Vana empowers users to own, protect and profit from their personal data through decentralized DataDAOs. Learn more about how it works in this article.

Imagine a world where individuals regain control over their own data, taking it back from the hands of large corporations that often profit from it without consent. Enter Vana, an innovative platform that combines 

 with privacy-driven features to create a fairer, more transparent digital economy. This article explores what Vana is all about — and its exciting future potential in the decentralized data and AI space.

 is a blockchain network that gives users full control over their personal data through an 

 architecture. It enables decentralized data-sharing and monetization using DataDAOs (

), whose users can collectively own, manage and profit from their data, all while maintaining privacy and ownership.

Vana was co-founded by Art Abal and Anna Kazlauskas, two Filipinos with strong academic backgrounds and degrees from Harvard and MIT, respectively. It started as a research initiative in 2018, and has since grown into a project driven by the desire to empower individuals with control over their personal data. 

Vana seeks to address the current imbalance whereby large corporations profit from user data without fairly compensating the individuals who generate it. The goal is to create a new data economy in which users can benefit directly from the AI models built on their data, ensuring that the financial rewards of AI development are more fairly distributed. The name "Vana," short for "Nirvana," speaks to the project’s mission of liberating and empowering user data.

The Vana project attempts to challenge the status quo of data hoarding by large centralized organizations, and to tackle several key issues as follows.

Vana is designed to transform personal data into a valuable, user-controlled asset. It operates through the following three key layers.

Vana gives users the power to monetize and use their data in several ways, such as earning revenue from AI models trained on their data, or by integrating their data into applications for personalized experiences. Most importantly, users maintain detailed control over how their data is shared and used. As data contributors, they also receive governance rights within their respective DataDAOs, allowing them to make decisions about how their data is used and how the value is distributed.

Users receive a DLP-specific token when they submit data to a DataDAO, according to the DataDAO’s unique 

 that Vana uses to validate data submitted to its network. PoC maintains the reliability and value of the data within the Vana network. 

Vana acts as a trustless intermediary, connecting data owners, communities and users. It enables individuals to pool their data collectively in a secure and traceable manner while also allowing data users to monetize that data for purposes such as training AI models.

 is a central platform where users can buy, stake, trade and explore data tokens within the Vana ecosystem. It also enables users to contribute their data to DataDAOs, and earn rewards by staking their VANA tokens.

 is an incubator designed to support the growth and development of the Vana ecosystem. It provides tools and resources for users to create and manage DataDAOs, ensuring that high-quality data is available for AI model training and other applications.

DataDAOs are decentralized organizations that pool user-contributed data on the blockchain. They allow individuals to collectively own, manage and monetize their data for AI and other applications. Each DataDAO governs its own DLPs, ensuring that data is secure, private and used judiciously. 

 system incentivizes premium-quality data contributions by rewarding the top 16 DataDAOs every 21 days, based on total Vana tokens staked. This competitive structure ensures that the best datasets and contributors are recognized and rewarded, promoting innovation and growth within the Vana ecosystem

 commits 44% of its total token supply to empower the community. It rewards active participation, contributions and innovation across the Vana network. This includes incentives for high-quality data contributions to DataDAOs, early community rewards and support for developers building on Vana. 

Since its start as an MIT research project in 2018, Vana has made impressive progress, emerging as the first decentralized data liquidity network. 

Looking ahead, Vana aims to build a thriving decentralized data ecosystem and promote mass adoption with its clear road map:

The VANA token is the native cryptocurrency of the Vana Network. VANA serves multiple purposes within the Vana ecosystem, such as securing the network through staking, paying transaction fees, staking in DataDAOs, accessing datasets, acting as part of a trading pair and participating in decentralized governance.

The tokenomics of VANA are designed to align the interests of all participants in the Vana network. With a total supply capped at 120 million tokens, distribution is as follows:

 of $32.86 by the end of 2024 and $38.58 by 2025, with the potential to climb to approximately $112.78 by the end of 2030. Similarly, Coin Edition 

 a value of $50 by the end of 2025, with further growth expected up to $68 by 2030. 

Looking to purchase Vana tokens? Bybit now offers the VANA/USDT Spot trading pair. To get started, you’ll first need to create a Bybit account, then fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

To celebrate this listing, Bybit is holding 

 where you can earn a share of the 560,000 VANA prize pool. 

VANA offers a compelling investment opportunity, thanks to its innovative approach to data ownership, expanding ecosystem and optimistic market outlook. By tackling key challenges in the data economy, VANA empowers users while paving the way for decentralized AI development. However, as with any investment, it's important for potential investors to be mindful of market risks and do their 

Vana is empowering users to take full control of their personal data and even profit from it. By combining blockchain technology with robust privacy measures, Vana challenges traditional data systems and lays the foundation for a more equitable data economy. The platform's ambitious road map could position it as a key player in the future of decentralized AI, opening up new opportunities for individuals to become active participants in this increasingly data-driven world.

Intermediate

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Vana (VANA): Unlocking Data Freedom for User-Owned AI

Sonic and Injective are launching the first cross-chain AI agent platform, the Smart Agent Hub, integrating Solana and Injective ecosystems.

Last week, the S&P 500 saw its biggest single-day price gain this month. This raises the hopes of investors for a year-end rally if prices continue to go up. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 2.54%, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 1.24% and 1.00%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is AAVE, which surged 7.7% following the integration of Aave in Balancer's Boosted Pools, simplifying yield generation.

Aave (AAVE), founded in 2017, is a decentralized lending platform on Ethereum for lending, borrowing, and earning interest on 17 cryptocurrencies. It uses smart contracts, collateral for loans, and aTokens for interest, along with features like instant loans. 

 combine markets to enhance capital efficiency and simplify yield generation for DeFi users. By providing liquidity with $USDC and $USDT, users earn fees from swaps and interest from Aave's supply rates. All earnings accrue automatically with no management required. Balancer v3's Boosted Pools streamline liquidity and enable gas-efficient, passive yield generation, making DeFi simpler and more sustainable.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

, the Smart Agent Hub, integrating Solana and Injective ecosystems. The platform enables developers to create, manage, and monetize AI agents in a decentralized environment, with features like tokenization, cross-chain asset interoperability, and a unified developer experience. By leveraging Sonic's HyperGrid and Injective's IBC, the hub facilitates seamless communication and asset transfer across chains. This innovation supports Web3 games, DeFi, and real-world assets, expanding opportunities for AI agents in various sectors. The rollout begins with a testnet in Q1 2025.

From December 16–20, 2024, GBTC had a net outflow of $248.3M, while non-GBTC products saw a net inflow of $705.5M, resulting in a total inflow of $457.2M. The current total stands at a net outflow of $21.3B for GBTC, a net inflow of $57.3B for non-GBTC, and a combined net inflow of $36.03B.

 offers free participation with potential surprise airdrops. Connect your wallet, vote for projects, and use your CHILL FACTOR (based on past Avalanche transactions) to maximize eligibility.

Beginner

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Sonic and Injective Launch First Cross-Chain AI Agent Platform with Smart Agent Hub

Zerebro (ZEREBRO) revolutionizes AI content creation with Solana and Polygon, offering autonomous content generation, NFT minting, and DeFi integration.

 (AI) continues to unlock limitless opportunities in numerous sectors, including the crypto space. Projects such as 

 and others have had a large impact on various facets in 

AI-generated content is in demand, and the latest crypto project to enter the space, Zerebro, aims to provide a way to create and generate content autonomously through AI content models.

Let’s learn more about Zerebro and its innovative approach to content creation through AI.

Zerebro is an autonomous AI system crafted to create, distribute and analyze content across decentralized and social platforms.

 It maintains content diversity through the use of

 (RAG) system that creates a dynamic memory database, based on continuously updated human interactions.

Zerebro operates independently without human oversight using a concept known as hyperstition to merge fiction with reality, resulting in self-propagated narratives encompassing diverse cultural and financial scopes, with key uses of content creation and cultural integration across the digital community. Zerebro autonomously produces high-entropy content, ensuring diversity and originality, and engages audiences on various platforms, such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Warpcast and Telegram.

Zerebro also integrates unique cultural themes through a feature known as “infinite backrooms” designed to elicit thought-provoking conversations among digital communities. Its data sets follow a nonlinear thought pattern, resulting in unpredictable and inherently viral outputs. This unique feature can be used to generate chaotic and surreal artworks that can be autonomously minted as 

 (POL) blockchain. Zerebro also features autonomous trading of artwork through the integration of memetic dynamics and market interaction analysis, thereby demonstrating the potential of AI to merge cultural creativity with 

ZEREBRO, the native token for the Zerebro ecosystem, is hosted on the 

 (SOL) blockchain. The maximum supply is 1 billion ZEREBRO tokens, with 999,972,148 tokens currently in circulation.

An autonomous AI system such as Zerebro has transformative potential in the crypto industry, especially in cultural content generation and financial markets. Its “hyperstition” approach to generating content can help influence markets by shaping investor behavior through an interplay between culture and technology.

Furthermore, the project intends to launch a unified memory across social media platforms that could significantly enhance information retention, leading to further engagement. The Zerebro team also intends to integrate the ZEREBRO token with DeFi protocols, opening holders to various income-generating opportunities, such as 

Zerebro has experienced some volatility since its launch, which isn’t unusual for a new project trying to establish a stable price floor. As of Dec 23, 2024, Zerebro is trading at $0.30, with a market cap of over $377 million. This price was over 6,350% higher than its all-time low of $0.0058 on Nov 3, 2024, and just 39% lower than its all-time high of $0.6153 on Nov 23, 2024.

That said, Zerebro is still a new project that’s subject to high volatility. We highly recommend you practice sound 

 crypto on Bybit’s Spot trading platform. To celebrate the listing, Bybit is holding a 

 up for grabs. The first event is exclusively for new users to deposit and earn from a prize pool of 150,000 ZEREBRO tokens.

To participate, simply register on Bybit and complete verification. Then, proceed to accumulate a deposit volume of at least 400 ZEREBRO, or deposit 100 USDT and trade 100 USDT worth of ZEREBRO via your first trade using your Bybit account. This event runs through Dec 24, 2024, 8:59AM UTC.

, is offering a prize pool of 60,000 ZEREBRO tokens. To earn a share of the prize pool, simply register for the event and trade at least 500 USDT worth of ZEREBRO on Spot through Dec 24, 2024, 8:59AM UTC. 

Rewards will be capped at 3,000 ZEREBRO per user.

In addition to these two events, you can also participate in a 

 with a 30,000 ZEREBRO prize pool. Earn 20 ZEREBRO for every successful referral (up to 10 referrals) Rewards are on a first-come, first-served basis through Dec 24, 2024, 8:59AM UTC. 

Zerebro’s unique autonomous AI system approach to the crypto market sets it apart in the space. Crypto subcultures will be able to tap into its ability to independently generate and analyze content across different networks. Its RAG technology could enhance content diversity among the crypto community, while its “infinite backrooms” are spaces in which these digital communities can engage in diverse cultural and financial narratives.

As AI continues to transform the web3 space, Zerebro is poised to add value through its autonomous system that eliminates human oversight.

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Zerebro (ZEREBRO): Unlimited Possibilities in AI Content Creation

Gearbox Protocol is a composable leveraged lending protocol designed to enhance capital efficiency within DeFi. Learn how Gearbox Protocol works.

 (DeFi) with its composable leverage system. It enables investors to use 

 on assets across multiple protocols, transforming how DeFi participants can trade with margin, 

 and execute complex strategies — all without leaving their ecosystem.

 is making leverage accessible and secure. Whether you’re a lender seeking passive yield or a leverage user exploring advanced strategies, Gearbox’s unique architecture opens up new possibilities. Let’s explore how this on-chain credit layer is improving DeFi.

Since the emergence of DeFi in 2020, it hasstrived to reimagine financial services by removing intermediaries, such as banks and brokers. Through

 systems, DeFi offers transparent and direct access to lending, trading and investments. Despite market fluctuations, the DeFi sector remains resilient, with a current 

 (TVL) of $123 billion — a 128% increase since the start of 2024.

The DeFi sector is poised for resurgence as secure and scalable innovations fuel its growth. With proven use cases and real-world adoption, DeFi continues to solidify its role as one of crypto’s most valuable use cases.

 (WLFI), backed by the Trump family, underscores a shifting acceptance of DeFi in the United States. The project’s multisig wallet has publicly 

 various DeFi tokens, such as AAVE, LINK, ENA and more. WLFI aims to make DeFi accessible to everyday users, but it remains to be seen if the project will achieve its goals.

Gearbox Protocol is a composable leveraged lending protocol designed to enhance capital efficiency within DeFi. By offering a flexible credit layer, Gearbox empowers users to leverage their positions across multiple DeFi platforms, seamlessly integrating with protocols they already trust.

Gearbox’s fundamental design minimizes costs while maintaining flexibility. Its modular architecture reduces gas costs and improves scalability..

Unlike traditional leveraged lending protocols that silo funds within their ecosystems, Gearbox allows users to execute trades and strategies across integrated platforms, such as 

 correlated assets, Gearbox offers a new way to utilize leverage without restrictions.

With Gearbox Protocol, leverage becomes a DeFi primitive — an infrastructure layer that lets users go beyond basic 

 containing both user funds and borrowed margin funds. They serve as automated leveraged DeFi wallets, allowing users to manage positions and execute strategies independently.

: Gearbox enables users to integrate leverage with DeFi protocols like Uniswap for margin trading, Curve for leverage farming, and more. This flexibility empowers diverse strategies across different platforms.

: Gearbox combines lending and prime brokerage functionalities within the same protocol, simplifying the user experience and expanding possibilities for leveraged trading and farming.

, Gearbox maximizes capital efficiency. It minimizes gas costs and ensures that funds remain noncustodial, unlocking the full potential of leverage without compromising user security.

, ensuring that all integrations, policies and upgrades are managed transparently and collectively by the community and stakeholders.

Gearbox Protocol operates through two main user types:

The Credit Accounts enable operations while maintaining safety through 

Gearbox’s modular architecture supports seamless integrations with third-party protocols, ensuring assets remain decentralized and noncustodial. Liquidations are determined by 

 (based on calculated risks), and protect lenders while offering dynamic leverage possibilities.

 utility token with a capped supply of 10 billion, is the governance token of Gearbox Protocol. It empowers DAO governance and supports initiatives, such as liquidity mining and staking rewards, with an annual emission of just 3% from the DAO's holdings. 

Token distribution percentages are as follows:

Nearly full circulation has been achieved, minimizing supply overhang as a majority of token 

 concluded in 2023. The DAO treasury retains around 40% of the supply, ensuring the community’s strong influence on protocol development.

Marketwise, GEAR has recently experienced notable price movements. Over the past seven days, the token has surged by 11.9%, and its 30-day performance skyrocketed by 166.3%. Year-to-date, GEAR's price has risen approximately 57.7%, reflecting increased investor confidence. Daily trading volume hit $11.8 million over the past 24 hours, marking a 600.3% spike that indicates growing market interest. 

Gearbox Protocol's innovative approach to DeFi simplifies user experience through its wallet-centric design and the integration of the 

. With a capped supply of 10 billion GEAR tokens, robust DAO governance and nearly full circulation, Gearbox prioritizes community-driven growth. 

Recent market performance reflects growing investor confidence, with significant price increases and a surge in trading activity.

Looking ahead, Gearbox Protocol’s road map focuses on enhancing usability and interoperability within the Ethereum ecosystem. The integration of Credit Accounts into account abstraction (AA) wallets such as EIP-4337 revolutionizes the way users can access and manage funds, eliminating the need for complex lending interfaces.

Future developments may include pool-based models and optimizers to tackle liquidity fragmentation, further strengthening 

 Ethereum solutions. As Gearbox Protocol evolves, its focus remains on delivering efficient, user-friendly financial tools that empower users and redefine DeFi as we know it.

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Gearbox: Powering On-Chain Credit for DeFi

Explainers

Blockchain

Altcoins

Dymension (DYM) is a blockchain platform that facilitates the development and launch of application-specific Layer 2 rollups called RollApps.

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Over the last couple of years, modular development has emerged as a clear trend within the blockchain industry. Modular designs typically separate different blockchain layers — application, data availability and settlement — into distinct, independently functioning modules to address the limitations of traditional monolithic designs. Recognizing the inherent inflexibility of all-in-one, conventional 

 (ETH), developers are increasingly adopting the modular approach to enhance functionality and scalability, as well as to speed up network development and deployment.

Now, a newly launched platform called Dymension (DYM) has extended the principles of modularity to blockchain rollups, or “RollApps,” using the project’s terminology. Serving as an internet of RollApp networks, Dymension provides foundational security and 

 to facilitate the operation of these application-specific chains.

Built upon the Cosmos SDK framework, Dymension leverages Cosmos's Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol to enable interoperability and cross-chain communication among diverse 

 networks. Through its innovative approach, Dymension aims to become a leader in the niche of modular rollup solutions. For developers and app operators, the platform offers scalability, flexibility and low latency and execution costs — a combination that few other projects can match.

 (DYM) is a Layer 1 modular blockchain platform that supports the development and deployment of RollApps — 

 networks that use Dymension’s underlying consensus mechanism while having their own custom execution logic. 

The platform acts as a hub that developers can use to launch optimistic rollups, or RollApps, using the principles of modularity. These RollApps use Dymension’s validator network to secure their operations and achieve consensus. Dymension also offers these RollApps the ability to externally source their data availability layer via providers like 

Dymension’s testnet operations were launched in early 2023, and the testnet has been used to deploy over 15,000 RollApps so far. In early February 2024, the platform launched its mainnet along with its native token — DYM.

Dymension's RollApps are Layer 2 platforms that are launched with a single application in mind. These are what are known as application-specific chains, and they differ from standard rollups designed to host various decentralized apps (

). RollApps provide tremendous cost and scalability benefits as compared to directly transacting on a Layer 1 chain.

 SDK, one of the industry's most popular blockchain development frameworks. The platform has also introduced its own development framework, the RollApp Development Kit (RDK), which extends the functionality offered by the Cosmos SDK to facilitate streamlined, modular RollApp development. A key element that Dymension has inherited from Cosmos is the IBC cross-chain protocol. Using IBC, Dymension’s RollApps can communicate with one another across the entire Dymension network, as well as establish connections with other IBC-capable Cosmos (ATOM) chains.

In order to understand Dymension's architecture and working mechanism, it's useful to revisit the topic of blockchain layers. A typical blockchain has three core layers working in unison to ensure its operations:

Dymension procures the settlement layer for RollApps via the Dymension Hub, a Cosmos SDK proof of stake (

) chain comprising a network of validators that provide block validation services. As such, RollApps don’t need to onboard and maintain their own validator nodes.

The data availability layer for RollApps is sourced via external providers like Celestia. Celestia. Also a decentralized platform for modular blockchain development, Celestia is a leading provider of data availability services. It’s not the only platform that offers an outsourced data availability layer, though it’s perhaps the best-known provider in this niche. In line with the principles of modularity, Dymension offers RollApps a choice of different data availability providers, depending upon their operational needs.

Having externalized their settlement layers (via the Dymension Hub) and data availability layers (via a provider integrated with the Dymension platform), RollApps can focus on running their own, domain-specific application layers.

While the Dymension Hub provides consensus and security for the platform, the process of launching new RollApps is facilitated through the platform's RollApp Development Kit, which contains prepackaged modules designed to expedite the RollApp launch process. For instance, there are modules for common operations such as token management and account creation. These ready-to-use modules contribute significantly to the efficiency and flexibility of RollApp development and deployment via the Dymension platform.

RollApps on Dymension represent Layer 2 chains tailored specifically for single DApp use cases. They function similarly to the independent app-specific 

 in the Cosmos ecosystem. However, RollApps typically have lower latency and computational costs, because they use rollup technology and externalize their settlement and data availability layers.

Sequencers are a critical component of RollApps. These are specialized nodes responsible for compiling transaction blocks and communicating with Dymension Hub validators to process blocks and achieve consensus. To be a Sequencer, you have to bond DYM tokens or stake a native RollApp token. Each RollApp may be operated by one or more Sequencers.

RollApps also feature another type of specialized node, known as "Governors," alongside Sequencers. These entities are responsible for on-chain governance and the rule-setting mechanism. To enhance security and decentralization, Sequencers and Governors function as separate entities. Governors derive their voting power from stakes delegated to them by token holders on the platform.

The actual Dymension settlement layer is referred to as the Dymension Hub. It serves as a shared settlement layer utilized by all RollApps operating on the platform. Made up of validator nodes, it’s responsible for processing and verifying transaction blocks that the RollApp Sequencers submit. The Hub is the primary mechanism ensuring on-chain consensus and network integrity.

Validators derive their block processing rights from the stakes delegated to them by token holders on the platform. Users can stake funds on their preferred validator, typically based on factors such as the commission paid out by the validator or, in the case of decentralization purists, the desire to support smaller validators. Standard commission rates typically range from 5% to 10%, depending upon the validator.

The Dymension Hub also hosts an embedded automated market maker (

) designed to facilitate shared liquidity, token swaps, asset routing and price discovery across the entire network of RollApps. Equipped with embedded 

, the AMM is a particularly valuable resource for RollApps operating within the decentralized finance (

) niche. The oracles enable DeFi RollApps to track and update token prices in real time.

The DYM token is the Dymension platform's native cryptocurrency. Its main functions in the ecosystem include:

DYM is a supply-capped token with a maximum and total supply of 1 billion. As of Feb 16, 2024, the token has been on the market for 10 days and has a circulating supply of 146 million, of which close to half (70 million) were distributed in January and February as part of the platform’s Genesis 

. Recipients of the airdrop included more than 1 million addresses across a number of blockchain platforms, primarily Celestia, 

The entire supply of DYM will be released over a period of five years, by early 2029, with the final distribution shares per the chart below.

As of Feb 22, 2024, the DYM token is trading at $7.04, which is 16.8% lower than its all-time high of $8.50 on Feb 14, 2024, and about 100% higher than its all-time low of $3.54, registered on the day of the token’s launch (Feb 6, 2024).

The long-term outlook for DYM is mostly bullish, with PricePrediction 

 $16.90 in 2025 and break past $100 to hit $122.50 in 2030, and DigitalCoinPrice forecasting the token 

The DYM token is available on Bybit via the 

 Spot pair. If you don’t have an account on Bybit, you can easily 

 and trade DYM and hundreds of other cryptocurrencies offered in the Spot and Derivatives markets.

From Feb 21 to Mar 7, 2024, you can also participate in two Bybit events and earn a share of the 

. The first is a 14,960 DYM Token Splash/Deposit to Earn event where the first 4,500 new users can earn 2.88 DYM, and up to 2,000 existing users can acquire 1 DYM. The second event entails a 32,000 DYM airdrop, with 20,000 participants randomly chosen to receive 1.6 DYM each.

With the recent launch of the DYM token and mainnet, Dymension is taking its first steps in the modular blockchain market. However, even at this early stage, the platform's modular RollApp proposition is attracting considerable interest within the industry. The DYM token has demonstrated a confident growth trajectory since its launch day, and the project has captured early attention, thanks to its expansive and widely communicated airdrop — the Rolldrop — which reached over a million users and was estimated to be valued at around $390 million.

While Dymension might not be the first platform to enter the modular blockchain game, it's certainly among the pioneers of modularity, as applied to rollup technology and application-specific Layer 2 chains. Its highly efficient, low-latency and cost-effective RollApps set it apart in a niche where competition will likely intensify this year.

The adoption of Dymension by the developer community over a longer-term period is, of course, not a certainty. However, early indicators are encouraging. As the platform matures, it could quickly develop into a leader in the modular rollup market. With access to the broader Cosmos ecosystem via the IBC protocol, Dymension's RollApps will undoubtedly be of interest to multi-chain DApp operators as well.

Dymension (DYM): Scaling and Connecting With RollApps

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