SeoulTech Partners with Theta to Enhance AI and Biomedical Research

Bee Maps, a decentralized mapping startup previously known as Hivemapper, has successfully raised $32 million to enhance its blockchain-based cartography network. The funding round was led by prominent investors including Pantera Capital, LDA Capital, Borderless Capital, and Ajna Capital, marking it as one of the largest in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) sector. The platform incentivizes users with HONEY tokens for capturing real-world footage via Bee Dashcams, which is then processed by AI to identify roadwork, new signage, and infrastructure modifications. This decentralized approach aims to deliver more accurate and diverse geographical data compared to traditional centralized systems, as highlighted by a spokesperson from Pantera Capital. In its next phase, Bee Maps is focusing on accessibility by introducing a new $19 monthly Bee Membership Plan, which replaces the previous hardware fee of $589. This strategic move is expected to significantly increase user participation by lowering the barrier to entry for contributors. The platform has already secured data and integration partnerships with major players such as Volkswagen, Lyft, and Mapbox, allowing its live mapping feeds to be utilized in navigation tools and AI training models. As the DePIN sector continues to thrive, Bee Maps is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for real-time, precise data in various industries. In a related development, the DePIN market is witnessing a surge, with a reported 28% increase in on-chain activity since July. Solana has emerged as the second most active blockchain for DePIN projects, following Ethereum. Meanwhile, the launch of Snorter, a new token and Telegram sniper bot, is gaining attention for its speed and efficiency in automating trades. Analysts from 99Bitcoins suggest that such utility bots could signal the next phase of the crypto bull market, particularly as they help users navigate the increasingly complex landscape of tokenized infrastructure projects. As the market evolves, both Bee Maps and Snorter are poised to play significant roles in shaping the future of decentralized applications and infrastructure.

Grass, a decentralized AI project on the Solana blockchain, is making headlines by raising $10 million in a bridge funding round. This initiative allows users to monetize idle internet bandwidth, empowering individuals to control their data instead of letting large corporations profit from it. Notable investors in this round include Polychain and Tribe Capital, with the funding primarily aimed at purchasing tokens. Andrej Radonjic, a representative from Grass, emphasized the project's potential to revolutionize data access at an unprecedented scale, particularly for AI companies that currently rely on traditional web scraping methods that are often blocked. The timing of this funding round appears fortuitous for Grass, which has been experiencing significant commercial growth. Radonjic noted that the company is not only focused on providing training data for AI models but is also looking to expand into inference data. This strategic shift aims to facilitate an 'inner scale web crawl' that would enhance live context retrieval capabilities. Polychain's Josh Rosenthal praised the Grass team for their exceptional execution and commitment to leveraging distributed systems to outperform traditional web2 competitors. This marks the third investment from Polychain, highlighting their confidence in Grass's trajectory. In the competitive landscape of AI, Grass stands out by offering a crypto-native solution that aligns with current trends in the industry. Boris Revsin from Tribe Capital noted that Grass has become a benchmark for operational excellence within their portfolio, securing major clients, including leading AI labs, in just the past year. With 8.5 million monthly active users and collaborations with various companies, nonprofits, and universities, Grass is poised for continued growth. The GRASS token will serve as the primary vehicle for value accrual, reinforcing the project's commitment to its foundational principles and customer relationships. This story is still developing, and further updates are anticipated as Grass continues to evolve in the blockchain and AI sectors.

The fine wine industry, valued at $1 trillion, is facing significant challenges such as fraud, inefficiency, and a lack of transparency. dVIN Labs is introducing the concept of the "Intelligent Product," which aims to revolutionize the way wine is managed by making each bottle smart and connected. This innovation is particularly crucial given the industry's current state, where a bottle of wine can be treated with less sophistication than a simple package from an online retailer. The global wine market, with an annual turnover of $460 billion, suffers from high transaction fees, long settlement times, and substantial losses due to counterfeiting and spoilage, largely because wine has historically been a passive object without the ability to communicate its journey or authenticity. The introduction of Smart Wine leverages advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Web3, and the Internet of Things to create a new paradigm for wine management. By integrating DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) with NFC/RFID technology, each bottle can connect to a network, allowing it to communicate real-time data about its environment. This connectivity is paired with the dVIN Protocol, which assigns a unique identity to each bottle through a Digital Cork, an NFT on the Solana blockchain. This not only ensures authenticity but also provides a transparent record of the wine's provenance, effectively addressing the $70 billion counterfeit issue in the industry. The transformation to Smart Wine is set to unlock significant economic value by enhancing liquidity and efficiency in trading. With the Digital Cork facilitating instant ownership transfers and drastically reducing transaction fees, the market's trading volume could see a substantial increase. Additionally, wineries can benefit from perpetual royalties through smart contracts, allowing them to share in the appreciation of their wines on the secondary market. As dVIN Labs continues to tokenize bottles and expand its partnerships, the future of the fine wine market looks promising, paving the way for a connected and intelligent wine ecosystem.

The Theta ecosystem is witnessing significant advancements as it gains traction across various sectors, including sports, media, academia, and AI startups. The September Roundup highlights a series of exciting developments, showcasing the platform's versatility and growing adoption. Notably, Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union has launched a new app that features an EdgeCloud-powered RAG chatbot, enhancing fan engagement through innovative technology. Additionally, academic institutions such as SeoulTech and Emory University have signed on to utilize Theta EdgeCloud, further expanding its reach in educational settings. The Theta community recently gathered in Berlin for the annual ThetaEuroCon and BlockJam hackathon, fostering collaboration and innovation among developers and enthusiasts. The platform was also prominently featured at Korea Blockchain Week, where events like Aethir deAI Day and the IoTeX DePin + Real-World AI event showcased its capabilities in integrating blockchain with real-world applications. Furthermore, the development of EdgeCloud continues to progress, with new integrations of advanced AI technologies such as Google Gemini 2.5 Pro and xAI Grok4, indicating a commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. In addition to these developments, the Theta team has released Version 1.2 of the Theta Edge Node for Android and upgraded the Theta Android Wallet to v5.3.0. A notable partnership has been initiated with Olympique de Marseille at the Orange Velodrome stadium, signaling the platform's entry into the sports arena. As Q4 approaches, the Theta Network is poised for more exciting announcements and developments, making it a key player in the blockchain space.

At the recent Token2049 Singapore event, a significant milestone was achieved in the realm of artificial intelligence with the launch of the Real-World AI Foundry. This initiative, spearheaded by IoTeX and a coalition of leading partners, aims to create an open ecosystem dedicated to developing Real-World Models (RWMs). Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on static historical data, RWMs are designed to utilize live, verified data from various sources such as machines, sensors, and people. This innovative approach promises AI that not only predicts outcomes but also perceives, adapts, and acts responsibly in real-world scenarios. The Real-World AI Foundry is supported by a diverse group of Alignment Partners, including notable names like Vodafone, Blockchain Association, and Filecoin, among others. These partners are committed to establishing shared standards for Real-World AI, focusing on governance, data standards, and deployment frameworks. The initiative is guided by three core principles: grounded in verified data, open to contributions from anyone, and human-centered to ensure accountability and societal benefits. This collaborative effort aims to create RWMs that evolve continuously with real-time data, making them essential for industries where accuracy and adaptability are crucial. As AI technology increasingly integrates into critical sectors, the need for dynamic and trustworthy systems has never been more pressing. Raullen Chai, Co-Founder and CEO of IoTeX, emphasized that AI must transition from static predictions to dynamic actions that are rooted in reality. The Real-World AI Foundry represents a collective endeavor to bridge this gap, fostering collaboration among data providers, infrastructure operators, and researchers. By doing so, it aims to accelerate innovation and create universally trusted AI solutions that align with human values and needs, marking the dawn of a new era in artificial intelligence.

In the latest update from Titan, significant progress has been made across various initiatives, including the completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the IP Leasing incentive campaign, which distributed a total of $28,000 USDC to legitimate contributors. The campaign has undergone rigorous audits to eliminate fraudulent activities, ensuring transparency and fairness. Phase 3 commenced on September 26, featuring a $15,000 USDC challenge with two tracks aimed at Promoters and Node Operators, further incentivizing community engagement. Additionally, Titan secured $150,000 from Filecoin ProPGF to advance the SP Bandwidth project, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and growth in the blockchain space. On the product development front, Titan has made strides in its testnet and tokenomics, implementing immediate fixes on August 28 to stabilize the market. These adjustments include a temporary reduction in staking APR and a new revenue split model that benefits operators. The team is also in the final stages of testnet development, focusing on sustainability and real revenue generation before the mainnet launch. The decision to migrate to a major Ethereum Layer 2 solution is strategic, aimed at enhancing interoperability and liquidity while ensuring thorough end-to-end testing of the platform. Partnerships have also been a focal point, with a new collaboration with Cloudflare announced at the #CloudflareImmerse event in Guangzhou. This partnership aims to optimize resource orchestration and enhance service delivery across the APAC region. Furthermore, Titan has upgraded its customer service with the introduction of the Titan AI Assistant, ensuring prompt support for users. As the team prepares for the mainnet launch, they are committed to maintaining transparency and community engagement, with several upcoming events and initiatives designed to foster growth and innovation in the blockchain ecosystem.