The new DeepSeek R1 model from China launched last week. If you’re into AI or even into technology more broadly, it was hard to miss the news. Everyone was talking about it. But it’s not just that. It’s the way everyone was talking about it. I was left with the impression that DeepSeek is going to drive a stake through the heart of OpenAI and Anthropic.
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HBAR Jumps 20% on Nasdaq’s ETF Filing, Yet Key Indicators Suggest Caution
HBAR noted a 20% rally during Wednesday’s intraday trading session. This double-digit gain was fueled by Nasdaq’s filing of a 19b-4 form with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list and trade Grayscale’s spot HBAR exchange-traded fund (ETF).
However, the rally appears to be losing momentum. Market indicators suggest that bearish sentiment is strengthening, putting HBAR at risk of losing recent gains.
HBAR Faces Downward Pressure as Market Sentiment Turns Bearish
HBAR’s negative Balance of Power (BoP) reading indicates weakening buying pressure among its spot market participants. At press time, this indicator, which compares the strength of an asset’s bulls and bears, is below zero at -0.09.
When an asset’s BoP is negative, its sellers exert more control over price action. This suggests weakening buying pressure in the HBAR market and hints at a potential continuation of the bearish momentum.
Moreover, HBAR’s Long/Short ratio indicates an increasing dominance of short positions, confirming the bearish sentiment among its futures traders. As of this writing, this stands at 0.98.
The Long/Short ratio measures the proportion of long positions (bets on price increases) to short positions (bets on price declines) in the market. When the ratio is below 1, it indicates that short positions outnumber long positions. It highlights the bearish sentiment among HBAR holders and increases the downward pressure on its price.
HBAR’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
HBAR exchanges hands at $0.24 at press time. On the daily chart, it trades above support formed at $0.22. If bearish pressure gains momentum, this level may fail to hold. HBAR’s price could decline further to $0.17 if the bulls cannot defend this support level.
Conversely, a positive shift in market sentiment could prevent this. If new demand trickles into the market, HBAR’s price could breach resistance at $0.26 and rally toward $0.31.
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Solana’s DeFi Surge Could Rival Ethereum’s Market Value Soon, Franklin Templeton Predicts
In recent months, Solana has demonstrated remarkable growth in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, prompting discussions about its potential to rival Ethereum’s valuation.
A new report by Franklin Templeton highlighted that Solana’s DeFi protocols are among the most utilized and highest-earning platforms across all blockchain environments.
Franklin Templeton Predicts Solana as Ethereum’s Rival
In an analysis, Franklin Templeton highlighted the rapid growth and potential of Solana’s DeFi ecosystem. The report suggested that its valuation could soon rival Ethereum’s.
The global asset management firm, which oversees $1.68 trillion in assets, noted that six Solana-based protocols surpassed $1 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL).
During the third and fourth quarters of 2024, Solana outperformed Ethereum in several key metrics. Solana’s decentralized exchange (DEX) volume notably exceeded that of Ethereum and all Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)–based DEXs combined.
The surge indicates a significant shift in DeFi activity towards Solana, challenging Ethereum’s longstanding dominance in the space. Jito (JTO) leads the charge, a liquid staking protocol that recently reached an all-time high of $3 billion in TVL. Notably, this marked the first time a Solana-based protocol has achieved this milestone.
Other notable protocols include Jupiter (JUP), Raydium (RAY), Kamino (KMNO), Marinade (MNDE), and Sanctum Coin (SANCTA). Collectively, these protocols contributed to Solana’s growing DeFi ecosystem.
Further emphasizing its growing prominence, Solana’s active addresses per hour were reported to be 26 times higher than Ethereum’s as of January 2025. This surge in user activity reflects the network’s scalability and efficiency, making it an attractive platform for developers and investors seeking faster transactions and lower fees.
Despite the impressive growth, Franklin Templeton’s report points out that Solana’s DeFi protocols remain undervalued compared to their Ethereum counterparts. The analysis reveals that Solana’s DeFi tokens are trading at lower valuation multiples, although they exhibit higher growth profiles and strong fundamentals.
“Solana DeFi valuation multiples trade on average lower than their Ethereum counterparts despite significantly higher growth profiles. This highlights an apparent valuation asymmetry between the two ecosystems,” an excerpt in the report read.
Notwithstanding, Franklin Templeton says the increased activity has also contributed to Solana’s rising market capitalization and overall ecosystem growth. According to the asset manager, these discrepancies suggest a potential investment opportunity as the market adjusts to recognize Solana’s expanding influence in the DeFi sector.
Reflecting this optimism, Franklin Templeton filed for a spot Solana ETF (exchange-traded fund) with the US SEC. Notably, the proposed ETF includes staking capabilities. This means investors can earn rewards by participating in network validation processes, which is the first for a Solana-based ETF.
Solana Rising – Could It Overtake Ethereum?
While some investors are enthusiastic about Solana’s potential, others remain skeptical. A user on X (Twitter) challenged the move to compare Solana to Ethereum, alluding to stark differences in foundational robustness.
“It’s like comparing Ethereum versus Las Vegas casino. Yea Vegas has more chips,” the user quipped.
Similarly, industry analysts caution against assuming Solana is poised to surpass Ethereum imminently. Juan Pellicer, Senior Research Analyst at IntoTheBlock, noted that while Solana has narrowed the market capitalization gap with Ethereum, it still faces significant hurdles.
“While Solana may continue to grow and potentially challenge Ethereum in specific niches, overcoming Ethereum’s entrenched position as the dominant platform in the immediate future is still unlikely, though the competitive landscape is dynamic and evolving,” Pellicer told BeInCrypto.
Specifically, Pellicer emphasized that Ethereum benefits from established trust and a vast developer community. According to the analyst, these are critical factors in maintaining its leading position in the DeFi space.
He also highlighted the need for Solana to address centralization concerns and achieve parity in developer adoption. These, according to the analysts, would see Solana truly challenge Ethereum’s dominance.
As Solana continues to innovate and expand its DeFi ecosystem, its potential to reach valuations comparable to Ethereum becomes more plausible.
BeInCrypto data shows SOL was trading for $149.77 as of this writing, up by over 5% in the past 24 hours.
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NeoTech Lands Major City Deal as Romania’s Târgu Mureș Scales Its Digital Twin Infrastructure
A city-wide smart infrastructure initiative enters a new phase with a multi-million-dollar expansion and a growing Web3 footprint.
Târgu Mureș, located in central Romania, is actively using NeoTech’s AI-powered 3D mapping technology to modernize urban systems. This is not a new move; the partnership began back in 2022, with strong support from local officials.
Through NeoTech’s 2 cm-accurate 3D mapping, the city can model roads, buildings, public green spaces, and infrastructure assets in high fidelity. This data is already being applied to real-world planning, from simulating public works projects to visualizing zoning decisions.
In one notable use case, Târgu Mureș opened an international architectural competition using NeoTech’s 3D models. Architects worldwide used the digital twin to design a new parking structure entirely virtually without ever stepping foot in the city.
From Infrastructure to On-Chain Revenue
In collaboration with both the City Hall and Mureș County Council, NeoTech is now executing a seven-figure agreement to expand its digital twin infrastructure across the region, making it one of the most comprehensive municipal 3D mapping deployments in Eastern Europe.
The latest phase of the partnership will see over $100,000 in revenue reinvested directly into the NEOT token ecosystem. This approach connects physical infrastructure with digital economies, starting from a city contract to platform revenue to on-chain buybacks and token utility.
It’s a tangible demonstration of how Web3 technology can serve public sector goals while supporting tokenized ecosystems.
Political Support and Long-Term Vision
Mayor Zoltan Soos has been a supporter of the technology, noting the city’s ability to track investments, improve accountability, and forecast urban change, all through NeoTech’s interface.
“We are impressed by the results… We can follow in real time all the costs, budget and investments,” said the Mayor.
This kind of support highlights the growing institutional appetite for decentralized platforms that offer practical value.
What Sets NeoTech Apart
NeoTech combines LiDAR-based scanning, AI-powered processing, and blockchain-based asset tokenization, all into a single platform. Its sub-2cm digital twins are used not only by city governments but also by metaverse developers, real estate firms, and virtual tourism platforms.
Key features include:
- Ultra-precise mapping for smart cities
- NFT-based asset ownership for real-world locations
- Tokenized infrastructure with built-in monetization
- B2B marketplace for licensing digital assets
The company has already scanned over 500 cities across seven countries, with more deployments in progress. Unlike traditional GIS platforms that silo data, NeoTech enables shared access, tokenized ownership, and decentralized governance. Assets can be rented, traded, or used in metaverse applications, all tied back to verifiable real-world locations.
This model opens up new possibilities in areas like: urban planning, digital advertising, immersive simulations, AI training datasets, on-chain asset trading, etc.
Looking Ahead
With Târgu Mureș as a leading example, NeoTech is now in discussions with additional municipalities and private sector partners in Europe, the Middle East, and North America. The goal is to expand the smart city network and the on-chain economy that supports it.
As cities continue to explore new models for managing data, planning infrastructure, and engaging citizens, NeoTech offers a working blueprint.
About NeoTech
NeoTech is a leading AI-powered 3D mapping and RWA tokenization company with a strong foundation in enterprise geospatial solutions. Having worked with governments, municipalities, and businesses in Romania, NeoTech is now expanding into Web3 to bring real-world asset ownership to blockchain.
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