Bybit to List Network3 (N3) with Exciting Events

io.net, a leading decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) protocol, has recently achieved Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) compliance, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to security and operational transparency. This certification indicates that io.net has undergone rigorous audits to ensure its systems are secure and that it adheres to high standards of data integrity. Gaurav Sharma, the technology chief of io.net, emphasized that this achievement not only benefits all users but is particularly appealing to enterprises that require partnerships with organizations maintaining top-tier data protection standards. Achieving SOC 2 compliance is often regarded as the gold standard in data security, providing io.net with a competitive edge in the market. The certification validates the protocol's robust security controls and standardized processes, which are crucial for defending against potential exploits and breaches. With a vision of offering decentralized GPU compute solutions, this certification lays a solid foundation for the protocol's future growth and expansion, allowing it to operate on a global scale while competing with industry-leading security standards. The DePIN sector, valued at approximately $27.9 billion, has seen significant trading activity, with io.net's native token, IO, ranking among the top 20 protocols in this space. With a market cap of $389 million, IO has demonstrated resilience and growth potential despite recent market fluctuations. Furthermore, io.net's collaborations with AI protocols, such as Injective and Alpha Network, aim to explore the intersection of blockchain and AI, positioning the protocol for potential leadership in the DePIN market in the near future.

Bitcoin (BTC) has reached a new all-time high (ATH) of $109,350 on January 20, 2025, driven by a surge in cryptocurrency markets ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. The price increase, which saw BTC jump over 6% in early trading, comes amid growing expectations of pro-crypto policies from the incoming administration. Trump has indicated support for digital assets, including proposals for a strategic national Bitcoin reserve, which has fueled market enthusiasm. Tom Trowbridge, Co-Founder and CEO of Fluence, noted that the appointment of David Sacks as the 'crypto czar' signals a significant shift towards a supportive regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies. The broader cryptocurrency market has also benefited from Bitcoin's rally, with Ethereum rising 3.5% and XRP increasing by 2%. Chainlink has seen the most significant gains, climbing 15%. Despite reaching a new ATH, Bitcoin's price has faced resistance at previous highs, with key support levels identified at $104,000, $102,400, and $99,500. Analysts suggest that a drop below these levels could indicate a deeper correction, while movements above them may present buying opportunities. In addition to Bitcoin's performance, the newly launched TRUMP token has made headlines, peaking above $70 before experiencing a correction. The token's launch was announced by Trump himself, further energizing the market. With Trump's pro-crypto stance, experts predict ambitious price targets for Bitcoin in 2025, ranging from $175,000 to $250,000, driven by factors such as institutional adoption and the upcoming halving event. As the cryptocurrency landscape evolves, the influence of political developments on market dynamics will continue to be closely monitored.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a lawsuit against Nova Labs, the creator of the Helium Network, claiming that the company sold unregistered securities and misled investors regarding its partnerships with prominent firms. The lawsuit specifically targets three tokens associated with Helium: the Helium Network Token (HNT), Helium Mobile Token (MOBILE), and Helium IoT Network Token (IoT). According to the SEC, these tokens were marketed as securities without proper registration, violating federal laws. The SEC is seeking financial penalties and a prohibition on Nova Labs from engaging in the purchase or sale of crypto assets classified as securities. In addition to the allegations regarding unregistered securities, the SEC accuses Nova Labs of exaggerating its partnerships with major corporations such as Nestlé, Lime, and Salesforce. The lawsuit claims that these companies were misrepresented as active users of the Helium network, leading to cease-and-desist letters from Nestlé and Lime when they discovered the misleading claims. The SEC's filing suggests that Nova Labs executives were aware of the falsehoods, with internal communications indicating disbelief that Nestlé had not challenged them sooner. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the company's business practices. In response to the lawsuit, Helium founder Amir Haleem criticized the SEC's actions on social media, describing the lawsuit as a desperate attempt to undermine crypto companies in the U.S. Haleem argued that if Helium hotspots are deemed securities, it could jeopardize all decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs). He emphasized that Helium had clarified its position with the companies involved and expressed determination to contest the SEC's claims, framing the case as a crucial moment for the future of decentralized networks.

Chirp, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) built on the Sui blockchain, has officially launched its $CHIRP token on three prominent centralized exchanges: KuCoin, Gate.io, and MEXC Exchange. This launch comes after the successful Initial DEX Offering (IDO) for the Sui DePIN infrastructure layer, which aims to support the development and operation of decentralized physical infrastructure networks. With nearly 1 million users, Chirp is positioning itself as a leader in the rapidly growing DePIN space, connecting various Internet of Things (IoT) devices through blockchain technology. Tim Kravchunovsky, the CEO and founder of Chirp, expressed pride in the project’s progress, highlighting the choice of Sui as the foundational blockchain even before its testnet launch. He emphasized that the newly launched Sui DePIN infrastructure layer is ideal for a decentralized IoT and telecommunications project like Chirp. The $CHIRP token is integral to Chirp's ecosystem, incentivizing Keepers—operators of Chirp's antennas—to maintain their devices and support the network. Additionally, the token serves as a payment method for network usage and functions as a governance token within Chirp's voting system. Furthermore, the $CHIRP token is utilized in Kage, a play-to-earn (P2E) game launched by Chirp that encourages players to detect wireless networks using their smartphones. Since its debut in November 2024, Kage has attracted nearly 1 million players who have scanned over 850 million wireless networks worldwide. The geolocation data collected through this game is valuable across various industries, enabling applications such as indoor navigation and low-power geopositioning in challenging environments. Chirp's dual approach—combining a DePIN with a robust IoT platform—aims to create a sustainable ecosystem that empowers communities while delivering advanced IoT solutions.

Michigan State University (MSU) has officially adopted the EdgeCloud platform for AI research, making it the second academic institution in the United States to join this initiative, following the University of Oregon. The SEIT Lab, led by Associate Professor Qiben Yan, will utilize Theta's decentralized GPU infrastructure to foster advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and distributed systems. As a prominent Tier 1 research institution, MSU's collaboration adds significant value to Theta's academic partnerships in the U.S. Furthermore, EdgeCloud plans to enhance its cloud-based GPU infrastructure across various locations, including California, Texas, and the Midwest, with a beta release of its hybrid cloud-edge computing platform scheduled for June 2025. Professor Qiben Yan is a distinguished expert in IoT security, AI privacy, blockchain resilience, and cybersecurity. His SEIT Lab is at the forefront of research aimed at protecting connected devices and networks from sophisticated cyber threats. Yan's work has been recognized at prestigious conferences and has received notable funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). He expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Theta, emphasizing that the EdgeCloud platform will facilitate the scaling of AI projects that demand high-performance computing while also pushing the boundaries of decentralized technology in secure and intelligent systems for IoT and AI applications. The SEIT Lab is dedicated to creating secure, intelligent systems with a focus on distributed systems, federated learning, and blockchain technologies. Recent projects include NSF-funded research on adversarially robust AI for speech recognition and innovative frameworks for secure smart contracts. By adopting Theta EdgeCloud, the SEIT Lab will benefit from a decentralized cloud platform that significantly accelerates the training and deployment of AI models, reducing GPU resource setup time by up to five times compared to traditional providers. This partnership not only strengthens Theta's academic network but also highlights its commitment to addressing complex challenges across various fields, including media, healthcare, bioinformatics, and finance.

Network3 is revolutionizing the decentralized Edge AI landscape by providing a robust infrastructure that empowers AI developers worldwide. This innovative platform leverages advanced technologies such as AI model optimization, federated learning, edge computing, and confidential computing to facilitate rapid and efficient model inference, training, and validation at scale. By moving beyond the constraints of centralized AI systems, Network3 is committed to creating a more equitable, efficient, and democratic AI ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders involved. Built on the IoTeX blockchain, Network3 utilizes IoTeX's DePIN modular infrastructure, which includes ioID and data verification modules, to ensure secure and transparent decentralized applications. This integration not only enhances the reliability of data exchange but also supports the growth of the DePIN ecosystem. Additionally, the introduction of the N3 Edge V1 mining machine allows participants to engage in $IOTX dual-mining, thereby expanding the network's global node user base. This collaboration with IoTeX provides a scalable and secure Edge AI solution, enabling developers to innovate confidently while maintaining data integrity. The highly anticipated $N3 token will be launched on January 22 at 8:00 AM (UTC) during its Token Generation Event (TGE). The smart contract for the $N3 token will be deployed on Ethereum, with simultaneous launches on IoTeX and Solana chains to enhance accessibility and scalability. This multi-chain strategy promotes interoperability, allowing users from different ecosystems to connect and contribute to Network3's growth. To celebrate this launch, Network3 is also conducting a community airdrop of 50 million $N3 tokens, aimed at rewarding early supporters and encouraging active participation within the ecosystem.