Truflation, a financial data provider, has launched its own AI Index, a tool designed to monitor the performance of companies in the generative AI sector and the real-world assets supporting them.
This launch — shared with crypto.news via a press release — coincides with significant growth in the global generative AI market, currently valued at $44.89 billion and projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2032.
The AI Index consists of six companies: Artificial S-Intelligence Alliance, Akash Network, AIOZ Network, Bittensor, Echelon Prime, and Render.
Stefan Rust, CEO of Truflation, said the index “targets investors seeking growth by leveraging real-time data and diversifying across core asset classes.”
The index serves as a benchmark for both traditional and decentralized finance platforms.
What this index means
Truflation utilizes decentralized data feeds, indexes, and oracles, which are essential components of decentralized finance. These tools provide users with accurate pricing for real-world assets, helping them make informed decisions.
Truflation works with over 80 data partners, tracks more than 20 million items, and offers specialized dashboards for monitoring inflation in countries like the U.S., U.K., and Argentina, according to the release.
For those unfamiliar with decentralized finance, it refers to financial services that run on blockchain technology, eliminating intermediaries like banks, which allows for more direct and efficient transactions.
American financial giant State Street is exploring blockchain technology to tokenize bonds and money market funds for enhanced collateral management.
State Street, the largest custodian bank in the world, is leveraging blockchain to explore the tokenization of bonds and money market funds, joining a growing number of firms adopting distributed ledger technology in traditional finance.
In an Oct. 8 interview with Financial News, State Street chief product officer Donna Milrod said the firm has two ongoing projects focused on tokenizing collateral linked to money market funds and bonds, adding that the pilot “will take us through part of next year.”
She explained that the Boston-headquartered banking institution aims to develop tokenized collateral that can be used as variation or initial margin for trading.
State Street does not rule out stablecoin launch
Currently, trading firms are required to liquidate their holdings in money market funds to post cash as margin for trades. However, with digitalized funds, tokens could serve as collateral, eliminating the need for redemption altogether, Milrod explained.
State Street is not the first institution experimenting with the tokenization of money market funds. BlackRock, for example, launched a blockchain-based fund earlier in March. JPMorgan is also exploring the use of tokenized money market funds as collateral and has already tokenized real-world money through its stablecoin.
Although Milrod noted State Street’s current focus does not include launching a stablecoin, she acknowledged the potential for future developments, saying, “That does not mean we will not [launch a stablecoin] at some point, but we do not feel the need to do that right now.”
Blockchain oracle provider RedStone has announced the launch of oracles designed specifically for Bitcoin staking.
RedStone, a modular oracle provider, is expanding the list of its available oracles across multiple networks by introducing oracles tailored for Bitcoin (BTC) staking, now available on the staking platform Lombard. The Switzerland-based company’s oracles are built to supply real-time data for Bitcoin staking, allowing users to stake their Bitcoin and receive Liquid Staking Tokens on the Ethereum blockchain.
According to a press release shared with crypto.news, the solution is already live on Lombard, a restaking protocol managing over $500 million in total value locked. The oracles are designed to track and report key metrics such as staked Bitcoin amounts, LST issuance, and net asset value calculations.
RedStone plans further expansion of Bitcoin-focused oracles
Beyond Lombard, RedStone plans to integrate its oracles into additional platforms, including pumpBTC and Solv. In the coming months, further expansions are expected to reach Arbitrum, Base, and BNB Chain. RedStone’s chief executive, Jakub Wojciechowski, said the latest solution will provide Lombard with the infrastructure “needed to bridge Bitcoin and DeFi seamlessly.”
This isn’t RedStone’s first venture into blockchain oracle services. The company has previously rolled out similar products across various blockchain networks, including Ethereum and The Open Network. Founded in 2021, RedStone raised $15 million in Series A funding, led by Arrington Capital. Other investors include HTX Ventures, Amber Group, and Spartan.
Palau’s government in partnership with Soramitsu and Japan’s ministry has launched a blockchain-based savings bond prototype aimed at enhancing domestic investment growth.
Palau is launching a blockchain-based savings bond system developed in collaboration with Japanese blockchain firm Soramitsu and Japan‘s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to provide citizens with investment opportunities in domestic infrastructure projects.
In a Tuesday press release on Oct. 8, Soramitsu said the so-called “Palau Invest” initiative seeks to empower citizens by providing them with a new means to invest in national projects while earning yields from those investments.
Based on the SORA v3 Hub Chain’s Hyperledger Iroha 2-based network, the program is part of METI’s “Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project,” Japan’s commitment to supporting emerging economies through technological innovation. Funds generated from the digital savings bonds are said to be allocated for critical infrastructure projects such as housing, roads, and public facilities.
President of Palau Surangel Whipps, Jr. highlighted the initiative’s significance, saying it can help “stimulate job creation, enhance business opportunities, and foster a vibrant economy.”
As of press time, a public demonstration phase has been launched to familiarize citizens with the savings bond system before formal issuance begins. Once finalized, bonds will be available for purchase through a mobile app, allowing citizens to invest from their smartphones, though no exact timeline was revealed.
For Soramitsu, this launch represents another milestone in its efforts, having previously implemented blockchain-based financial systems in the Asia-Pacific region, including central bank digital currency initiatives in Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.
Blockchain infrastructure startup Layer has raised $6 million to create developer tools that support full-stack decentralized applications on Ethereum.
Layer, a blockchain infrastructure startup, has raised $6 million in a seed round led by 1kx, with participation from Fabric Ventures, Arrington Capital, and Stake Capital Group.
In a press release shared with crypto.news, the firm said it plans to use the proceeds to extend the capabilities of Ethereum by creating developer tools that support full-stack decentralized applications using Web Assembly.
Founded by blockchain veterans Sam Cassatt, Jake Hartnell, and Ethan Frey, Layer’s platform is expected to enable developers to build more complex decentralized applications that rely on off-chain computation, addressing the limitations of current smart contracts. The Layer SDK will allow applications to combine blockchain security with off-chain services like AI agents and decentralized messaging servers.
“We wanted to complete the full narrative arc of decentralized architecture, and give the world the tools necessary to build any application, with any performance requirements in this trust-minimized way.”
Sam Cassatt, co-founder of Layer
Layer gains angel backing to develop full-stack Ethereum SDK
The funding round also saw backing from angel investors, including Sreeram Kannan of EigenLayer, Mike Silagadze of Ether.fi, and former BlackRock executive Paul Taylor. The team says their upcoming product, known as the “Layer SDK,” will allow developers to build new layers on top of Ethereum that run full-stack blockchain-based applications consisting of smart contracts, consensus mechanisms, UI, and verifiable off-chain services.
The funding comes as concerns grow over hidden vulnerabilities in smart contracts, with bad actors increasingly exploiting them to lure victims. In late September, analysts at blockchain firm Trugard Labs identified over 34,000 high-risk vulnerabilities in smart contracts rolled out on Base during August. Hidden balance updates and minting manipulations were also detected across Ethereum and BNB Chain (formerly Binance Smart Chain, BSC), though in smaller numbers.
The financial industry is at a tipping point, with DeFi leading the charge. While Ethereum (ETH) has long dominated the DeFi landscape, Bitcoin (BTC) —the original and most trusted cryptocurrency—remains underutilized and is well-positioned to unlock its untapped potential. Historically regarded as ‘digital gold,’ Bitcoin is on the verge of proving its far-reaching capabilities in DeFi, and it’s about time developers, investors, and institutions woke up to its immense potential.
The undervalued giant in DeFi
Bitcoin is far more than a store of value—it’s the bedrock of the cryptocurrency movement, and it’s absurd that it has been overlooked as a serious DeFi platform. As the most trusted and widely recognized cryptocurrency, Bitcoin dominates the landscape. Yet, despite its widespread adoption and liquidity, its role in DeFi has remained limited—not due to its potential, but rather its design. Bitcoin wasn’t initially built for smart contracts or dApps, giving Ethereum the early advantage in DeFi development.
But the tide is turning. With technologies like Taproot and the Lightning Network now in full play, Bitcoin is fully equipped to outpace any other blockchain in handling complex transactions with speed, security, and cost-efficiency. Frankly, it’s shocking that Bitcoin’s potential in DeFi has been ignored for this long. While Ethereum has pioneered decentralized applications and smart contracts, its challenges with gas fees and scalability remain. Bitcoin, with its advancements like the Lightning Network and Taproot, is addressing scalability differently, offering faster, more cost-effective solutions. Developers who fail to recognize this are missing out on the opportunity to build the future of DeFi on the most trusted and secure blockchain.
From digital gold to DeFi leader
Bitcoin’s reputation as a secure store of value is well-established, with a market cap exceeding $1 trillion and accounting for approximately 54% of the total crypto market. However, the idea that Bitcoin is only good for “holding” is outdated. The real game-changer is the series of upgrades that have made Bitcoin a viable and powerful platform for DeFi. For far too long, Ethereum has been the default choice for dApps and smart contracts, but that era is ending.
Advancements like the Lightning Network and Taproot are not minor tweaks—they are innovations that will catapult Bitcoin into the DeFi mainstream. Lightning enables near-instant Bitcoin transactions with nearly negligible fees, while Taproot vastly improves Bitcoin’s smart contract capabilities, making it more secure and scalable than Ethereum or any other blockchain. If you think Bitcoin is still just digital gold, you’re living in the past. It is now ready to take center stage as the true DeFi leader, offering solutions to the very problems that other blockchains continue to face.
The uncapped potential of crypto’s true titan
Bitcoin’s newfound capabilities are opening the door to a host of DeFi services, from lending and trading to asset management and governance. More importantly, Bitcoin’s integration with cross-chain platforms and scalability solutions like the Lightning Network means that it can now seamlessly interact with assets from other ecosystems like Ethereum and Stacks. The Lightning Network alone has been instrumental in enabling faster, low-fee transactions, proving Bitcoin’s capacity for handling both microtransactions and more complex DeFi operations. This isn’t just an incremental step forward—it’s a giant leap that proves Bitcoin’s growing dominance. For example, exchanges like Bitfinex have integrated the Lightning Network to facilitate instant Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals with significantly reduced fees, showcasing Bitcoin’s ability to handle high-throughput financial operations.
The days of Bitcoin being just a simple store of value are over. It’s now a multi-chain powerhouse, capable of integrating assets like Jettons, ERC20 tokens, RGB, Runes, and Taproot Assets into decentralized fundraising and governance platforms.
Opinion: Runes is making Bitcoin fun and accessible again
The growing institutional interest in Bitcoin is another sign that its future in DeFi is bright. Recent reports indicate that Bitcoin DeFi has a total value locked of around $1.2 billion, which is still a small fraction of Bitcoin’s overall market value but highlights significant growth potential. Even if a fraction of Bitcoin’s estimated $1 trillion capital were to be unlocked for DeFi, the impact would be massive.
Companies like MicroStrategy and Fidelity have expressed confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value, and their exploration of Bitcoin-backed financial products signals growing institutional involvement. As DeFi matures, institutions are likely to follow. Platforms that integrate Bitcoin with DEXs are already enabling seamless trading across multiple blockchains like Ethereum and Stacks. Auction-based token sales and new funding models are making it clear that Bitcoin’s place in DeFi is not just growing—it’s surging.
Why Bitcoin is the future of DeFi
Let’s be clear: as DeFi continues to expand, the need for security and scalability will only grow. Bitcoin offers both in abundance. Ethereum’s issues with high gas fees and network congestion are well-known, but Bitcoin’s infrastructure, boosted by layer-2 solutions like Lightning and Taproot, is now proving itself to be the far superior choice.
Bitcoin’s support for multi-chain compatibility and cross-chain interoperability is solidifying its position as a leader in DeFi. The ability to integrate multiple blockchains into a cohesive ecosystem is something that no other platform can do as effectively as Bitcoin. If Ethereum was the starting point for DeFi, then Bitcoin is the destination.
As the market continues to mature, Bitcoin’s integration into the DeFi ecosystem will accelerate at a pace that will leave its competitors scrambling to catch up. DeFi is ready for Bitcoin—and Bitcoin is more than ready to lead.
The UAE, particularly through its Dubai and Abu Dhabi financial hubs, continues to introduce initiatives and regulatory frameworks to attract crypto companies and investors.
Consider the latest update: The UAE announced value-added tax (VAT) exemptions for crypto transfers and conversions.
The UAE’s published changes will take effect on Nov. 15.
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) on Oct. 2, published Cabinet Decision No. (100) of 2024 to update the executive regulation related to VAT.
The updated executive regulation includes more than 30 amendments affecting various industries.
The nation’s Federal Tax Authority, as per the details shared by business consultancy firm PwC, will apply these exemptions to managing investment funds and other crypto-related activities.
Additionally, PwC reports that the exemptions for the transfer and conversion of virtual assets are treated as effective from Jan. 1, 2018.
Furthermore, the amendments address input tax recovery for crypto companies. PwC explains that in the UAE, crypto is defined as a “representation of value that can be digitally traded or converted and can be used for investment purposes.”
UAE wants to be crypto-friendly
While several countries, including China and India, have been taking a step back when it comes to crypto adoption, the UAE is embracing it.
The country has been actively working to create a favorable environment for blockchain and crypto businesses. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority is also playing a crucial role in regulating virtual assets in the UAE.
The VAT exemptions for crypto transfers and conversions could attract more crypto businesses to the UAE.
The country’s positive outlook on crypto is also visible from its growth in the market. A recent report from Chainalysis highlighted that the UAE received over $30 billion in crypto between July 2023 and June 2024.
This number has brought the country to the top as MENA’s third-largest crypto economy. Chainalysis also mentioned the rise in the number of venture capital funds and blockchain businesses in the UAE as a factor contributing to the country’s growth.
Refik Anadol Studio, co-founded by Refik Anadol and Efsun Erkiliç in 2025, is launching an immersive AI art & NFT museum called DATALAND at The Grand LA, with a flagship location at the Frank Gehry-designed development in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
DATALAND will feature immersive AI art experiences by establishing a new model for artistic expression at the onset of the digital age by taking immersion to the next level with the AI-powered scent of the galleries. As AI artist Refik Anadol explained to me:
“We aren’t yet revealing the details about DATALAND’s artistic programming, but there will be many moments for sharing/exhibiting AI artists’ work both physically and virtually so people who cannot travel to LA have access to the AI art creations. And can purchase the AI art work NFTs minted on an Ethereum-based platform and many other sustainable chains for exciting art and culture activities.”
Refik Anadol Studio announced the launch of DATALAND during Climate Week NYC, which is celebrated NYS-wide for the first time and runs parallel to the United Nations General Assembly meeting, where world leaders gather to address critical global challenges. DATALAND’s inaugural exhibitions will be prepared with the Large Nature Model, an open-source AI model based solely on nature data, to produce unprecedented immersive AI-powered digital environmental artwork. The studio initially presented such installations at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and then at the United Nations in New York during the 2024 UNGA to promote environmental awareness. As UN Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming concurred:
“Refik Anadol’s artwork is a testament to the beauty and fragility of our natural world. It’s a clarion call to world leaders: we must harness the power of technology [AI art & NFTs] and human ingenuity and agency to incite action to protect our planet before it’s too late.”
The award-winning studio has been engaged by leading tech companies, groundbreaking researchers, and cutting-edge thought leaders to produce projects that have been shown in more than 70 cities spanning six continents and experienced by millions of ardent fans. These exhibition venues include several United Nations Climate Change Conferences, MoMA, Centre Pompidou-Metz, Serpentine Galleries, National Gallery of Victoria, Venice Architecture Biennale, Hammer Museum, Arken Museum, Casa Batlló, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Daejeon Museum of Art, and Istanbul Modern Museum. Nevertheless, Refik Anadol Studio, as explained by Refik, chose “Los Angeles as the perfect city to launch DATALAND, a forward-thinking, revolutionary museum in support of the fields to which I have dedicated my career: art, science, technology, and AI research.” And he continued:
“As LA has long been a city that looks to the future in art, music, cinema, architecture, and more, it feels natural to open DATALAND here. To have a permanent space for us to develop a new paradigm of what a museum can be—by fusing human imagination with machine intelligence and the most advanced technologies available—is a realization of one of my biggest dreams. To do so in a building designed by one of my heroes, Frank Gehry, is almost unbelievable.”
DATALAND will use millions of photos and other records from partner museums, including the Smithsonian and London’s Natural History Museum, to create its installations. “We already have three major collaborations with museums in the works and are very confident to join forces across the world,” added Refik.
History of AI art, NFTs, and museums
Christiane Paul, the digital art curator of Whitney Museum, who is “looking forward to learning more about DATALAND,” detailed the AI Art History at the groundbreaking symposium at Rhode Island School of Design’s “Debates in AI” held during April 11-12, 2024, that invited artists worldwide. She explained that AI art has a fascinating history that intertwines technology and creativity, and it continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of what is possible at the intersection of technology and creativity.
Christiane Paul, curator of Digital Art at Whitney Museum, debates in AI art history
Early beginnings: 1950s-1970s. The roots of AI art can be traced back to early experiments with computer-generated art, where artists and computer scientists collaborated to create visual and abstract compositions using early computer algorithms. One notable example from this era is captured by the Whitney Museum’s exhibition curated by Christiane Paul with David Lisbon tracing the evolution of Harold Cohen’s AARON, the earliest artificial intelligence program designed to create drawings and paintings. AARON was first exhibited in 1972 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Advancements in algorithms: 1980s-2000s. During this period, algorithms and computing power advancements allowed for more complex and varied artistic outputs, and AI art began to gain recognition in academic and artistic circles.
The city of Los Angeles, which will become home to DATALAND, served as grounds for the Gray Area Foundation, a cultural incubator with a mission to cultivate, sustain, and apply antidisciplinary collaboration, back in 2002 to integrate art, technology, science, AI, and the humanities—towards a more equitable and regenerative future. This foundation moved its headquarters to San Francisco in 2005.
Deep learning revolution: 2010s. The advent of deep learning brought significant changes with generative adversarial networks and other machine learning techniques that enabled the creation of highly sophisticated and realistic artworks. AI art started to be exhibited in NFT form in galleries and museums and auctioned in prominent auction houses, raising questions about creativity and authorship.
In 2014, digital artist Kevin McCoy issued the first-ever art NFT.
Four years later, in 2018, Christie’s art auction house became the first auction house ever to offer AI artwork for sale. Christie’s also hosted its first Art + Tech Summit on the topic of blockchain. In June 2019, the second edition focused on artificial intelligence and art. Since then, blockchain, NFTs, and AI have been hot topics in the art world, intersecting unexpectedly. At the helm of digital curator Christiane Paul, Whitney Museum became an early collector of NFTs starting in 2018.
Mainstream adoption: 2020s. The increased availability of AI art tools to the general public has democratized the creation of AI-generated images. This era has also seen debates about NFTs, its market bubble and crash, copyright, the impact on traditional artists, and the ethical implications of AI in art.
In Germany, the Intelligent Museum—a practice-based research and development project at the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and the German Museum—was backed by the Digital Culture Programme of the German Federal Cultural Foundation in 2020. It explores new paths of museum communication and outreach to connect the museum with current AI technologies, making it a place of experience and experimentation, a social space where art, science, technology, and public discourse come together. One of the best-selling AI-generated NFT artists exhibited at ZKM is a program called Botto, which is the brainchild of computer engineers and a German artist named Mario Klingemann in 2021 that creates AI art NFTs. Today, Botto has created over 75 NFTs that generated more than $3 million in revenue.
In New York City, the Museum of Modern Art—ahead of holding its first-ever AI Art Show curated by Michelle Kuo, “Unsupervised”by Refik Anadol—became the beneficiary of a major new endowment established by the William S. Paley Foundation to support MoMA’s ambitious goals in digital media and technology and to provide for new AI Art/NFT acquisitions. Henry Kissinger, Chairman of the William S. Paley Foundation at the time, stated:
“I know how deeply my friend Bill Paley cared about The Museum of Modern Art and with what devotion he dedicated himself to its advancement. With this initiative, the Foundation will honor his intention and continue his vision for MoMA.”
Nevertheless, MoMA has adopted a cautious approach to NFTs so far. Other than contributing data to algorithmically generated works by artist Refik Anadol and, in October 2023, announcing that it had acquired “Unsupervised” for its permanent collection, the museum has not been involved with other AI art or NFT projects.
In Singapore, curated by ArtScience Museum’s Deborah Lim and guest curator Clara Che Wei Peh, “Notes From the Ether” last year was an exciting and timely exhibition that offered a glimpse into the future of digital art with work by 20 artists: Memo Akten, Burak Arikan, Botto, Mitchell F Chan, DEAFBEEF Simon Denny, Harm van den Dorpel, Sarah Friend, Rimbawan Gerilya, Holly Herndon and Mathew Dryhurst, Tyler Hobbs and Dandelion Wistjo+kapi, Larva Labs, Jonas Lund, Ninaad Kothawade, Sarah Meyohas, Rhea Myers, Aaron Penne, Aluan Wang, Emily Xie. These artists work with the emerging technologies of non-fungible tokens and generative artificial intelligence to push the boundaries of what art is and what it could be.
The future of museums AI art and NFTs
Undoubtedly, over the past 40 years, the usage of AI-generated art has been on the rise, becoming all the more popular during the last ten years with the tokenization of art via NFTs, according to the Academy of Animated Art. As Vilas Dhar, President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, explained:
“AI is not just a tool for innovation—it’s a force that can reshape how we see our planet, reconnecting us with the beauty and fragility of nature in ways never before possible. Refik Anadol’s brilliant vision allows us to use technology [AI Art & NFTs] to engage the senses and spark a deeper emotional connection to our natural world.”
Magda Shawon, co-founder of Postmasters Gallery in New York City, who works with the first NFT Artist Kevin McCoy, has been selling digital, AI-generated art to museums such as MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Whitney Museum of American Art for over 20 years. She agrees with Vilas and Melissa’s sentiments about Refik’s impactful AI artwork:
“People don’t want to stop watching Refik Anadol’s AI Work when they sit in front of it. Refik’s work has an impact, but whether it is a trigger to create an enormous field of AI generative art, NFT sales is a big question.”
Digital art has been collected for as long as it has existed, but widespread adoption is still nascent. The tokenization of art via NFTs has helped the digital art world and the traditional art world integrate, leading to a burgeoning interest from museums, immersive institutions, collectors, auction houses, NFT markets, and galleries. The first NFT artist, Kevin McCoy, who created an art NFT back in 2014, is hopeful and supports Refik’s museum, AI art, and NFT initiative. He highlighted:
“I’m heartened by Anadol’s announcement of Dataland. He is leading by example both with his ‘ethical AI’ initiative and the commitment to the exhibition and preservation of AI and digital art that the museum represents. Within this context, the provenance provided by NFTs and blockchain-based records, more generally, can play a central role. This will be an important next step in the expanding use of this technology.”
Abdul Rafay Gadit made a move that is still seldom done in the banking world: He jumped from traditional finance, or TradFi, to decentralized finance, or DeFi.
TradFi is highly regulated and emphasizes protecting consumers. Yet, it can be slow, costly, and restricted to money movers with access to banking services. With DeFi, anyone with internet access can participate. And while it’s generally faster and more accessible, it carries risks such as smart contract bugs, hacking, and little to no regulation.
“I believe we’re at a pivotal moment where the two worlds are beginning to converge,” Gadit tells crypto.news.
After spending six years in corporate banking at Standard Chartered, Gadit launched Zignaly (ZIG) in 2018. Since then, the platform amassed over 500,000 users and 150-plus portfolio managers. It also has a decentralized blockchain called ZIGChain in the works.
Read on for Gadit’s thoughts about the latest trends in social trading and how it can bridge the divide between TradFi and DeFi.
How have your experiences in TradFi influenced your approach to ZIGChain?
Gadit: My transition from corporate banking to blockchain was driven by a desire to innovate and challenge the traditional financial systems I had been part of for six years. Working at Standard Chartered gave me deep insight into the inefficiencies and limitations within traditional finance, especially regarding accessibility, transparency, and opportunities for wealth generation.
Blockchain presented an entirely new paradigm — one that empowers individuals to control their assets, make decentralized decisions, and participate in open financial ecosystems. Co-founding Zignaly allowed me to bring my banking background into action, focusing on creating a platform where everyone, regardless of their background, could invest alongside experienced traders and benefit from the opportunities in web3.
My experiences in traditional finance significantly influenced our approach. We aimed to take the best practices from the banking world — like risk management, compliance, and user protection — and merge them with the innovation and openness of blockchain. Our goal was to create an infrastructure that enables wealth generation in a more democratized, transparent, and accessible way for all users.
What is your long-term vision for ZIGChain?
Our long-term vision is to create a robust, scalable Layer 1 blockchain that powers a truly decentralized wealth generation ecosystem — a platform where builders, fund managers, and users can collaborate to create and utilize next-generation DeFi tools, dApps, and infrastructure that promote financial inclusion and wealth creation.
Our goal is to not only drive adoption but also establish ZIGChain as a cornerstone of the web3 financial landscape — where builders, fund managers, and users alike can thrive in a transparent, secure, and high-performance environment. With the backing of industry leaders and a clear focus on sustainability and innovation, we’re well-positioned to make this vision a reality.
ZIGChain launched a $100-million ecosystem development fund in August. Where will that capital go?
The $100 Million Ecosystem Fund — backed by DWF Labs, UDHC Finance, and Disrupt — is critical to realizing our vision. We plan to deploy these funds to attract top-tier developers and projects, offering them the resources and support needed to build innovative tools natively on ZIGChain. This funding will help accelerate the growth of our ecosystem by fostering innovation, expanding our infrastructure, and creating incentives for key participants.
What are the most significant challenges in managing such a large social investment platform?
One of the key challenges we’ve faced with Zignaly is the limited access to asset classes. As of now, fund managers on our platform can only invest in tokens listed on centralized exchanges, which restricts the investment opportunities available to our users. However, with ZIGChain, we’re opening the doors to a much broader range of assets, including DeFi, real-world assets, NFTs, perpetual contracts, and tokens across multiple chains. This flexibility not only offers fund managers more options but also creates more diverse and profitable investment strategies for our users, ultimately increasing yield potential.
We’ve also encountered limitations within centralized finance, or CeFi, such as mandatory KYC processes and restricted access based on users’ nationality. These requirements can limit the participation of global users and create scalability concerns. ZIGChain, being a decentralized blockchain, circumvents many of these barriers. It enables a more inclusive and scalable system that allows users to participate without the stringent restrictions often imposed by centralized platforms. This makes ZIGChain accessible to a broader audience, ensuring that we can scale the platform to meet the growing demand.
Another limitation we’ve faced on Zignaly is the reliance on CeFi traders. Currently, we’re limited to fund managers and traders within centralized exchanges, but with ZIGChain, we unlock a whole new realm of DeFi traders. This opens up access to innovative DeFi strategies and products that weren’t previously available on Zignaly. By tapping into the DeFi space, we can significantly improve yield potential for our users, increase overall profitability, and diversify revenue streams for the business. This not only enhances the user experience but positions ZIGChain as a more dynamic and adaptable platform in the ever-evolving web3 landscape.
Given your background in corporate banking, how do you see the intersection of TradFi and DeFi evolving?
My background in corporate banking has given me a unique perspective on the potential synergy between traditional finance and decentralized finance. I believe we’re at a pivotal moment where the two worlds are beginning to converge, and this intersection presents immense opportunities for innovation and financial inclusion.
TradFi has long been the backbone of the global economy, with established frameworks for risk management, compliance, and trust. However, it also comes with limitations—restricted access to wealth-generating opportunities, high barriers to entry, and slow innovation. DeFi, on the other hand, offers openness, inclusivity, and decentralization, providing users with direct control over their assets and access to a broader array of financial products like staking, lending, and tokenized real-world assets.
As this synergy evolves, I see traditional institutions increasingly integrating DeFi solutions to improve efficiency and offer new services to their clients. This could include everything from tokenized assets and decentralized lending to programmable smart contracts for automating complex financial processes.
By building an ecosystem that combines the security and regulatory rigor of TradFi with the innovation and transparency of DeFi, we can create a more accessible and flexible financial system. I envision a future where users seamlessly move between traditional and decentralized financial products, unlocking new opportunities for wealth creation and financial empowerment on a global scale.
Does Zignaly compete with other social investing platforms?
At Zignaly, we don’t see ourselves in direct competition with other social investing platforms. Instead, we focus on competing with our vision to continually evolve and expand access to fund management for everyone. Our goal is to democratize wealth generation, ensuring that anyone, regardless of their financial background, can connect with professional fund managers and access a broad range of asset classes.
While other platforms may limit themselves to centralized systems or traditional investment assets, we’re pushing the boundaries by integrating DeFi, RWAs, NFTs, and more through ZIGChain. Our mission is to break down the barriers that have long excluded people from managing their wealth and open up a world of opportunity where access to financial growth is no longer a privilege, but a right for all.
So, in essence, our biggest competition is our own ambition to redefine what’s possible in the world of decentralized finance and fund management
What trends do you foresee in social investing?
Over the years, we’ve seen a strong demand for transparency, performance-driven strategies, and diversified asset classes. The key trend we’re observing in social investing is a shift toward decentralized platforms and more innovative investment opportunities, especially as users become increasingly aware of the benefits of DeFi and tokenized assets.
In the coming years, I foresee a growing demand for personalized investment strategies, where users won’t just follow a portfolio manager based on their past performance but will have access to real-time, dynamic strategies tailored to individual risk profiles, preferences, and goals. We also expect more integration with decentralized asset classes offering users an unprecedented level of diversification.
How does one stay ahead of the web3 curve?
To stay ahead in the web3 space, we’re constantly innovating. With ZIGChain, we’re creating a platform that not only offers access to a much wider range of assets beyond centralized exchanges but also introduces features like automated, trustless smart contract-based fund management, which significantly enhances security and transparency. We’re also building our infrastructure to accommodate more DeFi portfolio managers, allowing them to bring strategies and tools to our users. This will not only improve profitability for our users but also attract a new generation of traders to the platform.
Our goal is to lead the way in the evolution of social investing by staying decentralized, offering access to new and diverse asset classes, and continuing to prioritize security, transparency, and user experience.
