While the crypto market’s latest bull run has put extra cash in industry players’ pockets, Ol’ Saint Nick is preparing to put coal in some of their stockings.
From controversial founders to outright scammers, several key figures in crypto landed themselves on Santa’s “Naughty List” in 2024.
Here are Decrypt’s picks for the seven naughtiest in crypto this year:
Hawk Tuah Girl (Hailey Welch)
Viral internet star Hailey Welch, aka the “Hawk Tuah” Girl was catapulted into shitcoin superstardom earlier this month when she announced the launch of her HAWK meme coin.
But Welch’s crypto debut went sideways shortly after the HAWK launch, with crypto investors pointing out that the token sale had all the major marks of an insider scam.
Hawk-eyed traders pointed out that Welch’s team owned between 80-90% of HAWK’s supply on launch day, potentially allowing them to manipulate the price of the token.
Welch’s HAWK token had a $490 million market cap shortly after it debuted in the first week of December. However, its price quickly plummeted to less than 5% of its initial value within a few hours of its launch.
A law firm has sued her business partners over the collapse, and she emerged from a two-week social media blackout soon thereafter—to say she’s working with the lawyers, and claim she wasn’t responsible for the mess.
Ryan Selkis
Messari founder Ryan Selkis courted controversy and stirred up drama within the crypto community in 2024.
From excoriating his political adversaries to evoking another U.S. civil war, Selkis’ commentary leading up to the U.S. 2024 presidential election flew in the face of others’ efforts to cultivate a better public image for the maturing digital assets industry.
His spicy rhetoric on X (formerly known as Twitter) led to his departure from Messari when things apparently got too hot for his colleagues. Selkis ultimately got what he wanted with Donald Trump’s reelection, but some of his tactics in encouraging that shift landed him squarely on Santa’s naughty list this year.
Jonathan and Tanner Adam
Jonathan and Tanner Adam may not be household names, but their alleged crimes are certainly on Santa’s radar—and the SEC’s, too.
The pair allegedly led a crypto-focused Ponzi scheme that bilked more than 80 investors out of a total of $60 million, according to court filings. Under the scheme, investors were told their money would be put into a lending pool that would fund “flash loans” to complete arbitrage trades that were identified by a special trading bot.
However, the SEC alleges that the lending pool as described to investors never existed. Rather, the duo allegedly used those millions to support their lavish lifestyles, spending nearly half a million dollars alone on a variety of luxury vehicles.
Gary Gensler
Gary Gensler is the much-maligned SEC chairman who led the regulatory agency’s charge against digital assets during the Biden administration.
Under Gensler, the SEC has followed a “regulation-by-enforcement” model for reining in the unwieldy crypto industry, leading to an unprecedented number of SEC lawsuits against major digital assets companies such as Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance.US.
In 2023, the SEC brought a total of 46 cryptocurrency-related enforcement actions, a 53% increase from 2022, according to Cornerstone Research. That’s also a record high for the agency since 2013. But much of that may be for naught with Gensler announcing plans to resign in January as Trump takes office. Most crypto industry supporters aren’t sad to see him go.
Eli Regalado
Pastor Eli Regalado allegedly scammed devout parishioners of his Denver-based church out of more than $3 million through the sale of a token called INDXCoin, according to the Colorado Division of Securities. However, the pastor denies being completely at fault for the scheme. His rationale: The Lord made him do it.
Whether God whispered in his ear or not, one thing is clear: Regalado was living the high life on his followers’ money. The pastor bought luxury digs and other items with his ill-gotten gains from INDXCoin’s sale, according to charges from the Colorado Securities Commissioner filed earlier this year.
Craig Wright
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in the case of Craig Wright and his claims to be the creator of Bitcoin, it’s also a crime.
In the case of the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) versus Craig Wright, Wright was found guilty in March of lying about being storied Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto. A U.K. court also ruled that there was “overwhelming” evidence that Wright fabricated documents and lied on the stand during the trial. The Wright saga played out for years, but the result has earned him a spot on Santa’s naughty list this year.
Sahil Arora
Crypto influencer and celebrity wrangler Sahil Arora has fallen out of investors’—and Santa’s—good graces in 2024.
That’s because the crypto celebrity promoter allegedly made between $2 million and $30 million by exploiting his connections to various celebrity meme coin projects, according to on-chain analyses by blockchain sleuth ZachXBT and crypto data firm Bubblemaps.
(Arora denied any wrongdoing in an exclusive interview with Decrypt in May.)
So, how exactly did Arora get so rich? Well, it’s not exactly clear, but several celebrities and investors have something to say on the matter.
In May, Caitlyn Jenner said Arora “scammed” her “big time” by running away with the proceeds of the JENNER meme coin he helped launch.
R&B singer Jason Derulo followed up with his own meme coin and similar allegations against Arora, which Arora later told Decrypt wasn’t what it seemed. The controversy was “orchestrated” and all “part of the script,” he said.
As if that double dose of celebrity drama weren’t enough, investors also accused Arora of raking in up to $380,000 from the presale of an Iggy Azalea-themed meme coin project that he launched on Pump.fun earlier this year. Shortly after the presale, investors in the project alleged they hadn’t received any of the tokens they were promised. Meanwhile, at least some funds from the presale wallet appeared to have been moved, SolScan data showed.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a buzzword in the tech circles. It is going to redefine the present technology. From predicting customers’ behavior to improving efficiency, AI changes the entire retail environment with the utmost accuracy and personalization behind the greatest retail success stories. Let’s step inside and see how AI is influencing the retail landscape and discover the transforming applications and latest trends that are now shaping the future.
Top Use Cases of AI in Retail: How AI is Transforming the Shopping Experience
Picture Courtesy: hyena.ai
AI is revolutionizing the retail industry, offering innovative solutions to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and boost sales. Let’s explore the most impactful use cases:
1. Personalized Recommendations:
Machine learning algorithms in AI extract data about customers, such as purchase history, browsing behavior, and the number of seconds they spend on certain items. It brings a personalized shopping experience with suggestions about what to buy, depending on someone’s personal preferences.
Example: Amazon’s recommendation system is based on collaborative filtering and deep learning in suggesting products that will interest consumers. For instance, a customer who buys a book can expect other books to be suggestions bought by people who have similar tastes.
2. Visual Search:
Visual search technology enables customers to locate items through the uploaded photos instead of hunting for keywords. Shoppers can snap a picture of something they like and receive feedback from that image instead of writing words.
Example: Pinterest Lens lets you upload a picture and find something similar, whether it is a couch, a whole outfit, or a specific thing. Fashion and home decor brands are increasingly adopting this feature to improve product discoverability.
3. Virtual Try-Ons and Augmented Reality (AR):
Virtual Try-Ons and Augmented Reality give consumers a chance to see the representation of products on them or how they fit before buying something. It is mostly used in fashion, beauty, and furniture.
Example: Sephora’s Virtual Artist and digital face recognition allow you the ability to use the many shades of makeup available. Another example is IKEA Place, an AR app used for virtually placing furniture in a customer’s space for visualization purposes, before purchase.
4. Chatbots and Virtual Assistants:
Artificial intelligence voice technology mimics and pretends to be a human conversation partner in real-time. They deal with inquiries, product recommendations, and order tracking and are used to make customer support quicker and more efficient.
Example: H&M has deployed an AI chatbot to recommend outfits according to user preference, provide a size guide, inform them about the order status, and provide style suggestions for a better shopping experience.
5. Demand Forecasting:
AI interprets past sales and seasonal information of an event along with factors like weather for anticipatory forecasts of demand. This is significant for retailers, to keep stock in the right amount in order to reduce the waste and prevent stockouts.
Example: Zara has used artificial intelligence to forecast demand for its fast-fashion products. Borrowing patterns, as well as customer preferences, are analyzed by Zara for achieving the fastest turnover of stock and optimal stocking.
6. Dynamic Pricing:
Dynamic pricing involves adjusting prices in real time based on factors like competitor pricing, demand fluctuations, and customer behavior. AI automates this process, ensuring retailers remain competitive while maximizing revenue.
Example: Amazon uses a continuous adjustment of product prices, using AI-powered price algorithms. For instance, during holiday disbursement sales, such data with regard to each competitor’s pricing and user demand will be processed to allow the company to present the best offers for the market.
7. Fraud Detection and Prevention:
AI has strengthened security by analyzing transaction patterns to identify and block fraudulent activities. It will detect inconsistencies such as high purchase volumes and locations usually associated with a customer.
Example: Walmart uses AI for online transaction monitoring and reporting suspicious activities such as discrepancies in billing addresses, multiple declined attempts, etc., ensuring safe and secure transactions to customers.
8. Shelf Analytics and Stock Optimization:
AI Computer vision tracks real-time tabs on aisle inventory. Identifying objects that are misplaced, or nearly low stock helps in replenishment efficiently.
Example: Kroger has implemented AI cameras in its stores to monitor shelves and alert staff when items need restocking. This ensures that customers always find what they need without disruption.
9. Smart Checkout Systems:
AI simplifies the checkout process by automating payments through advanced sensors and cameras. Customers can pick up items and leave the store without waiting in lines or scanning products manually.
Example: Amazon Go is the first shop to have smart checkouts powered by AI. For example, people walk into the store and pick the item out of the shelf and are actually not leaving with it. The intelligent AI computer vision technology will charge their account before they walk out.
10. Customer Sentiment Analysis:
AI interprets customer reviews, comments, and social media mentions of products or services and derives sentiment. These findings can assist retailers in improving their offerings.
Example: Walmart uses AI to read online reviews and commentaries on its products, to understand better customer preferences and areas for improvement.
11. AI-Powered Marketing Campaigns:
AI optimizes marketing by identifying the target audience segments, creating personalized messages, and scheduling campaigns for the times when they would most likely succeed.
Example: Starbucks employs AI to send personalized offers over the app, taking into account different variables such as location, purchase history, and even weather conditions.
12. Automation of warehouses:
AI-powered robots continue to shorten warehouse operations for purposes such as inventory management, sorting, and packing, making delivery times much shorter and reducing order fulfillment errors.
Example: The use of AI robots in fulfillment centers by Amazon is a way to carry packages and sort them, which automatically increases the flow in the operations of supply chains.
13. Sustainability and Waste Reduction:
AI can save retailers millions of dollars by drastically optimizing their supply chains, increasing energy usage, and predicting accurate, realistic demand.
Example: Patagonia uses AI to align its production with customer demand, reducing excess inventory and minimizing environmental impact.
Benefits of AI in Retail:
AI in retail isn’t just about innovation; it brings tangible benefits that transform how businesses operate and engage with customers.
1. Enhanced Customer Experience:
AI is making personalized, smooth shopping experiences by providing various tailored suggestions, virtual assistants, as well as other interactive tools like AR. Overall customer satisfaction and engagement increase due to such technology.
2. Optimized Inventory Management:
AI accurately forecasts demand, reduces overstocking or understocking, and streamlines supply chain operations, resulting in cost savings and operational efficiency.
3. Sale and Revenue Growth:
The dynamic pricing, targeted advertising, and individual shopping journey processes contributed to maximizing sales opportunities as well as transforming the profitability margins of retailers through personalization given by AI.
4. Improved Decision Making:
AI adds operational insights through data analysis that enables retailers to base their decisions on the kind of products they are stocking, pricing strategies, and even marketing campaigns.
5. Operational efficiency:
Automation with AI can include low-cost, unproductive methods for easing repetitive processes like inventory tracking, warehouse management, or checkout.
Top Applications of AI in Retail:
AI applications in retail are diverse, catering to various aspects of the shopping experience, supply chain, and customer engagement. Here are the top five applications, along with specific platforms that are leading the way:
1. Personalized Shopping Experiences:
Picture Courtesy: cx-consultants.com
Increasing consumer engagement and improving sales are derived from AI-enabled platforms analyzing various information to model distinct shopping paths for every customer.
Salesforce Einstein:
Salesforce Einstein employs machine learning to analyze customer preferences and behaviors to present product recommendations, marketing messages, and product offers that are most suitable for each individual customer. Retailers can even apply Einstein to engage customers in e-commerce websites or in e-mail campaigns.
2. AI-Powered Chatbots and Virtual Assistants:
Picture Courtesy: https://www.freshworks.com
These tools respond to inquiries instantly, assist in the selection, and resolve the most common issues.
Zendesk AI:
Zendesk’s AI-powered chatbots help retailers address customer queries, and complaints, and guide customers to their products. It integrates with websites and social channels in a way that ensures 24/7 service, eliminating the need for human interventions.
3. Visual Search and Image Recognition:
Picture Courtesy: salestechstar.com
AI enables uploading an image and helping them to figure out the items easily available in it or at least similar to it.
Syte:
Syte deploys visual search technology that allows customers to take a picture of a product they like and directly find comparable ones on a retailer’s website. This technology is popular in fashion as well as interior decoration industries to make searches more accurate.
4. Dynamic Pricing Tools:
Picture Courtesy: webrazzi.com
AI algorithms automatically adjust prices based on factors like market demand, competitor pricing, and inventory levels, helping retailers stay competitive.
Prisync:
Prisync is an AI-powered dynamic pricing tool that helps retailers optimize their pricing strategies. It tracks competitors’ prices and provides recommendations for real-time adjustments to maximize profits and attract more customers.
5. Inventory and Supply Chain Management:
Picture Courtesy: businesswire.com
AI improves inventory tracking, demand forecasting, and supply chain efficiency, ensuring that the right products are available at the right time.
Blue Yonder (formerly JDA Software):
Blue Yonder uses AI to analyze supply chain data and optimize inventory management. It predicts demand fluctuations, reduces waste, and ensures timely replenishment of stock, making operations more efficient.
Data and Statistics: The Transformative Impact of AI in Retail
Picture Courtesy: http://www.prismetric.com
AI is rapidly changing the landscape of retail by improving efficiency, boosting sales, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Here are some key data and statistics showcasing its impact:
The influence of AI in the retail industry is growing rapidly, yet its full potential remains untapped. While 28% of retail businesses have adopted AI, only 4% are actively integrating it into their core operations. This highlights a significant opportunity for broader implementation across the sector.
Looking ahead, AI and machine learning are poised to revolutionize inventory management and supply chain optimization. By 2025, 68% of retailers plan to leverage AI technologies in these areas, underscoring their trust in AI’s ability to enhance operational efficiency and drive productivity.
Beyond retail, AI is set to reshape the global economy. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, AI-powered innovations are projected to contribute an additional $13 trillion to global economic output by 2030, demonstrating its transformative potential across industries.
The AI-driven retail market is also on a remarkable growth trajectory. By 2029, its market size is expected to expand significantly from $9.85 billion in 2024 to $40.49 billion. This surge, marked by a staggering Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 32.68% over five years, reflects the increasing adoption of AI technologies in retail.
Consumer preferences are increasingly favoring AI-powered solutions. Surveys reveal that over 74% of people prefer chatbots for addressing common queries due to their convenience and efficiency compared to human representatives.
The potential of AI in customer interactions is evident in Juniper Research’s predictions. Retail spending through chatbots, which stood at $12 billion in 2023, is expected to soar to $72 billion by 2028. This marks a significant shift in consumer behavior and communication channels, as chatbots become an integral part of the shopping experience. AI is not just a tool for innovation but a driving force for transformative change in both retail and the global economy, setting the stage for a smarter, more efficient future.
Latest Trends in AI for Retail:
Picture Courtesy: finturf.com
AI is continually reshaping the retail landscape, driving innovation, and improving customer experiences. Below are some of the latest trends in AI for retail, along with real-world examples of their application:
1. AI-Powered Personalization:
Personalization is a cornerstone of modern retail strategies. AI is used to analyze customer data and deliver tailored recommendations, promotions, and shopping experiences, enhancing engagement and driving sales.
Amazon: Amazon’s recommendation engine uses AI to analyze customer behavior and purchase history to provide personalized product suggestions. This has significantly boosted sales, with AI-powered recommendations accounting for 35% of Amazon’s revenue.
2. Visual Search and Augmented Reality (AR):
AI-driven visual search allows customers to find products by uploading images, while augmented reality (AR) helps them visualize products in real-time in their environment before making a purchase. These technologies enhance the shopping experience, especially in industries like fashion and furniture.
ASOS: ASOS offers an AI-powered visual search feature on its app, allowing customers to upload photos and find similar items available for purchase.
IKEA Place: IKEA’s AR app lets users see how furniture will look in their homes, using AI to enhance product visualization, and improve purchase confidence.
3. AI-Powered Chatbots and Virtual Assistants:
AI-powered chatbots are revolutionizing customer service by providing instant responses to queries, guiding shoppers through product selections, and even handling post-purchase inquiries. This reduces customer service costs while improving response time and customer satisfaction.
Sephora’s Virtual Artist: Sephora uses AI to allow customers to try on makeup virtually using their app. The Virtual Artist feature uses AI to recommend shades based on the user’s facial features and preferences, enhancing the online shopping experience.
4. Dynamic Pricing:
AI is being increasingly used for dynamic pricing, where prices are adjusted in real-time based on factors such as demand, competitor pricing, and stock levels. This helps retailers maximize revenue and stay competitive in a fast-paced market.
Uber: Uber uses dynamic pricing, powered by AI, to adjust fares based on demand and traffic conditions. This model is being adapted in retail for real-time price adjustments on e-commerce platforms, enabling retailers to capitalize on peak demand times.
5. AI-Driven Inventory and Supply Chain Optimization:
AI helps retailers predict demand, optimize inventory management, and streamline supply chain operations. By analyzing customer data and market trends, AI can forecast which products will be in high demand and ensure they are always in stock.
Walmart: Walmart uses AI for inventory management, analyzing past sales data and external factors (like weather) to predict future demand. This helps ensure stock levels are optimized, reducing waste and preventing stockouts.
6. Voice Search and Voice Assistants:
Voice-powered AI is transforming the way consumers interact with retail platforms. From searching for products to making purchases, voice assistants are streamlining the shopping process and making it more convenient.
Google Assistant and Alexa: Retailers like Target and Walmart are integrating with voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Alexa to allow customers to search for products, add items to their cart, and place orders through voice commands, creating a hands-free shopping experience.
7. Automated Checkout and Contactless Payments:
AI-powered checkout systems are reducing the need for human cashiers, speeding up transactions, and enhancing the customer experience. These systems use AI to identify products and process payments automatically.
Amazon Go: Amazon Go stores use AI and computer vision technology to eliminate traditional checkout lines. Customers can simply pick up items and leave, with their purchases automatically tracked and charged to their Amazon account.
8. Fraud Prevention and Security:
AI is also playing a significant role in retail security, with systems that can detect fraudulent transactions and suspicious behavior. AI analyzes purchase patterns and flags any anomalies, helping retailers protect against fraud and ensure safe transactions for customers.
PayPal: PayPal uses machine learning algorithms to analyze transactions in real-time and identify potentially fraudulent activity. This AI-driven system helps reduce chargebacks and fraud, enhancing both merchant and customer security.
AI is more than a trend; it’s a necessity for retailers aiming to thrive in the digital age. From personalized experiences to smarter operations, its applications are reshaping the way businesses interact with customers. As a shopper, you’re already part of this revolution. So, the next time you see a product recommendation that feels eerily spot-on, remember, that it’s AI working its magic.
How do you feel about AI transforming the retail experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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In recent years, the digital art landscape has experienced a dynamic transformation, influenced by technological advancements and shifting cultural paradigms. As artists continue to experiment with new tools and platforms, contemporary digital art has expanded beyond traditional boundaries, offering fresh perspectives and innovative experiences. This article delves into the emerging trends shaping this vibrant field, exploring the evolution of digital art forms, the technologies driving current creations, and the impact of social media on artist visibility.
Understanding the Evolution of Digital Art Forms
The evolution of digital art forms can be traced back to the late 20th century, with early pioneers using computers as creative tools. Initially, digital art was seen as a niche interest, with limited recognition within the broader art community. However, as technology advanced, artists began to explore new possibilities, pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic practices. This period saw the emergence of digital painting, 3D modeling, and computer-generated imagery, each contributing to a diverse digital art ecosystem.
As digital art gained momentum, the internet played a pivotal role in its dissemination and evolution. Online platforms provided artists with a global stage to showcase their work, breaking down geographical barriers and fostering cross-cultural collaborations. This accessibility led to the democratization of art creation and consumption, allowing artists from various backgrounds to experiment and innovate. Consequently, digital art forms began to diversify, incorporating elements of interactivity, virtual reality, and augmented reality.
In recent years, the concept of digital art has expanded to encompass various forms, including generative art, data visualization, and immersive installations. Generative art, which uses algorithms to create unique compositions, has gained popularity for its ability to blend creativity with computational precision. Similarly, data visualization transforms complex datasets into visually compelling narratives, offering new ways to interpret information artistically. These developments reflect a broader trend towards integrating technology and art, resulting in increasingly sophisticated and nuanced digital creations.
The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has further revolutionized the digital art landscape, providing artists with new avenues for monetization and ownership. NFTs enable artists to tokenize their digital creations, ensuring provenance and authenticity in an increasingly digital world. This innovation has sparked debates about the value of digital art and its place within the traditional art market, prompting both excitement and skepticism among artists and collectors alike.
Moreover, the evolution of digital art forms has been influenced by the growing interest in social and environmental issues. Many contemporary digital artists address themes such as climate change, identity, and social justice, using their work to provoke thought and inspire action. This shift towards socially engaged art reflects a broader trend within the art world, as artists seek to use their platforms to effect positive change.
Ultimately, the evolution of digital art forms is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of artists in the face of rapid technological advancements. As new tools and platforms continue to emerge, digital art will undoubtedly evolve further, offering unprecedented opportunities for creative expression and innovation.
Key Technologies Shaping Contemporary Creations
Contemporary digital art is heavily influenced by a range of cutting-edge technologies that have opened up new possibilities for artistic expression. One of the most significant advancements is artificial intelligence (AI), which has become a powerful tool for artists seeking to push creative boundaries. AI algorithms can generate unique artworks, assist in the creation of complex compositions, and even mimic human artistic styles, offering a new realm of exploration for digital artists.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are also at the forefront of technological innovations shaping contemporary digital art. These immersive technologies enable artists to create interactive experiences that transcend traditional two-dimensional media. VR allows viewers to step inside digital environments, offering a sense of presence and engagement that static artworks cannot match. Similarly, AR overlays digital elements onto the real world, creating a blend of physical and digital experiences that captivate audiences.
Blockchain technology, particularly in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has had a profound impact on the digital art market. NFTs provide a means for artists to authenticate and sell their digital creations, offering a new level of ownership and value in the digital realm. This technology has empowered artists to monetize their work in innovative ways, challenging traditional notions of art ownership and distribution. The rise of NFTs has also sparked a broader conversation about the future of art and its relationship with technology.
Another key technology shaping contemporary digital art is machine learning, which enables artists to analyze vast datasets and generate new insights. Through machine learning, artists can create data-driven artworks that reflect complex patterns and trends, offering a unique perspective on the world around us. This technology has opened up new avenues for exploration, allowing artists to engage with topics such as climate change, social dynamics, and urban development in novel ways.
The integration of 3D printing technology into digital art practices has also expanded the possibilities for artistic creation. Artists can now transform digital designs into tangible objects, blurring the lines between the digital and physical worlds. This technology has enabled the creation of intricate sculptures and installations that challenge traditional notions of form and space, offering new ways to experience art.
Finally, advancements in digital fabrication techniques, such as laser cutting and CNC milling, have provided artists with new tools for creating complex and detailed artworks. These technologies allow for precise control over the production process, enabling artists to experiment with materials and forms in unprecedented ways. As digital fabrication continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of contemporary digital art.
The Role of Social Media in Artist Visibility
Social media platforms have become invaluable tools for artists seeking to increase their visibility and reach new audiences. By providing a space for artists to share their work with a global audience, social media has democratized the art world, allowing emerging artists to gain recognition and build a following without the need for traditional gatekeepers. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have become popular venues for artists to showcase their digital creations and engage with fans.
The visual nature of platforms like Instagram makes them particularly well-suited for digital artists, who can easily share images and videos of their work. Through these platforms, artists can connect with a diverse audience, receive feedback, and build a community around their practice. Social media also allows artists to share their creative process, offering insights into their techniques and inspirations, which can enhance audience engagement and appreciation.
In addition to increasing visibility, social media has facilitated new forms of collaboration and networking among artists. Artists can connect with peers from around the world, share ideas, and collaborate on projects that transcend geographical boundaries. This connectivity has led to the emergence of global art movements and collectives, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among digital artists.
Social media has also played a significant role in the rise of digital art marketplaces and online exhibitions. Artists can leverage their social media presence to promote their work and direct followers to digital platforms where they can purchase art or explore virtual exhibitions. This shift towards online art sales has provided artists with new revenue streams and increased accessibility for collectors.
However, the reliance on social media for visibility also presents challenges for artists. The algorithms that govern these platforms can dictate which content is seen and by whom, potentially limiting the reach of certain artists. Additionally, the fast-paced nature of social media can create pressure for artists to constantly produce new content, which may impact the quality and depth of their work.
Despite these challenges, social media remains a powerful tool for artists seeking to navigate the digital art landscape. By leveraging these platforms effectively, artists can reach new audiences, engage with their community, and explore new opportunities for creative expression and collaboration.
As digital art continues to evolve, driven by technological innovations and changing cultural dynamics, artists find themselves at the forefront of a rapidly transforming creative landscape. The emergence of new digital art forms, the role of cutting-edge technologies, and the influence of social media have collectively reshaped how art is created, shared, and consumed. As we look to the future, the potential for further innovation and exploration in digital art is boundless, promising exciting possibilities for artists and audiences alike.
