Web3 Industry Outlook and Hot Topics

Macroeconomic Environment

A certain asset management company recently released a 2025 outlook report for the cryptocurrency industry, predicting a shift from speculation to practicality. The report points out that clear regulations, institutional adoption, and technological advancements are key factors. It is expected that U.S. regulators will promote the diversification of cryptocurrency-related financial products and introduce a stablecoin regulatory framework. Bitcoin may further solidify its position as a digital store of value, and some countries may increase their strategic reserves. The demand for decentralized physical infrastructure networks is expected to rise, and the combination of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency technology will also accelerate. Overall, 2025 may become a turning point for the industry.

The president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve recently stated that cryptocurrencies should be regarded as an independent asset class, rather than equivalent to gold. She emphasized that the complexity of cryptocurrencies means they do not yet meet the conditions to be considered "currency." Understanding the nature of cryptocurrencies is crucial; they can serve as a medium of exchange or an asset, but need to be clearly defined. This view is consistent with that of the Federal Reserve Chairman, who believes that cryptocurrencies do not yet possess the necessary attributes to function as currency.

Industry Dynamics

A New York court has postponed the civil case between a regulatory agency and a cryptocurrency exchange platform to January 21, 2024. The case stems from allegations in 2022 that the platform made false or misleading statements when applying for Bitcoin futures contracts. The new trial date coincides with the inauguration of a new president, which may affect the regulatory agency's stance on cryptocurrency companies. The court stated that further delays will not be approved except in special circumstances.

The CEO of a well-known cryptocurrency exchange stated on social media that the ResearchHub community has seen significant growth in the past year. He emphasized that in 2025, the focus will be on improving academic publishing, optimizing peer review, fundraising, and promoting the reproducibility of research results.

Market Hotspots

On December 31, AI-related tokens generally rose, with ai16z and ELIZA both reaching all-time highs. ai16z saw a 24-hour increase of 35.6%, with a market cap of $1.86 billion; ELIZA had an even higher increase of 56.4%. The ai16z team announced that they are developing ElizaV2, aiming to improve architecture, enhance scalability, and optimize plugin management. Meanwhile, a partner at an investment firm questioned whether ai16z's market cap infringes on the trademark rights of a well-known venture capital firm, sparking discussion.

Emerging Projects

ANTE-GPU is an AI smart agent and market platform based on a certain public blockchain, aimed at recommending the optimal AI models and GPU combinations according to user needs. The platform provides real-time availability checks, budget and performance customization suggestions, supports flexible billing, and helps users optimize project performance and costs. This project is expected to address issues such as low utilization of traditional GPU resources, high costs, and limited access.