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On October 28, the Phantom wallet provider experienced significant downtime lasting nearly three hours, coinciding with a surge in demand for the GRASS token airdrop. Users reported issues such as missing balances and transaction failures on social media platforms. The downtime began at 1:36 PM UTC and was resolved by 4:20 PM UTC, marking the second service interruption for Phantom within the month. Earlier in October, a brief 8-minute outage was recorded on the 3rd. In response to the incident, Phantom's team assured users that they would actively monitor the situation and implement measures to prevent future occurrences. The GRASS tokens are part of a decentralized physical infrastructure network known as Grass, which operates on the Solana blockchain. This network incentivizes users by rewarding them for lending unused internet bandwidth, which is then utilized to enhance artificial intelligence models. The first airdrop of GRASS tokens will distribute 100 million tokens, accounting for 10% of the total supply. Following the airdrop's launch, the price of GRASS experienced volatility, initially dropping by 28% to $0.65 before recovering slightly to $0.71 at the time of reporting. Despite the issues faced by Phantom, the Solana network itself remained fully operational throughout the downtime. Data from Solana Status indicated that the network maintained total uptime over the past 90 days. The timing of Phantom's service disruption, just minutes after the GRASS token claim went live, has led to speculation about a correlation between the two events, as users rushed to claim their rewards. This incident highlights the challenges faced by wallet providers during high-demand events in the cryptocurrency space.

The evolution from Web2 to Web3 represents a significant shift in how personal data and digital identities are managed. In the traditional Web2 framework, centralized organizations maintain control over user data, often leading to concerns about privacy and data ownership. With over 5.17 billion active social media accounts, the amount of information controlled by these entities is staggering. Web3 aims to disrupt this model by introducing decentralized identity (DID) systems, allowing individuals to regain control over their personal data and online identities. This decentralized approach ensures that users are the sole owners of their credentials, enabling them to verify their digital identities without relying on centralized authorities. DID systems offer numerous advantages that can facilitate the adoption of Web3 technologies. Firstly, they empower users by granting them full control over their personal data, thereby eliminating the risk of unauthorized data sales by third-party companies. Additionally, DID simplifies the onboarding process for new users by allowing them to access various decentralized applications (dApps) using a single identity. This streamlined experience reduces barriers to entry and enhances user engagement with Web3 platforms. Moreover, the security features inherent in decentralized technologies provide robust protection against malicious attacks, ensuring that users' private identities remain secure. As the demand for privacy and data ownership grows, the practical applications of DID become increasingly relevant. For instance, integrating DID into existing Web2 platforms can provide users with password-free logins and facilitate decentralized Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. However, challenges remain, including the need for scalable systems that are user-friendly for individuals unfamiliar with blockchain technology. By addressing these challenges and promoting the use of DID, the Web3 ecosystem can accelerate its adoption, ultimately leading to a digital landscape where users have greater control over their identities and personal data.

Streamr is an innovative decentralized network designed for streaming live media and real-time data securely and at scale. It offers a range of use cases, including AI data delivery, live video streaming, and communication without the need for centralized servers. The platform allows users to stream verifiable data from IoT devices and networked hardware, making it a versatile solution for various industries. Additionally, Streamr facilitates data monetization by enabling users to buy and sell subscriptions to data streams, thus creating a marketplace for real-time data exchange. The Streamr Network operates on a robust and permissionless peer-to-peer architecture, which enhances its scalability and resilience against malicious attacks. By leveraging companion blockchains such as Ethereum, Gnosis, and Polygon, Streamr ensures secure identity management and payment processing. This decentralized approach addresses the limitations of traditional centralized services, which often suffer from single points of failure and vendor lock-in. With a focus on low latency and secure messaging, Streamr is poised to become a critical infrastructure layer for the emerging decentralized web (Web3). Founded in 2017 by a team of visionaries, Streamr has grown into a collaborative open-source project with around 30 contributors worldwide. Governance within the project is facilitated through voting mechanisms using the $DATA token, which serves as the backbone of the network. The recent release of the complete $DATA tokenomics marks a significant milestone in the Streamr roadmap, further solidifying its position in the decentralized data ecosystem. Node operators play a crucial role in securing and relaying data streams, while delegators can earn revenue shares by supporting these operators, fostering a community-driven approach to data management.

September marked a transformative month for CUDOS, characterized by significant developments, impressive growth metrics, and strategic partnerships. A highlight was the proposal for CUDOS to join the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI), aiming to synergize AI and cloud computing for sustainable innovation. The community's enthusiastic response culminated in a successful vote for the merger, paving the way for a new chapter in CUDOS's evolution. Detailed resources, including a voting guide and migration steps for the upcoming token merger with $FET, have been made available to assist users in this transition. The month also witnessed remarkable operational achievements, with a staggering 8,475 new virtual machines (VMs) deployed, reflecting a 159% increase from the previous month. This surge brought the total number of VMs across the CUDOS Intercloud to nearly 30,000. Additionally, the user base surpassed 11,000, and the platform logged over 500,000 compute hours, showcasing the diverse workloads being supported. Financially, CUDOS generated over $700,000 in revenue, underscoring its robust performance and growing adoption in the market. Infrastructure expansion was another key focus, with the establishment of new data centers in Norway and the USA, enhancing global computing capabilities. These facilities are equipped with advanced hardware to ensure efficient service delivery. Furthermore, CUDOS engaged with the community through events and discussions, including an AMA with CEO Matt Hawkins, who emphasized the merger's potential benefits. The media also recognized these milestones, with coverage in platforms like Cointelegraph, highlighting CUDOS's commitment to advancing AI and decentralized computing. Looking ahead, CUDOS is poised for continued growth and innovation, thanks to the unwavering support of its community.

Last week, the Gitex Global Conference took place from October 14th to 18th in Dubai, UAE, where our team had the opportunity to collaborate with our partner Grenton. This annual event serves as a significant platform for fintech decision-makers to connect, share ideas, and network. Located at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Gitex Global attracted tens of thousands of participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, and industry insiders. Our focus during the conference was to showcase the integration of blockchain technology with AI and Smart Home solutions, emphasizing their potential benefits for sustainability and the development of smart cities. During the event, we engaged with key decision-makers and investors, presenting how our joint solutions can enhance community engagement and facility management through innovative technologies. Notably, Bartlomiej Gierszyn, CEO of Grenton, delivered a presentation during the Tech Talks segment of Gitex 2024. He highlighted the aggregation of data from smart homes for notifications and alerts, the role of AI in facility management, and the application of blockchain for fostering community engagement. This presentation not only provided valuable insights but also sparked significant interest among potential investors and attendees. Overall, our experience at Gitex Global was highly productive, allowing us to expand our network and generate interest in our collaborative solutions with Grenton. We believe that the conference could have been even more beneficial with a longer duration, as the discussions and networking opportunities were incredibly valuable. To stay updated on our developments and future initiatives, we encourage following our social media channels.

Huddle01, a pioneer in decentralized real-time communications (dRTC), has launched a whitelist for its upcoming node sale, aiming to revolutionize audio and video conferencing. This initiative marks the first Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) specifically designed for real-time communication. By leveraging unused internet bandwidth through node operators, Huddle01 enables seamless communication that can rival established platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. Since its inception, Huddle01 has facilitated over 7 million minutes of meetings across more than 100,000 events, and the addition of new nodes is expected to enhance connectivity in emerging markets while allowing node license holders to earn rewards. The Huddle01 Media Nodes serve as the backbone of this innovative network, addressing the high operational costs and latency issues associated with centralized RTC networks. By significantly reducing the reliance on traditional data centers, Huddle01 can lower developers' server costs for audio and video calls by up to 95% compared to conventional services like AWS. CEO Ayush Ranjan emphasizes that the media nodes will improve latency, particularly in regions with a dense cluster of nodes, thus providing a competitive edge over existing web2 solutions. The platform's native app, Huddle01 Meet, integrates web3 tools, allowing users to connect wallets and utilize NFT avatars, further enhancing the user experience. The node sale will offer 46,900 Huddle Media Nodes, starting at $320 each, and will occur in two phases. The first phase will see 20,000 nodes available for purchase, with participants receiving an NFT key upon purchase. The sale is structured to reward early participants with higher returns. Additionally, an incentivized testnet will launch shortly after the sale, rewarding active node holders with $HUDL tokens. With a total supply of 200 million $HUDL, the project aims to engage a broad user base and enhance the decentralized communication landscape.

**Regulators Acknowledge Benefits of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN)** Regulators have recognized the unique advantages brought by decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), as stated by Greg Osuri, the founder of Akash, a DePIN protocol. Osuri aims to persuade regulators that DePIN should be supervised differently from other crypto sectors. A recent meeting with a key staffer from the U.S. House committee overseeing commerce and trade was described as 'productive' by Osuri. Akash and competitor InFlux Technologies have joined forces to establish a DePIN and Web3 advocacy group to create a regulatory framework for the sector. Advocates of DePIN emphasize the real-world value these projects offer by granting users control over physical infrastructure networks using blockchain technology. Alvaro Garcia from Borderless Capital highlighted that DePIN projects stand out from traditional crypto ventures as their value is derived from outside the crypto sector. Osuri echoed this sentiment, mentioning that regulators are taking notice of DePIN's disruptive potential in mainstream markets. VCs like Borderless Capital have shown interest in DePIN, with a recent $100 million fund dedicated to the sector, investing in projects like Helium and GEODNET. Osuri argues for a distinct regulatory approach for DePIN compared to sectors like DeFi. Akash and InFlux Technologies have formed an advocacy group to educate regulators on the unique value proposition of DePIN. Osuri stressed the importance of differentiating DePIN from other crypto sectors in regulatory discussions to ensure lawmakers understand its distinct characteristics and benefits. Despite utilizing crypto features, Osuri believes that emphasizing the advantages of DePIN is more crucial than focusing on the 'crypto' aspect.

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePin) are making significant strides in the tech industry by facilitating decentralized projects that focus on real-world infrastructure. Recently, the DePin sector has seen notable developments, including the listing of the GRASS token on OKX's pre-market futures platform. This allows users to trade USDT-margined futures on the GRASS token, which is the native asset of the Grass project. The futures went live on October 14, 2024, enabling users to monetize unused bandwidth by selling it to vetted companies, thereby creating a fairer marketplace for proxy services. Additionally, the Grass Foundation is set to release a checker for its highly anticipated “Airdrop One” on October 21, 2024, marking it as potentially the most widely distributed airdrop in crypto history. In another significant move, Aethir, a decentralized GPU-as-a-service network, announced the launch of a $100 million Ecosystem Fund aimed at fostering AI and cloud gaming initiatives. A substantial portion of this fund will be directed towards the Aethir Catalyst program, which offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $200,000 to emerging developers. This initiative not only provides financial backing but also grants access to Aethir's extensive GPU resources, enabling developers to create decentralized cloud-based games and integrate AI solutions. Aethir's strategic investment in this area reflects its commitment to enhancing its presence in the rapidly growing cloud gaming and AI sectors. Analytics platform LunarCrush has also highlighted the top DePIN projects based on social media mentions, with Bittensor (TAO) leading the pack with 10,880 mentions, indicating a surge in community interest. MultiversX (EGLD) and ICP (Internet Computer Protocol) followed, showcasing their growing presence in the decentralized infrastructure space. While DePIN is still evolving and faces challenges, it plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between synthetic and real-world assets, thereby supporting traditional infrastructure in areas where conventional models fall short.

The recent Theta Hackathon has concluded successfully, showcasing an impressive array of projects focused on AI, video, and gaming. This event highlighted the contributions of talented developers and teams who are dedicated to building a decentralized future for media and entertainment. Among the standout projects, TPLAY emerged as the winner of the Video/Rendering track. TPLAY is a revolutionary social network designed for sharing videos on the Theta Network, allowing users to upload or create AI-generated videos, engage in contests, and win exciting prizes. This platform not only transforms video content creation and sharing but also offers a unique blend of technology and creativity. TPLAY is more than just a video-sharing platform; it is a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers users to control their content. Users can securely upload and share videos, utilize decentralized storage solutions, and leverage advanced AI tools for video creation. The platform encourages user engagement through weekly contests where participants can win prizes based on audience interaction. Additionally, TPLAY offers interactive features such as liking, commenting, and sharing videos, along with real-time updates on contest standings and video processing, enhancing community engagement. The technical architecture of TPLAY integrates modern web technologies with the Theta Network blockchain, facilitating user interactions through decentralized wallets. The platform processes video uploads and manages blockchain interactions via smart contracts, ensuring secure token transactions and contest management. Future enhancements for TPLAY include the introduction of advanced AI tools for video editing, the establishment of a DAO for user-driven feature proposals, and a transition to a fully decentralized storage solution. Congratulations to the winning team for their innovative contributions to the Theta Ecosystem!

In an exciting development for the Web 3.0 landscape, aZen Protocol has announced a strategic partnership with Stratos. This collaboration aims to merge aZen's innovative DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) and SocialFi technologies with Stratos' robust decentralized storage and computing services. By combining these strengths, the partnership is poised to enhance the efficiency and security of decentralized infrastructures, paving the way for a more integrated and user-friendly Web 3.0 experience. At the heart of aZen Protocol is its DePIN framework, which transforms computing resources and applications into NFTs, allowing for efficient management and seamless integration. This framework supports universal computing tasks across various networks and devices, ensuring scalability and security. Additionally, aZen Connect, the SocialFi component, incentivizes user engagement through a click-to-earn model, making it a valuable tool for social media marketing and community interaction. This innovative approach not only rewards participation but also enhances digital traffic, creating a vibrant ecosystem for users. Stratos, known for its decentralized infrastructure, provides essential services that include storage, computing, and blockchain capabilities. With a network of over 800 storage nodes and a capacity exceeding 14 PB, Stratos offers a decentralized alternative to traditional cloud services, ensuring transparency and privacy. The partnership will leverage Stratos' decentralized storage to bolster aZen's tokenized computing resources and enhance the user experience on aZen Connect. Together, aZen and Stratos are set to redefine the landscape of decentralized infrastructure and social engagement, empowering developers and users alike in the evolving Web 3.0 environment.