Crypto neo-bank Shield announced on Monday that it has raised a $5 million seed round led by Giant Ventures. The company launched in 2022 and pivoted to payments in 2024. It allows exporters and importers to conduct cross-border transactions in US cryptocurrencies, while also providing compliance screenings, such as addressing sanctions and money laundering threats. Emmanuel Udotong, co-founder and CEO, said he and his team started Shield because they were “disappointed by the lack of completing mainstr ...

Group 1: H-1B Visa and Tech Industry Impact - The new application fee for H-1B visas is part of President Trump's negotiation strategy with India, which may impact tech companies reliant on foreign workers [1][4] - The administration aims to retain foreign students educated in the U.S., which could influence innovation in Silicon Valley [3][4] - In the short term, tech companies may need to enhance efficiency due to potential restrictions on H-1B visas [4] Group 2: AI and Coding Job Market - The number of coding jobs has significantly decreased due to advancements in AI, which allows more individuals to engage in coding [5][6] - Companies are experiencing productivity increases despite a reduction in new job openings, which is sustaining profit margins [12][13] Group 3: Chinese Tech Market Dynamics - Chinese tech valuations are approximately half of those in the U.S., indicating a potential for growth and competition [6][7] - China's focus on open-source software is accelerating its tech development, particularly after U.S. companies halted sales to avoid IP theft [7][8] - The electric vehicle sector in China is reassessing commoditization, which may lead to more strategic development [8] Group 4: Investment Trends and Market Competition - The competition in the large language model space is narrowing, with a few key players emerging [11][12] - Companies are willing to invest significantly in AI talent, indicating a strong market interest despite recent tariff impacts [13] - The digital asset space is seeing increased exposure, with Bitcoin leading the market, while other cryptocurrencies are also being monitored [24][25]

Crypto, like the early days of the internet boom, is still in a "1996" phase with more room to grow, Jefferies analysts told large institutional investors in a client Q&A report. The investment bank, which launched full coverage of the digital assets sector in September, said it is getting strong and diverse interest from its clients. One of the main questions that analysts are fielding is, "Am I too late to invest?" to which the analysts, led by Andrew Moss, have answered, "Relative to the internet, it's ...

Core Insights - The TexCap Conference aims to position Texas as a burgeoning capital markets hub, providing insights and networking opportunities for attendees to capitalize on the state's financial growth [1][4][6] Group 1: Event Details - The TexCap Conference will feature prominent speakers including leaders from major stock exchanges and a keynote address from Energy Transfer's co-CEO [2] - The event is scheduled for October 8 at the SMU Cox School of Business, focusing on educational sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities [3][8] Group 2: Industry Impact - Texas is emerging as a new epicenter for financial leadership, particularly in sectors like energy and technology, with the TexCap Conference facilitating discussions on capital formation [4][5] - The conference will provide insights on IPO strategies, the new Texas Stock Exchange, and opportunities for private companies to go public [5][7] Group 3: Organizational Support - The event is hosted by the American Association of Professional Landmen and the Texas Blockchain Council, emphasizing the importance of connecting companies with capital markets [3][10] - Endorsed by NAPE and supported by various sponsors, TexCap aims to explore and initiate deals that will shape the future of finance [8]

Confirmo is a leading global stablecoin payment platform; its stablecoin-based on-chain solution integrates seamlessly with off-chain architecture Partnership is consistent with VivoPower’s digital asset strategy, which encompasses utility London, Sept. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR), the first publicly traded company in the world with an XRP-centric treasury strategy, and Confirmo, the leading global stablecoin payment platform, today announced a definitive partner ...

August Blockchain Technology Update: Bitcoin's "OP_RETURN War", Ethereum's Glamsterdam upgrade preparations, Solana Alpenglow consensus proposal, BNB Chain’s Kickstart program upgrade, Apple addressed the exploited zero-day vulnerability CVE-2025–43300 in the ImageIO framework. Read more: https://t.co/Lo6GYMQYnr ...

“Building isn’t the hard part. Getting a yes is.”🎥 In Into the Blocks, @lukastanisic99 shares what it takes to keep going when nothing’s guaranteed, and why Polkadot’s the stack to pick if you’re here to stay, not just chase hype. https://t.co/h2QboVZR9T ...

A big announcement this week for Franklin Templeton on the crypto front. The investment giant is teaming up with global crypto exchange Binance to develop digital asset products. Can you tell us more about this new partnership.You indicated in a news release that the company's goal is to quote take tokenization from concept to practice for clients to achieve efficiencies in settlement, collateral management, and portfolio construction at scale. Can you elaborate on how you're able to achieve that goal throu ...

Group 1 - Three blockchain and cryptocurrency-linked ETFs have surged into the market's top decile, indicating a potential breakout rally [1][3] - The momentum percentile rankings assess an asset's relative strength by evaluating price movement patterns and volatility against sector peers [2] - A significant week-on-week momentum gain suggests these ETFs are outperforming most sector peers, often preceding sharp rallies or intense speculative interest [5] Group 2 - The Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF (BITQ) saw its momentum score increase from 88.69 to 92.16, reflecting renewed buying demand and optimism around blockchain technology [7] - BITQ has gained 34.76% year-to-date and 92.88% over the past year, maintaining a strong price trend across all timeframes [7] - The VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP) experienced a momentum score rise from 89.89 to 93.45, benefiting from improving sentiment in the digital asset space [8] - DAPP is up 37.91% year-to-date and 92.51% over the year, also showing a strong price trend [8] - The Bitwise Web3 ETF (BWEB) saw a momentum increase from 89.22 to 90.34, indicating growing interest in Web3 investments [8] - BWEB has advanced by 40.21% year-to-date and 78.63% over the year, maintaining a strong price trend [8]

Group 1 - Three blockchain and cryptocurrency-linked ETFs have surged into the market's top decile, indicating a potential breakout rally due to sharply increased momentum scores [1][5] - The momentum percentile rankings assess the relative strength of these ETFs by evaluating price movement patterns and volatility against sector peers, with significant increases signaling strong market interest [2][5] Group 2 - The Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF (BITQ) saw its momentum score rise from 88.69 to 92.16, reflecting renewed buying demand and optimism around blockchain technology, with a year-to-date gain of 34.76% and 92.88% over the year [7] - The VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP) increased its momentum score from 89.89 to 93.45, benefiting from improving sentiment in the digital asset space, with a year-to-date increase of 37.91% and 92.51% over the year [8] - The Bitwise Web3 ETF (BWEB) experienced a momentum jump from 89.22 to 90.34, indicating growing interest in Web3 investments, with a year-to-date gain of 40.21% and 78.63% over the year [8]