The University of the Hespérides in Spain is launching its first Master’s in Bitcoin programme on 28 April 2025.
Designed for professionals such as entrepreneurs, engineers, lawyers, and investors, the 10-month course will be delivered online and in Spanish. It will offer 60 ECTS credits.
Students will explore Bitcoin from multiple angles, including its philosophy, technology, monetary theory, legal status, and investment strategies. The curriculum includes practical workshops on self-custody, proof-of-work mining, and tax compliance.
Participants will also receive a Blockstream Jade hardware wallet and a book written by programme director Álvaro D. María.
Optional in-person seminars will be held in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The faculty includes economist Juan Ramón Rallo and experts from companies like BTC Inc. and Jan3.
The initiative aligns the university with global institutions such as MIT, NYU, and Berkeley, which are expanding cryptocurrency education to meet growing industry demand.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Cryptocurrency firms are increasingly merging with traditional finance (TradFi), reflecting a growing synergy between the two sectors. Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, noted that both crypto exchanges and TradFi players are seeking to bridge the gap between the two sectors.
As more investors desire flexibility in their financial products, the lines between crypto and traditional finance are blurring.
In line with this trend, platforms like Kraken are expanding into TradFi offerings, launching access to stocks and ETFs. The move follows similar efforts from other companies, including Coinbase. The exchange aims to modernise the global financial system and increase crypto adoption across the world.
Both sectors recognise the potential of combining blockchain’s speed and transparency with TradFi’s trust, scale, and compliance. The convergence promises to unlock new opportunities for investors and accelerate institutional adoption of cryptocurrency.
Traditional investment platforms like eToro and Robinhood are also entering the crypto space, further cementing the connection between the two industries.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
New York MP Nydia Velázquez introduced the Fair Taxation of Digital Assets in Puerto Rico Act. The bill aims to require crypto investors in Puerto Rico to pay both local and federal taxes on capital gains.
Bill seeks to amend Puerto Rico’s tax laws, making income from digital assets subject to federal taxation.
Velázquez criticised the tax incentives for crypto investors. She claimed they have driven up housing costs, displaced residents, and strained the island’s economy, which has a poverty rate of nearly 40%.
Puerto Rico has been a tax haven since 2012, attracting investors, but this has cost the US government billions in lost tax revenue.
Puerto Rico’s Governor Jenniffer González-Colón proposed extending Act 60 until 2055, but with a 4% capital gains tax, far lower than the typical US rate.
It’s unclear if Velázquez’s bill will gain enough support, as both the House and Senate are expected to review crypto-related proposals soon.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has introduced draft guidelines aimed at regulating the storage and sharing of personal data on blockchains. These proposals aim to align blockchain with existing privacy standards, especially the GDPR.
The guidelines, ratified by the EDPB this month, are open for public comment until 9 June.
Under the new rules, access to personal blockchain data would be strictly limited to comply with GDPR protections. The EDPB highlighted the need for ‘Data Protection by Design and by Default.’
It advised organisations to implement early technical and structural measures to ensure transparency and data erasure.
The guidelines also emphasise that personal data should not be stored on a blockchain if it conflicts with privacy principles.
Data privacy experts have diverse opinions on the role of blockchain in privacy. Some see decentralisation as incompatible with regulation. Others argue that blockchain should prioritise privacy as a core component, not an afterthought.
One expert warned against putting personal data on blockchains, calling it a potential violation of privacy and a move towards authoritarianism.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Ramil Palafox, CEO of PGI Global, has been charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He is accused of orchestrating a $198 million crypto-based Ponzi scheme.
According to the SEC, Palafox marketed unregistered ‘membership packages’ between 2020 and 2021. He promised returns of up to 200% through a fake AI-driven trading platform.
Investor funds were reportedly diverted to finance an extravagant lifestyle, including a $1.7 million Las Vegas home, luxury cars, and high-end jewellery.
SEC alleges PGI Global manipulated user dashboards and faked trading activity to deceive investors. The company, also known as PGI Global UK Ltd, was shut down by the UK High Court in 2022.
The case marks the first crypto enforcement action under new SEC Chair Paul Atkins. Prosecutors filed a related criminal case and seek a permanent ban on Palafox’s crypto involvement. Several family members are named to receive assets linked to the scheme.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The group is reportedly awaiting regulatory approval to set up a joint entity, slowing down immediate progress. The move aligns with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation, which has introduced strict rules for stablecoin issuance.
These standards have led to the retreat of some dominant players such as Tether, creating room for banks to develop regulated alternatives. Société Générale’s digital arm, SG FORGE, has already released its own Euro stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain.
The European Central Bank continues to face hurdles in advancing its Digital Euro project. In the meantime, traditional banks are offering private solutions for cross-border payments.
In the United States, similar efforts are underway with the proposed STABLE Act. The bill is already drawing attention from firms like Visa and World Liberty Financial, though the latter has come under scrutiny due to its political ties.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Slovenia’s Finance Ministry has proposed a 25% tax on crypto trading profits, aiming to bring digital assets in line with other investments. The draft law, unveiled on 17 April, targets residents who convert crypto into fiat or use it for purchases.
Crypto-to-crypto trades and transfers between self-owned wallets would remain untaxed under the proposed rules.
Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič defended the move, describing it as a step towards fairness rather than a revenue-generating effort. He emphasised that speculative instruments like cryptocurrencies should not be excluded from taxation.
Taxpayers would be required to report transactions annually, with profits calculated by subtracting purchase costs from sale values.
Critics argue the plan could harm Slovenia’s crypto-friendly image. Opposition MP Jernej Vrtovec warned that the tax may drive innovation and young talent abroad.
If adopted, the law will take effect from 1 January 2026. Slovenia already taxes mining and staking income, while hobbyist use remains exempt.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Circle is set to unveil a new payments and cross-border remittance product. The launch will take place at the company’s headquarters in One World Trade Center, New York, on Tuesday.
The event will cater to banks, fintechs, payment service providers, remittance providers, and USDC strategic partners. Circle’s CEO is expected to outline the company’s vision for expanding its presence in the payments space.
The launch marks a strategic shift as Circle looks to strengthen its position in the payments industry. Circle plans to position itself as a key player, eyeing competition with financial giants like Mastercard and Visa.
The company’s new offering aims to revolutionise remittances and cross-border payments. It leverages stablecoins like USDC to potentially disrupt traditional money transfer services.
Circle’s recent developments have been significant, including its postponed IPO due to volatile market conditions. As the adoption of stablecoins grows, Circle continues to innovate and solidify its place in the evolving payments ecosystem.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Changpeng Zhao, former Binance CEO, was hit with 90 million fake Grok tokens. Scammers are ramping up their efforts to target crypto investors with Elon Musk-related fraud.
According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, the tokens are likely part of a phishing attack. These tokens are unrelated to Musk’s official AI chatbot, Grok, which has not issued any cryptocurrency.
Scammers have long exploited high-profile figures like Musk to gain trust from victims. Fake Grok-related tokens first appeared in 2023, leading to significant losses after scammers sold a portion of the supply.
Recent Elon Musk scams have resurfaced, featuring fake giveaways and memecoins on the BNB Smart Chain.
The rise in scams reflects a growing trend of phishing attacks, such as address poisoning, which trick victims into sending assets to fraudulent wallets.
In 2024, phishing incidents cost the crypto industry over $1 billion, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and security.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has vowed that the company would rather exit markets like France than implement encryption backdoors.
Lawmakers in the European Union are increasingly proposing backdoors that would allow authorities to bypass encryption. These backdoors would grant access to private messages.
Durov’s statement comes as Telegram faces mounting pressure to comply with regulations that could undermine digital privacy.
In a recent post, Durov emphasised that backdoors, while intended for law enforcement, could be exploited by hackers and foreign agents. He warned that such measures would not only put user data at risk but also drive criminals to use lesser-known apps to avoid detection.
Telegram has long been committed to safeguarding its users’ privacy. It has never disclosed private messages to authorities, even when complying with court orders in certain jurisdictions.
Durov’s comments come at a time when the EU is proposing legislation that could force apps to implement backdoors for police access. Despite some progress, the fight for digital privacy continues.
Durov urges privacy advocates to resist these changes. He stresses that losing encryption would be a major blow to personal safety and freedom.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
