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Haitong International 3rd AI Conference Draw to Successful Close

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Haitong International Securities Group Limited (“Haitong International”; Stock Code: 665.HK) announced a successful completion of its third Haitong International AI Conference (“the Conference”) in Shanghai on 25 November. With “Software and Hardware Technology” as the main theme, the Conference facilitated in-depth discussions and analysis on AI-related software and hardware technology development trends, including semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare, smart transportation etc. The two-day conference has attracted nearly a thousand of AI experts, corporate representatives and investors to participate.

ZHOU Jie, Chairman and Secretary of the CPC Committee of Haitong Securities Co., Ltd, said at the opening remarks, “AI is now achieving technological breakthroughs in unprecedented speed, connecting our world in unprecedented scale, and empowering multiple industries in unprecedented depth. Haitong Securities and Haitong International have long been assisting numerous AI-related software, hardware and application companies to gain access to both China onshore and overseas capital markets, which ultimately propelled the AI technological advancement and application in China. This year marks the third edition of our AI Conference with increased interests and participation from the industry. We hope to continue creating this platform for corporates and experts in the AI space to exchange ideas and facilitate further technology breakthroughs.”

Decoding the era of AI – Technology, Applications, Trends and Opportunities

Lianfeng WU, VP China and Chief Analyst of IDC elaborated in the speech on the landscape evolvement and future opportunities of the AI market in China. He was optimistic about the prospect of the AI market in the future when China and the rest of the world have a huge room of growth. He predicted that China’s AI market size would exceed USD16.3 billion by 2025 in which the software market might see the fastest growth, with CAGR outshooting 35% in 2020-2025. By technology segment, machine learning platform could be the niche market with high growth potential due to a small base currently. Besides, the emerging industrial user construction data middle office and AI middle office will also boost the growth of machine learning platform. By sub-sectors, he predicted that public utilities, medical service and central government might bring great growth, with CAGR close to 25% in 2020-2025. He believed that AI public cloud would become an important disruptive force in the market and public cloud proportion in China’s AI software market would jump from around 10% in 2020 to 36% in 2025.

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Wei WU, Chairman of Qingzhirongke and Deputy Head of the Financial instruments expert Group of the Central Bank made a speech on China’s digital currency architecture and briefly introduced the R&D history, technical architecture and challenges of official launching of digital RMB. China was the first to issue digital currency by the Central Bank in the world and is already in a leading position in digital payment with a high penetration rate. Against the backdrop of fast development of encrypted currencies worldwide, China’s development of digital RMB system would promote inclusive finance and improve operation efficiency and security of the whole currency and payment system. The undergoing pivot project is proceeding smoothly but before official launch, some further upgrading to the processing system to improve user experience and a robust security and risk management scheme must be established.

Zhewei WEI, Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor of Gaoling School of Artificial Intelligence, Renmin University of China shared his views on AI algorithms. He introduced the edgy technology development and industrial applications, and pointed out that the development of GPT, Transformer and Graph Neural Networks would enable the humankind to use a larger scale of data, data with more complicated structure and look into the more important part of big data. Going forward, development of AI algorithm still face some challenges, including increased carbon emissions caused by model training, the lack of causal inference and interpretability in deep learning, and ethical and legal regulations.

Jeff WU, Chief Analyst of electronics at Haitong International also shared his views on the latest electronic researches. As per his analysis, semiconductor industry was in a plateau period with sub-sectors diverged. The storage sector had entered a downward circle, thus prices were estimated to see a dramatic drop in 1H2022 while wafer foundry continued to go upward and might see a normalized shortage of supply going forward. In terms of consumer electronics, smart phones were in a sluggish growth period with the market share dynamics coming under the spot light. Looking into 2022, he is positive on the potential of servers and data centers, AR/MR/VR, automotive electronics and domestic substitution of semiconductors.

A bright future for AI – The key is empowerment and integration

Natalie WU, Managing Director of Equity Research at Haitong International, delivered an opening speech on day two of the Conference and shared her thoughts on the value of AI technology development. She thinks that the key to propel the development of the digital sector is integration between industries and technologies such as AI, big data and internet. No matter the company is a niche or sector player in the AI field, or a traditional TMT corporate, they should all think about the application of AI technologies and thereby utilize AI to empower the real economy, optimize business processes, and transform business productivity.

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YANG Fan, Co-founder and Vice President of SenseTime, gave a presentation on the AI development trends. He estimated that by 2030, China will become the world’s major AI innovation center, with core AI sector size exceeding RMB 1 trillion, and related industries market size to exceed RMB 10 trillion. Currently, an explosive growth can be seen in terms of demand and application of AI technology in various sectors and areas, and the AI industrial chain is also being more fragmented, with the service ecosystem becoming increasingly comprehensive. Driven by the rise in both supply and demand, innovation supported by general infrastructure and cross-organizational synergized innovation will become the upcoming development trends in the AI sector.

Over 20 sessions hosted by industry experts and corporate representatives were arranged during the two-day conference, in which the corporates included Huawei, SenseTime Group, MetaX. Innoscience etc. delivered sessions covering latest technological advancements and market trends on chips manufacturing, algorithm, self- driving, AI healthcare technologies etc. Two AI roundtable discussions were conducted, which invited corporate representatives from Youdao, Craiditx, Agile Robots, Congtoo and Vlavr etc. to discuss on topics including the latest AI software and hardware ecosystem growth outlook, AI technology integration in various sectors etc.

Alongside the conference sessions, Haitong International also facilitated multiple closed-door small group and one-on-one roadshows for leading corporates in the AI space to communicate with investors, which testifies Haitong International’s rich resources and network in AI and TMT field and the professional capabilities to provide bespoke solutions for clients.

To learn more about the Conference agenda and list of attended corporates, please visit: http://www.hti-aiconference2021.com/

SOURCE Haitong International Securities Group Limited

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Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 24, 2025 (Decrypt, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, 80 Level, UNDP/BGA)

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In an era defined by rapid innovation and ever-shifting regulatory landscapes, blockchain continues to prove its mettle across diverse sectors—from data privacy and prediction markets to gaming and sustainable development. Today in Blockchain, we explore five major developments shaping the decentralized world on April 24, 2025:

  1. Europe’s New Privacy Guidelines: How the EDPB’s draft rules may redefine on-chain data handling.

  2. Canada’s Blockchain Advantage: Lessons from Consensus Toronto on agility, talent, and national strategy.

  3. Prediction Markets for Science: DeSci’s leap toward crowdsourced validation and the reproducibility crisis.

  4. Ubisoft’s NFT Gaming Gamble: Yet another Web3 pivot in mainstream video games—and why it matters.

  5. Blockchain for Good Accelerator: The UNDP joins forces with the Blockchain for Good Alliance to fuel SDG-focused innovation.

This op-ed–style briefing strips away the noise to deliver concise yet detailed coverage, incisive commentary, and big-picture implications for developers, entrepreneurs, regulators, and enthusiasts alike. Strap in as we decode today’s key blockchain headlines.


1. Europe’s Data Privacy Guardrails: EDPB’s Draft Blockchain Guidelines

What happened:
On April 22, 2025, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) published draft guidelines clarifying how personal data must be stored and accessed on blockchain networks to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Key takeaways include:

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  • Minimize on-chain data: Avoid embedding personally identifiable information directly into immutable ledgers.

  • Data Protection by Design & by Default: Mandate early-stage DPIAs (Data Protection Impact Assessments) for any blockchain project touching personal data.

  • Controlled access & erasure mechanisms: Develop off-chain storage layers and governance protocols to satisfy “right to rectification” and “right to be forgotten” requirements.

Source: Decrypt

Why it matters:
GDPR’s foundational principles clash with blockchain’s inherent immutability and transparency. By issuing these guidelines, the EDPB seeks to preserve individual privacy rights without stifling decentralized innovation. However, the tension between censorship-resistant networks and regulator-mandated mutability raises profound design challenges.

Analysis & Commentary:
Today’s guidance is overdue but pivotal. As Bryn Bennett of Hacken reminds us, “Privacy isn’t an add-on—it’s infrastructure.” Projects that ignore privacy-by-design risk not only fines but also eroded user trust. Conversely, decentralized privacy pioneers like Nym Technologies warn that retrofitting GDPR onto public blockchains can compromise both privacy and sovereignty. In my view, the next frontier lies in hybrid architectures—leveraging off-chain zero-knowledge proofs, secure enclaves, and permissioned sidechains—to reconcile transparency with confidentiality. Europe’s blueprint could become a global reference, influencing regulators in Asia-Pacific, North America, and beyond to articulate their own blockchain-specific data rules.


2. Canada’s Blockchain Advantage: Small Enough to Move Fast, Big Enough to Matter

What happened:
At Consensus Toronto 2025, CoinDesk columnist William Mougayar argued that Canada is uniquely positioned to outpace other G7 nations in blockchain adoption, thanks to:

  • Homegrown talent & heritage: Ethereum’s origins in Toronto and thriving developer ecosystems in Montreal and Vancouver.

  • Regulatory agility: Streamlined federal-provincial coordination, pro-innovation tax credits, and pilot sandbox frameworks.

  • Strategic national vision: Proposals to mandate crypto access in Canadian banks, integrate digital assets into capital markets, and even explore a national cryptocurrency reserve.

Source: CoinDesk

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Why it matters:
While the U.S. grapples with interagency turf wars between the SEC, CFTC, and others, Canada’s structural simplicity offers a template for coherent blockchain policymaking. This could accelerate capital inflows, enterprise pilots, and global competition for fintech talent.

Analysis & Commentary:
Canada’s playbook hinges on being “small enough to pivot, yet big enough to impact”. As blockchain matures beyond niche use cases, national champions will emerge from jurisdictions that marry regulatory clarity with creative incentives. I predict that within two years, Toronto and Montreal will rival Miami and Dubai as leading hubs for DeFi, tokenization, and digital-asset custody. But execution is everything—if Canada can streamline licensing, shore up AML/CTF safeguards, and embed digital literacy into its education system, it could truly leapfrog entrenched incumbents.


3. Prediction Markets in Science: DeSci’s Bold Experiment

What happened:
In an opinion piece for Cointelegraph, Dr. Sasha Shilina explored how blockchain-powered prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket, Pump.science) are being repurposed to address the scientific reproducibility crisis. Highlights include:

  • Crowdsourced forecasting: Researchers and investors stake tokens to bet on experimental outcomes, incentivizing rigorous study design.

  • Financial accountability: Monetary losses for flawed work create a rapid feedback loop, potentially weeding out irreproducible findings.

  • Regulatory hurdles: Jurisdictions still classify these markets as gambling, complicating mainstream adoption.

Source: Cointelegraph

Why it matters:
Traditional peer review can take months or years to expose methodological flaws. Decentralized prediction markets promise near-real-time validation, democratizing scientific oversight and reducing wasteful replication studies.

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Analysis & Commentary:
Prediction markets offer an “open-science complement”—not a replacement—to scholarly publishing. By aligning economic incentives with truth-seeking, they could elevate data integrity and funders’ confidence. However, unchecked speculation risks gaming the system, especially if liquidity pools are dominated by a handful of whales. The solution lies in multi-stakeholder governance: academic consortia, journal publishers, and veteran researchers collaborating to set market parameters, oracle standards, and dispute-resolution mechanisms. In my view, the coming year will determine whether DeSci moves from proof-of-concept to institutional legitimacy—or remains a fascinating experiment.


4. Ubisoft’s NFT Gaming Bet: Might & Magic Fates

What happened:
On April 24, 2025, gaming giant Ubisoft announced Might & Magic Fates, its third blockchain game in under six months, developed in partnership with Immutable. Key features:

  • NFT trading cards: Creatures, spells, and artifacts minted as on-chain assets.

  • Optional Web3 layer: Players can choose between traditional gameplay or unlocking digital ownership via NFTs.

  • Community backlash: Early reactions decry “Web3 slop,” with seasoned gamers lamenting lack of gameplay previews.

Source: 80 Level

Why it matters:
Ubisoft’s persistence underscores a broader corporate push into play-to-earn and digital-ownership models. Despite vocal skepticism, top publishers see NFTs as a path to new revenue streams and player engagement metrics.

Analysis & Commentary:
I admire Ubisoft’s willingness to iterate—but will “third time be the charm”? Past misfires suggest they’ve yet to nail the balance between token mechanics and fun. If Fates can deliver rich narrative, balanced tokenomics, and genuine secondary-market value, it might convert skeptics. Otherwise, gamers will continue associating NFTs with pump-and-dump schemes. Successful blockchain gaming will require tight integration of on-chain assets with deep, off-chain gameplay loops—think on-chain skins that evolve with player achievements or governance tokens that shape in-game lore. Ubisoft’s true test will be fostering an ecosystem where NFT ownership enhances, rather than distracts from, core gameplay.

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5. Blockchain for Good: UNDP & Alliance Launch Global Accelerator

What happened:
The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and EMURGO Labs, launched the SDG Blockchain Accelerator on April 24, 2025. Program highlights:

  • 4-month accelerator: Tailored training, mentorship, and technical support via UNDP AltFinLab and EMURGO Labs.

  • Multi-chain innovation: Encourages solutions across Cardano, Ethereum, and other protocols.

  • Up to $1.5 million in post-acceleration grants: Equity-free funding to scale blockchain solutions addressing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source: UNDP Innovation

Why it matters:
This initiative bridges Web3 technology with humanitarian impact, channeling blockchain’s transparency and efficiency into real-world challenges—financial inclusion, supply-chain traceability, carbon credits, and more.

Analysis & Commentary:
SDG-focused accelerators signal a shift from speculative token swaps to impact-driven development. By equipping UNDP personnel and global innovators with blockchain toolkits, the program can catalyze projects that deliver measurable social value. Success stories—like transparent vaccine distribution chains or micro-loan platforms for underserved communities—will validate blockchain’s promise beyond hype cycles. I urge stakeholders to watch for pilots that blend on-chain verification with off-chain delivery, ensuring that funding flows transparently and outcomes are independently audited. If this Alliance proves out, it could redefine public-private partnerships in digital development.


Conclusion: Today’s Takeaways & Tomorrow’s Roadmap

These five headlines illustrate blockchain’s multifaceted evolution:

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  1. Regulatory Maturation: Europe’s privacy guidelines spotlight the need for nuanced frameworks to guide on-chain data use.

  2. National Strategies: Canada’s agile approach demonstrates how government policy can catalyze ecosystem growth without heavy-handed bureaucracy.

  3. Decentralized Science: Prediction markets could revolutionize research validation, forging new alliances between academia and DeFi.

  4. Corporate Experimentation: Ubisoft’s repeated NFT forays reveal both the promise and pitfalls of integrating blockchain into mainstream entertainment.

  5. Mission-Driven Innovation: The SDG Blockchain Accelerator aligns decentralized tech with societal goals, charting a course for truly “blockchain for good” outcomes.

As blockchain technology accelerates, the imperative for thoughtful design, cross-sector collaboration, and impact measurement has never been clearer. Whether tackling data privacy conflicts, mobilizing global talent, democratizing scientific rigor, reinventing digital ownership, or driving sustainable development, today’s stories offer a roadmap for the next chapter of decentralized innovation.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s edition of Blocks & Headlines, where we continue decoding the daily pulse of the blockchain revolution.

The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 24, 2025 (Decrypt, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, 80 Level, UNDP/BGA) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

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World Chess and the Algorand Foundation propose leveling the playing field with a “chess passport”

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In a whitepaper published today, World Chess (LSE: CHSS) and the Algorand Foundation (ALGO) conceptualize a new blockchain-based system that would establish secure, private, and verifiable credentials for global sports organizations, including chess. Grandmaster Evgenij Miroshnichenko contributed to the paper alongside the Algorand Foundation and World Chess.

The move comes as interest in chess hits a new high, driven by popular television series on Netflix and the BBC, the 2024 awarding of the youngest-ever world chess champion, and the inclusion of chess for the first time in the Esports World Cup later this year.

If adopted, the system would allow chess players to independently manage their identity and credentials across all chess platforms and organizations with a single decentralized ID, and one login credential for everywhere they play. They could then easily “port” their identity, achievements, records of play, rankings, and rewards across online chess platforms, as well as seamlessly from the digital world to in-person games and tournaments. This provides them with a much easier way to prove their identity, no matter their status or documentation; it would also reduce tournament application times significantly. Chess organizations would then be able to welcome even more players to their competitions, including those who have built their chess career solely online, as well as players who have previously only competed in tournaments held by other organizations.

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Among other benefits, the adoption of a “global chess passport” would make it much easier for organizers and chess clubs and federations alike to onboard and register players, both online and offline.

Another benefit of the proposed system is to safeguard fair play. As chess becomes increasingly integrated into e-sports and online competitions, the use of AI programs or player fraud (one player representing another) is an increasing concern. Being able to confirm player integrity (including whether they have been banned for cheating on any other platform) ensures credibility of chess contests and competitions. These verifiable credentials also preserve player privacy. They can be used to confirm player eligibility and relevant identity data without providing access to sensitive documentation, such as passports. Finally, identity verification also prevents fraud in tournament payouts. Phishing and other attempts to steal winnings are on the rise; this ensures only the rightful winner can access their prize funds.

“I think that chess needs its version of the global e-version of drivers license. It’s a global game, and using blockchain for the benefit of having one universal independently verifiable ID is something that both players and organizers will certainly benefit from,” says Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess.

“This initiative is not just about chess; it’s about the future of fair play and verifiable achievement across all sports and esports,” said Bruno Martins, principal architect at the Algorand Foundation and co-author of the whitepaper. “Chess has a rich history of proving the usefulness of new technologies. In this case, World Chess is showing the integrity, privacy, and portability of records in any competitive arena is not only possible – it’s in the best interest of every player, everywhere.”

Statista estimates that the market for esports should reach $4.8 billion in 2025, with nearly 900 million players by 2029 (source), all of which could benefit from better cross-platform registration for online and in-person competitions.

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The full whitepaper and more information about the proposed open-source system can be found here. Chess platforms, esports organizations and other parties interested in contributing to the project can get involved by contacting [email protected].

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Blaqclouds Board Approves 30-Day Revenue Acceleration and Ecosystem Monetization Plan

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