Ripple Partners With Three Crypto Exchanges as Part of XRapid Solution 9595

Ripple has added three cryptocurrency exchanges to its cross-border payments settlement product, according to a press release published August 16. Ripple has partnered with U.S.-based Bittrex, Mexican Bitso, and Philippine Coins.Ph cryptocurrency trading platforms within its initiative to build a “healthy” ecosystem of digital asset exchange.

The new partners will enable Ripple’s xRapid payments solution to move between XRP and U.S. dollars, Mexican pesos, and Philippine pesos respectively. Ripple explained the operational principle like this:

“A financial institution (FI) that has an account with Bittrex would initiate a payment in U.S. dollars via xRapid, which instantly converts into XRP on Bittrex. The payment amount in XRP is settled over the XRP Ledger, then Bitso, through its Mexican peso liquidity pool, instantly converts the XRP into fiat, which is then settled into the destination bank account.”

XRapid is a liquidity solution for Ripple’s blockchain-based real-time gross settlement system, which is developed to facilitate international fiat transfers between financial institutions. Ripple Chief Market Strategist Cory Johnson said:

“We’ve seen several successful xRapid pilots already, and as we move the product from beta to production later this year, these exchange partners will allow us to provide financial institutions with the comfort and assurance that their payments will move seamlessly between different currencies.”

In May, financial institutions who participated in the pilot of xRapid platform, which tested payments between the U.S. and Mexico, reported transaction savings of 40-70 percent. Additionally, the participants noted an improvement in transaction speed from 2-3 days to “just over two minutes.”

Although the testing showed solid product performance, Ripple chief cryptographer David Schwartz claimed that banks are unlikely to deploy blockchain to process international payments, citing low scalability and privacy problems.

Image via Shutterstock

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Space and Time Launches on Mainnet to Power a New Generation of Data-Driven Crypto Apps 1284

Microsoft-backed Space and Time is the blockchain for ZK-proven data.

Space and Time, the Microsoft-backed blockchain for zero-knowledge (ZK)-proven data, is live on its public, permissionless mainnet.

Space and Time is designed to deliver ZK-proven data to smart contracts to power a new generation of data-driven crypto applications. It indexes data from other major blockchains, including Ethereum, and stores it across a decentralized network of database validators. Developers can access, query ZK-prove and connect this data back to their smart contract using Proof of SQL, Space and Time’s sub-second ZK coprocessor for SQL database queries.

“Prior to Space and Time, onchain applications had no way to query basic user data from a database of blockchain activity without introducing security risks and tampering. In addition, enterprises had no way to securely connect their cloud databases with smart contracts. Today we’re thrilled to announce the mainnet launch of Space and Time, which will empower developers to build sophisticated, data-driven onchain applications secured by cryptographic proofs,” said Scott Dykstra, Contributor #001 at Space and Time.

Smart contracts today can’t natively access historical, cross-chain or offchain data, which limits the complexity of onchain apps. Chainlink pioneered external data access for smart contracts with secure oracles and cross-chain messaging, solving key pieces of the context problem. The next wave of onchain innovation—spanning everything from dynamic financial instruments to data-rich AI agents and tokenized real-world systems—will require a trustless database layer for complex data retrieval. Space and Time enables this with a verifiable, decentralized database network that gives smart contracts the ability to query the full history of Ethereum and beyond.

“Smart contracts need context to make decisions, whether it’s real-time market data, cross-chain messaging or historical onchain activity. Chainlink provides the connective tissue for data to move securely across systems, and Space and Time brings powerful new compute capabilities that complement that vision. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what developers can build onchain,” said Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder of Chainlink.

Space and Time was created by MakeInfinite Labs, a frontier protocol research lab that is backed by Microsoft and working alongside major financial institutions. In addition to its work on Space and Time, the firm has developed key technologies to the broader crypto ecosystem, such as Proof of SQL, Blitzar, an Elastic Network ZK Chain for Space and Time, and Chainlink DeFi Yield Index.

“At MakeInfinite Labs, we’re focused on building foundational infrastructure to enable the next generation of crypto applications. Contributing core technologies like Proof of SQL and the original architecture of Space and Time is part of that vision. We’re excited to see the ecosystem take this work forward and unlock new possibilities for verifiable, data-driven applications,” said Nate Holiday, CEO of MakeInfinite Labs & Co-Founder of Space and Time.

Space and Time is secured by a decentralized set of validators, and anyone can contribute to the network by providing high-quality datasets, staking or running a validator node.

About Space and Time

Space and Time is the blockchain for ZK-proven data, which enables smart contracts to trustlessly access and compute over data from any chain or source. Powered by Proof of SQL, a sub-second ZK coprocessor, Space and Time empowers developers to build more intelligent, data-rich applications with verifiable data.

About MakeInfinite Labs

MakeInfinite Labs is a frontier protocol research lab contributing to some of the most prominent protocols and ecosystems across crypto, including the creation of Space and Time. MakeInfinite Labs raised $50 million from Microsoft’s M12 Ventures and other leading investors to build the infrastructure that enables developers and creators to build data-driven applications, tokenize and monetize and win in the AI economy.

Introducing AIVM: ChainGPT’s Layer-1 Blockchain to Power Verifiable AI at Scale 1396

ChainGPT, a pioneer in blockchain AI solutions, today announced the release of its highly anticipated AIVM Whitepaper, a comprehensive technical and strategic vision for building the foundation of the AI Crypto Economy. The Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM) is a purpose-built Layer-1 blockchain designed to seamlessly integrate decentralised AI development, compute infrastructure, and monetisation, bringing Web2 and Web3 together under one unified, scalable AI ecosystem.

AIVM represents a major technological breakthrough, bridging the long-standing gap between artificial intelligence and blockchain infrastructure. AIVM turns AI into an open, trust-minimised public utility. As the first unified solution to offer decentralised compute, agent-based AI execution, tokenised data marketplaces, and developer tooling, AIVM lays the groundwork for an open, fair, and scalable AI ecosystem free from the grip of Big Tech monopolies.

Key Highlights from the AIVM Whitepaper:

The Problem:

  • AI is centralised: Controlled by Big Tech, limited transparency, and riddled with bias
  • Compute is exclusive: Cloud giants dictate access and pricing for AI infrastructure
  • Developers are stuck: Building decentralised AI is complex, fragmented, and slow.
  • Users lack control: Data is exploited without fair compensation or privacy guarantees

Reimagining AI x Blockchain Integration

AIVM introduces a robust Layer-1 architecture purpose-built to support AI execution, verifiable inference, decentralised model deployment, and cross-chain interoperability. This solves key challenges like scalability, privacy, and compute fragmentation.

A Plug-and-Play AI Infrastructure Stack

From decentralised compute and AI agent frameworks to model storage and data marketplaces, AIVM delivers a plug-and-play ecosystem for developers, enterprises, and Web3 projects to build, deploy, and monetise AI at scale.

Core Innovations

  • Dual-Path Execution: Simple models run transparently on-chain; complex workloads execute off-chain with cryptographic proofs via ZKML and TEEs.
  • GPU Compute Marketplace: AIVM provides permissionless access to scalable, low-cost compute without vendor lock-in. Developers can source GPUs directly or via integrated networks like io.net. By combining a native marketplace with external aggregator support, AIVM maximises global compute availability and pricing flexibility.
  • AI Model & Dataset Marketplace: Developers can publish, monetise, and reuse models/data with full transparency.
  • Developer Toolkits: SDKs, APIs, CLI tools, and monitoring dashboards to accelerate AI deployment. These tools are designed for AI devs, not blockchain engineers, with Python SDKs, CLI tools, and dashboards that simplify onboarding and deployment.
  • Privacy-Preserving AI: Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Federated Learning, and secure enclaves for sensitive data protection

AIVM is the only Layer-1 blockchain with native validator roles for AI, Compute, and Data, each enforcing trust across model execution, resource availability, and data integrity.

Token Utility & Validator Incentives

AIVM is powered by a single asset, $CGPT, which serves as both the gas token and the currency of the ecosystem. Users pay $CGPT for compute, storage, model access, and transaction fees. Validators, including consensus, AI, Compute, and Data Validators, stake $CGPT to secure the network and earn rewards for maintaining execution integrity, performance, and data privacy. This design aligns economic incentives across all protocol layers while ensuring AIVM remains scalable, decentralised, and trust-minimised.

Designed for Everyone in the AI Economy AIVM empowers:

  • AI Developers & Researchers with decentralised tools and compute access
  • Web3 Projects & dApps with intelligent agents and on-chain AI capabilities
  • Enterprises & AI-enabled businesses with privacy-first AI APIs and cost savings
  • GPU Providers & Data Contributors with new monetisation models via tokenised incentives

Commenting on this innovative launch, Ilan Rakhmanov, Founder of ChainGPT and CEO of ChainGPT Software, said, “Today, AI is locked in centralised silos data, models, and compute are monopolised by a few. At the same time, blockchain lacks the speed and tooling required for real AI execution. AIVM changes that. We’re not just launching another chain; we’re building the decentralised AI cloud. Think AWS for AI, but open, verifiable, and powered by crypto.”

The whitepaper outlines high-impact applications across AI-powered DeFi, predictive trading, fraud detection, decentralised identity, DAO governance, generative NFTs, and more. This makes AIVM a catalyst for the next wave of AI + blockchain innovation.

AIVM is advancing toward a decentralised AI future through a clear, phased roadmap designed to deliver robust infrastructure, real-world scalability, and widespread adoption. Here’s a look at the journey ahead:

AIVM Roadmap (3 Phases)

Phase 1: Establish the blockchain foundation with core infrastructure, lightweight on-chain models, and verified execution.

Phase 2: Scale the platform with advanced model management, dual-path execution, hybrid storage, and decentralised resource marketplaces.

Phase 3: Mature the ecosystem with enterprise integrations, developer toolkits, analytics frameworks, and workflow orchestration—paving the way for mass adoption.

A detailed AIVM roadmap will be published shortly after the whitepaper’s release.

About ChainGPT

Incepted in 2023, ChainGPT is a leading provider of AI-powered tools for the blockchain and Web3 industries. It emerged as a project to bridge the gap between blockchain technology and AI, creating innovative solutions for the Web3 ecosystem. Leveraging advanced AI techniques, ChainGPT enhances blockchain functionality with its tools and applications, including SDKs and APIs for automated smart contract generation, a Web3 AI chatbot, an NFT generator, and an IDO launchpad. With established partnerships and collaborations with industry leaders such as Google, Nvidia, and BNB Chain, ChainGPT continues to pioneer efficient and user-friendly AI solutions in the blockchain space.

As a relatively young but rapidly growing project, ChainGPT’s mission is to revolutionize the intersection of blockchain and AI, with a vision to unlock the potential of autonomous AI agents in Web3.

Learn more at: https://www.chaingpt.org/

fomo Debuts Groundbreaking Social Crypto Trading App, Aiming to Onboard 10M+ Users 1564

Self-Custodial, Gasless, and Social-First, fomo Launches Public Beta To Simplify and Humanize Crypto for the Next Wave of Users

Crypto startup fomo has announced the public beta of its social-first crypto trading app, built to make digital asset trading simple, social, and accessible to everyone.

Based in New York and developed by a team with roots at Uniswap, Opensea, dYdX, Square, and Google, fomo’s beta is now live for an initial 1,000-user cohort, with a full public launch on Tuesday May 6th, 2025. The mission: to onboard the next 10 million users to crypto by removing the friction that’s held mainstream adoption back.

The platform will allow users to trade across chains with gasless swaps, embedded wallets, and stay connected to friends and top traders via curated social feeds and copytrading features — all within an intuitive, modern interface. With attention-based assets continuing to dominate and real-world assets increasingly tokenized, fomo aims to be the all-in-one place to explore and trade digital assets without complexity or compromise.

“We believe digital assets will eat the world,” said Paul Erlanger, founder and CEO of fomo. “But crypto is still too hard for everyday people. With fomo, we’re stripping away the pain points — no gas fees, no technical barriers — and making crypto feel as easy and human as using your favorite app.”

Users in the beta can log in using Apple ID, fund their accounts quickly, connect X to find friends, and start trading across chains like Solana in seconds. fomo’s vision is to build not just a trading tool but a trusted social network around crypto, similar to how Strava built a community around fitness.

To sign up, invite friends, and explore the future of digital asset trading, visit fomo.family.

About fomo

fomo is a social-first crypto trading app built to bring the next 10 million users into digital assets. By removing blockchain friction and layering in community-driven features, fomo delivers a fast, self-custodial, and intuitive experience for everyday users. The platform is backed by $2M in pre-seed funding and built by a team with experience from Uniswap, Opensea, Square, Google, and more.

$40M in Rewards. $3.7M Liquidity. Cedar Is Launching on Solana 1659

One of the most anticipated launches on Solana in 2025 is here, and it’s not a game, not a meme, and not a hype-only token. It’s Cedar — and if you’ve been in crypto for more than a minute, you may already have heard about what’s coming.

The evolution of two Binance Smart Chain tokens, including the largest community-driven rewards token in history — distributing a staggering $40 million in BUSD directly to holders. No inflated APRs. No liquidity traps. Just real stablecoin-based income paid out on-chain.

Now Cedar is reborn — and it’s making its most important move yet: a fully revamped launch on Solana, designed for transparency, decentralization, and actual, tangible value for the people who hold it.

Cedar’s Triple Rewards Engine

As Cedar makes its move to Solana, it brings with it a uniquely structured system of three powerful ways for holders to earn real rewards — not just hype, but actual, on-chain value.

1. Liquidity Fee Sharing
Instead of LP fees going into the pockets of anonymous founders or early backers, Cedar flips the model. Their massive $3.7 million SOL-backed liquidity pool is designed to support deep, stable trading — and it’s the holders who benefit from the fee revenue, not some hidden team wallet.

2. Pre-Funded Community Treasury
Cedar’s DAO already controls a nearly $1 million rewards fund, set aside to directly benefit the community. This isn’t a future roadmap promise — it’s real, existing capital, ready to be deployed as part of Cedar’s long-term reward plan.

3. Ecosystem Revenue (Powered by Atlas Wallet)
Cedar’s first major utility, Atlas Wallet, has been in the works for over 2.5 years — and it’s almost ready to go live.
This isn’t a prototype; it’s a security-audited, user-tested, and fully developed product:

  • Audited by Kudelski Security (who audited Phantom Wallet) and by Certik, one of crypto’s top audit firms
  • Put through a full beta cycle with real users over a 12 month period.

Atlas is aiming high — toward the MetaMask and Phantom tier of wallets, where monthly revenues can hit $25 million or more. But what sets Cedar apart is this: profits from Atlas won’t go to a private company — they’ll flow back to the Cedar community. If you hold the token, you share in the upside.

A Project with Proven Loyalty and Leadership

Cedar is governed by an 11-member DAO, consisting of long-time project veterans — the same people who helped it distribute millions in stablecoin rewards in 2021. Unlike many new projects with mysterious teams, Cedar is built by people with a track record and a name in the community.

Solana has seen many launches. Cedar may be the first that combines real liquidity, real rewards, and real products into a fully decentralized offering with zero fluff.

Stay Ahead of the Curve:
Cedar DAO: https://www.cedardao.com
Atlas Wallet: https://www.atlaswallet.com
X: https://x.com/cedardao
Telegram: https://t.me/Cedar_DAO

About Cedar DAO

Cedar DAO is a decentralized finance project focused on delivering stable, community-powered rewards. Originally launched in 2021 on Binance Smart Chain, Cedar distributed $40 million in stablecoin-based payouts to users before preparing its next chapter. Now launching on Solana with $3.7M in $SOL liquidity and $1M in DAO-held rewards, Cedar brings real utility via Atlas Wallet — a premium, audited product that shares revenue with its holders. Built by a long-standing team and governed entirely by its community, Cedar is redefining what it means to launch on Solana.

About Atlas Wallet

Atlas Wallet is a secure, all-in-one crypto wallet built for today’s multi-chain world. Designed to support both everyday users and advanced crypto investors, Atlas provides seamless access to top networks including Solana, Ethereum, BSC, PulseChain, Bitcoin, Cardano, Avalanche, Polygon, and Cronos. Whether you’re managing tokens, exploring DeFi, or storing assets long-term, Atlas brings best-in-class usability and security to every corner of the blockchain. It’s the only wallet most users will ever need — and the backbone of Cedar’s product-driven ecosystem.

CoolBitX Launches CoolWallet Go: The World’s First Cold Wallet with Lifetime Warranty 1614

CoolBitX officially introduces CoolWallet Go, a minimal, ultra-portable cold wallet designed for new crypto users and seasoned holders alike. It’s a next-generation card wallet focused on simplicity, cost-efficiency, and everyday utility—without compromising on security fundamentals.

Pre-Order Offer (April 21 – May 10)

CoolWallet Go is now available for pre-order at $59.99 USD for a 2-card set. Customers can optionally add a lifetime warranty plan for $39 USD per set—a rare offering in the cold wallet space.

Simple, Secure, and Built for Daily Use

CoolWallet Go is built around a CC EAL6+ certified secure element, a proven protection standard used in many high-assurance security chips. The wallet’s minimalist design includes no screen, no buttons, no battery, and no Bluetooth pairing, relying instead on tap-to-sign NFC to streamline transactions.

The device generates private keys directly on-card, minimizing exposure during wallet setup. Users manage assets via the CoolWallet App, with integrated support for Bitcoin, Ethereum, 40+ blockchains, and EVM-compatible tokens.

Security and Risk Awareness by Design

CoolWallet Go has undergone independent third-party security testing and has been continuously reviewed through a public bug bounty program over the past two years. No vulnerabilities have been found that compromise the safety of users’ private keys or assets. CoolBitX remains committed to continuous security improvement and transparent security practices.

Optional Lifetime Warranty Plan

CoolWallet Go introduces a unique warranty add-on that provides long-term coverage for registered users:

  • Coverage is per 2-card set, with a quota of free replacements per year.
  • Registration is required within 30 days of purchase.
  • Shipping costs for replacements are customer-borne.
  • Warranty resets yearly and is not cumulative.

This initiative reflects CoolBitX’s commitment to sustainable product longevity, moving beyond traditional short-cycle hardware support.

Built for Beginners, Trusted by Pros

CoolWallet Go is ideal for:

  • First-time hardware wallet users transitioning from exchanges or hot wallets.
  • Experienced holders looking for a compact, secure backup or daily-use wallet.

Shipments begin mid-May.

Pre-order and learn more here: https://reurl.cc/Lanld7

About CoolWallet

CoolWallet is a pioneering hardware wallet brand that offers a secure and convenient solution for storing and managing digital assets in the Web3, DeFi, and NFTs arenas. The company’s flagship product, the CoolWallet Pro, is a credit card-sized device that combines the security of a hardware wallet with the convenience of a mobile device. With its unique design and advanced security features such as an EAL6+ secure element, biometric verifications, and military-grade Bluetooth encryption, CoolWallet is committed to providing a safe and user-friendly platform for crypto users worldwide.

Velvet Capital launches Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot to help users navigate DeFi smarter 1959

Velvet Capital has launched the beta version of its Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot, an assistant built to help DeFi users discover new tokens, evaluate onchain opportunities, and make more informed trading decisions across ecosystems.

The Unicorn is the first step in Velvet Capital’s broader vision of building a DeFAI Operating System – a platform where users, funds, and agents can analyze markets, allocate capital, and eventually execute onchain strategies with minimal manual effort.

The Velvet Unicorn Copilot is now available inside Velvet Capital’s Trading Terminal and supports a range of discovery and analysis functions.

What the Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot can do

In its current beta release, the Velvet Unicorn Copilot offers:

  • Alpha Discovery: Identify trending tokens and active narratives
  • Token Analysis: Evaluate tokenomics, onchain activity, holder behavior, and liquidity trends
  • Price Forecasting: Get access to in-house statistical models that surface directional signals

The tool is designed to reduce friction for users navigating fast-moving markets—helping them filter noise, identify promising assets early, and build conviction with data-backed insights.

To unlock access to the Copilot, users must hold 420,000 $VU tokens in their connected wallet.

Looking ahead: from assistant to agent

While the current version is assistive, the Velvet Unicorn is built to evolve. Future releases will introduce more agentic capabilities, allowing the Copilot to:

  • Execute intent-based trades on behalf of the user
  • Manage structured DeFi strategies and portfolios
  • Act autonomously on behalf of DAOs, funds, or individual users

This progression reflects Velvet Capital’s broader mission: to build an intelligent, modular DeFAI OS where strategy logic, execution, and AI agents can co-exist onchain.

Try the AI Copilot during the Binance Wallet Pre-TGE campaign

As part of the rollout, Velvet Capital has launched a limited-time campaign in partnership with Binance Wallet, running through May 7, 2025.

Participants can connect their Binance Wallet, complete a series of social and onchain tasks, and earn from a pool of 8 million $VELVET tokens prior to the TGE.

The onchain tasks involve using Velvet’s Trading Terminal and Portfolios, offering a low-barrier way to explore the product while accumulating early rewards.

Why it’s worth trying

Velvet Capital isn’t aiming to be another DEX aggregator or vault product. The team is building toward a longer-term thesis:

  • AI will be core to how capital is deployed onchain
  • Onchain execution layers are moving toward agents and abstraction
  • DeFi’s UX needs to improve—without reducing optionality or control

The Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot is a first expression of that thesis. The Binance Wallet campaign provides a lightweight way to try it out—and earn something for doing so.