du Launches Cloud Bitcoin Mining & Pavel Durov Debuts AI Network Cocoon

Happy Monday everyone!

The UAE’s digital economy continues to surge forward this week, with major announcements from both telecom and tech giants. du has launched Cloud Miner, the country’s first regulated cloud-based Bitcoin mining platform, giving UAE residents a compliant way to earn from crypto. Meanwhile, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov unveiled Cocoon, a decentralized AI network built on the TON blockchain, designed to reward GPU owners in crypto for powering secure AI inference. Together, these launches mark a defining moment in the UAE’s drive to merge blockchain, crypto, and AI — pushing the region further into the global innovation spotlight.

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Telecom operator du has launched Cloud Miner, the UAE’s first regulated Cloud Mining-as-a-Service platform. Revealed at the Burj Khalifa, the service lets residents mine Bitcoin by renting computational power online, eliminating the need for physical mining hardware or technical setup.

Cloud Miner allows UAE residents to participate in cryptocurrency mining within a compliant, locally hosted ecosystem. By requiring UAE Pass verification and operating under strict KYC and AML standards, it marks a significant step toward mainstream, regulated access to digital assets in the country.

Subscriptions for Cloud Miner contracts—offering 250 TH/s for 24 months—are available through onlineauction.ae from November 3 to 9. The launch underscores the UAE’s broader vision to expand blockchain adoption and digital finance participation through safe, locally regulated platforms.

Binance, is set to host its flagship event, Binance Blockchain Week, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on December 3rd and 4th.

The 2025 edition will unite leading voices from the global Web3 and blockchain ecosystem, celebrating milestones and exploring the next phase of the industry’s evolution. The conference promises an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, covering exchanges, smart contracts, education, investment, and regulation, reflecting Binance’s growing global influence.

Confirmed speakers include Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, making his first UAE crypto appearance; Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple; Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation; Raoul Pal, Co-Founder and CEO of Real Vision; and CZ, Founder of Giggle Academy, BNB Chain, and Co-Founder of Binance and many more. In addition to the esteemed lineup, Binance Blockchain Week will also feature key leaders from Binance, including Yi He, Co-Founder; Richard Teng, Chief Executive Officer; Rachel Conlan, Chief Marketing Officer; and Catherine Chen, Head of Binance VIP & Institutional.”

Binance Blockchain Week represents the pinnacle of the brand’s 1,500 global events, bringing together opinion leaders, builders, regulators, and community members to shape the future of Web3. Returning to Dubai for a second year, the city continues to establish itself as a global hub for blockchain innovation, supported by a progressive regulatory landscape and thriving tech ecosystem.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov unveiled Cocoon at Blockchain Life 2025 in Dubai—a decentralized AI compute network built on the TON blockchain. The platform rewards GPU owners with Toncoin for contributing computing power, offering developers a privacy-first alternative to centralized AI infrastructure.

Cocoon challenges Big Tech’s control of AI by enabling confidential computing where user data remains encrypted end-to-end. With Telegram’s massive user base and TON’s scalable blockchain, the project aims to democratize AI access and protect digital freedoms from corporate data monopolies.

Launching in November, Cocoon will debut with Telegram as its first major client. GPU providers and developers can already apply to join. Backed by AlphaTON Capital’s planned hardware investments, the network could become a foundation for decentralized, user-owned AI infrastructure at global scale.

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