🧠 Mind games

It’s officially October, and that means I already have pumpkins on the porch and my black cat is starting to act a little strange. Spooky szn is here.

Today, we’re taking a look at a DeSci project that shows us crypto isn’t always fun and games — it can also be fun and brains.

— Kate Irwin

Clear writing isn’t just about words — it’s about clear thinking. That’s why Blockworks’ Byron Gilliam (author of The Breakdown newsletter) put together a free guide on how to write about crypto.

It’s not a list of “10 hacks for better headlines.” It’s hard-earned lessons from someone who’s been making sense of markets for years.

Download the guide here.

Playing Pong with only your mind — and crypto

Elata Biosciences, a DAO, is on a mission to put your brain data onchain and make neuroscience more accessible. 

This week at Token2049, players tested out an EEG headset to play Pong hands-free using Elata’s open-source EEG platform.

The headset captures brain signals and detects brain voltage changes, which are then processed by AI to refine and remove irrelevant data and translate the brain data into game activity. Spatial filtering, source separation and machine learning are key to filtering out the unrelated data.

“When users generate and contribute data through apps like Pong, smart contracts will record these contributions and distribute rewards for verified and valuable data,” Elata Biosciences co-founder Andreas Melhede told me in a message. 

“Our unified platform will include app tokens based on each app that can be swapped, used for in-game benefits and incentivize developers to advance the app and make it valuable to users on the platform.”

Elata will use its own Ethereum-based protocol, ZORP, the ERC-20 ELTA governance token, and plans to sell its EEG device as well. After testing its smart contracts, the group plans to launch ZORP on Base and let anyone create brain studies with crypto bounties. 

This Pong demo is just the beginning. The DAO wants to ultimately build out an ecosystem of EEG apps that can provide data to support and fund further mental health research. 

“Over time, we will also add personalized neuro-profiles trained on each user's neural signatures, so the platform learns to recognize specific thoughts and intentions based on each user, to increasingly become more accurate over time,” Melhede shared. 

Unlike Neuralink, the Elon Musk-founded neuroscience firm that’s using brain implant chips to make hands-free gaming possible, Elata is taking an open-source, crypto-focused approach. 

It’s a novel concept, for sure, but it’s still early. 

Where could things go from here? Imagine trading crypto without clicking your mouse or touching your phone.

Melhede said: “In the future, we also plan to create specific apps with direct onchain DeFi integration such as Uniswap trading using EEG devices, where people will only use their brainwave[s] to complete transactions.”

Talk about a power trade.

Crypto is changing TradFi derivatives and rate markets as we know them. 

DAS: London will feature all the builders driving this change. 

Get your ticket today with promo code: DROP100 for £100 off.

📅 October 13-15 | London