US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to include cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets in 401(k) retirement accounts. The initiative aims to reduce regulatory and legal hurdles that have limited retirees from accessing higher returns and greater asset diversification.
The Secretary of Labour and SEC have been tasked with easing access to alternative investments in defined contribution plans. The order also calls for clarifying or revising existing rules to reduce industry legal uncertainties.
Despite the opportunity for higher returns, critics caution that these investments come with increased risks, less transparency, and higher fees than traditional retirement options.
Recent legislative activity reflects growing US government attention to digital assets. The Senate passed a bill regulating stablecoins, introducing reserve requirements and consumer protections.
Experts highlight that cryptocurrencies have evolved beyond speculative assets. They have become integrated into the global financial system and are sensitive to changes in regulatory and political landscapes.
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Visa has launched a new Cybersecurity Advisory Practice to support businesses in identifying and countering growing cyber risks. The initiative aims to provide practical insights tailored to clients of all sizes.
The practice will be powered by Visa Consulting & Analytics, which brings together a global team of consultants, product specialists and data scientists. Services include training, threat analysis and cybersecurity maturity assessments.
Jeremiah Dewey, a veteran with over 20 years of experience in the field, has been named global head of cyber products. He will lead product development and build strategic partnerships.
Visa says the goal is to offer scalable solutions to both small businesses and large enterprises, enabling them to stay resilient in an evolving digital threat market.
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Laser Digital, a subsidiary of Japan’s Nomura, secured Dubai’s first licence to offer over-the-counter (OTC) crypto options under the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority’s (VARA) pilot programme. The company is the sole firm authorised to offer regulated OTC crypto derivatives to institutional clients in the city.
Operations will begin with Bitcoin vanilla options, structured according to International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) contracts. The approach relies on traditional finance legal frameworks to define rights and obligations for each trade.
Laser Digital aims to build trust by starting with simple, medium-term options rather than complex derivatives.
Plans for future services include lending, spot trading, and yield-generating products, but any expansion depends on further regulatory approvals. The company plans to expand its offerings as market demand and regulatory approval permit, though no timeline has been given.
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Colorado lawmakers face a dual challenge as they return to the State Capitol on 21 August for a special session: closing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall and revisiting a pioneering yet controversial law regulating AI.
Senate Bill 24-205, signed into law in May 2024, aims to reduce bias in AI decision-making affecting areas such as lending, insurance, education, and healthcare. While not due for implementation until February 2026, critics and supporters now expect that deadline to be extended.
Representative Brianna Titone, one of the bill’s sponsors, emphasised the importance of transparency and consumer safeguards, warning of the risks associated with unregulated AI. However, unexpected costs have emerged. State agencies estimate implementation could cost up to $5 million, a far cry from the bill’s original fiscal note.
Governor Polis has called for amendments to prevent excessive financial and administrative burdens on state agencies and businesses. The Judicial Department now expects costs to double from initial projections, requiring supplementary budget requests.
Industry concerns centre on data-sharing requirements and vague regulatory definitions. Critics argue the law could erode competitive advantage and stall innovation in the United States. Developers are urging clarity and more time before compliance is enforced.
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Over 1,000 employees are now based at Hubballi, where the new Living Lab delivers services across sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and space technology. Strategic ties with local academic institutions like IIIT Dharwad are intended to nurture future-ready talent close to operations.
Local leaders framed the centre as a corrective to past underutilisation concerns and a driver of industry-academia collaboration. By encouraging expansion to other districts, they set the tone for inclusive growth and long-term innovation across North Karnataka.
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Endex.ai has secured $14 million in funding to bring AI directly into Microsoft Excel. The funding round was led by the OpenAI Startup Fund, marking a significant moment for traditional tools in the business world.
Founded in 2022 by Tarun Amasa and Kevin Yang, the startup has spent the past year collaborating quietly with financial institutions to refine its product.
Now available to the public through limited invites, the tool embeds itself within Excel and helps users manage tasks like financial modelling, data cleanup, and detailed analysis (without switching applications).
Unlike broader AI tools, Endex has been designed specifically for finance professionals. It understands financial terminology, adapts to user habits, and references trusted data sources such as SEC filings, CapIQ, and earnings reports.
The company describes its product as Excel-native, aiming to enhance rather than replace a tool already deeply integrated into finance work.
With the new funding, Endex plans to expand development and scale its reach. The AI agent already works on both Mac and Windows, and its frictionless interface is proving attractive in a field where saving time and improving accuracy can make a substantial difference.
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Most cryptocurrency exchanges in Poland may shut down by the end of 2025 due to the high costs of complying with the EU’s MiCA regulation and national requirements. Smaller platforms struggle to afford expensive licences, capital, and compliance systems.
Under MiCA, providers must pay costly licence fees—up to 3 million złoty ($800,000)—and maintain significant capital. One Warsaw operator called the rules ‘a death sentence for local players.’
Meanwhile, global firms like Binance and Coinbase are better positioned to meet these demands.
While investors could gain more protection, market consolidation may reduce competition and raise fees. Poland is debating legislation to ease fees and attract crypto investment, but uncertainty remains as the MiCA deadline approaches.
Some firms welcome the changes, seeing a chance to compete fairly with traditional finance. Poland’s largely unregulated crypto market is entering a major transformation.
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NVIDIA has publicly rejected calls to embed kill switches or backdoors in its AI chips amid growing political pressure. The statement follows proposals from US lawmakers and accusations by Chinese authorities.
Chief Security Officer David Reber Jr. said any such backdoor would endanger global digital infrastructure and open doors for hackers. He reaffirmed NVIDIA’s commitment to fixing vulnerabilities, not creating them.
The controversy arises as the chipmaker navigates strict US export controls while maintaining its foothold in China with the H20 chip. A Chinese agency recently claimed these chips already contain hidden controls.
Reber distinguished transparent, user-controlled tools like remote wipe from covert backdoors, arguing they serve customers without risking the system integrity of the chips.
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Apple is increasing its domestic investment by an additional $100 billion, bringing its total commitment to US manufacturing to $600 billion over the next four years.
The announcement was made by CEO Tim Cook during a joint appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House, as the administration signals plans to impose steep tariffs on foreign-made semiconductors.
The investment includes a new American Manufacturing Program aimed at expanding US production of key Apple components, such as AI servers and rare earth magnets. Facilities are already under development in states including Texas, Kentucky, and Arizona.
Apple says the initiative will support 450,000 jobs across all 50 states and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
Apple’s expanded spending arrives amid criticism of its slow progress in AI. With its ‘Apple Intelligence’ software struggling for traction, and the recent departure of foundation model head Rouming Pang to Meta, the company is now shifting focus.
Cook confirmed that investment in AI infrastructure is accelerating, with data centres expanding in five states.
While Apple’s move has drawn praise for supporting American jobs, it has also stirred controversy. Some users expressed discontent with Cook’s public alignment with Trump, despite the strategic importance of avoiding tariffs.
Trump stated that companies investing in the US would not face the proposed import charges.
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China’s top security agency has raised concerns over crypto-related projects collecting biometric data, warning they may threaten national security. A recent MSS bulletin warned that crypto firms trading tokens for iris scans could misuse personal data.
While the agency didn’t explicitly mention Worldcoin, the description aligns with its practice of exchanging tokens for biometric scans in over 160 countries.
Officials described iris recognition as a sensitive form of identification that, once leaked, cannot be changed. The bulletin warned that fake facial data may be used by foreign agencies for espionage and infiltration.
In response to privacy concerns, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently proposed a pluralistic identity system. The concept combines multiple sources of verification rather than relying on a single, centralised ID.
He argued that current models risk eliminating anonymity and may favour wealthy participants in verification systems.
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