Helga Ivv

Blockchain

BNB Smart Chain Cuts Block Times to 0.8 Seconds After Maxwell Hard Fork Upgrade

BNB Smart Chain has officially rolled out its highly anticipated Maxwell hard fork, delivering a significant boost to network performance by slashing average block times to just 0.8 seconds—from 1.5 seconds earlier this week. The upgrade, which went live on June 30 at 2:30 am UTC,

Finance

Bitvavo Secures MiCA License in the Netherlands, Expanding Crypto Access Across EU

Bitvavo, the largest euro-denominated spot crypto exchange in the world, has officially received its Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), opening the door for it to legally operate across all 27 European Union member states. This regulatory milestone positions Bitvavo alongside

Markets

Metaplanet Overtakes Cleanspark With $108M Bitcoin Purchase, Becomes Fifth-Largest Corporate Holder

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has leapfrogged Cleanspark to become the fifth-largest corporate holder of Bitcoin after purchasing 1,005 BTC for $108 million—part of an aggressive expansion strategy that includes issuing zero-interest bonds to fund further acquisitions. The latest move brings Metaplanet’s total Bitcoin holdings to 13,350

Opinion

Crypto Confidence Grows in South Korea as Stablecoin Momentum and Stock Market Surge Align

A growing number of South Koreans are planning to boost their cryptocurrency investments, fueled by rising optimism around won-based stablecoins and a government signaling strong support for digital finance. A new survey shows that interest in crypto is rising across age groups, with many viewing digital assets as both a

Security

Nobitex Begins Gradual Recovery After $90M Hack Tied to Pro-Israel Group

Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, has started to restore access to its platform weeks after suffering a $90 million cyberattack in early June. The company is cautiously reopening services, allowing verified users back onto the platform—but for now, trading, deposits, and withdrawals remain suspended. Nobitex announced via social

Security

Nobitex Hack May Be Linked to Israeli Spy Arrests in Iran-Backed Crypto Plot

The recent $90 million cyberattack on Nobitex, Iran’s largest crypto exchange, may have exposed more than just security vulnerabilities—it could also be connected to a developing espionage case involving Israeli citizens allegedly recruited by Iran, according to a new analysis by TRM Labs. Three Israeli Citizens Arrested for

Security

Crypto Scammer Gets 8-Year Sentence for $40M Ponzi Scheme Involving eEmpowerCoin and ECoinPlus

A New York federal court has sentenced 57-year-old Dwayne Golden to nearly eight years in prison for orchestrating a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme that defrauded investors out of more than $40 million. Golden’s sentencing marks one of the most significant legal outcomes yet in the crackdown on crypto-related financial crime.

Markets

Robinhood Expands Crypto Offering with Micro Futures for XRP and Solana

Robinhood, the trading platform known for democratizing finance, is making another big move in crypto—this time with the launch of micro futures contracts for XRP and Solana. Announced Friday, the new offering adds smaller-sized futures contracts for two of the most traded altcoins, along with a micro version of

What Are Stablecoins? A Simple Guide to the Crypto Market’s Most Reliable Assets

Understanding Stablecoins Not all cryptocurrencies swing wildly in price. Some are built to stay steady—these are called stablecoins. Designed to track real-world assets like the U.S. dollar, the euro, or even gold, stablecoins offer a crucial way for crypto users to store value, transfer funds, and hedge against

Markets

Gemini Launches Tokenized U.S. Stocks on Arbitrum for EU Traders, Starting with MSTR

Gemini, the crypto exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, is taking a bold step into tokenized equities—starting with its European user base. Trade Tokenized U.S. Stocks with Gemini Tokenized StocksInvest in U.S. equities on the blockchain with Gemini Tokenized Stocks. Enjoy fractional ownership, instant settlement, and global

AI

Anthropic's AI Claudius Tries to Run a Real Business—But Teaches Big Lessons

Anthropic recently gave its Claude AI model a bold assignment: run a real-world business. The result? A fascinating, occasionally surreal experiment that showed both the promise and the pitfalls of AI autonomy in economic roles. The project, launched in collaboration with AI safety firm Andon Labs, tasked an AI agent—

Regulation

Ripple Ends Long-Running SEC Battle, Drops Cross-Appeal to Focus on Future

After years of legal wrangling, Ripple is formally stepping away from its courtroom battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling a final shift in focus toward its broader business goals. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced on Friday via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the

What Is Cryptocurrency and How Does It Work?

What Exactly Is Cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency is a digital form of money secured by cryptography—complex math that protects and verifies transactions. Unlike traditional currencies managed by banks or governments, cryptocurrencies run on decentralized networks, making them accessible around the clock and across borders. Think of crypto like cash for the

Markets

UAE Firm Aqua 1 Commits $100M to Trump-Linked WLFI Tokens in Ambitious Crypto Push

In a surprise move that’s raising both eyebrows and questions, UAE-based Web3 investment firm Aqua 1 announced a $100 million investment in WLFI tokens, tied to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture with links to the Trump family. The deal, revealed Thursday, positions Aqua 1 as the largest single

AI

AI Token Prices Drop 64% Despite Surge in Web3 Usage — Is the Boom Built to Last?

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the Web3 landscape, but the market isn’t buying the hype—at least not yet. A new report from DappRadar, published June 26, reveals a striking contrast: AI agent usage is booming, but the value of AI-related tokens has plummeted. According to the report, daily active

Opinion

Agora CEO Criticizes Anchorage’s Stablecoin Safety Rankings, Questions Fairness of AUSD Risk Label

A newly released report by Anchorage Digital evaluating stablecoins has sparked pushback from some major players in the crypto space—most notably from Nick van Eck, CEO of Agora, the issuer of the AUSD stablecoin. Anchorage’s "Stablecoin Safety Matrix," published Thursday, rated various stablecoins on factors such

DeFi

Gradient Network Raises $10M to Build Decentralized AI Infrastructure and Challenge Cloud Giants

Gradient Network has secured $10 million in seed funding to build out its decentralized AI infrastructure stack—a signal that investor interest in alternatives to centralized AI is heating up. The round was led by Pantera Capital, Multicoin Capital, and HSG, three firms known for backing early-stage bets on foundational

AI

Nvidia Reclaims World’s Most Valuable Company Title as AI Momentum Surges

Nvidia has once again claimed the crown as the world’s most valuable company, propelled by a surging wave of investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. On Wednesday, the chipmaker’s stock jumped over 4% to a new all-time high of $154.10, lifting its market capitalization to $3.76 trillion—

Finance

CoreWeave Reignites Talks to Acquire Core Scientific Amid AI Infrastructure Push

CoreWeave is back at the table. A year after its $1 billion bid was rebuffed, the AI cloud infrastructure provider is reportedly in fresh talks to acquire Bitcoin miner Core Scientific, according to a June 26 report from The Wall Street Journal. The renewed negotiations come at a time when

Markets

Bakkt Holdings Files $1 Billion Shelf Offering, Considers Bitcoin Investment Amid Financial Uncertainty

Digital asset platform Bakkt Holdings has filed an S-3 shelf registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling plans to raise up to $1 billion through a flexible mix of securities. The move, disclosed on June 26, could also pave the way for the company to invest

Markets

GF Securities Launches Offshore Yuan-Backed Tokenized Securities in Hong Kong Amid Crypto Push

Hong Kong is accelerating its transformation into a global digital finance hub, and Chinese brokerage GF Securities is stepping firmly into the spotlight. In collaboration with blockchain firm HashKey Group, GF Securities has unveiled a new suite of tokenized securities, available in U.S. dollars, Hong Kong dollars, and offshore

What Is Sahara AI (SAHARA)? A Decentralized Future for AI Development

A New Take on Building AI For years, the artificial intelligence world has been dominated by a handful of tech giants. They control the data, the tools, and often, the rules of engagement. Sahara AI wants to change that—by opening up the gates. It’s a decentralized platform built

AI

Leading AI Chatbots Found to Echo CCP Narratives on Sensitive Topics, Report Warns

A new report from the American Security Project (ASP) has raised concerns that top AI chatbots are reflecting Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda and censorship—particularly when responding in Simplified Chinese. The study evaluated five of the world’s most widely used AI-powered chatbots: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot,

Markets

Trump-Linked WLFI Token Gains Interest as Treasury Asset Among Public Companies, Says Co-Founder

World Liberty Financial’s native token, WLFI, is drawing fresh attention from publicly traded companies looking to diversify their corporate treasuries with digital assets. Co-founder Zak Folkman revealed the development during a speech at the Permissionless conference in New York on June 25, citing a noticeable uptick in interest from

Regulation

Hong Kong Launches Digital Asset Policy 2.0 to Advance Stablecoins, Tokenization, and Regulation

Hong Kong has unveiled its latest digital asset policy roadmap, signaling a deeper commitment to becoming a global leader in crypto regulation, innovation, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Announced on June 26, Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets marks the city’s most ambitious effort yet