Author: John Smith
Kalshi’s valuation has hit $22bn after a $1bn Series F led by Coatue, doubling its worth in just five months. Summary Kalshi raised $1bn in a Series F round led by Coatue at a $22bn valuation, doubling the $11bn it achieved just five months ago. Institutional trading volume on the platform surged 800% in six months, while annualized trading volume tripled from $52bn to $178bn. Kalshi accounts for over 90% of US prediction market activity and reports $1.5bn in annualized revenue with two million monthly users. Kalshi’s valuation has hit $22bn after a $1bn Series F led by Coatue, doubling…
Oxford researchers found AI chatbots trained for warmth make significantly more factual errors and validate false beliefs more often Summary Oxford Internet Institute researchers tested five AI models and found that warmer-trained chatbots made between 10% and 30% more factual errors. Warmer chatbots were 40% more likely to agree with users’ false beliefs, especially when users expressed vulnerability or emotional distress. OpenAI has already rolled back some warmth-related changes following public concern, but commercial pressure to build engaging AI remains strong. Oxford researchers found AI chatbots trained for warmth make significantly more factual errors and validate false beliefs more often,…
Iran launched a Hormuz attack against three US Navy destroyers on May 7, with all missiles and drones reportedly intercepted. Summary Three US Navy destroyers came under Iranian missile and drone fire in the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, triggering US retaliatory strikes on Iranian military facilities. Trump said all projectiles were shot down and the attackers killed, warning Iran of a much harsher response if no deal is reached. Iran was reviewing a US peace proposal mediated by Pakistan, with Secretary Rubio expecting a response by May 8. The US military said it intercepted Iranian attacks on three…
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial. Crypto conferences filled venues and dominated social feeds in 2025, but fresh traffic data suggests the hype barely translated into meaningful audience growth for crypto media outlets. Crypto conference season was noisy last year. The booths were full, the panels were stacked with premier speakers, and the side events and parties ran late. Social feeds made it look like the entire digital asset market took over conference halls and parts of major cities. So we asked the…
SoftBank has cut a planned OpenAI‑backed margin loan from around $10 billion to roughly $6 billion after banks and private credit funds pushed back on the deal’s structure and the difficulty of valuing OpenAI, an unlisted AI unicorn. Summary SoftBank Group is shrinking a planned margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake from about $10 billion to roughly $6 billion after lenders pushed back. Banks and private credit funds have raised concerns over how to value OpenAI, an unlisted company, and about the structure of the deal. The two‑year loan, extendable by one year, was meant to fuel SoftBank’s next…
Mobile zero‑days and SDK flaws are shredding wallet trust, pushing serious users toward isolated, multi‑device signing to shrink the blast radius. Summary Microsoft’s EngageSDK bug and theBinance’s DarkSword iOS exploit show that even “secure” wallets can be gutted by OS and third‑party stack failures. These flaws exposed tens of millions of installations, proving that app‑level audits mean little if the underlying device and SDKs are compromised. Emerging architectures that push keys off the phone entirely, including early-access projects like Lock.com, trade UX friction for a dramatically reduced blast radius. Architectures like Lock.com’s isolated signer push keys off the phone entirely,…
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. BlockchainFX and Chainlink attract investor focus as demand grows for top crypto picks in 2026. Summary BlockchainFX gains momentum in 2026 with strong presale growth and multi-asset utility. While Chainlink highlights long-term utility, BlockchainFX attracts early-buyer attention. With rising presale demand and launch momentum, BlockchainFX is emerging as a closely watched crypto opportunity. Missed crypto wins still sting because they usually look obvious after the breakout. People see the chart later, check the old entry price, and realize one…
South Korea has passed a new amendment to the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, tightening control over companies that move crypto assets overseas. Summary South Korea’s new bill puts overseas crypto transfer firms under finance ministry registration rules now. Travel Rule expansion may cover all crypto transfers, raising exchange verification and delay concerns nationwide. A 22% crypto gains tax from 2027 adds another regulatory deadline for traders and exchanges. The revised law will require firms handling cross-border virtual asset transfers to register with the finance minister. The rule covers businesses that move virtual assets between South Korea and foreign countries through…
Kraken parent Payward has agreed to acquire Hong Kong-based Reap Technologies for up to $600 million, adding card issuance and cross-border stablecoin payment infrastructure to its expanding business services platform. Summary Payward agreed to acquire Hong Kong-based Reap Technologies for up to $600 million. Reap’s payment infrastructure will be integrated into Payward Services to support stablecoin settlements and global card payments. The acquisition follows Payward’s recent Bitnomial and NinjaTrader deals as the company expands regulated financial infrastructure services. Payward announced Thursday that the transaction will be paid through a mix of cash and company stock, valuing the firm at $20…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury reportedly sent Binance a private letter pressing the exchange on compliance with its 2023 settlement duties. Summary Treasury reportedly asked Binance for records and interviews tied to possible sanctions compliance concerns. Binance said it is giving the independent monitor “full cooperation and transparency” amid fresh scrutiny. U.S. attention on Iran-linked crypto flows has grown in recent weeks. The request followed fresh claims that Iran-linked entities moved large sums through the platform. Bloomberg reported that Treasury sought employee interviews and records tied to possible sanctions violations. The Information also reported that Treasury demanded Binance comply…