AI can compose good music, but humanity still holds the creative baton

AI vs. Human Creativity: Who Holds the Baton?

Blockchain music collaboration protocol developer Baton has raised $4.2 million in funding, with BITKRAFT Ventures leading the investment.

Glassnode Passes the Baton: Accointing Handed Over to Blockpit in ‘Multi-Million Dollar’ Deal

ICYMI: Fidelity's Jurrien Timmer has reiterated that gold is possibly passing the baton to Bitcoin https://t.co/UbYen4kPBw

$BATON to the moon 🚀🚀 Easy 11x already — and we’re just getting started. Want early access to my next plays? DM to join the alpha group. 💎

Will gold pass the baton to Bitcoin later this year? https://t.co/83yPEn2TPW

Baton’s Eligibility Service streamlines and automates the complex task of evaluating collateral asset eligibility across counterparties. Learn More: https://t.co/ckfJe6q7am#collateralmanagement https://t.co/RfNS6poHTQ

First FCM transacts on Baton’s direct link to DTCC clearing houses via @Finadium: https://t.co/XZn5i2ZR7t

The Brave announcement is the first in a series that will come out throughout the Summer and Fall that I term the fixing broken windows deals that originated from Midnight negotiations. It was long overdue; they originally could have been engaged in 2022. A certain entity dropped the ball, and we got ignored. There are several dozen deals like this for Ada and Cardano Native Assets. Midnight has picked up the baton and started finishing them. Many many more to come!

The State of Crypto Acquisitions in Four Charts Over $2 billion in acquisitions occurred in crypto in 2024, with $2.9 billion and counting this year. We analyzed the numbers and trends to understand how M&A in this space is evolving. Our latest newsletter dives deep into the data, strategies, and motivations behind this wave, and what founders can do to position themselves as acquisition targets. Here's the TL;DR version for those in a hurry. Venture funding for crypto has declined by 70% from its 2021 peak, with annual inflows dropping from $23B to $6B. The number of funding rounds has plummeted from 941 in Q1 2022 to just 182 in Q1 2025. This capital drought is forcing us to look at M&A for continued growth. Just like traditional markets, M&A in crypto has followed waves that have coincided with liquid markets. • Wave 1 (2017–2018): The ICO era • Wave 2 (2020–2022): Treasury-Fueled Acquisitions • Wave 3 (2024–2025+): The Compliance & Scalability Phase The data reveals a maturing market. While acquisition volume has decreased since 2022’s peak, average deal size increased from $25M in 2022 to $64M in 2025, showing a shift to fewer but larger, more strategic deals. Target categories have evolved meaningfully. Recent acquisitions concentrated on derivatives venues, broker rails, and stablecoin infrastructure, which absorbed over 75% of disclosed deal value since 2024. This reflects regulatory clarity emerging in these verticals. Cash-rich incumbents like Coinbase ($9B cash), Kraken ($454M operating profit), and Stripe ($2B FCF) are leading this wave, pursuing strategic acquisitions that provide regulatory footholds, talent, and technology integration. Here’s a breakdown of who is acquiring. In 2021–22, exchanges led the charge by acquiring infrastructure, wallets, and liquidity layers to defend market share. By 2023–24, the baton had passed to payment companies and financial tooling platforms, targeting downstream products like NFT rails, brokers, and structured product infrastructure. But with changing regulations and an underserved derivatives market, exchanges like Coinbase and Robinhood are making a comeback as acquirers, scooping up derivatives and brokerage infrastructure. We categorize crypto acquisitions into four broad, overlapping models: 1. Talent Acquisition — When deep technical talent is scarce and recruitment cycles are slow, acquisitions become a faster route to capability. Instead of hiring one-by-one, acquirers bundle proven, high-performing teams. Think Coinbase acquiring Agara to bring in AI engineering talent, or @0xPolygon acquiring Mir (now @0xPolygonZero) and Hermez to absorb leading ZK cryptographers. The logic is simple: shipping teams are more valuable than resumes. 2. Capability Expansion — Some acquisitions are designed to extend a firm’s product suite or move it into new domains. Jupiter’s acquisition of Drip Haus is a case in point—moving from DeFi into NFTs to tap into creator-led attention markets. These acquisitions add missing features or open up verticals that would take too long to build internally. 3. Infrastructure Distribution – These deals are about embedding core tooling deeper into the acquirer’s stack to harden defensibility. For example, ConsenSys acquiring MyCrypto enhanced MetaMask by bringing in a different UX approach and long-tail asset support. Rather than reinventing the wheel, incumbents fold external innovations into their existing infrastructure. 4. User Base Acquisitions – This is the most direct route to scale. OpenSea acquiring Gem wasn’t just about tech—it was about locking in high-value NFT traders. In environments where user growth is slow and expensive, acquiring established communities with strong engagement and spending power offers faster ROI than marketing or incentive campaigns. The funding environment today demands pragmatism. For founders, the pitch must now answer two questions: why should we raise and why might someone want to buy this? Venture capital is no longer flowing freely. The standout raises we hear about are exceptions, not indicators of a comeback. Most funds are focusing on products with traction, revenue, and provable value. That makes acquisition a serious alternative to another uncertain fundraising cycle. At the same time, acquirers are more strategic than ever. They’re using acquisitions to enter new markets, gain licenses, absorb users, or compress years of development into a single transaction. If what you’ve built simplifies compliance, unlocks distribution, or accelerates product-market fit, you're already on someone’s radar. This era of crypto will be defined by what lasts. And increasingly, what lasts is what gets acquired. Build like your future depends on someone wanting to own what you've made. Because it probably does.

Fidelity: Bitcoin May Surpass Gold to Become the Dominant Store of Value Asset

Three Emerging Cryptocurrencies That Ethereum Followers Should Pay Attention To

🤨🤨🤨 Solana @solana, Base @base ecosystem #AI Agent's popularity has waned, can BNB Chain @BNBCHAIN's ecosystem SIREN 🤖 take the baton? “SIREN gives me a feeling reminiscent of the early #AIXBT.” Recently, due to CZ @cz_binance's frequent statements, BNB Chain @BNBCHAINZH's ecosystem has experienced a surge in popularity, leading the "on-chain dog fighting" community to gradually shift the focus of token discussions from Solana ecosystem tokens to BNB Chain ecosystem tokens. Coincidentally, the official launched a “$4.40 million Meme liquidity support program” to support #BNB Chain's popular #Meme projects. Studying BNB Chain's ecosystem #Meme projects, the key projects are at the top of the list. Among the leading projects, we discovered the Meme project SIREN, which incorporates the AI Agent concept. Can SIREN reignite the heat of the AI Agent version once again? Next, Odaily Planet Daily will take you to understand the first phase weekly rankings of BNB Chain's Meme liquidity support program TIRE 2, the dual concept of Meme and AI Agent in SIREN, two “zero-cost” token activities, and secondary price analysis. ⬇️⬇️

Baton new low-code tool accelerates bank data integration by 90% via @Finadium : https://t.co/4eBOnNPD3m

Sui experienced significant growth over last year. Now, #Haedal is going to take that baton and push the Sui adoption to a new level in this year. 🦦🦦🌊

Legacy systems are falling short as trade volumes surge says Baton CEO Arjun Jayaram. T+1 settlements & tokenised assets demand #posttrade transparency, real-time asset tracking & collaborative workflows. 🔍 Learn more here: https://t.co/ga4bV2d3dm #FintechInnovation

Baton launches its new eligibility service for #collateralmanagement, streamlining #eligiblecollateral evaluation. Read the full article here via @SecFinTimes : https://t.co/OQUXomL8BY

Baton launches eligibility service for hashtag#collateralmanagement via Finadium. Read the full article here: https://t.co/NjJ44EhZcI

Excited to launch Baton’s Eligibility Service – a game-changer in #collateralmanagement decision-making. Designed to simplify and automate the complex task of accurately assessing collateral eligibility across counterparties. Learn more: https://t.co/UymfiB44kP

Are you ready for the #PuffGo Preseason 5 to take the baton? 😤💡 MUST own Puff NFTs to join the League👑 #PuffGenesis holds the MOST resettable Free Chances💰 Seize the final hit before TGE for IGO Points1 IGO Point 🟰 1 $PUFF at TGESHOP NOW!!🛒 https://t.co/xA9kCRnWNu https://t.co/URiDLDItX9

🔥@BNBCHAIN takes the baton from #Solana in #memecoin trading, with the number of unique addresses on BNB Chain surpassing 500 million! 🚀Bitget Wallet offers comprehensive trading features for BNB Chain:👇🔍 Be early: Discover promising memecoins on the BNB Meme and https://t.co/VBSp0RMrbD leaderboards 📈 View real-time candlestick charts and trading data✅ One-click swaps & cross-chain transactions ⚡️ Professional meme coin trading tool #MemeX, helping you snag the next $TST 🧾 Skip monitoring the charts; set limit orders for trades ⛽ Use GetGas for fees, if you don't have $BNB on hand➡️Launch Bitget Wallet now to trade the latest and hottest memecoins on the BNB Chain!

https://t.co/TbLDgWQ8fI Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Risky Meme Coins Cryptocurrency platform https://t.co/TbLDgWQ8fI is being sued for allegedly marketing unregistered and volatile memecoins, putting investors at significant financial risk. According to the class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the platform, run by Baton Corp., lured nearly $500 million in fees through a pump-and-dump schemes.The lawsuit targets all memecoins issued on https://t.co/TbLDgWQ8fI, with a focus on popular Solana-backed tokens. Plaintiffs accuse the platform of violating U.S. securities laws and exposing investors to extreme volatility and potential losses.This legal action marks the first time all tokens on the https://t.co/TbLDgWQ8fI platform have been targeted. Investors beware: Is the crypto space evolving into a new form of high-risk speculation? 🧐#Cryptocurrency #PumpAndDump #Memecoins #ClassAction #SEC #CryptoRisks

The memecoin generation platform Pumpfun has been hit with a class-action lawsuit, accusing the company and its executives of earning nearly $500 million in fees by violating U.S. securities laws. The lawsuit claims that all tokens created through the platform should be considered securities, subject to U.S. securities regulations. Plaintiff Diego Aguilar alleges that he suffered losses while trading memecoins such as FWOG, FRED, and GRIFFAIN. The lawsuit also names Pumpfun's operating company, Baton Corporation, and three co-founders as defendants. (CoinDesk) https://t.co/VkFgK0Agew

🔵 U.S. Debt Guides Bitcoin's Future DeThings, January 30 - The scale of U.S. national debt has reached 36.40 trillion dollars, and the debt economic model is facing challenges. There is a contradiction between the internationalization of the U.S. dollar and the return of manufacturing, while the risks associated with commercial real estate debt are intensifying. Bitcoin, as a decentralized asset, may experience a decline in the short term due to the impact of a financial crisis, but in the long term, its scarcity and safe-haven attributes make it likely to become an important pillar for future international settlements. If the U.S. dollar system collapses, Bitcoin could take the baton and become the next generation of international currency. Read more: https://t.co/AKgOWcE8iC…

Updated #FXGlobalCode stresses need to reduce FX #Settlementrisk. Here’s how Baton’s Core-Payments technology can help: ✅ Automated, configurable netting ✅ Real-time settlement risk calculations ✅ Optimised, conditional smart settlement sequencing 👉 https://t.co/g3wJozLlUZ

🧧 Red Envelopes & $UP Airdrop Fun with UXUY and UXUY's Friends!Come join #UXUY friends' community to receive a generous airdrop of red envelope rain! We’ll pass the baton and distribute $UP rewards, so hurry and participate!Simple Steps:✅ Join https://t.co/XsKRZPID4r✅ Trade to get 888 $UP✅ Share your red pocket screenshot to get 666 $UP✅ Invite friends to get 66 $UP👉 More details：https://t.co/BJReEHUDqQ🗓️ Red Envelopes schedule： https://t.co/mELdYG23TC

A wave of thrilling events is READY w/ the coming of the Lunar New Year of Snake 🐍👥 The much-anticipated Puff Crew War returns✊ Pre-TGE Event #8 w/ extra daily rewards🎮 #PuffGo Preseason 5 then takes the batonThe last ones before TGE!🎊 https://t.co/rGLSiNF7eO https://t.co/iBOnk8QFds

Traders sue pump.fun but continue to use the platform.

Traders suing Pump Fun continue to use the platform.

History was made 16 years ago… 🙌 Satoshi passed the baton to us, cementing his creation into history — now it’s exSat’s time to extend the capabilities of what Satoshi made: #Bitcoin.

How banks can better manage the costs & operational challenges of mandatory clearing of #USTreasuries in 2025. Baton's Tucker Dona discusses in @theTRADEnews 2025 predictions series #USTreasuries #CentralClearing #Fintech #BankingInnovation #FixedIncome #2025Outlook

Stuart Hoegner retires as Tether's general counsel, passing the baton to Michael Hilliard amidst MiCA uncertainty and shifting market dynamics. 🪙 Legal leadership evolves as $USDT dominance holds strong despite compliance questions. https://t.co/5oUjGHDMDh

generational enjoyment. the baton passes. https://t.co/5daecLLYYS

Soft and sweet yet fierce in fight A marshmallow baton of might! In duels it brings a sugary flair Making battles beyond compare! 🍡💫 Unlock it now, it's free for today if you own our Xmas Pass! 👉 https://t.co/FOZGPcKYbN #xmas #thenemesis

Is your institution ready for the ECB's new intraday liquidity risk principles? Discover how Baton’s real-time tech aligns with the 7 principles to ensure compliance and control. Download the white paper now: https://t.co/l4WOpR2Tfd https://t.co/OxjLtEBF4e

Festive fun for Baton’s London team at their holiday party!A night filled with laughter, camaraderie, and holiday cheer as the team came together to celebrate the season in style.#lifeatbaton #batonsystems https://t.co/l8EqBCB4QY

We hosted a Dental Camp on 6 Dec at Baton Systems' Chennai office! Employees enjoyed free check-ups, expert advice from Dr. Tamim Ansari Basha & Dr. Saren.Thanks to Loop, Clove Dental, and HR Amita Asthana for supporting this wellness initiative! 🦷💙 https://t.co/AOFd4TlUjw

Streamlining #Collateral ManagementBaton Systems’ Core-Collateral automates workflows, reduces errors, and improves efficiency.Learn how a major US #bank transformed its processes: https://t.co/NM1peRuTii#CollateralManagement #FinTech #FinancialService https://t.co/IIZ3IKHnBQ

Bitcoin Investing Essentials, A Sneak Peek at This Week's Big Events (12/2-12/8) With Thanksgiving behind us and US power about to recover, ETFs are on track to break $100,000 by the end of the year if they maintain their inflow trend. This week has important data on non-farm payrolls and unemployment, while ETFs and crypto-related U.S. stocks deserve more attention. 🌟 Heavyweight events this week: 12/2 Monday 💼 Fed releases minutes of November monetary policy meeting (23:00) US November ISM Manufacturing PMI 12/4 Wednesday 💼 US November ADP Employment (21:15) 12/5 Thu 💼 Fed releases Brown Book on economic conditions (03:00) 💼 US Initial Jobless Claims for the Week (21:30) 12/6 Friday 💼 US Unemployment Rate for November (21:30) 💼 US Non-Farm Payrolls for November (21:30) 📌 Crypto Market Outlook: Bitcoin has been adjusting at $100,000 for many days, Ether has taken the baton and rallied sharply over the last week, with torrents rising across the board and Meme fading out. New highs in Ether are on the horizon, market inflows are strong, and the bulls are very strong in the spot bull market. The options market is more stable, with block trades and market rates of interest. Major term IVs are currently at low levels, laying out some mid to long term is good value for money, and it's a good opportunity to buy options now that the bull market is going strong. 📌 crypto interest rate market, the Bitfinex interest rate market has been relatively stable recently, encountering the right interest rate orders can be actively transacted, especially when there is a market worthy of special attention.

Vitalik Buterin-Backed Nocturne Labs Shuts Down Operations

Vitalik Buterin-Backed Nocturne Labs to Cease Operations

Nocturne, invested by Vitalik, announced the gradual closure of the company.

Nocturne privacy protocol, invested by Vitalik, announced a gradual shutdown.

Nocturne, which Vitalik invested in, announces company closure and transition of withdrawal services.

Nocturne privacy protocol, invested by Vitalik, announced a gradual shutdown.

Nocturne Privacy Protocol to Gradually Shut Down After Ceasing Operations

Privacy Agreement DUSK's permanent test network NOCTURNE is online.

Privacy Policy: NOCTURNE discontinues product and shifts to application development field.

Privacy Policy: NOCTURNE announces the closure of NOCTURNE V1, shifting towards application development.

Privacy Policy: NOCTURNE is about to shut down NOCTURNE V1, and will shift towards application development.

Nocturne brings private accounts to Ethereum

Nocturne v1 has been launched on the Ethereum mainnet.

Vitalik Buterin invests in Nocturne Labs, which aims to bring private accounts to Ethereum

▪️Todays Drop▪️🎨Nocturne by @opus_cula ⏱️Available to claim @ 10am CST for 24 hours💸Eligible for Collect2Earn⛓️ on @base https://t.co/wfQeu5KF0n

Winners of CYBRO Weekly Updates #29! 🍀Hey frens, let's give a shout out to our winners in the recent AMA session 💰10,000 CYBRO Points go to:@xXISha_dowIXx (Twitter)Cj Junior (Telegram)criptoborges (Discord)And 3,000 CYBRO Points each go to:🔹 @she04099 (Twitter)🔹 @Peterpanpa22295 (Twitter)🔹 @Fearsabotage1 (Twitter)🔹 @Zhavokhir18 (Twitter)🔹 @Space684070 (Twitter)🔹 Mr_CSWG (Telegram)🔹 pyopiyo (Telegram)🔹 Al Ka (Telegram)🔹 Serghei L (Telegram)🔹 OxNocturne (Telegram)🔹 sandrachristy202 (Discord)🔹 mingtechx (Discord)🔹 skyswift1 (Discord)Congratulations to all the winners! 🥳📖 Learn more about the points: https://t.co/nIKJNSBXPy

／🎋 Today, August 29th, from 16:00 #SyFu & Nibiru Side Event at Happo-en ✨ Panel Discussion (in English) 🎙️ Announcement!＼Topic: "Creating Culture and Community Through Gamification" ⏰ 17:20-17:50（JST）- Hiroshi Mita Co-founder of SyFu - John Fung @BoredMagician Co-founder of Gemie - yellowpanther @yellowpantherx KOL (Moderator) - Unique Divine @DivineNibirun CEO & Co-Founder of Nibiru Chain📅 Thursday, August 29th, 16:00–20:00 (JST) 📍 Happo-en, Tokyo, 6th Floor, NOCTURNE 🗒️ Register here: https://t.co/keWkCx5Hem*Registration will close once capacity is reached.* @syfujapan

／🎋#WebX Side Event Confirmed at Tokyo’s Happo-en✨＼#SyFu, in collaboration with L1 chain Nibiru (@NibiruChain), is hosting a special side event! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the SyFu and Nibiru communities, global Web3 innovators, major Japanese companies, and top KOLs from across Asia as they share valuable insights and network together🌐📅 August 29 (Thu) 16:00–20:00 (JST)📍Happo-en Tokyo, 6th Floor NOCTURNE🗒️ Register here: https://t.co/keWkCx5Hem*Registration closes once capacity is reached.👉 More details on Medium:https://t.co/SZ021XGt7M@syfujapan 🧵[1/3]

Your Monday morning catch-up is here!☕️📰Crypto & Blockchain Update: June 3-9📈Market Highlights- DeFi’s total value of crypto locked reaches $192B for the first time in 15 months- Amount of BTC and ETH on exchanges reaches record multi-year lows- BTC hits $71K and nears ATH, transaction fees soar to $52 temporarily, then selloff pulls BTC under $69K on Saturday- Solana-based GameStop GME token decreases 40% as Keith Gill aka Roaring Kitty returns to YouTube to share his long-term bull case- NEAR protocol daily transactions increase to 6M- Celebrity tokens fall more than 60% except for MOTHER token- Arthur Hayes unstaked $10M worth of PENDLE token- Bitcoin volatility within record low levels of “bottom 6% of occurrences”- BASE TVL reaches $8B topping Ethereum layer-2 leaderboards by transaction count, overtaking Optimism OP Mainnet🎮Crypto Gaming- Arbitrum Foundation has committed to distribute $215M worth of ARB tokens over 3 years to encourage game development on its blockchain- McDonald’s metaverse “My Happy Place” debuts in Singapore in partnership with Bandwagon Labs- CARV, a gaming and AI-focused blockchain protocol, launches verifier nodes to improve data security and decentralization- Blockchain gaming still a relatively untapped field as per a recent poll done by OnePoll out of 2,000 adults 52% were not familiar with it💼Regulatory Updates- US Treasury warns that NFTs are vulnerable to money laundering and fraud- Tether CEO says MiCA regulations are concerning- UAE Central Bank approves licensing system for stablecoins- Wall Street asks Biden to not veto congress rejection of SEC’s crypto policy- 21Shares submits filing to SEC to remove ARK Invest from their Spot Ether ETF application🤝Investments & Partnerships- Polygon Labs acquires Toposware, its 3rd ZK startup investment in 3 years, now totalling more than $1B in total investment in zero-knowledge technology- $1.6M Franklin Templeton is aiming to start a fund for institutional investors aimed at altcoins- Robinhood acquires Bitstamp for $200M- Kraken looks to raise final pre-IPO financing round over $100M- The Sandbox raises $20M, losing $3B in valuation- Fhenix raises $15M of confidentiality-enabling L2- Blockchaincom and Unstoppable Domains partner for web3 domain naming system- Avail secures $43M in Series A round for addressing challenges in web3, such as blockchain fragmentation, insufficient data availability and limited scalability🔐Cybersecurity- Cybersecurity firm GoPlus raises $10M to build permissionless security layer- $5.7M has been recovered from $600M Ronin hack- 3 individuals charged in $3M Evolved Apes NFT scam- NY Attorney General sues 2 companies over $1B crypto fraud targeting immigrants- iExec launches enhanced DataProtector for web3 monetization and ownership- Orbit Chain hacker moves $47.7M in ETH to Tornado Cash after silence since Januaryℹ️Miscellaneous- Gary Gensler says ETF launch dates are up to issuers, not SEC- VanEck sets minimum 2030 ETH price at $22,000- Web3 salaries surpass traditional finance by 128%- Binance hits 200 million registered users worldwide- Standard Chartered Bank believes BTC could reach $150k if Donald Trump wins U.S. elections- Vitalik Buterin-backed privacy protocol Nocturne Labs shuts down operations- Solana-based decentralized infrastructure provider ionet, replaces its CEO 2 days before project’s token $IO launch***Opinion"More and more people are using cryptocurrencies not only as an investment, but also as a means of payment for products and services. People are starting to realize that crypto is more than just a quick way to make money on the stock market; it is a sustainable ecosystem. In recent months, there has been a significant increase in merchants' interest in crypto payment solutions that allow them to settle transactions in crypto while receiving Euros in their bank accounts. Swapin offers several products for this purpose – integration solutions for online transactions, as well as payment solutions for traditional offline businesses, where customers can pay any invoice in crypto through a personalized payment link provided by the merchant. This is a payment solution that benefits all parties involved. Merchants can expand their customer base to include those who prefer to pay in cryptocurrencies, and customers can enjoy the convenience of paying directly in crypto without spending time and money on transactions on crypto exchanges and banks."– Edward Rebane, CPO at @swapincom***Swapin on TV 📺Swapin was featured on Estonian channel @tv3eesti during Friday evening news on June 7th, discussing the rising trend of using crypto as a means of payment, and the possibility of allowing your customers to buy a car or real estate with cryptocurrencies through partnering with crypto payment processing providers like Swapin. In the segment Edward, our CPO, shares how Swapin's solutions work and the cryptocurrencies we support. You can watch it here👇https://t.co/eEVGVsGGDsHave a great new week ahead🤝- Swapin Team

Ethereum Governance and Celebrity Token Declines Highlight This Week's DeFi News