Latest news with #a16zCrypto
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A16z Crypto Leads $15M Seed Round Into Decentralized AI Data Layer Poseidon
Venture capital heavyweight a16z Crypto led a $15 million seed-round investment into Poseidon, a decentralized artificial intelligence (AI) data layer. Poseidon is built to provide access to training data for robotics and AI models that is "traceable, enforceable and monetizable," according to an emailed announcement on Tuesday. The project was incubated by intellectual property (IP)-based protocol Story, another a16z portfolio company. Story aims to convert IP into programmable assets that can be licensed and managed using smart contracts on blockchains. "AI foundation models have already exhausted the most easily accessible training data," a16z Crypto's managing partner, Chris Dixon, said in the email. "Poseidon's decentralized data layer seeks to establish a new economic foundation for the internet, rewarding creators and suppliers for providing the diverse inputs that next-gen intelligent systems need.' AI models, especially generative AI, are trained on vast datasets — often scraped from the internet — which include copyrighted works such as books, art, music and code. Some creatives argue that this constitutes unauthorized use and copyright infringement because their work is being used for commercial purposes without permission or compensation. The practice has already led to several lawsuits. This friction highlights how AI and blockchain technology can interact, with decentralization helping to provide secure, controlled sharing of data and allowing multiple parties to contribute to large-language model training without compromising privacy or proprietary information. The creation of diverse datasets opens up possibilities for data monetization, with creators being compensated for the use of their works.
Business Insider
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Spanish Fintech Criptan Partners With OpenTrade to Power Suite of EURC and USDC Yield Products
Criptan, a Spanish fintech company focused on providing businesses and individual users with simple, secure access to digital assets like BTC / ETH and stablecoin (USDC / EURC) accounts, has partnered with OpenTrade to power its Earn product, which allows users to earn passive income on their USDC and EURC holdings with the click of a button. Criptan continues to solidify its position as a trusted leader in the European digital asset ecosystem, attracting over 85,000 corporate and individual users who can access digital assets and stablecoin accounts through a seamless UI/UX, and trust in Criptan's strong regulatory and security credentials and track record. By partnering with OpenTrade, Criptan is able to further enhance their existing Earn offering, which has already paid out over half a million euros in user earnings and surpassed $75 million in assets under management since its launch. Most notably, by utilizing OpenTrade's USD Money Market USDC Yield and E.U. Gov Bond EURC Yield products, Criptan will be able to power more stable, predictable returns on both USDC and EURC without imposing any additional onboarding requirements or costs on end users, and decreasing back-office costs and operational overhead. As the leading digital asset platform in Spain, Criptan is able to provide this market with a truly unique value proposition, including superior returns with accessibility, flexibility, and stability unmatched elsewhere in the Spanish market: Criptan provides users with superior returns on euro and dollar balances compared to traditional banks, which typically cap euro savings rates at the Euro money market rate (currently 2.17%), and rarely offer USD yield-bearing accounts to local retail users Criptan provides users with more stable and predictable returns compared to crypto-native platforms may offer up to 6% APY on selected stablecoins, but rates are often variable and require locking funds for a set period of time 'Through the partnership, Criptan is bridging the gap between traditional and on-chain finance, delivering a solution that neither can achieve alone. Business and retail users alike can enjoy unhindered access to reliable, institutional-grade yields with no lock-ups or additional fees,' said Jeff Handler, co-founder and CCO of OpenTrade. 'Our mission at Criptan has always been to democratize access to the benefits of digital finance in a secure and transparent way. Partnering with OpenTrade allows us to take a significant step forward, bringing institutional-grade investment opportunities to everyday users while maintaining the simplicity and trust that define our platform. We believe this alliance strengthens our value proposition and reinforces our commitment to building the future of finance in Europe', said Jorge Soriano, CEO & cofounder of Criptan. OpenTrade is an institutional grade platform for real world asset backed lending and stablecoin yield products. Backed by investors including a16z Crypto and Circle, the OpenTrade platform has been built to allow any company to power their own stablecoin yield products for their users, who can trust in OpenTrade's enterprise-grade technology systems, and the security guarantees of our time-tested legal protections and bank-grade asset management operations. About Criptan Criptan is the perfect complement to traditional banking by using blockchain technology to increase the profitability and security of its customers' savings. Founded in 2018, its aim is to protect its customers' wealth, while helping them to grow, based on the highest standards of security and transparency. It is registered with the Bank of Spain under number D646, which allows it to operate legally in the purchase, sale and custody of digital assets. It is also ISO 27001 certified, which guarantees high security standards in information management.
Business Insider
29-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Aleo to Host and Join Key Privacy & Stablecoin Events at ETHCC Cannes
Aleo, the Layer-1 blockchain focused on privacy and compliance, has confirmed details of the events it will be participating in at ETHCC in Cannes. During the course of the four-day conference in the South of France, delegates will be able to meet the Aleo team and learn more about its ZK-based tech stack through a series of events. Set to run from June 30 to July 4, the largest Ethereum developer event will feature a packed schedule of conferences, networking, and learning opportunities. Aleo will be involved with three key events at ETHCC: Stablecoin House, The OPSEC Salon, and Pragma Cannes. Dubbed the unofficial command center for stablecoin builders, Stablecoin House is poised to live up to its name. For three days, stablecoin-focused developers and operators will assemble in a seaside villa that will serve as an open coworking space and builder house. In addition to having a presence at Stablecoin House for the duration of ETHCC, Aleo will participate in The OPSEC Salon on July 3. Dedicated to exploring privacy and security across web3 layers, the one-day event in the heart of Cannes brings together protocol leaders, privacy experts, and security professionals, including members of Aleo and Creed. In addition to giving attendees a 360° view of operational security, the event will follow suit for the Cannes skyline, concluding with happy hour on the rooftop bar. Provable CEO Howard Wu said: 'EthCC has always been a hugely important event for us, since it unites so many of the industry's brightest minds, from developers working on the coalface to investors writing checks in the board room. We're happy to be back at EthCC in a hands-on capacity this year to talk privacy, security standards, and to catch up with as many fellow builders as possible.' On July 3, Aleo will also participate in ETHCC side event Pragma Cannes. The intimate one-day conference unites founders and builders to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Highlights include a keynote from Howard Wu. In 'The Privacy Spectrum: From Shadows to Standards,' the Provable CEO will explore how developers can create private applications on Aleo. Afterwards, Pragma concludes with a fireside chat with Vitalik Buterin. Set against the stunning backdrop of the French Riviera, ETHCC will attract developers, investors, and thought leaders working on the frontlines of web3 innovation. Aleo will be present throughout Europe's largest Ethereum-focused event to share insights, connect with developers, and explore opportunities to collaborate on ZK-powered privacy solutions. Aleo is a Layer-1 blockchain focused on private and compliant payments backed by leading VCs including a16z Crypto, Haun Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund, and Samsung Next. Aleo launched day 1 with Coinbase and recently announced a partnership with Google Cloud to explore confidential and compliant web3 payment solutions. As the industry continues to push toward more secure and privacy-first solutions, Aleo remains committed to making web3 privacy a native, accessible feature for mainstream adoption. For more information about Aleo and to stay updated on its latest developments, visit
