Business Development - Siemens is in exclusive negotiations with Square for the sale and leaseback of a building complex in Lisbon [1]

Technology & Innovation - The service leverages Lightning Network technology to enable merchants to process Bitcoin payments with low fees and near-instant transaction speeds via Square devices [1] Payment Solutions - The solution facilitates low-cost, near-instant Bitcoin payments for merchants [1]

The Morning Minute (7.23)⏰Top News:-Crypto majors slightly red with BNB outperforming and hitting new ATH-ETH ETFs see 3rd biggest day of inflows while BTC sees net outflows-Coinbase partners with PNC for Crypto-as-a-Service model-Goldman and BNY to offer tokenized money market accounts-PENGU and REKT hit new ATHs as meme leaders continue rally🌎 Macro Crypto and Memes-Crypto majors were slightly red with BNB leading; BTC -0.5% at $118,500, ETH -1% at $3,670, XRP -2% at $3.44, SOL -1% at $197-BNB hit a new A ...

square onboarding 4M merchants to btc payments while marathon stacks 50k btc• $20T annual tx volume passing visa• pnc bank joining the rails• 4 institutions targeting similar positionsmerchant adoption + capital deployment in parallel ...

JUST IN: Jack Dorsey's Square to allow merchants to accept Bitcoin starting today. https://t.co/8RoIkNsr5T ...

JUST IN: Jack Dorsey's Square has begun onboarding merchants to its new bitcoin acceptance experience 🙌 https://t.co/sPmPcAZ57M ...

AI智能体时代已经来临。 很快，AI智能体将能胜任绝大多数任务。新旧框架都将加速高效开发进程，关键技术难题将被攻克。尽管当前开发智能体看似最难，但其实门槛已在降 低。 争夺AI智能体交易、专业化与成长的平台建设即将白热化，最终汇聚成AI智能体交易市场崛起的趋势。 未来几年，交易市场平台将成为人与AI智能体交互的主要方式。 以下是我们对前沿的观察： 神译局是36氪旗下编译团队，关注科技、商业、职场、生活等领域，重点介绍国外的新技术、新观点、新风向。 编者按：当AI智能体逐渐渗透商业服务，交易市场平台正在成为人机交互的新枢纽。本文通过横向/纵向策略的演变对比，揭示AI智能体服务标准化、商品 化的必然趋势，解析交易市场模式如何解决服务聚合与规模化交付的核心命题。文章来自编译。 Quickbooks、Calendly、Square等公司就是这一策略的验证：简单/通用任务→瞄准小客户→然后扩大规模 AI智能体战略矩阵：你在什么位置？ 要理解为什么AI智能体将形成交易市场的生态，需回溯到软件时代。当时交易市场策略的核心争议是选择横向还是纵向切入。 一开始大家都追逐横向的机遇：产品覆盖面广=市场机会大。后来策略反转，创始人 ...

Core Insights - Persona, a San Francisco-based company founded in 2018, focuses on ensuring user identity authenticity and provides identity verification software to over 3,000 businesses, including notable clients like OpenAI, LinkedIn, Etsy, Reddit, DoorDash, and Robinhood [1][2] - The company recently completed a $200 million Series D funding round, led by Ribbit Capital and Founders Fund, bringing its valuation to $2 billion and total funding to $417 million [2] Company Overview - Persona's identity verification process, known as "flows," is customizable based on client needs, user risk levels, and specific use cases [3] - The verification methods include uploading government-issued ID photos, selfies, and live detection processes to confirm user identity [1][3] Client Applications - OpenAI uses Persona to screen millions of ChatGPT and API users from 225 countries, preventing high-risk individuals from accessing its models [4] - Coursera employs Persona for identity verification of 168 million users across 200 countries, adapting the verification process based on course type [4] - DoorDash utilized Persona for background checks on new delivery personnel during the pandemic [4] Industry Challenges - The rise of AI has introduced new challenges in online security, with reports indicating that U.S. companies face annual losses of $18 billion to $31 billion due to AI attacks [7] - The report also highlights that malicious bots account for 37% of online activity, while benign bots represent 14% of automated traffic [7] Competitive Landscape - Persona competes with established players like Clear Secure and Jumio, as well as newer entrants like Worldcoin, which uses biometric devices for identity verification [11][12] - The increasing threat of deepfakes is creating more opportunities for companies like Persona that specialize in analyzing online risk signals [12] Future Vision - Persona aims to develop a system where AI agents are registered for identification, while human users can have personalized identity profiles based on their online behavior [13] - The company envisions a user-controlled identity system that balances privacy with convenience, allowing users to manage their personal information [14]

Core Insights - Jackie Reses has a strong entrepreneurial background, starting from a young age and evolving her career through various business ventures and leadership roles in finance and technology [1][2]. Company Development - Reses played a significant role in transforming Square into a banking-like entity within the tech sector, contributing to its foundational growth and infrastructure [3]. - In 2022, Reses acquired a community bank in Kansas City, Missouri, and rebranded it as Lead Bank, which now supports fintech companies with essential infrastructure [3]. Industry Challenges - Reses highlighted a critical issue in the fintech industry, noting that while user interfaces of fintech applications have improved, the underlying infrastructure remains inadequate [4]. - The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant challenge for fintech infrastructure, as Reses advocated for fintechs to assist in distributing emergency funds to small businesses, leading to the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program [5][6]. Leadership and Negotiation - Reses has a history of navigating complex relationships, exemplified by her role on the Alibaba board, where she helped resolve a fraught relationship between Yahoo and Alibaba, resulting in a 15% stake worth $40 billion post-IPO [6][7]. - Her ability to build trust and foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders has been a key aspect of her leadership style [7].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report highlights the significant advancements in AI technology and applications in both China and the United States, emphasizing the competitive landscape and the unique strengths of each country in various AI sectors [3][10][33] Summary by Sections AI Infrastructure Analysis - The United States leads in cloud computing technology, while China excels in localized service advantages [10][18] - American companies are at the forefront of algorithm innovation, whereas Chinese firms demonstrate strong application innovation capabilities [10][18] - China holds a substantial market share in data centers, accounting for one-fourth of the global market, with rapid growth potential [25] AI Technology Analysis - Chinese visual AI companies are showing robust momentum, establishing unique advantages in the market [33] - The United States has a deep accumulation of knowledge graph technology, while China leads in commercializing these technologies [33] - Chinese companies are rapidly iterating and innovating in AI model applications, gradually closing the gap with international standards [40] AI Application Analysis - Chinese humanoid robots are emerging as strong competitors, showcasing significant advancements in technology [58] - Chinese AI glasses are gaining market share, with domestic manufacturers pulling ahead of overseas competitors [58] - The AI smartphone market is being reshaped by Chinese manufacturers, who are innovating in various AI applications [58] - In smart home technology, the U.S. focuses on high-end solutions, while China emphasizes comprehensive smart home integration [58][62] Industry Solutions - In the financial sector, U.S. companies excel in payment solutions and investment platforms, while Chinese firms lead in mobile payments and AI healthcare applications [71][76] - The U.S. is at the forefront of autonomous driving technology, while Chinese companies are leveraging local market advantages for rapid application [77] - Chinese AI healthcare companies are making significant strides in medical imaging analysis, while U.S. firms lead in drug discovery and health management [82] - In retail, Chinese companies are innovating in e-commerce through AI, while U.S. firms focus on optimizing the entire shopping experience [83]