The latest in digital assets, markets and regulation.
Anchorpoint CEO Dominic Maffei confirmed the firm will not rush its HKD stablecoin retail launch, citing sustainability concerns. The delay follows HSBC’s immediate rollout of RedCoin to 3.3 million PayMe users, highlighting divergent adoption strategies.
Anchorpoint CEO Dominic Maffei confirmed the firm will not rush its HKD stablecoin retail launch, citing sustainability concerns. The delay follows HSBC’s immediate rollout of RedCoin to 3.3 million PayMe users, highlighting divergent adoption strategies.
Ethereum cancelled its Glamsterdam testnet after AI agents found gas scaling bugs affecting DeFi contracts. Solana’s Alpenglow upgrade slashed finality times to 150ms, while Starknet voters backed post-quantum L1 research.
ECB official Piero Cipollone argues the digital euro pilot, launching next year, is vital for EU payments sovereignty amid reliance on non-European providers. Legislative approval in Brussels remains a prerequisite for formal issuance decisions.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs snapped a two-week losing streak with $301 million in weekly inflows, despite Friday's $137.9 million outflow. However, funds remain down $314 million for October, while Ethereum ETFs face a $1.18 billion monthly deficit amid broader market volatility.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed using blockchain to evade potential international sanctions, calling it a national strategic tool. The Bank of Israel and political opponents immediately rejected the idea, noting that cryptocurrencies cannot bypass sanctions due to traceability and lack of systemic replacement capabilities.
Google updated its privacy policy on Oct. 16 to allow Gmail, Drive, and Photos data to personalize ads if users connect them to AI features. The change supports Personal Intelligence but remains opt-in, with advertisers denied direct content access.
Sweden's Government Offices will block ChatGPT and Claude on staff computers from October 26, citing information security risks. Microsoft Copilot remains the only approved AI tool after a formal security review, though some employees retain limited access via an internal platform.
Former Infinity Ward strategist Robert Bowling says Activision pushed to cut game discs as early as 2007 to boost profits and kill resale markets. His comments contextualize Sony’s controversial 2028 plan to end disc production, which faces strong consumer backlash.
HSBC launched RedCoin, a HKMA-licensed Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, on its PayMe app for over 3.3 million users. The token runs on a private ledger, excluding it from deposit protection schemes, while plans include integration with mobile banking and tokenized fund access.
ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone confirmed a 2027 pilot for the digital euro, citing urgent needs for European payment sovereignty amid heavy reliance on non-EU card schemes. Full rollout could begin in 2029 if legislation passes this year.
Prime Minister Netanyahu requested a blockchain plan to bypass potential banking sanctions, citing the eventual end of U.S. defense aid. He urged preparation for an "alternative economy," mirroring strategies used by other sanctioned nations despite known limitations in crypto traceability.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal demands Tether release records on $6.3M paid to Nxum, co-owned by ex-White House adviser Bo Hines. The probe follows reports Hines shaped stablecoin law while retaining a stake in the firm receiving payments.