Singapore, September 30, 2024 — The highly anticipated Token2049 Infra x AI Day commenced at the OGBC Innovation Hub in Singapore, bringing together influential leaders, innovators, and investors from the AI and blockchain sectors. The event, a cornerstone of AI and blockchain innovation, has cemented itself as one of the premier AI-focused gatherings of the year. Featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, project showcases, and networking sessions, the summit provided a comprehensive platform for exploring the future of artificial intelligence and decentralized technologies.

Key Highlights from the Event

• Crypto for Open Source AI Panel: Moderated by Sachi Kamiya, Director of Business Development at Sentient, this panel explored the pivotal role of cryptocurrency and blockchain in driving an open and decentralized AI ecosystem. Abhijeet Mahagaonkar, CTO at Polychain Capital, emphasized the importance of decentralized funding models to support AI research and development, explaining how blockchain can secure data flows and incentivize global collaboration. Ethan Sun, Co-founder of MyShell, discussed how MyShell is leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency and streamline AI data processing. Himanshu Tyagi, Co-founder of Sentient, elaborated on Sentient’s vision for an Open AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) economy, where AI developers can collaborate, monetize their models, and participate in a decentralized AI marketplace. Sam Z , Co-founder of Mizu, highlighted how Mizu’s decentralized AI data collection platform is revolutionizing data gathering and sharing, providing the infrastructure for scalable and decentralized AI systems. Collectively, the panelists illustrated how the integration of cryptocurrency and blockchain is democratizing AI development, enhancing trust, and fostering innovation.

• DePIN x AI Panel: Led by Chichi Hong, Partner at Hack VC, this panel examined the powerful synergy between decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and artificial intelligence (AI). Jasper Zhang, CEO of Hyperbolic, opened the discussion by explaining how Hyperbolic is utilizing DePIN to decentralize cloud computing resources, making AI models more efficient and scalable across a distributed infrastructure. Lin Yang, Partner at Aquarius, analyzed the new trend of combining on-chain asset liquidity with AI and DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) from an investment perspective, exploring new scenarios where the value of on-chain assets is enhanced through improved security. Ming Wu, CTO of Zero Gravity, highlighted how DePIN enables AI systems to access real-time, distributed data, enhancing both scalability and security. Jarrod Barnes, Head of Ecosystem at NEAR, provided insights into NEAR’s decentralized tokenomics, which incentivize participation and growth in DePIN networks, ensuring that AI can thrive in decentralized environments. The panel concluded by outlining how the convergence of DePIN and AI is set to disrupt traditional centralized models, offering more equitable, scalable, and secure solutions in industries such as cloud computing, IoT, and logistics.

Event Hosts and Partners

The summit was hosted by Mizu, a leading company building the world’s largest open AI data collection network. Mizu’s decentralized infrastructure enables collaboration from a wide range of contributors, from mobile users to GPU cloud operators, to build a scalable and secure AI data solution.

Sentient, a key co-host, is at the forefront of developing an Open AGI economy. Sentient is building platforms and protocols that allow AI builders to monetize and collaborate on their models and data, driving forward decentralized AI innovation.

Aquarius Capital, also a co-host, is a research-driven venture capital and liquid fund with over $600 million in assets under management. Aquarius is a leader in on-chain liquidity management, particularly in the staking and restaking sectors, and is playing a pivotal role in advancing AI and blockchain technologies.

Featured Partners

A range of innovative partners contributed to the success of the summit, including:

• Mind Network, the first fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) restaking layer designed for AI and PoS networks, providing secure data and token economies in decentralized AI systems.

• EdgeAI, a data-centric blockchain project focused on enabling AI developers to build cutting-edge decentralized applications (dApps) and harness data at the edge.

• ScalingX, a global Web3 venture capital firm and accelerator supporting the development of Web3 and blockchain technologies across Singapore, Hong Kong, and San Francisco.

• DEAR (Decentralized Embodied AI Repository), an initiative aiming to democratize 3D data capture and creation by creating the largest repository of 3D training data for AI development.

• Axlflops, a DePIN network committed to democratizing AI computing resources to meet the growing demand for distributed computing power.

• MagnetAI, a platform that allows users to create, share, and use action agents for AI-driven automation.

Media Partners

The summit received extensive coverage and support from leading media partners, including ODaily, PANews, ChainCatcher, BlockBeats, MetaEra, ChainDD, and TechFlame, ensuring widespread visibility and engagement for the event.

Token2049 Infra x AI Day showcased the tangible advancements at the intersection of AI and blockchain, spotlighting real-world applications of decentralized technologies. The event's focus on DePIN and AI-driven innovations underscored the immediate potential to revolutionize industries such as cloud computing, autonomous systems, and data security. With insights from leading experts and projects, the summit provided a clear roadmap for how these technologies are reshaping both the AI landscape and decentralized infrastructure.

Disclaimer: This post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, recommendations, or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. It should not be used as the basis for making any investment decision and should not be relied upon for accounting, legal, tax advice, or investment recommendations. You are encouraged to consult your own advisers regarding legal, business, tax, or other related matters concerning any investment decisions. Certain information included here may have been obtained from third-party sources, including portfolio companies of funds managed by Aquarius Fund. The opinions expressed in this post are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Aquarius or its affiliates. These opinions are subject to change without notice and may not be updated.