Tether has launched a new platform that aggregates data from multiple wearable devices and wellness apps into a single, locally processed dashboard, aiming to put users in control of their biometric information.
The platform, called QVAC Health, aggregates data from fitness trackers, nutrition apps and other wearable devices into an encrypted dashboard that works offline, using on-device AI and peer-to-peer model uploads to analyze activity, meals, symptoms and medication logs without relying on external servers.
The app includes experimental computer vision tools that can estimate calories and macronutrients from meal photos and correlate those logs with data from multiple wearable devices to identify patterns of activity, recovery or sleep, all processed locally on the user’s device, according to a study published Wednesday. announcement.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino called the platform “neutral ground for wellness data” that reflects the company’s “commitment to privacy-preserving local intelligence.”
Tether, the largest stablecoin in the world issuersays future updates will include direct Bluetooth Low Energy connections that will allow the app to read data from certain wearable devices without routing the information through manufacturer APIs or cloud services.
The platform is part of Tether Data’s QVAC project, which builds peer-to-peer device-based AI systems designed to operate without relying on centralized platforms.
The global fitness tracker market was valued at $52.29 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $189.98 billion by 2032, according to a verified market study. report. Major fitness tracker manufacturers include Apple, Fitbit, Samsung, and Huawei.
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Privacy Concerns Lead to New Developments in Crypto
Tether’s new platform aligns with comments made by Ardoino in 2024, when it claimed that execution local AI models directly on user devices was the only reliable way to prevent data collection or exposure through centralized servers.
Former White House advisor David Holtzman told Cointelegraph in December 2024: AI-Driven Data Aggregation and Future Quantum Threats make large data repositories particularly vulnerable.
Holtzman noted that AI can quickly bring together behavioral and transactional data to identify targets more accurately, while future quantum attacks could break current encryption standards across all industries. He said decentralized systems can help reduce these risks by avoiding large centralized data stores.
The various privacy threats have spurred the crypto community into action. In June, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, proposed a “pluralist identity” model — a digital identification approach that allows people to prove who they are or qualify for services without exposing all of their personal information.
In December, Fortune reported that Circle was developing a privacy-enhanced stablecoin called USDCx with Aleo, designed to provide institutional users with banking transaction privacy while preserving the ability to provide compliance records when necessary.
Growing concerns about data exposure and surveillance have also fueled renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrenciesthe Zcash protocol appearing as one of the beneficiaries.
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