This Week in Startups
Bittensor’s Rise, Meta’s Llama Goes Cloud, & AI Now Writes Your Code | E2119
May 1, 2025
Mark Jeffrey, an early Bitcoin investor and host of the Hash Rate podcast, dives into the rise of Bittensor, a decentralized AI compute network aimed at revolutionizing the industry. He discusses its potential as a viable alternative to traditional cloud services and its similarities to Bitcoin. The conversation also covers Meta's strategic moves in AI and cloud computing, including its new partnerships and challenges. Additionally, AI's growing role in coding signifies a major shift in software development, raising interesting implications for tech companies.
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Quick takeaways
- Bittensor is emerging as a decentralized AI compute network with a token structure similar to Bitcoin, promoting efficient computational tasks.
- Meta's partnership with Groq and Cerebras to host open-source LLaMA models hints at its ambition to compete against traditional cloud services.
Deep dives
Tether and Illicit Transactions
Tether, a popular stablecoin, has been associated with a range of illicit activities, including usage by terrorists and human traffickers. It is acknowledged that Tether, like traditional U.S. dollars, has found its way into criminal transactions, with estimates indicating that cryptocurrency, including Tether, is involved in approximately $40 to $50 billion worth of illegal transactions annually. This figure is significantly lower than the volume of illicit activities conducted with cash. The conversation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of cryptocurrencies and their relation to criminal enterprises.
