Solana 2.0
After FTX crashed, Solana went parabolic in all indicators in Q4 2023, around the time of the JTO airdrop and the annual Breakpoint conference. We think this is just the beginning. As excitement grows about the upcoming airdrop (stimulating ecosystem activity, critical infrastructure, and network development) and mainstream media recognition of Solana becomes louder, Solana is well-positioned to thrive in the coming year and beyond. Prepare to perform strong. Simple long-term arguments relying on Moore's Law, along with user-oriented performance specifications such as high throughput and low cost, have put Solana on the path to the consumer chain of the future.
JupiterExchange（JUP）
Firedancer - a high-performance validator client developed by Jump Crypto, which promises to bring significant improvements in performance and throughput, and more importantly, enhance the diversity of Solana validator clients.
Kamino Finance – Simply put, Kamino aims to be the liquidity engine for Solana DeFi. Users can perform leveraged borrowing/lending, make money as an LP (liquidity provider) through the CLMM automated vault, and even go long/short on tokens for leveraged trading. A one-stop shop like Jupiter may become a competitor over time. In addition, points are real-time and are expected to be airdropped in the second quarter.
DePIN
As computing power becomes an increasingly scarce resource, optimizing its distribution and availability becomes even more important. The Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) opens up a more efficient computing market through disintermediation of distribution and value accumulation. DePIN offers an exciting, tangible use case for cryptocurrencies; it treats crypto and blockchain technology as key components of a greater whole, rather than as a standalone new technology with a new cheesy buzzword.
Render (RNDR) – an OG GPU marketplace since 2017, connecting 3D artists with the resources they need for graphics rendering of virtual scenes for games or movies. The platform recently migrated to Solana, joining some of the leading DePIN platforms such as Helium and Hivemapper.
Akash (AKASH) – GPU as a service (GPUaaS) is expected to reach $25 billion by 2030, which means supply and distribution methods will undoubtedly come under pressure. Akash is a decentralized peer-to-peer GPU rental marketplace launched as a Cosmos chain in September 2020 – think of Akash as the airbnb of GPU computing. Akash uses a hybrid architecture to handle on-chain coordination and settlement, as well as off-chain execution. There's a more critical value proposition here - Akash's speeds on the Nvidia A100 are extremely competitive compared to leading vendors like AWS, Azure, etc.
Helium (HNT) - Helium is a decentralized network that provides low-power remote communication services for IoT devices such as sensors and trackers. Helium allows individuals to host hotspots (mini towers used to extend network bandwidth) and earn rewards in Helium Tokens (HNT).
Hivemapper (HONEY) Decentralized Google Maps - Users purchase a webcam and then use it to record the surrounding driving environment, contributing to building Hivemapper's decentralized map system and earning HONEY tokens.
Teleport - Teleport is a new decentralized ride-sharing protocol. You remember the huge returns Uber gave its early investors. It can be imagined that the current situation is bringing "Uber" to the blockchain.
Crypto and AI
Projects we focus on:
Bittensor (TAO): A decentralized blockchain open source network supporting a peer-to-peer market for machine intelligence. Simply put, Bittensor allows participants to submit AI models, which are then purchased by those in need, such as app developers and other researchers. When participants contribute their AI models and training to the Bittensor Network, they are compensated with TAO tokens - given the cost inefficiency of machine learning R&D today, it is conceivable that Google or IBM may use the Bittensor Network in the future. Bittensor has 95,000 accounts, processed 292,000 transfers, and generated 2.3 million blocks. TAO has a market value of approximately US$4 billion, 89% of the supply is pledged, and the maximum supply is 21 million, similar to Bitcoin.
Get Grass - The Get Grass protocol aims to democratize the availability of training data for AI models and establish an "artificial intelligence data layer." Users can download their Chrome extension to start earning points, and the idea is to compensate everyday internet users for collecting and selling data that represents their digital footprint. The team has built a database specifically for training LLMs (which currently is often costly for developers), with the vision that one day even ordinary people will be able to use AI models to develop new applications, and It’s not just the greedy corporate overlords. Additionally, the idea of compensating people for their online data seems inevitable, which is one use case where cryptocurrencies can become a truly perfect digitally native currency. There is no data yet, but it is expected to be available soon.
Nosana (NOS) – Nosana is building a decentralized GPU marketplace for AI applications, connecting users’ GPU networks to AI developers, similar to Bittensor. Anyone with a spare consumer-grade GPU can become a node on the Nosana network, and anyone can access Nosana's own artificial intelligence models to meet different needs. Since November 2022, Nosana has completed 180,000 inferences on its network, which refer to completed tasks submitted to the network queue. NOS is used to provide collateral for nodes on the Nosana network and is a medium of exchange with a current FDV of $370 million.
game
Crypto players have long awaited AAA Web3 games. During the last crypto cycle, Axie Infinity, Sandbox, Decentraland, and Enjin were all the talk of the town, as emerging gaming companies realized that Web3 could be a new place to test ideas. In the last cycle, we found many games similar to “DeFi with lore” that placed more emphasis on the interaction of yield farming/yield generation strategies than on the game itself.
Ronin (RON): Developed by Sky Mavis, Ronin is an EVM-compatible blockchain tailored for games. The most famous thing about Ronin is that it hosts the popular Web3 game "Axie Infinity". Ronin focuses on near-instant transactions and minimal fees, while also standing out by supporting a large number of in-game transactions.
Beam (BEAM): The Beam network is a gaming-centric ecosystem incubated by Merit Circle DAO. It provides developers with a Beam SDK that supports the integration of blockchain elements into games. BEAM is the network’s gas token and is crucial for transaction payments and smart contract interactions in the BEAM ecosystem.
Echelon Prime (PRIME): Echelon Prime is a gaming platform focused on developing and distributing tools designed to create new game modes and economic systems. Its token PRIME has been integrated into the sci-fi card game Parallel, its first application. Through PRIME, Echelon Prime is intended to support expansions that promote cutting-edge gaming experiences and economies, such as AI and AR gaming.
