Author: James Wilson

World App adds encrypted chat, virtual accounts, and support for 100+ crypto assets, merging verified identity with global payments in one “super app.”​ Summary World App now supports encrypted chat where verified humans appear as blue bubbles, enhancing privacy and anti-bot protections.​ New virtual accounts let users receive salaries or bank transfers and convert funds into USDC and other supported tokens in-app.​ The upgrade adds in-chat crypto payments, swaps across 100+ assets including WLD, WBTC, ETH and tokenized gold, plus broader merchant reach. World, the biometric identity-verification project led by Sam Altman, has released an updated version of its application…

XRP price sits on a major support zone as its descending triangle tightens, indicating an imminent move. Summary XRP trades near $2 inside a tightening descending triangle after a month of losses. Falling volume, weakening exchange-traded fund flows, and negative funding put pressure on buyers. A close below $2 may extend the downtrend, while a break above trendline would be a reversal signal. XRP traded at $2.03 at press time , up about 1% in the last 24 hours. Over the past week, price has moved between $1.99 and $2.17, showing how tight the range has become as the market…

YouTube has taken a subtle step that could reshape the way creators manage their income. Summary YouTube now supports PYUSD payouts for U.S. creators. PayPal handles conversion and settlement inside its network. PYUSD has been growing as banks and platforms expand stablecoin use. YouTube will now let U.S. creators receive payouts in PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin, marking one of the clearest steps Big Tech has taken toward crypto-linked earnings. The update was shared in a Dec. 12 Fortune report, which cited PayPal’s head of crypto, May Zabaneh, saying the feature is already live for eligible users. How PYUSD payments are being…

JPMorgan Chase & CO. on Thursday became one of the first major global banks to use a public blockchain to issue a $50 million U.S. commercial paper for Galaxy Digital Holdings. Summary JPMorgan used the Solana blockchain for the issuance. Scaramucci praised JPMorgan’s move, calling it “good news” for his investment thesis and supportive of his bullish stance on Solana and Avalanche. Coinbase Global and Franklin Templeton reportedly purchased the debt instrument, paying with USD Coin, a stablecoin issued by Circle. J According to Reuters, the New York-based bank used the Solana (SOL) blockchain for the issuance. Coinbase Global and…

Tangem Wallet now lets users earn Aave yield on USDT, USDC and DAI inside the app, with hardware security, simple setup and no need for external dApps. Summary Tangem Wallet now offers Aave-backed yield through Yield Mode. Users can earn on USDT, USDC and DAI without leaving the app. Hardware security and full liquidity keep assets under user control. Tangem has introduced Aave-powered yield inside its wallet, creating a direct bridge between self-custody and decentralized finance. The update was confirmed in a Dec. 11 note from Aave (AAVE), which described the integration as a way for users to earn yield…

World App just made a major update that could fundamentally change how users talk, pay, and prove who they are online. Summary Update adds encrypted chat, in-chat crypto transfers and Mini Apps. Virtual accounts expand to new regions with fee-free USDC conversion. Earn rewards, merchant payments and World ID tools widen real-world use. World has rolled out its biggest update yet, turning the World App into a full social, payments, identity and mini-app hub for verified humans. Announced on Dec. 11, the upgrade is by far one of World’s most aggressive steps in its push towards consumer-focused services. Chat and…

Canadian financial technology analysts have issued forecasts projecting expanded adoption of XRP in digital payment systems, according to reports circulating in cryptocurrency markets. Summary Canadian fintech researchers are forecasting wider adoption of XRP in digital payments. Analyst Skipper_xrp noted growing XRPL ecosystem activity—including interest in the raccoon-themed RACO token—while also pointing to new U.S. regulatory clarity. The ruling allows banks to facilitate XRP trades within a regulated framework, which analysts say could boost institutional integration and strengthen XRP’s positioning. Financial institutions have continued to implement blockchain-based settlement systems, prompting several Canadian researchers to issue projections on XRP’s potential role in…

Two Bitcoin wallets linked by analysts to Silk Road-era activity moved a substantial amount of cryptocurrency in May, with follow-up activity on Dec. 10 adding to a pattern of dormant supply movements, according to blockchain tracking data. Summary Two long-dormant Bitcoin wallets tied by analysts to Silk Road–era activity moved more than 3,400 BTC in May, with additional consolidation on Dec. 10. Forensic data shows the funds—sourced from wallets dormant since 2013—were redirected to new SegWit P2WPKH addresses, a structure analysts say is consistent with re-keying instead of preparation for sale. Market observers note that U.S. Bitcoin ETFs absorb substantial…

Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in prison in New York for the multibillion-dollar fraud that fueled the 2022 collapse of his crypto empire and contributed to broader turmoil across digital-asset markets. Summary Kwon received a 15-year prison term in New York for the multibillion-dollar fraud that led to the 2022 collapse of TerraUSD. Kwon still faces prosecution in South Korea after completing his U.S. sentence. Prosecutors highlighted Kwon’s role in the 2022 “crypto winter” and the collapse of FTX, Celsius, and OneCoin. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer called Kwon’s actions “a fraud of epic generational…

Two Chinese artificial intelligence startups, MiniMax and Zhipu, are preparing for initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in early 2026. Summary MiniMax and Zhipu received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to proceed with IPOs. Both companies announced plans to complete their Hong Kong IPOs by 2026. Meanwhile, in the U.S., investors fled AI-related tech names on Thursday after Oracle posted an earnings miss. The firms have received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to proceed with the listings, the companies stated. MiniMax and Zhipu have secured backing from major Chinese technology…