Aleph.im Rebrands to Aleph Cloud, Launches $1 Million Accelerator for Web3 Startups

CUDOS Intercloud is pioneering a new era of sustainable computing as part of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance. The company aims to redefine the landscape of AI infrastructure by focusing on green computing practices. On April 24, 2025, CUDOS will participate in the Peace One Day #Ai2Peace event, where CEO Matt Hawkins and VP of Sales Pete Hill will discuss the importance of distributed AI infrastructure in fostering a peaceful and sustainable future. This initiative highlights the necessity of building a fair and open AI ecosystem that prioritizes environmental responsibility. Traditional cloud computing has a significant environmental impact, with a single 1MW data center consuming millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity and vast quantities of water annually. The carbon footprint of such centralized infrastructures is immense, as evidenced by Google’s data operations consuming 27 terawatt-hours of energy in 2024 alone. CUDOS Intercloud addresses these inefficiencies by utilizing existing data centers, optimizing their capacity without the need for additional resources. This approach not only reduces costs but also minimizes the carbon footprint associated with new infrastructure development. CUDOS Intercloud is committed to sustainability at its core, operating on 100% renewable energy and ensuring that its GPU-focused clusters utilize sustainable practices. The company has already saved significant costs by maximizing the efficiency of existing data centers and redirecting wasted energy into productive use. By joining initiatives like the Stripe Climate program and committing resources to carbon removal projects, CUDOS is not just making claims about sustainability but is actively working towards a greener future. This commitment positions CUDOS as a viable alternative to traditional Big Tech, promoting a distributed and environmentally friendly approach to cloud computing.

The decentralized exchange (DEX) landscape on Solana is experiencing significant changes, with Raydium's long-standing dominance being challenged by emerging competitors. As of April 20, 2025, Raydium still holds the largest share of DEX trading volume at 31%, but this marks a steep decline from its peak of 63% earlier in the year. New platforms like Pumpfun, Orca, and SolFi are rapidly gaining traction, indicating a shift towards a more competitive environment. Pumpfun, in particular, has made a remarkable entrance, capturing 19% of the DEX volume just weeks after its launch, showcasing the potential for innovation within the Solana ecosystem. Pumpfun's success can be attributed to its hybrid model, combining a memecoin-focused launchpad with a high-speed automated market maker (AMM). This dual functionality has attracted retail interest and provided efficient liquidity, positioning Pumpfun as a formidable player in the DEX space. However, the sustainability of its growth remains uncertain as it faces the challenge of retaining liquidity providers and attracting serious traders in a volatile market. Meanwhile, Orca and SolFi are vying for dominance in key trading pairs, with Orca slightly leading in the SOL-USD market, highlighting the competitive nature of decentralized exchanges beyond the memecoin frenzy. Despite Raydium's declining market share, it still maintains a significant presence in the Solana DEX ecosystem. The platform must adapt to modern trading demands and innovate to retain its user base. The evolving DEX landscape presents both challenges and opportunities, with new protocols emerging and existing players striving to enhance their offerings. As the competition intensifies, the next few months will be crucial in determining whether a few dominant players will emerge or if the multi-DEX ecosystem will continue to thrive, fostering specialization and innovation in the Solana DeFi space.

Stanford Engineering Assistant Professor Ellen Vitercik's AI research lab is set to leverage Theta EdgeCloud's hybrid cloud infrastructure to enhance its research in discrete optimization and algorithmic reasoning. This collaboration will enable the lab to utilize EdgeCloud's decentralized GPU, which offers scalable and high-performance computing power at a competitive cost. The integration of this technology is expected to significantly accelerate the training of AI models and facilitate advanced research initiatives. Other prominent academic institutions, such as Seoul National University, KAIST, and the University of Oregon, are also utilizing EdgeCloud's infrastructure to boost their AI research productivity. Ellen Vitercik specializes in machine learning, algorithmic reasoning, and the intersection of computation and economics. Her research lab is focused on several key areas, including the application of large language models (LLMs) for optimization, algorithmic content selection, and the generalization of clustering algorithms across various dataset sizes. By employing Theta EdgeCloud's resources, the lab aims to explore how AI can enhance decision-making processes in economic contexts, such as pricing strategies and targeted marketing. Theta EdgeCloud's hybrid GPU infrastructure is designed to provide on-demand computing power that is both scalable and cost-effective, making it an ideal solution for academic research. The collaboration with Vitercik's lab exemplifies the growing trend of integrating advanced cloud computing technologies into academic research, particularly in the field of AI. This partnership not only promises to advance Vitercik's research objectives but also contributes to the broader landscape of AI research across multiple institutions worldwide.

As the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) sector gains traction in the cryptocurrency landscape, a critical question arises regarding its position within the U.S. regulatory framework. Current congressional legislation primarily addresses digital assets in a broad sense, encompassing stablecoins, tokens, and market infrastructure. However, the implications for DePIN are profound, as these policies will influence how DePIN projects secure funding, incentivize contributors, and deliver real-world services. Notably, legislation such as the STABLE Act and the GENIUS Act could significantly impact the stablecoin ecosystem that many DePIN projects rely on, potentially steering them towards more centralized options. The FIT21 Act, which classifies tokens based on their decentralization and utility, is particularly relevant for DePIN. Tokens like $IOTX (IoTeX) serve as crucial infrastructure enablers, rewarding users and validating data. If classified as securities, these tokens could face stringent regulations that limit their exchange listings and user access. Additionally, the Digital Asset Market Structure Act introduces compliance requirements that may burden DePIN projects, especially those interacting with real-world payments. These developments highlight the urgent need for clarity in the regulatory landscape to foster innovation within the DePIN sector. Advocacy efforts led by IoTeX and the Blockchain Association are pivotal in ensuring DePIN's recognition as legitimate infrastructure rather than mere financial speculation. Their recent engagement with congressional offices aims to educate lawmakers on the real-world applications of DePIN, emphasizing the need for supportive regulations. As the U.S. navigates this evolving landscape, it faces a choice: to lead in infrastructure innovation or risk losing it to other nations. With continued advocacy, DePIN can secure its place as a vital component of the national infrastructure narrative, paving the way for a decentralized future that benefits society as a whole.

Solana's native token SOL has recently faced challenges in maintaining its bullish momentum after peaking at $134 on April 14. Currently, SOL is trading 57% below its all-time high, primarily due to a notable decline in decentralized application (DApp) activity. However, analysts suggest that the altcoin's rally may not be over yet, citing a significant increase in deposits on the Solana network as a potential catalyst for short-term price recovery. With a total value locked (TVL) of $6.9 billion, Solana has positioned itself as the second-largest blockchain by TVL, outperforming competitors like Tron and Base in recent weeks. In addition to its impressive TVL, Solana has reclaimed the top spot in decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes, surpassing Ethereum layer-2 solutions. In the week ending April 16, trading activity on Solana DApps reached $15.8 billion, exceeding the combined volume of Ethereum scaling solutions by over 50%. This surge was supported by notable increases in trading volumes on platforms such as Pump-fun and Raydium, while major Ethereum DApps like Uniswap and Curve Finance experienced declines. Furthermore, other DApps on Solana, such as Ondo Finance and Exponent, have also shown substantial growth in their total value locked, indicating a broader trend of increasing activity on the network. Looking ahead, analysts are optimistic about the potential approval of a Solana spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States by 2025. However, expectations for significant inflows remain tempered due to a general lack of institutional interest and the recent underperformance of similar Ethereum ETF products. As investors await the results of a full audit of US federal agencies' crypto holdings, the future of SOL's price remains uncertain. Without external catalysts to attract new participants to the crypto ecosystem, the increase in TVL and DEX market share alone may not be sufficient to drive SOL's price to previous highs, such as the $180 level seen 45 days ago.

In the latest crypto news, the market is experiencing a downturn, with the global cryptocurrency market capitalization falling by 1.6% to $2.79 trillion. Daily trading volumes have also decreased to $86 billion, indicating a sluggish trading environment. Among the top 100 cryptocurrencies, only a few have seen gains, with Story (IP) leading the way with a 7.1% increase, while XDC Network (XDC) suffered the most significant drop at 6.9%. Bitcoin (BTC) remains relatively stable, appreciating by 0.7%, while Ethereum (ETH) and other major coins like Dogecoin (DOGE) and TRON (TRX) are also down, reflecting the overall bearish sentiment in the market. In a significant development, XYO has announced its migration from the Ethereum L2 ecosystem to its own Layer 1 (L1) blockchain focused on Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). This move comes in response to the need for a blockchain that can efficiently handle large volumes of real-time data. XYO is introducing a new consensus mechanism called Proof of Perfect, which aims to enhance transaction processing efficiency by allowing nodes to focus on recent transactions while archiving older data. Additionally, XYO is launching a new utility token, XL1, which will work alongside the original XYO token to support scalable network operations. Furthermore, Everclear, a cross-chain clearing and settlement protocol, has successfully launched its mainnet, offering zero-fee rebalancing and expanding support to Solana and other chains. The protocol aims to streamline digital asset transactions across multiple chains, similar to how Visa and SWIFT revolutionized traditional banking. In another notable announcement, UFC CEO Dana White has joined blockchain firm VeChain as an advisor, bringing his expertise in brand expansion and fan engagement to help promote blockchain adoption in mainstream markets. This collaboration is expected to enhance VeChain's sustainability initiatives and increase awareness of blockchain technology in sports communities.