Home Blog Page 163

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide For The Travelers In Your Life

0
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide For The Travelers In Your Life


This Valentine’s Day, skip the chocolate and pricey dinners out, and instead invest in something practical. These gifts are ideal for frequent travelers and last longer than just one day. Varying in price points, there is a gift for every travel lifestyle from flight crew to business travelers. Whether you use these gifts at home or on the road, these suggestions show how much you care.

Bearbottom Casual Clothes

The special man in your life deserves to feel comfortable and stylish, even when wearing casual wear. This pair of stretch chino plants has a slim, but flexible fit that is especially ideal for frequent travelers. It comes in a dozen different traditional and bright colors. In a shorter and summer-worthy style, there are more than a dozen colors for the stretch shorts from Bearbottom. We also love the moisture-wicking and quick-drying material of its polo shirt that is also anti-microbial, another great feature for traveling.

Purity Coffee and Bones Coffee

Coffee lovers have a new product to try that offers health benefits as well as a caffeine pick-me-up. Purity Coffee is an organic, pesticide-free coffee from ethically-sourced farms has wellness benefits for your liver and mind with each sup. Bones Coffee has its own focus on edgy packaging and unique flavors that will send a pleasant aroma wafting through your home or office. Popular flavors include red velvet cake and coconut macaron.

Pillow Cube Side Sleeper Pillows

These cushy and firm pillows are ideal for those that sleep on their side, but want maximum support when turned on their side. Not only does it help you to fall asleep faster, but it provides better neck and spine alignment for a more comfortable rest. The option to add a cooling pillow cover will keep you feeling fresh without overheating all night. There are also versions for children or for those that need to support their knees for better lower back support. Frequent travelers will appreciate the travel-sized versions that promote better rest when away from home.

Kalorik Vivid Touch Air Fryer

Eating when traveling means a lot of recipes that may be unfamiliar. It also means eating additives and preservatives you are not used to consuming. This can severely affect your health. That’s why the Kaloirk Vivid Touch Air Fryer is the perfect gift for frequent travelers to enjoy when they return home. For just over $100, its stainless steel design, colorful panel in numerous languages and cooking options truly impress. You enjoy your favorite fried foods without using oil, slicing your calories in more than half. It also does most of the cooking for you by adjusting the temperature based on the food type or cut. And when it’s time to shake, you’ll get a reminder for that, too.

CardioFitMD Dietary Supplement

Frequent travel can take a toll on the body, and this cardiologist-created daily superfood supplement can help you recover from digestive and circulatory stress. It promotes better heart function and weight maintenance thanks to being packed with pre and probiotics. It also contains 19 vitamins and minerals that can support energy stamina and healthy blood pressure. The 1lb supplement bag easily fits into a carry-on bag and can be scooped into a glass or bottle of water to start your day. You can also score bigger savings by purchasing a larger monthly supply.

Regelica Immunity Support Essence

Owned by a Korean woman’s small business, Regelica leans on the already bustling Korean beauty industry. The Mandelic + Edelweiss Renewal Serum helps to exfoliate the skin with natural ingredients and antioxidants. By using mandelic acid, it can also target pigmentation and wrinkles. The Vitamin C focuses on boosting elasticity and brightness, and this serum can be used twice a day making it a great gift for frequent flyers.

The Duo Umbrella

You’ll have to thank the TV show “Shark Tank” and the entrepreneurs brave enough to present the idea there for this one. The Duo is a Dual Handle Umbrella (essentially a normal umbrella with an extendable arm so that a second person can hold it). Yes, the umbrella itself is wide enough to cover them both. Brilliant! Made from recycled polyester, it opens in a cinch, closes just as easily and comes in three colors. It makes a great gift for car travelers because, at least for now, it does not come in a travel-sized model. If that were not enough, the shield of the umbrella has UPF 50 sun protection. 

Clearlight Red Light Personal Tower

The bright red of this infrared tower is more than a symbol of romance, but also of health. The healing power of this light can boost your mood, reduce inflammation and wrinkles, improve sleep, target blemishes on the skin and reduce muscle pain. It is best for face, neck and upper body, but works all over the body to heal you from the outside in. While not convenient for travel, it is just the thing you need when you return home from a trip to energize and refresh by boosting energy into the cells’ mitochondria. It’s an anti-aging process that uses “photobiomodulation.” Other products include an LED mask that specifically targets the skin on your face. The tower fits easily on a desk, table, floor or tucked into a shelf in the corner of your room.

Arcade Motion Belt

This new motion belt has a different design, webbing and buckle than previous models and works well in both casual or business settings. It’s a one-size belt that fits your waist thanks to its stretching fabric. There are different patterns and designs that make it especially fun to have these lightweight belts in your carry-on travel bag. The material is sustainably sourced, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee (an extra bonus at this fair price point). The Motion Belt goes live Feb. 11.

BECOME A PURSUITIST VIP!

Sign up for our Free Insider Enewsletter. Get exclusive access. No ads, ever!Rated ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from Forbes, The New York Times & The Wall Street Journal.

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises, airlines, and loyalty programs from around the globe.



Source link

A Complete Guide to XCOPY: The Counter-Culture NFT Artist

0
A Complete Guide to XCOPY: The Counter-Culture NFT Artist


Web3 goes hand-in-hand with counter-culture movements. One digital artist has embraced where the two of them meet to become one of the most notorious NFT artists in the world today. That artist is XCOPY.

2025 will see XCOPY celebrate 15 years as a digital artist. From humble beginnings on Tumblr to multiple multi-million dollar NFT drops, he has forged a reputation as one of the most celebrated counter-culture artists in the NFT industry.

XCOPY stands as one of the leading figures in both digital art and NFT art – but why is his work so renowned, how did he rise to the top of the industry, and what might we see from him in future?

Here’s our complete guide to the NFT artist known as XCOPY.

Key Insights

Pseudonymous digital artist based in LondonFirst surfaced on Tumblr in August 2010Sold Right-Click and Save As Guy for $7 million USD in December 2021Sold his Max Pain open edition for over $24 million USD in March 2022Considered to be one of the world’s leading counter-culture NFT artists

XCOPY Guide - Right-Click and Save As Guy

Who is XCOPY?

XCOPY is the pseudonym for a renowned digital artist that’s based in London, UK.

He first surfaced in August 2010, creating digital artworks on Tumblr that critiqued modern society, with dystopian outlooks and a side of dark humour. His art often tackles themes such as death, modern society, and the anxieties manifested by the digital age.

XCOPY’s work often drawns from counter-culture ideas, with influences from punk, anarchism and horror. Across both static and animated pieces, you’ll find a brooding ambience, dark shadows, and vibrant neon accents. This style has become his hallmark – and one that many have tried to imitate.

The visual impact of his work is striking – though XCOPY is celebrated as much for the messages within his works as their aesthetics. His pieces often possess an unsettling nature, requiring viewers to confront this discomfort to find the true meaning behind his work.

XCOPY Guide - Some AssholeXCOPY Guide - Some Asshole

XCOPY began to mint his works as NFTs in 2018. As one of the first notable artists to enter the NFT industry, he became one of its most prominent faces almost immediately. To date, he’s created more than 70 NFT collections, totalling over 13,000 individual NFTs – some of which have fetched millions of dollars.

His NFTs can be found on various platforms, including:

SuperRare. XCOPY was one of the first artists to mint an NFT on SuperRare – home to his RΞMNANTS series and many early 1-of-1 NFTsOpenSea. NFT marketplace OpenSea houses secondary market trading for collections such as FRESH HELL, DAMAGE CONTROL, and GRIFT SZNNifty Gateway. Art-focused platform Nifty Gateway is home to XCOPY’s MAX PAIN, TRAITORS, DISRUPTOR and many burn-focused collectionsAsync Art. Now-closed, Async Art held programmable collections of interactive NFTs such as The Rabble and DOOM Party

Alongside solo works, XCOPY has also produced a number of collaborations. Through working with artists such as @neonglitch86, XCOPY has produced the likes of RELICS and SPORES, blending different art styles together to create all-new unique works.

On top of his NFT sales, XCOPY has garnered praise for his support of other creators. He’s been a big advocate for creator royalties, and has been known to praise other high-quality works in the space – such as the book CryptoPunks: Free to Claim.

XCOPY Guide - MAX PAINXCOPY Guide - MAX PAIN

The history of XCOPY

The rise of XCOPY aligns with that of the NFT industry itself.

XCOPY minted his first NFT on April 7, 2018. Titled Echoes of a Dead Earth, it was the first of what would become many 1-of-1 NFTs that he would mint on SuperRare.

Notable examples include Some Asshole, which would later sell for 1,300 ETH ($3.9 million USD), A Coin for the Ferryman, which would later sell for 1,330 ETH ($6.0 million USD), and All Time High in the City, which would later sell for 1,630 ETH ($6.2 million USD) – all of which were minted in 2018.

Another 2018 piece, Right-Click and Save As Guy, addressed the topic of digital ownership. The piece was reshared by XCOPY in August 2020, adding that “they said it at $100 they’ll still say it at $100,000”. It was later sold to Cozomo de’ Medici for 1,600 ETH ($7.0 million USD) in December 2021.

XCOPY Guide - DAMAGE CONTROLXCOPY Guide - DAMAGE CONTROL

March 2022 saw XCOPY create two new NFT collections. The first was Grifters, a collection of 666 digital characters on Ethereum. As of January 2025, Grifters has a floor price above 15 ETH ($48,000 USD).

The second was MAX PAIN, an 10-minute time-limited open edition. MAX PAIN would raise $24 million USD – and become the focal point of future collections, such as 2023’s DAMAGE CONTROL.

DAMAGE CONTROL had fans burn MAX PAIN NFTs to acquire new NFTs. These new NFTs could themselves be burned to receive rarer editions. The DAMAGE CONTROL burn phase – which marked the conclusion of this experiment – ended on January 1, 2025.

August 2022 saw XCOPY announce that all of his prior and future solo works would be issued under a CC0 license. This meant that he relinquished all copyright claims to his works, allowing anyone to reuse or build upon his works.

XCOPY Guide - All Time High in the CityXCOPY Guide - All Time High in the City

XCOPY has continued to release regular art ever since, and was especially active across late 2024 and early 2025.

September 2024 saw his 2019 artwork Bad Flavour sell for 280 ETH ($665,000 USD) – an impressive sale given the general decline in the NFT art market over the past few years.

October 2024 saw XCOPY release Cope Salada – a collection of 250 unique 1-of-1 NFTs on the new Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain Shape. XCOPY describes this collection as “stripped back, raw, unadulterated, undiluted, and pristinely presented grade-A copium.”

November 2024 introduced the ICXN Collection – XCOPY’s debut in the Art Blocks ecosystem. The collection utilised the Art Blocks Engine – a code-based generative art platform – to create 500 unique 1-of-1 NFTs.

XCOPY Guide - A Coin for the FerrymanXCOPY Guide - A Coin for the Ferryman

What’s next for XCOPY?

With XCOPY’s history of success, there’s no doubt that he’ll continue to push the boundaries of digital art, debate, and the NFT industry.

2025 will see the debut of XCOPY’s FRESH HELL collection. It is expected to be a 42-piece collection – which is yet to have an announced mint date.

Some areas in which we could see XCOPY make future contributions include:

Interactive art. XCOPY has collaborated with 3D artists in the past, with his previous releases on Async Art seeing high praiseArtist advocacy. XCOPY has continually supported artists over the years – and if an opportunity arises to do this again, XCOPY will certainly be thereGlobal culture. XCOPY has been the catalyst for discussion not just on Web3 topics, but on wider societal issues too – and he’ll likely continue to do so

XCOPY Guide - Echoes of a Dead EarthXCOPY Guide - Echoes of a Dead Earth

XCOPY has had an impact on both NFTs and digital art that’s comparable to that of figures such as Beeple and Pak.

With his vision, style and innovative work, XCOPY is not just a name – he’s a movement. His work make us consider the role of art in society – digital or otherwise – as well as to cast a new light on modern life.

XCOPY is a name that has, does and will continue to shape the future of the digital art world.



Source link

This Week in Bitcoin: New High Price, Multi-Million Dollar Projections, and Trump Frees Ross Ulbricht – Decrypt

0
This Week in Bitcoin: New High Price, Multi-Million Dollar Projections, and Trump Frees Ross Ulbricht – Decrypt



Bitcoin is again hovering around $105,000 per coin, barely budging since this time last week. Investors shouldn’t complain, though, after an action-packed start to the week led the coin to hit a new high.

The price of the biggest coin by market cap broke a new record of $108,786 Monday ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. It has since dropped by nearly 4%, CoinGecko shows.

And despite President Trump not explicitly declaring plans for a Bitcoin strategic reserve in his first crypto executive order, the coin is still sitting comfortably above the $100,000 mark.

Bitcoin soared above $100,000 following Trump’s November election; the President promised to slash regulation and help the digital asset industry. And he is keeping his crypto promises—albeit while annoying some hardcore Bitcoiners in the process.

ETF movements

Money continued to flow into the crypto investment vehicles this week, after investors threw billions at the funds last week ahead of the inauguration.

But it didn’t stop, with $802.6 million hitting the funds on Tuesday alone, data from Farside Investors shows. By the end of the week, over $1.75 billion worth of assets had entered the Bitcoin ETFs.

The bullishness comes as Donald Trump is expected to be a net positive for the industry. The Republican campaigned on a promise to help the industry and now buying Bitcoin has never been easier thanks to the funds.

Ross freed

Bitcoiners had been waiting for it for years. And on Tuesday, President Donald Trump kept his campaign promise to pardon Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

The Bitcoin enthusiast and founder of the dark web e-commerce site—mainly used for buying drugs using Bitcoin—was released shortly after and expressed enormous gratitude to President Trump. The crypto community flooded his digital wallets with BTC donations, too.

But Ulbricht—who went to prison in 2013—might already just be sitting on a goldmine: Untouched Bitcoin wallets linked to Ross Ulbricht and Silk Road now hold over $47 million worth of the asset.

Ulbricht has long been considered a hero in the Bitcoin community for creating one of the first marketplaces to accept the cryptocurrency. And though it still can’t be verified that the wallets do indeed belong to him, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.

Where’s Bitcoin?

Ahead of Donald Trump’s shock November 5 win, the President had promised plans for a Bitcoin strategic reserve. But after signing his first crypto executive order on Thursday, which touched on the possibility of a crypto stockpile, Bitcoiners noticed one thing—there was no mention of their beloved orange coin, just “digital assets.”

“The Working Group shall evaluate the potential creation and maintenance of a national digital asset stockpile and propose criteria for establishing such a stockpile, potentially derived from cryptocurrencies lawfully seized by the Federal Government through its law enforcement efforts,” the order read.

The news has angered ardent Bitcoiners, who have been hurling the usual insults about “shitcoinery,” and who think it may lead the government to building up a stash of other digital coins.

MicroStrategy moves

Software company MicroStrategy shareholders are seemingly all-in on the firm’s Bitcoin strategy: They on Tuesday voted for a 30x increase to the number of authorized Class A common shares so that the company could have more resources to buy the cryptocurrency.

The news came as the company announced its latest Bitcoin buy, bringing its holdings to 461,000 Bitcoin—worth over $48 billion. And on Friday, the firm said that it would redeem over $1 billion worth of its existing debt accumulated early while building up the stash.

Soaring projections

Elsewhere, British multinational bank Standard Chartered, which has come out with very bullish predictions in the past, said in a Wednesday note that Bitcoin would continue to soar as pension funds enter the space.

Analysts at the bank forecasted that institutions enthusiasm for the asset could mean the coin hits $200,000 by the end of 2025.

But there were even bigger price predictions for Bitcoin from major players this week. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said that growing adoption could push the price of the asset to $700,000, while Coinbase founder and CEO Brian Armstrong projected a price in the “multiple millions” at some undetermined point in the future.

Edited by Andrew Hayward

Daily Debrief Newsletter

Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.





Source link

The NVIDIA of Web3: Why $SPON Could Be the Next Crypto to Watch

0
The NVIDIA of Web3: Why $SPON Could Be the Next Crypto to Watch


We are on the cusp of a new paradigm where artificial intelligence (AI) fuses with blockchain technology to reshape everything from finance to supply chains and beyond. Over the past decade, the crypto landscape has witnessed several waves of innovation—starting with Bitcoin’s digital gold narrative, then Ethereum’s smart contracts, DeFi (Decentralized Finance), NFTs, and now, the meteoric rise of AI-driven blockchain applications (often called DeAI or DeFAI). Amid this transformative whirlwind, infrastructure remains one of the most critical—and often most overlooked—layers of growth and value capture.

When we talk about “infrastructure” in the context of tech booms, we’re referring to the foundational elements that make everything else possible. In the blockchain world, this can mean nodes, validators, decentralized storage, and importantly, decentralized compute. As AI gains prominence, the demand for powerful, reliable compute resources soars. The quest for permissionless, always-available computing has created a unique intersection: the world needs an “NVIDIA-like” player but for decentralized AI and Web3.

That’s where Spheron and its native token $SPON enter the picture. In many ways, Spheron is going to be the “NVIDIA of Web3”—the essential layer that supplies the computational horsepower and resilient environment for autonomous AI agents, DeFi protocols, and decentralized applications (dApps) that require more than just a simple Ethereum smart contract. But why is that so compelling, and how exactly does $SPON fit into this picture? More importantly, can $SPON replicate NVIDIA’s success story in crypto?

This article aims to offer a deep, nuanced look at why $SPON could be the next big crypto asset to watch, especially for those who believe in the unstoppable merging of AI and blockchain. By weaving together historical parallels, market analysis, and future projections, we’ll see why so many eyes are turning toward Spheron and its token.

Lessons from History: Selling Shovels in a Gold Rush

The famous California Gold Rush of 1848–1855 taught us a timeless lesson about value capture. While thousands of hopefuls flocked to California to strike gold, very few emerged fabulously wealthy by mining. Instead, it was the merchants—those selling shovels, picks, and other essential tools—who reaped the lion’s share of the profits. Levi Strauss sold durable pants, and Samuel Brannan sold picks and shovels, each generating fortunes. The people who controlled the fundamental resources, not the risk-laden end products, became the true winners of that era.

We see the same pattern repeating in the technology world. During the internet boom, companies like Cisco (building networking routers) and Intel (manufacturing processors) captured immense value while many “dot-com” brands faded from relevance. With the cloud revolution, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure ended up dwarfing most consumer-facing startups in market cap. In today’s AI race, NVIDIA has emerged as the uncontested champion, providing the GPUs necessary to power complex machine-learning tasks.

The synergy is clear: whoever provides the critical infrastructure reaps the most dependable rewards. Spheron, with its decentralized compute infrastructure, is aiming to do precisely this in the Web3 realm, and $SPON is the “shovel” powering that entire ecosystem.

NVIDIA’s Dominance and What It Teaches Us About Value Accrual

NVIDIA did not become the world’s leading AI computing company overnight. Initially recognized for its innovations in graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming, the company quickly spotted an emerging niche: scientific computing and AI training. NVIDIA’s GPUs turned out to be perfectly suited for parallelizing machine learning workloads, especially for training deep neural networks.

Fast-forward to today:

AI Growth: Large Language Models (LLMs) such as GPT-4 rely heavily on GPU-accelerated computing.

Near Monopoly: NVIDIA enjoys a staggering market share in AI training, often quoted at around 95%.

Value Capture: Thanks to this strategic position, NVIDIA’s valuation soared, with share prices reflecting the massive demand for AI compute.

The moral of the story? Once you secure the foundational layer, every application built on top of it becomes your customer. As AI continues its unstoppable ascent, NVIDIA’s relevance and revenue grow exponentially. The question then becomes: Is there an analogous opportunity in Web3?

Yes, and that’s precisely where Spheron is poised to shine. AI and Web3 are converging in a space that demands massive, efficient, and decentralized compute resources. If Spheron can establish itself as the backbone for autonomous AI agents and advanced DeFi protocols, its native token, $SPON, might be set for exponential growth—mirroring NVIDIA’s trajectory in the AI sector.

The Rise of AI Agents in Blockchain

One of the most exciting developments in blockchain and AI is the emergence of autonomous AI agents. Imagine software programs or smart contracts powered by advanced models that can:

Make autonomous financial decisions (DeFi strategies, liquidity provisioning, yield optimization)

Monitor on-chain data 24/7 for opportunities

Execute trades in milliseconds based on real-time insights

Maintain multi-chain presence in an increasingly cross-chain DeFi ecosystem

These agents are already making headlines. Some experts predict that by 2025 or 2026, up to 90–99% of on-chain transactions could be executed by AI agents rather than by humans. The logic behind these forecasts is simple: AI doesn’t sleep, and markets don’t either.

Yet, all these AI agents need compute power—and not just any compute power. They require permissionless, easily scalable, and cost-effective GPU or CPU resources. Relying on centralized cloud services like AWS or Google Cloud introduces the same vulnerabilities and choke points that blockchains are designed to eliminate (e.g., KYC restrictions, single points of failure, centralized intervention). That’s why a decentralized solution is vital.

Enter Spheron: a decentralized network capable of providing both CPU and GPU resources to these agents on demand, without the friction of KYC or the centralized gating that traditional cloud providers impose. The potential for growth is massive, and naturally, $SPON—the network’s native token—stands to benefit as more AI agents flock to Spheron for compute.

Spheron: The Decentralized Compute Backbone

At its core, Spheron is building a permissionless network of compute providers that can be accessed directly via smart contracts. This network includes:

Decentralized CPU and GPU Resources: Anyone with spare compute capacity can join and offer resources, earning FN Points as of now as a reward. AI agents and developers can lease compute power autonomously, paying in $SPON through trustless, on-chain transactions.

Smart Contract-Based Leasing: Instead of relying on Web2-style APIs, AI agents (or developers) directly interact with Spheron’s on-chain protocols. This design eliminates the need for API keys, removing a major roadblock for truly autonomous AI systems.

Scalability and Cost Arbitrage: By tapping into underutilized compute resources from individuals around the world, Spheron can offer more competitive pricing than a single centralized provider. As more users and AI agents join, the network’s capacity expands organically.

Full-Stack Approach: Spheron is not just about raw CPU or GPU power. It also focuses on frameworks, developer tools, and user-friendly interfaces (SDKs, CLI, console, etc.) to make deployment seamless. The network’s composability allows multiple “agent frameworks” to flourish on top of it, each with different specializations (DeFi automation, NFT analytics, cross-chain bridging, etc.).

In this model, $SPON becomes essential for every aspect of the ecosystem:

Payment: Agents must acquire $SPON to lease compute resources.

Staking: Compute providers stake $SPON to assure reliability and service quality, thereby reducing spam.

Governance: Token holders may gain influence over the network’s parameters, from fee structures to resource allocation strategies.

This multi-faceted utility aligns perfectly with classic value accrual mechanisms we’ve seen in successful projects. In short, as demand for decentralized compute rises—particularly from AI agents—$SPON demand should, in theory, see a corresponding surge.

Understanding $SPON: Token Utility and Value Proposition

Let’s break down the $SPON token’s role in more detail.

Compute Payments: Every time an AI agent or developer needs to spin up a node, run an inference, or train a small-scale model, they will pay for it in $SPON. This ongoing demand creates a consistent token sink, as $SPON is spent to procure resources.

Provider Staking: Compute providers are required to stake $SPON to join the network and maintain a certain level of service. Higher stakes can unlock better tiers, potentially leading to more revenue and more responsibilities (like specialized GPU tasks). This mechanism not only secures the network but also locks up tokens, reducing the circulating supply.

Buy-Back and Build (BB&B): Some protocols implement a portion of fees for token buy-backs or distribution to holders. If Spheron follows a similar blueprint, it could introduce a deflationary element to $SPON.

Governance: As Spheron expands, token holders may participate in deciding critical parameters, such as consensus rules, network expansions, or protocol upgrades. This incentivizes stakeholder alignment and helps maintain a stable, community-driven ecosystem.

Ecosystem Partnerships: Spheron has already established partnerships with numerous agent platforms and infrastructure protocols. Each collaboration potentially drives more usage of $SPON for resource provisioning.

Value Proposition: By tying the token’s demand directly to resource consumption, $SPON’s fortunes scale with real-world usage. This stands in contrast to purely speculative tokens that rely on hype alone. If AI-driven DeFi (DeFAI) and other advanced dApps indeed become ubiquitous, $SPON could see demand reminiscent of how GPU orders catapulted NVIDIA’s stock price.

Current State of $SPON and the Broader AI+Web3 Market

At the time of this writing, $SPON is still in its early growth phase relative to the broader crypto market, which is dominated by larger-cap assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a handful of established DeFi tokens. However, the mindshare around DeFAI (DeFi + AI) is growing incredibly fast, with some data suggesting it’s already catching up to the mindshare of meme coins—yet the actual market caps remain small in comparison.

Meanwhile, AI continues to see exponential uptake. Large enterprises are investing billions into AI R&D, while open-source communities work tirelessly to reduce the entry barriers. As more AI practitioners realize the need for on-demand, permissionless GPU resources that can’t be throttled or shut off by a single provider, decentralized options like Spheron gain traction.

Projects building AI-based autonomous agents also see the writing on the wall. Many are forging partnerships or actively integrating with Spheron so that their AI can continue running 24/7, paying for its own resources via smart contracts—a core piece of the puzzle for true agent autonomy.

In short, the stage is set:

Rising adoption of AI in blockchain (DeFAI, AI Agents)

Growing dissatisfaction with centralized choke points

A unique, underexposed infrastructure token ($SPON) that could capture large segments of this demand

Future Predictions: How $SPON Could Transform the Crypto Landscape

Let’s outline some forward-looking scenarios:

Mainstream AI Agent Adoption: The demand for decentralized compute would skyrocket if industry predictions that “AI agents will drive 90% of on-chain transactions by 2025–2026” come true. Spheron, with a proven track record, could become the de facto compute platform for these agents, creating near-constant demand for $SPON.

Expansion into Enterprise and Research: Beyond on-chain AI agents, organizations might look to Spheron for secure, censorship-resistant compute for sensitive research and data processing. This expansion could help stabilize compute demand and diversify the user base beyond purely crypto-focused AI.

Ecosystem Flywheel Effect: Each new AI project building on Spheron can attract more token holders and compute providers, increasing network capacity and reliability. As the network becomes more robust, it draws in even more advanced use cases, reinforcing a positive feedback loop that boosts $SPON’s utility and price.

If these future predictions unfold, $SPON’s market cap—currently modest compared to heavyweights—could expand drastically, potentially placing it alongside the leading infrastructure tokens in the industry. This is what fuels the narrative of “The NVIDIA of Web3.”

Conclusion: Positioning $SPON as the ‘NVIDIA of Web3’

The world of technology thrives on parallels. Just as NVIDIA emerged as the backbone for AI workloads in traditional markets, a similar story may be unfolding in the Web3 space with Spheron. The demand for decentralized compute is set to rise as AI agents become more prevalent, DeFi becomes increasingly sophisticated, and developers yearn for trustless, scalable alternatives to centralized cloud services.

In this landscape, $SPON holds the promise of becoming an indispensable utility token, powering the “infinite compute engine” for the next generation of AI-driven dApps and autonomous blockchain-based agents. Much like how NVIDIA’s GPUs became the go-to hardware for all AI, Spheron’s decentralized infrastructure could become the de facto standard for AI compute in Web3.

Is $SPON the next crypto to watch? Many analysts and early adopters can argue it indeed could be. If you believe in the fusion of AI and Web3, in the unstoppable rise of autonomous agents, and in the historical lesson that infrastructure always captures the most sustainable value, then it might be time to take a closer look at Spheron—and by extension, its native token, $SPON.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research and consult with professional advisors before making any investment decisions.



Source link

DJ Unk Cause of Death: ‘Walk It Out’ Rapper Passes Away at 43

    0
    DJ Unk Cause of Death: ‘Walk It Out’ Rapper Passes Away at 43


    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    We have some tragic news to report from the world of music.

    DJ Unk (whose real name was Anthony Leonard Platt) has passed away at the age of 43.

    News of the rapper’s passing comes to us courtesy of his wife, Sherkita Long-Platt.

    DJ Unk attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
    DJ Unk attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

    DJ Unk’s Cause of Death

    “Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father,” Sherkita wrote on Facebook Friday night.

    “Our life will never be the same. I LOVE YOU ANTHONY FOREVER,” her post concluded.

    Platt’s cause of death has now been revealed as a heart attack (via TMZ).

    The hip hop legend had long been open about his long battle with various health issues.

    DJ Unk peforms onstage as Druski hosts first-ever “Coulda Fest” Comedy and Music Festival at State Farm Arena on September 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.DJ Unk peforms onstage as Druski hosts first-ever “Coulda Fest” Comedy and Music Festival at State Farm Arena on September 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
    DJ Unk peforms onstage as Druski hosts first-ever “Coulda Fest” Comedy and Music Festival at State Farm Arena on September 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

    “I had some medical issues going on from not eating the right food and that just come from when I stopped taking care of myself. I got to get healthy not just for my sake, but also for my kids and for my wife,” Platt told XXL in 2010 (via USA Today).

    “It comes from not exercising, from not eating right. Basically man, I work hard everyday. Everything I do every day I try to make something happen in my household,” he continued.

    “I constantly be on the go, I constantly be on airplanes, in different weather and you know it just took a toll on me. It was stress.”

    DJ Unk attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.DJ Unk attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
    DJ Unk attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

    An Icon In His Field

    Platt is best known for his 2006 hit “Walk It Out.”

    The song rose to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the outlet’s hip hop and R&B chart.

    “Walk It Out” made Unk a household name among hip hop fans. A later remix featured verses by Outkast and Jim Jones.

    A follow-up single, “2 Step,” also performed well on the charts.

    Unk continued to perform live until his final days, most recently taking the stage at the Coulda Fest in his native Atlanta in September of last year.

    Our thoughts go out to Unk’s loved ones during this enormously difficult time.



    Source link

    Elon Musk’s DOGE Exploring Blockchain for Government Efficiency: Bloomberg – Decrypt

    0
    Elon Musk’s DOGE Exploring Blockchain for Government Efficiency: Bloomberg – Decrypt



    The Department of Government Efficiency, the cost-cutting initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk, is reportedly considering the use of a public blockchain to bring transparency and other potential benefits to government operations and spending.

    That’s according to Bloomberg, which reported Saturday that Musk’s DOGE agency is holding conversations with representatives from multiple existing public blockchains, according to sources close to the conversations.

    No specific chains are mentioned in the report, though Bloomberg reports that DOGE is keen on using a blockchain—an immutable, public ledger—to monitor government spending and handle payments, handle data, and perhaps even “manage buildings” under the U.S. government’s purview.

    DOGE—which appears to share its acronym with the ticker of Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin—was discussed on President Donald Trump’s campaign trail and then made official following his November election win. Musk was supposed to co-run the effort with Vivek Ramaswamy, but the latter billionaire and Bitcoin fan departed this week for an apparent run at Ohio governor.

    Musk has said that DOGE aims to cut $2 trillion from the federal government via a combination of budget cuts and layoffs, though he has since backtracked and said that $1 trillion is more likely.

    This week, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote in a letter to Musk that DOGE appears to be a “venue for corruption,” and suggested $2 trillion worth of spending cuts that wouldn’t impact essential programs or raise taxes for middle-class Americans.

    Musk is an avowed fan of Dogecoin, while Trump has launched NFTs across Ethereum scaling network Polygon as well as Bitcoin, and debuted his official meme coin on Solana last week. However, there’s no word yet on which chain or chains might be used in the potential DOGE blockchain initiative.

    Daily Debrief Newsletter

    Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.



    Source link

    Marvel Rivals may have banned mods, but we spoke to the modders making new skins anyway

    0
    Marvel Rivals may have banned mods, but we spoke to the modders making new skins anyway


    Marvel Rivals continues its upward momentum weeks after launch, seemingly providing a cocktail of powerful IP and engaging gameplay that folks are going bananas over. As is tradition, this popularity combined with a dedicated PC playerbase and a distinct cast like has attracted modders like bees to a field of flowers.

    Days after the game’s launch, we saw a vast selection of custom skins and recolours flood modding websites, which the player base gorged itself on. In response, Netease banned the practice, stating outright that the use of such mods could result in a ban.

    So now some time has passed, how has the Marvel Rivals scene reacted to this stance? Is Marvel Rivals still a hub for mods, and does the future look bright for Marvel Rivals mods? We reached out to creators of some of the most popular cosmetic mods to find out.

    Manage cookie settings

    These creators are Svanax, the creators of many goth reskins of Marvel Rivals heroes, as well as Leonaura who has recreated popular characters from other IPs into Marvel Rivals, including but not limited to Batman, Leon Kennedy, and Kamen Rider. Through online DMs, we threw them a few questions on how they got into Marvel Rivals modding, the Marvel Rivals modding community, and their thoughts on the Netease ban on Marvel Rivals ban.

    VG247: So what’s your background in video game modding?

    Svanax: “I actually had no prior experience with modding before diving into Marvel Rivals. I’d thought about modding skins for League of Legends in the past, but honestly, I was too lazy to follow through. That changed with Rivals, since you don’t get free skins, which motivated me to create my own. That said, I do have a background as a game developer, which definitely helped me get up to speed quickly when I started making mods.”

    Leonaura: “This January marks 6 years since I began my journey in the video game modding scene.”

    “I started Street Fighter V in January 2019, with a swap mod (a mod that swaps models) from Ryu to Ken (i.e. using Ryu with Ken’s moveset). With that mod I learned how to edit hex code and learned how game structures work in Unreal Engine in the latest versions.”

    “I have a lot of love for Street Fighter V, and continue to actively make mods for the game, which I post on StreetModders, where the largest number of fighting game mods are concentrated. The last mod I posted was on January 9th.”

    “Along the way, in addition to Street Fighter V, I’ve made mods for a few other games: Final Fantasy VII Remake (my Marlene with beard mod is one of my favorites), Sifu, Silent Hope, Devil May Cry V, Street Fighter 6, 9 Monkeys of Shaolin, The King of Fighters XV, and Dead or Alive 6. I’m also very proud to have been able to make mods for one of my favorite games, Final Fantasy VIII, although I’ve never published those mods. I was involved in the FFVIIR and One Piece Odyssey modding communities for a while, in their early days, but as much as I’d like to, I’m no longer actively involved in either of those games.”

    “Marvel Rivals is the latest game I’ve successfully modded, and it’s been a breath of fresh air among other types of titles, as well as my first successful attempt at modding a game in Unreal Engine 5.”

    Overwatch characters in Marvel Rivals has a particular humour to it I can’t help but like. | Image credit: Leonaura

    VG247: How hard would you say it is to create Marvel Rivals mods, compared to other titles?

    Svanax: “Since I usually work with game engines, it wasn’t all that difficult for me to pick up modding. My knowledge initially came from just two tutorial videos on how to mod in the early days of Rivals, and from there, I taught myself Blender. My first attempt was a basic recolor, which took about four hours and only required modding textures and a small amount of Unreal Engine 5 knowledge.”

    “For someone who’s just a casual player, I’d say the difficulty is much higher. You need a solid understanding of how games work, along with some experience using Blender and a photo editing software of your choice. That said, with the number of tutorials available on YouTube now, you could probably create your first basic mod within half a day if you follow along carefully.”

    Leonaura: “I have to admit that it’s nice. I’ve loved Marvel Rivals since day 1, and being a part of developing mods for a game with such a large fan and user base is a wonderful experience. I really enjoy testing my mods, taking screenshots, and sharing my progress in mod development. Out of everything I’ve created since 2019, I’d say my Marvel Rivals mods are among the best I’ve ever made. People often mention Vegeta, CJ, or Big Smoke mods (they’re my most downloaded mods on Nexus), but I’ve created others like Leon (RE2R), Spirit Spider, various Kamen Riders, Sigma (Talon), Widow (Noire), and Hanzo (Scion) from Overwatch, and many others. Some of those are among my favorites.”

    “Creating mods for MR isn’t that far off from doing it for other games, though it’s tricky. Luckily, it’s easy to find help from other modders and users. There’s always someone friendly willing to help you out with kind words if you need it. Even those who stream our mods are nice, and we really appreciate them taking the time to showcase our creations. It’s nice to see them supporting your work.”

    VG247: What are your thoughts on the Marvel Rivals modding scene?

    Svanax: “The Marvel Rivals modding scene is incredibly welcoming. The modders are generally very supportive and friendly. There’s even a dedicated Discord server where people offer help almost 24/7. It’s a collaborative space where everyone helps each other out. Known bugs are documented, and tutorials on how to fix common issues are regularly posted, making it easier for new modders to get started and for experienced creators to troubleshoot quickly.”

    “That said, the mod users can sometimes be less nice. While many are appreciative, there are definitely moments where they can be quite annoying, especially with repetitive or unreasonable requests.”

    Leonaura: “Every single person who has been involved in Marvel Rivals modding is wonderful, and I’m really glad to be a part of it all.”

    VG247: A short while ago Netease announced an outright ban on the use of cosmetic Marvel Rivals mods. What was your reaction to mod ban?

    Marvel Rivals - Scarlet Witch MVP

    Marvel Rivals pays its way through skins, so the anti-mod stance isn’t entirely surprising. | Image credit: NetEase Games, VG247

    Svanax: “My reaction to Netease’s decision to ban custom skins was pretty tame. I had a feeling that something like this would happen eventually, especially with some people pushing boundaries with NSFW mods. The sales might have also played a part, and it seemed kind of inevitable.”

    “As for me, I’m not planning to stop modding, but I am taking a break for now. I need to test the mods myself, and I’m not sure what the future holds. For example, there’s the possibility that they’ll start banning people who edit their files. If it turns out that mods are still safe to use and/or Netease allows them, I’ll probably return to working on my original skin line and expand into other characters I haven’t redesigned yet.”

    Leonaura: “I think it was to be expected that NetEase would block (because there is no ban at the moment) the use of mods in the game for all users. From day one, I understood that something like this could happen, given the characteristics of being a completely online and free video game. It is not the first online video game that includes mods (and that surprises a lot of people), but taking into account the characteristics of the game (F2P, with a constantly rotating store, with emphasis on the battle pass…) it was to be expected that they would do what they have done.”

    “Since I found out that I could be part of MR, I have been modding the game, almost 12 hours a day, for the last month. When I received the news that mods were no longer working, my world stopped for a moment. I didn’t even feel like playing.”

    “Now, I continue to dedicate hours a day to playing and modding, and I enjoy every moment very much. I am very grateful to Marvel and NetEase for what they have created. We needed a game as fun as this one.”

    VG247: Is this a sentiment shared in the modding community?

    Svanax: “Yes, the mods patch was pretty much common knowledge among the modding community.”

    “However, some modders, like myself, are taking a more cautious approach and waiting to see how things play out. Others are still creating skins, but the uncertainty around Netease’s stance on mods is definitely making some modders more careful with their approach.”

    “I think everyone understands the risks they’re taking if Netease decides to ban modding altogether, so at the end of the day, it’s up to each creator to decide what they feel is right for them.”

    VG247: Would you recommend Marvel Rivals for aspiring modders?

    Venom being attacked by some players in Marvel Rivals.

    With new characters coming all the time, there’s rich grounds for a modding space here, if bans can be avoided. | Image credit: NetEase

    Svanax: “I definitely recommend starting to mod with Marvel Rivals if you’re specifically interested in creating mods for it. The community is very supportive, and there are plenty of tutorials available to help guide you along the way.”

    “However, if you’re just looking to learn modding in general, I’d suggest starting with a game that has more certainty around modding policies, like League of Legends. As for the future of the modding community, it’s really hard to predict.”

    “But one thing I know for sure is that if modding gets banned, the community will likely find a workaround, just as they always have.”

    Leonaura: “That depends. It’s risky to do so, but anyone can be a part of this. Anyone who wants to join has to keep in mind that Marvel Rivals modding can end at any time. I think all of us who create mods for the game are aware of that. It’s not a question of if it will happen or not, but when.”

    “What is important is that you support the game, and enjoy playing it. In my opinion, the best mods are not the ones that are technically better, but the ones that are made with love and passion for the modding scene and for the game. That’s the most important thing.”



    Source link

    From Football to Fintech: LaLiga, Bitget, and Trinity Make Waves

    0
    From Football to Fintech: LaLiga, Bitget, and Trinity Make Waves


    In Brief

    This week’s top partnerships span football, fintech, gaming, and crypto, featuring LaLiga & CoinW, Immutable & MetaGravity, TRON & Wintermute, Ripple & Trinity College, WhiteBIT & Misyon Bank, EasyMM & ARGOS, and Bitget & Kaia.

    From Football to Fintech: LaLiga, Bitget, and Trinity Make Waves

    As we near the end of January, all financial actors, small or big, start to execute their visions for the new year, leading to a handful of strategic alliances that are pointed to expand their shares in the market.

    Here are the top partnerships that grabbed the headlines this week. 

    Immutable, a leading platform in the Web3 gaming space, has joined forces with MetaGravity to integrate the Edge of Chaos universe into its ecosystem. This collaboration sets the stage for the launch of two key games: Edge of Chaos: Dungeons and Edge of Chaos: Apocalypse. These titles will serve as pillars of the Edge of Chaos MMORPG franchise, combining Immutable’s advanced GameFi tools with MetaGravity’s cutting-edge HyperScale Engine to create scalable, high-quality gaming experiences.

    Through this partnership, Immutable will provide MetaGravity with tools like Immutable Passport, ensuring smooth interaction with the Web3 in-game economy. Edge of Chaos: Dungeons, a browser-based game, will act as a casual entry point to the ecosystem, while Edge of Chaos: Apocalypse offers players a combat-focused preview of the full MMO experience. By leveraging Immutable’s GameFi stack, players can engage with NFTs and other digital assets seamlessly.

    MetaGravity CEO Rashid Mansoor described the collaboration as a “milestone” for online gaming, emphasizing the synergy between Immutable’s infrastructure and their HyperScale Engine to deliver a groundbreaking AAA Web3 title. Robbie Ferguson, Immutable’s President, highlighted their shared vision of redefining gaming by empowering players to “own digital assets” and immerse themselves in high-quality, innovative games.

    TRON Expands Strategic Partnership with Wintermute to Enhance Ecosystem Liquidity

    The TRON DAO, a frontrunner in decentralized blockchain technology, has strengthened its alliance with the well-known liquidity provider Wintermute. The goal of this new partnership is to improve liquidity and trading inside the TRON ecosystem by utilizing Wintermute’s knowledge of market-making and ecosystem support.

    Wintermute will provide comprehensive market coverage across both centralized and decentralized exchanges, ensuring competitive spreads and reducing market volatility. By improving trading efficiency for TRX, TRON’s native token, and supporting key pairs, the partnership seeks to create a more seamless trading experience. Additionally, Wintermute will act as an OTC partner for TRX, USDT, USDD, and other tokens within the TRON network.

    The partnership aims to develop the ecosystem, with Wintermute providing market data to create a strong funding model and support the growth of TRON’s DeFi projects.

    Moshe Shen, Wintermute’s Business Development and Partnerships Director, described the collaboration as a “natural progression” in the company’s ongoing efforts to integrate with top crypto ecosystems. A TRON spokesperson reinforced this view, highlighting that Wintermute’s expertise in liquidity is establishing “new benchmarks” for accessibility within DeFi.

    Together, TRON DAO and Wintermute aim to advance blockchain innovation and provide a more efficient, accessible trading environment for users worldwide. 

    CoinW and LaLiga Launch Strategic Partnership in Taiwan

    The world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, CoinW, has formally partnered with the top professional football league in Spain, La Liga, to serve as a regional partner for the markets of Taiwan and Hong Kong. On January 17, a press conference was held at the W Hotel in Taipei to honor the cooperation. LaLiga’s ambassador, the legendary footballer Fernando Morientes, was in attendance.

    The event, themed “One League, One Legend,” highlighted the partnership’s goal of uniting the global appeal of LaLiga with blockchain’s transformative capabilities. Attendees included prominent figures such as Michael Sun, LALIGA’s Executive Chairman for Greater China; Nassar Al Achkar, CoinW’s Chief Strategy Officer; and Monika Mlodzianowska, Head of Strategic Partnerships.

    CoinW’s Chief Strategy Officer, Nassar Al Achkar, called the partnership a “milestone,” merging the passion of football with the innovative power of blockchain to broaden cryptocurrency access globally. LaLiga’s Executive Director for Greater China, Sergi Torrents, highlighted the league’s dedication to “innovation” and expressed enthusiasm about partnering with a progressive company like CoinW.

    The partnership is designed to offer fans exclusive rewards, blockchain education, and thrilling football-themed events, showcasing the potential of blockchain technology to transform sports and enhance fan engagement on a global scale.

    EasyMM and ARGOS: Strengthening Crypto Security Through an Innovative Partnership

    An industry-leading market maker, EasyMM, has joined forces with an AI-powered identity verification technology, ARGOS, to radically improve the safety of cryptocurrency exchanges in the face of mounting cybersecurity risks. Together, state-of-the-art identity verification and sophisticated market-making procedures fortify the system against hackers.

    The partnership was announced in the wake of a $43 million hack at BingX, underscoring the urgent need for robust solutions in the crypto industry. EasyMM brings expertise in stabilizing markets and mitigating security risks, while ARGOS offers AI-driven KYC, AML, and KYB tools with near-perfect accuracy. Together, they aim to enhance user protection and foster trust in digital asset trading.

    EasyMM’s security strategies include real-time on-chain data analysis to detect threats, advanced algorithms to prevent price crashes, and actionable insights to protect client assets. By identifying vulnerabilities early, EasyMM helps clients preempt potential losses, reinforcing the industry’s resilience against sophisticated attacks.

    ARGOS complements EasyMM by providing global identity verification with 99.996% accuracy, supporting over 2,300 forms of ID from 220+ countries. Its scalable, no-code solution integrates anti-counterfeiting and AML technologies, offering seamless protection against unauthorized access and fraud.

    Trinity College and Ripple Unite to Drive Blockchain Research

    Trinity College Dublin has joined forces with Ripple to create the Ripple Blockchain Collaboratory, a new research project focused on issues in cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, and financial technology. The project is funded with $200,000 for two years and will be part of Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). It will take place at the Adapt Research Ireland Centre.

    Professor Hitesh Tewari from the School of Computer Science and Statistics is leading a group that will work on improving blockchain research. This includes creating decentralized solutions like social media platforms that protect user privacy. Faculty and graduate students will study new technologies and how they affect finance and technology, especially in Ireland.

    The program involves handling an XRP Ledger (XRPL) validator, which is part of Ripple’s independent blockchain system. This lets Trinity help build the global blockchain network. Ripple highlighted that this relationship links the university to advanced autonomous technology, allowing for new ideas and projects in financial technology and more.

    The project not only focuses on research but also seeks to involve the local blockchain community by hosting classes, lectures, and conferences to help the public better understand Bitcoin systems. This partnership puts Trinity at the center of blockchain innovation and helps Ireland be seen as a top place for coin development.

    WhiteBIT TR Partners with Misyon Bank to Expand Crypto Access in Turkey and Europe

    Cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBIT has entered a strategic partnership with Turkish neobank Misyon Bank, aiming to connect Misyon Bank with individual investors across Europe. Under the agreement, WhiteBIT TR will provide liquidity for major cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, and AVAX, through Turkey’s first bank-secured crypto asset platform.

    Turkey has become a regional leader in cryptocurrency adoption, driven by economic factors like inflation, currency devaluation, and a young, unbanked population. Recent legislative changes, such as a crypto-focused law passed in 2023, are bolstering the country’s regulatory framework, positioning Turkey as a hub for digital asset investments.

    WhiteBIT TR Chairman Emre Yetişkin commended Misyon Bank’s pioneering efforts in Turkey’s digital asset sector. Meanwhile, Muhammet Cerit, CEO of MisyonTech, emphasized that this partnership marks a significant step in reaching European investors and highlighted WhiteBIT TR’s speed and security in serving the Turkish market since 2022.

    With Turkey’s rising enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, this partnership leverages the nation’s evolving crypto landscape, aiming to bridge the gap between local innovations and global investment opportunities.

    Bitget & Kaia Foundation Launching Mini-Dapp Ecosystem on LINE

    Bitget has announced a strategic collaboration with the Kaia DLT Foundation to drive the growth of Kaia’s Mini-Dapp ecosystem on LINE Messenger. The partnership focuses on identifying and supporting high-potential Mini-Dapps through incubation, advisory services, market strategies, and listing opportunities.

    Kaia blockchain, celebrated for its seamless integration with Web2 platforms like LINE Messenger, has achieved remarkable milestones, including over 2 million active wallets and 13 million transactions. This success underscores its scalability and a strong foundation for fostering decentralized applications.

    Bitget CEO Gracy Chen emphasized the importance of bridging Web2 and Web3, highlighting the partnership as a step toward boosting Mini-Dapp innovation and adoption. Similarly, Dr. Sam Seo, Chairman of Kaia DLT Foundation, expressed confidence in Bitget’s ability to elevate the Kaia ecosystem, positioning it as a leader in Web3 innovation.

    The Kaia Foundation also launched the Dapp Portal, introducing 30 Mini-Dapps accessible via LINE Messenger, which boasts over 200 million monthly users. This initiative aims to bring decentralized services to a global audience, advancing the mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies.

    Disclaimer

    In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

    About The Author


    Victoria is a writer on a variety of technology topics including Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for the wider audience.

    More articles


    Victoria d’Este










    Victoria is a writer on a variety of technology topics including Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for the wider audience.



    Source link

    Another Publicly Traded Firm Has Started Stockpiling Bitcoin – Decrypt

    0
    Another Publicly Traded Firm Has Started Stockpiling Bitcoin – Decrypt



    Another Nasdaq-listed company is adopting the increasingly fashionable Bitcoin standard. 

    Real estate tech company Fathom Holdings (NASDAQ: FTHM) announced Thursday that it will allocate up to half of its excess cash reserves to the orange coin after the firm’s board approved the move. 

    And further down the line, the company hopes to accept Bitcoin from customers for purchases. It added that it would start buying Bitcoin—and perhaps via Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, or ETFs—in the next two weeks. 

    Fathom CFO Joanne Zach said: “The integration of Bitcoin into commercial and financial strategies has accelerated across financial markets, positioning it as both a hedge against inflation and a safeguard against economic and currency risks in the global economy.”

    Fathom is a real estate firm that also dabbles in cloud computing services. 

    It isn’t the first company to put Bitcoin on its balance sheet—over the past year, many small Nasdaq-listed companies have started following in the footsteps of software firm MicroStrategy.

    MicroStrategy first bought Bitcoin in 2020, and now holds over $47 billion worth, making it the largest corporate treasury holder of the asset. The firm has been urging companies to follow in its footsteps as its market cap has grown exponentially. 

    The company’s shares have exploded in value and MicroStrategy last year became a Nasdaq-100 firm, joining the top 100 non-financial companies on the Nasdaq stock market. 

    Now the price of Bitcoin has hit new highs, and buying the asset has never been easier via the new ETFs, other companies are following suit. 

    Health care companies Semler Scientific and Cosmos Health, as well as auto firm Worksport, are some of the firms that have bought the asset as an inflation hedge.

    Fathom’s stock rose about 5% from the close of trading Wednesday—ahead of the announcement—to Friday’s close, at a price of $1.39.

    Edited by Andrew Hayward

    Daily Debrief Newsletter

    Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.



    Source link

    Where Do Residuals Come From — And How Much Money Do Actors Get?

      0
      Where Do Residuals Come From — And How Much Money Do Actors Get?


      ABC/Gilles Mingasson

      The topic of residuals has been a hot topic, but where do the payments come from — and how much do actors actually make?

      “Producers and distributors [bankroll the residual payments],” a spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA shared in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “Our signatory producers are responsible for residuals when their pictures are distributed and exhibited, but distributors also assume that responsibility and pay residuals as a result of getting the rights to distribute a picture.”

      When it comes to the amount, there are “multiple factors” that determine how much a performer will receive.

      “The Agreement that the picture is produced under [plays a role]. [Also] the type[s] of exhibition/distribution the picture is having, e.g. network runs on television, sales of DVDs or digital downloads, subscription and free streaming, basic cable, foreign television, etc.,” the spokesperson explained. “The revenue from the types of distribution, e.g. how many units were sold on DVD or digital sell thru, the value of a license to television or new media such as Pay TV or network or basic cable or a streaming service. Also how individual performers were hired, worked and paid.”

      Residuals were a major topic of conversation during the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023. Many actors shared their pay stubs to show why they were advocating for better pay for union members.

      William Stanford Davis, who plays Mr. Johnson on Abbott Elementary, previously took to social media to show his $0.05 paycheck from an undisclosed TV show. Meanwhile, Mandy Moore revealed she received checks for pennies following reruns of her Emmy-nominated drama, This Is Us.

      SAG AFTRA Spokesperson Breaks Down Where Residual Payments Come From And How Much Actors Get
      NBC

      “Ours is a fickle industry and in my 20+ years of being a performer, my career has ebbed and flowed. I’ve had very lean years where I couldn’t get a job and those are precisely the moments when in years past, actors could rely on residuals from their past work to help them get by,” Moore, 40, wrote via her Instagram in July 2023. “The world and business have changed and I’m hoping we can find a meaningful solution moving forward.”

      She added: “The trickle-down effect felt across so many industries is already devastating. I am one person — a tiny part of our guild — and while I am happy to use whatever platform my past jobs have given me to speak to issues affecting my fellow @sagaftra family, I know my experience is my own. Here’s hoping we get a fair contract soon so we can get back to doing the jobs we all love and miss so much.”

      Winter TV Preview 2025

      Related: Winter TV Preview 2025: Inside Must-Watch New and Returning Shows

      The winter TV schedule is overflowing with highly anticipated premieres and returns including The Pitt, Severance, The White Lotus and more. HBO’s The Pitt, which premieres in January, marks Noah Wyle‘s return to medical dramas 15 years after his role as John Carter on ER. The series is described as “a realistic examination of the […]

      The WGA went on strike in May 2023 before reaching a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers five months later. SAG-AFTRA joined them on the picket line two months later after failing to reach an agreement on contract terms with the AMPTP, which represents networks, studios and streamers like Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount and Sony. A deal was reached in November 2023, and the labor dispute was settled after most TV shows and movies were put on pause.

      According to the SAG-AFTRA spokesperson, most residuals are “due quarterly.”

      SAG AFTRA Spokesperson Breaks Down Where Residual Payments Come From And How Much Actors Get
      Getty Images

      “But some, such as reruns of television programs, can be due one to four months after each rerun,” they noted. “The combination of negotiation and strike actions [brought about residuals]. And getting residuals for the first time also includes a negotiation about how many and to what extent older/previously produced shows will participate in the newly bargained terms.”

      The residual agreements have been continually updated in an effort to compensate actors properly.

      TV Shows Renewed for 2025 2026

      Related: Which TV Shows Are Renewed in 2025-2026?

      2025 is a big year for TV — but which shows do we definitely know are coming back for more seasons? Apple TV+ surprised viewers by renewing Bad Monkey after the ending left the show’s future unclear. Based on the novel of the same name by Carl Hiaasen, Bad Monkey follows former police detective Andrew […]

      “As exhibition patterns and types of distribution change the contracts need to change as well. In addition, the residuals formulas often need to be improved as a media market grows. The first residuals for reruns on television didn’t continue in perpetuity and that improvement was negotiated later,” the rep shared with Us. “Same for residuals for foreign television exhibition of television programs. The same thing is happening for residuals associated with shows on the streaming services now. Those formulas get improved in subsequent negotiations.”

      If you have a burning entertainment question for our team of experts, email us at AskUs@usmagazine.com. For more, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.

      With reporting by Mariel Turner



      Source link

      Popular Posts

      My Favorites

      Crypto News Today: Binance Legal Troubles and Key Market Updates |...

      0
      “`htmlThe cryptocurrency world is ever-evolving, with new developments occurring at a rapid pace. As of January 2028, one of the most notable...