Colby Winegar Promoted to CEO of Storj, Aiming for Growth in Cloud Storage and AI

The Arkreen Renewable Energy Certificate (AREC) protocol has achieved significant milestones in the realm of on-chain digital renewable energy certificates. To date, over 129,520 tokenized Renewable Energy Certificates (ARECs) have been issued, representing a total of 129 GWh of green energy. This includes nearly 5 GWh generated from residential solar panels by Arkreen community members, while the remaining 125 GWh was tokenized through traditional REC bridging. The community actively utilizes the tokenized REC token, ART, to offset their energy consumption and engage in green initiatives, such as the GreenBTC.Club, which collectively offsets the carbon emissions of the Bitcoin network. The AREC protocol is already operational on the Polygon and Celo networks, demonstrating strong adoption. The next phase of expansion involves deploying the protocol on Solana, a blockchain known for its high transaction throughput and user-friendly experience. This move is crucial as Solana hosts numerous Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DEPIN) projects that require solutions to mitigate brown energy consumption. After extensive development and testing, the AREC protocol has been adapted for Solana's unique technical environment and is ready for deployment on the mainnet. The integration of the AREC protocol into Solana will facilitate the issuance of self-certified tokenized RECs based on solar energy generation data, alongside traditional REC bridging. The ART token will be minted as NFTs before being liquidated for use within the Solana ecosystem, promoting carbon neutrality among Web3 projects. With Solana's commitment to sustainability, including purchasing carbon credits to offset its network's footprint, the AREC protocol will fill a critical gap by providing native carbon assets. This deployment is set to reinforce AREC's status as the leading on-chain digital REC protocol and significantly contribute to the renewable energy movement within the Web3 ecosystem.

Crankk, a company that has been developing a LoRaWAN network for over two years, is making strides towards enabling off-grid cryptocurrency payments. The integration of their technology with Meshtastic, an open-source project that utilizes LoRa for creating a mesh network of peer-to-peer nodes, is a significant step forward. Both Crankk and Meshtastic share a similar communication layer over LoRa, with Meshtastic already supporting MQTT integration for bridging distant network parts. Crankk's goal is to incentivize participation in these networks, allowing users to monetize their involvement while maintaining the enthusiast-driven nature of the community. What sets Crankk apart is its commitment to a decentralized Web3 solution, where nodes communicate directly with blockchain nodes, ensuring user privacy. Each node is identified by its wallet address, controlled solely by the wallet owner, contrasting with other DePIN solutions that rely on centralized infrastructure. Operating on the Kadena blockchain, Crankk benefits from low gas fees, making it feasible to generate blockchain traffic profitably. The project is currently alpha-testing its solution, with plans to invite beta-testers soon, while also keeping the code open-source for Meshtastic. One of the standout features of Crankk's integration is the ability to facilitate crypto payments off-grid. Meshtastic devices running Crankk firmware can compose blockchain transactions and send them over the mesh network to nodes with internet access for confirmation. This innovative approach is rare in the current market and aims to provide users with unprecedented flexibility. Additionally, Crankk is committed to donating 20% of its income from Meshtastic devices to support the project, ensuring transparency through blockchain records. This initiative not only enhances the functionality of Meshtastic but also fosters a collaborative ecosystem within the blockchain community.

Fog Works, a leader in Web3 storage computing and EdgeAI, has announced a strategic partnership with Arkreen and Datamall Chain (DMC) to promote carbon neutrality within Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). This collaboration introduces the "Plug for Green Program" (PGP), which aims to create a sustainable future powered by decentralized AI and Green DePIN. Arkreen's innovative solutions include Smart Plug technology and tokenized Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that allow real-time energy consumption monitoring and on-chain carbon offsetting, encouraging participants in the Green DePIN ecosystem to adopt sustainable practices. Datamall Chain (DMC) is revolutionizing data ownership and sharing through its decentralized EVM-compatible network, utilizing its native token, $DMC, to facilitate trustworthy data transactions. DMC's infrastructure enhances decentralized AI capabilities while ensuring privacy and ownership through blockchain technology and smart contracts. Fog Works, recognized as one of the top 15 U.S. innovative storage startups in 2023, is committed to developing data-sovereign DePIN solutions. This partnership aims to bridge chains and empower Decentralized AI with energy-efficient solutions that promote sustainability. The collaboration between Fog Works, Arkreen, and DMC unlocks new opportunities for sustainable decentralized AI. Key advancements include energy consumption monitoring through Arkreen’s Smart Plugs, on-chain carbon offset mechanisms using tokenized RECs, and composable dual mining that allows participants to earn both $AKRE and $DMC tokens. This initiative not only rewards eco-conscious practices but also fosters cross-chain collaboration, driving the adoption of Green DePIN principles. Together, these organizations are setting a new standard for eco-conscious Web3 projects, inviting the community to join the Green DePIN revolution and contribute to a sustainable future.

Solana's recent performance has been a mixed bag, as the cryptocurrency experienced a 2.82% decline this week, bringing its total drop since the all-time high on November 23 to 18%. Despite this downward trend, institutional interest in Solana remains strong. Bitwise has launched a Solana staking exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, while Van Eck invested $2.5 million in the Solana DePIN project DAWN. These developments highlight that while Solana's price struggles, its ecosystem continues to attract significant investments and innovations. In terms of user engagement, Solana saw a notable increase in daily active addresses, surpassing 6.5 million, which indicates healthy participation within its network. The total value locked (TVL) in DeFi also rebounded to over $9 billion, solidifying Solana's position as the second-largest decentralized finance network. However, the decentralized exchange (DEX) volume took a hit, with a nearly 12% drop, reflecting the volatility within the market. Notably, Lifinity, a previously high-performing DEX, saw a significant decline of nearly 40%, while Raydium managed to post minor gains amidst the chaos. Amidst these fluctuations, Solana has achieved a remarkable milestone by onboarding more new developers than Ethereum for the first time in eight years. This surge in developer activity is a promising sign for Solana's future, as it continues to innovate and expand its ecosystem. However, the overall market sentiment remains cautious, with altcoins losing strength against Bitcoin. As Solana navigates these challenges, it is crucial for investors to remain vigilant and informed about the evolving landscape of the cryptocurrency market.

In the latest episode of the Hashing It Out podcast, host Elisha Owusu Akyaw interviewed Tom Trowbridge, co-founder and CEO of Fluence Labs, to delve into the concept of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). Trowbridge highlighted that DePIN is set to disrupt traditional infrastructure models by leveraging crowdsourced physical infrastructure, interconnected through crypto-economic incentives. This innovative approach allows for decentralized data storage and mapping networks, which can operate more efficiently and cost-effectively than their centralized counterparts. Trowbridge emphasized the necessity for DePIN projects to deliver superior products to ensure their success, as customers prioritize tangible outcomes over the technology itself. Trowbridge's journey from leading the launch of Hedera Hashgraph to co-founding Fluence Labs reflects his commitment to challenging the dominance of tech giants in cloud computing. He aims to provide decentralized, cost-effective alternatives that enhance security and scalability while ensuring user flexibility. Despite the promising potential of DePINs, Trowbridge acknowledged significant challenges, particularly in customer acquisition. While the sector has attracted contributors, convincing businesses to adopt decentralized services remains a hurdle. He stressed the importance of simplifying messaging for audiences outside the crypto community, focusing on product utility rather than technical jargon. Looking ahead to 2025, Trowbridge expressed optimism about the potential for DePINs to generate real-world revenue, which could reduce their reliance on the volatile cryptocurrency market. As the sector matures, he anticipates a substantial shift driven by innovative projects and a growing demand for decentralized solutions. The podcast also explores how DePIN could reshape the infrastructure landscape, providing insights into the future applications of Web3. This discussion offers a glimpse into a transformative era for infrastructure, emphasizing the practical benefits of decentralized technologies.

io.net, a prominent player in the decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) for GPUs, has recently joined the Dell Technologies Partner Program. This strategic alliance is designed to enhance io.net's business development, sales, and marketing efforts. As an authorized partner and cloud service provider, io.net aims to integrate its decentralized GPU network with Dell's robust infrastructure, providing scalable and cost-effective solutions tailored for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and high-performance computing (HPC). Tausif Ahmed, VP of Business Development at io.net, emphasized that this partnership marks a significant milestone for the company, positioning it as a leading solution provider in the AI, ML, and HPC sectors. The Dell Technologies Partner Program is an international initiative that equips partners with essential business development, sales, and marketing resources. By joining this program, io.net gains access to a wealth of resources that will facilitate the expansion of its decentralized GPU network and enhance its market capabilities. This collaboration not only allows io.net to strategize with other partners but also extends its global reach, enabling the deployment of solutions that seamlessly integrate decentralized GPU power with Dell's reliable hardware infrastructure. The partnership is expected to bolster io.net's go-to-market efforts and co-marketing activities, ultimately benefiting enterprise customers seeking advanced computing solutions. As the demand for scalable and efficient compute services continues to rise in the AI and ML industries, io.net's decentralized network offers a compelling alternative to traditional cloud service providers. By providing on-demand GPU clusters that can be deployed rapidly and at a lower cost, io.net addresses the bottlenecks faced by organizations in AI development. The partnership with Dell is set to democratize access to decentralized compute solutions, particularly for enterprises engaged in AI training, inference, and HPC use cases. With Dell's global presence and trusted reputation, io.net is well-positioned to accelerate the adoption of these innovative solutions across various industries.