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Vertical AI’s new platform, Vertical Studio, is designed to make fine-tuning AI models accessible to developers of all skill levels, removing the need for coding expertise or costly infrastructure. The platform enables users to customize AI models deeply by uploading datasets and adjusting parameters, ensuring that the models align with specific use cases. This approach empowers small businesses and independent developers to create tailored AI solutions, addressing a significant challenge in AI adoption where larger companies have traditionally dominated the market. By utilizing decentralized GPU networks rather than relying on expensive cloud-based infrastructure, Vertical Studio offers a more affordable and scalable solution for AI fine-tuning.
In addition to its intuitive interface, Vertical Studio features innovations like GPU compartmentalization, which allows users to pay for only the computing resources they need, significantly lowering costs. The platform automatically adjusts computing resources based on demand, ensuring efficient use of infrastructure. This flexible, on-demand access to high-performance AI training marks a significant step forward in making AI development more accessible and cost-effective. With a full launch slated for Q2 2025, Vertical AI is positioning itself as a key player in the growing demand for customized AI models, enabling a broader range of businesses and individuals to integrate AI into their workflows. Source
Tokenized stocks, a form of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), are poised for significant growth, with industry executives projecting their market capitalization could exceed $1 trillion in the coming years. While tokenized stocks currently represent a small portion of the overall RWA market, valued at around $350 million, adoption is accelerating, driven by institutions seeking faster and more affordable access to US equities. Institutions ranging from Web3 wallets to traditional financial services are showing increasing interest, particularly as tokenization offers a quicker, cheaper way to access US public equities, which are valued at over $50 trillion.
The growing demand for tokenized stocks reflects a broader trend in the tokenization of financial assets, with tokenized US Treasury Bills already seeing substantial demand. Tokenization’s appeal lies in its ability to offer global investors a more efficient means of participating in US markets, and as the technology matures, it is expected to capture a larger share of the RWA market, which could eventually reach a $30 trillion global opportunity. With the user experience improving and becoming more accessible, tokenized assets are anticipated to become a mainstream option, with potential platforms like Coinbase considering offering tokenized shares of its stock on its Ethereum layer-2 network. Source
OKX, the world’s sixth-largest crypto exchange, has officially launched in the US following the establishment of its new headquarters in San Jose, California. This expansion includes the rollout of its centralized exchange and Web3 wallet, allowing existing OKcoin customers to migrate to the OKX platform, although new user registration will begin later this year. The company has appointed Roshan Robert, former Barclays Investment Bank director, as its new US CEO to lead this effort. OKX’s move reflects its commitment to responsible growth, with the firm working closely with US regulators to ensure compliance. The new headquarters positions OKX at the heart of Silicon Valley, strengthening its regional operations and facilitating innovation and talent acquisition to support its growth in the US market. Source
Mantra CEO John Patrick Mullin has revealed plans to restore community trust following a dramatic 94% drop in the value of the OM token, which plummeted from $6.35 to $0.37 after large-scale sell-offs by multiple wallets. The sell-off involved 43.6 million OM tokens being transferred to crypto exchanges, leading to significant losses for holders. To address the situation, Mullin announced a buyback and supply burn program, with further details to be released soon. He also committed to burning his own team’s token allocation and creating a dashboard to increase market transparency. Mullin assured the community that the team did not sell OM tokens during the market downturn and is working with exchange partners to investigate and provide clarity on the events that led to the crash. Source
Binance has added Initia (INIT), a new layer-1 blockchain designed to rival Ethereum, to its Launchpool platform. Initia aims to enhance appchain development by offering a unified infrastructure that simplifies the building of rollups, reducing the complexity and decision fatigue faced by blockchain developers. Through its "Interwoven Stack," Initia provides an all-in-one solution that streamlines the development process, allowing developers to focus on building and deploying applications while the platform handles the technical complexities. Binance Launchpool, which started in 2020, enables users to passively earn new tokens by staking existing assets, with Initia becoming the 68th project to be featured on the platform. Source
Markethive, committed to fostering free expression and combating increasing censorship, has introduced its Swarm Conference Rooms to provide secure and private virtual spaces for collaboration. These rooms are designed to help users, especially entrepreneurs, freely communicate and share ideas without the fear of reprisal, providing an essential solution in an era of heightened authoritarianism. The Swarm rooms offer features like audio/video conferencing, screen sharing, and real-time collaboration tools, enabling dynamic and productive meetings for users with varying needs. Upgrades to the system will introduce tiered subscription models to accommodate larger teams, with customizable seating capacities and advanced features for increased scalability and flexibility.
Markethive's broader mission is to create a decentralized, secure, and resilient ecosystem that empowers its global community by protecting privacy and free speech, resisting the growing influence of authoritarian forces. In line with this vision, Markethive’s Swarm Conference Rooms serve as a platform for members to collaborate, innovate, and grow while ensuring that their data remains secure and their communications are free from censorship. By supporting these efforts, Markethive aims to foster a space where users can pursue entrepreneurial endeavours without the fear of losing their fundamental rights to privacy and free speech, making it a critical part of the ongoing fight for digital freedom. Source
Binance has been increasingly sought after by governments worldwide for its expertise in cryptocurrency regulation and establishing national digital asset reserves. Following the resignation of Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Richard Teng, the new CEO, confirmed that Binance is working with several governments to help them create crypto policies and frameworks for integrating digital assets into their financial systems. This collaboration comes at a time when sovereign adoption of crypto is accelerating, and governments, including sovereign wealth funds, are looking to secure their own crypto reserves. Teng highlighted that while the U.S. is ahead of other nations in its approach to crypto, many countries have reached out to Binance for assistance in formulating their regulatory strategies for the growing sector.
This push for collaboration follows a period of increased scrutiny for Binance, which recently resolved U.S. criminal charges related to money laundering and sanctions violations. Despite this, Binance has benefited from changing U.S. policies, which have become more favourable towards crypto in recent months. In addition to its work with governments, Binance’s founder, CZ, has also been advising countries like Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on blockchain and digital asset strategies, aiming to help these nations foster economic growth and enhance their global competitiveness through decentralized finance. This advisory role is part of Binance's broader goal to assist emerging markets in their digital transformation efforts. Source
A quantum computing research group, Project 11, has launched a Bitcoin bounty worth nearly $85,000 to test whether quantum computers can break Bitcoin's core encryption, specifically its elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). The challenge, known as the QDay Prize, offers 1 BTC to the team that successfully cracks a simplified version of Bitcoin’s cryptographic system using quantum computing. The contest is set to run until 2026 and aims to evaluate how close quantum computing is to breaking the cryptographic mechanisms that protect Bitcoin’s security. If a quantum computer succeeds in cracking Bitcoin’s encryption, it could potentially steal large amounts of Bitcoin, far exceeding the value of the prize.
The potential threat of quantum computing to Bitcoin lies in its ability to break ECC, which is fundamental to blockchain security. While Bitcoin’s current encryption is resistant to traditional computing methods, quantum computers, using algorithms like Shor’s, could theoretically break it much faster than high-powered supercomputers. The development of quantum-resistant technologies is already underway in other blockchain networks, such as Solana and Ethereum, which are exploring solutions to future-proof their systems. Project 11’s challenge is an early step in preparing for a quantum future, with the hope that the contest will provide valuable insights into the timeline and feasibility of quantum attacks on Bitcoin. Source
Polygon is collaborating with telecom giant Reliance Jio to bring blockchain technology to over 450 million users in India, aiming to integrate Web3 into everyday services and address real-world problems. The partnership is focused on incorporating blockchain capabilities into JioSphere, the Jio web browser, providing faster, more affordable, and decentralized solutions. Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal emphasized the importance of maintaining the core values of blockchain—security, transparency, and decentralization—while also focusing on scalability. He also highlighted Polygon’s investment in zero-knowledge technology to ensure efficient scaling without compromising trust or decentralization, helping to power major Web3 use cases like stablecoin payments and real-world tokenization.
Nailwal sees the integration of blockchain technology as crucial for the next wave of Web3 adoption, with real-world problem-solving at its core. The partnership with Jio is expected to evolve based on India's diverse population and unique needs, offering tailored blockchain solutions that resonate with users. Nailwal is particularly excited about the potential of blockchain to address pressing challenges, such as misinformation and verification, driven by the rise of AI tools like deepfakes. He believes blockchain’s ability to provide secure, transparent solutions will drive its adoption, especially in sectors like finance, risk assessment, and governance, where decentralized prediction markets like Polymarket are already proving valuable. Source
The Wyoming Stable Token Commission, which was established to create a state-issued stablecoin (WYST) pegged to the US dollar, has raised questions about whether the token would fall under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules. In response to the SEC's recent guidelines on "covered stablecoins," which are considered non-securities and exempt from certain reporting requirements, the commission has considered adjusting its language to align with these guidelines. During an April meeting, Commissioner Joel Revill suggested that clarifying the terminology used in Wyoming's stablecoin framework could help mitigate the risk of it being classified as a security under SEC rules.
The commission has also been closely monitoring federal legislative efforts, such as the GENIUS Act and the STABLE Act, aimed at creating a comprehensive regulatory framework for stablecoins. These developments are particularly relevant to Wyoming, a state that has become a hub for crypto companies due to its favorable regulatory environment. The Wyoming government, initially aiming for a 2025 launch of the WYST, is now targeting a potential launch in July. The state's commitment to creating a crypto-friendly regulatory environment is supported by figures like Senator Cynthia Lummis, who advocates for policies that benefit the digital asset industry. Source
Ethena Labs and Securitize have unveiled a roadmap for their upcoming Converge network, a blockchain platform designed to support both permissioned and permissionless projects focused on tokenized real-world assets and decentralized finance (DeFi). The network will feature high throughput and a native block time of 100 milliseconds, with plans to reduce it to 50 milliseconds by the fourth quarter of 2025. A testnet for the Converge network will launch in the coming weeks, and the mainnet is expected to go live later in 2025. The network aims to process one gigagas of throughput by 2025, which refers to billions of gas units processed per second.
Converge is being developed to bridge the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi), as financial institutions increasingly engage with tokenized assets like stablecoins and tokenized bonds. While some in the crypto community welcome this convergence, others have expressed concerns about the potential for institutional control over the space. Despite challenges such as privacy concerns and unclear regulations, institutional adoption of DeFi continues to grow, with many institutions recognizing the benefits of decentralized systems. Ethena Labs and Securitize aim to facilitate this integration through a scalable and secure platform that can support both traditional and decentralized financial applications. Source
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
