# The Web3 + AI Daily #53

> Daily insights into the fascinating convergence of Crypto and AI.

**Published by:** [The Web3 + AI Newsletter](https://web3plusai.xyz/)
**Published on:** 2026-01-28
**Categories:** web3plusai, web3ai, albena
**URL:** https://web3plusai.xyz/daily_53

## Content

What's New in Web3 + AI?Ethereum’s First Encrypted ICO Brings $118M to ZamaZama, the cryptography company pioneering Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) on blockchain, launched its public auction for $ZAMA tokens on Ethereum, raising about $118.5M in commitments.After several years of development, Zama recently announced its launch on mainnet with the first Confidential USDT (cUSDT) transfer on Ethereum. Over the last few days, the Zama Public Auction became the first production application built on the Zama Protocol, demonstrating real-world usage and scalability.The auction was conducted as a confidential sealed-bid Dutch auction, meaning participants submitted private bid amounts and public prices, and the final clearing price was calculated directly on encrypted data. This ensured fair price discovery without revealing bid sizes.Within just three days, the Zama auction was the most-used application on Ethereum by transaction volume, surpassing major apps like Tether.io's USDT, Circle's USDC, and Uniswap Labs, and pushed Total Value Shielded (TVS) above $100M - a milestone other privacy protocols took years to reach.The sale was 218 % oversubscribed, with 880 million tokens sold at a $0.05 clearing price to over 11,000 unique bidders. Unsold participants can still join an upcoming pre-TGE sale at the auction price, and tokens will be fully unlocked upon distribution, enabling staking and use within the Zama Protocol’s confidential finance ecosystem.Zama's Public Auction Attracts $118M for Ethereum's First Encrypted ICO - DecryptParis, France, 27th January 2026, Chainwirehttps://decrypt.coFLock.io Launches Full-Cycle DeAI Platform FOMOFLock.io presented FOMO (FLock Open Model Offering), a launchpad completing its evolution into a full-cycle decentralized AI ecosystem by linking model training, deployment, hosting, and demand.FOMO enables anyone to launch decentralized AI models, integrate them via the API platform, and receive rewards when the models are used. That way, it democratizes access to AI and undercuts traditional cloud pricing with a franchise-style economy and token incentives. It closes the loop between supply (training and compute) and demand (usage and monetisation).FOMO’s tokenomics are designed around real AI usage driving economic value. There are two token types:$FLOCK: the macro token coordinating incentives across the FLock network, capturing network-wide value and rewarded via usage-based buybacks.Model Tokens (MTs): represent individual AI models with fixed supply and direct exposure to usage-driven buybacks and burns. When a model earns inference revenue, portions are used to buy back and burn both $FLOCK and its MT, pay the model owner, and fund operations. This aligns incentives so real usage, not speculation, drives token value and rewards for stakeholders (owners, stakers, users).Learn more below.FLock.io Unveils FOMO: An Industry-First 'Franchise' AI Platform To Undercut Big Tech PricingFLock.io, a platform for decentralised AI model development, has announced the launch of Flock Open Model Offering (FOMO): an industry-first launchpad for anyone to launch a decentralised AI model and be rewarded with cryptocurrency when it is used. Developers can use the platform to seamlessly integrate the user-generated models into their own applications via a simple API.https://www.crypto-reporter.comNansen Rolls Out Integrated AI Trading on Solana and BaseIn a strategic shift from being purely an analytics platform to offering on-chain trade execution, Nansen has recently unveiled an AI-powered, integrated trading solution within its web and mobile apps.The new feature leverages Nansen’s proprietary dataset of 500M+ labeled wallet addresses to power AI agents that help users discover, analyze, and execute trades across Solana and Base Chain, all in a single interface, without switching platforms.Users can interact with the system via natural-language commands (“vibe trading”), whereas trades require explicit user approval and use non-custodial wallets. Execution and liquidity routing are provided via partners like Jupiter, OKX DEX, and LI.FI. The launch is available to eligible users now, though access is restricted in certain jurisdictions due to regulatory limits.Nansen Launches AI Trading Tools on Solana and Base Networks | CoinMarketCapUsers can place trades by entering commands in plain language, according to the announcement.https://coinmarketcap.comMoreCrypto Crime and Fraud Hit ATH in 2025, Powered by AI, StablecoinsUnfortunately, the intersection of AI and crypto is not all sunshine and rainbows, and you should be aware of the dangers it hides as well as the advantages it brings. According to a new Chainalysis report, crypto scams and fraud in 2025 reached record levels, with an estimated $17B lost, driven largely by impersonation schemes and AI-enabled fraud.Scams that incorporate AI tools (like deepfakes, synthetic identities, or automated phishing) reportedly were around 4.5× more profitable than traditional scams, making them a top threat in the crypto space.The findings indicate a shift from classic cyberattacks toward sophisticated social engineering and AI-assisted schemes, highlighting new challenges for enforcement and users alike.Chainalysis: Impersonation and AI scams are becoming crypto's biggest threatChainalysis estimates scammers stole up to $17B in 2025, as deepfakes and fake "support" accounts fuel a shift away from hacks and toward social engineering.https://www.coindesk.comIn the meantime, TRM Labs reported that a large share of the illicit cryptocurrency activity, increased by 145% in 2025, was tied to $A7A5, a ruble-pegged stablecoin linked to Russia. $A7A5 became a dominant conduit for sanctions evasion and other sanctioned economic flows. Overall, stablecoins accounted for about 95% of transaction volume involving sanctioned entities, and $A7A5 alone was responsible for the majority of that activity, highlighting how bespoke crypto tools are being used to circumvent traditional financial restrictions.Crypto Crime Hit All-Time High in 2025, With Russian Stablecoin Playing Key Role: TRM Labs - DecryptSome $158 billion worth of illicit crypto traded last year, and much of that activity came from just one source: a ruble-pegged stablecoin with ties to Russia.https://decrypt.coThank you for reading! If you haven't done so yet, I invite you to subscribe to stay in the loop on the hottest dAI developments.SubscribeIf you want to support the publication financially, you can either purchase my writer token $WEB3AI, or buy my creator token $ALBENA on ZORA.$WEB3AII'm looking forward to connecting with fellow Crypto x AI enthusiasts, so don't hesitate to reach out on social media.XLinkedInFarcasterZoraDisclaimer: None of this should or could be considered financial advice. You should not take my words for granted; rather, do your own research (DYOR) and share your thoughts to encourage a fruitful discussion.

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