Aerwave

aerwave

In the dynamic political environment of the United States, the rapidly approaching 2024 presidential election is becoming the arena for a new kind of battle—one against the insidious rise of AI-generated deepfakes. These sophisticated synthetic constructs, capable of distorting reality, have started a legislative marathon across the nation, as state leaders press forward with decisive measures to uphold the integrity of voter information. There is no federal law that deals with deepfakes, leaving it up to individual states to legislate. The top official at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has signaled expectations for the issue to reach a resolution later this year. This forecast hints at a significant stretch of the 2024 election period potentially unfolding with this brand of misinformation remaining unchecked. Recently, bridging the partisan divide with a shared vision for election integrity, Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined forces. Their collaborative legislative endeavor presents a forward-thinking bill aimed squarely at the digital frontier of political advertising. This proposed legislation would bring much-needed clarity to the murky waters of AI-generated political ads by enforcing disclaimers. But it doesn't stop there; the bill also empowers the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to step up as the digital watchdog, ensuring that any infractions don't go unnoticed or unaddressed. It's a bold stride towards safeguarding transparency as we sail into the next wave of electoral campaigns. What is going to happen during this election year if, as expected, there will be a slew of politically-motivated deepfakes? How can people be protected from being influenced? There is no easy answer. Deepfakes Decoded: Understanding the Synthetic Threat Deepfakes—a term blending 'deep learning' with 'fake'—refer to artificially generated audio, images, or videos designed to replicate a person's likeness with unnerving accuracy. February's New Hampshire incident serves as a harrowing example: an AI-generated voice, eerily mimicking President Joe Biden, misled thousands with false voting information. This event underscores the pressing need for informed and proactive legislation. "In a surprising turn of events this Tuesday, a voice on the airwaves was heard declaring, 'Your vote today is a step towards bringing Donald Trump back into office,'" recounted an associate from Rep. Dean Phillips' team, D-Minn., during an interview with NBC News. This individual, working for an underdog in the race against Biden, revealed that he had orchestrated the ad on his own accord, without the campaign's knowledge or approval. Shifting to the campaign trail on the Republican side, a striking audio piecesurfaced from the Trump camp. The clip was artfully edited to give the illusion that Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis was in dialogue with none other than Adolf Hitler. In a retaliatory move, the DeSantis campaign then distributed a doctored photopresenting Trump in a warm embrace with Anthony Fauci, sending ripples through social media platforms. The Legislative Surge: Over 100 Bills to Protect Voters As guardians of electoral integrity, the Voting Rights Lab vigilantly surveys an ever-growing wave of legislative initiatives. In a landscape where over 100 bills have sprung up across 40 states, the commitment to combating AI-generated election disinformation appears as unwavering. With each bill introduced or passed, there's an unmistakable sense of urgency among legislators to reinforce the foundations of democracy. It's a legislative crusade that's rapidly gaining traction, showcasing the collective resolve to shield our democratic processes from the deceptive shadows cast by digital manipulations. Emerging Legislative Frameworks In the wake of the robocall incident, a flurry of legislative activity ensued. States like Arizona, Florida, and Wisconsin are now at the forefront, each showcasing a different regulatory trend that epitomizes the varied approaches being adopted to combat these technological ploys. Wisconsin recently enacted a law requiring political affiliates to disclose AI-generated content, while Florida awaits the governor's signature on a similar bill. Arizona, on the other hand, is threading the needle between regulation and constitutional rights, crafting bills that could classify the omission of labels on AI political media as a felony under certain conditions. Another bill in Arizona under consideration opens the door for individuals who have been wronged to initiate civil litigation against the creators of the content, providing them with the potential to obtain monetary compensation. Since 2019, both California and Texas have established laws in place. In Indiana, a bill that has garnered bipartisan backing is making its way to the governor's office. Should it pass, it would mandate that advertisements employing deepfake technology must clearly state, "Parts of this media have been digitally modified or synthetically produced." This directive would extend across images, videos, and audio content. Candidates at the state and federal level who find themselves impacted by such content would have the legal standing to pursue compensation through civil litigation. Drawing inspiration from the deceptive robocall incident mimicking President Biden, a bipartisan effort happened in Kansas. Spearheaded by Republican State Representative Pat Proctor alongside a Democratic leader, they pushed forward a legislative proposal that's tackling the deepfake dilemma head-on. This bill not only called for mandatory disclosures on deepfake advertisements but also proposed stringent penalties for those impersonating election officials, like secretaries of state, with the malicious aim of dissuading voters from casting their ballots. Currently, the bill is dead, but according to Proctor, can be brought back to life. Tackling the Disinformation Threat Beyond Legislation Legislation is just one facet of the multi-pronged strategy needed to address AI-generated deepfakes. Entities like NewDeal are spearheading initiatives that equip election administrators with tools to counter disinformation campaigns effectively. Incident response preparation and public awareness campaigns, such as those launched by secretaries of state in New Mexico and Michigan, are vital components in educating voters and reinforcing the democratic infrastructure. Big Tech Transparency Moves Major tech companies are proactively setting new standards for authenticity in online content, with a sharp focus on advertisements influenced by AI. Meta, the umbrella company for social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is diligently removing any advertisements that are misleading or lack context, particularly those that could potentially undermine the electoral process or jump the gun on election results. All AI-generated ads are subject to this rigorous scrutiny. In sync with these efforts, Google has made a declaration that transparency must accompany any AI-enhanced images, videos, or audio used in election advertising. As of November, such content will require explicit disclosures. YouTube, under Google's wing, is committing to transparency by ensuring its users can recognize when content has been digitally manipulated. These strategic moves by Meta and Google signal a pivotal shift toward clarity and honesty in the digital content we consume, especially in the political sphere. As we navigate the complexities of an election year increasingly influenced by AI technology, the question remains: Are state laws sufficiently robust to control the spread of deepfakes? With the FEC indicating that national resolutions may not arrive until later in the year, the responsibility falls on state legislatures, tech companies, and the public to build a bulwark against these digital deceptions. The legislative efforts, both proposed and enacted across the states, represent a patchwork of defenses, with some offering a glimpse of the rigorous measures needed to ensure fair play in our political arenas. The commitment to clarity and integrity from tech companies, too, adds a layer of much-needed oversight. Yet, as sophisticated as these measures may be, they are not impermeable. There will always be new challenges and loopholes to close, especially as technology advances at a breakneck pace. In this environment, voter education and awareness become as crucial as the laws themselves. The dissemination of information on how to discern real from synthetic media, alongside a discerning eye for what we consume and share, is paramount. It's a collective effort—a blend of legal, corporate, and individual actions—that shapes our resilience against the rising tide of AI-generated misinformation. As the 2024 election approaches, it's evident that there is no panacea for the deepfake phenomenon. Yet, the burgeoning legislative efforts, combined with proactive measures from tech companies and the vigilant participation of the public, set the stage for a robust defense. These are the foundations upon which we can hope to preserve the sanctity of our elections, fostering a well-informed electorate that is equipped to navigate the murky waters of digital propaganda. In conclusion, while the legislative landscape is still forming and the digital battleground is ever-changing, our collective vigilance and adaptability are key. The actions taken today by lawmakers, technologists, and every voter will determine the efficacy of our defense against deepfakes. In this election year and beyond, the safeguarding of truth remains a shared responsibility—one that we must continuously strive to uphold. In the dynamic political environment of the United States, the rapidly approaching 2024 presidential election is becoming the arena for a new kind of battle—one against the insidious rise of AI-generated deepfakes. These sophisticated synthetic constructs, capable of distorting reality, have started a legislative marathon across the nation, as state leaders press forward with decisive measures to uphold the integrity of voter information. There is no federal law that deals with deepfakes, leaving it up to individual states to legislate. The top official at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has signaled expectations for the issue to reach a resolution later this year. This forecast hints at a significant stretch of the 2024 election period potentially unfolding with this brand of misinformation remaining unchecked. Recently, bridging the partisan divide with a shared vision for election integrity, Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined forces. Their collaborative legislative endeavor presents a forward-thinking bill aimed squarely at the digital frontier of political advertising. This proposed legislation would bring much-needed clarity to the murky waters of AI-generated political ads by enforcing disclaimers. But it doesn't stop there; the bill also empowers the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to step up as the digital watchdog, ensuring that any infractions don't go unnoticed or unaddressed. It's a bold stride towards safeguarding transparency as we sail into the next wave of electoral campaigns. What is going to happen during this election year if, as expected, there will be a slew of politically-motivated deepfakes? How can people be protected from being influenced? There is no easy answer. Deepfakes Decoded: Understanding the Synthetic Threat Deepfakes—a term blending 'deep learning' with 'fake'—refer to artificially generated audio, images, or videos designed to replicate a person's likeness with unnerving accuracy. February's New Hampshire incident serves as a harrowing example: an AI-generated voice, eerily mimicking President Joe Biden, misled thousands with false voting information. This event underscores the pressing need for informed and proactive legislation. "In a surprising turn of events this Tuesday, a voice on the airwaves was heard declaring, 'Your vote today is a step towards bringing Donald Trump back into office,'" recounted an associate from Rep. Dean Phillips' team, D-Minn., during an interview with NBC News. This individual, working for an underdog in the race against Biden, revealed that he had orchestrated the ad on his own accord, without the campaign's knowledge or approval. Shifting to the campaign trail on the Republican side, a striking audio piecesurfaced from the Trump camp. The clip was artfully edited to give the illusion that Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis was in dialogue with none other than Adolf Hitler. In a retaliatory move, the DeSantis campaign then distributed a doctored photopresenting Trump in a warm embrace with Anthony Fauci, sending ripples through social media platforms. The Legislative Surge: Over 100 Bills to Protect Voters As guardians of electoral integrity, the Voting Rights Lab vigilantly surveys an ever-growing wave of legislative initiatives. In a landscape where over 100 bills have sprung up across 40 states, the commitment to combating AI-generated election disinformation appears as unwavering. With each bill introduced or passed, there's an unmistakable sense of urgency among legislators to reinforce the foundations of democracy. It's a legislative crusade that's rapidly gaining traction, showcasing the collective resolve to shield our democratic processes from the deceptive shadows cast by digital manipulations. Emerging Legislative Frameworks In the wake of the robocall incident, a flurry of legislative activity ensued. States like Arizona, Florida, and Wisconsin are now at the forefront, each showcasing a different regulatory trend that epitomizes the varied approaches being adopted to combat these technological ploys. Wisconsin recently enacted a law requiring political affiliates to disclose AI-generated content, while Florida awaits the governor's signature on a similar bill. Arizona, on the other hand, is threading the needle between regulation and constitutional rights, crafting bills that could classify the omission of labels on AI political media as a felony under certain conditions. Another bill in Arizona under consideration opens the door for individuals who have been wronged to initiate civil litigation against the creators of the content, providing them with the potential to obtain monetary compensation. Since 2019, both California and Texas have established laws in place. In Indiana, a bill that has garnered bipartisan backing is making its way to the governor's office. Should it pass, it would mandate that advertisements employing deepfake technology must clearly state, "Parts of this media have been digitally modified or synthetically produced." This directive would extend across images, videos, and audio content. Candidates at the state and federal level who find themselves impacted by such content would have the legal standing to pursue compensation through civil litigation. Drawing inspiration from the deceptive robocall incident mimicking President Biden, a bipartisan effort happened in Kansas. Spearheaded by Republican State Representative Pat Proctor alongside a Democratic leader, they pushed forward a legislative proposal that's tackling the deepfake dilemma head-on. This bill not only called for mandatory disclosures on deepfake advertisements but also proposed stringent penalties for those impersonating election officials, like secretaries of state, with the malicious aim of dissuading voters from casting their ballots. Currently, the bill is dead, but according to Proctor, can be brought back to life. Tackling the Disinformation Threat Beyond Legislation Legislation is just one facet of the multi-pronged strategy needed to address AI-generated deepfakes. Entities like NewDeal are spearheading initiatives that equip election administrators with tools to counter disinformation campaigns effectively. Incident response preparation and public awareness campaigns, such as those launched by secretaries of state in New Mexico and Michigan, are vital components in educating voters and reinforcing the democratic infrastructure. Big Tech Transparency Moves Major tech companies are proactively setting new standards for authenticity in online content, with a sharp focus on advertisements influenced by AI. Meta, the umbrella company for social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is diligently removing any advertisements that are misleading or lack context, particularly those that could potentially undermine the electoral process or jump the gun on election results. All AI-generated ads are subject to this rigorous scrutiny. In sync with these efforts, Google has made a declaration that transparency must accompany any AI-enhanced images, videos, or audio used in election advertising. As of November, such content will require explicit disclosures. YouTube, under Google's wing, is committing to transparency by ensuring its users can recognize when content has been digitally manipulated. These strategic moves by Meta and Google signal a pivotal shift toward clarity and honesty in the digital content we consume, especially in the political sphere. As we navigate the complexities of an election year increasingly influenced by AI technology, the question remains: Are state laws sufficiently robust to control the spread of deepfakes? With the FEC indicating that national resolutions may not arrive until later in the year, the responsibility falls on state legislatures, tech companies, and the public to build a bulwark against these digital deceptions. The legislative efforts, both proposed and enacted across the states, represent a patchwork of defenses, with some offering a glimpse of the rigorous measures needed to ensure fair play in our political arenas. The commitment to clarity and integrity from tech companies, too, adds a layer of much-needed oversight. Yet, as sophisticated as these measures may be, they are not impermeable. There will always be new challenges and loopholes to close, especially as technology advances at a breakneck pace. In this environment, voter education and awareness become as crucial as the laws themselves. The dissemination of information on how to discern real from synthetic media, alongside a discerning eye for what we consume and share, is paramount. It's a collective effort—a blend of legal, corporate, and individual actions—that shapes our resilience against the rising tide of AI-generated misinformation. As the 2024 election approaches, it's evident that there is no panacea for the deepfake phenomenon. Yet, the burgeoning legislative efforts, combined with proactive measures from tech companies and the vigilant participation of the public, set the stage for a robust defense. These are the foundations upon which we can hope to preserve the sanctity of our elections, fostering a well-informed electorate that is equipped to navigate the murky waters of digital propaganda. In conclusion, while the legislative landscape is still forming and the digital battleground is ever-changing, our collective vigilance and adaptability are key. The actions taken today by lawmakers, technologists, and every voter will determine the efficacy of our defense against deepfakes. In this election year and beyond, the safeguarding of truth remains a shared responsibility—one that we must continuously strive to uphold.

Can The Government, The Technology Platforms, or Anyone Else Control the Spread of Deepfakes?

Können die Regierung, die Technologieplattformen oder sonst jemand die Verbreitung von Deepfakes kontrollieren?

¿Pueden el gobierno, las plataformas tecnológicas o cualquier otra persona controlar la propagación de deepfakes?

آیا دولت، پلتفرم‌های فناوری یا هر کس دیگری می‌توانند گسترش دیپ‌فیک را کنترل کنند؟

Poden o goberno, as plataformas tecnolóxicas ou calquera outra persoa controlar a propagación dos Deepfakes?

क्या सरकार, प्रौद्योगिकी प्लेटफॉर्म या कोई अन्य डीपफेक के प्रसार को नियंत्रित कर सकता है?

政府、テクノロジープラットフォーム、あるいは他の誰かがディープフェイクの拡散を制御できるのでしょうか?

Afaka mifehy ny fiparitahan'ny Deepfakes ve ny governemanta, ny sehatra teknolojia, na olon-kafa?

Дали владата, технолошките платформи или некој друг може да го контролира ширењето на Deepfakes?

के सरकार, टेक्नोलोजी प्लेटफर्म, वा अरू कसैले Deepfakes को फैलावट नियन्त्रण गर्न सक्छ?

Czy rząd, platformy technologiczne lub ktokolwiek inny może kontrolować rozprzestrzenianie się deepfake'ów?

Dawladdu, Platform-yada Tignoolajiyada, ama cid kale ma xakamayn kartaa fiditaanka been-abuurka?

Чи може уряд, технологічні платформи чи будь-хто інший контролювати поширення Deepfakes?

Human-Driven Plays Co-Written with Dramatron

The First Amendment Implications of TikTok's Ban

or a server with a with professional-grade or cards. are also available. Rent GPU servers with instant deployment custom configuration NVIDIA Tesla H100 / H100 80Gb RTX A5000 / A4000 GPU servers with game RTX4090 cards Sporting events today are rife with advertising, from commercials on screens to static company logos on stadium billboards. The airwaves span multiple countries with different brands and advertising laws. Thanks to breakthroughs in AI and AR technology, it is possible to customize the information on display for each audience directly during the live broadcast of a match. Advertising in sports arenas was initially static and intended for the people attending a particular event in a particular city. Later, LED screens appeared, which showed alternating adverts. The next evolution was to insert a green screen into the spots on the billboards for a fraction of a second, allowing the AI to define the space and insert a unique text. Nowadays, you can replace anything with anything. The challenge is to make sure that the replacement is done discreetly and realistically. The major players in this market use special cameras. From the photos, we can conclude that there are specialized sensors that discern positioning and alignment information. That is, popular solutions still have hardwired crutches. All this requires enormous computing power, as the inputs and the original broadcast are processed by specialized software online. That is, servers for computing are connected to the cameras and sensors. This equipment is expensive, the market is closed, and the technology is closed, too. This is where AI and cloud GPU servers come to the rescue. Expensive, static, and not for everyone HOSTKEY has a client, a startup called , which has developed its own technology for implementing virtual advertising and integrating digital content (like augmented reality) in a multi-regional mode. And their solution promises seamless (and boneless) integration of adverts directly into the video stream. PTF Lab Some time ago, they saw information about HOSTKEY in the Open Data Science (ODS) community and reached out to us when they needed cloud capacity, appreciating our service, pricing, and a flexible lineup of available options. The startup's goals are noble, understandable, and quite achievable: To get away from expensive proprietary equipment and complex setup, shifting the task of advertising placement and frame construction to artificial intelligence, which takes into account overlapping people and objects in the frame. By doing so, they can cover relatively small events (such as arena fights, etc.) and bring the technology to the masses. Ultimately, sports advertising should be made accessible and relatively inexpensive. Moreover, the startup has set an ambitious goal of surpassing the solutions offered by monopoly giants in terms of flexibility. For example, it can display "virtual adverts" during replays and use angles from any camera, not just from certain angles. How does it work? The video signal from a sporting event venue can be processed using computing power not only at the venue itself but also in the cloud. This allows for flexible load distribution and the choice of when to apply adverts: before or during broadcasting, taking into account different markets. Also, working with cloud services allows you to use advertising in locations where it is impossible to bring a server (and in principle, it is more convenient). Object segmentation is based on the neural network architecture from U-Net. Neural networks are responsible for the location of objects and for detecting and comparing key points. However, the task is non-trivial, so all the solutions and neural networks had to be reworked and trained for use. It is especially difficult in martial arts broadcasts, where literally everything is unpredictable from the point of view of the picture: light sources, shadows, camera angles, the grid overlapping sponsor logos, and the bodies of the fighters and referees. Neural networks are not used everywhere. Sometimes, to solve a problem, it is enough to show ingenuity and use simple algorithms. For example, tracking algorithms combine neural network methods and systems of linear and nonlinear equations. A significant part of the GPU is taken up by segmentation. The better the detection of people and objects in the frame and their separation by plans and type is implemented, the more natural and attractive the frame will look after the advertising overlay. A separate task is related to lighting and shadows, which must be taken into account in augmented reality when rendering a scene. The realism of shadows is a key element in assessing the "believability" of the picture. Traditionally, sports neural networks are trained on real broadcasts using human markings and synthetic models. Here, Blender comes to the rescue. The company builds 3D models of the ring, fighters, and referees and gets both rendered real footage from the right angles and the segmentation mask, or the position of objects and cameras needed for training. Markup of real data is time-consuming and expensive but of high quality for specific venues or types of competitions. Synthetic data with less realism provides more data for training. The main difficulty is that the venues can vary. In one case, it will be a boxing ring with ropes, and in another case, it will be an arena with mesh walls, each of which creates difficulties for segmentation. Camera tracking and advert position are determined by comparing the point cloud from the venue's 3D model with its actual position in the frame. This allows them to determine the position, even for manual cameras with chaotic movement. After reconstruction of the 3D frame from 2D (the determination of the required angle), the direct rendering of the advertisement in the 3D engine is performed and combined with the video broadcast frame. A 3D scene has to be built before we start work, and, in fact, we have a virtual copy of the venue in the frame, into which we fit real people and objects through render masks. It sounds complicated, but with the right power and optimized neural networks, it is possible to perform these somersaults instantly and seamlessly. Why does the project need GPU computing and server rentals? PTF Lab has its own servers (and the possibility of using them on-site at the competition venue was mentioned earlier), but it is more convenient to use remote resources, as the service provider's engineers are responsible for equipment availability, and the company allocates fewer resources to this. And the client votes with his wallet and cost-effective options are always preferable. Also, the capacity required by the company is constantly growing. If necessary, it can be easily scaled up just by renting more (up to and including changing the server configuration to suit the company's needs). In the future, a startup may need a lot of cloud capacity. It is easier to rent them than to buy and sell the physical servers when the demand for their services rises and falls. The leased servers and GPU capacity are now being used in the following areas: Training of neural networks on GPUs (segmentation of people and other objects in sports broadcasts; 3D virtual camera tracking). Data backup (video from events, datasets, etc.). The direct process of working with video-testing cloud production, when the company's software is deployed on remote servers and video signals flow through it: input - without graphics, output - one or more signals with graphics. In addition to our own computing power at HOSTKEY, the startup is currently leveraging the following GPU configurations: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 3.4GHz (16 cores)/128Gb/1Tb NVMe SSD+12Tb HDD/2xRTX 3090+PSU] Xeon E3-1230 3.2GHz (4 cores)/16Gb/2x12Tb HDD/PSU] AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 3.4GHz (16 cores)/128Gb/1Tb NVMe SSD+12Tb HDD/2xRTX 3090+PSU+HDMI emulator] AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 3.4GHz (16 cores)/128Gb/1Tb NVMe SSD+12Tb HDD/2xRTX 3090+PSU] AMD EPYC 7402P 2.8GHz (24 cores)/384Gb/2x1.92Tb U3 NVMe SSD/4xRTX 4090+2xPSU] As you can see, most GPU solutions are rented based on the RTX4090/3090, but as the computing power requirements increase, the startup wishes to have the option for servers with more powerful, professional cards that offer better stability when running in continuous 24/7 operation. In the case of the 3090, renting the same A5000 might even be cheaper. PTF Lab is at the beginning of its journey, but its results are already promising, and we at HOSTKEY wish them success and growth, especially in terms of overcoming the monopoly of sports augmented reality. The witty David always defeats the clumsy proprietary Goliath. If you have any questions for our colleagues from PTF Lab, please feel free to ask them in the comments. or a server with a with professional-grade or cards. are also available. Rent GPU servers with instant deployment custom configuration NVIDIA Tesla H100 / H100 80Gb RTX A5000 / A4000 GPU servers with game RTX4090 cards

How AI Is Fighting Monopolies in Sports Advertising With GPUs and Servers

কিভাবে AI GPU এবং সার্ভারের সাথে ক্রীড়া বিজ্ঞাপনে একচেটিয়া লড়াই করছে

Wie KI Monopole in der Sportwerbung mit GPUs und Servern bekämpft

Cómo la IA lucha contra los monopolios en la publicidad deportiva con GPU y servidores

Comment l'IA combat les monopoles dans la publicité sportive avec des GPU et des serveurs

एआई कैसे जीपीयू और सर्वर के साथ खेल विज्ञापन में एकाधिकार से लड़ रहा है

AI が GPU とサーバーを使用してスポーツ広告の独占とどのように戦うか

AI가 GPU와 서버를 사용해 스포츠 광고 독점에 맞서 싸우는 방법

Como a IA está combatendo os monopólios na publicidade esportiva com GPUs e servidores

Как ИИ борется с монополиями в спортивной рекламе с помощью графических процессоров и серверов

Yapay Zeka, GPU'lar ve Sunucularla Spor Reklamcılığında Tekellerle Nasıl Mücadele Ediyor?

AI đang chống lại sự độc quyền trong quảng cáo thể thao bằng GPU và máy chủ như thế nào

人工智能如何利用 GPU 和服务器对抗体育广告领域的垄断

Today, I am speaking with Alexander Casassovici, CEO of Azarus, and we'll delve into the dynamic intersection of video streaming, blockchain technology, and gaming. We'll also discuss the genesis of Azarus, the significance of its recent acquisition, and the evolving concept of viewership engagement in the gaming universe. Web3 Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do. I'm Alex, the founder of Azarus, a platform at the convergence of video streaming, blockchain technology, and gaming. I’m a serial founder with four exits, including the recent acquisition by Animoca Brands of a majority stake in Azarus. At Azarus, our mission is to reveal the true nature of streams as an interactive, massively multiplayer, and rewarding medium. What led you to start Azarus? Azarus was born from a realization that while TV and video streaming had evolved technologically, the viewer experience remained largely passive. Today, billions of people are watching streamed content daily, and hundreds of millions watch live-streamed content together. This is probably the densest gathering of people on the Internet, and this captured our imagination. We imagined transforming this experience by introducing interactivity as a core feature. Our thesis from the beginning was that without incentives in place, it would be hard to get the audience’s attention. Our first test with Ubisoft and Rainbow Six: Siege helped confirm our thesis when our prototype encountered overnight success… breaking the platform in the process! Using Web3 core capabilities, such as digital ownership and identity, to create a streaming experience where viewers are not just watching content but actively participating in it made perfect sense to us and was baked into the platform from the very beginning. Can you provide an overview of the recent acquisition of Azarus by Animoca Brands and its significance in the Web3 and metaverse gaming landscape? The acquisition by Animoca Brands is a pivotal moment for Azarus. It represents an alignment with a leader in the Web3 space, enhancing our capabilities to innovate in blockchain, gaming, and streaming. This transition allows us to leverage Animoca Brands' extensive network and resources, enhancing our credibility and expanding our reach in the industry. We recently found out that akin to playable ads on mobile, experiences built on Azarus have the ability to drive viewers to try . Moreover, our partnerships with leading OTT platforms and channels give us access to a broad audience. web3 games Last year only, 20M unique played with Azarus on partner channels. This brings a strong alignment in our missions to educate and onboard billions of new players. Can you explain the concept of viewership engagement in the Web3 gaming universe? We call this the Streamverse - because, ultimately, streams are the most dense place on the Internet, driving millions who are sharing a common online experience watching the same content at the same time. Viewership engagement is not specific to Web3 gaming, but for sure, Web3 gaming has a lot to gain from it. It is about transforming the passive consumption of content into an active and participatory experience. By integrating blockchain technology, we can offer real-time interactive experiences, such as trivia and challenges, where viewers can earn rewards and have a stake in the content they are consuming. Web3 games can educate viewers on the fundamentals of the game and drop coins or NFTs that will kickstart the viewer's journey in the game, but only after having seen proof that they are meaningfully engaged. In what ways is the blockchain-based game streaming experience evolving to make every viewer an active participant and every stream an immersive experience? To clarify, steaming is not blockchain-based. We developed a web3 layer for streams to augment video streams . You still go to Twitch to watch Azarus-enabled Twitch streams: this is one of the superpowers of the platform we developed, which is at the core of the patents we applied for. in place We take existing audiences watching the same content on the same channels they’re already watching today - and we augment the experience with a Web3 layer. Interactive elements such as live polls, quizzes, clicker games, and challenges are integrated directly into streams working on any device with little to no installation, offering viewers a way to compete against each other. Blockchain enables these interactions to be not only engaging but also rewarding through tokens or digital assets. How do blockchain-based tokens facilitate rewards and incentives for gamers and streamers in this emerging industry? Rewards are central to our reward system. With our platform being natively built on our chain, blockchain rewards can be easily manipulated and staked as rewards to games running on Azarus. PoA L2 Our games are smart contracts, starting a new session with staked rewards that get distributed based on the audience’s recorded performance. These tokens can represent anything from in-game assets to exclusive content access, offering real value to gamers and streamers and creating a more compelling engagement loop. Alongside blockchain-based rewards, we also operate a traditional rewards store filled with over 35k items, from gift cards to game licenses. In what ways does the integration of blockchain technology impact the revenue streams for gamers and content creators in the gaming and streaming industry? Blockchain allows for a fair split of the value created. Today, Azarus is mainly being used by brands (game companies, CPGs…) to educate the audience about themselves. In a traditional advertising model, the Viewer, whose time and attention were harvested, gets nothing. The creator gets some share of that value but is unrelated to his efforts to drive the attention. With a token-based economy, every stakeholder - including the viewers - gets a piece of the created value in line with their impact on generating it. Can you elaborate on the role of reward systems and incentives in keeping viewers engaged and loyal in the Web3 gaming and streaming ecosystem? Effective reward systems are essential for maintaining viewer engagement and loyalty in the Web3 space. These systems, powered by blockchain, offer tangible rewards that go beyond traditional engagement methods. They provide a sense of ownership and achievement to viewers, encouraging them to stay engaged and return for more interactive experiences. When viewers see an Azarus game starting, they know that their time is valued and that they’re competing with all the other viewers for real prizes. I see this experience as a digital t-shirt toss. Showing the t-shirt triggers the will to fight for it in everyone who’s watching. Can you discuss the concept of overlay advertising in the context of Web3 gaming and streaming and how it differs from traditional advertising methods? Overlay advertising in the Web3 context is a more interactive and integrated form of advertising. Unlike traditional advertising, which can be intrusive and disjointed from the content, overlay ads in Web3 are part of the streaming experience, offering viewers rewards and interactions that are contextually relevant to the content they are engaged with. Moreover, brands get access to clear performance indicators. Views are hard to measure, but clicks are crystal clear. Just like on any chain, you need gas to run interactions, calculated as a function of unique players. Essentially, Azarus brings video stream advertising into the realm of performance. Can you provide more details about Azarus' Overlay Games and how they make streaming more interactive and engaging for both streamers and viewers? Games built on Azarus offer viewers a chance to participate in real-time challenges and quizzes related to the stream, with rewards for participation. This not only enhances viewer engagement but also adds a layer of entertainment, making the streaming experience more dynamic and engaging for both viewers and streamers. We’ve seen that on Azarus-enabled streams, players stay 7x more than non-players because of the sense of friendly competition Azarus helps foster. How can Overlay Games and similar technologies enhance the interactivity and engagement of gaming streams in the blockchain-based game streaming space? Overlay Games enhance the interactivity of gaming streams by adding a layer of engagement and rewards. These technologies allow viewers to become an active part of the streaming experience, dramatically transforming the viewership experience through participation in real-time activities. This creates a more immersive and engaging environment for viewers, making the streams more than just a passive viewing experience. In the longer term, we see Azarus becoming a fully open-source permissionless chain where anyone can build games/experiences and bid to push these experiences on any channel. This will unlock an ocean of possibilities that we’re only scratching the surface of today. What do you foresee as the future of overlay advertising and audience engagement in the evolving landscape of gaming and streaming, and how might it continue to change the way we experience digital entertainment? The future of overlay advertising and audience engagement is likely to see even more personalized and seamless experiences. As technology advances, these advertising methods integrate more smoothly into content, enhancing the overall digital entertainment experience. This evolution will lead to more sophisticated and interactive viewer engagement, further blurring the lines between content consumption and participation. We’re starting to see creative agencies coming up with fresh ideas, such as having the public vote to pick the end of an ad, real-time predictions, and shouting contests mirrored in-stadium…. This turns the TV into a seat in a digital stadium, expanding the reach of the arena way beyond its physical borders. With the ongoing developments in Web3 technology and the metaverse, how do you anticipate the gaming and streaming industry will evolve, and what new opportunities will this bring for creators, streamers, and viewers? The ongoing developments in Web3 and the metaverse are set to transform the gaming and streaming industry radically. We anticipate a future where digital experiences become more immersive and multi-dimensional, offering new opportunities for creators, streamers, and viewers. This evolution will likely lead to the creation of new forms of content, interactive experiences, and revenue models, reshaping the landscape of digital entertainment. Ultimately, they’re the key to the future of TV, as the format is catching up with the evolution of the medium, from broadcasting over airwaves to streaming over the Internet. I believe that in the future, interactive overlay, which at Azarus we call “Overlay Games,” will be as natural to streams as the play/pause button we’re now so used to.

Viewership Engagement in the Web3 Gaming Universe: The Role of Rewards

I've been so into lately. It's the kind of technology that suddenly emerges and allows us to create things that weren't possible before. In such an initial stage, any developer can start playing with it and create useful libraries or very disruptive projects that have a big impact in the development of others. blockchain development One of the most interesting feature of blockchain projects is that . There are no intermediaries between us and the blockchain. When we need to transfer blockchain money or use any DeFi service, it's us interacting directly with the blockchain, and no other human or authority have a say in that interaction. That's the idea that empowers . we don't need to trust anyone anymore Web3 In applications based on blockchain . we shouldn't trust, we should verify Transactions are public, so we can check the history of any address in the blockchain and review if movements seem legit. And applications are ruled by what are called : small pieces of code that run on the blockchain and create transactions in a deterministic way. smart contracts Smart contracts are verifiable as their code is in the blockchain. When deploying a smart contract we can also upload the source code, so anyone can review it and check that it does what it says it does. For example, , a very popular stablecoin that moves value equivalent to billions of dollars every day. here's the verified code of the smart contract that rules the Theter token The traditional pyramid scheme So in the context of a economy, we can create applications that can distribute money in a transparent way. is an experiment to highlight what means, by taking the concept of pyramid schemes to the blockchain and making it transparent. trustless The Tree of Wealth trustless In case you are not familiar with how the infamous pyramid scheme works (lucky you!), here’s a quick explanation: Somebody convince us to give them money as an investment for some business, and they promise that we'll get a lot more money back. We trust them, the only thing we need to do to get rich is convincing other people to invest. In reality, there is not a real business behind, what happens is that . The promise of easy money brings a lot of initial investors and they actually get paid and share with others the great investment they have done. they use the money of the new investors to pay the old ones But this scheme is completely unsustainable. It works as long as there are new investors, but when the investing pressure start to decrease the scheme collapses, the promises get broken and the last investors lose their money. It's called pyramidal scheme because . some people get a lot of money at the top, and at the bottom there are a lot of people that lose everything Obviously, if this scheme was completely transparent and people were aware of what was happening, nobody would invest. So making the same system, but running on blockchain is completely off the table. On the other hand, the scheme contains powerful ideas like the distribution of money, the need of buying as soon as possible or the engagement of the investors on bringing more investors. If we could create a transparent system inspired by those ideas, where money from new investors is distributed evenly among all the previous investors, we might get a similar engagement. The Tree of Wealth: A transparent pyramidal NFT NFTs are a really nice candidate to create a system that distributes money. The economy of an NFT is completely controlled by a smart contract, so we can program the contract in a way that can distribute the money of every sell among all the previous buyers. Here we go, introducing , . The Tree of Wealth the first NFT that distributes the coins of every sell among all the previous buyers For the sake of transparency, The smart contract is open source and it can be . The rules in the contract try to replicate a system that make the users rush to buy, and then engage them on sharing the project to get their money back. The rules are: verified in Etherscan The price and transactions of the NFT are controlled, owners can't sell it or transfer it freely. It starts very cheap (0.0001 ETH), so initial buyers can get it without risking much. Every time the NFT is sold, the price increases by 0.001 ETH, so it gets more and more expensive at every sell. The coins of every sell are always distributed among all the previous buyers. So every time The Tree gets a new owner, all the previous ones get 0.001 ETH. The wallets owning the The Tree NFT can't decide when the token is transferred, that's why they are not really owners of it, they are called . When we say that somebody buys the NFT, it's because is simpler to understand, but they are not buying anything. hosts They are paying for becoming temporary hosts of the NFT and start participating in the distribution of the coins. As we can see from the rules, it's not exactly a pyramidal scheme. The price of the token increases in a linear way, and there is no promise of getting rich, or even getting the money back. But the rules and the characteristics of the NFT are designed to create a similar buying pressure and engagement: The price increases at every sell, so the sooner you buy it, the cheaper it will be. That generates the urge to buy it ASAP. The money gets distributed at every sell, so hosts start getting the money back as soon as the next sell happens. It’s not mandatory to bring more people to participate. Hosts will benefit from the distribution of the coins evenly at every sell, no matter if they are the ones bringing more people to buy. But for sure, when somebody becomes host of the Tree of Wealth, they will want to share it with others and get them into the loop. This system never collapses. The smart contract is immutable and will run as long as the Ethereum blockchain exists. So getting the money back should be just a matter of time. As the price gets higher and higher, the NFT becomes more and more exclusive and it would turn The Tree's NFT into a luxury item. Being host of The Tree NFT would be like being a member of a very exclusive club. The potential of . So the NFT smart contract has been developed also around that idea: becoming a luxury NFT is what should bring new hosts when the prices gets not affordable for most of the people When buying The Tree, the host receives a second NFT. That token is owned by the host, and can be transferred or sold as they please. . You can check them out in Opensea That token is kind of a proof of have been a host of The Tree. It's not related to the distribution of the coins, but people can find value in them just for show. The goal is to make the buyers . Early hosts will be considered really good investors because they saw the potential of the project, and late hosts will just be considered rich people and institutions who buy it just because they can. In any case, they should want to share The Tree of Wealth story. be proud of being hosts of The Tree Learn more This experiment is just a side project to explore the potential of smart contracts, so do not consider it financial advice or an investment opportunity. It's just an experiment. But if you want to participate on it, you can visit , connect your wallet and become host. The Tree of Wealth dapp The contract is deployed in the Ethereum mainnet at the address and can be verified at . 0x27E1F5CcC4F184A2Ca55B12353c06dA9e1803621 Etherscan If you want a version of the contract easier to read, . The code has interesting parts, like the way the NFT images are generated on-chain. here's the contract repository in github The decentralized application is made with React and it’s also open source, you can find the . The dapp is the gate to use the smart contract, so we need it to be always accessible and keep the protocol available. To ensure it, it has been deployed to many mirrors including to the . A is available at the contract repo. dapp code in this github repo decentralized Arwave’s permaweb list of the mirrors

Building the First Transparent Pyramidal NFT

Exit Liquidity

তারল্য থেকে প্রস্থান করুন

Liquidität verlassen

Liquidez de salida

Liquidité de sortie

तरलता से बाहर निकलें

出口流動性

유동성 종료

Liquidez de saída

Likiditeden Çıkış

Thoát thanh khoản

退出流动性

I recently spoke with the Co-founder of , Austin Diamond, about the backstory behind the company and the benefits of investing in a crypto market index. Austin shares his passion for finance and how it led him to create Alongside, which is designed to offer exposure to the entire cryptoasset market with a ERC-20 Token. He also discusses the potential impact of index products on the cryptoasset market and how they can change the way retail investors get exposure to markets. Alongside Alongside recently from a seed round led by a16z Crypto with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Franklin Templeton, and more. raised $11 million Thank you for joining us today. To begin, could you share with us how you came up with the idea for Alongside and the backstory behind it? Alongside comes full circle and was over a decade in the making for me (Austin)- I was an incredibly weird kid that was obsessed with finance as a teenager. I got really lucky and had an opportunity to work (read: fetch coffee) at a global investment bank with a group that was managing a portfolio of equity index funds. It was there I learned the open secret that is indexing- despite hogging the CNBC airwaves and charging customers insane fees, the overwhelming majority of active managers don’t beat a simple index that tracks the market. I realized pretty early on I didn't want to work in finance and later spent five years working in tech on marketplaces, most recently with a company called Omni where I met my co-founders Jun and Gauthier (Rai would join just after), which was later acqui-hired by Coinbase. Rai worked on Ethereum as a Core Dev for three years and we've followed crypto markets since 2016-ish- seeing everything evolve from theory to working application layer products in 2020 made us want to get off the sidelines. We also realized we’re not smart enough to pick individual winners, hence what we're building at Alongside. What is the potential impact of index products on the cryptoasset market? Index products secure tens of trillions in equity markets and changed the way retail investors get exposure to markets- they’ve saved retail investors tens of billions in fees, and lowered the barrier to entry such that more people have ownership in the stock market. We think the same dynamic can play out in cryptoasset markets. How would you describe your work to someone who is completely unfamiliar with Alongside, and also to someone who is familiar with it? To someone who is completely unfamiliar, I would describe it as buying the entire crypto market with just one token. To someone who is familiar with the industry, I would describe it as a broad-based index that offers exposure to the entire cryptoasset market with a single asset. Where can you invest and get broad exposure to crypto currently? Any insights into the current TAM among these competitors? The average investor has largely not been able to get indexed exposure to cryptoassets- what’s available on traditional exchange venues are products like BITQ that track crypto stocks, not coins. We don’t believe the best way to get exposure to the space is via a bundle of dodgy bitcoin mining stocks or centralized exchanges. Others are available via private placement to accredited investors and generally aren’t redeemable or liquid (so they trade at wild discounts or premiums). For those more familiar with DeFi, we’re fans of on-chain products like those from Index Coop or Indexed Finance, but they can generally only give you exposure to assets in the Ethereum ecosystem, so their products are largely thematic and get you exposure to categories vs. the entire market. How do you determine which cryptoassets are included? One of the hidden secrets in markets is that the most esteemed professional investors don’t actually know better than the market. We don’t either. Our core product gives holders exposure to the top 25 cryptoassets (ex. stablecoins/securities) by circulating market cap which historically speaking has tracked the total market cap of the category with ~97% tracking efficiency- we don’t try to put our thumbs on the scale. Why are coins like DOGE and SHIBA included? DOGE and SHIB are some of the highest returning assets of all time, and one reason we’re so bullish on indexing is because no reasonable person would have predicted that in a million years. Our core thesis is that we’re not in a position to try to pick winners and losers. If history is any indication, you’re better off “buying the market” vs trying to predict which assets will drive returns. With time, we expect assets like DOGE and SHIB to become a smaller portion of the index as more high quality assets emerge and grow to have large market caps. With the markets falling and a recession likely on the way, is now a good time to attempt to level the playing field with a crypto market index? Are there negative repercussions to that mission you foresee? We joke that we are borderline degenerate long-termists. We try to be as up front with the risks involved in our product as possible. In the short term (and maybe always), crypto markets are volatile and we could see major declines like we have in the past. We feel now is a better time than ever to start to explore the space- prices (and gas fees) are low and some of the most talented people in the world are building new products at a faster rate than anytime in history. We think the most negative repercussions to come out of the crypto space have been the extent to which they’ve encouraged “degen” trading, a behavior we hope our product is somewhat of an antidote to.

Changing the Crypto Market with Index Investing: An Interview with Alongside's Austin Diamond

How the Government Nearly Closed the U.S. Air System

Cómo el gobierno casi cerró el sistema aéreo de EE. UU.

Comment le gouvernement a presque fermé le système aérien américain

कैसे सरकार ने अमेरिकी वायु प्रणाली को लगभग बंद कर दिया

政府が米国の航空システムをほぼ閉鎖した方法

Como o governo quase fechou o sistema aéreo dos EUA

Cách chính phủ gần như đóng cửa hệ thống hàng không Hoa Kỳ

政府如何差点关闭美国航空系统

Mapping out a decentralized financial utopia beyond the hype of meme coins, billionaires, speculation, and clickbait. It’s impossible to avoid - even if you tried - the words cryptocurrency, NFT, and the metaverse. It's as if these futuristic concepts are knocking – no, banging – on our front doors. The world is abuzz with thoughts, curiosities, and judgments about the industry, both in theory and in practice; turning once-fringe ideas into cultural talking points, the punchline of a million jokes, and the booze-fueled party conversation that everyone hates to love. While crypto conversations have hit the mainstream with infamous popularity, the evolving technologies and foundational projects that are the bedrock of the industry have been solidly committed to building a next-generation future for years. Bitcoin (BTC) Price-Per-Day - USD Consider Bitcoin (BTC) (while now a household name), which was by a programmer under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, and in many investor circles, is thought of as the original cryptocurrency. A coin that ushered in a new age of blockchain technology and decentralized digital currencies. founded in 2009 Since its inception, 13 years of innovation and emerging technologies have transpired, making this “future” of crypto, more realistically a dynamically evolving “present”. A present fervently moving towards a future that aims to dismantle traditional systems, revolutionize the way we all think about money, and usher in a new era of digital existence. The current cryptocurrency industry, as it stands today, is met with a lot of interest and a lot of criticism, yet lacks real comprehension. suggests that 96% of Americans fail to comprehend basic crypto knowledge. This creates barriers around the type of growth and success hopeful investors are able to achieve–in short, for the majority of people it’s not about the strength of the investment, it’s about the hype. A 2021 report by cryptoliteracy.org Meme coins, speculative investors, billionaires, and clickbait articles have generated a pop culture of cryptocurrency interest that has conflated investing with gambling and a promising future with get-rich-quick mentalities. How can the growing community of crypto enthusiasts look past the hype and educate themselves on the highly sophisticated intricacies of a revolutionizing industry? If current trends stay focused on the distraction of the newest meme coin, will that continue to perpetuate the idea that crypto is about as stable of a future as a novelty slot machine? 2021 Markets In Review Whether people love it, hate it, or don’t understand it, cryptocurrency was top of mind for everyone in 2021. The financial system as a whole faced a new kind of scrutiny, as events like the pulled back the curtain on the inequities of traditional investing models. Game Stop Saga The world watched as a group of Reddit day-traders collaborated to push GameStop stock to soar, causing large hedge funds, who were attempting to short the stock, to lose millions of dollars. The worldwide attention of this event, combined with a contemplative pause created by a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, and the successful impact of blockchain technology, shifted perspective in a way that put a microscope on the systems at hand, opening a collective eye towards new possibilities, possibilities that pointed directly to the crypto industry. Taking a look at the narrative from the top-performing industry assets according to data from shows that Layer-1 blockchains and metaverse tokens performed at high rates of success. A few of the top-performing assets, like (AXS), even showcased a YTD of 16,000% and a 5 billion dollar market cap, for perspective, any dollar invested saw a potential $16k return. Messari Axe Infinity On the one hand, this is exceptional when compared to publicly traded companies in the stock market that can take 5-10 years to reach a market cap of 5 billion dollars. On the other hand, meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu hold a market cap of over $20 billion. What does this say about the emerging crypto landscape? And how does that affect investing decisions for crypto enthusiasts? If the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency is aimed at dismantling the traditional systems and paving the way for every type of person to be able to make strategic investments, then why are speculative meme coins flooding the airwaves, while tokens that further the interests of the individual investor and the collective community sitting slightly outside the mainstream view? Promising news indicates crypto companies are seeing exceptional potential on returns, showcasing the power of new companies and their fast earning potential. Infrastructure tokens like (MATIC) and (MANA), represent sophisticated ideas that dynamically influence the industry, and create a foundation on which new companies can grow and build on top of them. Polygon Decentraland Before 2013, blockchain technology was almost solely linked to Bitcoin, but in published a white paper that proposed a decentralized application platform. This led to the creation of the Ethereum Foundation, which launched in 2014. 2015 Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Bitcoin Magazine Ethereum paved the way for blockchain technology to be used for purposes other than cryptocurrency. It introduced smart contracts and provided developers with a platform for building decentralized applications. In 2020, Nearly 40% of respondents incorporated blockchain into production, and 55% viewed blockchain as a top strategic priority, according to . Deloitte's 2020 Global Blockchain Survey Crypto companies and tokens that represent this foundation infrastructure of blockchain technology are booming with rocket-fueled interest, showing strong YTD in 2021, but the low market cap, especially in comparison to meme coins like Dogecoin, tells a story that has a different and more complex meaning. Meme Coins and Speculative Investing To understand the rumbling undercurrent that meme investing has brought to the industry, it’s important to look back at an event like the . 2008 financial crisis The use of subprime mortgages by Wall Street and banks left a completely destabilized economy, plummeting overnight, where the trust in systems was flipped on its head. The event left people, both domestic and globally, to wonder if the financial systems they had come rely on, were not as unshakeable as they thought–and understandably! The crisis revealed that regulators were asleep at the wheel and that the traditional stewards of the industry were not taking responsibility for the financial health of our country and the globe seriously. Sowing seeds of doubt proved fertile ground for “rebel” currencies, decentralized finance, and meme stocks, like GameStop and AMC, to take hold in a new way. As the financial collapse of 2008 created a need for the government to bail out the very industries that caused the crisis, student debt piled high, the gig economy forced 9 to 5’ers into working harder for less, and the overall vibe towards Wall Street and traditional hedge funds transitioned into a giant rolling side-eye. The idea of money, and inherently its value, is challenged. If the government can pump out billions in bail-outs, then what is really the “thing” generating the value in those numbers we see on our screens? How much is the value of a currency based on the peoples' belief in that currency and what it represents? The GameStop stock, and subsequently the AMC stock, challenged the systems at face value, asking Wall Street to directly put their money where their mouth is. Did it change anything or have any sort of destabilizing effect on those systems? Not as far as experts can tell. And as of January 2022, both , now at their lowest exchange since the boom at the beginning of 2021. A crash that can be deduced to a public lack of interest and the distracted hype of a new thing. GameStop and AMC stocks have plummeted in value But cryptocurrency is different from traditional stocks as it is built as a sophisticated and decentralized new wave of finance. The industry is essentially setting itself up to take over the financial world as we know it. But just as we have seen with the GameStop and AMC stocks, the double-edged sword of popularity and infamy has splintered the industry, creating dueling crypto worlds, one resembling a casino-like playground and the other, a structurally sound landscape of building blocks. Meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have become a secure placeholder within the world of casino investing. Thriving on the hype and excitement of jumping on the bandwagon, and whose success is congruent with getting in on something before it gets too hot and then cashing out before it all comes crashing down. For millions, this exact pump-and-dump scheme coincides with the idealized American Dream, a pathway to wealth that so much of the world has romanticized. Even after the 2008 financial crisis, , but most people turned them away and deepened their suspicions of an unstable system. banks offered homeowners incentivizing refinancing opportunities Capitalizing on the notion of striking while the iron is hot, while simultaneously furthering the extreme distrust in the systems at hand, has birthed a chaotic mindset, as if to say, it’s all doomed so why not take a chance and risk big to win big? Meme coins are not traditionally backed by projects or ideas that hold true value in the ways traditional investments do, nor do they sustainably contribute to the evolving progression of the industry. Instead, they are propped up by speculative investors, people whose interests are purely to pump the market up, gaining huge profits and exiting as soon as they have earned their desired return, leaving hopeful and often novice investors vulnerable to a devastating crash. As seen in the “Rise of Meme Coins” graph, both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu experienced incredibly high peaks and valleys that flipped in a matter of moments. A volatile aspect of the industry that often leaves people with the wrong impression. Without anything to substantiate the value of these coins the people at the top, like Elon Musk and his popular Dogecoin, hype it all up and control the market. he mentioned Dogecoin in his opening monologue which consequently lead to a 40% tumble after the show aired. He is now utilizing the popularity of internet virality to boost the value of the coins by publicly announcing on his Twitter , he will eat a Happy Meal. When Musk appeared as the host of SNL that if McDonald’s starts accepting Dogecoin as payment The world watches all of this as entertainment, thinking they are in on the next best thing, but much like Wall Street the 1% still win, the hype for these meme coins comes down to clever marketing and staying relevant on the always distractable web, which appears to have a powerful effect, that's for sure. Infrastructure Coins and Pillars Of The Industry While meme coins continue to gain unsubstantiated high market caps and worldwide hype, flooding the internet with clickbait articles, pop culture memes, and Twitter punchlines; the infrastructure of the cryptocurrency industry is continuing to build and expand its bedrock foundation. Companies like , a decentralized crypto VC company, and , holistic gaming, NFT, and metaverse ecosystem, are aiming to influence a greater and more permanent change. BullPerks GamesPad As pillars of the industry, foundational projects are being constructed to dynamically impact cryptocurrency. They have been doing this for over a decade, by cultivating a following and investors who are interested in establishing real value. Pillar companies believe in this future, and the crowdsourcing and VC money fundraised to support their creation are going towards progressing that belief. That strong core value is what sets these infrastructure projects and their coins apart from the casino games that meme coins represent. Layer-1 blockchain tokens like Terra, Polygon, and Solana are the building blocks where new projects are created and can grow. Popular metaverse projects such as Decentraland, and Axe infinity, exist because the infrastructure from layer-1 projects allowed them the capabilities to do so. This is so much more exciting than a meme coin, this is true technological innovation and exploration. This is laying down the blueprint of an entirely new way of interacting with the world. This is the value of something meaningful, something worth investing in, something that breathes a fresh breath of air for the future. Ethereum (ETH) Price-Per-Day - USD is likely a familiar name, but without much context as to the importance of its impact on the industry. It is a decentralized software platform that enables and to be built and run without any interference from a third party. Ethereum (ETH) smart contracts decentralized applications (dApps) The goal behind Ethereum is to create a decentralized collection of financial products that anyone in the world can freely access, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or faith, essentially becoming a borderless, equitable opportunity. This aspect makes the implications for some countries extremely compelling because those without state infrastructure and state identifications can get access to bank accounts, loans, insurance, or a variety of other financial products, outside of their current opportunities. The way that Ethereum influences the cryptocurrency industry and builds outside of itself as a way to further the progression of a decentralized financial future is what gives the coin its value, elevating it lightyears away from meme coins. and the pillar projects built on top of them create real opportunities to dismantle the systems that the GameStop saga attempted to achieve. The decentralized future is real and it is here, being built by brilliant minds from all over the world. Infrastructure coins BullPerks uses an extremely fine-tuned process of evaluating crypto-projects and helps to promote those projects allowing for VCs and investors to participate in supporting valuable assets. GamesPad approaches the crypto-gaming industry from a similar perspective, high-value games, NFTs, and metaverse projects are cultivated in their ecosystem to ensure a foundational level of success. Where Do We Go From Here? Moving The Industry Forward Worth is community informed, and currency is a form of worth. In a new landscape where there is a true lack in depth of education and information, casino investing appears bright, shiny, and enticing. Meme coins can feel like a rush to the system, like a big middle finger to the man, and an exciting opportunity to "get rich quick". But is it all smoke and mirrors? It appears so when compared to the infrastructure coins and companies that have been structurally building the industry for over a decade and who put forth the effort and profits to continue to build value and worth; setting foundations, developing innovations, and mapping out a real future of new frontiers. As of today, for most of the world cryptocurrency can feel like a scam. People read headlines from a skeptical eye, speculative investors continue to pump schemes into the market, and the hype continues its stronghold on the industry. But what if everyone just ignored the hype. What if instead of encouraging Elon Musk to eat McDonald's, we scroll past the clickbait headlines, hit “mute” on the meme coins, and take the time to view the emerging landscape for the value and worth that is truly being put into it. If everyone decided to invest in pillar companies, and infrastructure coins, and educate themselves on the blueprint of a decentralized future, the future might not seem so far away. As the world turns on its axis and more of the population sees the truth of the systems for what they are, education and real depth of understanding of the crypto industry can provide hope and excitement for a financial future to come–and that sure as hell is worth the hype.

Don’t Fall For The Hype in Cryptocurrencies

No se deje engañar por las criptomonedas

Ne tombez pas dans le battage médiatique des crypto-monnaies

क्रिप्टोक्यूरेंसी में प्रचार के लिए मत गिरो

暗号通貨の誇大宣伝に惑わされないでください

Não caia no hype das criptomoedas

Đừng để bị thổi phồng về tiền điện tử

不要为加密货币的炒作而堕落

Stories, News & Mentions about AERWAVE

Aerwave’s Stories on HackerNoon