Bitcoin Rises as Wall Street Cements ‘Liberation Day’ Recovery on Strong Jobs Report

The price of Bitcoin edged up on Friday as investors weighed a stronger-than-expected jobs report against signs of a slowing economy earlier this week. The reigning cryptocurrency by market cap was recently changing hands around $97,000, a 0.4% increase over the past 24 hours, according to crypto data provider CoinGecko. Bitcoin rose over $97,800 at one point earlier in the day, its highest point since late February. Altcoins were mostly flat, with XRP and Solana falling 0.1% to $2.21 and 1.6% t...

The price of Bitcoin edged up on Friday as investors weighed a stronger-than-expected jobs report against signs of a slowing economy earlier this week. The reigning cryptocurrency by market cap was recently changing hands around $97,000, a 0.4% increase over the past 24 hours, according to crypto data provider CoinGecko. Bitcoin rose over $97,800 at one point earlier in the day, its highest point since late February. Altcoins were mostly flat, with XRP and Solana falling 0.1% to $2.21 and 1.6% t...

'Grok Is Woke!' MAGA Users Furious as Elon Musk's AI Delivers 'Uncomfortable Truths'

Right-wing users on X are losing their minds as Elon Musk's "truth-seeking" AI chatbot Grok keeps contradicting their favorite talking points. The problem? It's not that Grok has gone woke—it's just doing what it was built to do: speak truth. Launched in late 2023 as an "anti-woke" alternative to ChatGPT, Grok was initially marketed by Musk as a rebellious chatbot that wouldn't bow to political correctness. Musk pitched it as being "edgy” and unfiltered. But since its upgrade to Grok-3 in Februa...

Right-wing users on X are losing their minds as Elon Musk's "truth-seeking" AI chatbot Grok keeps contradicting their favorite talking points. The problem? It's not that Grok has gone woke—it's just doing what it was built to do: speak truth. Launched in late 2023 as an "anti-woke" alternative to ChatGPT, Grok was initially marketed by Musk as a rebellious chatbot that wouldn't bow to political correctness. Musk pitched it as being "edgy” and unfiltered. But since its upgrade to Grok-3 in Februa...

Riot Platforms Posts Mixed Q1 Results as Effects of Bitcoin 'Halving' Linger

Riot Platforms posted mixed earnings results for the first quarter as it took steps to mitigate the effects of mining industry headwinds on its business.  The Bitcoin miner clocked $161.39 million in revenue in the three-month period ending on March 31, up 13% from the previous quarter, the firm said Thursday in a statement. That's roughly 2% above Wall Street’s expectations of $160.72 million.  The company's total revenue was largely boosted by its Bitcoin mining income, which jumped 100% in th...

Riot Platforms posted mixed earnings results for the first quarter as it took steps to mitigate the effects of mining industry headwinds on its business.  The Bitcoin miner clocked $161.39 million in revenue in the three-month period ending on March 31, up 13% from the previous quarter, the firm said Thursday in a statement. That's roughly 2% above Wall Street’s expectations of $160.72 million.  The company's total revenue was largely boosted by its Bitcoin mining income, which jumped 100% in th...

Amazon Begins Rolling Out Enhanced AI-Powered Alexa+ Assistant

Amazon has begun rolling out Alexa+, its new generative AI-powered assistant, to more than 100,000 early users in a limited preview, months after the company originally scheduled the release for last October. The retail giant first announced plans for an upgraded, generative AI-powered Alexa during its annual fall hardware event in September 2023, positioning the assistant as a more conversational, context-aware evolution of the original Alexa. Last year, Amazon partnered with Claude AI develope...

Amazon has begun rolling out Alexa+, its new generative AI-powered assistant, to more than 100,000 early users in a limited preview, months after the company originally scheduled the release for last October. The retail giant first announced plans for an upgraded, generative AI-powered Alexa during its annual fall hardware event in September 2023, positioning the assistant as a more conversational, context-aware evolution of the original Alexa. Last year, Amazon partnered with Claude AI develope...

Apple Eases NFT, Crypto Rules for iOS Apps Following Antitrust Ruling

Fortnite maker Epic Games’ antitrust case against Apple benefited the crypto industry on Thursday, when the iPhone maker loosened restrictions on developers’ ability to offer apps in the U.S. that direct users to non-standard purchasing methods or digital collectibles. Apple updated its iOS App Store review guidelines after a U.S. District Judge found this week that the tech titan “willfully” violated a court injunction issued in 2021. Moving forward, the federal court prohibited Apple from coll...

Fortnite maker Epic Games’ antitrust case against Apple benefited the crypto industry on Thursday, when the iPhone maker loosened restrictions on developers’ ability to offer apps in the U.S. that direct users to non-standard purchasing methods or digital collectibles. Apple updated its iOS App Store review guidelines after a U.S. District Judge found this week that the tech titan “willfully” violated a court injunction issued in 2021. Moving forward, the federal court prohibited Apple from coll...

FCA Asks for Public Feedback on UK Crypto Legislation

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seeking views around crypto assets as part of steps towards more legislation. The FCA specifically wants views on intermediaries, staking, lending, borrowing and DeFi, or decentralized finance, according to a discussion paper released today. The plan, according to the FCA, is to setup clear crypto legislation as a way to boost confidence and support growth in the sector. This is a first step towards legislation following a draft paper set out by the...

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seeking views around crypto assets as part of steps towards more legislation. The FCA specifically wants views on intermediaries, staking, lending, borrowing and DeFi, or decentralized finance, according to a discussion paper released today. The plan, according to the FCA, is to setup clear crypto legislation as a way to boost confidence and support growth in the sector. This is a first step towards legislation following a draft paper set out by the...

Bitcoin Dominance Hits Four-Year High As BTC Price Tops $97,000

Bitcoin’s dominance of the cryptocurrency market reached 64.89% today, its highest level since January 2021, as the price of Bitcoin topped $97,000 Friday morning. BTC’s dominance—its capitalization as a percentage of the entire market’s cap—has risen from around 57.90% at the start of the year, according to TradingView data. It had dropped to 55% by early December, as euphoria following Donald Trump’s election victory pushed altcoin prices to new highs. Yet this positive sentiment turned to fea...

Bitcoin’s dominance of the cryptocurrency market reached 64.89% today, its highest level since January 2021, as the price of Bitcoin topped $97,000 Friday morning. BTC’s dominance—its capitalization as a percentage of the entire market’s cap—has risen from around 57.90% at the start of the year, according to TradingView data. It had dropped to 55% by early December, as euphoria following Donald Trump’s election victory pushed altcoin prices to new highs. Yet this positive sentiment turned to fea...

Two Prime Ditches Ethereum for Bitcoin, Citing ‘Meme Coin’ Behavior

Ethereum just lost one of its long-time institutional backers. In a Thursday statement, algorithmic trading firm Two Prime announced it is dropping all exposure to Ethereum (ETH) and will exclusively manage and lend against Bitcoin (BTC) going forward, citing Ethereum’s unpredictable behavior, declining market momentum, and eroding institutional appeal. Why Two Prime is Going BTC Only https://t.co/VtrQAUyGL0 pic.twitter.com/4BWVd8R7HM — Two Prime (@Two_Prime) May 1, 2025 Two Prime didn’t say h...

Ethereum just lost one of its long-time institutional backers. In a Thursday statement, algorithmic trading firm Two Prime announced it is dropping all exposure to Ethereum (ETH) and will exclusively manage and lend against Bitcoin (BTC) going forward, citing Ethereum’s unpredictable behavior, declining market momentum, and eroding institutional appeal. Why Two Prime is Going BTC Only https://t.co/VtrQAUyGL0 pic.twitter.com/4BWVd8R7HM — Two Prime (@Two_Prime) May 1, 2025 Two Prime didn’t say h...

Claynosaurz Expands From Solana to Sui With New NFTs, Upcoming Game

Claynosaurz, an NFT-driven entertainment brand that first set up shop on Solana, is expanding to a second blockchain: Sui. The announcement came during Token2049’s Sui Basecamp event, where Claynosaurz CEO Andrew Pelekis outlined how the team is setting its sights on a broader frontier for interactive digital IP—starting with a series of upcoming launches tied to collectibles, gaming, and community engagement. The expansion builds on a March reveal that Claynosaurz would use Walrus Protocol—a de...

Claynosaurz, an NFT-driven entertainment brand that first set up shop on Solana, is expanding to a second blockchain: Sui. The announcement came during Token2049’s Sui Basecamp event, where Claynosaurz CEO Andrew Pelekis outlined how the team is setting its sights on a broader frontier for interactive digital IP—starting with a series of upcoming launches tied to collectibles, gaming, and community engagement. The expansion builds on a March reveal that Claynosaurz would use Walrus Protocol—a de...

Senate Majority Leader Expedites Vote on Landmark Stablecoin Bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) initiated procedures Wednesday to expedite a vote on the first-ever regulatory framework for stablecoins in the U.S. Thune is urging senators to fast-track the GENIUS Act, a bill that seeks to regulate stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar. The bill is sponsored by Senator Bill Hagerty and co-sponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). It's part of a "critical first step" to deliver on President Donald Trump and the American people's...

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) initiated procedures Wednesday to expedite a vote on the first-ever regulatory framework for stablecoins in the U.S. Thune is urging senators to fast-track the GENIUS Act, a bill that seeks to regulate stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar. The bill is sponsored by Senator Bill Hagerty and co-sponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). It's part of a "critical first step" to deliver on President Donald Trump and the American people's...

Sui Gaming Stablecoin Launching for SuiPlay0X1 Handheld, Playtron Ecosystem

Gaming startup Playtron announced onstage at Sui Basecamp in Dubai that it plans to roll out a stablecoin on Sui that is specifically designed to be used for gaming. Set to launch in Q4 this year, the Game Dollar will be used for purchases, subscriptions, and rewards across the Playtron GameOS ecosystem, including on the upcoming SuiPlay0X1 handheld console. Playtron claims that the stablecoin will be backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries as defined by M0, the platform behind the token. A stablec...

Gaming startup Playtron announced onstage at Sui Basecamp in Dubai that it plans to roll out a stablecoin on Sui that is specifically designed to be used for gaming. Set to launch in Q4 this year, the Game Dollar will be used for purchases, subscriptions, and rewards across the Playtron GameOS ecosystem, including on the upcoming SuiPlay0X1 handheld console. Playtron claims that the stablecoin will be backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries as defined by M0, the platform behind the token. A stablec...

Movement Labs Suspends Co-Founder Amid Market Maker Controversy

Movement Labs, one of the most closely watched Ethereum layer-2 startups of the past year, is in freefall. On Thursday, the company announced it had suspended co-founder Rushi Manche as it grapples with the fallout from a controversial token arrangement that saw 66 million MOVE tokens dumped on the open market, sparking internal and public backlash. “This decision was made in light of ongoing events and as the third-party review is still being conducted by Groom Lake regarding organizational gov...

Movement Labs, one of the most closely watched Ethereum layer-2 startups of the past year, is in freefall. On Thursday, the company announced it had suspended co-founder Rushi Manche as it grapples with the fallout from a controversial token arrangement that saw 66 million MOVE tokens dumped on the open market, sparking internal and public backlash. “This decision was made in light of ongoing events and as the third-party review is still being conducted by Groom Lake regarding organizational gov...

US Treasury Moves to Cut Off Cambodia’s Huione Group From Financial System Over $4B Laundering Claims

The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed actions Thursday to sever Cambodia-based Huione Group from the U.S. financial system. "For years, Huione Group has laundered illicit proceeds from cybercrimes," the agency said in a notice of proposed rulemaking under Section 311 of the Patriot Act, identifying Huione as a "primary money laundering concern." Section 311 provides the U.S. Treasury Secretary with "a range of options" that can be adapted to target...

The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed actions Thursday to sever Cambodia-based Huione Group from the U.S. financial system. "For years, Huione Group has laundered illicit proceeds from cybercrimes," the agency said in a notice of proposed rulemaking under Section 311 of the Patriot Act, identifying Huione as a "primary money laundering concern." Section 311 provides the U.S. Treasury Secretary with "a range of options" that can be adapted to target...

Texas Lawmaker Urges US Government to Put Crypto ATMs in Federal Buildings

As Trump continues to promote crypto and meme coins, a Texas lawmaker is jumping on the bandwagon with a plan to bring digital currency even closer to everyday Americans by installing crypto ATMs in federal buildings. Rep. Lance Gooden (R., Texas), a Republican representing Texas' 5th congressional district, wrote to General Services Administration’s acting administrator Stephen Ehikian on Thursday, urging the agency to embrace crypto infrastructure through the addition of the machines. The GSA...

As Trump continues to promote crypto and meme coins, a Texas lawmaker is jumping on the bandwagon with a plan to bring digital currency even closer to everyday Americans by installing crypto ATMs in federal buildings. Rep. Lance Gooden (R., Texas), a Republican representing Texas' 5th congressional district, wrote to General Services Administration’s acting administrator Stephen Ehikian on Thursday, urging the agency to embrace crypto infrastructure through the addition of the machines. The GSA...

Kraken Flags Suspected North Korean Job Applicant Attempting to Infiltrate Exchange

A routine job interview at crypto exchange Kraken turned into a covert investigation after a job candidate raised suspicions of being a North Korean operative. Rather than end the process, Kraken opted to continue the interviews to gather insight into the tactics being used.   What began as a standard hiring process for a remote engineering role escalated into what Kraken described as an "intelligence-gathering operation," the company said in a blog post published Thursday. North Korea’s efforts...

A routine job interview at crypto exchange Kraken turned into a covert investigation after a job candidate raised suspicions of being a North Korean operative. Rather than end the process, Kraken opted to continue the interviews to gather insight into the tactics being used.   What began as a standard hiring process for a remote engineering role escalated into what Kraken described as an "intelligence-gathering operation," the company said in a blog post published Thursday. North Korea’s efforts...

Official 'Black Mirror' Token Turns Social Credit Into Crypto Game

What would you give to earn cryptocurrency? Would you let an AI track your every online move? Those questions underpin an interactive experience built around the upcoming Black Mirror token, an official cryptocurrency announced Wednesday and inspired by Netflix’s hit dystopian series. Built on KOR Protocol, which is backed by the likes of Animoca Brands, Niantic Labs, and Avalanche, the Black Mirror Experience features a virtual assistant named Iris. She tracks user behavior and assigns reputati...

What would you give to earn cryptocurrency? Would you let an AI track your every online move? Those questions underpin an interactive experience built around the upcoming Black Mirror token, an official cryptocurrency announced Wednesday and inspired by Netflix’s hit dystopian series. Built on KOR Protocol, which is backed by the likes of Animoca Brands, Niantic Labs, and Avalanche, the Black Mirror Experience features a virtual assistant named Iris. She tracks user behavior and assigns reputati...

Dementia Risk Tied to Biological Age in New Study

Aging faster on the inside—even if you're still young on the outside—could raise your risk of dementia, a new study from Zhengzhou University in China found. The research showed that biological age, or how well the body is functioning, can be a stronger predictor of dementia risk than chronological age. The study, published on Wednesday in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, used data from the UK Biobank and tracked 280,918 people with an average age of 57 over a 14-year...

Aging faster on the inside—even if you're still young on the outside—could raise your risk of dementia, a new study from Zhengzhou University in China found. The research showed that biological age, or how well the body is functioning, can be a stronger predictor of dementia risk than chronological age. The study, published on Wednesday in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, used data from the UK Biobank and tracked 280,918 people with an average age of 57 over a 14-year...

Civitai Faces Angry Users After Banning Kinky Content From its AI Art Site

Civitai, once considered the Wild West of AI-generated art—and one of the last remaining havens where almost anything goes— triggered a community-wide meltdown after rolling out stringent new content guidelines last week. While the site wasn’t explicitly a porn site, it did cater to several NSFW communities including furries, adult-oriented anime, extreme BDSM and more. “We're updating our policies to comply with increasing scrutiny around AI content. New rules ban certain categories of content,...

Civitai, once considered the Wild West of AI-generated art—and one of the last remaining havens where almost anything goes— triggered a community-wide meltdown after rolling out stringent new content guidelines last week. While the site wasn’t explicitly a porn site, it did cater to several NSFW communities including furries, adult-oriented anime, extreme BDSM and more. “We're updating our policies to comply with increasing scrutiny around AI content. New rules ban certain categories of content,...

Canary Capital Seeks SEC Approval for First Sei ETF With Staking

Crypto funds issuer Canary Capital has applied for the first exchange-traded fund based on the performance of SEI, the token of the Sei layer-1 blockchain, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. The Canary Staked Sei ETF includes staking, allowing investors to earn extra yield on their investment. “The Trust’s investment objective is to…..provide exposure to the price of Sei held by the Trust,” the filing said. “A secondary investment objective is for...

Crypto funds issuer Canary Capital has applied for the first exchange-traded fund based on the performance of SEI, the token of the Sei layer-1 blockchain, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. The Canary Staked Sei ETF includes staking, allowing investors to earn extra yield on their investment. “The Trust’s investment objective is to…..provide exposure to the price of Sei held by the Trust,” the filing said. “A secondary investment objective is for...

Eric Trump Says 'Woke Cancel Culture' Led Him to Bitcoin, Crypto

Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, said that it was “woke cancel culture” coming after his family that led him to embrace crypto—with the Trumps making many moves in the space in recent months. The Trump Organization's executive vice president claimed that the “some of the biggest banks in the world” canceled his accounts with them—as well as accounts for other family members—at the tail end of President Trump’s first term. He believes this happened as a result of the “woke cancel cu...

Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, said that it was “woke cancel culture” coming after his family that led him to embrace crypto—with the Trumps making many moves in the space in recent months. The Trump Organization's executive vice president claimed that the “some of the biggest banks in the world” canceled his accounts with them—as well as accounts for other family members—at the tail end of President Trump’s first term. He believes this happened as a result of the “woke cancel cu...