Join Acurast's Ambassador Program: Shape the Future of Decentralized Cloud Technology

Last week, the blockchain fundraising landscape witnessed a significant surge, with 26 projects collectively raising a remarkable $267 million. The standout was World Foundation, which successfully completed a $135 million public token sale aimed at creating a proof-of-personhood protocol that facilitates universal digital identification and global financial access. Following closely was Catena Labs, which secured $18 million in seed funding to develop an AI-native financial institution. Other notable projects included Roxom, True Markets, and Hyperdrive, each attracting substantial investments to enhance their innovative offerings in the blockchain space. In addition to fundraising, the week also saw notable mergers and acquisitions (M&A) that are reshaping the blockchain ecosystem. DePIN Pulse made headlines by acquiring DePIN.Ninja and Who Loves Burrito, consolidating fragmented data within the DePIN ecosystem. This strategic move aims to streamline operations and enhance data analytics capabilities. Meanwhile, Alchemy expanded its portfolio by acquiring NFT launchpad HeyMint, which provides no-code tools for NFT creation, thereby bolstering its Smart Wallets initiative. Apex Group also announced plans to acquire Tokeny, further solidifying its commitment to digital asset infrastructure. On the venture capital front, Theta Capital Management launched Theta Blockchain Ventures IV, a $175 million fund-of-funds dedicated to supporting crypto-native VCs focused on early-stage blockchain startups. This fund aims to leverage the expertise of specialist managers to navigate the evolving landscape of digital assets. Insights from industry experts highlighted a shift in crypto VC dynamics, with a focus on long-term fundamentals rather than speculative investments. As the sector continues to mature, these developments signal a promising trajectory for blockchain innovation and investment.

In April, CUDOS Intercloud celebrated significant milestones and shared impressive metrics in its monthly update. The platform reported a record revenue of $204,505, alongside a remarkable 27% increase in GPU consumption, totaling over 300,000 hours. This growth reflects the rising demand for decentralized computing solutions, with more than 2 million GPU compute hours surpassed. CUDOS emphasized its commitment to transparency by providing real-time metrics on GPU capacity, VM deployment, user growth, and ecosystem spending, showcasing a clear distinction in cloud service delivery. A notable highlight was the six-month anniversary of CUDOS's partnership with the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI). During this period, CUDOS has served over 15 million GPU hours and welcomed more than 30,000 users. The collaboration aims to build a decentralized compute layer that supports AI development without centralized bottlenecks. Additionally, CUDOS introduced "One Click Computing," allowing users to deploy AI stacks effortlessly, eliminating the complexities traditionally associated with AI deployment. CUDOS also participated in the Ai2Peace initiative, focusing on using AI for global good. The platform's community rewards program concluded at the end of April, encouraging user engagement through referrals and feedback. Furthermore, CUDOS was represented at Paris Blockchain Week, where discussions highlighted the importance of permissionless compute access and the potential for blockchain to enhance AI's energy efficiency. As CUDOS continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it aims to foster a more sustainable and accessible computing environment for all users.

The Interplanetary File System (IPFS) has made significant strides in reducing latency for data transmissions in space, as demonstrated by a successful collaboration between the Filecoin Foundation and Lockheed Martin Space. During the Consensus 2025 conference in Toronto, Marta Belcher, president of the Filecoin Foundation, revealed that they have successfully transmitted data using a version of IPFS on a satellite orbiting Earth. This adaptation enhances privacy and security by identifying data based on its content rather than its location, which is particularly beneficial for space communications. The architecture of IPFS is designed to mitigate delays, address data corruption from radiation, and enable cryptographic verification to ensure data integrity. Belcher highlighted the challenges of data transmission from celestial bodies, noting the multi-second delay from the Moon and multi-minute delay from Mars. The IPFS system allows users to retrieve data based on a content ID from the nearest source, whether it be a personal device, a nearby satellite, or a lunar station. This decentralized approach reduces reliance on centralized data centers and improves the reliability of data storage in environments where hardware may degrade, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of sensitive materials like satellite images. The growing interest in decentralized archival storage among media companies and potential military applications of this technology indicate a promising future for IPFS. Belcher emphasized the power of having a deep archive accessible globally, which could revolutionize how media and military organizations manage their data. Additionally, the FIL token, a utility token within the Filecoin ecosystem, boasts a market capitalization of approximately $1.8 billion, reflecting the increasing relevance of decentralized storage solutions in today's digital landscape.

Acurast, a pioneering decentralized compute network based in Zug, Switzerland, has recently announced the integration of Solana Wallet support into its Android and iOS applications. This significant update aims to simplify the onboarding process for new contributors, allowing them to utilize wallets like Phantom to connect their smartphones and provide compute power while earning rewards. With this enhancement, Acurast is not only expanding its accessibility but also reaching a broader audience within the web3 ecosystem. Co-Founder Alessandro De Carli emphasized the importance of inclusivity and ease of access in decentralized computing, stating that the future must be fast and user-friendly. The core mission of Acurast is to redefine cloud computing by transforming everyday smartphones into secure, decentralized compute nodes. Leveraging Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) found in modern mobile devices, Acurast offers a scalable and confidential compute infrastructure that operates independently of centralized data centers. With over 65,000 active phones contributing to the network and processing 250 million transactions across 130+ countries, Acurast has established itself as the world's most decentralized compute network, showcasing the potential of community-driven technology. The integration of Solana Wallets is particularly noteworthy due to Solana's reputation as a fast and cost-effective blockchain ecosystem with a growing user base. This development allows users to quickly connect their wallets to the Acurast Hub, onboard their devices in minutes, and securely provide compute resources. The latest versions of Acurast Core and Acurast Lite are now available on both the Play Store and App Store, making it easier than ever for users to join the movement towards a resilient and community-powered compute network, especially in light of vulnerabilities in traditional cloud infrastructure.

On April 11, 2025, Titan Network held a significant Community Space AMA, focusing on its roadmap progress, technical upgrades, and opportunities for builders and contributors. The session featured project announcements, comprehensive answers to community-submitted questions, and a clear outlook for the path to the mainnet. Key topics included the finalized roadmap, which outlines essential steps leading to the mainnet launch, such as the release of the technical whitepaper, tokenomics paper, exchange pre-approvals, Series A fundraising, codebase finalization, and audit processes. Titan Network is gearing up for a mainnet launch this year, emphasizing the importance of a secure, fully audited, and functionally complete rollout. The AMA also highlighted updates on Testnet 4, which is now accessible on Windows, allowing for easier node setup. Additionally, the new L1 node optimization plan promises increased rewards for compliant nodes post-mainnet. With TNT4 staking surpassing $1 million in staked tokens and a new cross-chain bridge enabling staking between Solana and Titan chain, the ecosystem is expanding rapidly. The team is also working on merging Testnet 3 and 4, although no specific date has been set yet. In terms of functionality and infrastructure, Titan's app is undergoing significant upgrades, including UI unification and intuitive node management. The team is exploring ambitious use cases, such as providing CDN infrastructure for major Web2 platforms. Future plans include attending global Web3 events and exploring partnerships in gaming and virtual worlds. The AMA also touched on tokenomics, with plans for dynamic reward adjustments, potential token burns, and governance tools post-mainnet. Community involvement is encouraged through various initiatives, including testing features, content creation, and a potential regional ambassador program, ensuring that Titan Network remains engaged with its user base.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Web3 cloud solutions, selecting the right platform is crucial for the success of your project. This article compares three notable options: Phala Cloud, Akash Network, and Fleek, each catering to different needs. Phala Cloud focuses on privacy-preserving computation with TEE-backed GPU enclaves, making it ideal for secure AI applications. Akash Network offers a decentralized compute marketplace, perfect for machine learning training and scalable backends. Meanwhile, Fleek specializes in edge and static hosting, providing a user-friendly experience for deploying frontend applications. Understanding these platforms' strengths can guide developers in making informed decisions based on their unique requirements. The architecture and core features of these platforms highlight their distinct technical foundations. Phala Cloud utilizes peer-to-peer enclaves for execution, ensuring a high level of confidentiality with on-chain attestation. Akash Network operates through a container marketplace orchestrated by Kubernetes, allowing for flexible resource allocation. Fleek, on the other hand, focuses on edge hosting and static site deployment, offering minimal backend trust features. Each platform has its own key management approach, with Phala emphasizing self-custodied keys, while Akash relies on provider-managed key stores. These differences are essential for developers to consider when aligning their project needs with the right cloud solution. Finally, the cost models and tooling available on each platform further differentiate them. Phala Cloud operates on a prepaid credit system, providing predictable pricing for users. Akash Network's spot bidding model introduces volatility but can lead to significant savings for compute-intensive tasks. Fleek offers a free tier, making it accessible for small-scale projects. Developers should also consider the tooling and integrations each platform provides, as these can impact the ease of deployment and ongoing management. By leveraging the strengths of Phala, Akash, and Fleek, developers can create resilient and efficient Web3 applications tailored to their specific needs.