Cryptocurrency
Exploring the future of AI: The power of decentralization
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm, but many people have found themselves looking up at the sky, wondering where all the rain came from.
Those who didn’t realize the place AI already has held in our everyday lives are having a hard time understanding what further advancements mean for society as a whole.
Wrapping your head around the technology itself is a challenge for most, but it gets even more complicated when broken down. No longer are people just using the umbrella term artificial intelligence — they are saying narrow AI, superintelligence and artificial general intelligence (AGI). Companies are using the terms machine learning and deep learning when explaining the technologies they have incorporated to streamline their business practices.
The push to advance AI started long before the conversation about it did, and those advancements have benefited businesses across industries. The potential for what the future holds with this technology has been particularly enthralling for those in the Web3 space.
Irina Jadallah, co-founder of Ticketmeta — a nonfungible token-based ticketing solution and decentralized streaming service for sports events — told Cointelegraph:
“AI is fast becoming the biggest news of the century. From ChatGPT to Siri to Alexa and a million other AI apps and tools, virtually everything around us is influenced by AI, including the metaverse […] It has the potential to revolutionize the way we engage with and enjoy virtual worlds by facilitating more natural and intuitive interactions between users and virtual surroundings.”
But the impact of AI does not stop with the metaverse; it has already been proven that AI has the potential to revolutionize various fields, from marketing to finance. As exciting as it may be, the popularity of this technology, as Jadallah pointed out, now poses a rather significant question.
As it becomes more advanced and more desired by the public, it also becomes more expensive, enhancing the risk of centralization. This collective concern has created a new buzzword — decentralized AI.
Centralization vs. decentralization
As with all things, centralization is not inherently a bad thing, but it does pose some issues where AI is concerned.
When only a small number of organizations can afford to use the technology, they would be able to control how the technology advances, risking it becoming everything many people fear it to be.
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This concern of centralized AI is one that many in the space are already discussing and working against. Marcello Mari, founder of SingularityDAO — an asset management company that uses AI for trading strategies — told Cointelegraph:
“If we keep developing artificial intelligence behind closed doors — by corporations that use it for marketing, military or centralized finance, which basically means killing people more efficiently, selling you stuff you don’t need, and making the rich richer — then the next artificial intelligence will probably reflect those same kinds of values, right?”
In contrast, decentralized AI could allow individuals to have more of a say in the products they use while having a broader range of models to choose from.
“This is why we even founded our company back in 2017 because it’s very important that we start thinking now about what the next AGI or superhuman intelligence will look like,” said Mari. “In order to make it benevolent, you want to have a decentralized layer so that the community can actually influence and be comfortable with the development of AGI.”
Decentralized AI could incorporate blockchain technology, which already has a reputation for security and transparency.
“Blockchain technology is a safe and open system for monitoring information and ensuring it stays unaltered,” said Anna Ivanchenko, co-founder and CEO of Ticketmeta. “It’s used to create credibility and trust.”
People have a preference for public blockchains because they are often governed by the community and not a central authority. Code becomes law and adds a level of trustlessness that is not seen in other industries. According to CoinGecko, there are already more than 50 blockchain-based AI companies, with many people expecting this number to grow exponentially over the coming years. Companies such as Render, Fetch.ai and SingularityNET have led the charge in 2023.
Mari’s SingularityDAO is democratically governed by the community, who can have input into how their AI-DeFi model operates. People having a say is the main differentiating factor between centralized and decentralized AI. With centralized AI, the average user has negligible influence over how the AI models function.
Encouraging the community to take part in the development and direction of AI, allowing them to influence where it goes and what it does, will likely play a significant role in easing their concerns. Decentralized AI could very well make people more comfortable with AI as a whole, easing the transition of the technology into one that we use every day.
Of course, it’s never easy with new tech, and decentralized AI is no exception. It shares a common challenge with centralized AI, namely the “black box” problem, which involves a lack of transparency in how AI models operate and reach conclusions.
This opacity can understandably breed distrust. However, as Cointelegraph recently highlighted, there is hope: Explainable AI (XAI) and open-source models are emerging as promising avenues to address the black box issue in decentralized AI.
Benefits of decentralized AI
Decentralized AI enhances security in several ways. For example, by leveraging blockchain technology, it offers encryption and immutability, ensuring that data remains both secure and unchanged.
It can proactively detect anomalies or suspicious patterns in data, acting as an early warning system against potential breaches. The need for decentralization arises from its inherent design: Instead of having a single point of vulnerability, data is distributed across multiple nodes, making unauthorized access or tampering significantly more challenging.
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Decentralized AI is championing the cause of transparency and trust in a world that’s becoming more data-driven by the day. Traditional AI systems often suffer from opaque decision-making processes, raising trust and accountability issues. However, decentralized AI systems, like SingularityNET, stand out with their inherent transparency, recording every transaction and decision on the blockchain.
Despite still being in its infancy, decentralized AI provides hope of solving the aforementioned “black box” issue because of the inherent transparency that comes with blockchain technology.
Cryptocurrency
Bitget’s Token Merge and Burn Boost BGB by 22%, Reaching New ATH
Bitget, a Seychelles-based crypto exchange, has unified its native cryptocurrencies, Bitget Token (BGB) and Bitget Wallet Token (BWB), into a single utility token, BGB.
The move has led to an impressive 22% rise in Bitget Token’s price in the last 24 hours, pushing it to an all-time high (ATH) of $8.45.
In addition, the company revealed that they will burn a whopping $5 billion worth of BGB tokens in a newly unvelied whitepaper.
Token Merge Sparks Market Enthusiasm
At the time of writing, data from CoinGecko showed that the asset’s value had increased by more than 125% over the past seven days, outperforming the global crypto market, which lost 1.50% of its worth in that period. In addition, it has done better than similar centralized exchange (CEX) tokens, which are up about 12.70% on average.
The uptick is even more pronounced across extended periods, with BGB jumping more than 160% in the last fortnight and almost 430% over 30 days. Further, the token’s current price is a massive 1,346.2% improvement over its level from the same time last year, potentially making it the best-performing CEX cryptocurrency of 2024.
BGB’s current market capitalization of over $11.7 billion has propelled it into the #19 position among the largest-capped cryptocurrencies, leaping Stellar (XLM), Polkadot (DOT), and Hedera (HBAR).
In addition to the merger, the team revealed a considerable burn of more than $5 billion worth of tokens, which surely played a role in the price uptick. This represents over 40% of the total supply of BGB.
Utility and Real-World Integration
According to Bitget CEO Gary Chen, the merger will grow BGB’s utility, with plans to use it in decentralized applications (dApps) and major blockchain ecosystems. The integration will also reportedly extend to staking in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and to power essential services such as multi-chain gas fee payments.
Beyond the blockchain, the exchange intends to position BGB as a key enabler of real-world applications by allowing payments for dining, travel, and shopping, among others, through its Web3 PayFi service.
The company has assured BWB holders that their assets will be transitioned to BGB through an automated swap process that will convert each BWB token to BGB at a pre-determined ratio. Any remaining BWB has been earmarked for burning to bolster the unified asset’s scarcity and long-term value.
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Cryptocurrency
SimpleSwap Analysts Unveil 2025 Crypto Market Outlook
[PRESS RELEASE – George Town, Cayman Islands, December 27th, 2024]
As the cryptocurrency sector continues its evolution, SimpleSwap, a user-friendly cryptocurrency exchange platform, has shared its market insights for 2025. Analysts from SimpleSwap, Rick S. and Henry B., have provided an overview of anticipated trends that may shape the industry in the coming year.
Tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWA)
Blockchain technology is poised to play a pivotal role in tokenizing real-world assets (RWA), including stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities such as oil and precious metals. According to Henry B., this advancement could broaden access to traditionally illiquid assets, integrating them into decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems and enhancing their tradability.
Developments in Meme Coins
Meme coins are expected to maintain their prominence within the crypto market. Emerging blockchains like Base and Sui may serve as platforms for new meme coin projects. Analysts note the growing influence of artificial intelligence in streamlining the creation, promotion, and trading of these coins, which may further simplify the process for developers.
Bitcoin and Institutional Strategies
Analyst Rick S. anticipates that MicroStrategy will continue to increase its Bitcoin holdings, potentially reinforcing its position as a significant institutional player. This activity may align MicroStrategy’s stock performance with broader market trends in cryptocurrency.
Ethereum’s Prospects
Ethereum (ETH) is projected to reach new all-time highs, driven by its ecosystem’s expanding adoption and innovative developments. Analysts highlight Ethereum’s role as a foundational blockchain supporting numerous decentralized applications (dApps) and protocols.
Regulatory Shifts in the U.S. and Europe
Changes in the regulatory landscape could impact the crypto industry significantly. SimpleSwap analysts suggest that shifts in U.S. policies and proposed European legislation may aim to enhance transparency and compliance in the sector.
Continued DeFi Expansion
DeFi is expected to experience further growth, with total value locked (TVL) increasing across key areas such as cross-chain exchanges, decentralized derivatives, and restaking. Custom Layer 1 networks designed specifically for DeFi applications could also emerge.
Solana’s Growth Trajectory
Solana may see significant growth in adoption, attributed to its high transaction speeds and cost-efficiency. The blockchain remains a popular choice for meme coins and DeFi projects, potentially positioning it as a competitor to Ethereum.
Market Capitalization Milestones
The cryptocurrency market’s total capitalization is expected to reach new all-time highs, driven by leading cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, alongside strong performance from altcoins.
Institutional Interest in ETFs
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin and Ethereum are anticipated to continue attracting both retail and institutional interest. Analysts also predict the introduction of ETFs for other prominent cryptocurrencies, which could diversify investment opportunities.
Broader Adoption in Emerging Markets
Cryptocurrencies are expected to gain traction in regions with economic instability, offering alternatives to depreciating national currencies. Enhanced crypto payment tools and tax services may support adoption, providing financial solutions in these areas.
Role of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is projected to have an increased impact on trading and DeFi operations, facilitating automated strategies and fund management through AI-driven insights.
For further insights, users can visit the SimpleSwap Analytics section or follow the platform on TradingView.
About SimpleSwap
SimpleSwap is a cryptocurrency exchange platform offering fast, secure swaps and supporting over 2,500 cryptocurrencies. With features such as fiat-to-crypto transactions and cross-chain exchanges, SimpleSwap aims to make cryptocurrency accessible to all users.
Disclaimer
This publication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin Kimchi Premium Surges as South Korea Grapples with Political Turmoil
The ongoing political turmoil in South Korea has had a ripple effect on the country’s financial market. The South Korean won has dropped to its lowest value against the United States dollar since March 2009.
This devaluation is reflected in the Bitcoin Kimchi Premium, a metric showing the gap between BTC’s price in South Korea and other countries. On-chain data from CryptoQuant reveals that local investors spend as much as 3% more to buy BTC than global crypto users.
South Korean Political Troubles
Jeff Park, the Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, shared insights into the present political troubles in South Korea. He explained that the country’s lawmakers recently filed a motion to impeach the Prime Minister and interim president, Han Duck-soo. This comes just two weeks after the parliament impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has ruled the Asian nation since May 2022.
The president’s ousting came after he tried to implement martial law in the country to protect it from “anti-state” forces. Enforcing martial law involves conferring authority from civilians to the military. This rule suspends the civil right to freedom of the press and assembly and downsizes the power of government agencies and the courts.
Highlighting how the ongoing political turmoil concerns global democracies, the Bitwise executive wrote:
“The use of impeachment as a political tool, combined with allegations of foreign election interference, underscores the fragility of democracy in the face of disinformation. This is not just a Korean story; it’s a warning for democracies worldwide.”
Impact on Bitcoin Kimchi Premium
News about South Korea’s acting president’s impeachment triggered the won’s drastic devaluation.
Crypto asset prices are usually higher on South Korean exchanges than on foreign trading platforms, primarily because of the country’s regulators’ stringent capital control policies. At the time of writing, BTC was 144,450,000 won ($98,000) on the South Korean exchange Upbit, compared with $95,100 on the American exchange Coinbase.
Past reports show that an increase in the Bitcoin Kimchi Premium often indicates a bullish streak on South Korean crypto exchanges.
Despite the increased price gap, local investors have rapidly flocked to dollar-denominated assets like BTC as a haven from the struggling won.
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