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Chainalysis acquires AI fraud detection startup for $150M: Report
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis has made its first foray into artificial intelligence by acquiring a fraud detection startup.
According to a Jan. 13 report by Business Insider, Chainalysis purchased Alterya, a tech startup that uses AI agents to detect fraud, for a reported $150 million.
The news was confirmed by Chainalysis in a separate blog post, but the financial details were not disclosed.
Chainalysis said the acquisition helps the company “provide real-time proactive fraud protection for payments and enhanced fraud detection during [the Know Your Customer process] for exchanges, blockchains and wallet providers.”
While not a household name in crypto, Alterya has contracts with industry stalwarts like Coinbase and Binance. It has reportedly monitored more than $8 billion worth of monthly transactions across both crypto and fiat channels to help detect and prevent the growing threat of “authorized fraud,” according to Chainalysis.
The deal marks Chainalysis’ second major acquisition in as many months, having announced it acquired Web3 security platform Hexagate on Dec. 19. The financial details were not disclosed. Read More
Digital twins go decentralized: Web3 brings personal data ownership back to people
Dwinity has launched Digital Twin Bubble Browser Data Explorer, a decentralized service allowing individuals to own, manage and potentially monetize their comprehensive personal data.
In the digital age, each click, swipe or search leaves a trail of data that shows people’s daily patterns. When analyzed in coherence, these data can easily create a “digital twin” of an individual. However, from health metrics collected by fitness trackers to online spending habits, such data often get scattered across different, isolated systems, preventing the creation of a holistic view.
As the information is kept in separate places, people rarely get the full benefit of their own data. Instead, large platforms often control these details, leaving regular users unable to make use of the knowledge hidden in their personal data. On top of that, the scattering of personal information across multiple platforms makes it difficult for individuals to gain a clear overview of their habits or make informed decisions about their well-being.
Personal data can be highly valuable, both for individuals and for broader applications, including when improving products or advancing medical research. By revealing connections and insights that may otherwise go unnoticed, data has the potential to enhance everyday life and support crucial innovations. As personal data often includes sensitive information, it is essential to maintain strict privacy and control, ensuring that it remains in the hands of the individual.
The main challenge is finding a model that keeps data ownership safe while also allowing people to unlock the potential value of their personal data. Advocates of a “decentralized digital twin” argue that consolidating one’s data in a single, secure platform allows it to become a form of personal capital, providing greater benefits for the user. However, many people either refrain from producing data due to privacy and ownership concerns in Web2 or simply give away their data without fully harnessing its potential. Read More
Sony Debuts Soneium Mainnet, Advancing Ethereum Layer-2 for Entertainment
Sony has officially launched its Ethereum Layer 2 platform, Soneium, following a testing period that lasted four months and drew in over 14 million users, the company announced Monday.
Developed by subsidiary Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL), the platform is designed to simplify blockchain interactions for creators and their audiences through tools like NFT-based fan engagement systems and an incubator program called Soneium Spark.
Its testnet phase began in August last year and processed some 50 million transactions, according to figures from Blockscout.
The activity averaged 3.3 transactions per address and peaked with 667,508 daily transactions on November 6, 2024, Blockscout told Decrypt.
Additionally, the platform recorded 12,600 verified smart contracts, highlighting strong developer engagement and ecosystem growth during the testing period.
Built on Ethereum layer-2 technology from the Optimism Foundation, Soneium leverages the OP Stack and Superchain architecture to deliver what it describes as a "blockchain that evokes emotion and empowers creativity,” a statement from the project shared with Decrypt reads. Read More
Bitcoin reserves interest gains momentum across 5 continents
Politicians globally are arguing that a Bitcoin reserve would benefit their country.
In the last year, Bitcoin has gained such popularity that lawmakers and regulators across five continents now consider it a potential reserve asset — a transferable store of value held by a central bank that can be used to settle transactions.
Czechia has become the latest country to make headlines for considering such a move. Aleš Michl, governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB), said on Jan. 5 that the bank was considering Bitcoin within the country’s foreign exchange reserve diversification strategy.
Meanwhile, a bill is circulating in US Congress that would compel the Treasury to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, acquiring 1 million BTC over five years in 200,000 BTC annual purchases. Pressure is rising for governments in other countries to follow suit, like in Switzerland and Poland.
Cointelegraph has compiled a map of all nations where a Bitcoin reserve has captured the attention of governments. For the first time in history, this map spans five continents and includes nine countries. Read More
Markethive Redefines "Investment" With The ILP and E1 Upgrade. Don’t Miss The Chance Of A Lifetime!
Markethive is redefining the investment realm. Markethive’s unique ecosystem combines a sophisticated inbound marketing suite replete with every innovative tool and system available to deliver successful marketing campaigns, a social networking interface, a state-of-the-art broadcasting system, and its fully functional crypto token, Hivecoin. (HVC) This unique combination sets Markethive apart, making it a complete ecosystem within the marketing and social network, digital broadcasting, and crypto industry.
As a result, the Markethive community can seamlessly accrue monetary value through micropayments for activity, content creation, rewards, incentives, and tipping. This is enhanced as the value of Hivecoin rises now that HVC is on its first crypto exchange. Given that Hivecoin is the apex of a utility token with many use cases in this prevalent industry, it stands to reason the only way the value of HVC can go is up.
The Entrepreneur One Upgrade is a gateway to a host of benefits. It allows you to acquire ILPs, become an equity holder, and participate in the platform’s future development. This unique investment approach, which bypasses the traditional finance route, positions Markethive as a compelling investment opportunity.
Markethive is heading into a future rooted in the principles of transparency and decentralization. It is a community-driven platform offering operational efficiency, freedom, and financial sovereignty not seen previously in conventional tech, aka Web 2.0, which has primarily been confined to the ethos of centralization. Read More
Solana and Ethereum Meet Their Match as Lightchain AI Prepares to Shine
Cryptocurrency enthusiasts, blockchain developers, and AI innovators—brace yourselves. A revolutionary player is stepping onto the global stage that promises to redefine decentralized technology. Enter Lightchain AI, a game-changing blockchain challenger poised to integrate Artificial Intelligence and decentralized finance like never before.
And here’s the big reveal—Lightchain’s highly anticipated testnet goes live at the end of January! This milestone marks the dawn of unparalleled innovation and disruption in crypto and AI spaces. If you’re eager to be part of this revolution, the exclusive Lightchain AI pre-sale is your golden opportunity.
Why Lightchain AI is the Game-Changer You’ve Been Waiting For
Blockchain hasn’t seen an innovation this groundbreaking since Ethereum introduced smart contracts—or Solana exploded with scalability. But no solution has truly bridged the gap between blockchain and the immense computing power of Artificial Intelligence. That’s where Lightchain AI steps in. Lightchain AI boasts an entirely new Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism that rewards nodes for performing advanced AI computations.
Simply put? Lightchain doesn’t just handle transactions; it pushes the boundaries of AI model training, inference, and optimization tasks—all within a decentralized framework. Tech enthusiasts and developers are buzzing with excitement, and for a good reason! Read More
MANTRA and DAMAC collaborate to tokenise $1 billion in Middle East
MANTRA, a blockchain platform that specialises in real-world assets (RWAs), is collaborating with Dubai’s DAMAC Group in a move to tokenise assets worth at least $1 billion in the Middle East.
Both companies announced their collaboration recently, part of a growing trend of using blockchain to digitise physical asset ownership and trading.
So, what’s asset tokenisation? It’s a process that transforms ownership rights of assets—like real estate or data centres—into digital tokens on a blockchain. Tokens can be traded online, bringing advantages to industries that rely on asset-heavy investments.
DAMAC, one of Dubai’s top developers, is known for its real estate ventures and global investments in data centres, and now, blockchain. Late last week, DAMAC’s Chairman Hussain Sajwani made headlines with US President-elect Donald Trump by announcing plans to invest $20 billion in US data centres in the next few years.
According to Amira Sajwani, DAMAC’s Managing Director of Sales & Development, the partnership is a natural progression. “DAMAC is always exploring new technologies to enhance our product offerings. Partnering with MANTRA is a natural extension of our commitment to innovation and forward-thinking solutions,” she said in a statement. Read More
3 reasons why 2025 is set to be another blockbuster year for Bitcoin and crypto sector
Increasing political support for cryptocurrencies and advancements within blockchains and artificial intelligence are bound to make 2025 a memorable year for the crypto industry.
2024 was the year crypto stopped being a niche corner of the financial world and became an influential force in the global tech and financial landscape. Unprecedented political support, the rise of artificial intelligence, real-world assets (RWAs) and intense blockchain competition defined the past year, setting the course for what most investors hope will be a bullish 2025.
In a world heavily impacted by inflation, Bitcoin price went on a tear following its halving in April 2024. Remarkably, this surge wasn’t fueled only by retail investors and MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor but also by some of Wall Street’s biggest heavyweights, who positioned themselves in the industry through spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The momentum even reached Washington, D.C., where President-elect Donald Trump and numerous lawmakers publicly announced their pro-crypto stance.
Meanwhile, smart contract platforms battled for dominance, with Ethereum’s lackluster performance reflecting the rising competition from its rivals. In the Web3 space, new trends stole the spotlight, with tokens linked to AI and RWAs becoming the year’s biggest winners. Read More
Up Network and DreamSmart launch world’s first Web3 AI glasses
Artificial intelligence agent operating system Up Network and technology firm DreamSmart announced the launch of the world’s first Web3 AI glasses, which seek to redefine human-machine interactions.
The new glasses incorporate AI algorithms, extended reality (XR) capabilities and Web3 incentives, looking to usher in a “post-smartphone era,” according to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph.
The glasses are based on Google’s Gemini and come with an eight-hour battery life despite weighing just 44 grams.
Integrating Web3 technology allows users to earn tokenized rewards and revenue by opting to share data, co-founder of Up Network Devansh Khatri told Cointelegraph.
“They can also pay for premium features from AI agents, like highly personalized experiences based on their local data,” Khatri said.
The AI-powered glasses incorporate “context-aware intelligence” that enables users to navigate the internet by talking, a development that may usher in a new technological paradigm for smartphone users. Read More
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
Featured Image Source: Pixabay
