Blockchain
MapMetrics expands to peaq from Solana following addition of Solana compatibility to peaq’s Multi-Chain Machine IDs
peaq, the blockchain for real-world applications, announces the expansion of its ecosystem and product offering. MapMetrics, a Web3 drive-to-earn navigation app, will leverage peaq as part of its decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) powering a Google Maps-style service. The development comes as peaq adds Solana compatibility to its Multi-Chain Machine IDs.
A Solana-originating project, MapMetrics will leverage the now Solana-compatible peaq IDs to build functions of the MapMetrics DePIN on peaq. These will include assigning peaq IDs to the navigator devices on its DePIN, using these IDs to authenticate the data collected by these devices, and a community voting mechanism.
Free navigation apps have become trusty companions for countless people around the world, with Google Maps alone boasting over a billion users. But despite a lack of an upfront cost, they come with a price of their own. When something is free, you are the product; when navigation is free, your personal data is being monetized. From leveraging the user’s position data for valuable insights on specific locations to serving them targeted location-based ads, the companies behind such apps profit from our sensitive data, sometimes without giving much thought to its privacy and protection. And in the case of massive companies like Google, they combine this data with the data sourced from all other Google-related data points to create digital models of ourselves, able to predict our behavior than ourselves.
MapMetrics is changing the equation by putting navigation on Web3 rails. It uses location trackers that enable users to share their anonymized data with the network, earning cryptocurrency and NFTs as rewards. While featuring its own ad engine, it makes sure that no private user data is exposed to the advertisers and shares the ad revenue with the community. It boasts 3,500 devices in the network and 5,000 users across 73 countries.
As part of its integration with peaq, MapMetrics will use peaq’s Multi-Chain IDs to enable devices to connect with the peaq network. It will build and deploy some of the core functions powering its navigation DePIN on peaq, using peaq IDs to authenticate and sign the anonymized data that the devices collect. It will also tap peaq to build a community voting pallet — a building block that other projects will be able to use as well — which will enable the community to contribute to its Google Maps-style navigation service by adding the locations of speed cameras and other objects and validating it with votes.
This comes as peaq expands the compatibility of its peaq IDs to include Solana. Enabling this is an address map running as part of the peaq storage pallet, pallets being modules for building blockchains in the framework that peaq runs on. This map works like an address book, linking addresses of different standards used on various networks and thus enabling cross-chain communication and information exchanges.
For example, with this integration, a solar panel with an ID on Solana will be able to connect to an energy marketplace on peaq. The previous updates made peaq IDs compatible with Binance’s BNB Chain, Ethereum Virtual Machine, and Cosmos. peaq’s steps toward its Multi-Chain vision have already eased the transition for projects coming from Algorand and Polygon, and will now unlock new opportunities for MapMetrics and other projects in the Solana ecosystem.
The peaq ID compatibility expansion enables teams originating on Solana to expand and leverage peaq’s DePIN functions without friction or fragmentation. With peaq Multi-Chain IDs, Solana-originated projects can easily tap peaq for some of their crucial functions.
“With its DePIN-focused functions and economics, peaq is the perfect home for DePINs,” says Brent van der Heiden, CEO of MapMetrics. “We are excited to be joining this bustling ecosystem, and the newfound compatibility between peaq IDs and Solana addresses is making this process significantly more convenient.”
“We believe in an open, Multi-Chain Web3 with seamless communication and value exchange between a plethora of protocols,” says Till Wendler, co-founder of peaq. “By making peaq IDs compatible with Solana, we take another step toward bringing this vision to life — and it’s invigorating to see excellent projects such as MapMetrics use this technology to solve real business problems with the DePIN model.”
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Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 26, 2025 (Lightchain AI, Cetus Hack, Bilal Bin Saqib, The Blockchain Group)
In an era defined by rapid innovation and heightened security scrutiny, today’s blockchain headlines span breakthroughs in decentralized AI, hard lessons from a major DeFi exploit, strategic government appointments, and enhanced governance mechanisms at a leading Bitcoin-focused firm. This op-ed–style briefing analyzes five key developments, offering insights into their broader impact on blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, DeFi, and NFTs.
1. Lightchain AI: A Decentralized “Brain” Takes Shape
Source: Bitcoin.com News
What Happened:
Lightchain AI, positioning itself as an Ethereum challenger, is preparing to launch a fully decentralized AI compute network—what its creators dub a “blockchain brain.” By distributing inference and training tasks across a peer-to-peer network, Lightchain aims to eliminate single-entity control, democratize access to AI, and reduce bias introduced by centralized data silos.
Why It Matters:
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Decentralization at Scale: If successful, Lightchain’s model could shift AI development from corporate labs to open networks, mirroring blockchain’s initial ethos.
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Incentivized Participation: Token-based rewards for node operators may drive robust network security and uptime.
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Interoperability Potential: As an EVM-compatible layer, Lightchain could integrate seamlessly with existing DeFi and NFT protocols.
Opinion: Decentralized AI addresses growing concerns over data monopolies and opaque algorithms. Yet technical challenges—latency, model consistency, and economic sustainability—remain formidable. The blockchain community will watch closely to see if Lightchain can harmonize on-chain governance with rigorous AI‐safety standards.
2. Cetus Protocol Hack: Overflow Flaw Exposes $223M Loss
Source: Cointelegraph; Crypto.news
What Happened:
Blockchain security firm Dedaub released a detailed post-mortem of the Cetus AMM hack, attributing the $223 million user loss to an unchecked integer overflow in its liquidity-parameter calculations. Attackers manipulated swap parameters to drain funds before on-chain checks could intervene.
Why It Matters:
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Smart-Contract Audits Aren’t Enough: Even audited code can harbor edge-case bugs; continuous monitoring and formal verification are critical.
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Economic Risks: Large losses erode user trust and can precipitate token price crashes across interconnected DeFi protocols.
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Evolving Attack Vectors: Overflow exploits highlight that attackers still exploit fundamental coding oversights, not just novel zero-days.
Opinion: The Cetus incident underscores the precarious balance between rapid DeFi innovation and rigorous security. Protocol developers must adopt layered defenses—automated fuzzing, invariant checks, and circuit breakers—to safeguard user assets and maintain ecosystem integrity.
3. Pakistan Appoints Bilal Bin Saqib as SAPM on Blockchain & Crypto
Source: Dunya News; The Express Tribune
What Happened:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has named Bilal Bin Saqib—already CEO and Chief Advisor of the Pakistan Crypto Council—as Special Assistant to the PM (SAPM) on blockchain and cryptocurrency, with state-minister status. His remit includes crafting a FATF-compliant regulatory framework, overseeing virtual asset service providers, and spearheading Bitcoin-mining initiatives.
Why It Matters:
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Policy Leadership: A dedicated SAPM accelerates Pakistan’s efforts to balance innovation with investor protection and anti-money-laundering compliance.
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Economic Potential: Formalizing crypto policy could attract foreign investment and foster homegrown blockchain startups.
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Talent Development: Saqib’s role may amplify educational programs and public–private partnerships to upskill the workforce in Web3 technologies.
Opinion: Elevating blockchain policy to a ministerial level signals Pakistan’s commitment to a forward-looking digital economy. Success will hinge on clear, consistent regulations that protect stakeholders without stifling experimentation.
4. The Blockchain Group Enables Online Voting for June 10 AGM
Source: ActusNews; Webdisclosure
What Happened:
Europe’s first Bitcoin Treasury Company, The Blockchain Group (Euronext Growth Paris), has opened online voting for its Combined General Meeting on June 10, 2025. Shareholders will vote on the 2024 financial statements and a proposal to increase the company’s capital-raising capacity to €10 billion, supporting its aggressive Bitcoin-accumulation strategy.
Why It Matters:
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Enhanced Governance: Online voting increases shareholder engagement and transparency—critical in a sector often criticized for opaque decision-making.
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Capital Flexibility: A €10 billion envelope equips the company to scale Bitcoin holdings or pursue strategic acquisitions rapidly.
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Market Signaling: By involving retail and institutional investors directly, The Blockchain Group underscores its vision of community-driven growth.
Opinion: This move exemplifies how blockchain firms can leverage digital tools to align corporate governance with on-chain principles of decentralization and stakeholder empowerment. As other public crypto companies observe, robust e-voting frameworks could become a competitive differentiator.
5. Bilal Bin Saqib’s Dual Role: Bridging Policy and Industry
Source: Geo.tv; Dawn.com
What Happened:
Beyond his SAPM appointment, Bilal Bin Saqib continues as CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), advising the Finance Minister. His portfolio spans licensing and oversight of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), FATF-aligned regulations, and launching Bitcoin-mining corridors to utilize surplus energy.
Why It Matters:
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Policy-Industry Synergy: Saqib’s dual hats ensure real-time feedback between nascent regulations and market realities—potentially avoiding mismatches that stifle growth.
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Energy Strategy: Harnessing Pakistan’s energy grid for mining could diversify exports but demands strict environmental and grid-stability measures.
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Global Engagement: His Forbes “30 Under 30” profile and international advisory roles position Pakistan to engage with global standard-setters and investors.
Opinion: The combination of regulatory authority and industry insight in one office is rare globally. If managed transparently, this approach could fast-track Pakistan’s emergence as a hub for compliant, scalable blockchain initiatives.
Key Trends & Takeaways
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Decentralized AI & Blockchain Convergence:
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Projects like Lightchain AI hint at a future where smart-contract networks power not just finance but compute-intensive AI workloads.
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Security Remains Paramount in DeFi:
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As Cetus illustrates, fundamental coding errors can cause systemic shocks—mandating continuous, multi-layered defense.
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Governmental Embrace of Crypto:
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Assigning a SAPM for blockchain in Pakistan mirrors similar moves in other jurisdictions, recognizing crypto’s economic and strategic value.
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Governance Innovation:
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Digital shareholder voting at The Blockchain Group sets new standards for transparency and community engagement in public crypto firms.
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Policy-Industry Integration:
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Leaders who straddle regulatory and commercial spheres may accelerate balanced frameworks, but must safeguard against conflicts of interest.
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Conclusion
May 26, 2025’s “Blocks & Headlines” underscores blockchain’s dynamic interplay of technological breakthroughs, security imperatives, policy evolution, and governance innovation. From the promise of decentralized AI compute to hard-earned lessons in smart-contract safety, today’s developments reaffirm that progress in blockchain hinges on marrying visionary projects with rigorous oversight and inclusive stakeholder engagement. As the industry matures, success will favor those who navigate technical complexity, regulatory nuance, and community empowerment in equal measure.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 26, 2025 (Lightchain AI, Cetus Hack, Bilal Bin Saqib, The Blockchain Group) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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