Tether announced the upcoming launch of QVAC (QuantumVerse Automatic Computer), a decentralized development platform for locally operating AI agents.
Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, claimed that the company is aiming for a full launch in Q3 2025. Before this happens, it will also release a few QVAC-based AI apps for general use.
Earlier this month, crypto AI agents staged a massive comeback, and the firm is now revealing its project. Tether’s QVAC is intended to keep the AI space decentralized, empowering individuals to use sophisticated protocols:
A little over a week ago, Tether teased its upcoming peer-to-peer AI platform, which now seems like a reference to QVAC. Ardoino claimed that the company aims for a Q3 2025 release, which may take longer.
Because Tether won’t be fully releasing QVAC for several months at the earliest, there aren’t many details available. However, the company’s statements describe some very ambitious goals.
QVAC will center around AI agents, specifically on developing them for local use. It will use modular architecture to create functional tools that run on personal devices.
Tether was very clear that QVAC’s agents won’t require users to remotely connect with external servers. Even where it employs collaboration, QVAC will focus on peer-to-peer contact with other small-scale developers.
The firm will also launch the first QVAC-based apps “soon,” but it has provided no further details.
This Chinese AI model boasts dramatically lower hardware requirements than its competitors, enabling users to host it locally. DeepSeek can do this for an entire LLM, so Tether hopes to employ QVAC for more niche AI agents.
Hopefully, Tether will continue releasing technical details about QVAC during Q2 before a full launch in Q3. If the company can meet this imposing challenge, it would significantly contribute to global AI development.
Stellar (XLM) enters May 2025 in a fragile position, underperforming Bitcoin and other altcoins both in price action and trading volume. Despite following BTC’s general trajectory, XLM has failed to capture the same upside, while still participating fully in market corrections.
Volume has also collapsed from early-year highs, highlighting a drop in market interest and liquidity. With price sitting just above a key support and a potential death cross on the horizon, Stellar faces a critical month that could define its near-term trend.
XLM Lags Behind Bitcoin With Asymmetric Volatility
While Bitcoin has climbed over 14%, XLM has managed only a 2.8% gain, falling behind BTC and other altcoins like Hedera, which have shown stronger bullish reactions.
This muted upside signals a lack of conviction among traders and raises questions about Stellar’s momentum in the current market cycle.
Normally, altcoins are expected to amplify Bitcoin’s movements both ways: outperforming during rallies and underperforming in downturns. Stellar, however, only shows downside volatility without the upside benefit.
This imbalance makes the token vulnerable, signaling weaker market confidence and potentially limiting its appeal in a risk-on environment.
Stellar Trading Volume Collapses From Early 2025 Highs
This is well below previous highs—$480 million on April 7 and $930 million on March 3—showing a clear downtrend in market participation.
Declining volume often signals weakening interest from traders and can limit price momentum, especially in a token that already underperforms on the upside.
Daily volume frequently surpassed $1 billion in January and February, even reaching above $2 billion. That level of liquidity helped fuel stronger price action and volatility.
With current figures sitting at a fraction of those peaks, Stellar faces a market backdrop that lacks energy and conviction—potentially capping any meaningful rallies in the near term.
Stellar at Make-or-Break Support as Death Cross Looms
Stellar is hovering just above a key support level at $0.26, a zone that could determine its next major move. The EMA lines are tightening, and a potential death cross may be forming where short-term EMAs cross below long-term ones.
If the $0.26 support is lost and the death cross confirms, XLM could slide further toward $0.239 and even $0.20, signaling a deeper bearish shift.
Conversely, bullish momentum could return if Stellar price manages to bounce and break through the $0.297 resistance.
Moving past that level could open the door to $0.349 and $0.375, with further upside potential toward $0.44 and even $0.495 if volume and sentiment improve.
June will see three major token unlocks—ZKsync (ZK), Vana (VANA), and LayerZero (ZRO). These tokens will unlock nearly $133 million in newly circulating assets.
Overall, $2.4 billion worth of assets will be unlocked this month. These unlocks represent sizable portions of each project’s market cap and could influence short-term price dynamics. Here’s what to know.
1. ZKsync (ZK)
Unlock Date: June 17
Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 770 million ZK (3.67% of Max Supply)
On June 17, 770 million ZK tokens—worth approximately $41.61 million—will be unlocked. Of that, 397.20 million tokens (11%) are allocated to investors, and 372.80 million tokens (11%) to team members.
This unlock represents nearly 21% of the token’s market cap. ZKsync is currently trading at $0.05394, down 11% in the last week of May.
2. Vana (VANA)
Unlock Date: June 16
Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 5.19 million VANA (4.33% of Total Supply)
Current Circulating Supply: 30.8 million VANA
Vana is a decentralized data marketplace that lets users control and monetize their personal data. Its native token, VANA, powers platform access, rewards contributors, and governs network decisions.
On June 16, Vana will release 5.19 million tokens—valued at $35.25 million. The distribution includes 4.74 million tokens (8.98%) for community initiatives and 452.60K tokens (1.65%) for ecosystem expansion.
Meanwhile, the token is up 18% in the last week of May. So, this unlock could test bullish sentiment.
Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 24.68 million ZRO (2.47% of Total Supply)
Current Circulating Supply: 111.15 million ZRO
LayerZero is an omnichain interoperability protocol designed to connect disparate blockchain networks. Its ZRO token plays a key role in governance and may support future messaging or fee functionalities.
On June 20, LayerZero will unlock 24.68 million ZRO tokens. The unlocked assets will be worth roughly $56.72 million.
Overall, the allocation includes 12.88 million tokens (4%) for strategic partners, 10.20 million tokens (4%) for core contributors, and 1.60 million tokens (4%) for tokens repurchased by the team.
Meanwhile, ZRO is currently trading at $2.30, down 10% in the final week of May.
These three unlocks represent a combined $133 million in token value entering the market. With substantial portions going to insiders and ecosystems, market participants should monitor distribution activity closely.
Short-term volatility may follow, especially in lower-liquidity trading environments.
(@paoloardoino) May 14, 2025
