The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted approval for 11 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to list and trade options linked to spot bitcoin prices on the New York Stock Exchange. This decision marks a significant step forward for both the cryptocurrency sector and institutional investors seeking more flexibility in managing bitcoin exposure.
Several major funds, including the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, ARK21Shares Bitcoin ETF, Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF, and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, are among those receiving the green light. The introduction of options trading will provide market participants with a quicker and cost-effective way to adjust their exposure to the cryptocurrency market.
These bitcoin index options offer traders a strategic tool to hedge risk or amplify returns without directly owning the underlying asset. Institutional investors, in particular, are expected to benefit from the ability to manage their investments with more precision.
BlackRock’s ETF had already received approval for options trading on the Nasdaq in September. The latest SEC decision opens the door for even wider participation, signalling growing acceptance of bitcoin-based financial products within traditional markets.
A California judge has granted Google’s request to delay a ruling that required overhauling its Play Store by 1 November. The pause allows more time for an appeals court to consider Google’s challenge to the order, which aimed to give users more choice in downloading apps.
The ruling came as part of an antitrust lawsuit from Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite. Google warned that implementing the changes quickly would introduce security risks across the Android ecosystem. The company’s request for a longer pause during the full appeals process was denied.
Epic criticised Google’s argument as fearmongering, stating the court had dismissed the appeal as meritless. The initial order required Google to permit rival app stores within the Play Store and enable third-party payment systems. The ruling also barred Google from incentivising device makers to preinstall its store.
Google has already challenged the antitrust findings and maintains that Play competes directly with Apple’s App Store. The company argued it should not be labelled a monopolist and warned that complying with the injunction would unfairly force it to collaborate with rivals.
Meta has released new AI models, including a tool called the Self-Taught Evaluator, which aims to reduce human involvement in the AI development process. The company’s latest batch of models is part of its ongoing efforts to enhance AI accuracy and efficiency across complex fields.
The new tool uses a ‘chain of thought’ technique, similar to one employed by OpenAI, breaking problems into logical steps for improved accuracy in science, coding, and mathematics. Meta trained the evaluator solely with AI-generated data, eliminating the need for human input at that stage.
The ability for AI to reliably assess other AI models could eventually replace costly processes such as Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback. Meta researchers suggest that self-improving AI systems might perform better than human evaluators, marking progress toward autonomous digital assistants capable of managing complex tasks without supervision.
Meta’s latest release also includes upgrades to its Segment Anything model, tools for faster language model responses, and datasets aimed at discovering new inorganic materials. Unlike competitors Google and Anthropic, Meta makes its models accessible for public use, setting it apart in the industry.
Gusto’s co-founder and head of technology, Edward Kim, believes that replacing existing teams with AI engineers is not the best approach for businesses preparing for an AI-driven future. In an interview, Kim emphasised that non-technical team members often have a deeper understanding of customer needs and challenges, making them more effective in guiding the development of AI tools.
At Gusto, non-technical customer experience team members contribute by writing “recipes” that instruct Gusto’s AI assistant, Gus, on how to interact with customers. This approach allows employees to leverage their domain expertise, even without technical skills, to create powerful AI applications. Kim highlighted the success of CoPilot, a customer support tool developed by a former support team member, Eric Rodriguez, who was later promoted to the engineering team. The tool, used by Gusto’s support team, quickly became a game-changer, enhancing efficiency by providing immediate, accurate responses based on the company’s internal knowledge base.
Kim noted that AI tools like Gus empower teams to create solutions without requiring coding knowledge, using natural language instructions. This bottom-up strategy contrasts with the trend of hiring highly specialised AI experts and reflects Gusto’s belief in leveraging domain expertise. As AI continues to evolve at the company, Kim envisions a shift in roles, with more employees focusing on writing AI recipes and fine-tuning prompts rather than direct customer interactions. This approach, he suggests, will enhance customer experiences and free up resources for Gusto to expand its services.
Samson Mow, CEO of Bitcoin technology company Jan3, has called on Germany to incorporate Bitcoin into its national strategic reserves. Speaking at the German Bundestag, Mow suggested that the country acquire 281,267 Bitcoin, stressing its potential to strengthen financial resilience. His remarks came during discussions on Bitcoin strategies for nation-states, which attracted Members of Parliament and Bitcoin supporters alike.
Mow, a leading voice in the Bitcoin community, is known for helping El Salvador become the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. Drawing on his past experience, he emphasised that Bitcoin could be used by countries like Germany to stabilise their economies by holding it as a reserve asset, much like gold.
He remains a strong advocate for nations adopting Bitcoin as part of their financial strategy, arguing it could reduce dependence on traditional currencies and offer a way to diversify national reserves.
Japan has launched digital wage payments with PayPay, a popular QR-code payment app, becoming the first to gain approval from the government as part of its push for cashless transactions. From September, ten SoftBank companies, including PayPay, began offering employees the option to receive up to 200,000 yen of their salary via the app.
This move follows the labour ministry’s decision in 2022 to allow digital wage payments, starting in April 2023, to encourage cashless payments as a way to stimulate the economy. Employees who prefer not to be paid digitally can still opt for traditional bank transfers.
PayPay, which has over 65 million users, aims to enhance employee benefits by diversifying wage payment methods. The app’s operator cited a government survey showing that 40% of workers were open to receiving wages through payment apps.
To protect users, a 1 million yen limit has been placed on digital wallet balances, as app operators do not fall under Japan‘s deposit insurance system. Several other app providers are also seeking government approval to offer similar services.
The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has introduced a comprehensive Communications Consumer Protection Policy and Regulation to enhance consumer rights and ensure fair practices within Qatar’s telecommunications sector. The policy establishes clear rules that service providers must follow and covers crucial areas such as advertising standards, billing transparency, contract fairness, data privacy, and protection from unsolicited marketing and spam.
Additionally, it guarantees uninterrupted access to emergency services while setting clear procedures for handling consumer complaints and disputes. Moreover, by modernising the regulatory framework, the new policy replaces outdated regulations, including the 2014 Telecommunications Consumer Protection Policy, thus ensuring a more robust protection system. It is also aligned with Qatar’s Vision 2030 and Digital Agenda 2030, ensuring that consumer protection is improved and supports broader national goals.
Furthermore, the CRA’s initiative reflects its proactive approach to safeguarding consumer rights and maintaining a competitive telecommunications environment in Qatar. The CRA significantly strengthens its leadership in consumer protection and innovation by holding service providers to higher standards and ensuring that consumers have access to clear information and reliable services. As a result, this policy not only addresses consumers’ immediate needs but also ensures that Qatar’s telecommunications sector remains at the forefront of technological advancement and regulatory best practices.
The amount of Ethereum held in accumulation addresses has surged past 19 million, according to the latest data from CryptoQuant. This figure has nearly doubled since January 2024, when it stood at 11.5 million. Analysts predict the number could surpass 20 million by the end of the year, as the approval of Ethereum Spot ETFs earlier this year has boosted confidence among both institutional and individual investors.
With this growing accumulation, the total value of these Ethereum holdings is projected to reach $80 billion by December 2024, with ETH priced at around $4,000. The increasing institutional interest in Ethereum is seen as a driving factor behind its mainstream adoption.
Currently, 71% of Ethereum holders are in profit, with over 74% having held their ETH for more than a year. Ethereum’s price recently reclaimed the $2,700 mark, marking a 10% rise over the past week.
Ericsson has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian government to collaborate on developing, deploying, and innovating 5G technology. The partnership aims to explore how 5G can support Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives, including driving economic growth and improving public services.
Specifically, key objectives outlined in the agreement include facilitating knowledge exchange within the technology sector, building capacity among local stakeholders, establishing innovation hubs and tech incubators, and enhancing digital literacy and skills development. Notably, the MoU was signed during a visit by a Nigerian government delegation to Ericsson’s global headquarters in Stockholm, led by the Vice President of Nigeria.
Thus, this collaboration reflects a shared vision for the future of technology in Nigeria and emphasises the importance of leveraging 5G to unlock innovation potential for businesses and citizens, enhancing the country’s national digital competitiveness.
In a related development, MTN Nigeria has opened a 5G Digital Experience Center in Abuja to showcase various 5G applications and services to consumers. This launch complements the recent MoU and demonstrates a concerted effort within the telecommunications sector to promote the benefits of 5G technology and drive its adoption in Nigeria.
Togo’s transport ministry has suspended the operations of Yango, a ride-hailing app owned by Yandex, the tech giant from Russia, due to security concerns. The app had been operating in the West African nation since June, but the ministry stated Yango was functioning without proper authorisation and in violation of national regulations.
The decision to suspend Yango was driven by concerns over passenger safety, as well as the app’s failure to adhere to the country’s legal procedures. The ministry emphasised the need to ensure that transportation services in Togo operate in compliance with local laws.
Effective immediately, Yango’s services have been halted across the entire national territory. The company has not yet commented on the suspension or provided any response to requests for information.
Yango, which had only recently entered the Togolese market, now faces an indefinite pause in operations as the government prioritises safety and regulatory compliance for ride-hailing services.
