Aurelia Butler

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s final meeting of the year is slated for this week; the Federal Open Market Committee’s meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday is of particular interest to investors eagerly expecting this year’s final interest rate decision.Other economic statistics will be released throughout the week, including retail sales for November on Tuesday, weekly initial jobless claims and the GDP growth rate for the third quarter on Thursday.As of Monday, markets had priced in a 97% chance of a 25-basis-point interest rate decrease. Markets will look to the Fed’s updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference on Wednesday for clues about future interest rate decisions.The Fed is now undergoing a blackout period, which means committee members are unable to make public comments prior to the FOMC meeting.On the other hand, if Powell’s statement suggests a slowing approach or if the rate cut is smaller than expected, the market may react unfavorably. Concerns about persistent inflation and a slower pace of rate cuts might dampen investor enthusiasm.In Monday’s trading session, the crypto market is currently posting mixed price action. Bitcoin recently surged to a new all-time high.According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin’s price was recently up 1.41% daily at $103,926, after reaching a new record high of $106,554 in early Monday trading. Ethereum rose 1.62% in the last 24 hours to $3,951. The majority of cryptocurrency assets traded in the red; XRP, Shiba Inu, Toncoin and BONK lost between 2% and 4%, while SUI, BGB, Fantom and RUNE gained between 4% and 15% in the last 24 hours.The outcomes of the Fed’s decisions and Powell’s insights might set the tone for the market in the coming days.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Bitcoin’s price was recently up 1.41% at $103,926, according to CoinMarketCap, after reaching a new record high of $106,554 in the early Monday trading session. Investors expect the Fed to decrease interest rates this week during its two-day policy meeting, which ends Wednesday.MicroStrategy shares rose Monday, closing more than 5% higher in premarket trading, according to CNBC data. In 2024, the MicroStrategy stock is up 547%, considerably surpassing the S&P 500’s 26.9% gain, as the price of Bitcoin reaches all-time highs.MicroStrategy has been accumulating Bitcoin reserves for years, making it a proxy for the digital currency. With the recent purchase of 15,350 BTC, the company’s Bitcoin stockpile has increased to 439,000 BTC. Bitcoin is currently up over 8% for the month and 145% for the year.Every year, Nasdaq rebalances its Nasdaq-100 index, and the companies chosen for inclusion are primarily based on market capitalization rankings as of the last trading day of November. In addition, the stocks must meet liquidity requirements and have a specific amount of free-floating shares.Gains of more than 40% in the last three months have increased MicroStrategy’s market value to about $100 billion, more than half of the Nasdaq-100’s members, meeting a major requirement for membership.This recent move also means MicroStrategy will be included in the renowned Invesco QQQ Trust ETF, which tracks the Nasdaq-100. This is likely to result in passive inflows into MicroStrategy stock, potentially providing it with another boost.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Despite this trend, Peter Schiff has answered direct queries from the community as to why he refused to buy the coin amid expectations of growth.In a subsequent post, he chided Bitcoin’s influence among buyers overall. He said many new people are buying the coin because they want to get rich. However, he highlighted how unsustainable the cycle is, as those who own BTC refuse to sell.He contrasted this trend with that of gold. He claimed that those buying gold are doing so to stay rich and not to get wealthy like Bitcoin.His belief also hinges on the role of Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and for sustained wealth generation.Following what is now known as the Bitcoin standard, MicroStrategy has entered the Nasdaq 100 Index for the first time since its inception. The firm has gained recognition as the first crypto-focused entity to gain that inclusion, setting the pace for others.This article was originally published on U.Today More

During the testnet phase, over 1.3m users contributed more than 6.5m data points to train user-owned AI models. On mainnet, DataDAOs will leverage the $VANA token to enable users to collectively own, monetize and govern their personal data for a stake in the booming AI economy. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 2024 — Vana, the pioneering network for user-owned data, today announced the launch of its mainnet and native $VANA token. The launch marks a significant milestone in breaking through the data wall that’s limiting AI development while preserving privacy and giving users a stake in the value their data generates.Developed by Open Data Labs — a San Francisco-based research and technology company born out of the MIT Media Lab — the Vana network is an EVM-compatible blockchain that enables users to maintain ownership and control over their personal data while allowing that data to be used for AI model training through privacy-preserving technologies.The mainnet launch follows Vana’s successful testnet phase, which saw over 1.3 million users contributing over 6.5m data points to DataDAOs, processing approximately 1.7 million transactions daily. The testnet demonstrated that programmable data ownership is not just possible, but critical at this point in AI development, says Anna Kazlauskas, CEO of Open Data Labs and inventor of Vana: With a total supply of 120 million tokens, $VANA will serve as the foundation for the network’s economic model, enabling:The mainnet launch comes at a crucial time when AI development faces increasing data scarcity, while users seek greater control over their digital footprint. Vana’s solution enables individuals to participate in and benefit from the AI economy while maintaining sovereignty over their data. As AI hits a data wall and more platforms monetize user data without sharing any upside with users, users deserve to own a stake in the future of AI, says Art Abal, CEO of Vana Foundation: Media Contact:media@vanafoundation.org About VanaVana is the first decentralized network for user-owned data, unlocking data as a new digital asset class. The Vana network consists of an EVM-compatible blockchain, secure personal server environment, and set of native contracts designed for the trustless and secure exchange of user-owned data via DataDAOs.The network empowers users to maintain control over their data while participating in the growing AI economy by pooling their data with others and earning rewards for their contributions. Media Kit | Vana Docs | X | DiscordAbout Vana FoundationVana Foundation is a non-profit entity tasked with ensuring the sustainability and growth of the Vana ecosystem.About Open Data LabsOpen Data Labs is an independent research company focused on technology to accelerate user-owned data. Open Data Labs created the Vana protocol and provides ongoing core developer services to the Vana Foundation. ContactNick VivionVana Foundationmedia@vanafoundation.orgThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

In a celebration of innovation, Forbes Web3 proudly showcases the community members who hold the Forbes Legacy Pass in its December 2024/January 2025 issue. The Forbes Legacy Pass is more than a membership- it’s a transformative experience bringing together a cohort of global entrepreneurs, founders, and creators. It grants members exclusive access to global Forbes Web3 events, access to curated artist drops, and a global community of thinkers and doers. To learn more about the Forbes Legacy Pass and to apply for a spot, users can visit Forbes Legacy Pass.About ForbesForbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 43 licensed local editions in 69 countries. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.ContactForbes MediaPR@forbes.comThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

This partnership establishes the first AI x Web3 Lab at Stanford University’s Future of Digital Currency Initiative.Stanford University’s Future of Digital Currency Initiative (FDCI) and Eliza Labs, creators of the open-source Eliza agent framework, today announced a groundbreaking research partnership to explore how autonomous AI agents will transform digital currency systems. The collaboration, set to begin in Q1 2025, brings together Stanford’s expertise in digital currency research with Eliza Labs’ cutting-edge capabilities in autonomous agent development.Leveraging Eliza Labs’ open-source Eliza framework for autonomous agent development, the partnership will tackle fundamental questions about how AI agents can establish trust, coordinate actions, and make decisions within decentralized financial systems. This research comes at a critical moment as autonomous agents increasingly influence economic systems and financial services, with the Eliza framework providing a proven foundation for developing reliable and scalable agent-based systems.The partnership is actively seeking select industry collaborators, offering early access to emerging technologies and direct involvement in shaping research directions. For venture firms and blockchain infrastructure partners, this represents an opportunity to position themselves at the forefront of agent technology development while accessing emerging technical talent in the field.Research outcomes will include novel trust frameworks for autonomous agents, scalable multi-agent coordination protocols, and formal models for agent governance in decentralized systems. These developments aim to establish foundational standards for agent interaction in digital economies.About Eliza LabsEliza Labs is at the forefront of developing next-generation autonomous agent systems. Founded in 2024, Eliza Labs is the creator of the Eliza agent framework, an open-source platform designed to revolutionize the way autonomous AI agents are created, deployed, and managed. The Eliza framework enables powerful multi-agent simulations, empowering developers, researchers, and businesses to build advanced AI systems. Eliza Labs is committed to pushing the boundaries of AI technology to shape the future of intelligent, autonomous systems. For more information, users can visit https://elizaos.ai ContactFounderSarah CohenSJC PRpress@eliza.systemsThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Kite AI, a provider of decentralized AI infrastructure, has partnered with GAIB, the economic backbone for the future of AI and compute, to create a decentralized AI ecosystem where high-quality datasets, models, and compute resources are widely accessible, leveraging blockchain for secure, fair data indexing and creating a decentralized and liquid market for compute assets like GPUs.The partnership aims to integrate blockchain for secure data sharing and build a financial ecosystem where stakeholders can monetize AI-related assets through DeFi tools like GPU-backed stablecoins and lending markets. Through their collaboration, both are tackling issues plaguing GPU compute and data crucial to AI development that are typically controlled by large corporations, restricting access for smaller players and hindering industry innovation.About Kite AIKite AI is the Proof of Attributable Intelligence Layer 1 that connects AI agents, models and data. Our innovative architecture establishes a universal framework with purpose-built identity and attribution mechanisms, empowering contributors—from enterprises to individuals—to collaboratively build, own, and monetize AI, fostering a transparent and interoperable ecosystemWebsite | X | Discord ｜TelegramAbout GAIBGAIB is the first economic layer for AI compute, creating a new type of yield bearing assets backed by real AI demands. It tokenizes enterprise-grade GPUs and their yields, creating a decentralized liquid market for GPU financing, addressing the growing demand for high-performance computing while giving investors direct exposure to GPU assets. The platform enables a variety of decentralized finance (DeFi) use cases to be built on top, including GPU backed stablecoins, lending and borrowing, options and futures, and various structured products.Website | X | Telegram | DiscordContactHead of Business OperationsYijing ShiYijing.Shi@zettablock.comThis article was originally published on Chainwire More