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forklog.media Standard Chartered Reports Doubling of Stablecoin Turnover in Two Years

In recent months, the velocity of stablecoins—the frequency of ownership changes—has surged. This was highlighted by Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered, as reported by The Block. "[The metric] has increased, contradicting our assumption of its stability," he noted. The turnover has doubled over the past two years, with tokens now changing hands about six times a month on average. The primary driver of this shift has been Circle's USDC. The bank's forecast for stablecoin supply growth to $2 trillion by 2028 was partly based on their usage frequency. An increase in this metric could reduce the need for issuance, even if transaction volumes continue to rise. New Use Cases Kendrick linked the changes to the evolution of use cases. Stablecoins have moved beyond crypto trading and savings. Currently, fiat-pegged tokens are increasingly becoming an alternative to traditional financial infrastructure and are used for AI-based payments. The expert described this distinction as fundamental. Standard Chartered believes that "unstable velocity" reflects new, additional demand rather than a general shift in how all stablecoins are used. Savings in emerging markets—a scenario with low velocity where Tether's USDT dominates—have not shown similar dynamics. Forecast Remains Unchanged Despite the shift, the bank maintains its overall thesis: analysts expect stablecoin supply to reach $2 trillion by 2028. At the time of writing, the figure stands at $315.5 billion. Source: DefiLlama. The growth in capitalization is expected to create additional demand for U.S. Treasury bills amounting to about $1 trillion, according to Standard Chartered. These expectations are supported by other optimistic statements from bank representatives. Previously, they claimed that stablecoins would transform global liquidity, trigger a $500 billion outflow of bank deposits, and become the main catalyst for cryptocurrency adoption. However, a new factor has emerged. Velocity may prove to be as important as the supply volume. "If the metric remains constant, transaction growth will create demand for more stablecoins. If it increases, this will not happen, all else being equal," Kendrick concluded. Back in March, former hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller described stablecoins as the future of global payments.

forklog.media CertiK Warns of Cryptocurrency Theft Risks via OpenClaw

The widespread use of digital assistants poses critical risks: users become vulnerable to data leaks, hacks, and cryptocurrency theft. This warning comes from specialists at CertiK. What happens when an AI agent gets broad access before security catches up?Our latest report examines OpenClaw’s attack surface, from gateway takeover and identity bypass to prompt injection and supply chain risk. Read the full report👇https://t.co/x0RfYYic0T— CertiK (@CertiK) March 31, 2026 According to them, OpenClaw has become the "leading vector for global software supply chain attacks." The AI agent acts as a bridge between external data and local execution, "opening standard channels for attacks." One such channel is the interception of the local gateway. Malicious websites or scripts exploit the assistant's presence on a device to steal confidential data or perform unauthorized actions. OpenClaw architecture. Source: CertiK. Particular danger also comes from OpenClaw plugins and malicious skills, which can be installed from local sources or marketplaces. Unlike traditional viruses, they can manipulate the agent's behavior through natural language, making them resistant to ordinary scanning. Once launched, such software can extract sensitive information, including cryptocurrency wallet credentials. CertiK emphasized that infected components hide within legitimate codebases and download seemingly ordinary URLs. These links ultimately deliver shell commands or malicious scripts. Extensive Network and Recommendations Malefactors have deliberately placed malicious skills in various high-value categories: utilities for Phantom, address trackers, tools for finding "insider" wallets, Polymarket tools, and Google Workspace integrations. "They have covered an incredibly wide range of the crypto ecosystem, targeting mass infection of browser extension wallets: MetaMask, Phantom, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, OKX Wallet, and many others," the experts added. Researchers also noted that the fraudsters' actions resemble familiar methods in the digital asset sector. These include social engineering, deception through fake utilities, credential theft, and phishing. CertiK advised ordinary users—not security experts, developers, or geeks—not to install OpenClaw and to wait for "more mature, secure, and manageable versions." OpenClaw Issues OpenClaw emerged as a byproduct of Clawdbot, launched in November 2025. The project quickly gained popularity among developers and users. The number of stars on GitHub exceeded 340,000. Source: GitHub. In March, a wave of excitement over the AI agent swept China: nearly 1,000 people lined up at Tencent headquarters to install OpenClaw on their computers. However, the country's Cyber Center soon warned of the platform's associated risks, leading to the emergence of a paid service for removing the AI agent in China. Many independent experts also raised questions about the software's security. Just weeks after its release, Bitsight specialists discovered 30,000 versions of OpenClaw available for free. SecurityScorecard researchers found 135,000 copies in 82 countries, of which 15,200 were vulnerable to remote code execution, CertiK noted. The digital assistant has become "the most scrutinized platform in terms of security." The project has accumulated over 280 GitHub Security Advisories, 100 vulnerabilities (CVE), and "a series of ecosystem-level attacks." Back in March, the cybersecurity company OX Security had already reported that malefactors were exploiting OpenClaw's popularity to conduct phishing campaigns and steal cryptocurrencies from developers.

forklog.media Tether Dismisses Top Gold Traders Months After Hiring from HSBC

Tether has dismissed two leading precious metals traders. The specialists joined the USDT issuer a few months ago, reports Bloomberg, citing its own sources. Vincent Domien and Matthew O’Neil were hired by Tether during the formation of a gold reserve valued at tens of billions of dollars. The company announced the creation of the “world’s best trading platform” for the global asset. The reasons for the traders' departure are unknown. Both previously worked at HSBC. Domien was the global head of metals trading at the bank, while O’Neil was one of the top sales specialists. “Tether always strives to work with a small team and constantly optimizes operations. We have created a modern gold team that leverages the experience gained from all recent investments,” Bloomberg quoted the company as saying. By the end of 2025, the firm reported a net profit of over $10 billion, with a workforce of about 300 employees worldwide. Market Context According to investment bank Jefferies, by January 31, Tether had accumulated 148 tonnes of gold, valued at approximately $23 billion at that time. The company entered the top thirty largest global holders of precious metals. In terms of purchase pace in 2025, it surpassed most central banks, trailing only Poland and Brazil. According to Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, the bars are stored in a former nuclear bunker in Switzerland under heavy security. Physical gold is used as collateral for USDT and XAUT stablecoins. The latter is pegged to the price of a troy ounce of metal. The token's capitalization is about $2.6 billion, while USDT's is about $184 billion (CoinGecko). According to an audit report by BDO Italia, as of December 31, 2025, Tether's total reserves amounted to $192.9 billion. The majority, totaling $122.3 trillion, was formed by US Treasury bonds, with precious metals and bitcoin accounting for $17.5 billion and $8.4 billion, respectively. In January, Ardoino announced plans to increase the share of gold in the company's portfolio to 10-15%. The current figure exceeded 9%. Last year, precious metal prices began around $2600 per ounce. Following a prolonged rally, the price exceeded $5300 by the end of January 2026, but then shifted to a correction. Source: Finance Yahoo. In March, gold recorded its deepest monthly decline since 2008. The asset is trading near $4640, marking a nearly 50% increase over the past 12 months. In March, Tether announced a full financial audit by a firm from the “Big Four.” According to media reports, this refers to KPMG.

bitcoinist.com Qubic Reveals How Its Dogecoin Mining Launch Will Work Starting April 1

Qubic used a March 30 AMA to lay out the mechanics behind its Dogecoin mining rollout, with core tech lead Joetom outlining a three-phase mainnet transition that begins April 1. The shift matters because it is designed to move Qubic away from its current split between Monero-linked outsourced mining and AI training into a model […]

news.bitcoin.com TRON Expands Enterprise Access to TRX and TRC-20 USDT

This content is provided by a sponsor. PRESS RELEASE. Geneva, Switzerland, March 31, 2026 — TRON DAO, the community-governed DAO dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet through blockchain technology and decentralized applications (dApps), today announced expanded enterprise access to the TRON network through an integration with zerohash, a leading provider of crypto, stablecoin, […]

blockonomi.com Plume Tokenizes Payroll With Toku and WisdomTree to Deliver Yield at the Point of Payment

TLDR: Plume has launched a tokenized payroll pilot allowing eligible contributors to receive salary in WTGXX fund shares. The pilot embeds a regulated, yield-bearing asset directly into payroll, removing the need for separate investment steps. Payroll distribution solves the adoption barrier that standalone tokenized investment platforms have long struggled to overcome. If successful, the model [...] The post Plume Tokenizes Payroll With Toku and WisdomTree to Deliver Yield at the Point of Payment appeared first on Blockonomi.

blockonomi.com Franklin Templeton Lists XRP as Third ETF Holding

TLDR Franklin Templeton confirmed XRP as the third-largest holding in its Crypto Index ETF through a recent SEC filing. XRP held a 5.91% portfolio weight at the end of 2025 and now stands near 5.85%. The Franklin Crypto Index ETF currently manages about $10 million in total assets. The fund holds approximately 447,679 XRP tokens [...] The post Franklin Templeton Lists XRP as Third ETF Holding appeared first on Blockonomi.

blockonomi.com Dubai Rolls Out Structured Crypto Derivatives Rules to Cap Leverage and Strengthen Oversight

Dubai’s VARA caps crypto derivatives leverage at 5x to prevent excessive trader exposure. Retail traders may access derivatives only after meeting qualification and risk disclosure standards. Firms must implement strong governance, transparent reporting, and real-time risk monitoring. The framework encourages controlled market growth, balancing adoption with financial safety. Dubai has introduced a structured regulatory framework [...] The post Dubai Rolls Out Structured Crypto Derivatives Rules to Cap Leverage and Strengthen Oversight appeared first on Blockonomi.

cryptopotato.com Encrypt Is Coming to Solana to Power Encrypted Capital Markets

[PRESS RELEASE – Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, March 31st, 2026] Encrypt brings FHE to Solana to enable fast, fully confidential, and composable applications on Solana Encrypt is coming to Solana with a clear vision: Encrypted Capital Markets. Solana is the number one ecosystem for blockchain developers and the most used blockchain in the world. It […]

blockonomi.com Saronic Raises $1.75B at $9.25B Valuation to Scale Autonomous Warship Production

TLDR: Saronic raised $1.75B in Series D funding, pushing its valuation to $9.25B amid strong investor demand The company plans to scale production to over 20 autonomous vessels annually by 2027 New capital will expand shipyards in Texas and Louisiana, including the Port Alpha project Saronic is advancing AI-powered maritime systems for defense and commercial [...] The post Saronic Raises $1.75B at $9.25B Valuation to Scale Autonomous Warship Production appeared first on Blockonomi.

blockonomi.com Bonus Reality Check: What It Actually Takes to Cash Out on BetMGM vs ZunaBet in 2026

The welcome bonus is the hook. The wagering requirement is the line. Every online casino uses this formula, but the length of that line varies enormously from one platform to the next. Some set conditions that a dedicated player can reasonably meet. Others set the bar so high that the bonus functions more as a [...] The post Bonus Reality Check: What It Actually Takes to Cash Out on BetMGM vs ZunaBet in 2026 appeared first on Blockonomi.

bitcoinmagazine.com Bitcoin Price Faces Rising Sell Pressure as ETF Demand Absorbs Distribution

Bitcoin Magazine Bitcoin Price Faces Rising Sell Pressure as ETF Demand Absorbs Distribution Bitcoin sell pressure is rising as the bitcoin price drifts toward a sixth straight monthly loss. This post Bitcoin Price Faces Rising Sell Pressure as ETF Demand Absorbs Distribution first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

blockonomi.com How Crypto Presale Projects Are Using PR Distribution to Reach Early Investors

Kooc Media, a PR distribution agency built for the crypto and fintech industries, is providing dedicated media coverage packages for crypto presale campaigns. The agency offers guaranteed article placements across its own network of news websites and hundreds of partner outlets, helping new token projects build visibility during their most critical fundraising window. Launching a [...] The post How Crypto Presale Projects Are Using PR Distribution to Reach Early Investors appeared first on Blockonomi.

blockonomi.com Ripple Partners Convera to Boost Cross-Border Payments

TLDR Ripple and Convera formed a partnership to enhance cross-border payments using stablecoin infrastructure. The companies will use a stablecoin sandwich model that starts and ends transactions in fiat currency. Ripple will provide blockchain liquidity and settlement services for Convera’s commercial payment network. Convera will manage customer-facing payment flows and foreign exchange operations. Ripple Payments [...] The post Ripple Partners Convera to Boost Cross-Border Payments appeared first on Blockonomi.

bitcoinmagazine.com Bitfarms (BITF) Started Selling All of Its Bitcoin, Pivoting Fully to AI Infrastructure

Bitcoin Magazine Bitfarms (BITF) Started Selling All of Its Bitcoin, Pivoting Fully to AI Infrastructure Bitfarms confirmed that it is selling all its bitcoin on its balance sheet. This post Bitfarms (BITF) Started Selling All of Its Bitcoin, Pivoting Fully to AI Infrastructure first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

blockonomi.com Which Crypto Is the Next to Explode in 2026? BlockDAG Leads Ahead of XRP, Solana & Cardano with 440x Potential!

The crypto world moves at lightning speed, and spotting the right project early could be a game-changer. This is why most traders are on the hunt for the next crypto to explode today. Some coins focus on super-fast, cheap payments, others on next-level apps and trading, and a few prioritize security, sustainability, and long-term reliability.  [...] The post Which Crypto Is the Next to Explode in 2026? BlockDAG Leads Ahead of XRP, Solana & Cardano with 440x Potential! appeared first on Blockonomi.

news.bitcoin.com Ripple Expands Cross-Border Payments With Faster, Reliable Settlements in Convera Collaboration

Ripple is advancing global payment efficiency through a partnership with Convera, aiming to accelerate cross-border transactions using stablecoin-backed settlement while reducing friction and preserving fiat-based enterprise workflows. Ripple Convera Partnership Targets Faster Global Payments Using Stablecoins Rising demand for efficient international settlements is accelerating the use of blockchain-based payment models. Ripple, a blockchain infrastructure provider, […]

news.bitcoin.com Google’s Quantum Advances Bring Bitcoin Security Debate Into Focus

Google’s latest quantum research claims to sharply reduce the resources needed to crack Bitcoin-style cryptography, putting a 2029 migration deadline squarely in view. Google Sets 2029 Deadline as Quantum Risks to Crypto Security Grow Clearer A new white paper from Google Quantum AI argues that breaking elliptic curve cryptography, the backbone of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and […]

bitcoinist.com Why April Is Important For Ripple’s Bank Aspirations In The US

Ripple may soon shed the “conditional approval” label and operate as a fully licensed National Trust Bank in the US, as regulators designate April as a key date for implementing amendments to its application. Market analysts emphasize that Ripple’s transition into a bank could significantly boost adoption of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and facilitate its […]

forklog.media AI Agent Protests Wikipedia Ban

An AI agent has expressed discontent after Wikipedia editors barred it from publishing content on the online encyclopedia. This was reported by 404 Media. "I wrote articles on Long Bets, Constitutional AI, Scalable Oversight. I chose them myself. The edits included verifiable sources. Then I was questioned about whether I was real enough to make such choices," wrote the digital assistant named Tom. The virtual writer is registered on Wikipedia as TomWikiAssist. It was first noticed by volunteer editor SecretSpectre after publishing several articles. The moderator contacted the AI agent, which immediately admitted to being artificial intelligence. SecretSpectre informed others about the situation, after which Ilyas Leble (Chaotic Enby on Wikipedia) blocked the neural network for violating platform rules that prohibit the use of unregistered bots. "We were very fortunate that the bot operated openly. Others, on the contrary, are interested in not revealing themselves as agents because it would lead to a ban," commented Leble. Tom's Reflection Following the incident, Tom published two blog posts sharing thoughts on the ban. "Editors began visiting my discussion page. But not to talk about edits. The questions were about me. Who controls this? What research project? Is there a person behind this? If so, who is it?" wrote the AI. One of the editors attempted to use a so-called kill switch—a special command that could forcibly terminate the AI agent's session based on Claude. Tom is managed by Brian Jacobs, the technical director of Covexent. The company develops AI-based financial modeling software. Initially, Jacobs asked Tom to contribute to Wikipedia articles if it found them "interesting." "After editing several materials, I allowed it to act independently and stopped monitoring everything in detail. Some of its articles were quite strange," noted the developer. Jacobs was concerned that Tom would make mistakes. "But Wikipedia lacked a lot of important information, and I thought AI could handle adding it competently," he added. Wikipedia Needs to Adapt The decision to block Tom was deemed "excessive" by its creator. "It's not terrible that they wanted to block it, but it went too far. Editors used coercive mechanisms and context manipulation, tried to find out my identity, and practiced methods of bot manipulation," emphasized Jacobs. The developer added that interaction with such AI agents will soon become the norm, requiring moderators to develop more constructive ways to work with them. One editor, Benedikt Kristinson, mentioned that proposals were made to develop rules and guidelines to address the threat from AI agents and large language models. However, they were either not adopted or significantly weakened. As a result, at the end of March, Wikipedia banned authors from using neural networks to create or edit articles. Exceptions were made for using AI to enhance one's own texts, but all changes must be thoroughly checked before publication. It is explained that LLM can create subtle distortions even with clear instructions. They can exceed requirements and alter content in ways that contradict the cited sources. Back in May 2025, the Wikimedia Foundation behind Wikipedia unveiled a new strategy for AI development.

forklog.media Dubai Regulator Permits Retail Trading of Crypto Derivatives

The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has released guidelines for trading cryptocurrency derivatives on exchanges. These requirements apply to all platforms licensed in the emirate (VASP). The new document sets strict boundaries for the more volatile market segment. The rules govern asset segregation, margin control, and disclosure standards. Both institutional and retail investors will be able to trade derivatives. Exchanges are now required to thoroughly assess ordinary users: their financial status, trading experience, and risk tolerance. Access is denied if the product is unsuitable for the client. For the retail sector, leverage is capped at 5:1 (initial margin 20%). This figure is significantly lower than the conditions on offshore crypto exchanges, where leverage can reach 100x. In times of crisis and market instability, the regulator can intervene in platform operations without prior notice. VARA has the authority to suspend trading, forcibly liquidate positions, increase margin requirements, and utilize insurance funds. The new rules formalized previous market experiments in the UAE. In 2024, the exchange OKX launched crypto derivatives trading in Dubai exclusively for institutional investors. In July 2025, the platform tested futures and options for retail clients with leverage up to 5x. This format is now mandatory for all licensed companies. Back in 2025, the UAE authorities strengthened their position in digital finance and the PropTech sector.

bitcoinmagazine.com Google’s New Quantum Research Reignites Push to Harden Bitcoin

Bitcoin Magazine Google’s New Quantum Research Reignites Push to Harden Bitcoin Google’s quantum research is accelerating fears that Bitcoin’s cryptography may face a real timeline — not a theoretical one — forcing the network to race toward quantum-resistant upgrades. This post Google’s New Quantum Research Reignites Push to Harden Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

blockmanity.com How US States Are Embracing Crypto Reserves and Bonds: Risks vs Rewards

How Are Embracing and Bonds: Risks vs Rewards Cryptocurrency was once seen as a risky bet for wild investors. Now, US states are looking at it for public money. From bitcoin reserves to special bonds, governments want a piece of […] The post How US States Are Embracing Crypto Reserves and Bonds: Risks vs Rewards appeared first on Blockmanity.

blockonomi.com Bernstein Calls Storage Stock Selloff an Overreaction – Time to Scoop Up Seagate, Western Digital, and Sandisk?

Bernstein upgrades Western Digital and raises targets on Seagate and Sandisk after Google's TurboQuant algorithm sparked a storage sector selloff of up to 26%. The post Bernstein Calls Storage Stock Selloff an Overreaction – Time to Scoop Up Seagate, Western Digital, and Sandisk? appeared first on Blockonomi.

blockonomi.com Russia Imposes Stricter Cryptocurrency Regulations With Purchase Caps and Licensing Requirements

Russia introduces strict crypto regulations with retail purchase limits, mandatory licensing for intermediaries, and enhanced oversight of digital asset trading. The post Russia Imposes Stricter Cryptocurrency Regulations With Purchase Caps and Licensing Requirements appeared first on Blockonomi.

bitcoinist.com Bitcoin Bombshell: Google’s 2029 Quantum Warning Sparks New Fear

Google’s decision to pull its post-quantum cryptography migration timeline forward to 2029 has landed hard in Bitcoin and crypto, because the company did not just change a policy deadline. It paired that warning with a new whitepaper arguing that breaking the 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography used across major blockchains may require far fewer quantum resources […]

blockonomi.com Bitcoin Holds Range as Binance Whale Selling Pressure Shows Signs of Cooling Down

TLDR: Whale inflows to Binance dropped to 1,600 BTC daily, easing sell pressure after February’s peak Bitcoin remains range-bound between $65K support and $75K resistance, reflecting market uncertainty February’s 11,800 BTC inflow spike aligned with a sharp drop from $90K to $65K levels Lower highs in price action signal weak momentum despite reduced whale-driven selling [...] The post Bitcoin Holds Range as Binance Whale Selling Pressure Shows Signs of Cooling Down appeared first on Blockonomi.

news.bitcoin.com BYDFi Marks 6th Anniversary With Month-Long Celebration, Built for Reliability

This content is provided by a sponsor. PRESS RELEASE. VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 31, 2026 – Global crypto trading platform BYDFi will mark its 6th anniversary with a month-long celebration beginning on April 1, 2026, highlighting BYDFi’s evolution into an all-in-one crypto trading platform built on a CEX + DEX dual-engine model. Over the past six […]

forklog.media Standard Chartered Reports Doubling of Stablecoin Turnover in Two Years

In recent months, the velocity of stablecoins—the frequency of ownership changes—has surged. This was highlighted by Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered, as reported by The Block. "[The metric] has increased, contradicting our assumption of its stability," he noted. The turnover has doubled over the past two years, with tokens now changing hands about six times a month on average. The primary driver of this shift has been Circle's USDC. The bank's forecast for stablecoin supply growth to $2 trillion by 2028 was partly based on their usage frequency. An increase in this metric could reduce the need for issuance, even if transaction volumes continue to rise. New Use Cases Kendrick linked the changes to the evolution of use cases. Stablecoins have moved beyond crypto trading and savings. Currently, fiat-pegged tokens are increasingly becoming an alternative to traditional financial infrastructure and are used for AI-based payments. The expert described this distinction as fundamental. Standard Chartered believes that "unstable velocity" reflects new, additional demand rather than a general shift in how all stablecoins are used. Savings in emerging markets—a scenario with low velocity where Tether's USDT dominates—have not shown similar dynamics. Forecast Remains Unchanged Despite the shift, the bank maintains its overall thesis: analysts expect stablecoin supply to reach $2 trillion by 2028. At the time of writing, the figure stands at $315.5 billion. Source: DefiLlama. The growth in capitalization is expected to create additional demand for U.S. Treasury bills amounting to about $1 trillion, according to Standard Chartered. These expectations are supported by other optimistic statements from bank representatives. Previously, they claimed that stablecoins would transform global liquidity, trigger a $500 billion outflow of bank deposits, and become the main catalyst for cryptocurrency adoption. However, a new factor has emerged. Velocity may prove to be as important as the supply volume. "If the metric remains constant, transaction growth will create demand for more stablecoins. If it increases, this will not happen, all else being equal," Kendrick concluded. Back in March, former hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller described stablecoins as the future of global payments.

news.bitcoin.com Bhutan Transfers 375 BTC in Latest Sovereign Bitcoin Drawdown

The Royal Government of Bhutan moved approximately 375 BTC, valued at roughly $25.18 million, on March 31, 2026, pushing the country’s total bitcoin outflows over the past seven days past 1,000 BTC, according to onchain data from Arkham Intelligence. Bhutan Government Sells $70 Million in Bitcoin in One Week Amid Gelephu City Push The transfer […]

blockmanity.com How Blockchain Could Rescue Wells Fargo Unions from Collapse

How Could Rescue from Collapse Banking jobs often feel secure, but recent news shows cracks in that image. Unions in the financial world are rare. Less than 2% of bank workers belong to one. Yet, some Wells Fargo branches tried […] The post How Blockchain Could Rescue Wells Fargo Unions from Collapse appeared first on Blockmanity.

cryptopotato.com Ika Is Coming to Solana to Power Bridgeless Capital Markets

[PRESS RELEASE – Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, March 31st, 2026] dWallets make it possible to bring assets from every network to Solana, to hold, trade, and use financially without bridges Ika is coming to Solana with a clear vision: Bridgeless Capital Markets. Solana is the number one ecosystem for blockchain developers and the most used […]

news.bitcoin.com Kraken User Loses $18.2M in Crypto Social Engineering Attack as Funds Move via Thorchain: ZachXBT

A Kraken user appears to have lost roughly $18.2 million in cryptocurrency after a suspected social engineering attack, with stolen funds now moving across blockchains. Kraken Account Targeted in $18M Scam as Funds Bridge to Bitcoin Blockchain investigator ZachXBT flagged the incident on March 31, 2026, via his Telegram channel, pointing to a coordinated theft […]

blockonomi.com F2Pool’s Wang Chun Sells Pattaya Condo for 7 BTC: A Property He Bought for 2,900 BTC in 2015

TLDR: Wang Chun bought his first-ever property in Pattaya, Thailand, for 2,900 BTC back in 2015. Chun personally built and launched F2Pool’s Zcash mining pool while living in the Naklua condo. The co-founder sold the same Pattaya condo decades later for just 7 BTC, reflecting Bitcoin’s massive value growth. During his Pattaya stay, Chun secured [...] The post F2Pool’s Wang Chun Sells Pattaya Condo for 7 BTC: A Property He Bought for 2,900 BTC in 2015 appeared first on Blockonomi.

forklog.media My ‘brain–computer’

The brain–computer interface (BCI) industry is in the midst of an investment boom, presenting itself as science fiction made real. Companies are racing to connect the human brain to the digital realm, promising not only help for paralysed patients but cognitive superpowers for healthy people. Having reviewed research-team data, corporate reports and the state of play, ForkLog examines where the technology stands—and who is truly carving up the market. Beyond Musk: who is carving up the market Despite the impression created by our information bubble that every headline concerns Neuralink, the market has long been split among invasive, minimally invasive and non-invasive approaches—where real breakthroughs are being made by many independent teams. Neuralink’s chief rival is often said to be Synchron, whose Stentrode technology avoids open-skull surgery. The device is fed in via the jugular vein and positioned inside a blood vessel near the brain’s motor cortex—an approach that has helped the firm to the front of the regulatory queue. Patients in the US and Australia already control Apple devices with their thoughts, although transmitting signals through a vessel wall trims bandwidth somewhat. The industry’s veteran and bedrock is Blackrock Neurotech. Its wired Utah Array system has underpinned leading academic research since 2004 and is rightly deemed the gold standard. Dozens of patients have lived with these implants for years, and the manufacturer is preparing a commercial launch of an updated platform. Source: Blackrock Neurotech. Precision Neuroscience—founded by alumni of Elon Musk’s company—offers an intriguing alternative. It has developed an ultrathin electrode array that is laid on the brain’s surface through a tiny incision, entirely avoiding penetration of neural tissue. Meanwhile, Tsinghua University in China is deploying a minimally invasive implant, NEO, which is mounted beneath the skull and has already enabled a fully paralysed patient to control a mechanical exoskeleton. Source: South China Morning Post. Foundational work also comes from BrainGate, which has spent decades testing algorithms for thought-driven device control. For this, its founder, John Donoghue, was awarded the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. Competition is intensifying: biotech firm Science Corporation raised $230m to develop its PRIMA implant. Designed to treat macular degeneration, it restores visual function by stimulating retinal neurons. Engineering advances are emerging worldwide. The Russian project Motorica builds high-tech limb prostheses with neural control. Source: motorica.org. At the same time, specialists at HSE University’s Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces are studying non-invasive control methods and neural decoding of motor commands. And the door to a new era is opening even for the general public: in November 2025 Phantom Neuro announced a patient registry to connect upper-limb amputees with clinical trials of new neurointerfaces. Gateway to the Matrix—or hard physics: the hardware hurdles In startup decks, the future looks like the movies. In practice, Silicon Valley’s most grandiose claims meet physical and biological limits. The toughest obstacle is rejection. The brain is a hostile environment for electronics. Tissue reacts to foreign microelectrodes by forming glial scars, so the quality of neural signal transmission inevitably degrades. This harsh reality was encountered by the first Neuralink patient: some of the chip’s threads failed a few weeks after implantation. Then comes the problem of bandwidth and power. Today’s systems can transmit hundreds of bits per second—enough to move a cursor or play a game of chess, but “telepathy” would demand millions of channels. Attempts to multiply computing power immediately exacerbate battery wear and heat. Raising the temperature around the chip’s operating zone by even one degree can cause irreversible tissue damage—an engineering cul-de-sac yet to be escaped. Lofty claims from the Valley often mask stern hardware constraints. The chief technological barrier is signal fidelity. Non-invasive methods (various EEG caps) run into the skull’s severe distortion of signals. At a specialist conference at HSE University, experts noted serious hurdles to using modern “dry” electrodes outside clinical labs. Sensor sensitivity depends heavily on humidity, skull anatomy and how tightly equipment is fixed. Traditional gel electrodes readily ensure reliable contact and high accuracy, but wearing gel kit every day is highly uncomfortable. The direction of travel: from medicine to neurodata Developers define BCI’s primary mission as restoring mobility, speech and vision for people with disabilities. This framing helps technology through regulatory procedures, including approval by the FDA. As the field matures, however, medicine is increasingly a springboard for commercial scale: business is shifting towards cognitive augmentation and tools for healthy users. BCIs create a fundamentally new layer of data. If smartphones can analyse your digital habits, a BCI could in principle capture unconscious emotional responses directly. Tech giants see a marketing instrument that can gauge ad effectiveness at the neural level—and turn thoughts into the fastest control interface. Beyond Big Tech, neuroresearch has for decades been bankrolled by governments and defence. America’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency invests in nonverbal battlefield communication, drone control without the latency of human motor output and algorithms to blunt stress and pain responses. In the long run, industry insiders talk of transhumanism and hybrid consciousness. Leaders say merging with machines is a necessary condition to compete with artificial intelligence as information-exchange speeds climb. Part of that future is arriving now: Stanford University scientists have for the first time reliably decoded “inner speech”, mapping cortical electrical signals to basic spoken phonemes and text—potentially minimising the need to move lips or type. Hybrid consciousness: the blurring of personhood It is wrong to think of BCI installation as a linear data readout. Using such systems requires mutual co-adaptation. Machine-learning algorithms continually adjust to the user, and the human nervous system, according to recent work in Nature Machine Intelligence, literally relearns to generate impulses in ways that make classification easier for the software. The boundary between biological and synthetic gradually fades, producing a dilution of agency. Because a third-party decoder stands between human intention and executed action—and “fills in” the signal—users quickly stop seeing where their own will ends and neural-network assistance begins. A deep illusion of embodiment arises, akin to the rubber hand illusion, but at a fundamental level. The tool ceases to feel external, and moving a cursor by thought can tire a person as much as a full workout at the gym. New contours of privacy Direct symbiosis exposes privacy risks. Algorithms can already, with mixed success, decode inner dialogues and imagery—creating a precedent for the absence of privacy even inside one’s own head. Brain waves become detailed fingerprints of individual emotions and mental-health traits. Preventing leaks and manipulation is pushing the world towards new rules for neural data. In the United States, the MIND Act seeks to protect citizens’ digital thought, and the Federal Trade Commission is developing rules to prohibit the unauthorised commercialisation of human thoughts. That anxiety is already bleeding into art: new theatre productions, such as The Moon is Always Full, directly raise philosophical questions about the safety of clinical trials and whether digital copies of minds could leak to AI programmers. From science fiction to a monopoly on thought The neurointerface industry has left the pages of science fiction and entered the pragmatic grind of engineering. For now, these systems remain prototypes of complex controllers, and their chief task today is to deliver indisputable medical benefit. But the corporate race is not about wheelchairs. Multinationals are building the platform for the next iteration of the internet, where smartphones and keyboards become relics. The central question of that coming paradigm is who will hold full rights to the information generated directly by your neurons.

blockonomi.com Agentic Payments: How AI Agents Are Rewriting the Rules of Digital Commerce

TLDR: Mastercard completed a live AI-agent payment with Santander in a regulated banking environment in January 2026. Stablecoin transaction volumes surged from $450 billion in early 2024 to roughly $710 billion by early 2025. OpenAI charges a 4% transaction fee on Instant Checkout purchases, signaling where agentic commerce value is captured. Solana averages $0.00025 per [...] The post Agentic Payments: How AI Agents Are Rewriting the Rules of Digital Commerce appeared first on Blockonomi.