13
07
2025

PAGES

13
07
2025

spot_img

PAGES

Home Blog Page 22

South African AI Startup Cerebrium Raises $8.5M to Scale Serverless Infrastructure For Real-Time AI Applications

0

Cerebrium, a serverless AI infrastructure platform designed to simplify the development and scaling of multimodal AI applications, has raised $8.5 million in seed funding.

The round was led by Gradient Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, Authentic Ventures, and several strategic angel investors and operators.

With the fresh capital, Cerebrium plans to bolster its engineering team to keep pace with enterprise demand and accelerate product development. The company aims to introduce new features to enhance its platform’s capabilities, particularly in real-time AI applications like digital avatars, which could have far-reaching implications for industries such as gaming, entertainment, and telehealth.

Founded by Michael Louis and Jonathan Irwin, Cerebrium is a serverless AI infrastructure platform built from the ground up to power the next generation of high-performance AI applications.

Cerebrium emerged from the founders’ own frustrations while building AI-powered products. “Tooling was fragmented, there was an education gap between theory and production, the unit economics didn’t make sense, and development cycles took months,” explained CEO Michael Louis. “We built Cerebrium so engineers can focus on building AI products users love with real business impact without needing a dedicated infrastructure team or incurring massive cloud costs.” 

Cerebrium supports applications like voice AI, real-time digital avatars, and healthcare solutions, offering low-latency, cost-effective serverless GPU infrastructure with sub-5-second cold-start times and up to 40% cost savings compared to traditional cloud providers. From real-time voice bots to multimodal inference pipelines and large-scale batch jobs, the platform makes it radically easier for teams to deploy, scale, and operate AI workloads without managing a single server.

Cerebrium’s platform powers some of today’s most cutting-edge AI startups, including Tavus, Deepgram, and Vapi, among others. It is specifically optimized for real-time, high-performance use cases such as voice agents, LLM fine-tuning, video model inference, and large-scale data analytics.

Beyond its core offering of serverless GPU infrastructure, Cerebrium provides support for batching, multi-region deployments, and large-scale data processing. This allows engineering teams to seamlessly run compute-heavy workloads with minimal configuration, scaling on demand while only paying for what they use. Importantly, the platform also meets enterprise-level security and data residency requirements, reducing the burden of compliance.

The AI infrastructure platform performance has won praise from key users. Roey Paz-Priel, ML Engineer at Tavus, noted, “We run a range of real-time audio and video models, and performance is everything. Cerebrium consistently delivers the speed and reliability we need without overhead. Even as we scaled rapidly and went viral, they met our compute demands with stability.”

Eylul Kayin, Partner at Gradient, added, “What the Cerebrium team has accomplished with such a small group is impressive. They’re enabling some of the most advanced AI voice and video applications to scale effortlessly. As real-time AI becomes foundational to digital experiences, specialized elastic infrastructure like Cerebrium’s will be essential.”

Originally founded in Cape Town, South Africa, and now headquartered in New York City, Cerebrium plans to use the new capital to build additional features and meet growing enterprise demand. The company’s move to the U.S. reflects its ambition to compete globally, while its South African origins underscore the growing influence of African tech in AI innovation.

In A Blow to Google, Replit Joins Forces with Microsoft in Azure Partnership, Targeting Business Users and App Builders

0

Replit, one of the most prominent rising stars in AI-assisted software development, has struck a strategic partnership with Microsoft that could significantly expand its reach while positioning Azure as a key player in the growing low-code/no-code development space.

Under the deal, Replit will become available through Microsoft’s enterprise cloud app marketplace, Azure Marketplace, enabling enterprise customers to purchase Replit subscriptions directly through Microsoft’s cloud platform. Additionally, Replit is integrating its platform with key Microsoft cloud services — including containers, virtual machines, and Microsoft’s flavor of Postgres, Neon Serverless Postgres, which is already supported by Replit’s backend.

The partnership means that Azure will capture revenue from Replit-built apps running in production, marking a mutually beneficial arrangement. While Microsoft already owns GitHub Copilot — one of the most widely used AI coding tools — Replit is not a direct competitor in the traditional sense. GitHub Copilot is geared toward professional developers using code editors like VS Code, and it competes more directly with tools like Cursor by Anysphere.

By contrast, Replit is aimed at a wider audience, including novice users, business managers, and professionals with little or no programming experience. Its browser-based interface allows users to describe the kind of application they want, and the platform handles everything from database setup to storage and authentication. Experienced users can dig deeper, using Replit’s support for various programming languages to customize or extend functionality.

Competing With Figma for Prototyping — Not Copilot

This partnership is being framed as a design and prototyping solution for non-technical users, with the companies positioning the tool as something akin to Figma, rather than a traditional developer IDE. In this use case, a non-programmer — like a sales manager—could use Replit to create internal apps, such as a dashboard that tracks the correlation between contract renewals and customer support tickets.

“We are enabling all employees across all functions to develop apps, regardless of coding experience, so we are complementary to Copilot from that perspective,” a Replit spokesperson told TechCrunch.

Replit’s Explosive Growth

The deal follows a period of staggering growth for Replit. In June, CEO Amjad Masad revealed that the company grew from $10 million to $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in just six months, a tenfold leap that puts it in elite company among venture-backed software startups.

Replit raised $97.4 million in its last funding round at a $1.1 billion post-money valuation, backed by Andreessen Horowitz and supported by notable investors like Khosla Ventures, SV Angel, Coatue, Bloomberg Beta, Naval Ravikant, Y Combinator, and ARK Ventures. Masad said in June that the company has yet to touch most of its capital: “We still have over half our funding in the bank.”

Replit now claims over 500,000 business users on its platform, underlining its traction beyond just the hobbyist or solo developer crowd.

A Blow to Google Cloud?

The Microsoft deal could come as a blow to Google Cloud, which currently hosts many of Replit’s apps. Google had proudly featured Replit as a customer success story, but with Replit now integrating deeply into Microsoft Azure’s ecosystem, the partnership suggests a broader multicloud strategy that gives Replit flexibility and scalability — and gives Microsoft an edge in enterprise adoption.

However, Replit confirmed to TechCrunch that the deal with Microsoft is non-exclusive, meaning Google Cloud will continue to support Replit-hosted apps, but Azure will now serve as another major partner. This approach also leaves room for other vibe coders to strike similar integration deals with cloud platforms, signaling how rapidly the AI coding landscape is evolving.

Rising Competition in the “Vibe Coding” Arena

Replit’s rise comes amid stiff competition from other startups riding the same trend. Lovable, a European rival, has reportedly hit $50 million ARR and is said to be raising funds at a $2 billion valuation. Another startup, Bolt, hit $40 million ARR in just five months. These companies are defining what’s being dubbed the “vibe coding” space — a blend of AI, low-code, and user-friendly design-first programming experiences.

The Replit–Microsoft tie-up signals a broader shift in software development: more enterprise teams building internal tools without waiting for IT, and more non-engineers prototyping applications that once required full-stack developer support.

It also highlights Microsoft’s evolving strategy in AI and developer tooling. By supporting Replit — even while owning GitHub Copilot — Microsoft shows a growing interest in fostering diverse entry points into AI-powered software creation, from hardcore coders to curious first-timers.

With AI transforming the software stack at every level, this deal between Replit and Microsoft could mark a pivotal moment — not just for the two companies, but for the way software gets made across industries.

Trump Media Files with SEC to Launch Truth Social Crypto Blue Chip ETF, Expanding Bullish Pivot Toward Digital Assets

0

Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. (Nasdaq, NYSE Texas: DJT) — the parent company of Truth Social — has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to give retail and institutional investors exposure to five major cryptocurrencies.

The proposed Truth Social Crypto Blue Chip ETF, which will trade under the ticker B.T., will hold Bitcoin, Ether, Solana (SOL), Cronos (CRO), and Ripple (XRP) directly, marking the company’s boldest foray yet into the digital asset space.

According to the S-1 filing, the ETF will allocate 70% of its assets to Bitcoin, followed by 15% to Ether, 8% to SOL, 5% to CRO, and 2% to XRP, making it a rare multi-asset crypto fund in a U.S. market where the majority of approved ETFs are Bitcoin-only. The proposed fund aims to track the price performance of the underlying crypto assets and provide regulated, exchange-traded access to top-tier digital currencies.

Crypto.com will serve as the ETF’s exclusive digital asset custodian, prime execution agent, staking provider, and liquidity facilitator, suggesting an infrastructure geared toward institutional-grade asset handling.

The ETF’s launch will be contingent upon both the SEC’s approval of the Form S-1 registration and a separate 19b-4 filing with the Commission. If approved, the ETF shares will be listed on NYSE Arca, and Yorkville America Digital will act as the sponsor.

A Strategic Crypto Bet in Line With Trump’s Broader Vision

The move by Trump Media reflects Donald Trump’s increasingly bullish stance on cryptocurrency, an evolution from his once-critical view of digital assets. In recent months, Trump has openly embraced Bitcoin after vowing to support crypto-friendly policies if re-elected, making digital assets a key talking point in his economic and political messaging.

Launching a crypto ETF under his media empire’s brand aligns with this positioning. The ETF is not only a financial product — it also serves as a symbolic statement about Trump’s commitment to countering what he frequently calls the “weaponization of Big Tech and Big Government.”

The company said the ETF and its broader FinTech arm, Truth.Fi, are being developed to challenge legacy financial institutions and offer “America First investment vehicles.” This includes plans to hold Bitcoin on the company’s balance sheet — a move reminiscent of MicroStrategy and other pro-Bitcoin corporate strategies.

Analysts See a Market Catalyst in Trump’s Crypto Embrace

Market analysts say the entry of a Trump-backed ETF into the crypto investment landscape could boost investor sentiment and retail participation, especially among conservative-leaning or politically engaged segments of the U.S. electorate. The ETF’s design — holding multiple coins beyond just Bitcoin — also sets it apart from existing single-asset funds currently dominating U.S. exchanges.

Some also believe that Trump’s full-throated endorsement of crypto could pressure the SEC to accelerate approvals for pending spot ETFs for coins like Solana and XRP, which remain in limbo despite growing demand.

A Decentralized Finance Push Wrapped in Politics

The ETF is just one part of a wider financial services expansion by Trump Media. The company’s Truth+ streaming platform and Truth Social app are already positioned as alternatives to mainstream platforms, marketed as havens for free speech. Now, with the addition of Truth.Fi and the planned ETF, Trump Media is expanding its portfolio into DeFi territory — aiming to establish a new digital ecosystem for politically aligned investors.

While critics view the move as a politicization of financial products, supporters argue that it is a timely entry into a sector where decentralization and censorship resistance are core values.

However, the ETF’s fate depends on SEC approval. While the agency has recently softened its stance toward crypto ETFs — allowing the first wave of spot Bitcoin funds earlier this year — it remains cautious, particularly with funds holding altcoins like XRP and Solana. However, insiders suggest that a framework for multi-asset listings may be on the horizon, especially as pressure builds from Wall Street and political circles.

If approved, the Truth Social Crypto Blue Chip ETF would enter a rapidly growing market already dominated by financial heavyweights like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale, who are also pursuing similar listings. Trump Media, however, is betting on brand power, political momentum, and multi-asset diversity to carve out its niche.

The company’s registration statement includes the usual cautionary notes about forward-looking risks, underscoring that the offering will proceed only once the SEC deems the filing effective. Until then, the company says, no shares will be offered or sold.

But beyond regulatory hurdles, the significance of the filing lies in what it represents: Donald Trump’s transformation into the most crypto-forward political figure in U.S. history — and the possibility that his support could become a defining force in the next chapter of America’s digital asset policy and market structure.

Ripple’s Garlinghouse To Testify Before The U.S. Senate Banking Committee On July 9th

0

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is scheduled to testify before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on July 9, 2025, during a hearing titled “From Wall Street to Web3: Building Tomorrow’s Digital Asset Markets.” The session, led by Chairman Tim Scott and Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ruben Gallego, will focus on crypto market structure legislation, including the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act, aiming to clarify regulatory frameworks for digital assets.

Garlinghouse, joined by industry leaders like Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger, Chainalysis CEO Jonathan Levin, and Paradigm’s Dan Robinson, will advocate for clear regulations to foster innovation and consumer protection. This follows Ripple’s legal milestones, including a 2023 court ruling that XRP is not a security in public sales, reaffirmed in June 2025. The hearing could influence U.S. crypto policy and XRP’s regulatory status.

Garlinghouse’s testimony provides a platform to push for regulatory clarity, particularly for XRP, which has been at the center of Ripple’s legal battles with the SEC. The 2023 court ruling (and its 2025 reaffirmation) that XRP is not a security in public sales strengthens Ripple’s position. Garlinghouse may argue for legislation like the GENIUS Act or CLARITY Act to codify such rulings, reducing regulatory uncertainty.

Clearer regulations could enable Ripple to expand its payment solutions and enterprise services in the U.S., where regulatory ambiguity has previously limited growth. This could also boost XRP’s adoption in cross-border payments. A favorable outcome could set a precedent for other cryptocurrencies, distinguishing between securities and non-securities, and potentially reducing the SEC’s enforcement-driven approach.

News of the testimony has already sparked optimism among XRP holders, with posts on X suggesting potential price surges if regulatory clarity is achieved. However, uncertainty or negative regulatory signals could lead to volatility or price dips. Clear regulations could attract institutional investors to XRP and other digital assets, fostering market stability and growth. Conversely, restrictive policies could dampen enthusiasm and drive investment to crypto-friendly jurisdictions outside the U.S.

Legislation discussed at the hearing could shape the competitive landscape. For example, the GENIUS Act’s focus on decentralized finance (DeFi) could benefit projects like Ripple, while the CLARITY Act’s emphasis on market structure might favor established players. The presence of Senators like Cynthia Lummis (pro-crypto) and Tim Scott suggests bipartisan interest in crypto legislation. The hearing could accelerate bills like the FIT21 Act, which aims to shift oversight from the SEC to the CFTC, a framework Garlinghouse has historically supported.

Garlinghouse may emphasize the risk of the U.S. falling behind countries like Singapore or the UAE in crypto innovation due to regulatory overreach. This could pressure lawmakers to act swiftly to retain U.S. leadership in digital asset markets. The hearing will likely balance consumer protection (e.g., preventing fraud) with fostering innovation. Ripple’s testimony could influence how this balance is struck in proposed legislation.

The SEC, led by former Chairman Gary Gensler, took an enforcement-heavy approach, classifying many cryptocurrencies as securities. Ripple’s legal victories challenge this stance, and Garlinghouse may advocate for CFTC oversight, which views digital assets as commodities, as seen in posts on X favoring CFTC jurisdiction. Some lawmakers and regulators prioritize strict oversight to protect consumers, while others, like Senator Lummis, argue for light-touch regulation to encourage innovation. This divide will shape the hearing’s outcome and the fate of bills like GENIUS and CLARITY.

Ripple, with its enterprise-focused blockchain, contrasts with fully decentralized projects like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Some in the crypto community criticize Ripple’s centralized control over XRP, as seen in X posts accusing Ripple of “dumping” XRP on retail investors. Garlinghouse’s testimony may need to address these concerns to align with DeFi advocates. Established firms like Ripple may benefit from clear regulations, while smaller projects fear high compliance costs could stifle innovation.

X posts from XRP supporters express hope that the testimony will lead to a “moon” event for XRP’s price, reflecting bullish sentiment tied to regulatory progress. Skeptics warn of potential disappointments if the hearing yields no actionable outcomes. Traditional finance advocates may view crypto as speculative and risky, while crypto enthusiasts see it as a transformative technology. This divide is reflected in X debates about whether Ripple’s testimony will legitimize crypto or reinforce skepticism among traditional institutions.

Garlinghouse’s testimony could be a pivotal moment for Ripple and the crypto industry, potentially shaping U.S. regulatory frameworks and XRP’s market trajectory. The implications hinge on whether the hearing advances clear, innovation-friendly legislation or perpetuates regulatory uncertainty. The divide—between regulators, industry players, and public sentiment—underscores the complexity of integrating digital assets into the financial system.

U.S. Secret Service Is Focusing On Combating Crypto Scams

0

The U.S. Secret Service has taken significant steps to combat cryptocurrency-related scams, focusing on sophisticated fraud schemes like “pig butchering.” In June 2025, the Secret Service, in collaboration with Coinbase, seized $225 million in cryptocurrency, primarily USDT, linked to pig butchering scams. This operation marked the largest crypto seizure in the agency’s history, with funds being returned to victims.

The Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center has recovered over $400 million in stolen crypto assets, emphasizing training for law enforcement to tackle digital crime. The agency has been actively warning the public about crypto scams, highlighting red flags to prevent victimization. The Secret Service has been dismantling transnational crypto-laundering networks, such as the La Verde Group, showing a consistent focus on disrupting crypto-related crime.

High-profile seizures and law enforcement actions signal to investors and users that authorities are actively working to protect against fraud. This could bolster confidence in legitimate crypto platforms and encourage mainstream adoption. By targeting scams, the Secret Service helps reduce the volatility caused by fraud-related losses, which can destabilize markets and erode trust.

The dismantling of transnational crypto-laundering networks, like the La Verde Group, and the recovery of over $400 million in stolen assets put significant pressure on scammers, making it harder for them to operate undetected. Publicized actions may deter new entrants into crypto-related crime, as the risk of detection and asset seizure increases. The Secret Service’s focus on crypto scams aligns with broader regulatory efforts by agencies like the SEC and CFTC to police digital assets.

This could lead to tighter regulations for crypto exchanges, wallets, and DeFi platforms to prevent misuse. Legitimate crypto businesses may face increased compliance burdens, such as enhanced KYC/AML requirements, to align with law enforcement expectations. The return of seized funds to victims, as seen in the Coinbase collaboration, provides tangible relief and sets a precedent for prioritizing victim recovery.

The Secret Service’s warnings about scam red flags empower consumers to avoid fraud, potentially reducing the success rate of schemes like pig butchering. Since many crypto scams are transnational, the Secret Service’s partnerships with global entities and exchanges like Coinbase strengthen cross-border efforts to combat cybercrime. The global nature of crypto complicates enforcement, as some scam operators operate in jurisdictions with lax regulations, requiring innovative approaches to track and seize assets.

Legitimate crypto users, investors, and platforms benefit from a safer ecosystem as scams are curtailed and trust grows. Scammers and criminal networks face increased risks, with their operations disrupted and profits seized. This divide is intentional, as the initiative aims to protect users while targeting bad actors. Exchanges like Coinbase, which collaborate with law enforcement, gain credibility and market share as trusted entities. However, they may face higher compliance costs.

Decentralized or offshore platforms that avoid KYC/AML checks may attract scammers but risk being blacklisted or targeted by global law enforcement, creating a divide between compliant and non-compliant operators. Those familiar with crypto are better equipped to recognize scam red flags and benefit from increased protections. Less tech-savvy individuals, often targeted by scams like pig butchering, remain at risk despite awareness campaigns. The divide in digital literacy means some groups are harder to protect without broader education efforts.

The Secret Service’s reliance on partnerships with centralized exchanges like Coinbase aligns with a regulated, centralized crypto model, which some in the crypto community support for mainstream adoption. Crypto purists who favor decentralization may view these interventions as government overreach, potentially stifling innovation or privacy. This ideological divide could intensify debates over crypto’s future.

Countries with strong regulatory frameworks, like the U.S., can enforce anti-scam measures effectively, benefiting their citizens. Regions with weaker legal systems or fewer resources may struggle to combat crypto scams, creating a divide where scammers relocate to less-regulated jurisdictions, complicating global enforcement. The Secret Service’s initiative strengthens the fight against crypto scams, fostering trust and accountability in the ecosystem while disrupting criminal operations.