Frustrated by the confusing and scattered process of finding educational funding, a team of Filipino college students took matters into their own hands. They built iSkolar, a centralized scholarship platform powered by blockchain and artificial intelligence, which recently earned a Top 10 spot and a ₱100,000 cash prize at the Project RISE startup competition. The…
Key Takeaways: Blackrock’s European IB1T ETP crossed $1.1 billion AUM with 14,200 BTC as of May 4, 2026. IB1T launched in March 2025 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam among other European exchanges. The milestone confirms institutional bitcoin demand is now a transatlantic trend, not just U.S.-centric. IB1T Joins IBIT as a Flagship Product According…
Key Takeaways: On May 2, China’s MOFCOM invoked the Blocking Statute against U.S. OFAC sanctions on 5 local oil refiners. SMU’s Henry Gao notes this 1st use of the statute since 2021 forces global companies to pick between markets. Next, Chinese firms can sue for losses from these sanctions, as Beijing might prepare countermeasures. China’s…
The investment scheme BG Wealth Sharing Ltd., previously flagged by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Ponzi scheme, has seemingly collapsed. Following months of soliciting investments from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and global retail investors, the platform has halted withdrawals. Concurrently, US federal authorities have seized its primary web domain, and regulators…
Key Takeaways: Kevin Warsh cleared a 13-11 Senate Banking Committee vote on April 29, replacing Powell as Fed Chair in May 2026. Polymarket traders priced a 96% chance the Fed holds rates steady at the June 17 FOMC meeting. Warsh signals rate cuts tied to AI productivity gains, but inflation at 3.3% may limit his…
Key Takeaways: Rakuten Wallet enabled XRP conversions, trading, and Rakuten Cash funding for users in Japan. Scale comes from 44 million Rakuten Pay users and 5M+ merchants. Integration expands XRP utility across rewards, wallets, and everyday purchases. Rakuten Wallet Links XRP to Loyalty Points and Payments Rakuten Wallet has enabled XRP functionality, allowing users in…
Key Takeaways: Fairshake and Leading the Future have deployed over $100 million to influence the 2026 midterm election outcomes. A Politico poll found 45% of Americans view crypto as too risky, potentially hurting industry-backed candidates. Lobbyists for OpenAI and Ripple seek a federal framework by 2027 to preempt a patchwork of state-level AI laws. Politico…
This editorial is from last week’s edition of the newsletter Week in Review. Subscribe to the newsletter to get this weekly editorial the second it’s finished. The newsletter also includes the biggest stories of the week with a comment on each story. Key Takeaways: Tether froze record USDT as U.S. seized $500M from Iran, putting…
Key Takeaways: Gareth Soloway of Verified Investing warns bitcoin could drop 38% to $50,000 as a bear flag pattern takes hold. Soloway told David Lin that recession odds have shifted to 2027, driven by $700 billion in annual AI capex from mega-cap firms. Natural gas stands as Soloway’s lone near-term buy, with a breakout above…
Key Takeaways: Bitcoin holds $78K on May 3, 2026, as market data shows consolidation below $80K resistance. TradingView indicators show 62 RSI and mixed signals, signaling indecision across crypto markets. Bitcoin tests $80K zone; break or rejection may drive next 5% to 10% move in the coming sessions. Bitcoin Chart Outlook The daily chart structure…
