ChainCatcher news, during the roundtable discussion "Trends and Rhythms of the New Web3 Cycle" hosted by Web3 data company RootData and Chaincatcher on February 19, UFLY Labs investment partner Neal shared his forward-looking insights and investment strategies regarding industry trends.Neal stated that AI technology is reshaping the logic of global productivity, and UFLY Labs has deeply integrated AI into the entire process of investment decision-making and team collaboration. "We require members to use tools like DeepSeek and OpenAI to optimize their work, and we even set a threshold of 'more than 50 hours of AI usage' during the interview process." He emphasized that AI is not only an efficiency tool but also a core criterion for screening "future-oriented talent." Only teams that actively embrace technological change can seize opportunities in the new Web3 cycle.In addition, UFLY Labs announced that it will officially start operations in February 2025, focusing on AI, PayFi, and the real demand track of Web3. UFLY Labs has also chosen to launch a special fund during market fluctuations, creating a unique "capital + growth + ecosystem" support system.It is reported that among the more than 10 projects invested by UFLY Labs during its cold start period in the fourth quarter of 2024, 50% have completed listings on leading exchanges, with several projects landing on platforms such as Binance, Upbit, OKX, and Bybit.

ChainCatcher news, according to Crypto Briefing, AI infrastructure startup ClustroAI, supported by NVIDIA, has completed a $12 million Series A funding round, led by Forum Ventures, with participation from MetaBlast, Metaverse Group, Bing Ventures, Sky Ventures, and others, bringing the total funding to $15 million.The funds will be used to advance the development of decentralized AI technology, enabling businesses to run AI directly on local and edge devices, thereby reducing reliance on cloud services and enhancing data privacy and cost efficiency.Additionally, the funds will be used to expand ClustroAI's edge AI solutions, including distributed AI computing architecture and improvements in AI operations and hardware compatibility.

ChainCatcher news, on January 24, the MZZC Foundation announced its lead investment in the crypto payment project MIRO, which is one of its key investment directions for 2025. MIRO optimizes on-chain payment processes through AI technology, enhancing the transaction efficiency of Bitcoin and strengthening its connection with the global economy.MIRO has collaborated with Web3 projects such as Infinimos, SocialTox, Nexus Launch, Collably Network, HeLa, and Orbler, covering areas like DeFi solutions, Web3 marketing, and AI infrastructure, to further improve its crypto payment ecosystem.The MZZC Foundation has long focused on the development of crypto payment infrastructure and believes that this field is ushering in new growth opportunities. Leading the investment in MIRO is an important step in its strategic layout for crypto payments in 2025, aiming to promote more convenient and efficient on-chain payment solutions.

ChainCatcher news, according to Beijing Business Daily, the Ministry of Public Security announced at a press conference on January 10 that as of the end of 2024, more than 53,000 Chinese criminal suspects involved in telecom fraud from northern Myanmar have been arrested, successfully dismantling the "Four Great Families" criminal group in northern Myanmar's Kokang.The Ministry of Public Security pointed out that although the crackdown has been effective, the crime situation remains severe. Fraud groups are continuously upgrading their criminal tools using new technologies such as blockchain, virtual currency, and AI intelligence. These gangs are well-organized and engage in illegal activities such as app development, traffic promotion, and money laundering through cross-border collaboration.Fraudsters customize scam scripts targeting different age groups, professions, and educational backgrounds, resulting in a wide range of victims. Although the telecom fraud parks near the Chinese border in northern Myanmar have been cleared, there are still numerous fraud dens abroad disguised as "technology parks" and "development zones."

According to ChainCatcher news, the Shanghai Securities Journal reported that the Hurun Research Institute released the "2024 Hurun Global Unicorn List," showing that the number of unicorn companies worldwide has increased by 17% year-on-year to 803, distributed across 38 countries. Among them, the number of Chinese companies has risen from 70 in 2019 to 258, with 77 in biotechnology and 29 in AI among the 302 new companies.The data shows that over 25% of unicorn companies have applied AI technology in fields such as fintech, blockchain, and SaaS, with an average valuation of $700 million. Hurun stated that the integration of technologies such as generative AI, machine learning, AR/VR, and cloud computing has brought unprecedented development opportunities for innovative companies.It is reported that unicorn companies refer to young companies that grow rapidly like African gazelles, typically established after 2000, expected to reach a valuation of $1 billion within three years, and are unlisted companies with continuous innovation capabilities and rapid growth potential.

ChainCatcher news, according to Shanghai Securities Journal, the Hurun Research Institute has released the "2024 Hurun Global Unicorn List," showing that the number of unicorn companies worldwide has increased by 17% year-on-year to 803, distributed across 38 countries. Among them, the number of Chinese companies has risen from 70 in 2019 to 258, with 77 new companies in biotechnology and 29 in AI.Data shows that over 25% of unicorn companies have applied AI technology in fields such as fintech, blockchain, and SaaS, with an average valuation of $700 million. Hurun stated that the integration of technologies such as generative AI, machine learning, AR/VR, and cloud computing has brought unprecedented development opportunities for innovative companies.Note: Unicorn companies refer to young companies that grow rapidly like African gazelles, typically established after 2000, expected to reach a valuation of $1 billion within three years, and are unlisted companies with continuous innovation capabilities and rapid growth potential.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Baidu founder Robin Li sent a letter to all employees in the evening stating, "For 25 years, we have always been at the forefront of technology, and we firmly believe that technological innovation is Baidu's core competitiveness."The letter expresses expectations for 2025, "Although super applications have not yet emerged, the actual penetration rate of AI is already not low, and it will continue to experience explosive growth in 2025."

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by Jiemian News, China-funded Green Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. has been established, with Tian Zemin as the legal representative and a registered capital of 300 million RMB. The business scope includes research and development of resource recycling technology, supply chain management services, software and services related to blockchain technology, public data platforms for artificial intelligence, development of artificial intelligence application software, sales of artificial intelligence hardware, big data services, etc., and is wholly owned by China Resources Environmental Protection Development Co., Ltd.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com News citing CoinShares' latest third-quarter mining report, shows that the cost of Bitcoin mining has reached record levels. If only cash expenditures are considered, the production cost per Bitcoin is approximately $49,500; if additional expenses such as depreciation and stock compensation are included, the average cost rises to $96,100. Chief researcher James Butterfill pointed out that despite high costs, miners are still expanding infrastructure and planning further investments in anticipation of future price increases.CoinShares suggests that mining companies should diversify their revenue sources, such as investing in AI technology. The agency expects that by 2050, as miners shift to more environmentally friendly energy utilization methods, carbon emissions are expected to decrease by 63%.

ChainCatcher News, September 6, 2024, DeepBrain Chain (DBC) and DeepLink Protocol (DLC) officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Korea Internet PC Culture Association (IPCA). This collaboration aims to leverage the high-performance computing resources of idle PC rooms in Korea to support the development of AI technology and the practical application of blockchain technology.IPCA manages approximately 3,000 member internet cafe chains in Korea, covering more than 20,000 internet cafes nationwide. Through this cooperation, the high-performance computing equipment in these cafes will provide the necessary computing power for AI inference and development projects during idle times, thereby achieving efficient resource utilization. For cafe owners, this collaboration not only brings a new revenue model but also improves the utilization efficiency of their equipment.DeepBrain Chain plans to expand its AI public chain network through this cooperation, enhancing its global node count and network stability. Meanwhile, the advanced technology of DeepLink Protocol will further optimize the use of computing resources in cafes, helping to achieve smoother game streaming services and AI computing. This collaboration marks a deep integration of AI technology and blockchain technology in traditional industries, which will play an important role in more fields in the future.Through this strategic cooperation, both parties expect to promote the large-scale implementation of cloud internet cafes in Korea, significantly reducing investment and operational costs for store owners and improving return on investment (ROI). This initiative is expected to enhance the ecological influence of DBC and DLC in Korea and significantly increase their number of token-holding users, further consolidating their position in the Korean market.

ChainCatcher news, the AI-driven comprehensive financial derivatives service platform EraAI announced a partnership with D3X, officially entering the Asian market. EraAI focuses on optimizing investment management and trading strategies using AI technology, achieving overall profitability, real-time decision-making, and automated trading, leading traditional and other blockchain financial platforms.This strategic cooperation with D3X will bring an AI smart technology experience to Asia. Combining EraAI's advanced technological strength in the AI field with D3X's rich resources and experience globally, both parties will jointly explore the Asian AI market. The cooperation will focus on providing efficient, secure, and intelligent multi-domain solutions for Asian enterprises and users, which is expected to enhance the operational efficiency and innovation capability of businesses in the region.

ChainCatcher news, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reminds the public to be vigilant against video and audio scams involving artificial intelligence manipulation, which promote false information related to cryptocurrency investments.The BSP emphasizes that Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. does not endorse the so-called cryptocurrency project "Tesler Code" or any other cryptocurrency investments. Distorting the BSP or its officials is a punishable offense. To avoid becoming a victim of these scams, the BSP advises the public to exercise caution, refrain from sharing personal information with unverified entities, and verify the legitimacy of communications claiming to represent the BSP.

ChainCatcher news, the first Bitcoin Layer 2 network project supporting decentralized artificial intelligence large-scale applications, AILayer, announced a strategic partnership with Bouncebit to jointly explore new paradigms of AI-driven financial services and yield-generating tracks based on Bitcoin. This collaboration will also explore the in-depth application of AI technology in the financial sector, particularly innovations in training large AI models. Due to the massive centralized computing power required for training large AI models, traditional decentralized methods struggle to meet this demand. The emergence of the CeDeFi model not only provides intensive capital support for the training of large AI models but also offers new ways to integrate funding and resources for the future development of AI technology. This strategic partnership heralds a new chapter in the integration of AI and fintech, opening up broader application prospects for AI technology.BounceBit utilizes its BTC EVM Layer 2 platform to provide a PoS Staking mechanism, allowing staking with its native token BB or BTC assets. Additionally, through centralized custody services provided by Mainnet Digital and Ceffu, users' deposited BTC assets are converted into bounceBTC on BounceBit, which can be staked to earn validation rewards. BounceBit offers users triple returns: custody earnings from mainnet BTC assets, earnings from on-chain staking projects, and restaking rewards.At the same time, AILayer's innovative architecture aims to enhance the scalability of the Bitcoin network through its EVM compatibility and modular design, promote AI integration, and facilitate multi-chain interconnectivity within the Bitcoin ecosystem. This strategic collaboration not only marks a significant step in enhancing the functionality of Bitcoin but also provides a solid foundation for future cooperation between fintech and artificial intelligence.