Ericsson and MobiFone have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a 5G Innovation Hub at MobiFone’s premises in Vietnam, marking a significant step toward advancing the country’s digital transformation. That hub will serve as a dynamic co-creation space where innovative 5G applications can be developed and showcased for both consumers and enterprises.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and skilled resources, the 5G Innovation Hub will facilitate collaboration with local and global partners, fostering the development of new use cases that leverage the transformative potential of 5G. By supporting research and development initiatives, the hub aims to promote a culture of innovation within the industry, ultimately helping businesses realise the full benefits of Industry 4.0.
Additionally, Ericsson will share its global expertise to assist MobiFone in managing the hub’s operations and enhancing service experience solutions, ensuring a robust foundation for 5G advancements in Vietnam. The collaboration will strengthen MobiFone’s capabilities and contribute to the region’s broader digital ecosystem. Both companies aim to drive the adoption of 5G technology by creating a space dedicated to innovation and co-creation, empowering industries to embrace digital transformation and achieve their strategic goals.
Ethereum and TRON continue to dominate the stablecoin market, controlling a combined $144.4 billion, which accounts for nearly 84% of the total supply. According to CoinGecko, Ethereum leads with $84.6 billion, while TRON holds $59.8 billion, primarily driven by demand for Tether.
Despite growth in both networks, Ethereum’s market share has dipped, influenced by factors such as the Terra UST collapse and the rise of layer 2 solutions. TRON also saw its market share shrink despite increasing supply, as the stablecoin landscape diversifies.
Other networks, such as the BNB Chain, have faced challenges, notably a sharp decline in stablecoin supply due to Binance USD’s regulatory issues. However, newer blockchains like Coinbase’s Base rapidly growing, indicating a more competitive future. Stablecoins are playing an increasing role in global finance, with their usage expanding in emerging markets for purposes beyond crypto trading.
The United Kingdom‘s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed that Amazon’s $4 billion partnership with AI startup Anthropic will not be subject to a more in-depth investigation. The regulator determined that the deal did not raise competition concerns under Britain’s merger regulations.
Amazon expressed support for the CMA’s decision, noting that it acknowledged the regulator’s lack of jurisdiction over the collaboration. The CMA also cleared a similar partnership between Microsoft and Inflection AI, while a deal between Alphabet and Anthropic remains under review.
Anthropic, which was co-founded by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, former OpenAI executives, reiterated that its partnerships with major tech firms do not compromise its independence or governance. The startup has received billions in investments from several large companies.
Amid growing antitrust scrutiny of deals between startups and big tech firms, regulators are closely monitoring collaborations like those involving Anthropic and its partners.
A United States federal judge has dismissed a Department of Justice lawsuit accusing eBay of violating environmental laws by allowing the sale of harmful products on its platform. The ruling cited Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability over user content.
The judge concluded that eBay’s administrative support for sellers did not make it liable for the unlawfulness of the products sold. She also ruled that eBay was not a ‘seller’ as it did not physically possess or hold title to the items in question.
The lawsuit accused eBay of enabling the sale of thousands of devices designed to evade vehicle emissions controls, unregistered pesticides, and products containing harmful chemicals. The government argued that this conduct violated several environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act.
eBay responded by stating its dedication to maintaining a trusted marketplace and promised to continue investing in measures to prevent the sale of prohibited items. The Justice Department declined to comment on the ruling.
Epic Games has accused Google and Samsung of conspiring to protect Google’s Play Store from competition through Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature. The gaming company plans to file a lawsuit in a United States court, alleging that the Auto Blocker, introduced in late 2023, deters users from downloading Android apps from sources outside Google’s Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Store.
Epic argues that Samsung’s Auto Blocker was made the default setting in mid-2024 to reduce the impact of a 2023 US court ruling that required Google to make it easier for users to access apps from alternative sources. Epic claims this action violates US antitrust laws by reducing consumer choice and stifling competition, which would otherwise drive down app prices.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, described the lawsuit as part of a larger global effort to defend competition and its benefits for consumers. The company also plans to raise these concerns with regulators in the European Union, which has scrutinised Google’s business practices in the past.
Epic previously sued Google in 2020, accusing the tech giant of maintaining an illegal monopoly over app distribution and payments. The lawsuit follows the verdict in that case, where a US court found Google had acted unlawfully.
Rising geopolitical tensions have led to a significant outflow of funds from US Bitcoin ETFs, with institutional investors withdrawing almost $243 million from these financial products. This marks the largest single-day outflow in nearly a month and follows eight consecutive days of positive inflows.
Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund experienced the largest withdrawal, losing $144.7 million, followed by ARK’s 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, which saw $84.3 million in outflows. Several other ETFs also suffered notable losses, though BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust managed to record $40.8 million in inflows, marking its 15th consecutive positive day.
The outflow coincided with a sharp decline in Bitcoin prices, which fell by nearly $4,000 following missile strikes in the Middle East. Ethereum ETFs also witnessed significant outflows, with Grayscale and Fidelity products shedding substantial amounts.
Trustpair, a fraud prevention platform, has announced the integration of JPMorgan’s blockchain-based solution, Confirm, into its system. The partnership enables Trustpair’s 200 clients, including companies such as Societe Generale, Decathlon, and Danone, to verify vendor bank accounts across 15 global markets, significantly reducing the risk of payment fraud and delays.
Confirm, built on JPMorgan’s private blockchain Liink, aims to improve decision-making for businesses by providing accurate vendor and payment data. The move enhances fraud prevention and the user experience, addressing a major issue in high-value transactions where inaccurate information can lead to costly errors.
JPMorgan’s engagement with blockchain technology has deepened in recent years, following the launch of JPM Coin in 2019 and its Onyx unit dedicated to blockchain solutions. With Confirm now part of its portfolio, JPMorgan continues to set new standards in secure digital payments and fraud prevention.
Kazakhstan’s financial regulators have frozen $1.2 million in cryptocurrency and shut down 19 illegal over-the-counter platforms, marking a significant step in their ongoing crackdown on unlicensed crypto activity. These platforms, with a combined turnover exceeding $60 million, were operating illegally and posed risks related to money laundering and terrorism financing.
In addition to freezing funds, the Financial Monitoring Agency has targeted illegal crypto-mining operations. Since the start of the year, authorities have dismantled nine mining sites and seized around 4,000 mining rigs. Furthermore, more than 5,500 unlicensed online exchangers have been blocked as part of this broad regulatory effort.
Kazakhstan’s attempts to tighten its control over the crypto industry extend to major international players. In December 2023, the country banned the US-based crypto exchange Coinbase, accusing it of violating local laws regarding the trading of uninsured digital assets.
Samsung Electronics is preparing to reduce its workforce by approximately 10% in regions such as Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The company, which employs more than 267,800 people globally, has seen its shares fall by over 20% this year.
In Singapore, employees were called into private meetings with management to discuss upcoming layoffs and severance packages. While the reductions will primarily affect management and support roles, the company is determined to protect manufacturing positions. Similar workforce adjustments are expected in other international subsidiaries, though there are no immediate plans for domestic cuts.
Samsung’s struggles stem from increased competition in the AI market. Rivals such as SK Hynix have outperformed Samsung in memory chip production, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. dominates custom-made chip production. To combat these difficulties, South Korean tech giant replaced the head of its chip division earlier this year, aiming to shift its corporate culture and improve efficiency.
Compounding the company’s woes, Samsung is dealing with labour disputes in its home market. The company’s largest union in South Korea called for a strike earlier this year, further complicating the situation. Despite the challenges, company’s leadership remains focused on regaining its competitive edge and addressing operational inefficiencies.
Microsoft has updated its consumer AI assistant, Copilot, giving it a friendlier voice and the ability to analyse web pages while users browse. This enhancement is part of a broader initiative led by Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, who noted that a diverse team of creative professionals, including psychologists and comedians, is refining Copilot’s tone and style to set it apart in the crowded AI market.
In a demonstration of the upgraded Copilot, the AI suggested a housewarming gift by recommending popular olive oils after engaging in a conversation about the user’s preferences. This update, which started rolling out on Tuesday, marks one of the initial efforts from Suleyman’s newly established division dedicated to consumer products and technology research.
Although Microsoft is well-known for its business software, it is encountering significant competition in the consumer market, particularly from Google’s search engine. Launched last year, Copilot seeks to attract more users with its improved voice capabilities, making interactions feel more engaging and responsive. New features for Copilot Pro subscribers, such as ‘Think Deeper,’ will enable users to assess their options, while the upcoming ‘Copilot Vision’ function will allow users to interact with content in their Microsoft Edge browser without retaining any data.
Suleyman envisions Copilot as a digital companion that continuously learns from users’ interactions across different Microsoft platforms, such as Word and Windows, with their consent. He noted that Bill Gates is excited about the AI’s capabilities, especially the potential for Copilot to read and parse emails, suggesting that these features are on the horizon.
