India is reassessing its position on cryptocurrencies as other countries adopt more favourable policies. The review comes after US President Donald Trump’s recent moves to overhaul digital asset regulations, prompting Indian authorities to revisit their own discussion paper, initially scheduled for release in September 2024. Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth highlighted the need for a broader perspective, given that cryptocurrencies transcend national borders.
Government scrutiny of digital assets remains strong despite increasing local investment in the sector. India’s Financial Intelligence Unit issued compliance notices to offshore exchanges in late 2023, leading to Binance paying a fine of 188.2 million rupees in June 2024. The regulatory approach has been strict, with high trading taxes discouraging domestic participation.
Differing views persist within Indian authorities regarding digital currencies. While market regulators have suggested a multi-agency framework for oversight, the central bank continues to express concerns about potential economic risks posed by private virtual assets. The ongoing policy review suggests that any regulatory adjustments will take global trends into account.
Norwegian-founded startup Tana has raised $25 million to fuel its AI-powered productivity platform, which has already drawn significant attention with a waitlist of over 160,000 users. The company’s software uses AI to streamline task management, automatically capturing, organising, and acting on information from meetings, notes, and conversations. With an approach reminiscent of object-oriented programming, its ‘Supertag’ feature transforms unstructured data into actionable insights.
Led by Tola Capital, the latest funding round brings Tana’s valuation to $100 million, with backing from investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Northzone. Angel investors include notable tech figures like Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen and Dropbox co-founder Arash Ferdowsi, highlighting the growing interest in AI-driven workplace tools. The startup, headquartered in Palo Alto with operations in Norway, is spearheaded by ex-Googlers Tarjei Vassbotn and Grim Iversen, the latter having worked on the now-defunct Google Wave.
Tana integrates with multiple workplace tools like Zoom and is designed to evolve as it processes more data, aiming to address long-standing challenges in productivity software. While currently best suited for tech-savvy professionals, the founders believe their AI knowledge graph will reshape how businesses handle information in the future. Investors are betting on Tana’s long-term vision, with some already using the platform to manage their own operations.
With Germany’s parliamentary elections just weeks away, lawmakers are warning that authoritarian states, including Russia, are intensifying disinformation efforts to destabilise the country. Authorities are particularly concerned about a Russian campaign, known as Doppelgänger, which has been active since 2022 and aims to undermine Western support for Ukraine. The campaign has been linked to fake social media accounts and misleading content in Germany, France, and the US.
CSU MP Thomas Erndl confirmed that Russia is attempting to influence European elections, including in Germany. He argued that disinformation campaigns are contributing to the rise of right-wing populist parties, such as the AfD, by sowing distrust in state institutions and painting foreigners and refugees as a problem. Erndl emphasised the need for improved defences, including modern technologies like AI to detect disinformation, and greater public awareness and education.
The German Foreign Ministry recently reported the identification of over 50,000 fake X accounts associated with the Doppelgänger campaign. These accounts mimic credible news outlets like Der Spiegel and Welt to spread fabricated articles, amplifying propaganda. Lawmakers stress the need for stronger cooperation within Europe and better tools for intelligence agencies to combat these threats, even suggesting that a shift in focus from privacy to security may be necessary to tackle the issue effectively.
Greens MP Konstantin von Notz highlighted the security risks posed by disinformation campaigns, warning that authoritarian regimes like Russia and China are targeting democratic societies, including Germany. He called for stricter regulation of online platforms, stronger counterintelligence efforts, and increased media literacy to bolster social resilience. As the election date approaches, lawmakers urge both government agencies and the public to remain vigilant against the growing threat of foreign interference.
WhatsApp has identified an advanced hacking campaign targeting nearly 90 users across more than two dozen countries. The attack, linked to Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions, exploited a zero-click vulnerability, meaning victims’ devices were compromised without them needing to interact with any malicious files. The messaging platform, owned by Meta, has since taken steps to block the hacking attempts and has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon.
While WhatsApp has not disclosed the identities of those targeted, reports indicate that journalists and members of civil society were among the victims. The company has referred affected users to Citizen Lab, a Canadian watchdog that investigates digital security threats. Law enforcement agencies and industry partners have also been alerted, though specifics remain undisclosed.
Paragon, which was recently acquired by US investment firm AE Industrial Partners, has not commented on the allegations. The company presents itself as a responsible player in the spyware industry, claiming to sell its technology only to governments in stable democracies. However, critics argue that the continued spread of surveillance tools increases the risk of human rights abuses, with spyware repeatedly found on the devices of activists, journalists, and officials worldwide.
Cybersecurity experts warn that the growing use of commercial spyware poses an ongoing threat to digital privacy. Despite claims of ethical safeguards, the latest revelations suggest that even companies with supposedly responsible practices may be engaging in questionable surveillance activities.
Elon Musk, who is leading Donald Trump’s federal cost-cutting initiative, has announced that efforts are underway to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Speaking on X alongside Republican politicians, Musk called the agency ‘beyond repair’ and confirmed that Trump supports its closure. The move aligns with Trump’s broader policy to scale back government spending, particularly in foreign aid.
USAID staff were instructed to work remotely on Monday, while its website remained inaccessible over the weekend. Two senior security officials were reportedly removed after preventing members of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing restricted areas. Trump criticised the agency’s management, vowing to ‘get them out’ before making a final decision on its future.
As the world’s largest donor, the US provided $72 billion in aid last year, funding critical programs in healthcare, energy security, and humanitarian assistance. The planned shutdown and Trump’s global freeze on foreign aid are expected to impact efforts such as disease treatment, landmine clearance, and refugee support. The move has already sparked concern among international aid organisations and US allies.
The European Union is preparing to introduce new regulations that would hold e-commerce platforms such as Temu, Shein, and Amazon Marketplace accountable for illegal or unsafe products sold online. Under the proposed customs reforms, online retailers will be required to provide data before goods arrive in the EU, allowing officials to inspect and monitor shipments more effectively.
Currently, consumers purchasing goods online are considered the official importers for customs purposes. The proposed changes would shift this responsibility to online platforms, making them liable for ensuring compliance with EU safety standards, as well as collecting duty and VAT. The reforms also include the creation of a central EU customs authority (EUCA) to oversee inspections and identify risks before shipments enter the bloc.
The draft proposal aims to improve consumer safety and close regulatory gaps in online commerce. E-commerce giants have not yet responded to the proposed changes, which could have significant financial and operational implications for their businesses.
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is launching a blockchain-based trading platform to enable securities companies to trade digital tokens. The move aims to enhance efficiency in the capital market and provide investors with broader access to tokenised securities.
According to the SEC, new regulations will facilitate the issuance and trading of electronic securities, including tokenised bonds and investment-focused digital assets. Four token projects have already been approved, with two more under review, particularly in green finance and investment-based initiatives.
The system will fully digitalise bond trading, covering settlement, investor registration, and payments. While specific blockchain networks were not disclosed, the SEC confirmed that interoperability standards will connect multiple chains in the future.
Thailand’s crypto landscape is shifting towards institutional markets, despite restrictions on crypto payments. The government is also exploring a stablecoin backed by government bonds, reflecting a cautious but progressive approach to digital assets.
Chinese internet users have been captivated by the DeepSeek AI app, which has gained immense popularity since its launch during the Lunar New Year holiday. Users have explored its predictive and analytical capabilities, with some posing questions on politics, economics, and even personal matters. For example, law professor Wang Jiangyu asked how China should respond to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, receiving a comprehensive seven-point answer that included potential new tariffs on US industries and other strategic moves. The model’s detailed responses have impressed users, though it censors certain politically sensitive topics, such as questions about Xi Jinping or the Tiananmen Square protests.
DeepSeek’s low-cost yet powerful AI has made waves in the tech sector, surpassing ChatGPT in downloads on the Apple App Store. The Hangzhou-based startup has become a source of national pride, with users sharing personal experiences, such as using the app to predict their fortunes or interpret dreams. This surge in popularity has drawn attention to the company’s rapid growth, and its founder, Liang Wengfeng, has emerged as a pop culture figure.
Despite its success, DeepSeek’s claims about the minimal cost of training its latest AI model—less than $6 million in computing power—have raised scepticism among some experts. Nevertheless, the platform’s effectiveness has prompted comparisons to the billions invested by US tech giants in AI development. The app’s rapid rise has also led to investigations by authorities in several countries, including Japan, South Korea, and several European nations, over concerns about its handling of personal data.
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced on Monday that he has agreed with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to establish a joint venture in Japan, called SB OpenAI Japan, to offer AI services to corporate clients. This venture will be jointly owned by OpenAI and a company set up by SoftBank and its telecoms arm. In addition, SoftBank will pay $3 billion annually to integrate OpenAI’s technology across its group companies.
Son’s involvement with OpenAI is deepening, with reports indicating that SoftBank plans to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion in the company. SoftBank is also committing $15 billion to Stargate, a joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle to build AI capacity in the US. Son’s support for OpenAI follows a period of retrenchment for the investment giant, but he is reasserting his influence in the tech sector after setbacks in SoftBank’s tech portfolio.
In the context of rising competition, China’s DeepSeek has prompted some investors to question the immense funds being poured into US-based AI companies. However, Altman believes global demand for AI computing power will continue to surge. Son and Altman also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday to discuss further developments.
Kraken has announced it will stop supporting Tether’s USDT and several other stablecoins for European clients by 31 March. The move follows updated guidance from EU regulators under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation framework. The exchange confirmed that affected assets include USDT, Tether’s euro stablecoin, PayPal’s PYUSD, UST, and TUSD.
Kraken is the third major exchange to delist Tether in Europe, following similar decisions by Coinbase and Crypto.com. While the wave of delistings continues, Tether remains financially strong, reporting a record $13 billion in net profits in 2024. The company’s large holdings in US Treasury bonds have further reinforced its stability.
Despite the European crackdown, Tether is expanding elsewhere. El Salvador, known for its pro-Bitcoin stance, has welcomed Tether’s establishment of its new headquarters in Central America. As regulatory pressure mounts in the EU, Tether’s focus on other markets may help offset potential losses.
