Exabits Raises $15 Million in Seed Round Led by Hack VC

On January 24th at 6 PM (UTC+8), Roam will officially launch its "Pilot Burning Pool," allowing users to exchange $ROAM tokens by burning Roam Points. This initiative coincides with the Spring Festival and aims to familiarize users with the burning pool mechanism while maximizing the benefits of Roam Points. Users can contribute a minimum of 500 Roam Points and select a burning period. The burning pool features a dynamic conversion rate that varies based on the total burned points and the number of tokens generated during specific time frames, encouraging users to choose optimal burning timings for better returns. After the Token Generation Event (TGE), users can claim their generated $ROAM tokens in their personal Roam wallets. The burning pools consist of three distinct categories: the General "Burning" Pool, which is open to all Roam users for a straightforward participation experience; the Miner "Burning" Pool, tailored for Roam router holders, offering a higher exclusive conversion rate; and the Sticker "Burning" Pool, specifically for Roam Sticker holders, where the burnable points are determined by the number and rarity of their Stickers. Notably, burned Roam Points will be permanently destroyed, while users can earn points through various activities such as adding WiFi nodes, checking in, and inviting friends. Additionally, miner users can enhance their points through mining activities and deploying routers. Roam has seen significant growth, with over 2.5 million registered users across more than 200 countries and regions, and boasts over 1.5 million self-built WiFi nodes. According to the Messari 2024 DePIN report, Roam ranks among the top five DePIN projects globally, with over a million active nodes, maintaining its position as the leader in the DePINscan hardware node rankings. ChainCatcher advises readers to approach blockchain developments with a rational mindset, enhance their risk awareness, and exercise caution regarding virtual token issuances and speculative activities.

Bybit has announced the upcoming listing of Network3 (N3) on its Spot trading platform, with a timeline set for deposits, trading, and withdrawals. N3 deposits will open on January 21, 2025, at 10 AM UTC, followed by the listing on January 22, 2025, at 8 AM UTC. Withdrawals will commence on January 23, 2025, at 10 AM UTC. Users will be able to trade N3 via Spot Grid Bots, and deposits and withdrawals will be facilitated through the Solana network, enhancing the trading experience for users. To celebrate the listing, Bybit is hosting two special events aimed at rewarding users. The first event, titled "Token Splash - New User Exclusive," runs from January 21 to February 5, 2025. New users who register and complete identity verification can earn from a prize pool of 2,800,000 N3 by depositing at least 2,000 N3 or trading 100 USDT worth of N3. The first 4,666 new users to meet these criteria will each receive 600 N3. The second event, also called "Token Splash," invites users to trade at least 200 USDT worth of N3 during the same period to share in a 1,200,000 N3 prize pool, with rewards capped at 16,000 N3 per user. Network3 is a pioneering technology focused on creating a decentralized edge AI infrastructure. It utilizes advanced technologies such as AI model optimization, federated learning, and edge computing to support global AI developers in enhancing their model inference and training processes. With over 570,000 active nodes across 188 countries and a download volume exceeding 50 million, Network3 is positioned as a leader in building a fair and efficient AI ecosystem. The upcoming listing on Bybit marks a significant milestone for both the platform and the N3 project, promising exciting opportunities for traders and investors alike.

io.net, a leading decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) protocol, has recently achieved Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) compliance, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to security and operational transparency. This certification indicates that io.net has undergone rigorous audits to ensure its systems are secure and that it adheres to high standards of data integrity. Gaurav Sharma, the technology chief of io.net, emphasized that this achievement not only benefits all users but is particularly appealing to enterprises that require partnerships with organizations maintaining top-tier data protection standards. Achieving SOC 2 compliance is often regarded as the gold standard in data security, providing io.net with a competitive edge in the market. The certification validates the protocol's robust security controls and standardized processes, which are crucial for defending against potential exploits and breaches. With a vision of offering decentralized GPU compute solutions, this certification lays a solid foundation for the protocol's future growth and expansion, allowing it to operate on a global scale while competing with industry-leading security standards. The DePIN sector, valued at approximately $27.9 billion, has seen significant trading activity, with io.net's native token, IO, ranking among the top 20 protocols in this space. With a market cap of $389 million, IO has demonstrated resilience and growth potential despite recent market fluctuations. Furthermore, io.net's collaborations with AI protocols, such as Injective and Alpha Network, aim to explore the intersection of blockchain and AI, positioning the protocol for potential leadership in the DePIN market in the near future.

Bitcoin (BTC) has reached a new all-time high (ATH) of $109,350 on January 20, 2025, driven by a surge in cryptocurrency markets ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. The price increase, which saw BTC jump over 6% in early trading, comes amid growing expectations of pro-crypto policies from the incoming administration. Trump has indicated support for digital assets, including proposals for a strategic national Bitcoin reserve, which has fueled market enthusiasm. Tom Trowbridge, Co-Founder and CEO of Fluence, noted that the appointment of David Sacks as the 'crypto czar' signals a significant shift towards a supportive regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies. The broader cryptocurrency market has also benefited from Bitcoin's rally, with Ethereum rising 3.5% and XRP increasing by 2%. Chainlink has seen the most significant gains, climbing 15%. Despite reaching a new ATH, Bitcoin's price has faced resistance at previous highs, with key support levels identified at $104,000, $102,400, and $99,500. Analysts suggest that a drop below these levels could indicate a deeper correction, while movements above them may present buying opportunities. In addition to Bitcoin's performance, the newly launched TRUMP token has made headlines, peaking above $70 before experiencing a correction. The token's launch was announced by Trump himself, further energizing the market. With Trump's pro-crypto stance, experts predict ambitious price targets for Bitcoin in 2025, ranging from $175,000 to $250,000, driven by factors such as institutional adoption and the upcoming halving event. As the cryptocurrency landscape evolves, the influence of political developments on market dynamics will continue to be closely monitored.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a lawsuit against Nova Labs, the creator of the Helium Network, claiming that the company sold unregistered securities and misled investors regarding its partnerships with prominent firms. The lawsuit specifically targets three tokens associated with Helium: the Helium Network Token (HNT), Helium Mobile Token (MOBILE), and Helium IoT Network Token (IoT). According to the SEC, these tokens were marketed as securities without proper registration, violating federal laws. The SEC is seeking financial penalties and a prohibition on Nova Labs from engaging in the purchase or sale of crypto assets classified as securities. In addition to the allegations regarding unregistered securities, the SEC accuses Nova Labs of exaggerating its partnerships with major corporations such as Nestlé, Lime, and Salesforce. The lawsuit claims that these companies were misrepresented as active users of the Helium network, leading to cease-and-desist letters from Nestlé and Lime when they discovered the misleading claims. The SEC's filing suggests that Nova Labs executives were aware of the falsehoods, with internal communications indicating disbelief that Nestlé had not challenged them sooner. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the company's business practices. In response to the lawsuit, Helium founder Amir Haleem criticized the SEC's actions on social media, describing the lawsuit as a desperate attempt to undermine crypto companies in the U.S. Haleem argued that if Helium hotspots are deemed securities, it could jeopardize all decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs). He emphasized that Helium had clarified its position with the companies involved and expressed determination to contest the SEC's claims, framing the case as a crucial moment for the future of decentralized networks.

Michigan State University (MSU) has officially adopted the EdgeCloud platform for AI research, making it the second academic institution in the United States to join this initiative, following the University of Oregon. The SEIT Lab, led by Associate Professor Qiben Yan, will utilize Theta's decentralized GPU infrastructure to foster advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and distributed systems. As a prominent Tier 1 research institution, MSU's collaboration adds significant value to Theta's academic partnerships in the U.S. Furthermore, EdgeCloud plans to enhance its cloud-based GPU infrastructure across various locations, including California, Texas, and the Midwest, with a beta release of its hybrid cloud-edge computing platform scheduled for June 2025. Professor Qiben Yan is a distinguished expert in IoT security, AI privacy, blockchain resilience, and cybersecurity. His SEIT Lab is at the forefront of research aimed at protecting connected devices and networks from sophisticated cyber threats. Yan's work has been recognized at prestigious conferences and has received notable funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). He expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Theta, emphasizing that the EdgeCloud platform will facilitate the scaling of AI projects that demand high-performance computing while also pushing the boundaries of decentralized technology in secure and intelligent systems for IoT and AI applications. The SEIT Lab is dedicated to creating secure, intelligent systems with a focus on distributed systems, federated learning, and blockchain technologies. Recent projects include NSF-funded research on adversarially robust AI for speech recognition and innovative frameworks for secure smart contracts. By adopting Theta EdgeCloud, the SEIT Lab will benefit from a decentralized cloud platform that significantly accelerates the training and deployment of AI models, reducing GPU resource setup time by up to five times compared to traditional providers. This partnership not only strengthens Theta's academic network but also highlights its commitment to addressing complex challenges across various fields, including media, healthcare, bioinformatics, and finance.