
Espresso Systems Nears TGE! $60M Raised, Mainnet 1.0 Launch Countdown Begins as A16z-Led Hype Soars
Recent Espresso Updates On May 2nd, Espresso Systems announced a three-phase token minting process: Guaranteed Allocation, Over-Allocation, and Public Round. Phase 2 is now live and must be completed by May 15th. Additional participation methods will be unveiled next week. On the same day, Espresso announced a major milestone on its path to Mainnet 1.0: a collaboration with 22 node operators to upgrade the Decaf testnet into a permissionless proof-of-stake system. This upgrade, a critical ste...

The Rise of Bitcoin DeFi: Infrastructure Arms Race and the Coming Explosion
1. From Digital Gold to Yield-Bearing “Platinum” For fifteen years Bitcoin was the world’s most valuable parking lot—you parked, you prayed, you waited. In Q3-2025 the lot sprouted toll booths:BTCFi TVL ↑ 2 200 % YoYLombard community sale 14× oversubscribed, 21 340 wallets, 132 countries.Babylon’s first staking epoch filled 24 000 BTC ($1.5 bn) in 100 minutes—Ticketmaster-level FOMO.The Ferrari is finally leaving the garage.2. Staking 1.0 – Native, Non-Custodial, Liquid BabylonScript-level ti...

Regulatory Green Light! Will RWA Ignite the Next Crypto Bull Run?
In recent years, blockchain technology has been accelerating its penetration from virtual assets into the real world, with Real World Assets (RWA) becoming the focus of financial innovation. The essence of RWA is to transform traditional assets—such as bonds, real estate, stocks, and even new energy infrastructure—into tradable digital tokens through blockchain technology, thereby achieving efficient asset circulation and global liquidity. This trend has not only attracted exploration by cryp...
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Espresso Systems Nears TGE! $60M Raised, Mainnet 1.0 Launch Countdown Begins as A16z-Led Hype Soars
Recent Espresso Updates On May 2nd, Espresso Systems announced a three-phase token minting process: Guaranteed Allocation, Over-Allocation, and Public Round. Phase 2 is now live and must be completed by May 15th. Additional participation methods will be unveiled next week. On the same day, Espresso announced a major milestone on its path to Mainnet 1.0: a collaboration with 22 node operators to upgrade the Decaf testnet into a permissionless proof-of-stake system. This upgrade, a critical ste...

The Rise of Bitcoin DeFi: Infrastructure Arms Race and the Coming Explosion
1. From Digital Gold to Yield-Bearing “Platinum” For fifteen years Bitcoin was the world’s most valuable parking lot—you parked, you prayed, you waited. In Q3-2025 the lot sprouted toll booths:BTCFi TVL ↑ 2 200 % YoYLombard community sale 14× oversubscribed, 21 340 wallets, 132 countries.Babylon’s first staking epoch filled 24 000 BTC ($1.5 bn) in 100 minutes—Ticketmaster-level FOMO.The Ferrari is finally leaving the garage.2. Staking 1.0 – Native, Non-Custodial, Liquid BabylonScript-level ti...

Regulatory Green Light! Will RWA Ignite the Next Crypto Bull Run?
In recent years, blockchain technology has been accelerating its penetration from virtual assets into the real world, with Real World Assets (RWA) becoming the focus of financial innovation. The essence of RWA is to transform traditional assets—such as bonds, real estate, stocks, and even new energy infrastructure—into tradable digital tokens through blockchain technology, thereby achieving efficient asset circulation and global liquidity. This trend has not only attracted exploration by cryp...


Billions, the first human-AI universal network, aims to extend mobile-first, privacy-first verification to billions of users—and future AI agents—establishing a foundational infrastructure for trusted interactions between humans and machines.
Earlier this month, Billions announced a $30 million funding round led by Polygon, with participation from Polychain, Coinbase Ventures, LibertyCity Ventures, BITKRAFT Ventures, and other prominent crypto and AI infrastructure investors.
Shortly after the announcement, Kaito’s Web3 crowdfunding platform, CapitalLaunchpad, revealed plans to list Billions Network on August 6. According to Kaito’s real-time data, Billions currently accounts for 8.03% of recent on-chain activity, ranking first on its leaderboard.
Originally spun out from Polygon ID, Billions has carved a niche in decentralized identity with its innovative approach.
Billions’ successful $30M raise stems not only from its focus on digital identity—a sector poised for growth—but also from its team’s deep ties to Polygon.
The project evolved from Privado ID, formerly known as Polygon ID, which spun off from Polygon Labs in June 2024 to specialize in on-chain identity and reputation solutions.
Key team members include:
David Z (Co-founder): A Polygon founder and former CTO, he led Polygon ID and Polygon zkEVM and oversees the ZKP-based identity protocol Iden3.
Evin McMullen (Co-founder & CSO): A decentralized identity pioneer, she founded Disco.xyz and merged it with Privado ID in September 2024 to accelerate cross-chain identity infrastructure.
While Polygon co-founders like Sandeep Nailwal (now CEO of Polygon Foundation) remain advisors, others, such as Antoni Martin and Jordi Baylina, have stepped back from active roles.
Launched in February 2025, Billions bills itself as the first network bridging humans and AI agents. Its key innovations:
Hardware-Free Verification: Users authenticate via passport and smartphone (NFC or camera) in seconds, with ZK-proofs securing sensitive data.
AI Agent Integration: AI systems can verify training models and data sources, enabling trust in scenarios like customer service and content generation.
Scalable Adoption: A mobile app released in June attracted 1M+ pre-registered users, offering reusable Verifiable Credentials and a "one-login, multi-access" feature.
The network also adopts a B2B2C model, charging per verification while sharing fees with node operators. Early partners include Aurora, Avalanche, SingularityNET, and major banks like Deutsche Bank and HSBC.
Billions tackles a core challenge in decentralized identity: preserving anonymity while ensuring uniqueness. Its solution:
Profiles Mechanism: Generates unique, non-linkable DIDs per app using random profileNonce and a master genesis_identifier.
Context-Based Unique Identifiers (CBUID): Allows compliance-ready identity recovery without sacrificing default privacy.
Built on Circom (a ZK library powering Worldcoin, TikTok, and 9,000+ projects), Billions eliminates reliance on centralized databases or biometric hardware.
Billions’ partnerships span governments, institutions, and crypto projects:
SingularityNET: Co-developing a Decentralized AI Agent Trust Registry for verifiable AI credentials.
Sentient: Integrating ZK proofs for AI model auditing without exposing training data.
India’s Aadhaar: Piloting decentralized identity for national ID holders.
However, regulatory hurdles loom. While Billions avoids biometrics (unlike Worldcoin, recently flagged by China for iris-data risks), its cross-border data flows will face scrutiny over sovereignty and compliance.
Billions redefines digital identity by merging privacy, scalability, and AI compatibility. As it navigates global adoption, its success hinges on balancing innovation with regulatory trust—a challenge as complex as the technology itself.
For developers, its SDKs (React, Vue, Android, iOS) promise seamless integration. For users, it offers control: self-sovereign identities, revocable credentials, and immunity to mass surveillance.
The question remains: Can Billions become the universal standard before regulators draw harder lines? Time—and technology—will tell.
Billions, the first human-AI universal network, aims to extend mobile-first, privacy-first verification to billions of users—and future AI agents—establishing a foundational infrastructure for trusted interactions between humans and machines.
Earlier this month, Billions announced a $30 million funding round led by Polygon, with participation from Polychain, Coinbase Ventures, LibertyCity Ventures, BITKRAFT Ventures, and other prominent crypto and AI infrastructure investors.
Shortly after the announcement, Kaito’s Web3 crowdfunding platform, CapitalLaunchpad, revealed plans to list Billions Network on August 6. According to Kaito’s real-time data, Billions currently accounts for 8.03% of recent on-chain activity, ranking first on its leaderboard.
Originally spun out from Polygon ID, Billions has carved a niche in decentralized identity with its innovative approach.
Billions’ successful $30M raise stems not only from its focus on digital identity—a sector poised for growth—but also from its team’s deep ties to Polygon.
The project evolved from Privado ID, formerly known as Polygon ID, which spun off from Polygon Labs in June 2024 to specialize in on-chain identity and reputation solutions.
Key team members include:
David Z (Co-founder): A Polygon founder and former CTO, he led Polygon ID and Polygon zkEVM and oversees the ZKP-based identity protocol Iden3.
Evin McMullen (Co-founder & CSO): A decentralized identity pioneer, she founded Disco.xyz and merged it with Privado ID in September 2024 to accelerate cross-chain identity infrastructure.
While Polygon co-founders like Sandeep Nailwal (now CEO of Polygon Foundation) remain advisors, others, such as Antoni Martin and Jordi Baylina, have stepped back from active roles.
Launched in February 2025, Billions bills itself as the first network bridging humans and AI agents. Its key innovations:
Hardware-Free Verification: Users authenticate via passport and smartphone (NFC or camera) in seconds, with ZK-proofs securing sensitive data.
AI Agent Integration: AI systems can verify training models and data sources, enabling trust in scenarios like customer service and content generation.
Scalable Adoption: A mobile app released in June attracted 1M+ pre-registered users, offering reusable Verifiable Credentials and a "one-login, multi-access" feature.
The network also adopts a B2B2C model, charging per verification while sharing fees with node operators. Early partners include Aurora, Avalanche, SingularityNET, and major banks like Deutsche Bank and HSBC.
Billions tackles a core challenge in decentralized identity: preserving anonymity while ensuring uniqueness. Its solution:
Profiles Mechanism: Generates unique, non-linkable DIDs per app using random profileNonce and a master genesis_identifier.
Context-Based Unique Identifiers (CBUID): Allows compliance-ready identity recovery without sacrificing default privacy.
Built on Circom (a ZK library powering Worldcoin, TikTok, and 9,000+ projects), Billions eliminates reliance on centralized databases or biometric hardware.
Billions’ partnerships span governments, institutions, and crypto projects:
SingularityNET: Co-developing a Decentralized AI Agent Trust Registry for verifiable AI credentials.
Sentient: Integrating ZK proofs for AI model auditing without exposing training data.
India’s Aadhaar: Piloting decentralized identity for national ID holders.
However, regulatory hurdles loom. While Billions avoids biometrics (unlike Worldcoin, recently flagged by China for iris-data risks), its cross-border data flows will face scrutiny over sovereignty and compliance.
Billions redefines digital identity by merging privacy, scalability, and AI compatibility. As it navigates global adoption, its success hinges on balancing innovation with regulatory trust—a challenge as complex as the technology itself.
For developers, its SDKs (React, Vue, Android, iOS) promise seamless integration. For users, it offers control: self-sovereign identities, revocable credentials, and immunity to mass surveillance.
The question remains: Can Billions become the universal standard before regulators draw harder lines? Time—and technology—will tell.
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