Everything web3, crypto, defi, degen
In brief A 12-foot gold statue of Trump holding a Bitcoin was unveiled outside the U.S. Capitol on the day the Fed cut interest rates by a quarter-point. Funded by a group of meme coin creators, the installation is meant to provoke a conversation about government currency and digital financial innovation. Reactions are split: supporters…
In brief Oxford–Vela researchers created VCBench to test if AI can predict startup success. GPT-4o, DeepSeek-V3, and others outperformed Y Combinator and top VCs. The study suggests that LLMs could become powerful early-stage investing tools. Could GPT-4 have spotted Airbnb in 2008—or Figma in 2012—before the pros did?A new paper from researchers at the University…
Trade popular U.S. stocks and ETFs 24/5 – self-custodial, and on your terms. We’re thrilled to announce that tokenized U.S. equities – powered by Backed’s groundbreaking xStocks innovation – are now live on Kraken Pro. For the first time, eligible non-U.S. clients can get instant, flexible exposure to some of America’s most iconic stocks and…
In brief The Fed delivered a 25bps cut in an 11–1 vote, but markets reacted with little enthusiasm. Bitcoin slipped 0.69% after briefly touching $117K earlier in the day. Overall market sentiment remains neutral, though predictors on Myriad lean bullish. Fed fatigue or was it simply priced in all along? Bitcoin is down a paltry…
In brief China’s Nvidia ban marks a turning point in the AI war, as Huawei and local players step into the spotlight. Beijing’s move signals confidence in homegrown chips, and could force tech giants to rewire their AI stacks overnight. The move comes after several efforts from the United States to prevent China from having…
September 17, 2025 | Asset Listings We’re thrilled to announce that PRO is available for trading on Kraken! Funding and trading PRO trading is live as of September 17, 2025. To add an asset to your Kraken account, navigate to Funding, select the asset you’re after, and hit ‘Deposit’. Make sure to deposit your tokens…
In brief The PAC says it has lined up more than $100 million to support pro-Trump candidates in upcoming races. FEC records show that the group was registered in August, but filings have listed no receipts or expenditures to date. Its launch comes as crypto political spending grows. Crypto is once again taking the stage…
In brief Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing has released a list of 187 USDT addresses. It alleges the addresses, which collectively received $1.5 billion, are linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and must be blacklisted. Blockchain data firm Elliptic said it couldn’t be certain if all the addresses were linked to Iran’s…
In brief David Klasing, dual-certified tax attorney and CPA, says the IRS has moved from targeting “narrower groups” to broader crypto compliance investigations across multiple exchanges. The Treasury Inspector General reports a 75% potential non-compliance rate among crypto users identified through exchange data, feeding the audit pipeline. Nick Waytula, attorney and head of tax at…
In brief The free Gemini 2.5 Flash Image tool turns selfies into hyperrealistic 1/7-scale figurines, sparking explosive demand. Users simply upload a full-body photo, paste a detailed prompt, and receive toy-store-ready results in seconds. Politicians and influencers are adopting the trend, while advanced users tweak materials, poses, and props for personalized dolls. Google’s latest AI…
