Hey crypto addicts,


Europe’s slower access to advanced AI tools could put pressure on its future technology workforce, according to a new report. Delays in deploying frontier AI could limit productivity gains, reduce opportunities for AI-related businesses, and make it harder for European workers to build experience with rapidly evolving technologies. The issue is becoming more important as AI investment accelerates across the global economy.

The report highlights a growing gap between AI development and access to the technology. While companies and workers in other regions gain earlier exposure to advanced AI systems, European businesses may face additional regulatory and deployment hurdles. That could affect everything from software development and research to new startups and highly skilled technology jobs.

The debate shows that AI regulation is increasingly becoming an economic issue as well as a technology issue. Europe is trying to balance safety and oversight with the need to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry. Here’s what you need to know from today’s crypto market.☕

What we’ve covered for you today:

Anchorage Digital is cutting staff as the crypto market faces a broader period of weaker activity and tighter conditions. The layoffs highlight how even established crypto firms are adjusting their operations as trading volumes, investor activity, and revenue expectations come under pressure. The move also reflects the challenges companies face when expanding during stronger market conditions and then adapting when momentum slows.

The staffing cuts come as the industry continues to deal with shifting demand and a more cautious operating environment. Crypto businesses are increasingly focused on controlling costs, improving efficiency, and prioritizing products with clearer revenue potential. For institutional-focused firms like Anchorage Digital, the slowdown underscores how closely crypto infrastructure businesses remain tied to overall market activity.

The broader trend suggests the current downturn is affecting not only token prices but also the companies building the infrastructure around digital assets. While institutional adoption and regulatory progress continue, firms are still adjusting to changing market conditions and tighter business economics. Here’s what you need to know from today’s crypto market.☕

UK financial institutions are increasingly looking to tokenization to modernize how money and assets move through the financial system. A Lloyds survey of 100 senior decision-makers found that 71% expect tokenization to reshape financial services, while 60% identified faster payments and settlement as its biggest opportunity. The focus shows that banks are increasingly interested in blockchain technology for practical improvements to existing financial infrastructure.

The shift is already moving beyond experiments, with UK banks testing tokenized deposits for mortgage transactions and other payments. Lloyds has also completed a seven-day pilot with Visa that used USDC to settle $750,000 in cross-border obligations, with funds reaching Visa in less than an hour, including over the weekend. These tests are designed to explore how tokenized money and stablecoins could reduce settlement delays and improve liquidity management.

The broader trend points toward tokenization becoming part of the financial infrastructure rather than remaining a niche blockchain use case. UK banks are now working toward common standards, interoperability, and larger-scale applications, including tokenized bonds and deposits. As traditional finance continues moving assets and payments onchain, faster settlement could become one of the clearest real-world benefits driving adoption. Here’s what you need to know from today’s crypto market.☕

Absa has become the first bank in Africa to offer institutional digital-asset custody, giving asset managers, corporates, and non-bank financial institutions a regulated way to store and manage crypto. The South African bank’s service currently supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Ledger assets, and USDC, with Bitcoin accounting for the largest share of assets in custody. The launch marks another step toward bringing digital assets deeper into traditional banking infrastructure.

The service is powered by technology from Ripple and is initially available to institutional clients in South Africa following regulatory approval. Absa plans to expand the offering to additional client groups and other African markets, subject to local regulatory approvals. The move comes as South Africa’s digital-asset market continues to grow, with assets held by the country’s three largest licensed crypto providers reaching about $1.5 billion by the end of 2024.

Absa’s expansion also points to a broader shift in how banks are approaching crypto, moving from cautious observation toward building regulated infrastructure around digital assets. Institutional custody could become an important foundation for future services involving tokenized assets, stablecoins, and blockchain-based financial products. As more banks enter the space, traditional finance is becoming increasingly connected to the digital-asset economy. Here’s what you need to know from today’s crypto market.☕

ChatGPT is insanely powerful.

But most people waste 90% of its potential by using it like Google.

These 1,000+ proven ChatGPT prompts fix that and help you work 10X faster.

Sign up for Superhuman AI and get:

Claim your free prompts

Cointelegraph’s latest crypto roundup highlights three major developments: New York and Wyoming regulators have agreed to coordinate oversight of crypto companies, including licensing reviews and enforcement, while European regulators are reportedly scrutinizing Binance’s use of the MiCA “reverse solicitation” exemption.

Christian Trummer, co-CEO of Bitpanda, says Europe’s MiCA framework has increased retail users’ trust in regulated crypto platforms, with many users preferring licensed providers over managing their own private keys. He also called for stricter enforcement, arguing that noncompliant firms serving European customers can put regulated

Anchorage Digital, the federally chartered U.S. digital-asset bank, has reportedly cut 17% of its workforce, or roughly 68 jobs based on its previously reported headcount of about 400 employees. The workforce reduction comes amid a prolonged crypto market downturn, even as Anchorage has expanded its institutional business through stablecoin

👇 All completely free, one click to subscribe.