AI Marketing Workflow Automation Company Gradial Raises $65 Million in Series C Funding

June 19 — Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Management Department announced that, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached with the United States, all vessels submitting properly completed applications will be granted transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The department has issued new regulations for vessels applying to traverse the strategic waterway. Applications submitted through unofficial channels will not be processed, and all requests must be filed at least 48 hours in advance. Source: FX168

June 19 – TechCrunch, citing a source close to the deal, reports that AI-driven startup Deductive – which leverages artificial intelligence to uncover and remediate software vulnerabilities – has agreed to be acquired by enterprise software firm Elastic for up to $85 million. Founded in 2023, Deductive launched its public debut last November when it announced a $7.5 million seed round led by CRV, with Databricks Ventures, Thomvest Ventures, and PrimeSet also participating. Per PitchBook data, that funding round valued the startup at $33 million. Neither Elastic nor Deductive has responded to repeated requests for comment. Click the link below to join BlockBeats’ Feishu AI News Channel, a 24/7 resource tracking global AI news and hotspots.

June 19 – According to a report from Nikkei News, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) announced Wednesday it has issued a partial business suspension order to moomoo Securities, a foreign-owned online brokerage firm operating in Japan. The order requires the firm to stop soliciting and accepting new account openings between June 19 and September 18, a three-month period. The FSA also issued a business improvement order, mandating that moomoo strengthen its internal management systems, clarify the responsibilities of senior executives, and develop a formal business improvement plan to prevent recurring issues. The FSA cited multiple violations by moomoo, including improper practices such as providing false explanations to customers and marketing products ineligible for Japan’s Nippon Individual Savings Account (NISA) program as if they qualified. Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act prohibits soliciting clients or entering contracts based on false information. Additionall

On June 19, the Central Bank of Russia cut interest rates by 25 basis points, against market expectations of a 50-basis-point reduction. (Kyi)

On June 19th, Snap announced it will spin off its in-house Generative AI Video team into an independent company called Dotmo, which will focus on developing AI models for interactive gaming experiences. One key reason behind this internal spin-off is the high R&D costs Snap has been incurring internally. While Dotmo will operate as a technically separate entity, it will remain closely connected to Snapchat. For instance, Snap will provide Dotmo with technical licensing, allowing the new company to apply this related technology to gaming and interactive entertainment platforms. Additionally, Dotmo’s initial team will be composed of existing Snap employees who are leaving the company to launch this new venture. Click the original article link below to join BlockBeats Beating’s Feishu AI News Channel, which monitors global AI trends and news around the clock.

On June 19, Franklin Templeton filed an application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that will automatically reinvest stock dividends into Bitcoin. Named the Franklin US Equity Bitcoin DRIP Index ETF and Franklin US Innovation Bitcoin DRIP Index ETF, the funds are expected to launch no earlier than September 1, 2026. These ETFs will track the VettaFi US Large-Cap 500 Bitcoin DRIP Index and related innovation indices. Their initial asset mix consists of 95% U.S. large-cap stocks with a 5% Bitcoin overlay. During quarterly rebalancing, if Bitcoin allocation exceeds 5%, it will be adjusted to 4.5%. The maximum allowed Bitcoin exposure for the funds will not exceed 20%, and Bitcoin exposure will be accessed via instruments including spot Bitcoin ETPs, futures, and options.