OpenAI has made its first move into the cybersecurity space by co-leading a US$43 million Series A funding round for New York-based startup Adaptive Security.
The round was also backed by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, highlighting growing investor interest in solutions aimed at tackling AI-driven threats.
Adaptive Security specialises in simulating social engineering attacks powered by AI, such as fake phone calls, text messages, and emails. These simulations are designed to train employees and identify weak points within an organisation’s defences.
With over 100 customers already on board, the platform is proving to be a timely solution as generative AI continues to fuel increasingly convincing cyber scams.
The funding will be used to scale up the company’s engineering team and enhance its platform to meet growing demand.
As AI-powered threats evolve, Adaptive Security aims to stay ahead of the curve by helping organisations better prepare their staff to recognise and respond to sophisticated digital deception.
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India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has sparked controversy by questioning whether Indian start-ups should focus on semiconductor chips instead of gluten-free ice creams and food delivery apps.
Speaking at a start-up conference, he compared India’s consumer internet boom unfavourably with China’s advances in robotics and AI, urging entrepreneurs to pursue more ambitious tech innovations instead of safe lifestyle products.
While acknowledging the position of India as the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, Goyal faced pushback from founders who argued consumer apps often evolve into tech pioneers.
Quick-commerce CEO Aadit Palicha noted that companies like Amazon began as consumer platforms before revolutionising cloud computing. However, investors admitted deep-tech struggles for funding, with most capital chasing quick-return ventures instead of long-term hardware or AI projects.
The debate highlights India’s innovation crossroads. Despite having 4,000 deep-tech start-ups, projected to reach 10,000 by 2030, they attracted just 5% of 2023 funding instead of China’s 35%.
Experts suggest the government could help by offering tax incentives instead of criticism, and building research bridges between academia and start-ups to compete globally in advanced technologies
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Russia’s Federal Tax Service (FTS) has introduced a new online tool to assist crypto miners in calculating their taxes. The tool offers exchange rate data for cryptocurrencies. It helps miners calculate income based on the minimum closing price in rubles on specific dates.
While the tool currently includes data from seven exchanges, such as Binance and ByBit, some major coins like Ethereum (ETH) are missing from the database.
Despite its limitations, the resource aims to simplify the calculation of tax liabilities for digital currency transactions. The FTS emphasises that taxpayers must independently verify the information.
Since the legalisation of crypto mining in Russia, miners must comply with a two-tiered tax system introduced in 2024. Miners earning up to 2.4 million rubles are taxed at 13%, while those exceeding this threshold face a 15% tax.
Miners using over 6,000 kWh of electricity per month must register with the FTS. Fines will be imposed for non-compliance.
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Michael Saylor’s firm, Strategy, may be forced to sell part of its Bitcoin reserves to meet mounting financial obligations. A recent filing warned that the company may struggle to meet obligations without new equity or debt funding.
Strategy holds over 528,000 BTC, acquired for more than $35 billion at an average price of $67,458. Despite this, the company expects an unrealised loss of nearly $6 billion in Q1 2025.
With $8 billion in debt, $35 million in annual interest, and $150 million in dividends, the firm faces significant pressure.
In March, Strategy announced plans to raise $2.1 billion through a perpetual preferred stock offering an 8% dividend. It would fund company operations and allow further Bitcoin purchases. Still, its future hinges on Bitcoin’s market performance.
Bitcoin is currently trading around $76,000, down 10% over the week. While Trump’s tariffs have affected market sentiment, analysts suggest Bitcoin could reach $110,000 as global interest rates fall.
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President Trump is set to sign an executive order designating coal as a critical mineral instead of allowing its continued decline in the energy sector.
The order will force some coal-fired power plants slated for closure to remain operational, with the administration citing rising electricity demand from data centres instead of acknowledging coal’s dwindling competitiveness.
Currently, coal generates just 15% of US electricity instead of its 51% share in 2001, having been overtaken by cheaper natural gas and renewables.
Environmental experts warn coal remains the dirtiest energy source instead of cleaner alternatives, releasing harmful pollutants linked to health issues like heart disease and mercury poisoning. While the order may temporarily slow plant closures, analysts note it won’t reverse coal’s decline.
Solar and wind power now undercut operating costs at nearly all US coal plants instead of being more expensive, as was once the case.
The move could have more impact in steelmaking, where coal is still used instead of newer green steel techniques in most production. However, for power generation, renewables can be deployed faster than new coal plants instead of struggling to meet demand.
The order appears to prioritise political symbolism instead of addressing energy market realities, as even existing coal plants struggle to compete with increasingly affordable clean energy alternatives.
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The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has reiterated concerns about potential financial risks posed by cryptocurrencies. The warning comes as the sector experiences rapid growth and increasing links with traditional finance.
ESMA executive director Natasha Cazenave addressed the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on 8 April. She highlighted the need for continued vigilance.
Cazenave warned that instability in even minor markets could spread through the wider financial system. She noted that most EU banks still avoid the crypto market, with over 95% having no involvement.
The latest warning follows ESMA’s earlier call to delist stablecoins that failed to comply with the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation. In January 2025, the regulator signalled its intent to enforce the new rules strictly.
As the EU strengthens oversight, a contrasting stance is emerging in the United States. Regulators under President Trump have shifted towards supporting crypto innovation.
The US SEC has taken steps to ease regulatory pressure, while the Justice Department recently disbanded its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team.
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A new San Francisco-based startup, Deep Cogito, has unveiled its first family of AI models, Cogito 1, which can switch between fast-response and deep-reasoning modes instead of being limited to just one approach.
These hybrid models combine the efficiency of standard AI with the step-by-step problem-solving abilities seen in advanced systems like OpenAI’s o1. While reasoning models excel in fields like maths and physics, they often require more computing power, a trade-off Deep Cogito aims to balance.
The Cogito 1 series, built on Meta’s Llama and Alibaba’s Qwen models instead of starting from scratch, ranges from 3 billion to 70 billion parameters, with larger versions planned.
Early tests suggest the top-tier Cogito 70B outperforms rivals like DeepSeek’s reasoning model and Meta’s Llama 4 Scout in some tasks. The models are available for download or through cloud APIs, offering flexibility for developers.
Founded in June 2024 by ex-Google DeepMind product manager Dhruv Malhotra and former Google engineer Drishan Arora, Deep Cogito is backed by investors like South Park Commons.
The company’s ambitious goal is to develop ‘general superintelligence,’ AI that surpasses human capabilities, rather than merely matching them. For now, the team says they’ve only scratched the surface of their scaling potential.
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The US Justice Department has officially disbanded its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). The move signals a significant change in approach under the Trump administration.
Initially formed in 2022 during Biden’s presidency, the team was responsible for investigating crypto-related fraud and financial crimes. Its closure reflects a broader move away from aggressive regulatory enforcement.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was recently confirmed as the department’s second-in-command. He issued new guidelines directing prosecutors to prioritise cases involving terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
Blanche criticised the previous administration’s policy of ‘regulation by prosecution’. He called for charges only where there is clear evidence of intentional legal violations.
The Justice Department will now avoid targeting crypto exchanges, mixers, and digital wallets based on their users’ actions or minor regulatory issues. Agencies such as the SEC have already paused several high-profile cases in response to this shift.
Trump’s support for crypto also extends to personal ties. His family reportedly holds a significant stake in token sales by World Liberty Financial. Trump has also previously launched his digital tokens.
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World Liberty Financial (WLFI) has announced plans for an airdrop of its newly launched USD1 stablecoin. The distribution will target early supporters of the project. It is designed as a test to validate its airdrop system’s functionality on Ethereum Mainnet.
Although the exact amount and timing are yet to be finalised, the initiative aims to boost the coin’s visibility. It will also ensure the smooth operation of its smart contract mechanisms.
The proposal outlines a process with community discussion, a governance vote, and a public announcement once the airdrop is finalised. However, WLFI maintains the right to modify or cancel the airdrop at any point.
The platform faces significant political backlash. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the financial involvement of the Trump family. They are suggesting potential conflicts of interest.
Also, WLFI’s governance structure includes a non-transferable token, raising questions about transparency and decentralisation.
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With assets exceeding $800 billion, the fund is evaluating how blockchain could streamline transactions. South Korea is also considering how the technology could manage deposits and track withdrawals.
Although NPS has previously stated it would not invest directly in cryptocurrencies, it has bought shares in crypto-related companies. Investments include stakes in Coinbase and MicroStrategy.
The fund appears more focused on blockchain’s underlying infrastructure. It sees potential to reduce record tampering and improve data accuracy. However, the move aligns with growing interest in digital assets across South Korea, where over 16 million people now invest in cryptocurrencies.
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