We looked into Aerodrome's governance to explore how it works and its levels of decentralisation.

Top finding: top 20 wallets hold 62% of veAERO governance tokens.

But is this that bad? Check out the full thread: https://x.com/SimplicityWeb3/status/1883880709732892729

🤝 We're excited to be working with Playside (PLAY3) 🤝

PLAY3 is a no-code AI infrastructure empowering brands to create AI Agents in open worlds like Roblox. It monetizes untapped compute power from 380M+ users, offering brands dynamic tools to engage and grow.

Why we're bullish
PLAY3 bridges AI innovation and open-world ecosystems, with clients like Samsung and Canon and partnerships with Aptos, NEAR, and Time Magazine. Its no-code platform and AI Agent Marketplace set a new standard for brand-driven AI experiences in Web3.

Check out PLAY3 on X

📌Join our X space on TON now: https://x.com/i/spaces/1dRKZdYEMyzJB

📢 Yesterday, the Simplicity Group team presented a report on the TON ecosystem at the TON Society event in Dubai.

We aim to deliver real value and insights to the community by analyzing key data, growth drivers, and opportunities in the TON network.

A huge thank you to @russkieyevrey and everyone who participated in the discussion!

Top raises of the week: AI-powered Web3, decentralized identity & institutional crypto tools

This week's top blockchain raises highlight three major trends:

⚡ AI-powered Web3 infrastructure
🛡 Decentralized identity & credentials
🏦 Institutional crypto finance solutions

Top 5 raises this week
1️⃣ Bluwhale AI – $75M
🔗 Sector: AI x Web3 Infrastructure

Bluwhale is building Web3’s intelligence layer (L3), turning data and mobile devices into AI-powered assets for on-chain intelligence.

2️⃣ D3 – $25M (Led by Paradigm)
🔗 Sector: Decentralized Domains & Web3 Identity

D3 is developing the first interoperable network for real domain names, bridging Web3 with billions of traditional internet users.

3️⃣ Humanity Protocol – $20M (Led by Pantera Capital)
🔗 Sector: Decentralized Identity & AI Agents

Humanity Protocol focuses on on-chain biometric identity verification, similar to Worldcoin, but aims for a more decentralized, privacy-first approach.

4️⃣ Sign – $16M (Led by YZi Labs, e.g., Binance Labs)
🔗 Sector: On-Chain Token Distribution & Credential Verification

Sign provides on-chain infrastructure for token distribution, credential verification, and compliance.

5️⃣ Cryptio – $15M (Led by Alven)
🔗 Sector: Institutional Crypto Accounting & Compliance

Cryptio offers an audit-ready back-office for regulated enterprises, ensuring crypto compliance and financial reporting.

Web3 trends from this week’s raises:

🔵 AI x Web3 is leading investment flows – projects like Bluwhale AI and Sign show strong interest in on-chain AI agents, intelligent automation, and AI-powered economies.

🟢 Decentralized identity & credentials are a major focus. D3 & Humanity Protocol prove that verifiable, privacy-first identity is a critical piece of the Web3 puzzle.

🟣 Investments in Cryptio highlight the growing need for enterprise-grade financial tools as regulations tighten.

High FDV Low Float: You've Been Lied To

Crypto projects often launch with sky-high FDVs and minimal circulating supply. But does this strategy actually lead to long-term success?

Our latest research analyzes 16 token launches and reveals:

📉 No strong correlation between high FDV, low float, and price performance
📊 Short-term gains often fade within weeks
💡 Market dynamics matter more than just token supply strategy

Read the full report now: https://www.simplicitygroup.xyz/blog/high-fdv-low-float

Some insights into upcoming months.

Source

🤝 We're excited to be working with Peer2Play!

Peer2Play is a decentralized gaming hub where gamers, developers, and influencers connect, compete, and earn across multiple blockchains. Powered by Skale Network, SEI, Base & more, it ensures a seamless gaming experience.

Why we’re bullish
Peer2Play brings real ownership, on-chain tournaments, and new earning opportunities for players and creators. With decentralized infrastructure and cross-chain compatibility, it creates a more open and rewarding gaming ecosystem.

Missed these? Here’s what’s launching this week💼

The hottest IDOs & ICOs are gearing up for launch, and if you’re not paying attention, you might miss out on major opportunities.

📉 VC funding took a hit this week, down 61% to $92M across 18 deals. But key players are still securing capital:

Cipher Mining – $50M (SoftBank)
Taproot Wizards – $30M (Standard Crypto)
VitalVEDA – $20M (Rollman Management)
Reservoir – $14M (Union Square Ventures)
Olas – $13.8M (1kx)

What makes a token valuable?

At Simplicity, we break token value into five key types:

1️⃣ Monetary:
Represents financial benefits or economic activity.
2️⃣ Political:
Grants decision-making power and sovereignty.
3️⃣ Social:
Builds reputation, influence, and community standing.
4️⃣ Informational:
Holds, transfers, or restricts access to data.
5️⃣ Speculative:
Reflects its potential future value.

The more ways a token can be used, the more value it holds.

📉 Yes, the market is down. But where is the money actually flowing?

BTC exchange reserves are at all-time lows, USDT inflows are soaring, and liquidity is moving in unexpected ways.

The data tells a different story - let’s follow the money.

➡️ Check out our comprehensive new research piece:
https://www.simplicitygroup.xyz/blog/flow-of-value-in-crypto

"Do your own research!" But how?

When evaluating a long-term investment, always start with the fundamentals. A project can pivot if its idea is weak, but a bad team is a guaranteed failure.

To assess a team, check their LinkedIn and Twitter and look for three key things:

1️⃣ Have they built in Web3 before? Web2 knowledge doesn’t always translate.

2️⃣ Do they have expertise in the sector they’re building in?

A retail exec launching a blockchain supply chain project likely lacks the technical knowledge to succeed.

3️⃣ Are they actually qualified for their position?

A lifelong accountant suddenly acting as CTO signals major risks—bad code, poor dev management, and eventual failure.

DYOR is a skill. Learn it, and you’ll avoid 99% of bad investments.

🤝 We're excited to be working with Sui Hub!

Sui Hub is the official home for Sui builders, powered by Ghaf Capital and Sui Foundation. It provides Web3 teams with the infrastructure and support they need to scale, fostering a thriving ecosystem of innovative blockchain applications.

Through this partnership, we’re providing tokenomics expertise to Sui Hub projects while connecting early-stage teams to a strong and growing ecosystem.

AI is centralized, controlled by a few. Blockchain is decentralized, built for open access. Their intersection could redefine how intelligence, data, and compute are distributed.

But major challenges remain:
• AI needs real-time data, but blockchains move too slowly.
• AI is already resource-heavy, and adding blockchain increases costs.
• AI requires vast datasets, but blockchain transparency creates privacy risks.

🤝 The true efficiency of integrating AI and blockchain is debatable and complex, but with the right innovation, their synergy could unlock significant value.

We’ll be initiating a discussion with leading AI x blockchain builders soon.
Stay tuned 😉

Top gainers of the week (Feb 6 - Feb 12)

Despite a -2.3% dip in total market cap, some tokens defied the trend with massive gains:

🔹 Test | +585% | $152M Market Cap
🔹 Berachain | +455% | $587M Market Cap
🔹 BinaryX | +383% | $326M Market Cap
🔹 Aragon | +173% | $119M Market Cap
🔹 Terra Classic USD | +58% | $101M Market Cap

Even in a red market, opportunities exist :)

Bitcoin’s market dominance is growing - here’s what it means:

🔸More capital is flowing into BTC, its dominance is rising, signaling strong accumulation. Investors see it as both a safe-haven and a speculative asset, even in bullish conditions.

🔸 Altcoins and Ethereum are losing market share. Liquidity is shifting away from riskier assets, reflecting investor caution and reduced confidence in speculative plays.

🔸 USDT reserves are shrinking, but that capital isn’t flowing into alts. Instead, Bitcoin is absorbing the majority of re-entering funds, consolidating its leadership in the market.

Bitcoin is strengthening its position, with institutional players and long-term holders driving demand. Meanwhile, altcoins remain on the sidelines as risk appetite cools.

Full article