E-commerce and trade

Corporate ETH holdings surpass 10 billion dollars

Entities holding Ethereum treasuries now collectively control over $10 billion worth of ETH. Data from the Strategic ETH Reserve shows 64 organisations hold 2.73 million ETH, accounting for 2.27% of the total supply, highlighting the growing corporate adoption of Ethereum.

Leading the accumulation are Bitmine Immersion Tech, Sharplink Gaming, and The Ether Machine, together holding more than 1.3 million ETH. Most of these acquisitions occurred in under three months, with Bitmine alone now holding over $2 billion worth of ETH.

Public companies continue to plan further purchases, though they are taking a measured approach to limit risks.

Ethereum’s price has steadied around $3,700–$3,800, stalling short of the $4,000 mark investors had hoped to see on the token’s 10th anniversary. Despite this, on-chain activity remains strong, with over 680,000 active wallets and ETH showing significant gains independent of Bitcoin.

DeFi protocols, crypto-native organisations, and even governments also feature among the largest ETH holders. The Ethereum Foundation ranks fourth with 234,600 ETH, while the US government, Michigan State, and Bhutan maintain reserves, demonstrating Ethereum’s broad adoption across sectors.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Internet platforms in China face new pricing guidelines

China has unveiled draft rules to rein in pricing practices on internet platforms, responding to long-standing complaints from both merchants and consumers about unfair or misleading costs. The proposed measures, announced by the National Development and Reform Commission on 23 August, are designed to make pricing more transparent and equitable across the country’s vast digital marketplace.

The draft regulations would require platforms and merchants to follow standardised pricing guidelines, clearly disclose their rules, and notify users promptly of any fee changes. Authorities in China say prices should be set and adjusted through standardised contracts or formal orders to reduce arbitrary or hidden charges.

The move comes after repeated allegations that major platforms have manipulated prices to their advantage, leaving consumers and smaller sellers at a disadvantage. By tightening oversight, Beijing hopes to rebuild trust in online commerce while ensuring a fairer playing field.

The draft will remain open for public comment for one month, allowing businesses and citizens to weigh in before the measures are finalised.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Visa expands stablecoin settlement to new assets and blockchains

Visa is expanding its stablecoin settlement capabilities by supporting new digital assets and blockchains. The payments giant will now include Global Dollar (USDG), PayPal USD (PYUSD), and Circle’s euro-backed EURC.

Settlement will extend to Stellar and Avalanche, broadening its support beyond Ethereum and Bitcoin. A new Paxos partnership aims to improve settlement speed and cut cross-border costs.

Visa executives said stablecoins could help fix inefficiencies in emerging markets. They also argued that trusted, scalable, interoperable assets can transform cross-border payments.

Visa is also pushing into new regions, with plans to expand settlement across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Recent Yellow Card and Bridge deals will enable stablecoin cards for daily use.

The firm stressed that a stablecoin strategy will become essential for institutions moving money globally.

According to Visa, the expansion will improve liquidity management, lower settlement costs, and provide 365-day transaction support. The network has processed over $225 million in stablecoin settlements, cementing its lead in digital payments.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Dell expands AI innovation hub in Singapore to drive regional growth

Dell Technologies has launched a new Asia Pacific and Japan AI Innovation Hub in Singapore, strengthening its role in advancing AI across the region.

The hub extends the company’s Global Innovation Hub, which has already received more than US$50 million in investment since 2019. Its focus is on driving AI transformation, enablement and leadership, in line with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0.

Instead of offering only infrastructure, the hub delivers end-to-end support, from strategy to deployment, helping enterprises bridge the gap between ambition and practical results. Research shows 62% of Singaporean businesses prefer such holistic partnerships.

Since 2024, the hub has developed about 50 AI prototypes and carried out more than 100 proof-of-concepts, workshops and demonstrations across areas such as generative and predictive AI.

The projects have already influenced multiple sectors. In energy, AI solutions are strengthening infrastructure resilience and enhancing customer engagement with digital humans and chatbots.

In telecommunications, AI is supporting agility and operational efficiency, while in education, cloud-based technologies are empowering research and innovation.

Dell’s AI Centre of Excellence Lab further supports these initiatives by testing solutions for AI PCs and edge computing in collaboration with academic and hardware partners.

A strong emphasis is also placed on skills development. By the end of 2025, the hub aims to train around 10,000 students and mid-career professionals in AI engineering, platform engineering and related fields.

Working with 10 local institutes, Dell is addressing the talent shortage reported by nearly half of Singaporean organisations. Events such as the Dell InnovateFest and the Dell Innovation Challenge provide platforms for students and partners to showcase ideas and create solutions for social good.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

OpenAI to open office in New Delhi

OpenAI has announced plans to open its first office in India later this year, selecting New Delhi as the location. India is now ChatGPT’s second-largest market after the US and continues to experience rapid growth in user activity.

Weekly active users of ChatGPT in India have increased over fourfold over the past year, with students making up the largest global user segment. CEO Sam Altman praised India’s talent pool and government support, stating the new office is key to building AI with and for India.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the move, citing India’s AI mission and expanding digital infrastructure as a natural foundation for the partnership. OpenAI will also hold its first Education Summit in India later this month, aiming to further engage with students and educators nationwide.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Google launches standalone Password Manager app for Android

Google has released its Password Manager as a standalone app for Android, separating the service from Chrome for easier access. The new app allows users to quickly view and manage saved passwords, passkeys and login details directly from their phone.

The app itself does not introduce new features. It functions mainly as a shortcut to the existing Password Manager already built into Android and Chrome.

For users, there is little practical difference between the app and the integrated option, although some may prefer the clarity of having a dedicated tool instead of navigating through browser settings.

For Google, however, the move brings advantages. By listing Password Manager in the Play Store, the company can compete more visibly with rivals like LastPass and 1Password.

Previously, many users were unaware of the built-in feature since it was hidden within Chrome. The Play Store presence also gives Google a direct way to push updates and raise awareness of the service.

The app arrives with Google’s Material 3 design refresh, giving it a cleaner look that aligns with the rest of Android. Functionality remains unchanged for now, but the shift suggests Google may expand the app in the future.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

South Korea unveils five-year AI blueprint for ‘super-innovation economy’

South Korea’s new administration has unveiled a five-year economic plan to build what it calls a ‘super-innovation economy’ by integrating AI across all sectors of society.

The strategy, led by President Lee Jae-myung, commits 100 trillion won (approximately US$71.5 billion) to position the country among the world’s top three AI powerhouses. Private firms will drive development, with government support for nationwide adoption.

Plans include a sovereign Korean-language AI model, humanoid robots for logistics and industry, and commercialising autonomous vehicles by 2027. Unmanned ships are targeted for completion by 2030, alongside widespread use of drones in firefighting and aviation.

AI will also be introduced into drug approvals, smart factories, welfare services, and tax administration, with AI-based tax consultations expected by 2026. Education initiatives and a national AI training data cluster will nurture talent and accelerate innovation.

Five domestic firms, including Naver Cloud, SK Telecom, and LG AI Research, will receive state support to build homegrown AI foundation models. Industry reports currently rank South Korea between sixth and 10th in global AI competitiveness.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Luxembourg tightens crypto reporting rules for CASPs

Luxembourg introduced draft Law 8592 outlining registration, due diligence, and reporting duties for crypto-asset service providers. Mandatory reporting starts on 1 January 2026, covering crypto-assets, life insurance income, cross-border rulings, and expanded automatic tax data exchange.

The law applies to a broad range of crypto-asset activities, including portfolio management, custody, and exchange platforms. It also covers crypto-to-fund or crypto-to-crypto transactions and client order execution.

Luxembourg’s definition of crypto-assets aligns with EU MiCAR rules but includes all assets used for payment or investment purposes. Tax authorities will share reported data with the user’s country of residence by 30 September of the following year, starting with 2026.

CASPs must register with Luxembourg tax authorities by 30 June each year for reporting the previous year’s data. MiCAR-authorised operators are exempt from active registration. Penalties range from €5,000 for missed registrations to €250,000 for failing due diligence or reporting obligations.

The law also requires CASPs to verify user information through reasonable due-diligence procedures.

Law 8592 further updates rules on cross-border arrangements, online platform reporting, the Common Reporting Standard, and country-by-country reporting. DAC6 amendments now follow EU Court rulings, keeping lawyers’ client notifications while removing wider intermediary duties.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Orange suffers major data breach

Orange Belgium has confirmed a data breach affecting 850,000 customers, after a cyberattack targeted one of its internal IT systems. The attack, discovered in late July, exposed names, phone numbers, SIM card details, tariff plans and PUK codes. No financial or password data was compromised.

The telecoms provider blocked access to the affected system and notified authorities. A formal complaint has also been filed with the judiciary. All affected users are being informed via email or SMS and are urged to stay alert for phishing and identity fraud attempts.

Orange Belgium has advised users to strengthen account security with strong, unique passwords and to be cautious of suspicious links and messages. This marks the third cyber incident involving Orange in 2025, following earlier attacks, though those breaches varied in impact.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Google enhances AI Mode with personalised dining suggestions

Google has expanded its AI Mode in Search to 180 additional countries and territories, introducing new agentic features to help users make restaurant reservations. The service remains limited to English and is not yet available in the European Union.

The update enables users to specify their dining preferences and constraints, allowing the system to scan multiple platforms and present real-time availability. Once a choice is made, users are directed to the restaurant’s booking page.

Partners supporting the service include OpenTable, Resy, SeatGeek, StubHub, Booksy, Tock, and Ticketmaster. The feature is part of Google’s Search Labs experiment, available to subscribers of Google AI Ultra in the United States.

AI Mode also tailors suggestions based on previous searches and introduces a Share function, letting users share restaurant options or planning results with others, with the option to delete links.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!