Weekly Consulting Snapshot #6: Trending Products, DeepSeek Wave, and Ethereum Predictions

This recap after Lunar New Year highlights some of the most promising products and companies making an impact, along with key trends in AI and cryptocurrency. DeepSeek’s rise in the AI sector, Ethereum’s record-breaking milestones, all-time-high predictions, and institutional interest in Bitcoin are just a few of the major shifts influencing the landscape.

UXUY

Product Description: Provides a mobile crypto wallet and decentralized exchange platform, enabling users to trade across multiple blockchains with features like one-click fast trading and innovative gas solutions.
Total Funding: $10.2M
Employees: 2
Founded: 2023
Location: Singapore
Industries: Cryptocurrency, Wallet, Decentralized Exchange, Blockchain, Web3
Website: https://uxuy.com/

Octant

Total Funding: $1.5M
Employees: 2
Founded: 2023
Website: https://octant.build/en-EN/
Product Description: Aims to establish a self-sustaining global public goods funding ecosystem, allowing users to earn ETH rewards by locking GLM tokens and supporting community-chosen public good projects.

Ctrl Wallet

Product Description: Offers a secure and user-friendly crypto wallet supporting over 2,300 blockchains, enabling users to manage various cryptocurrencies and NFTs in one place.
Total Funding: $6.0M
Employees: 5
Location: United Kingdom
Industries: Cryptocurrency Wallet, Blockchain Technology, Web3, Digital Assets, Finance
Website: https://ctrl.xyz/

Lanai

Product Description: Provides an AI empowerment platform that helps enterprises transform AI experiments into success by offering visibility, protection, and acceleration of AI interactions across teams.
Total Funding: $10.0M
Founded: 2023
Location: United States
Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Enterprise Software, Data Security, Business Transformation, Technology Services
Website: https://www.withlanai.com/

Cuckoo

Product Description: Delivers an AI interpreter designed for global teams, facilitating multilingual conversations in sales, marketing, and support by integrating seamlessly with platforms like Zoom and Slack.
Total Funding: $500.0K
Employees: 31
Founded: 2024
Location: United States
Industries: AI Interpreter, Multilingual Communication, Remote Collaboration Tools, Language Technology, Team Collaboration
Website: https://www.cuckoo.so/

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

DeepSeek: The Chinese AI Upstart Making Waves

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, has become a focal point during recent earnings calls of major tech companies, reflecting its significant impact on the industry. Executives from firms like AMD, Google, and Microsoft have addressed questions about DeepSeek’s innovations and potential market implications.

Nvidia’s $465bn Rout Amid DeepSeek’s Rise

A significant sell-off in technology shares led to a $1 trillion loss in US stock markets, primarily due to a 13% plunge in Nvidia shares. This was triggered by the popularity of a new AI app from Chinese start-up DeepSeek, raising concerns about the future dominance of US technology companies.

January 2025: Top Five AI Stories of the Month

Chainalysis Acquires Alterya: Chainalysis expanded its capabilities by acquiring Alterya, an AI-driven fraud detection solution. This integration aims to enhance real-time fraud prevention for financial institutions, fintechs, and crypto service providers.
Gate City Bank Partners with Lama AI: North Dakota’s Gate City Bank collaborated with Lama AI to implement a generative AI-powered loan origination platform. This technology is designed to streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks, and expedite decision-making in business lending operations.
DeepSeek Releases DeepSeek-R1: On January 20, DeepSeek unveiled DeepSeek-R1, an open-source large language model based on DeepSeek-V3. Utilizing a chain-of-thought approach, it achieves performance comparable to OpenAI-o1 across math, code, and reasoning tasks.
Launch of the Stargate Project: Announced on January 21, the Stargate Project is a joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, with a substantial investment of up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure.
Introduction of ‘Humanity’s Last Exam’ Benchmark: Published on January 23, this benchmark for large language models comprises 3,000 challenging questions across over a hundred subjects, aiming to evaluate and advance AI capabilities.

US Fintech Start-Up Jump Secures $20M Series A

Jump, a US-based start-up specializing in AI-powered software for financial advisors, has secured a $20 million Series A funding round led by Battery Ventures, bringing its total funding to date to nearly $25 million.

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency:

Humanity Protocol Valued at $1.1 Billion After Latest Fundraise

Humanity Protocol, specializing in blockchain-based identity verification, has reached a $1.1 billion valuation following a $20 million funding round, focusing on using palm scans for secure online account authentication.

Trump’s World Liberty Financial Acquires ETH

World Liberty Financial, associated with Donald Trump, has purchased 2,971.4 ETH worth 9.97 million. This move highlights growing institutional interest in Ethereum and cryptocurrencies. The acquisition reflects a broader trend of traditional financial entities diversifying into digital assets.

David Sacks Pushes Bitcoin-Backed Stablecoin Bill

David Sacks is advocating for a crypto plan that includes using Bitcoin as a reserve asset and creating a Bitcoin-backed stablecoin. The proposal aims to strengthen the U.S. dollar and promote wider adoption of cryptocurrencies. Sacks believes this approach could position the U.S. as a leader in the global crypto economy.

Ethereum Hits New Massive Record

Ethereum has achieved a new all-time high, driven by increasing adoption, DeFi growth, and institutional interest. The milestone underscores Ethereum’s dominance as a leading blockchain platform for decentralized applications. Analysts attribute the surge to ongoing network upgrades and rising demand for smart contract functionality.

More Parents Choose Bitcoin Over 529 College Savings Plans

A growing number of parents are opting to invest in Bitcoin instead of traditional 529 college savings plans. They view Bitcoin as a potentially higher-return investment for their children’s future education costs. This shift reflects increasing confidence in cryptocurrencies as long-term financial assets.

Ethereum’s New All-Time High in March Highly Likely, Says Analyst

Analysts predict Ethereum is poised to reach a new all-time high in March, driven by strong market fundamentals and increasing institutional interest. Key factors include the ongoing Ethereum 2.0 upgrade and rising DeFi activity. The bullish outlook suggests continued growth for the second-largest cryptocurrency.

Czech Central Bank Considers Billions in Bitcoin Reserves

The Czech National Bank is exploring the possibility of adding Bitcoin to its reserves, potentially investing billions. This move would mark a significant shift in central bank strategies toward digital assets. The consideration reflects growing recognition of Bitcoin as a legitimate store of value.

SEC Eases Rules for Banks to Safely Hold Bitcoin and Crypto

The SEC has relaxed regulations, making it easier for banks to hold Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies securely. The updated rules aim to encourage institutional participation in the crypto market while ensuring compliance. This regulatory clarity is expected to boost confidence among traditional financial institutions in adopting digital assets.

MegaETH Announces ICO via Soulbound NFT Mint

MegaETH has announced its Initial Coin Offering (ICO) through a unique Soulbound NFT minting process. Soulbound NFTs are non-transferable tokens tied to a user’s identity, ensuring long-term engagement and authenticity. This innovative approach aims to create a more secure and community-focused fundraising model. The ICO is expected to attract attention for its blend of blockchain technology and identity-based tokenomics.

What is DeFai?

DeFai, or Decentralized Finance Artificial Intelligence, represents the integration of AI technologies into DeFi ecosystems to enhance efficiency, decision-making, and user experience. AI can optimize trading strategies, risk management, and yield farming by analyzing vast amounts of data in real-time. This fusion aims to create smarter, more adaptive financial systems while maintaining the decentralized ethos of DeFi. The concept highlights the potential for AI to revolutionize how decentralized finance operates.