Stories by Ali Shutler
This Worldcoin Competitor Is Using ZK Proofs to Preserve Anonymity
Rarimo has launched RariMe, a Worldcoin competitor that uses zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to preserve the anonymity of its users. Described as a self-custody identity wallet, Rarimo says it unlocks private but verifiable identities. While Worldcoin makes use of specially-created technology called The Orb to scan users’ eyeballs to create a unique identifier, the RariMe app simply scans a user's passport to verify identity. This creates an incognito profile and generates zero-knowledge proofs that...
How Many Bitcoin Billionaires Are There?
Since Bitcoin kickstarted the cryptocurrency revolution in 2009, the crypto space has grown dramatically. And while some early adopters used their Bitcoin to buy pizza, for the most part the digital currency has become synonymous with wealth. As of June 2024, the real-time Forbes Billionaires List currently features 15 individuals who are reported to have made a majority of their fortune thanks to the world of cryptocurrency, compared to just nine in 2023. However, at the start of 2024 the list...
Bitcoin Funds Added $2 Billion in Biggest Week for Crypto ETFs Since March
Amid a turbulent week for crypto prices, Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) gained nearly $2 billion worth of BTC deposits, according to a new report from CoinShares. The price of Bitcoin plunged below $69,000 on Friday, after previously stabilizing following hotter-than-expected jobs data from the U.S. Labor Department. And as Bitcoin goes, so often too does the rest of the crypto market. All the while, Bitcoin ETFs were booming. Such funds collectively saw $1.97 billion worth of Bitcoin infl...
AI Has Put a Weird New Face on an Old Amazon Prime Video Problem
AI has been used to put a terrifying new face to a long-running issue with Amazon’s Prime Video service. Earlier this week, a screenshot was posted on X showing a few different options for watching the iconic 1957 version of 12 Angry Men on Prime Video. At first glance, there’s nothing strange about that—but on closer inspection, it’s apparent the thumbnail for the free-to-stream version of the crime classic has clearly been created by AI. Not only are there 19 angry men on the jury, but a major...
There's More Evidence 'Cryptoqueen' Was Murdered by Drug Kingpin: BBC
There's now more evidence that missing Cryptoqueen Dr. Ruja Ignatova might have been murdered by a Bulgarian drug kingpin because she had become a “liability,” according to a new episode of the BBC’s The Missing Cryptoqueen podcast. A new episode of "The Missing Cryptoqueen" podcast seems to back up last year’s reports that Ignatova had ties to the Bulgarian underworld and was murdered. In 2014, Ignatova launched OneCoin, a “revolutionary” new mineable cryptocurrency with a maximum supply of 120...
Spider-Verse Producer Promises to Never Use Generative AI in Franchise
Christopher Miller, the co-writer and producer of Sony’s beloved “Spider-Verse” series, has promised the franchise will never use generative AI. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” was originally released in 2018 and won the Oscar for Best Animated Film. The sequel, 2023’s “Across the Spider-Verse,” remains one of the best-reviewed animated movies of all time. Both used a variety of animation styles with the franchise regularly praised for evolving what an animated film could be. The final chapt...
Chainlink and Circle Want to Help Institutions Use Stablecoins and DeFi
Oracle provider Chainlink and stablecoin issuer Circle want to expand stablecoin utility for institutions through a new partnership. Chainlink has made a name for itself as the industry-standard decentralized computing platform while Circle is a global financial tech company that issues both the USDC, the second-largest stablecoin on the market, and the EURC. This new partnership will make use of Circle’s developer platforms and Chainlink services to expand stablecoin utility for enterprise use....
Can a FanDuel Co-Founder's 'Fantasy Music' Game Help Discover the Next Taylor Swift?
There’s fantasy football (both kinds), fantasy baseball, fantasy basketball—and surely a fantasy game for just about every notable sport. But what about a fantasy game for musicians? Currently in a private alpha, Vault’s Fantasy Music game tasks players with building a roster of five artists from the Solana-based NFT music platform, with points awarded for increases in Spotify monthly listeners. To lock in their roster, players will have to own the artists’ limited-edition NFT drops via the Vaul...
What to Expect From the AI World Fair in Decentraland
Ethereum metaverse game Decentraland has revealed its plans for the AI World Fair, which is set to be hosted in the online sandbox game next week. Running from October 25-27, The AI World Fair will bring together experts in artificial intelligence, metaverse worlds, and Web3 alongside companies like NVIDIA, Rainbird, and SingularityNET, all of which are utilizing AI technology in various ways. The first day of the event, “Sci-Fi vs. Sci-Fact,” will explore how AI is currently being used, while t...
There's a Film Festival Happening in Minecraft Right Now
MyMetaStories, a European film festival curated by Unifrance—a government-funded organization dedicated to promoting French cinema—launched Friday in the popular video game Minecraft and runs until Monday. Taking place in a specially built virtual cinema within the enormously popular sandbox game, the free festival will showcase 13 short films created by a range of European creatives, with each one screened in a blocky Minecraft room inspired by the film. Users will need to pick up a ticket in-g...
Stars Arena Drained of $2.85 Million, Declaring ‘War’ with Hackers
Stars Arena, a social platform backed by Avalanche’s Contract Chain, has been hit with what the project calls a “major security breach.” Launched last month following the sudden popularity of Friend.tech, a social token-driven platform allowing users to create and monetize online communities, Stars Arena has been steadily increasing in popularity. Enabling influencers, online content creators, and public figures to monetize their fan base by allowing access to exclusive content and offers, Stars...
Nirvana Bassist Says AI Could Help Complete Old Demo Songs
Krist Novoselic, bassist of seminal grunge rock band Nirvana, has revealed that he’s interested in using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help complete and share previously unheard demos from the band—but only if it didn’t change the essence of the original songs. Speaking to NME, Novoselic explained how the surviving members of Nirvana have already used AI technology for the deluxe 30th edition anniversary reissue of their third and final album, “In Utero.” Releasing October 27, the boxset...
AI Music Streaming Service Launching—Will People Pay?
A streaming platform and marketplace specifically focused on music created with AI tools, called Musixy.ai, is set to launch with an aim to bring legitimacy to the burgeoning—but divisive—scene. The service will let creators to upload their own AI-generated tracks to the platform, while the company behind it has also worked with producers to create their own songs. Early samplings on the website ahead of the full streaming service launch point primarily to cover songs featuring unexpected—but fa...
Joy Division NFT Includes Previously Unheard Ian Curtis Audio
Pace Gallery has unveiled an NFT art project that will include previously unheard Joy Division vocal samples. The project was created in collaboration with the influential English rock band’s drummer Stephen Morris, album artist Peter Saville, and the official Joy Division Archive. The “CP1919” series from the gallery’s Pace Verso division, which spans two NFT drops, features a soundtrack created by Morris as well as archival vocal samples from late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. The project...
Justin Bieber Producer Is Selling Royalties for the Song 'Company' as NFTs
Ever wanted to own a tiny slice of a Justin Bieber song? Writer and producer Andreas “Axident” Schuller is set to sell NFTs that will grant owners a percentage of future streaming royalties to Justin Bieber’s hit song “Company.” Schuller, who has also worked with the likes of Pitbull and Jason Derulo, has teamed up with blockchain-based music rights platform AnotherBlock to sell a 1% total portion of the streaming royalty rights to Bieber’s “Company” via 2,000 Ethereum NFTs. Each ERC-721 token w...
After Music NFT Relaunch, LimeWire Is Adding AI Tools—Here's Why
LimeWire, the early 2000s peer-to-peer music sharing service reborn in 2022 as a music NFT marketplace, revealed a decentralized generative AI creator studio Tuesday that is backed by Ethereum scaling network Polygon. But why is LimeWire pivoting into AI? The peer-to-peer platform was wildly popular in the early 2000s with over 50 million monthly users at its peak, but closed down in 2011 after losing a legal battle with the Recording Industry Association of America over allegations of piracy. L...
K-Pop Titans Blackpink Launch Roblox Metaverse Experience
South Korean pop titans Blackpink are coming to Roblox. The band made history this year as the first K-pop group to headline Coachella, and now the four-piece is heading to the metaverse via a dedicated Roblox fan hub. The experience will be a permanent addition to the virtual online game, giving fans (aka Blinks) an interactive space to celebrate Blackpink’s music and come together to recreate their famed choreography. In Blackpink: The Palace, fans will also be able to take photographs with th...
Meet the DJ Who Wears a CryptoPunk Helmet While He Spins
With today’s launch of his debut single “Angels,” electronic musician Danny Maegaard expects some doubters who are “skeptical of this new kid on the block.” That skepticism only increases when you know this digital native has spent the past couple years performing as Seedphrase, a DJ who wears a large helmet based on his CryptoPunks NFT #8348—arguably the rarest in the entire collection. “At the end of the day, I want to let the music do the talking,” he told Decrypt. “ANGELS" OUT NOW!!! 🔊 Th...
How Decentraland Is Using AI to Make the Metaverse Feel More Alive
Metaverse game worlds can feel a little quiet at times, but Decentraland has a solution to pump more life into its Ethereum-based world: the developers have partnered with artificial intelligence startup Inworld to bring in AI-powered non-player characters (NPCs). In other words, Decentraland is using AI smarts to power a supporting cast of avatars in the world, while also teeing up the ability for creators to do the same with their owned spaces. As an introduction, three such NPCs have set up...
Can Live Music NFTs Revive 'Cassette Culture' and Boost Indie Bands?
Crypto advocates see NFTs as a way to revitalize music ownership in the streaming era, and startup Vault is taking a particularly unique approach: using limited edition live concert recordings to revive the classic concept of “cassette culture,” and potentially benefit indie artists in the process. Beginning this week, Vault’s “Cassette Culture 3.0” initiative is offering weekly drops of live recordings from underground and independent bands via its Solana-based NFT music platform. It’s designed...
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