Bill Miller IV, CIO of Miller Value Partners, stated Bitcoin’s unique decentralized governance and proof-of-work security give it a lasting edge over Ethereum and Solana. He noted that while Ethereum and Solana benefit from regulatory clarity and technological upgrades, Bitcoin’s design as a decentralized, scarce digital asset makes it the dominant “global denominator of capital.” Miller expressed skepticism that Ethereum or Solana will surpass Bitcoin in the long term, emphasizing Bitcoin’s unmatched resilience and trust.
Firms worldwide are accelerating their efforts to integrate digital assets into their financial frameworks. While Bitcoin (BTC) has been the go-to choice, many companies are now diversifying into major altcoins like Ethereum (ETH), XRP (XRP), and Solana (SOL).
Besides these, AI tokens have emerged as compelling contenders for institutional investment. Recently, Synaptogenix adopted Bittensor (TAO) as a reserve asset. In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Synaptogenix outlined the motivations behind this strategic move and why TAO was chosen over Bitcoin.
Why Did Synaptogenix Choose Bittensor (TAO)?
On June 9, BeInCrypto reported that Synaptogenix, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, launched a TAO treasury strategy to acquire $100 million worth of tokens. To start with, the firm announced that it will spend $10 million to buy TAO using its cash reserves and balance sheet.
This amount, more than double Synaptogenix’s current market capitalization of $4.98 million, highlighted its commitment and confidence in TAO. A spokesperson told BeInCrypto that the decision stems from a belief in the untapped potential of decentralized AI.
The spokesperson explained that despite the crypto’s massive $3 trillion market capitalization, it remains underrepresented in public equity markets. They pointed to Strategy’s (formerly MicroStrategy) success under Michael Saylor, who demonstrated that holding Bitcoin in corporate treasuries can yield significant returns.
Bitcoin represents a bet on “crypto as currency,” while Ethereum and Solana focus on decentralized finance—sectors projected to grow into trillions. However, Synaptogenix sees an even greater opportunity in the convergence of crypto and AI.
“AI companies have reached a market cap of nearly $500 billion, while TAO, the leading decentralized AI token, is valued at only $3 billion. Despite its growth, TAO’s value remains underappreciated as interest in decentralized AI increases,” the spokesperson noted.
They highlighted that venture capital investment in decentralized AI grew by 200% in 2024. Notably, as the largest AI token by market cap, TAO stands to benefit from the increased institutional interest.
“We expect decentralized AI to eventually surpass centralized AI, and institutional interest in TAO will follow suit. Over the next year, the demand for TAO will surge, coinciding with a decrease in the available supply of TAO tokens—making it a perfect token for investment at this time,” the spokesperson added.
Bittensor (TAO) vs. Bitcoin (BTC): Which is Better?
The debate over Bitcoin vs. Bittensor has been running for quite some time. Recently, Barry Silbert, CEO of Digital Currency Group, predicted that TAO could outperform Bitcoin as a global store of value.
Synaptogenix agrees with this view. The spokesperson elaborated that Bitcoin remains a prime example of a store of value and a reliable asset.
However, they argued that Bittensor’s TAO token takes the concept of incentives further, positioning it as a stronger contender.
“Bittensor is to innovation what Bitcoin is to currency. While Bittensor mirrors Bitcoin in many ways—particularly in its decentralized, fixed-supply model—its incentives play a far more significant role in driving societal innovation. This makes Bittensor a unique and potentially more impactful asset in the long run,” the spokesperson mentioned to BeInCrypto.
According to them, Bitcoin miners earn roughly $10 billion annually and consume vast amounts of electricity to secure the network. In contrast, TAO miners are rewarded for contributing to AI innovation through AI models, computing power, or new AI businesses rather than energy-intensive mining.
The Road Ahead For TAO
Despite the optimism about TAO’s potential, Synaptogenix stressed that adopting a TAO treasury strategy is not easy.
“Staking tokens like Ethereum or Solana is relatively easy, with token holders receiving rewards in exchange. However, optimizing TAO staking requires deep knowledge of the TAO ecosystem, which offers unique staking strategies that result in greater rewards compared to other tokens,” the spokesperson stated.
They also emphasized that the company’s expertise in the TAO ecosystem, crypto, and staking makes it well-positioned to lead this strategy and maximize returns.
Nonetheless, the firm still anticipates other institutional investors to follow. In addition to Synaptogenix, Oblong, a technology solutions provider, has committed $7.5 billion to fund its TAO corporate reserve.
“Institutions tend to be buy-and-hold investors, which means that as more institutions adopt TAO, the token’s supply will decrease as it gets locked up in long-term holdings. This will drive the price up,” the statement read.
Besides institutional interest, they pointed out several other catalysts, including TAO’s halving, its availability on Coinbase (exposing it to 100 million customers), and the rapid growth of subnets on the TAO platform. Additionally, increased involvement from hedge funds in crypto assets could likely drive demand further.
With the AI market projected to expand from $300 billion in 2025 to over $3 trillion by 2030, decentralized AI, particularly TAO, is expected to capture a substantial share.
“We believe that as decentralized AI reaches a tipping point, the first billion-dollar business in the TAO/Bittensor ecosystem will significantly boost public and institutional interest, driving TAO’s price to new heights,” the spokesperson forecasted.
With its strategic vision and deep ties to the TAO ecosystem, Synaptogenix is paving the way for a new wave of institutional investment in decentralized AI, one that could reshape the financial market.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is quickly becoming a notable force in the push for global crypto adoption. With growing participation from institutions and enterprises and supportive regulations for Web3 technology, MENA is set to expand its impact.
BeInCrypto interviewed Stephan Apel, CEO of Outlier Ventures, to explore the characteristics of these tech-driven economies and their anticipated innovations.
Web3 Adoption and Market Growth
MENA has emerged as a significant center for Web3 development, facilitated by a combination of demographic, technological, and cultural factors. The region’s entrepreneurial spirit has also fostered an environment conducive to the adoption of decentralized technologies.
“The MENA market has set a standard for adopting next-gen technologies and using them to boost their economic transformation. This is especially true for Web3 technologies— the region recognised their potential early on, offering the resources needed for these projects to scale and thrive on both regional and global levels,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
Consequently, the region is witnessing an increase in startups, investors, and developers exploring Web3 and its diverse applications.
A 2024 Chainalysis report revealed that MENA was the seventh biggest crypto market worldwide. From July 2023 to June 2024, the region saw $338.7 billion in online crypto transactions, representing 7.5% of all crypto transactions globally.
Share of all cryptocurrency transaction value by region. Source: Chainalysis.
Notably, Turkey and Morocco ranked among the top 30 countries globally in crypto adoption. Turkey secured the 11th spot, while Morocco ranked 27th. These nations alone accounted for $137 billion and $12.7 billion in received cryptocurrency value, respectively.
Furthermore, the MENA region’s crypto activity is predominantly driven by institutional and professional players, as a substantial 93% of all value transferred involves transactions exceeding $10,000.
Meanwhile, Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) members have distinguished themselves through their ambitious technological initiatives.
MENA’s Strategic Shift Towards AI
The onset of artificial intelligence (AI) has prompted governments and businesses within the Middle East to acknowledge the global trend towards related advanced technologies. Countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are considering their strategic position concerning this technological transformation.
According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy in 2030. The consulting firm predicts that the Middle East will bring 2% of the total global benefits, equal to $320 billion.
MENA’s pioneering role in AI development. Source: PwC.
The PwC report also indicates that Saudi Arabia will see the largest absolute gains from AI by 2030, with an estimated US$135.2 billion added to its economy, or 12.4% of GDP. In terms of GDP percentage, however, the UAE is expected to see the greatest impact, approaching 14% of its 2030 GDP. Meanwhile, for GCC states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, AI is expected to contribute 8.2% of their GDP.
Given the region’s latest initiatives and investments in AI innovation, these numbers come as no surprise.
Saudi Arabia’s AI Development Initiatives
In 2016, the Saudi Arabian government launched Vision 2030, a program to promote economic, social, and cultural diversification. Integral to this vision is a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation, a key component of the nation’s economic diversification efforts.
Saudi Arabia is making notable advancements in AI. The country aims to reduce its reliance on oil by developing advanced technology sectors through targeted investments, infrastructure development, and workforce training.
“Fueled by its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia has already created a thriving startup ecosystem, dedicated significant investment in emerging technologies,and designed policies to attract global talent and entrepreneurship,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) spearheads Saudi Arabia’s push into artificial intelligence, shaping and implementing the country’s national data and AI strategy. The National Data Bank is a cornerstone of their efforts. It is designed as a central hub for data access and analysis, facilitating AI applications across public and private sectors.
Last November, Saudi Arabia also unveiled Project Transcendence. The $100 billion investment initiative focuses on accelerating the integration of AI and advanced technologies.
Similar to its neighbor, the UAE has actively pursued AI adoption.
UAE’s AI Strategy and Investments
In 2017, the UAE launched its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to make the country a global leader in the field by 2031. The UAE AI and Blockchain Council oversees this strategy, which impacts sectors like education, energy, and tourism.
The UAE is already reaping the benefits of its AI initiatives. In April, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, an Abu Dhabi-based technology holding company. G42 is known for its data centers and the development of Jais, a leading Arabic-language AI model.
In September, G42 and Nvidia partnered to create AI-driven solutions for improved weather forecasting. The collaboration aims to advance climate-related technologies by using Nvidia’s Earth-2 platform, which enables AI-augmented climate and weather simulations.
Three months later, Abu Dhabi-based global technological ecosystem Hub71 partnered with Google to boost startup growth in the UAE. This collaboration will bring Google’s “Google for Startups” program to Abu Dhabi, including a dedicated accelerator for Hub71 startups in 2025.
He also drew attention to the planned convergence of AI and Web3 technologies in these prominent regions.
Convergence of AI, Web3, and IoT
Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and AI technologies is gaining traction among businesses in the Middle East. By combining these technologies, organizations can access new avenues for growth, increase efficiency, and create novel user experiences.
In 2018, the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority launched Dubai Blink, a platform that integrates AI, blockchain, and virtual licenses to facilitate global trade. This system enhances supply chain innovation through ‘smart commerce’ by expediting trade with a unified online platform. Furthermore, it addressed the cumbersome process of supplier identification by using AI algorithms to streamline and accelerate the validation process.
Ultimately, MENA’s proactive approach to technological advancement, coupled with its strategic focus on Web3 and AI, signals a future where the region will be a pivotal architect in shaping the digital economy.
XRP holders now have the opportunity to claim $NIGHT tokens through the Midnight Network’s Glacier Drop event. This major airdrop promises to distribute tokens across several blockchains, including XRP Ledger. If you held XRP during the snapshot taken on June 11, 2025, you may be eligible to receive a share of the $NIGHT tokens. Eligibility
