AIRian Reimagines Running

Run, Earn, Govern: Exploring $AIR

Here's a breakdown of the AIRian ecosystem's governance token and its various use cases.

By Violet Vallaya

Did you ever think running doesn't just boost your health, but also earns you rewards and lets you influence the future of a fitness community? Yes, we are talking about $AIR, a unique token by the AIRian project.

Understanding $AIR: More Than Just a Token

"$AIR, the second major mechanism, serves as a governance token and a utility in RUNNER X," CEO Jay Chung told The Shib team.

Unlike traditional tokens, $AIR can be acquired through various activities, be it walking, running, or engaging in external exchanges. This accessibility promotes inclusivity, allowing users to actively participate in the AIRian community.

"Active participation earns AIRians $AIR, usable within the ecosystem or withdrawn to external exchanges. It plays a crucial role in various AIRian services and community decision-making through voting," CMO James Lim explained.

Versatility in Use: Features of $AIR

$AIR unlocks a spectrum of functionalities, emphasizing its significance within the AIRian ecosystem. Here are some notable features:

Marketplace and Raffle:

• Users can leverage $AIR to acquire exclusive AIRian characters and AIRian-branded clothing through the marketplace. Limited releases add an element of rarity, enhancing the desirability of these digital assets.

Governance Activities:

• A key role of $AIR lies in community decision-making through voting. Users with $AIR tokens can actively participate in shaping the future of the AIRian project, including hosting events, tracking progress, and influencing feature development.

Online/Offline Marathon Ticketing:

• $AIR opens doors to large-scale offline marathons, allowing users to participate in ticketing using the token. Additionally, an online marathon (explained below) powered by $AIR provides unique benefits, such as discounts and priority ticketing.

Challenges and Crew Competitions:

• Users can create or participate in challenges using $AIR, adding a layer of gamification to the ecosystem. The collateral risk, coupled with the potential for additional $AIR compensation upon goal achievement, introduces an innovative approach to user engagement.

Crew Activities:

• With $AIR, users can establish and manage running crews, fostering both offline and online global participation. Crew promotions further enhance the community-building aspect, providing a platform for runners to connect.

Practical Use Cases of $AIR

Health and Fitness Integration:

• The token incentivizes users to embrace healthier lifestyles by earning rewards for physical activities. The integration of Eco Mode and Sport Mode encourages users to stay active, creating a positive feedback loop between fitness and token rewards.

Community Building:

• $AIR facilitates group activities and community contribution, promoting a sense of belonging among AIRians. Runners worldwide can unite in both online and offline activities, fostering a global community.

ESG Initiatives:

• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) activities find a place in the AIRian ecosystem. Events, marathons, and challenges are conducted in an eco-friendly manner, showcasing a commitment to responsible practices.

Healthcare Data Utilization:

• The collection of user data enables personalized recommendations for walking or running methods, contributing to the overall well-being of participants.

How to Access $AIR

$AIR adopts an inclusive approach to acquisition, offering multiple avenues for users:

Eco Mode & Sport Mode:

• Users earn rewards by simply walking or running with a device equipped with Runner X, showcasing a commitment to making fitness accessible to all.

Challenges (Individual & Crew):

• Engaging in challenges, both individual and crew-based, present opportunities for users to earn $AIR based on the difficulty level and successful goal achievement.

Online Marathon:

• The AIR marathon, an online global event, offers users the chance to earn rewards and badges by participating and excelling in the rankings. The inclusive nature of online participation ensures a diverse and engaged user base.

Exchanges:

• $AIR's listing on various global exchanges expands accessibility, allowing users to acquire and utilize the token seamlessly within the AIRian ecosystem.

$AIR transcends its role as a mere digital asset, presenting a comprehensive ecosystem that intertwines governance, utility, and community engagement in the evolving landscape of decentralized applications and their potential to redefine user interaction and participation.

The AIRian Culture: Fitness, Community, and Decentralization

Join the AIRian community, the backbone of the AIRian project, and start your transformative journey with a pair of running shoes and a piece of technology.

By Malaya Ruiz

'We are AIRian.' This expression represents a major mechanism of the
AIRian project and its growing community of runners united through common goals and values governed by decentralization. It is a group of active runners on the Runner X app promoting a global culture by forming running crews, competing, and participating in community activities. AIRian symbolizes a movement propelled by runners in this user-centered, Web3-based running project.

This large and diverse community comes together to share their passion on a decentralized platform, which is a safe space for them to enjoy Web2 and Web3 without the risks and pressures of having a public persona.

Global Statistics: Runners and Running Apps

Running is a widely popular and commonly practiced sport around the globe. The Statista Research Department recorded that approximately 49 million people in the United States participated in running and jogging at least once in 2021 alone. It is estimated that 621.16 million people worldwide practice running as a sport, with race participation showing an overall increase of 57.8% in the last ten years. About 1.1 million of the world’s population complete a marathon annually, according to RunRepeat and the International Institute for Race Medicine.

Runners generally find enjoyment in analyzing data from their runs, hence the increasing popularity of running apps that allow them to track their routes, share their progress with friends, and assess their performance. The Running Apps Market Report by Industry Research indicates that in 2022, the global market for running apps was valued at $684.64 million and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.85% by 2028, when it is expected to reach $1,833.85 million.

The AIRian Culture: Global Reach and Web3

Through Runner X, the pioneering dApp (decentralized app) for global runners, AIRians can achieve their fitness goals and connect with other runners across borders by participating in activities that will be recorded on the blockchain. The team behind the project expects more than 300 million runners to join the movement, contributing to the growth of the AIRian ecosystem and consequently benefiting from being part of it. AIRians have the privilege of gaining access to an ingenious fusion of Web3 technologies and an innovative fitness system.

If somebody asks, let them know this is a community of runners that will move decentralization forward in the fitness world.

A Healthy Community Is a Vibrant Community

The project continues to move toward its vision of embracing the spirit of community on a global scale. At the start of the year, they opened the AIRian Ambassador Program to welcome the first batch of individuals who will share their running journey on social media and gain exclusive perks and benefits as they promote the running app and the community to their audiences. One of the ambassador responsibilities is to share their running records to inspire members of the community to do the same and encourage non-members to download the app. Ambassadors are eligible to receive token rewards, avatar airdrops, merch, featured content, and priority access to events and collaborations.

The good news is ALL AIRians can get special rewards by walking and running, depending on how many steps they record on the Runner X app per day. The Incentive Function on the app allows users to earn $AIR tokens. They can also own NFTs that can be used as profile pictures and unlock access to various services in online and offline events powered by $AIR.

Last month, AIRian announced on X that they were giving away exclusive AIRian avatar stickers. The AIRian GIFs have garnered 3 million views on Giphy. More recently, they shared a sneak peek of the exclusive AIRian apparel line. An exciting membership experience is also on the horizon as they prepare to launch AIRian Avarta.

Never Let On Who You Are

The AIRian platform allows users to express themselves with their AIRian identity through AIRian avatars and characters, fostering a culture of privacy and protection within the community along with a sense of belonging. The 'Never let on who you are' tagline represents this objective.

When asked about it, AIRian CEO Jay Chung enthusiastically explained, “This was created precisely for this cultural and meme purpose!”

It means having control over your identity while reaping the benefits of becoming an AIRian.

SEC Plays Defense: Ethereum ETF Faces Extra Innings

The SEC delays its ruling on the proposed ETH ETF, sparking speculation about the potential impact on Ethereum and the reason behind the extended review process.

By Yona Gushiken

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has played a strategic hand, deferring its decision on the proposed spot Ethereum Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), very recently, from Wall Street juggernauts BlackRock and Fidelity. It's a palpable suspense, leaving the crypto realm abuzz with curiosity — what implications does this hold for Ethereum, and why does the SEC extend the game with additional innings, inviting public commentary?

The Chase Unfurls

The Ethereum ETF, a potential game-changer, pledges to bridge the gap between the crypto domain and traditional investments. The stage is set, a lineup of eager contenders awaits, and the atmosphere crackles with electric competition — the stakes are high, and the race is unmistakably ON.

Yet, this isn't just another day at the office for the SEC. Far from stalling progress, the SEC plunges into the nitty-gritty, putting these ETF proposals under the microscope. The regulator seeks not just contemplation but an in-depth dissection, inviting public commentators to spotlight their insights on arguments championed by Fidelity, BlackRock, Cboe, and Nasdaq heavyweights.

In this regulatory stage, the SEC isn't just contemplating; it's asking the pivotal question: Do the compelling narratives that paved the way for the green-lit spot Bitcoin ETFs gracefully waltz over to ETFs embracing Ethereum's ether?

SEC Keeps Cards Close to Its Chest

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, in an interview last week, remained tight-lipped regarding spot Ethereum ETFs. When grilled about a potential decision timeline, Gensler indicated that the process mirrors that of Bitcoin ETFs, offering no insights into the current status or timeframe.

And get this — he's sticking to his guns on the whole investment approval thing. According to him, giving the green light doesn't mean the SEC's suddenly chill about Bitcoin risks. Nope, this reticence harks back to the landmark Grayscale v. SEC case, where the SEC was taken to task for its inconsistent stance on Bitcoin futures versus spot ETFs.

When the SEC big shot was asked whether Bitcoin itself was the issue or if it was being misused, he didn't hold back. “This is a field that has been rife with fraud and manipulation, and look at all the bankruptcies,” he said, before saying, “It’s entity, after entity, after entity.”

Industry Bullish on Ethereum ETF Potential

Geoff Kendrick, the head of FX Research, West, and Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered anticipates Ether's price to surge to $4,000 by the projected approval date of May 23, riding on a similar trajectory to Bitcoin during its ETF approval process. 

"We expect pending applications for ETH U.S. spot ETFs to be approved on May 23, the final deadline for the first of the ETFs under consideration — the equivalent date to Jan. 10 for BTC ETFs," Geoffrey Kendrick, head of Standard Chartered Bank's forex and digital assets research, wrote in a report. "If ETH prices perform similarly to how BTC prices performed in the lead-up to BTC ETF approval, ETH could trade as high as $4,000 by then."

But hold your horses, there are a few ifs and buts here. Kendrick's prediction relies on some key factors, like a continued lukewarm market sentiment for approval, possible misjudgments in implied volatility, and the SEC giving the nod to multiple applications at once. The report also says Ether is less likely to get rocked by the same selloffs that Bitcoin faced post-ETF green light. Kendrick put it bluntly, "These factors should make ETH less vulnerable than BTC to a post-approval selloff."

Gracy Chen, managing director at Bitget is all in on the potential of an Ethereum ETF. It's not just about easing the path for traditional investors; it's about pumping liquidity into the Ethereum market. Think about the Bitcoin ETF ripple effect — that could be Ethereum's future.

• “An Ethereum spot ETF makes it easier for traditional investors to get exposure to Ethereum without directly owning or managing cryptocurrencies. This increased accessibility could attract a broader range of investors, including institutional investors who might prefer traditional investment tools,” the Bitget managing director told The Shib.
• “ETFs listed on traditional stock exchanges usually have higher liquidity than the underlying assets. The introduction of an Ethereum spot ETF could bring additional liquidity to the Ethereum market, making it easier for investors to buy and sell ETH. After BTC's ETF went live, there was a significant boost in liquidity, and the sale of billions of dollars in BTC did not cause significant price fluctuations,” Chen, who is a self-proclaimed crypto nerd, further said.

The Security Question: Is Ethereum a security? The SEC's been tight-lipped, leaving everyone guessing. But, according to Chen, an Ethereum ETF thumbs-up could signal Ethereum's solidifying reputation as a legit asset class.

• “In previous official responses, the SEC has not explicitly stated that ETH is not a security, but it hasn't classified it as one either. SEC Chairman Gensler has been ambiguous on whether Ethereum and its stablecoins (like WETH) fall under the category of securities. ETH is often held as an investment, suggesting it could be classified as a security, but it is also widely used as a daily exchange medium across protocols, making its function more akin to cash. Similar to Bitcoin, the approval of an Ethereum ETF could be seen as a positive signal for market sentiment. This may indicate that Ethereum is gradually being viewed as a legitimate and investable asset class, potentially boosting investor confidence,” the Bitget executive noted.

Analysts' Countdown 

Bloomberg Intelligence's ETF Analyst, James Seyffart, and Standard Chartered align on the SEC's likely decision timeline, eyeing May 23, 2024, as a pivotal date for Ethereum ETF hopefuls, potentially setting a precedent akin to the Bitcoin ETF approvals.

As the SEC sifts through the details and the crypto community buzzes with anticipation, Ethereum's quest for ETF approval transcends mere regulatory hurdles — it's a window into the future of cryptocurrency investment, brimming with suspense, strategy, and speculation.

If (and that's a BIG IF) the Ethereum ETF struts onto the scene, it's like a gallon of rocket fuel is thrown into the crypto bonfire. This means more mainstream players will hop aboard the crypto rollercoaster, and as a domino effect, this could mean a heightened crypto fever. 

Now, what's in it for the Shib ecosystem?

In the vast Shiba Inu universe, it's akin to capturing a gentle sprinkle of celestial stardust. Imagine the entire market ensnared in a tempest of exhilaration, with Shiba Inu, the darling of the Shib ecosystem, gracefully riding the crests of crypto euphoria. Beyond mere trading, it unfolds as a meticulous choreography, orchestrating Shiba Inu's poised maneuvers in the grand spectacle of the crypto dance-off.

Recent days witnessed SHIB's soaring surge, a remarkable 288.78% in the last 30 days — a testament to its strength, even without the Ethereum ETF factor.