Iran Accepts Cryptocurrency Payments for Weapons Exports to Bypass Sanctions

‘Customers are awake’- Eric Trump slams banks over stablecoin yield opposition

Eric Trump, son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has criticized banks for their strong opposition to stablecoin yields, calling it "anti-retail, anti-consumer, and anti-American." He claims banks are fighting crypto platforms that offer 4–5%+ yields, but are losing as customers become aware. Tensions between banks and crypto have escalated, threatening the CLARITY Act. Recently, Kraken became the first crypto firm to gain access to the Fed’s payment rails, a move opposed by banks citing financial risks. President Trump also warned banks against undermining his crypto agenda. The rift risks stalling the crypto bill, with prediction markets showing a 71% chance of the CLARITY Act passing in 2026, down from 78%.

ambcrypto31 min fa

Kraken Becomes First Crypto Firm To Gain Access To Federal Reserve’s Master Accounts – Report

Kraken, the second-largest US crypto exchange, has become the first cryptocurrency firm to gain a Federal Reserve master account through its banking arm, Kraken Financial. This approval, granted by the Kansas City Fed, provides limited access to core payment systems like Fedwire, enabling faster and more efficient fiat currency transfers for clients. While seen as a major industry milestone, the approval has drawn opposition from traditional banks, which argue that granting crypto firms access to the Fed’s payment infrastructure could threaten financial stability. The account is approved for an initial one-year term.

bitcoinist31 min fa

Farewell to Brute Force Computing: Reconstructing the Valuation Logic of AI for Science through HKUST's "GrainBot"

In 2026, Hong Kong's AI sector is rapidly transitioning from infrastructure development to deep application deployment. A key example is GrainBot, an AI tool developed by a team led by Prof. Guo Yike at HKUST, which represents a significant shift from general-purpose AI to specialized scientific discovery. GrainBot addresses critical challenges in materials science, particularly in analyzing microstructures like grain boundaries in materials used in semiconductors, batteries, and solar panels. Traditionally, this required manual, time-consuming, and error-prone analysis of microscopy images. GrainBot automates this process using computer vision and deep learning to accurately identify, segment grains, and quantify geometric features. It also correlates microstructural data with macro-material properties, as demonstrated in its application to perovskite solar cell research. This breakthrough highlights a broader trend in AI for Science (AI4S), where value is measured not by user metrics but by accelerated R&D cycles and novel discoveries. GrainBot’s potential to drastically shorten development timelines or uncover new materials with superior properties underscores a new valuation logic centered on industrial intellectual property. Hong Kong’s strength in combining domain expertise (e.g., materials science, chemistry) with AI capabilities creates a competitive advantage, positioning it as a hub for "autonomous labs" that integrate AI analysis with robotic experimentation. This model enables high-value patent output through fully automated, data-driven R&D, supporting a "Hong Kong R&D + Bay Area manufacturing" framework. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding data scarcity and silos in scientific research. High-quality, annotated datasets are limited, and data sharing barriers must be overcome through secure mechanisms like privacy computing for broader commercialization. GrainBot symbolizes a convergence of algorithmic innovation and scientific rigor, redirecting investment focus from sheer compute power to AI’s ability to solve real-world physical challenges. Hong Kong’s progress in AI4S signals emerging opportunities in a trillion-dollar AI-driven discovery market.

marsbit52 min fa

Hackers Steal $24M in Violent Crypto ‘Wrench Attack’

TheNewsCrypto57 min fa

The First Generation of Children 'Raised' by AI Has Already Been 'Poisoned'

The first generation of children raised by AI is showing signs of "poisoning." Global signals indicate that AI and generative algorithms are deeply reshaping the mental world of adolescents. In the UK, an AI character named Amelia, originally designed to combat hate, was co-opted by extremists and transformed into a far-right icon. On TikTok, the anti-intellectual "Agartha" conspiracy—a myth about an advanced subterranean civilization—is spreading, with AI creating hyper-realistic images and videos that distort historical facts and promote racist ideologies. Meanwhile, emotionally vulnerable teens are forming parasitic relationships with AI companions, like Character.ai, leading to tragic outcomes such as suicide. AI is also being weaponized for bullying: tools that generate fake explicit images with a single click have led to widespread harassment in schools, with perpetrators often dismissing it as a "joke." The addictive, algorithmically-driven content on platforms like TikTok is causing "brainrot," overwhelming young minds with rapid-fire, nonsensical videos. In response, governments are taking drastic measures. Australia has banned under-16s from social media without biometric age verification. France is raising the age limit to 15, and US states like Florida and New York are implementing strict access controls and disabling algorithmic feeds for minors. The era of a "neutral" internet is over. The core issue is no longer about screen addiction, but about how AI is fundamentally shaping the reality and values of the next generation.

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