Tether EVO Engineers Achieve Impressive 4th Place in Global Brain-Computer Interface Competition
12 February 2026 – Tether, a leading company in the digital assets industry, proudly announced today that its cutting-edge technology division, Tether EVO, showcased the exceptional capabilities of its local-first brain-computer interface (BCI) AI systems in translating neural signals into text under real-world simulated conditions. The team secured two spots in the top five out of 466 participants in the Brain-to-Text ’25 Kaggle Competition, competing against prestigious universities worldwide.
Tether EVO’s strategy focuses on local execution, resilience to noisy inputs, and efficient handling of high-dimensional neural data, eliminating the need for constant cloud connectivity. These design principles underscore a broader commitment to developing AI systems that remain functional in environments where latency, privacy, and infrastructure limitations are critical considerations.
Participants in the competition were tasked with converting 256 channels of raw neural activity into coherent text without precise time-alignment data. Tether EVO’s success in decoding intricate neural signals and Electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings, competing against global data science teams and leading AI research institutions, showcases that advanced reasoning can be achieved without relying on the massive centralized compute power associated with “Big Tech” models.
By securing a fourth-place finish, Tether EVO demonstrated the competitive performance of its local-first AI approach in tackling one of the most complex challenges in machine learning – translating neural signals into actionable text.
“At Tether, we believe that the future of human advancement lies in harnessing the full potential of machine learning and AI, while respecting the individuality of our brains and ensuring user control remains paramount, rather than centralized in data centers with access to people’s innermost thoughts,” stated Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “Achieving a top position in this global competition is not just a technical victory for our engineers; it signifies the validation of our overarching mission. We are constructing the technological foundation for a society that promotes human progress, utilizing cutting-edge AI methodologies while safeguarding individuals’ rights to freedom, privacy, and self-determination.”
This unwavering commitment to open data and decentralized intelligence ensures that as AI advances, it remains a tool for empowerment rather than a means of centralized control.
About Tether EVO
Tether EVO serves as Tether’s pioneering technology division, dedicated to the convergence of biology and artificial intelligence. Specializing in Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) and neuroprosthetics, Tether EVO develops high-performance, local-first systems aimed at empowering individuals and preserving personal autonomy in an increasingly centralized world.