Tether has introduced a new platform that collects data from various wearables and wellness applications into a unified, locally processed dashboard, aiming to empower users regarding their biometric data.
The platform, named QVAC Health, consolidates information from fitness trackers, nutrition apps, and other wearables into an encrypted dashboard that operates offline. It utilizes on-device AI and peer-to-peer model downloads to analyze activities, meals, symptoms, and medication logs without depending on external servers.
The application features experimental computer-vision tools that can assess calories and macronutrients from meal images and correlate these logs with data from multiple wearables to identify trends in activity, recovery, or sleep, all processed locally on the user’s device, as per a Wednesday announcement.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino described the platform as a “neutral ground for wellness data,” showcasing the “company’s commitment to privacy-preserving local intelligence.”
Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, indicates that future enhancements will include direct Bluetooth Low Energy connections, enabling the app to access data from specific wearables without passing information through manufacturer APIs or cloud services.
This platform is a component of Tether Data’s QVAC project, which constructs peer-to-peer, device-based AI systems aimed at functioning independently of centralized platforms.
The global fitness-tracker market was valued at $52.29 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow to $189.98 billion by 2032, according to a Verified Market Research report. Key fitness-tracker manufacturers include Apple, Fitbit, Samsung, and Huawei.
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Privacy concerns drive new developments across crypto
Tether’s new platform corresponds with comments made by Ardoino in 2024, where he contended that executing local AI models directly on users’ devices was the sole dependable methodology for safeguarding data from being collected or disclosed via centralized servers.
Former White House advisor David Holtzman informed Cointelegraph in December 2024 that AI-centric data aggregation and future quantum vulnerabilities render extensive data repositories particularly susceptible.
Holtzman pointed out that AI can swiftly collate behavioral and transactional data to pinpoint targets more accurately, while forthcoming quantum threats could compromise current encryption paradigms across multiple sectors. He suggested that decentralized systems might mitigate these dangers by steering clear of large, centralized data stores.
The multitude of privacy threats has prompted some movement within the crypto community. In June, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed a “pluralistic identity” model — a digital ID framework that allows individuals to validate their identity or meet service qualifications without revealing all their personal details.
In December, Fortune reported that Circle is crafting a privacy-enhanced stablecoin named USDCx in collaboration with Aleo. This is designed to provide institutional clients with bank-level transaction privacy while still enabling compliance reporting when necessary.
Increasing worries regarding data exposure and surveillance have also reignited interest in privacy-centric cryptocurrencies, with the Zcash protocol standing out as a notable beneficiary.
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