cryptocurrency Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Binance Ai Pro brings advanced AI to trading

Binance has launched the Beta version of Binance Ai Pro, an advanced AI trading assistant built on the OpenClaw ecosystem. Available from 25 March 2026 at 07:00 UTC, the service can be activated via the Binance App on Android or through the Binance web homepage, with iOS support coming soon.

The platform offers one-click activation, automatic cloud setup, and integration with multiple AI models, including ChatGPT, Claude, Qwen, MiniMax, and Kimi. Users receive a dedicated Binance Ai Pro Account, isolated from their main account to minimise operational risks.

Funds can be manually transferred to the AI account for trading, asset monitoring, and strategy execution, covering spot and perpetual contracts, leveraged borrowing, market analysis, token distribution queries, and custom strategies.

Beta users will pay $9.99 per month, with a 7-day free trial. Activation grants 5 million usage credits each month for accessing advanced AI models, with automatic fallback to basic models once credits are exhausted.

Security measures ensure that AI API keys have no withdrawal permissions and operate within strict, authorised scopes.

Binance plans to expand the platform with additional credits, enriched Binance Skills, and user-customisable third-party AI tools. The company warns that AI trading carries risks and urges users to trade responsibly while giving feedback to enhance the platform.

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EU Market Integration Package prompts feedback from Circle

Circle has submitted feedback to the European Commission on its proposed Market Integration Package, aiming to strengthen capital markets integration and supervision across the EU.

The response praises digital finance reforms while recommending refinements to support institutional adoption and liquidity growth. Key recommendations include reforming the DLT Pilot Regime with adaptive thresholds, a clear path to permanent legislation, and accelerated updates.

Circle also calls for broader use of MiCA-compliant e-money tokens (EMTs) in securities settlement, ensuring alignment with the CSD Regulation and considering non-EU-issued stablecoins for cross-border interoperability.

The company urges careful calibration of centralised supervision under the European Securities and Markets Authority, focusing on systemic crypto firms and reducing administrative complexity for smaller providers.

Legal certainty regarding the use of EMTs as collateral is also highlighted, enabling the EU markets to remain competitive globally.

Circle emphasises the potential of clear and proportionate regulation to bridge traditional finance with on-chain infrastructure. The company positions regulated stablecoins like USDC and EURC as key tools for modernising Europe’s capital markets and unlocking new efficiency and liquidity.

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Licence revocations hit unregistered crypto firms in Canada

Canada has increased crypto oversight, revoking registrations for nearly three dozen firms due to compliance failures. The move follows investigative reporting that uncovered widespread irregularities in the sector.

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada removed 23 companies in one week, adding to previous actions against about a dozen other crypto firms.

Officials described the shift as part of a broader effort to address risks tied to virtual currencies, including fraud and money laundering.

Findings from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ investigation highlighted clusters of crypto businesses operating without proper registration, particularly in Toronto.

Many of these services reportedly focused on converting digital assets into cash, raising concerns about gaps in oversight and compliance with anti-money laundering rules.

Authorities also flagged suspicious transaction patterns, including activity linked to wallets allegedly associated with Iran-backed groups. While regulators have promised further action, analysts warn that delayed enforcement and structural weaknesses may continue to expose the system to illicit financial flows.

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Crypto tax reform in Brazil pushed to 2027

Brazil has postponed discussions on its upcoming cryptocurrency tax framework until after the October 2026 presidential elections, signalling a cautious political approach to digital asset regulation.

Finance officials aim to avoid introducing contentious fiscal measures during an election cycle, despite earlier plans to launch a public consultation later this year.

Recent tax reforms have already marked a significant shift in Brazil’s crypto policy. A flat 17.5% tax on capital gains was introduced in June 2025, replacing earlier exemptions for smaller transactions.

Previous rules allowed tax-free monthly sales up to 35,000 Brazilian real, while higher volumes were subject to progressive rates. Banco Central do Brasil classified stablecoin transfers as foreign exchange, making them subject to standard currency tax rules.

Authorities are considering broader crypto taxes, including on assets used for international payments. Alignment with the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework also remains on the agenda, indicating a move towards tighter oversight and global regulatory coordination.

Strong adoption highlights the policy’s importance, with Brazil leading Latin America and ranking among the world’s top crypto markets. Regional data shows a surge in adoption, strengthening Brazil’s role in the global digital asset market.

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Tether unveils mobile-friendly AI training platform

Tether has launched an AI framework that runs large language models on smartphones and non-NVIDIA GPUs. The system is part of its QVAC platform and uses Microsoft’s BitNet architecture, along with LoRA techniques to reduce memory and computational requirements.

The framework enables cross-platform training on AMD, Intel, Apple Silicon, and mobile GPUs, allowing models with up to 1 billion parameters to be fine-tuned on phones in under 2 hours.

Larger models with up to 13 billion parameters are also supported on mobile devices. BitNet’s 1-bit architecture reduces VRAM requirements by nearly 78%, enabling larger models to run on limited hardware.

Performance improvements benefit inference, with mobile GPUs outperforming CPUs, enabling on-device training and federated learning. By reducing reliance on cloud infrastructure, the system offers more flexible AI development for distributed environments.

Tether’s expansion into AI mirrors a broader trend in the crypto sector, where companies are investing in AI infrastructure, autonomous agents, and high-performance computing.

Industry activity includes record revenue growth for AI and HPC operations, blockchain-integrated AI agents, and new tools for secure on-chain transactions.

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Young investors warned on crypto and AI advice

Australia’s financial regulator has warned young investors to be cautious with social media influencers and AI chatbots. A survey by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission found one in four Gen Z Australians invest in crypto, often guided by online content.

The survey of 1,127 participants aged 18 to 28 showed 63% use social media for financial information, 18% rely on AI platforms, and 30% consult YouTube. AI was the most trusted source at 64%, but over half still trust influencers and social media despite possible misinformation.

ASIC previously issued warnings to 18 influencers suspected of promoting high-risk products without a licence. Commissioner Alan Kirkland said some social media marketing promotes crypto scams or risky super switches that threaten young people’s key assets.

The regulator is also watching AI financial guidance. Personalised advice from unlicensed sources is illegal, and young investors should carefully check sources, especially as crypto exchanges increasingly use AI bots for trading guidance.

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BeatBanker malware targets Android users in Brazil

A new Android malware called BeatBanker is targeting users in Brazil through fake Starlink and government apps. The malware hijacks devices, steals banking credentials, tampers with cryptocurrency transactions, and secretly mines Monero.

Infection begins on phishing websites mimicking the Google Play Store or the ‘INSS Reembolso’ app. Users are tricked into installing trojanised APKs, which evade detection through memory-based decryption and by blocking analysis environments.

Fake update screens maintain persistence while silently downloading additional malicious payloads.

BeatBanker initially combined a banking trojan with a cryptocurrency miner. It uses accessibility permissions to monitor browsers and crypto apps, overlaying fake screens to redirect Tether and other crypto transfers.

A foreground service plays silent audio loops to prevent the device from shutting down, while Firebase Cloud Messaging enables remote control of infected devices.

The latest variant replaces the banking module with the BTMOB RAT, providing full control over devices. Capabilities include automatic permissions, background persistence, keylogging, GPS tracking, camera access, and screen-lock credential capture.

Kaspersky warns that BeatBanker demonstrates the growing sophistication of mobile threats and multi-layered malware campaigns.

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AI models favour Bitcoin over fiat in landmark study

A new study from the Bitcoin Policy Institute, testing 36 AI models across more than 9,000 responses, found that AI agents overwhelmingly prefer Bitcoin over other forms of money.

Bitcoin was the most frequently selected monetary instrument overall, chosen in 48.3% of all responses, whilst almost 91% of responses favoured some form of digital currency over traditional fiat, with no model ranking fiat as its top overall preference.

The preference for Bitcoin was especially pronounced in long-term savings scenarios, where 79.1% of AI responses chose it as the best way to preserve purchasing power over multi-year horizons. For payments and cross-border transfers, however, stablecoins edged ahead, selected in 53.2% of responses compared to Bitcoin’s 36%.

The Bitcoin Policy Institute acknowledged that the study’s methodology had limitations, noting that scenario framing may have influenced results and that the models’ preferences reflect patterns in training data rather than real-world adoption.

Anthropic models showed the strongest Bitcoin preference at 68%, compared to 43% for Google, 39% for xAI, and 26% for OpenAI.

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Illicit trafficking payments rise across blockchain channels

Cryptocurrency flows linked to suspected human trafficking services surged sharply in 2025, with transaction volumes rising 85% year-on-year, according to new blockchain analysis.

Investigators say the financial activity reflects the rapid expansion of digitally enabled exploitation networks operating across borders.

Growth is linked to Southeast Asia-based illicit networks, including scam compounds, gambling platforms, and laundering groups operating via encrypted messaging channels.

Analysts identified multiple trafficking service categories, each with distinct transaction structures and payment preferences.

Stablecoins became the dominant payment method, especially for escort networks, thanks to their price stability and ease of conversion. Larger transfers and structured pricing models indicate increasingly professionalised operations supported by organised financial infrastructure.

Despite the scale of the activity, blockchain transparency continues to provide enforcement advantages. Transaction tracing has aided investigations, shutdowns, and arrests, strengthening digital forensics in combating trafficking-linked financial crime.

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EU considers blanket crypto ban targeting Russia

European Union officials are weighing a sweeping prohibition on cryptocurrency transactions involving Russia, signalling a more rigid sanctions posture against alternative financial networks.

Policymakers argue that the rapid emergence of replacement crypto service providers has undermined existing restrictions.

Internal European Commission discussions indicate concern that digital assets are facilitating trade flows supporting Russia’s war economy. Authorities say platform-specific sanctions are ineffective, as new entities quickly replicate restricted services.

Proposals under review extend beyond private crypto platforms. Measures could include sanctions on additional Russian banks, restrictions linked to the digital ruble, and scrutiny of payments infrastructure tied to sanctioned trade channels.

The consensus remains uncertain, with some states warning that a blanket ban could shift activity to non-European markets. Parallel trade controls targeting dual-use exports to Kyrgyzstan are also being considered as part of broader anti-circumvention efforts.

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