# Trust Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Trust", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

A Ceasefire Without Trust Is Merely a Pause

"The Ceasefire Neither Side Can Keep" by Thomas Aldren examines the fragile truce between Iran and the US in 2026, framing it as a pause rather than a path to peace. The article argues that the lack is structural, rooted in both nations' historical and theological paths. Iran's political theology, since Khomeini's 1988 fatwa, reserves the right to revoke commitments if state interests demand, placing the state above all else. The US, having withdrawn from the JCPOA and pursued maximum pressure and military strikes like the 2025 "Midnight Hammer" operation, undermined its own credibility as a contractual partner. This mutual "idolatry"—elevating military power or state authority above covenant—has destroyed the moral and institutional foundations for trust. The ceasefire, with no public text or verification, is an empty shell. True peace requires both sides to first acknowledge their own idolatrous patterns rather than solely blaming the other.

marsbit04/09 13:04

A Ceasefire Without Trust Is Merely a Pause

marsbit04/09 13:04

Solana Tries To Turn Fear Into FOMO — Can STRIDE Really Stop The Next $300M Rug?

The Solana Foundation has launched a new security initiative called STRIDE (Solana Trust, Resilience and Infrastructure for DeFi Enterprises) in collaboration with Asymmetric Research. This framework is designed to continuously assess and oversee the security of projects built on Solana through an eight-pillar system, with results made public. Alongside STRIDE, the Solana Incident Response Network (SIRN) was introduced—a coalition of security firms focused on threat intelligence and coordinated responses to hacks. These efforts follow a recent $286 million exploit on the Drift Protocol and represent a shift toward continuous, foundation-funded security monitoring rather than one-time audits. While these measures may help restore trust, new exploits on unaudited protocols could still face severe market reactions.

bitcoinist04/07 21:01

Solana Tries To Turn Fear Into FOMO — Can STRIDE Really Stop The Next $300M Rug?

bitcoinist04/07 21:01

Solana rolls out ‘STRIDE,’ a DeFi-wide security push after $285 mln Drift breach

In response to the $285 million Drift protocol hack, the Solana Foundation has launched a comprehensive, two-tiered security initiative called STRIDE (Solana Trust, Resilience, and Infrastructure for DeFi Enterprises). This program will proactively evaluate, monitor, and escalate security issues for DeFi projects with over $10M in total value locked (TVL), setting new security standards and requiring independent audits. For protocols with over $100M TVL, the Foundation will support formal security checks. A second layer, the Solana Incident Response Network (SIRN), unites security firms to react to active threats. The move aims to rebuild trust and prevent future incidents, with early data showing investor liquidity on Solana remained stable despite the recent breach.

ambcrypto04/07 09:17

Solana rolls out ‘STRIDE,’ a DeFi-wide security push after $285 mln Drift breach

ambcrypto04/07 09:17

The New Yorker In-Depth Investigation Analysis: Why Do OpenAI Insiders Believe Altman Is Untrustworthy?

"The New Yorker investigation, based on internal documents and interviews with over 100 sources, reveals deep internal distrust in OpenAI’s leadership, particularly toward CEO Sam Altman. Key allegations include a pattern of dishonesty, undermining safety protocols, and prioritizing commercial interests over OpenAI’s original non-profit mission to develop AI safely. Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever compiled a 70-page dossier accusing Altman of repeatedly lying to the board—for instance, falsely claiming GPT-4 features had passed safety reviews. Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei’s private notes further detail how Microsoft’s investment deal effectively neutered OpenAI’s safety commitments. The report also highlights unfulfilled promises, such as allocating only 1-2% of promised computing resources to critical safety teams. Internal conflicts extend to CFO Sarah Friar, who opposed Altman’s aggressive IPO timeline amid financial concerns. Microsoft executives compared Altman to fraudsters like SBF, citing a tendency to distort facts and renege on agreements. Critics argue that Altman’s unchecked authority and alleged disregard for transparency pose significant risks given OpenAI’s powerful, potentially dangerous AI technology. The company’s transformation from a safety-first non-profit to a profit-driven entity raises fundamental questions about its governance and ethical commitments."

marsbit04/07 03:40

The New Yorker In-Depth Investigation Analysis: Why Do OpenAI Insiders Believe Altman Is Untrustworthy?

marsbit04/07 03:40

‘Beyond code errors’ – How Drift Protocol’s $285mln drain shifts DeFi security bar

The Drift Protocol exploit, resulting in a $285 million loss, marks a significant shift in DeFi security threats, moving beyond simple code errors to sophisticated attacks on governance and operational control layers. The attacker used pre-signed transactions and manipulated a multi-signature mechanism to gain admin access rapidly. This incident underscores that security now depends more on protecting protocol operations and user assets than solely fixing smart contract bugs. Drift’s response demonstrated the critical role of fast crisis management—halting deposits and withdrawals quickly, coordinating with security partners, and providing transparency—which helped contain cross-protocol risks and maintain market confidence. The event reflects a broader trend in DeFi, where attackers increasingly target access and control mechanisms. This has elevated the importance of operational security, prompting protocols to compete not only on yield but also on their ability to manage risk, protect capital, and respond effectively during crises. Industry data shows a growing focus on security investments, such as signer rotation and emergency controls, as key factors in building resilience and trust.

ambcrypto04/06 05:03

‘Beyond code errors’ – How Drift Protocol’s $285mln drain shifts DeFi security bar

ambcrypto04/06 05:03

Can Circle compete against Coinbase as wrapped Bitcoin space heats up?

Circle is launching cirBTC, a new wrapped Bitcoin product backed 1:1 by BTC and targeting institutional users. The token aims to leverage Bitcoin's $1.7 trillion liquidity and integrate with Circle’s ecosystem, including its Arc chain and DeFi platforms. This move comes amid trust issues in the wrapped Bitcoin sector, highlighted by recent controversies involving BitGo’s WBTC and Coinbase’s cbBTC. While cbBTC grew rapidly to a $6B market supply, it faced scrutiny over unverifiable reserves. Circle positions cirBTC as a "neutral" and transparent alternative, emphasizing on-chain verifiability and trust. The product will compete directly with Coinbase, despite their existing partnership in USDC distribution.

ambcrypto04/03 18:01

Can Circle compete against Coinbase as wrapped Bitcoin space heats up?

ambcrypto04/03 18:01

Coinbase Secures Conditional OCC Approval For National Trust Charter – Details

Coinbase, the largest US crypto exchange, has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Coinbase National Trust Company. This marks a significant step toward becoming a federally regulated crypto custodian. The company clarified that this charter does not make it a commercial bank, and it will not take retail deposits or engage in fractional reserve banking. Instead, it aims to bring federal regulatory uniformity to its custody and market infrastructure business. This approval validates Coinbase's regulatory approach and allows it to expand its reach and conduct new business. It also signals a shift in the federal regulatory framework to align with the evolving crypto landscape. However, the move faces opposition from US banks and lawmakers, including the American Bankers Association and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who have raised concerns about regulatory arbitrage and called for delays until clearer rules are established. Coinbase joins other firms like Ripple, Circle, and Fidelity that have also received similar OCC approvals.

bitcoinist04/03 10:31

Coinbase Secures Conditional OCC Approval For National Trust Charter – Details

bitcoinist04/03 10:31

Coinbase wins conditional OCC approval as crypto moves deeper into U.S. banking system

Coinbase has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust company, advancing the integration of crypto custody and infrastructure into the U.S. federal regulatory system. Announced on April 2, this approval marks a shift from state-level oversight toward a unified federal framework. The trust charter does not grant banking privileges—such as deposit-taking or lending—but focuses on custody and market infrastructure services. This move enables Coinbase to expand its institutional offerings while operating under consistent federal supervision. The approval remains conditional, requiring Coinbase to meet ongoing regulatory standards before full operation. This development reflects a broader trend of aligning digital asset services with traditional financial oversight.

ambcrypto04/02 21:02

Coinbase wins conditional OCC approval as crypto moves deeper into U.S. banking system

ambcrypto04/02 21:02

In the AI Era of Spending $2 to Earn $1, Founders Who Don't Build an IP Are Being Phased Out

In the AI era, founders who neglect building a personal IP are being left behind. Top VC firm a16z now runs an 8-week fellowship program to train storytellers and content creators for its portfolio companies, signaling a strategic shift. Key drivers: - Customer acquisition costs (CAC) have surged 222% over 10 years, with SaaS companies spending $2 to earn $1 in annual revenue. - AI has accelerated product homogenization, shrinking competitive advantages from years to just 3-12 months. - Consumers increasingly trust authentic human voices: 71% distrust AI-heavy brand communication, while 67% pay more for founder-aligned values. Case studies demonstrate the power of founder IP: - Sam Altman’s personal Twitter (4.5M followers) often outperforms OpenAI’s official account, amplifying the company’s narrative and valuation growth. - Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, with zero marketing budget, grew valuation 133x to $21.2B through transparent, direct user engagement. - Midjourney, with just 10-15 employees, achieved $500M revenue by leveraging founder David Holz’s Discord community interactions. - Even non-founder IP like Duolingo’s brand personality (a “crazy” owl) drove user growth from 37M to 117M MAU. However, founder IP is a double-edged sword—Elon Musk’s influence boosted Grok’s market share but also contributed to a 53% drop in Tesla’s brand value due to controversial statements. The conclusion: Product strength is the foundation (the “1”), but founder IP is the multiplier (the “0”). In an era of rising CAC and AI-driven sameness, a founder’s authentic voice is becoming the most efficient growth lever and durable moat.

marsbit04/02 07:05

In the AI Era of Spending $2 to Earn $1, Founders Who Don't Build an IP Are Being Phased Out

marsbit04/02 07:05

Airdrops Won't Make You Rich, edgeX Doesn't Need a Community

The decentralized perpetual contract protocol edgeX, incubated by Amber Group and backed by Circle Ventures, faced massive community backlash following its token airdrop distribution. Despite earlier promises not to screen out Sybil accounts and to distribute tokens based on points earned through trading, users discovered significant inconsistencies in token allocation. Many users reported receiving vastly different token amounts for the same number of points—some obtained 11 tokens per point, while others received as few as 0.5. Further allegations emerged, including insider trading, with reports that low-point affiliated addresses received a quarter of the total airdrop. The project worsened the situation by disabling comments on its social media channels to suppress criticism. Influential figures like Bingwa accused edgeX of being a "setup" rather than a legitimate project, designed to manipulate and exploit users. The incident has eroded trust in airdrop mechanisms, highlighting the risks of "rule changes after the fact" and the lack of transparency. As a result, user activity on edgeX plummeted, with daily new deposits dropping from over 2,000 to under 50 shortly after the airdrop snapshot. The event raises broader concerns about the sustainability of airdrop-driven engagement in DeFi, suggesting that the era of "airdrop致富" (getting rich from airdrops) may be over.

marsbit03/31 10:43

Airdrops Won't Make You Rich, edgeX Doesn't Need a Community

marsbit03/31 10:43

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