AI
State-backed cyber groups from Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia are increasingly using artificial intelligence to sharpen their attacks, according to a new quarterly report from Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG). The findings show that large language models, including Google’s Gemini, are being integrated across the cyberattack lifecycle.
Finance
Binance has finalized the full conversion of its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) into bitcoin, completing a $1 billion shift that the exchange first announced last month. In a statement released Thursday, Binance confirmed it purchased a final tranche of 4,545 BTC, bringing the fund’s total holdings
Finance
The UK government has taken a significant step toward modernizing its debt markets by selecting HSBC’s Orion platform to power its upcoming Digital Gilt Instrument (DIGIT) pilot. The initiative positions the United Kingdom to become the first G7 nation to issue tokenized sovereign bonds using blockchain technology. Announced Thursday,
Finance
Ark Invest, the investment firm led by Cathie Wood, has continued to deepen its exposure to cryptocurrency-related companies, purchasing shares of Peter Thiel-backed crypto exchange Bullish for the tenth consecutive trading day. According to the firm’s latest disclosures, Ark acquired 364,044 Bullish shares on Wednesday across three of
Regulation
Russia has tried to fully block WhatsApp in Russia, the company said. The move threatens access for more than 100 million users and raises new questions about how governments can steer encrypted traffic at scale. Crypto and fintech groups run support and transfers over chat. WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms,
Blockchain
The UK picked HSBC to run its digital gilt pilot. The decision brings tokenized sovereign debt into a live test bed, where settlement speed and controls will be measured under UK supervision across front-to-back workflows. Gilt settlement is still measured in days, not minutes. A successful tokenized issuance would offer
A Crypto Gateway Built for Private Wealth As interest in digital assets continues to grow among institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals, Binance has introduced a platform tailored specifically for this audience: Binance Wealth. Designed exclusively for licensed wealth managers and their clients, Binance Wealth offers a structured way to access
Innovation
Coinbase is introducing a new tool designed to bridge artificial intelligence and blockchain finance, unveiling what it calls “Agentic Wallets” — wallet infrastructure built specifically for autonomous AI agents. The product, announced Wednesday by the Coinbase Developer Platform team, aims to give AI-powered systems the ability to hold and move funds
Opinion
Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, expects to significantly increase its holdings of U.S. Treasury bills this year, potentially making it one of the top 10 buyers globally. The projection comes from Bo Hines, CEO of Tether’s U.S. subsidiary, who outlined the company’s ambitions during
AI
Barclays reported a strong set of annual results for 2025, posting a 12% rise in pre-tax profit to £9.1 billion, up from £8.1 billion the previous year. Alongside the improved earnings, the bank raised its long-term performance ambitions, signalling confidence in its strategy as it leans more heavily
Regulation
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has stepped up enforcement action against cryptocurrency exchange HTX, alleging the platform continued to market cryptoasset services to UK consumers in violation of financial promotion rules. In a statement released Tuesday, the regulator confirmed it has launched legal proceedings against HTX, formerly known
Finance
Nasdaq-listed Hyperliquid Strategies Inc. (ticker: PURR) reported a net loss of $317.9 million for the six months ended December 31, 2025, largely driven by unrealized losses tied to its HYPE token holdings. The company, which operates as a digital asset treasury focused on the Hyperliquid ecosystem, disclosed total assets