The popular AI framework Virtuals Protocol will host an in-person meet-up in Hong Kong on Friday, January 17.

April 4: Telegram founder Pavel Durov posted to his personal channel, saying that despite ongoing restrictions on Telegram in Russia, figures show 65 million Russian users still use the app daily via VPNs or other workarounds—with over 50 million engaging in regular messaging. Meanwhile, the Russian government is ramping up its VPN crackdown, but these efforts hit technical hurdles. Reports say recent internet blockades even temporarily knocked out payment systems, sparking a short-lived shift back to cash in some areas. A similar trend has unfolded in Iran. Since Telegram was banned, officials had hoped to push domestic, regulated messaging apps. Instead, the move has driven a sharp rise in VPN use, leading to widespread "digital bypassing." Experts note that in heavily regulated spaces, demand for free communication and privacy remains robust among users, as technological workarounds keep evolving. With more developers building VPNs and proxy tools, the cat-and-mouse game ov

On April 4, FIFA announced a multi-year partnership with ADI Predictstreet to become the official prediction market partner for the 2026 World Cup. This marks FIFA’s first foray into prediction market mechanisms to boost fan engagement. Under the partnership, fans will be able to use the platform to predict match outcomes, event data, player performances, and key on-field moments. Built on the ADI Chain, the platform will leverage official historical data for analysis and offer free prediction options. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with an expanded format featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted the initiative aims to drive global fan participation through innovative methods. Notably, FIFA opted to partner with the upcoming ADI Predictstreet platform instead of established players like Polymarket or Kalshi. FIFA officials stated the platform will comply with regulatory and compliance frameworks and i

April 4: Former President Trump publicly slammed ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, dismissing him as a "third-rate anchor" and his new book as "pure fiction" that severely distorts the facts. He also noted ABC previously paid him $16 million in damages over false, misleading reporting, labeling the network "the worst and most corrupt" in the industry. Separately, Trump weighed in on March’s U.S. jobs report, citing 178,000 new nonfarm jobs added and a drop in the unemployment rate. Calling the figures "very good data," he noted even government-critical media outlets recognized the strong showing, emphasizing his "Making America Great Again" goal.

April 4: Huatai Securities notes that March’s stronger-than-expected non-farm payrolls rebound signals resilience in the U.S. labor market. However, amid the Middle East conflict, the impact of high oil prices on inflation expectations is more critical for Federal Reserve monetary policy. Recent escalation in the Middle East has driven a surge in oil prices and inflation expectations—rooted in the Strait of Hormuz blockade—creating an oil supply gap. Inflation remains a key variable in the Fed’s monetary policy decisions. The Fed’s dual mandate (employment and inflation) gives it maneuvering room, allowing it to avoid rate hikes aimed at taming inflation. But with inflation expectations rising, even if the Fed holds rates steady, the Treasury yield curve could shift upward, leading to substantial practical tightening. Source: FXStreet

April 4 — Cambodia’s Senate has unanimously passed new legislation targeting scam operations, with a focus on cracking down on cross-border cryptocurrency-related fraud. The bill cleared the Senate with 58 votes and is awaiting formal approval from the King. Under the new law, those involved in organized fraud face 2 to 5 years in prison and a maximum $125,000 fine. Penalties could double for fraud involving organized groups or multiple victims. The legislation comes amid growing international scrutiny of scam schemes in Southeast Asia. The facilities in question are alleged to be tied to organized crime — including cryptocurrency scams — and serious abuses like forced labor. The U.S. and UK have previously imposed sanctions on related networks, and Cambodia has cooperated in extraditing individuals linked to these cases. Analysts say the law marks Cambodia’s first use of criminal legislation to directly target cryptocurrency-related fraud infrastructure. But its real-world ef

April 4 — American brokerage giant Charles Schwab announced plans to launch crypto spot trading services for Bitcoin and Ethereum via its banking subsidiary in the first half of 2026. The service will be offered through a "Schwab Crypto" account, which is now open for customer waitlists. Users must already hold a Schwab brokerage account to apply. CEO Rick Wurster noted the move responds to customer demand and aims to integrate digital assets with traditional holdings like stocks and bonds in a single account view. Notably, the crypto business will operate under the bank subsidiary, so related assets won’t be protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) or covered by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) deposit insurance. The service will also initially exclude certain U.S. regions, including New York and Louisiana. Schwab currently offers crypto-related products such as Bitcoin ETFs and futures. Market observers expect the direct spot trading lau