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☆ Scientists found more than 1,000 AI spam bots trying to scam people and steal their social media profiles — and regulators can't keep up
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Shubham Agarwal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One of the latest is flooding social media with spam bots and AI-generated content that could further degrade the quality of information on the internet. Botnets are networks of hundreds of harmful bots and spam campaigns on social media that can go undetected by current anti-spam filters. We can still detect AI-generated spam — for nowBoth NewsGuard and the paper's researchers were separately able to unearth AI-generated spam content using an obvious tell that chatbots currently have. AdvertisementAdvertisementResearchers look for when these responses slip out in an automated bot's content, whether on a webpage or in a tweet. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne such measure was tagging AI-generated content with a hidden label to help people distinguish it from content made by humans, per the White House.

Persons: Kai, Cheng Yang, Filippo Menczer, Yang, Menczer, ChatGPT, chatbots, Wei Xu, Europol, Xu, Biden Organizations: Indiana University, Twitter, ChatGPT, Indiana University's Observatory, Social Media, telltale, Georgia Institute of Technology, Regulators, Google, Microsoft, House Locations: Indiana

☆ Ex-OpenSea Employee Sentenced to Three Months in First NFT Insider-Trading Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Erin Mulvaney | Corinne Ramey | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/finance/ex-opensea-employee-sentenced-to-three-months-in-first-nft-insider-trading-case-c5587323

Persons: Dow Jones

The logo of non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea is seen through a magnifying glass amid NFT items displayed on its website, in this illustration picture taken February 28, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge sentenced a former product manager at OpenSea, the world's largest marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), to three months in prison on Tuesday for buying NFTs he knew would soon be featured on the site's home page. Nathaniel Chastain, 33, was convicted of fraud and money laundering in federal court in Manhattan in May for what prosecutors called the first insider trading case involving digital assets. Chastain's attorneys had asked for no prison time, saying he had already lost his reputation, job and equity in OpenSea worth millions of dollars. Prosecutors unsealed charges against Chastain in June 2022, after a boom in NFT sales saw the market grow to about $40 billion in 2021.

Persons: Florence Lo, Nathaniel Chastain, Chastain, Ishan Wahi, OpenSea, Jody Godoy, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Prosecutors, Global Inc, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: U.S, OpenSea, Manhattan, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

☆ ‘Bored Apes’ investors sue Sotheby’s, Paris Hilton and others as NFT prices collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A group of investors is suing Sotheby’s Holdings Inc. and others over a 2021 auction and promotion of Bored Ape Yacht Club non-fungible tokens (NFTs) following a collapse in prices for the celebrity-endorsed collectibles. Sotheby’s is among 30 defendants named in the lawsuit, with celebrities like Justin Bieber and Paris Hilton also accused of promoting the NFT collection without disclosing their financial links to it. A spokesperson for Yuga Labs meanwhile said, via email: “We believe that these new allegations, like those in the previous iteration of this opportunistic complaint, are completely without merit or factual basis. “As a media and technology company, Yuga Labs has empowered strong communities of enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to innovate, connect, and build. The Bored Ape Yacht Club, a collection of 10,000 NFTs hosted on the Ethereum blockchain, launched in April 2021.

Persons: Yuga, Justin Bieber, Paris Hilton, Sotheby’s, NFTs, “, Jack Dorsey’s, LeBron James, “ Beeple, ”, ” —, MoonPay Organizations: CNN, Sotheby’s Holdings Inc, Paris Hilton, Labs, Yuga Labs, Twitter, Adidas, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: California, freefall

☆ Inside Prague's Institute of Crypto Anarchy — where they're plotting to bring down the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Today, that union of minds finds refuge in Prague in a retrofitted factory building called Paralelní Polis, or "parallel world." The dark stucco of Polis' Prague headquarters is an outlier among the ornate, brightly-colored buildings that tower over it. ETHPrague 2023 was held at Paralelní Polis in the Czech Republic Pavel SinaglThe 'parallel world' concept is sticky. The Vienna branch goes so far as to self-describe as a living example of how "the Paralelní Polis cryptoliberation virus is spreading." The most popular Czech bitcoin YouTuber boasts 90k subscribers, while the annual Czech-only bitcoin conference called Chaincamp attracts around 2000 visitors, even during the bear market."

Persons: Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl, Ztohoven —, Ztohoven, provocateurs, Václav Benda, Dan Ligocký, Ligocký, William Lobkowicz, ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum, Pavel Sinagl, Prague MacKenzie Sigalos, Holy, William, Ileana Lobkowicz, Josef Tětek, Tětek, isn't, biohacking, —, Carl Menger, Friedrich Hayek, BTCPrague, Michael Saylor, Satoshi cryptographer, Adam Back, Saifedean Ammous, bitcoin, Gary Gensler, bitcoin maximalist, Vaclav, — Matěj Žák, Jan Čapek, Christoph Kassas, YouTuber Jakub Vejmola, Jameson Lopp, Stephan Livera, Robert Breedlove, Stani Kulechov, Ondrej Polak, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl Ligocky Organizations: Paralelní, CNBC, European Union, Polis, of Cryptoanarchy, Austrian, Securities, Exchange, Czech Craft, U.S, Treasury, Casa, Ethereum Foundation, Czech Blockchain Association, optimist Locations: Paralelní Polis, Czech Republic, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl PRAGUE, Czech, Bohemian, Prague, It's, Polis, Polis —, Lobkowicz, Nazi, Vienna, Barcelona, Bratislava, Slovakia, Košice, Austrian, ., Alza, Bohemia, Europe, Old Town, Holešovice

☆ Ancient treasures are being looted, but blockchain could help protect them
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Nadia Leigh-Hewitson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Now, some are suggesting blockchain could spare the blushes of those trading in ancient treasures and artifacts. Blockchain, the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, is essentially a decentralized, immutable, publicly accessible digital ledger. Salsal allows a museum or collector to submit details about their collection using the web platform. People powerAnother blockchain based tool, called Kapu, was developed in Italy in 2017, but the tool has since gone offline. There is a small cost for collectors to use Salsal, but no more than a couple of dollars per collection.

Persons: Adel Khelifi, Mark Altaweel, ”, Khaled Desouki, Tasoula Hadjitofi, Hunter, Hadjitofi, Salsal, “ We’re, Altaweel Organizations: CNN, New York Met, University of Abu, University College London, UCL, Association, National Museum of, Getty Locations: Egypt, University of Abu Dhabi, Cairo, AFP, Famagusta, Cyprus, Netherlands, British, Hague, Italy

☆ Activewear and luxury brands are pushing ahead with Web3 innovation, while other marketers are still on the sidelines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Julia Hood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Many CMOs are not prioritizing Web3 right now thanks to the crypto crisis hangover, and inflation. However, some activewear and luxury brands are leveraging NFTs and the metaverse in ways other marketers can learn from. The crisis sapped the forward momentum of the emerging Web3 marketing landscape, where business leaders were eager to figure out how Bored Ape NFTs could translate to new channels to reach consumers. New tech for tech's sake is out of fashion; Web3 providers need to speak to the business problems that CMOs and their brands are facing. Moorut says that activewear and some luxury brands are among the most advanced with Web3.

Persons: Byron Sorrells, what's, Sorrells, Marija Zivanovic, Smith, Matt Moorut, Moorut, they're, Nike It's, Web3 activations, Ledger, Marie Laffont, they've Organizations: Dispatch, IEX Group, Apple, Gartner, Web3, Nike, Adidas, Lacoste

☆ EtherFi CEO explains platform's NFT collection backed by staked ETH
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Talia Kaplan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEtherFi CEO explains platform's NFT collection backed by staked ETHEtherFi CEO Mike Silagadze breaks down liquid staking and how he plans to compete with other protocols in an interview with CNBC Crypto World. He also explains what EtherFi calls the first ever NFT collection backed by staked ETH.

Persons: platform's, Mike Silagadze, EtherFi Organizations: ETH, CNBC Crypto

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFormer Celsius CEO freed on $40 million bond, and altcoins rise after XRP ruling: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, EtherFi CEO Mike Silagadze breaks down liquid staking and how he plans to compete with other protocols in an interview with CNBC Crypto World. He also explains what EtherFi calls the first ever NFT collection backed by staked ETH.

Persons: explainers, Mike Silagadze, EtherFi Organizations: CNBC Crypto, CNBC, ETH

☆ Vietnam's digitalization efforts fuel startup scene
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Vietnam's tech startups are reaping the benefits as the country sets its sights on becoming a fully digital society by 2030. In 2021, new startup support centers Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City were announced. It ranked third in terms of deal count in Southeast Asia, and fourth in deal value last year, the report said. Notably, domestic funds were the top investors in local startups last year, accounting for 45% of total deal value. However, the total value of investment in Vietnamese startups was only $634 million in 2022 — down 56% year-on-year from the record high of $1.4 billion in 2021, the report noted.

Persons: Momo, Sky Mavis Organizations: French IT, World Bank, Ventures, National Innovation Center, Ministry of Planning, Investment Locations: French, Ho Chi Minh City, Silicon, Hanoi, Da, Southeast Asia

☆ Justin Bieber's Bored Ape NFT was valued at $1.3 million in 2022—now it's only worth around $60,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But today, prices for Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, one of the most popular collections, has crashed to a two-year low. Take one Bored Ape NFT owned by Justin Bieber, for example: It has declined in value by about 95% over the past year and a half. In January 2022, the Grammy award-winning music artist entered the world of NFTs by allegedly dropping 500 ETH (around $1.3 million at the time) on Bored Ape #3001, an NFT belonging to Yuga Labs' Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) collection. But as of July 2023, Bieber's Bored Ape is only worth around $59,000, according to Bitcoinist. Basketball star Stephen Curry purchased Bored Ape #7990 for 55 ETH (nearly $180,000 at the time) on Aug. 28, 2021.

Persons: Justin Bieber, Stephen Curry, Madonna, It's, Bieber, Curry, DappRadar's, Warren Buffett Organizations: Labs, ETH, Los Angeles Times Locations: That's

☆ 18 pitch decks that helped media and tech startups nab millions in funding to disrupt entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tech is disrupting all areas of media and entertainment, and investors are rushing to cash in. Startups are attracting millions in investments to change how content is made, distributed, and more. Here are 18 pitch decks that startups used to fundraise for Seed and Series A rounds and beyond. New startups are raising capital to jump on audiences' shift to streaming, change hidebound production practices, and more. Insider talked with founders about the pitches they used to raise millions and innovate in content creation and distribution.

Persons: Isabel Rafferty, Mila Kunis, John Attanasio Organizations: Morning, Canela, Latina

Representatives for Hermes and Rothschild did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision. Hermes said in a filing in March that Rothschild continued to market his NFTs after the jury's verdict. Rothschild told the court that Hermes' request went "far beyond what is appropriate in a case, like this one, that involves artistic expression." Rakoff largely granted Hermes' request, but decided not to order Rothschild to transfer the tokens out of an "abundance of caution" for 1st Amendment concerns. The case is Hermes International v. Rothschild, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Hermes, Mason Rothschild's, Birkin, Jed Rakoff, Rothschild's, Rakoff, Rothschild, Sonny Estival, Gerald Ferguson, Deborah Wilcox, Oren Warshavsky, Rhett Millsaps, Christopher Sprigman, Mark McKenna, Rebecca Tushnet, Lex Lumina, Jonathan Harris, Adam Oppenheim, Harris St, Laurent, Wechsler Read, Blake Brittain Organizations: Hermes, Constitution, . Rothschild, Southern, of, Baker, Hostetler, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, U.S, . Rothschild , U.S, of New York, Washington

☆ Why Is Apple Getting ‘Spatial’?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Sarah Kessler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When it comes to spatial computing, Collins said, “no one knows what that is — and that provides Apple the opportunity to define it.”Collins used an NFT as an example: If someone tells you about “a digitized receipt of membership,” he said, you might ask follow-up questions like: What is that? How does it work? But if someone says, “I’m launching an NFT,” you might refer to what you already know about nonfungible tokens and be more likely to say, “No thanks, I’m good.”

Persons: Collins, “, ” Collins, ” Organizations: Apple

Robinhood vs. Coinbase: The Biggest DifferencesRobinhood Investing and Coinbase are both popular online investment platforms offering a vast range of investment choices for active traders. Robinhood Account FeaturesRobinhood's virtual library provides a variety of financial research on investing, options trading, and more. Coinbase Account FeaturesThe Basic Coinbase account offers things like trading, crypto rewards, interest rewards, digital storage, and mobile access. Compared to Coinbase, Robinhood is the better option for investors who want to merge traditional investments, such as stocks and ETFs, with more digital assets like cryptocurrencies. Although Robinhood has a significantly more limited crypto selection than Coinbase, Robinhood offers a large variety of investment options.

Persons: Robinhood, Roth, Coinbase Coinbase, Roth IRAs, Coinbase, There's, Louis Oberlander, Henry Rodriguez, Christopher Underwood Organizations: Robinhood, Chevron, Reading Chevron, Coinbase, Trade, Pro, Morningstar, Nasdaq, Better, Bureau, BBB, Gamestop, SEC, Advanced Trade, Inc, New York State Department of Financial Services, New, DFS Locations: cryptocurrencies, New York, Robinhood

☆ Why consumers calling the shots on how their data is used will transform the next digital decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Mastercard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

We must begin with the most basic building block of the digital economy — data. As consumers we often give away our data for free, without knowing why, what happens with it, or that we've even given it away. In the digital economy, there are broadly three different types of data: data of identity, data of places, and data of experiences. Secondly, data of places can be used to geolocate consumer behavior, collecting information on where you shop, drive, and live. Finally, the speed and convenience of data of identity and places creates data of experiences, which connects us with a community.

Persons: Sandeep Malhotra, it's, you've Organizations: Mastercard Companies, Government, Changi Airport, Mastercard, Companies, Insider Studios Locations: Asia Pacific, Asia, Southeast Asia, Singapore, Thailand

☆ Three Arrows Capital's NFTs fetch $10.9 mln at Sotheby's
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - A set of non-fungible tokens previously bought by bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital sold for $10.9 million at Sotheby's in New York on Thursday, the auction house said. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a blockchain-based asset that represents ownership of a digital item such as an image, video or piece of text. It sold for $6.2 million on Thursday, Sotheby's said, having been bought by Three Arrows Capital for around $5.9 million in August 2021 according to DappRadar data. Singapore-based Three Arrows Capital was the first in a series of major crypto firms to go bankrupt in 2022, following the collapse of cryptocurrencies Luna and TerraUSD. Another seven of Three Arrows Capital's NFTs were already sold for $2.5 million at a Sotheby's auction in May.

Persons: Dmitri Cherniak, Sotheby's, Michael Bouhanna, cryptocurrencies Luna, NFTs, Elizabeth Howcroft, Nilutpal Timsina, Sonali Paul Organizations: Arrows Capital, Arrows, U.S, Three Arrows Capital, NFTs, Thomson Locations: New York, Sotheby's, Singapore

☆ British payments fintech Volt in talks to raise fresh funds from Coinbase-backer IVP, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based fintech startup Volt is set to raise fresh funds, sources say. The company, founded in 2019, is in talks with VC firm IVP over a deal worth around $50 million. British fintech startup Volt is in talks to raise fresh capital from Silicon Valley investing firm IVP, sources say. The payments firm, founded in 2019, has already raised around $28 million to date and counts Swedish investor EQT Ventures among its biggest backers. Volt is set to raise around $50 million as part of the deal, two London-based sources said.

Persons: Slack, PSD2, IVP, Hopin, Tom Greenwood, Jordan Lawrence Organizations: EQT Ventures, Fuel Ventures, Open Finance Association, Open Banking, IFX Locations: British, Silicon Valley, London, Europe, Volt's, Brazil

Kraken vs. Coinbase: The Biggest DifferencesCompare Kraken and Coinbase KrakenCoinbase Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. These levels determine which account features you can access, as well as represent the amount of documentation you provide when setting up your Kraken account. Kraken Account FeaturesIf you're an institution or an advanced trader, there's no shortage of services at Kraken. The standard Coinbase account includes crypto trading, Coinbase Earn, Coinbase Card (a Coinbase debit card), wallet services, and more. Coinbase and Kraken are both great cryptocurrency exchanges with large cryptocurrency selections, account features, NFT beta marketplaces, and more.

Persons: Coinbase, Min, webinars —, Kraken, Roth IRAs, Coinbase Waller, you'll Organizations: US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Chevron, Coinbase, Trade, Pro, OTC, Better, Bureau, Inc, New York State Department of Financial Services, New, DFS, iOS Locations: New York, Washington

☆ Crypto and blockchain technology can be crucial tools that help keep AI from running wild, Coinbase says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Blockchain technology could be a safeguard that prevents artificial intelligence from running amok, Coinbase said. Few crypto projects are currently working in AI, but there's a wide range of problems blockchain can address. Blockchain could help combat the spread of misinformation and shed light on AI decision-making. Demand for computational resources - Generative AI requires a lot of computing power, and blockchain could help by creating a system where resources are shared. "Integrating blockchain technology into AI models can help make those processes more transparent and allow users to scrutinize the logic and reliability of AI-produced outcomes."

Persons: Coinbase, —, David Duong, Duong Organizations: Service

☆ Just what is phygital art, and why is Dubai going big on it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Mark Tutton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —“Phygital art” may not be the most elegant phrase in the English language, but it is generating a buzz in certain circles. The Art Dubai international fair has a digital component exploring new media and technology trends, including phygital works. Separately, Christie's hosted its Art + Tech Summit at Art Dubai this year. Pablo del Val: Phygital works of art can also be NFTs, but a phygital work of art doesn’t necessarily need to be an NFT. Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images for Art DubaiWhy is phygital art important to you?

☆ A husband hid $500,000 in bitcoin during a divorce — and got busted by a crypto hunter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +23 min

Thumb drive-size devices, such as a Trezor or Ledger, offer another way to secure crypto tokens cold by safeguarding both the crypto itself and the keys to access it. Transfers of digital assets between chains has helped to expand the crypto market by giving people more ways to pay and transact. With crypto staking, investors typically vault their crypto assets with a blockchain validator, which verifies the accuracy of transactions on the blockchain. The tax implications are another major consideration when choosing how to divide crypto assets. I think the people that are interested in digital assets are going to continue to be interested in digital assets," she said.

May 19 (Reuters) - Auction house Sotheby's announced Friday seven non-fungible tokens from bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital sold for about $2.5 million. The auction was part of liquidating Three Arrows, according to a February memo from Teneo, one of the court-appointed liquidators. Singapore-based Three Arrows was the first major crypto firm to go bankrupt in 2022, brought down by the collapse of cryptocurrencies Luna and TerraUSD. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a blockchain-based asset that represents ownership of a digital item, such as an image, video or piece of text. The market for NFTs exploded in 2021, and auction houses including Sotheby’s and Christie’s joined the craze.

☆ 'He'll do anything to come for you': Bang Bang, the tattoo artist to stars like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, is a controlling, vindictive boss, ex-employees say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Melkorka Licea | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

Yet some former Bang Bang employees said that McCurdy's meticulously curated image as a thoughtful progressive in a rough-and-tumble industry wasn't much more than good PR. At Bang Bang, "they just woke-wash everything," one former employee said. This kind of behavior extended to other Bang Bang employees. Ganser, the Bang Bang manager, also sent Wang a text comparing her behavior to her father's, who was in prison. Photo by Gotham/GC ImagesNearly a decade after opening the first Bang Bang shop, McCurdy still sees himself as a trailblazer.

☆ Morgan Stanley sees a sign that points to a top in bitcoin
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's altcoin season, as they say in crypto, and that could mean a bitcoin price peak is imminent, according to Morgan Stanley. "Speculative activity has returned to some parts of the crypto market," said Morgan Stanley analyst Sheena Shah. Bitcoin price peaks both large and small have in recent years coincided with increases in speculative token listings, she said, highlighting April and November 2021 and March and August 2022. Throughout 2021 bitcoin's price had an inverse relationship with the pace of new token listings, according to Shah. "We will be watching to see if the same pattern repeats or if we are at the start of a new bullish bitcoin price cycle," said Shah.

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