25 May 2025, 08:27

Interview with Michael Heinrich, Founder and CEO of 0G Labs on Testnet V3, Galileo

0G Labs, the Layer 1 blockchain for AI, has launched V3 of its testnet. The new Galileo testnet introduces a host of improvements over its predecessor, including a 70% boost in network speed. The V3 testnet moves 0G closer to its mainnet launch, which will form a decentralized AI operating system for an array of data-intensive applications. Galileo gives dapp developers a clear idea of the sort of scalability and performance they can look forward to, including throughput of up to 2,500 TPS. We spoke with Funder and CEO of 0G Labs, Michael Heinrich, to better understand Galileo. Galileo notably boasts a 70% performance boost, achieving up to 2,500 TPS with an optimized CometBFT consensus. Can you elaborate on the specific technical enhancements made to achieve this throughput increase compared to V2? We learned a lot during the course of running Newton, our V2 testnet. The unprecedented demand from users to access Newton took us by surprise, but proved to be a blessing in disguise since it allowed us to identify chokepoints and develop solutions to overcome these. These findings have been incorporated into Galileo, which is better engineered to prevent mempool congestion and has greater bandwidth to avoid maxing out resources during peak times. With Galileo, we’ve rebuilt our testnet from the ground up, incorporating the latest EVM standards and enhancing the consensus efficiency with BLS signature to deliver a sleeker, more modular, and altogether more scalable network that can handle anything that’s flung at it. So far, all the benchmarks point to Galileo being streets ahead of its predecessor: from inference workloads to modular memory systems, it’s effortlessly handling it all, aided by more RPCs and compute to cope with high demand. The V2 testnet saw impressive traction with 2.5 million unique wallets and 350 million transactions. How is the 0G team planning to leverage Galileo’s strengths to further engage the developer and user community, and what feedback from the V2 testnet shaped Galileo’s development? We actually saw more than 5M wallets, we’re fortunate to have so many users already onboarded and engaging with 0G in various ways, be it as developers, infra partners, or end users. Because their attention is already invested in the 0G ecosystem, having the majority of them accompany us to Galileo has been smooth. From the perspective of regular users, we’re confident that the improved faucet system will ensure fair test token distribution, allowing everyone to participate on an equal basis. On V3, they’re going to encounter a much faster chain that’s capable of handling anything that’s thrown at it. Coupled with the capabilities that devs have at their disposal, now Galileo is running the Ethereum Engine API and is fully Pectra compatible, and we’re confident that we’ll be able to lure more EVM developers into the fold. In an early test 0G has already hit 2GB per second in data throughput (and multiples more coming), and compute and the service marketplace are also running better than ever in terms of benchmarks, it’s an exciting time to be building on 0G and we can’t wait to see which direction different developer teams move in now they have all these powerful tools at their disposal. How many subsequent testnets are planned before mainnet launch, and will Galileo’s state be retained so that applications built on it can be easily migrated to subsequent testnets and eventually mainnet? Given we re-architected Galileo completely, this will be the final testnet before 0G’s mainnet release, so developers and users alike can be confident that the V3 experience will be very close to what they’ll encounter on mainnet. We will add more features like infinite scalability and increasing the speed per shard to 10,000 tps. From a user perspective, what are some reasons to play around with the Galileo testnet and what are some of the tasks and experiences available on V3 for non-technical users to discover? Everyone loves new, and there’s a lot that’s new on Galileo and that will be of interest to ordinary users almost as much as to developers. It’s a chance to get a feel for what the next generation of smart contract chains is capable of in terms of performance, familiarize themselves with a network they’ll soon be using in a live environment, and there may also be additional incentives for claiming some testnet tokens and experimenting with sending transactions and interacting with dapps. Whether you’re passionate about DeFi, AI, DePIN, DeSci or some other onchain vertical, there are a lot of things taking shape on Galileo that will be relevant to your interests. An easy way to start from a user perspective is to visit the 0G hub at https://hub.0g.ai/ . About Michael Heinrich: Michael Heinrich is a Stanford graduate who previously worked at Garten as a Founder and CEO. A Top 100 Entrepreneur of 2022, Michael has had his work published in journals ranging from Harvard Business Review to Hacking Consciousness. While at Stanford he was nominated to work with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to transform Taiwanese entrepreneurial education. His previous company Garten was accepted into YCombinator in 2016 and raised multiple rounds, eventually achieving unicorn status. With 0G Labs, Michael is leading the development of the first modular AI chain to support off-chain data verification. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice

25 May 2025, 06:28

XRP Is Now Exposed to the Wall Street Financial World. Here’s the Latest

A significant development in the digital asset investment landscape has been announced by crypto enthusiast Kenny Nguyen, who shared on social media that Robinhood has launched access to a leveraged XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). The investment product, known as the Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF, is now available on the Robinhood trading platform. Nguyen calls this an initial step toward broader institutional adoption and integration of XRP into mainstream financial markets. According to the screenshot shared, the Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF, ticker symbol XXRP, is currently trading at $37.86. It has recorded a daily gain of $0.59, equivalent to a 1.63% increase, with an overnight surge of $1.03 or 2.80%. This is the 1st step to major adoption with accredited investors & financial institutions. XRP is now exposed to the wall street financial world. They are ready to load their bag when Spot XRP ETFs kick in full gear. The 2nd step is ETFs approval, so get ready for 6/17/25. https://t.co/jIsWphJ5sc — Kenny Nguyen (@mrnguyen007) May 23, 2025 The ETF is designed to offer 2x leveraged exposure to the daily price movement of XRP, allowing investors to potentially amplify their gains or losses based on the performance of the underlying asset. The fund’s current daily trading volume is 418,931, suggesting significant retail and possibly institutional interest. Robinhood Lists Leveraged XRP ETF Launching Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF on Robinhood represents a substantial growth in the availability of crypto-related financial products to a broader investor base. Teucrium is a regulated issuer primarily known for its commodity ETFs. Its entrance into the XRP market via a leveraged fund signals expanding legitimacy for XRP within the U.S. financial system. The listing on Robinhood, a platform popular with retail and institutional users, enables increased access to XRP-focused trading strategies through a regulated environment. Kenny Nguyen’s Statement on Institutional Readiness In his tweet, Kenny Nguyen highlighted the larger implications of this listing, stating, “This is the 1st step to major adoption with accredited investors & financial institutions.” According to Nguyen, this move exposes XRP to the Wall Street financial ecosystem. He indicated that this milestone may prompt institutional participants to begin building positions ahead of the launch of spot XRP ETFs. Anticipation Builds for June 17, 2025 Nguyen concluded his post with a hint toward a future development he described as the next major phase for XRP, writing, “The 2nd step is ETFs approval, so get ready for 6/17/25.” While no official confirmation has been issued regarding a scheduled decision date for a spot XRP ETF approval, the statement suggests expectations within the community that regulatory progress may occur on or around that time. Growing Legitimacy in Regulated Markets Robinhood’s decision to list a 2x leveraged XRP ETF expands XRP’s accessibility and positions it more prominently within the regulated investment space. While leveraged ETFs carry inherent risks and are generally intended for short-term trading by experienced investors, their presence on major retail platforms can also serve as a precursor to more conservative products. If regulatory agencies approve a spot XRP ETF, it would further confirm XRP’s evolution from a digital asset associated with retail speculation to a structured financial instrument recognized by institutional markets. Nguyen’s tweet underscores the growing alignment between the digital asset ecosystem and traditional finance. With this first step now active on Robinhood, the crypto market’s eyes will likely turn to the next milestone Nguyen referenced—potential ETF approval by mid-2025. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post XRP Is Now Exposed to the Wall Street Financial World. Here’s the Latest appeared first on Times Tabloid .

25 May 2025, 04:54

Bitcoin harmful to the environment, or not? Opinions vary, truth is singular

The level of Bitcoin mining energy consumption is on par with that of some countries. This statement is often mentioned as one of Bitcoin’s main drawbacks, as consumption takes its toll on the environment. However, Bitcoin advocates argue that things are not that simple, and in some ways, Bitcoin is an eco-friendly technology. How come, and who’s right? Proof-of-work The Bitcoin network is protected from spam attacks with a mechanism known as “proof-of-work.” The earliest installment of this algorithm was created by Cynthia Dwork and Moni Naor in 1993, long before Bitcoin’s emergence. The essence of this mechanism is the requirement to make calculations (do the “work”) in order to get permission to cast a transaction (originally, to send an email). Transaction validation requires performing calculations to filter out bad actors. The network rewards them with bitcoins that haven’t been in circulation to incentivize validators. That’s how bitcoins are “mined;” that’s why the validation process is called “mining.” In the early days of Bitcoin, mining wasn’t demanding. Anyone could mine it using a regular PC. However, as the demand for Bitcoin grew, the mining difficulty increased, requiring more and more energy to complete the math tasks. These days, mining operations have an industrial scale. Mining farms occupy extensive facilities of devices created for the only purpose–to crack Bitcoin puzzles at the highest speed possible (to solve the puzzle before the rest of the miners and get the reward). By 2018, the Bitcoin network’s energy consumption reached a level comparable to Nigeria and Denmark. Bitcoin’s environmental impact Bitcoin mining operations impact the environment in four main directions: Mining has a carbon print Mining consumes much water Mining consumes much electricity Mining creates electronic waste Based on all of these metrics, Bitcoin has a serious impact on the environment. These metrics indicate that Bitcoin consumes as much electricity and water and leaves as much harmful waste as in some countries. While it may be hard to comprehend what it means when you read that Bitcoin consumes as much power as Poland, you may zoom in and see the equivalents of each Bitcoin transaction’s impact. It pictures a much more vivid picture. According to Digiconomist , one Bitcoin transaction consumes over 1,100 kW/h (as much as an average U.S. household in 38 days), consumes 17,500 liters of fresh water (as much as a backyard swimming pool), creates over 280 grams of electronic waste (more than 1.5 iPhones 12), while the carbon emissions amount to 620kgCO2 (as much as 1.3 million transactions of VISA or watching 11.7 years of videos on YouTube). Statista provides similar estimations . More than that, gold mining is less harmful to the environment than BTC mining if we compare the amount of BTC and the amount of gold with the same value expressed in USD. Although no precise date is associated with these estimations, the articles seem to rely on data revealed in 2023 or earlier. Tesla cited environmental impact as the reason for stopping support for Bitcoin payments in 2021, shortly after the launch of this option. Ethereum transitioned from proof-of-work to a greener proof-of-stake algorithm in 2022. Read more: Tesla to Halt Bitcoin Payments due to ‘Environmental Concerns’ Fossil fuels power most mining facilities. Various sources evaluate the use of fossil fuels to power Bitcoin mining at a range from 50 to 90 percent. What Bitcoin advocates say… First, the Digital Assets Research Institute denies that the data and articles about Bitcoin’s environmental harm are correct. According to this study, flawed 2018 research suggesting the high environmental harm of Bitcoin was quoted thousands of times until 2024. Accurate articles amounted to only 2% of all pieces on the topic. DARI’s paper claims that 2022 was marked by a shift toward more rigorous coverage of Bitcoin’s environmental impact theme. As the environmental impact of mining is a serious problem, various mining operations began to look for ways to greener Bitcoin mining, and the search was successful. The 2020s initiatives saw companies using the excess power for Bitcoin mining instead of wasting this power and the resources spent on its production. a NYC bathhouse is mining bitcoin and using the excess waste energy to heat their pools. or, in other words, they're heating their pools as they would ordinarily do, and monetizing the excess power that exists as a byproduct of that process. this is demonstrably a carbon… pic.twitter.com/V0VeDwBicy — nic carter (@nic__carter) June 22, 2023 Another way to make Bitcoin mining greener is to rely on renewable resources. For instance, Ethiopia is using its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam for clean Bitcoin mining. The 2024 studies show that, lately, Bitcoin mining has played a positive role in reducing CO2 emissions, becoming the straight opposite in terms of environmental impact. Although some companies already boast they are carbon-neutral Bitcoin mining operations, most enterprises only admit to reducing energy consumption. As no institution that studies Bitcoin’s environmental impact has all the info about mining operations, we don’t have all the data regarding CO2 emissions associated with mining. We can’t say how much the pollution level dropped in the last couple of years. Pierre Rochard of Riot Platforms appeared in a video in which he meters the CO2 level in the mining facility using a special device. It drew some criticism as some users pointed out that the emissions are not coming from the mining devices but are associated with excessive electricity production. Dude, the CO2 concern is supposed to be related to energy generation to power the CPUs, not the CO2 emission of the CPU themselves. — Snake Sanders (@snake_sanders1) April 10, 2023 Another line of defense used by some Bitcoin advocates is comparing Bitcoin’s environmental impact to that of the banking system, indicating that bank transactions are not more eco-friendly than Bitcoin. This argument may have made sense if Bitcoin were to replace the banking system, but this is not happening. Who’s right? Although the Bitcoin mining industry is far from eco-friendly, various participants seek ways to make it greener or even reduce CO2 emissions through Bitcoin mining so that mining would have a negative carbon footprint. According to a recent report by MiCA Crypto Alliance, 70% of the Bitcoin network will be powered by sustainable energy by 2030. To conclude this, we may state that certain mining operations are green while others are not. However, an eco-friendly trend is on the rise. Read more: African crypto revolution continues as Ethiopia ranks among global BTC mining leaders

24 May 2025, 20:26

Bitcoin inflows projected to reach $420B in 2026 — Bitwise

Key takeaways: Spot Bitcoin ETFs have already surpassed gold ETFs in early growth, with projections of $100 billion in annual inflows by 2027. Publicly listed companies and nation-states currently hold nearly 1.7 million BTC, pointing to long-term confidence. Bitwise projects $120 billion in Bitcoin inflows by 2025 and $300 billion by 2026. Bitcoin (BTC) demand from a diverse range of investors—including publicly listed companies building Bitcoin treasuries, sovereign wealth funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and nation-states—is projected to drive substantial capital inflows to the asset in the coming years. According to crypto index fund management firm Bitwise, inflows to Bitcoin could reach $120 billion by the end of 2025, with an additional $300 billion anticipated in 2026. In its recent report, “Forecasting Institutional Flows to Bitcoin in 2025/2026 ,” Bitwise highlights that US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $36.2 billion in net inflows in 2024, surpassing the early success of SPDR gold Shares (GLD), which revolutionized gold investing. Bitcoin ETFs reached $125 billion in assets under management (AUM) within 12 months—20 times faster than GLD—projecting Bitcoin to outperform gold significantly, with inflows potentially tripling to $100 billion annually by 2027. Spot Bitcoin and gold ETFs forecast projections. Source: Bitwise Despite this surge, $35 billion in Bitcoin demand remained sidelined in 2024 due to risk-averse compliance policies at major corporations like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, which manage $60 trillion in client assets. These firms require multi-year track records, but growing BTC ETF legitimacy is expected to unlock this capital. Jurrien Timmer, Director of Global Macro at Fidelity, remarked that Bitcoin trading above $100,000 signals its potential to take over gold’s role as a store of value. His analysis also pointed to the recent convergence of Bitcoin and gold’s Sharpe ratios, suggesting that both assets are becoming increasingly comparable in terms of risk-adjusted returns. Related: Bitcoin price ‘breather’ expected as short-term traders realize $11.6B in profit The bull, bear and base cases for BTC wealth allocation In addition to ETFs and wealth management firms, Bitcoin’s appeal as a reserve asset is rising among the public, private companies and sovereign nations. Companies with Bitcoin on the books currently hold around 1,146,128 BTC, worth $125 billion, accounting for 5.8% of BTC’s total supply. Sovereign nations collectively hold 529,705 BTC ($57.8 billion), with the United States (207,189 BTC), China (194,000 BTC), and the United Kingdom (61,000 BTC) leading the pack. Bitwise Senior investment strategist Juan Leon, UXTO research lead Guillaume Girard and research analyst Will Owens expect a continued wealth allocation to BTC, and outlined bear, base, and bull case scenarios. In the bear case, nation-states reallocated just 1% of their gold reserves to Bitcoin, driving $32.3 billion in inflows (323,000 BTC or 1.54% of supply). Multiple US states created BTC reserves at 10%, adding $6.5 billion, while wealth management platforms allocated 0.1% of assets ($60 billion). Public companies contributed another $58.9 billion, bringing the total inflows to over $150 billion. The base case envisions a 5% nation-state reallocation, generating $161.7 billion (1,617,000 BTC or 7.7% of supply). US states raised their adoption to 30% ($19.6 billion), wealth platforms allocated 0.5% ($300 billion), and public companies doubled their holdings to $117.8 billion. This scenario aligns with Bitwise’s forecast of $120 billion by 2025 and $300 billion by 2026, capturing 20.32% of Bitcoin’s supply. In the bull case, a 10% nation-state swap of gold to Bitcoin drives $323.4 billion in inflows (3,234,000 BTC or 15.38% of supply). US state adoption rises to 70% ($45.8 billion), wealth platforms allocate 1% ($600 billion), and public companies quadruple their holdings to $235.6 billion. Altogether, these inflows could exceed $426.9 billion, absorbing 4,269,000 BTC. The acceleration of institutional investor and government interest in BTC underscores growing confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value. With 94.6% of its supply already mined (19,868,987 BTC as of May 2025), Bitcoin is increasingly being viewed as a hedge against inflation and fiat currency debasement. Related: Will Bitcoin bulls secure $110K before BTC’s $13.8B options expiry? This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

24 May 2025, 18:35

Nvidia and Swedish Titans unleash Nordic AI powerhouse

Swedish Wallenberg family-backed businesses plan to launch artificial intelligence infrastructure with Nvidia in the Nordic country. Wallenberg’s AstraZeneca Plc, Ericsson AB, Saab AB, SEB AB, and Wallenberg Investments have agreed to build what they termed the largest enterprise AI supercomputer in Sweden. Nvidia offers to provide AI training and build an AI tech center in Sweden The Wallenberg businesses plan to deploy two Nvidia DGX Superpods featuring the tech firm’s Grace Blackwell GB300 systems in their supercomputer. One of the Swedish companies, Saab, also claimed it would offer AI methodology to expedite the development of the defense systems. Additionally, Nvidia stated it would open its first AI technology center in Sweden to support industrial research. The chip manufacturer also pledged to provide access to its experts and offer hands-on training through its Deep Learning Institute to enhance AI talent development. Moreover, Ericsson claimed it would use its data science knowledge to develop advanced AI models with better performance and efficiency rates and elevate customer experience. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca and SEB clarified their intentions to build AI infrastructure. AstraZeneca claimed they would use the technology to enhance drug discovery and development, while SEB asserted they would use AI to fuel productivity and power consumer projects. The Swedish business consortium and Nvidia claim they want to promote AI innovation with their planned developments. The firm’s Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang even commented, “The country is building its first AI infrastructure — laying the foundation for breakthroughs across science, industry, and society.” Marcus Wallenberg, Chair of Wallenberg Investments, also stated that investing in artificial intelligence infrastructure would accelerate AI adoption in the country. He added, “We believe this initiative will generate valuable spillover effects—enabling upskilling, fostering new collaborations, and strengthening the broader national AI ecosystem.” Nvidia could introduce new, cheaper AI chips for the Chinese market. Nvidia is also preparing to introduce a more affordable AI chipset for the Chinese market. According to sources, the firm could start manufacturing the chips early in June. The chips are part of Nvidia’s Blackwell-architecture AI processors, and prices will range between $6,500 and $8,000 and well below $10,000 to $12,000. However, the reduced costs will come with scaled-down specifications and simplified manufacturing processes. The chips will be built similarly to the firm’s RTX Pro 6000D, incorporate a server-class graphics processor, and be embedded with GDDR7 memory instead of a more advanced high bandwidth memory. While Nvidia has yet to confirm this news officially, one of the firm’s spokespersons stated that it was still considering its options. He asserted that they are halting their sales in China’s market until they decide on a new product design and earn the US government’s approval. China’s market is vital to Nvidia’s sales, accounting for over 13% of sales in the last fiscal year. Nvidia has had to reconsider its options following the April US government ban on its H20 series. Huang, however, claimed that the company’s older Hopper architecture, which H20 utilizes, cannot support further modifications under current export controls. Huang also claimed that the change in export restrictions caused its market share to drop to 50%, down from 95% before 2022. Nvidai’s top rival in China is Huawei, which sells the Ascend 910B chip. If US export restrictions persist, Huang believes Huawei could take over part of its market share. Nonetheless, sources familiar with Nvidia’s workings stated that the firm is working on another Blackwell chip for the Chinese market, with production set to start in September. KEY Difference Wire : the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage

24 May 2025, 18:15

Nvidia to launch lower-cost Blackwell AI chip tailored for China amid US export bans

Nvidia is reportedly planning to launch a cheaper Blackwell AI chip specifically made for China amid the US export restrictions, sources close to the developments have revealed. According to sources cited in a Reuters report, Nvidia is expected to start mass production of the new AI chip in June, which will be sold at a significantly lower price compared to the restricted H20 model. Nvidia’s price for the new chip reflects its weaker specs According to the two sources cited , the restricted H20 was priced at between $10,000 and $12,000. But Nvidia has set the price for the new Blackwell processor at between $6,500 and $8,000. The price is reportedly a reflection of the weaker specifications for the latest generation Blackwell, as well as the simpler production processes. The sources added that the new chip, tailored for the Chinese market, will be based on Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D, a server-class graphics processor. It will also use conventional GDR7 memory as opposed to the more advanced high bandwidth memory, according to the report. While the three sources that Reuters cited refused to be named as they were not authorized to comment on the matter, they revealed that the new chip will not use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (2330.TW) advanced Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology. Although TSMC refused to comment, a Nvidia spokesperson indicated that the company was still weighing its “limited” options. “Until we settle on a new product design and receive approval from the U.S. government, we are effectively foreclosed from China’s $50 billion data center market.” Nvidia Spokesperson. This comes as China has been a huge market for Nvidia, contributing 13% of the company’s total sales during the past financial year. The latest development marks the third time that the American chip-making firm has had to specially make a GPU for China following restrictions imposed by US authorities. The H20 restrictions forced Nivida to write off $5.5 billion in inventory and according to CEO Jensen Huang, the company also had to let go of $15 billion in sales. Nvidia revealed it has lost a significant market share in China The US imposed bans on the H20 in April forcing Nvidia to consider making a lower version of the Chip specifically for China, but the plan failed to work, according to sources. Last week, Huang also revealed that Nvidia’s old Hopper architecture, which the H20 uses could not take any further modifications under current export restrictions. In a note published on Tuesday by Chinese brokerage firm GF Securities, the new GPU would likely be called B40 or 6000D, although the firm did not indicate the price or sources of the information. However, the two sources Reuters cited revealed that Nvidia is making another Blackwell-architecture chip for the Asian giant. According to Reuters, Huang told reporters in Taipei this week that the company’s market share in China fell from 95% before 2022, when export curbs started, to about 50% currently. He also cautioned that continuing with US export curbs could push more Chinese customers to turn to Huawei chips, which is Nvidia’s main competitor producing the Ascend 910B chip. He added that US firms could lose billions in dollars as a result of the export embargoes. Some semiconductor analysts have also said that the US export restrictions are making way for Chinese firms. Since the export bans were imposed, Huawei has stood as a leader in China’s AI race to compete with Nvidia, analysts have indicated. According to a recent report from independent semiconductor research firm SemiAnalysis, although Huawei remains “a generation behind chips,” the tech firm is making waves with the hardware that uses them. KEY Difference Wire : the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage