Health

Why the ‘Atomic Blue Dogs’ of Chernobyl Are Good for Science

In brief Stray dogs in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have been photographed with vivid blue fur—alive and seemingly healthy.  Caretakers suggest the most likely cause is chemical exposure, such as a leaking portable toilet, not radiation-induced mutation.  The incident draws attention to long-term environmental risks in zones of industrial or nuclear contamination and…

Markets

Bitcoin Leverage Nears $40 Billion Ahead of Key Fed Vote

In brief Bitcoin’s open interest nears $40B as traders price in a likely Fed rate cut. Users of prediction market Myriad hint at a 92.6% chance of a quarter-point cut this week. Experts warn that leverage-driven volatility is a risk, despite a bullish outlook. Bitcoin traders are building leveraged positions across the crypto derivatives market…

Coins

Compass Point Still Bullish on Robinhood, Citing Prediction Market Growth

In brief Compass Point expects that Robinhood will report that revenue generated from prediction markets grew at a faster rate than revenue derived from processing customers’ transactions. Robinhood began letting customers wager on NFL and college football games in August. Robinhood’s prediction markets are gaining traction in the U.S. Analysts at investment bank Compass Point…

Law and Order

China Maintains Scrutiny of Crypto While Asia Embraces Stablecoins

In brief China’s central bank will continue cracking down on domestic crypto operations while monitoring overseas stablecoin developments.   PBOC Governor Pan warned stablecoins “can’t meet the basic requirements like customer identification and anti-money laundering.”  Meanwhile, Japan rolled out JPYC, the first yen-backed stablecoin, and South Korea launched KRW1, its first regulated won-backed token. China will…

Law and Order

North Korea Has Stolen Billions in Crypto, But the Ability to ‘Fight Back Is Growing’: Chainalysis

In brief A report from the U.S. and other Western nations has found that North Korea is becoming more systematic and sophisticated in its crypto-hacking activities. Yet one contributor to the report, Chainalysis, indicates that Western agencies and firms are increasingly adapting to the growing threat. North Korea’s hacking activities have been supplemented in recent…

Coins

Canada Hits Crypto Firm With $126 Million Fine

In brief Canada’s FINTRAC imposed a record C$176.9 million penalty on Cryptomus. Investigators found 2,593 AML breaches, including 7,557 unreported Iran-linked transfers. The firm operated without Canadian staff, with communications traced to Uzbekistan and Spain. Canada’s financial intelligence agency has imposed a record $126 million (Canadian $176.9 million) fine on cryptocurrency platform Cryptomus for several…