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

May 26 — A draft agreement between the United States and Iran has been reached, according to a report from Al Arabiya. The draft includes provisions for unimpeded free passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the clearance of mines in the strategic waterway, with full restoration of navigation required within 30 days. Under the terms of the deal, the U.S. commits to easing sanctions on Iranian ports, allowing Iran to sell and export oil, and granting targeted sanctions exemptions for Tehran’s oil exports. Sanctions relief for Iran’s oil sector will be implemented in phases, subject to Iran’s compliance with its commitments outlined in the agreement. The pact also mandates continued nuclear negotiations aimed at forging a long-term comprehensive accord.

May 26, according to Nikkei Asia: The ceasefire agreement reached between the U.S. and Iran in early April will be extended by 60 days. Vessels from all countries will be able to freely and safely navigate as they did before the strait was closed.

May 26 – Market sources are reporting a draft U.S.-Iran agreement laying out key terms: The U.S. has committed to easing its blockade on Iranian ports, granting specific sanctions exemptions for Iran’s oil exports, and considering phased relaxation of sanctions on Iranian oil—all dependent on Iran’s compliance with its own pledged commitments. The draft also specifies that unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be restored within 30 days.

On May 26, Bitget market data showed WTI and Brent crude oil prices extended their declines, with Brent crude falling below $94 per barrel, marking a daily drop of over 6%. In the latest geopolitical news, a U.S.-Iran draft agreement specifies that the U.S. has committed to easing blockades on Iranian ports. The draft includes provisions for targeted sanctions waivers for Iran’s oil exports; sanctions relief will be implemented in phases, dependent on Iran meeting its obligations. It also requires that navigation in the Strait of Hormuz be fully restored within 30 days.

May 26: Crypto market maker Keyrock, in collaboration with Coinbase, Tempo, and Virtuals Protocol, released the report "Who Pays the Agent?" The report frames AI Agents as fast-growing core participants in the on-chain economy. Key data from May 2025 to April 2026: AI Agents completed roughly 176 million on-chain transactions, with total settlements exceeding $73 million. The average per-transaction value sits at just $0.31 to $0.48, marking the rise of a "machine-native micro-payment economy." About 76% of these payments fall below Visa’s $0.3 fixed fee threshold, meaning traditional bank cards and legacy payment systems can’t adapt to AI’s demand for high-frequency, low-value, autonomous transactions. Further stats show 98.6% of AI Agent payments settle in USDC. As of Q1 2026, over 104,000 AI Agents are registered. On the Base network, a USDC transfer costs roughly $0.0001—only 0.03% of that average $0.31 transaction—giving it a massive cost advantage over traditional payment s

May 26 – Web3 creator marketing platform Influence360 has officially launched, rolling out an AI-driven KOL marketing infrastructure to help projects discover global, multilingual Web3 Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) across major social platforms including X, YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram, while supporting end-to-end campaign execution, data tracking, and performance attribution. The platform’s core features include AI optimization, smart contract-hosted payments, and real-time performance tracking, targeting longstanding pain points in Web3 KOL marketing: opaque payment processes, limited data precipitation, and challenges in quantifying conversion results. It also offers a permission management system for Web3 agencies and MCNs, enabling creators managed by these groups to receive orders, centralize quote management, and earn long-term revenue share via a referral mechanism. Dejan Horvat, co-founder and CEO of Influence360, stated that while Web3 KOL marketing now involves significant b