From Cointelegraph

June 20, 2025 4:00 pm:

The convergence of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence is gaining momentum, with industry experts advocating for decentralized AI. The World Economic Forum also highlighted the synergy between spatial computing, blockchain, and AI, shaping our digital interactions. Marc Andreessen views AI control as a strategic priority in the US-China tech race.

At Web Summit Vancouver, AI venture capital took the spotlight, shedding light on emerging trends and high-potential use cases. Despite AI dominating VC funding, the panelists discussed the US-China tech rivalry’s impact on AI infrastructure and startup valuations. The surge in AI funding has left crypto trailing behind in recent investment trends.

AI startups secured nearly 60% of global venture capital in Q1, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT models attracting over 180 million monthly active users. In contrast, crypto and blockchain startups received $4.8 billion in funding during the same period. AI’s share of global VC deals has significantly increased since 2021, reflecting the industry’s growth.

Circle co-founder Sean Neville raised $18 million for Catena Labs, aiming to establish an “AI-native financial institution.” Recognizing the transformative potential of AI agents in finance, the venture seeks to lead the agent economy. Neville predicts that AI agents will soon dominate economic transactions, reshaping the financial landscape.

Nous Research secured $50 million to develop decentralized AI on Solana, challenging major language models like OpenAI. The startup’s community-driven approach to training large language models sets it apart in the AI industry. With a valuation of $1 billion and support from prominent backers, Nous aims to revolutionize AI development on Solana.

Read more at Cointelegraph: The Venture Capital Race and Rise of Decentralized AI