Regulation tightens, ETH sentiment slumps, XRP ETFs surge, and AI moves from desk toys to nuclear-powered data centres amid rising safety concerns.
What’s up, Pasar Crew?
This week in Web3, governments and regulators are sharpening their focus. Colombia has rolled out new crypto tax reporting rules aligned with global standards, while the state of Tennessee ordered a halt to unlicensed crypto sports betting. At the same time, Iran’s alleged use of crypto exchanges to evade sanctions has renewed concerns around enforcement and cross-border oversight.
Market signals are mixed. Ethereum sentiment has fallen to levels last seen before its previous bull run, suggesting fatigue rather than capitulation. XRP ETFs, however, are drawing fresh attention, posting record volumes even as Bitcoin and Ether funds see sizeable outflows.
In AI, the technology’s reach continues to expand alongside mounting scrutiny. From interactive collectibles and AI-assisted software development to nuclear-powered data centres, investment is accelerating. Yet pressure is growing on platforms over safety and accountability, with the UK warning X over indecent AI imagery and Google pulling flawed health summaries after medical concerns.
Get up to speed with the latest in Web3 and AI with this week’s Pasar Pulse.
Crypto and Web3
Colombia Introduces New Rules for Tax Compliance
Colombia’s tax authority issued Resolution 000240, requiring crypto service providers to collect and share detailed user and transaction data. The framework aligns with the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework.
CryptoQuant Founder Criticises X Over CT Algorithm
CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju criticised X for suppressing crypto-related content while failing to address a surge in automated bot spam. The latter’s head of product replied that the declining reach was due to the overposting of low-value messages.
ETH Sentiment Falls to Levels Seen Before Last Bull Run
Santiment analysts report that social sentiment around Ethereum has dropped to levels last observed ahead of its major 2025 price rally. ETH remains the clear second-largest digital asset among both institutional and retail investors.
Iran Uses Crypto Exchanges to Evade Sanctions
A report from TRM Labs claims that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has moved approximately US$1 billion through two UK-registered crypto exchanges, Zedcex and Zedxion, to bypass international sanctions and fund regional proxy operations.
Pump.fun Revamps Creator Fees to Address Imbalances
Pump.fun is overhauling its fee structure to enable revenue sharing and ownership transfers. Co-founder Alon Cohen said the previous model incentivised excessive token minting over healthy liquidity, creating risks for traders.
Russian Citizens Explore Crypto-Based Pension Options
Russia received growing enquiries about receiving pension payments in cryptocurrency and how mining income would be assessed. Authorities have clarified that all official social payments remain denominated in roubles.
Tennessee Orders Halt to Crypto Sports Betting
The state of Tennessee issued cease-and-desist orders to Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com for offering unlicensed sports-related event contracts. Regulators have ordered all existing contracts to be voided and refunded by 31 January 2026.
XRP ETFs Set Records, BTC, ETH See Outflows
XRP ETFs posted a record US$219 million in weekly trading volume, with US$38.1 million in net inflows, while spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs recorded combined outflows of US$749.6 million.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI Lets Users Interact With Collectibles
Start-ups HeyMates and Buddyo are bringing AI chatbots to collectible figurines such as Funko Pops. Using NFC and RFID technology, the bases allow users to interact with characters, turning static figures into interactive desk companions.
Datadog Uses OpenAI Codex to Reduce Incident Risk
Datadog’s AI team integrated OpenAI’s Codex into its development workflow to automate code reviews. The tool identified 22% of past incidents that human reviewers missed, enabling engineers to focus on system architecture while AI handles complex code interactions.
UK Warns X of Possible Ban Over Indecent AI Images
The UK government has warned X that it could face a ban unless it addresses Grok’s indecent AI-generated images. Regulators fast-tracked an investigation after reports that the tool was used to sexualise images of women and children.
Meta Powers AI Data Centres With Nuclear
Meta has signed agreements with TerraPower, Oklo and Vistra to secure up to 6.6 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2035. The company is funding new reactors to support its AI infrastructure’s growing electricity demands.
OpenAI, SoftBank Commit US$1B to AI Energy Infrastructure
OpenAI and SoftBank Group are each investing US$500 million in SB Energy to develop large-scale AI data centre campuses. The partnership includes plans for a 1.2-gigawatt facility in Milam County, Texas.
US Senators Call on Apple and Google to Remove X
US Democratic senators have urged Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores, arguing that Grok’s generation of non-consensual, sexualised images of women and children breaches platform safety standards.
US Administration Champions Grainy Minneapolis Footage as Proof
Following the federal shooting of Renee Good, the Trump administration promoted a low-quality video to frame the incident as self-defence, despite clearer footage from witnesses suggesting otherwise.
Google Removes Unsafe AI Health Summaries After Investigation
Google has withdrawn AI-generated health overviews for liver tests after an investigation by The Guardian found they contained inaccurate information. Medical experts warned the errors could mislead patients with serious conditions.
That’s all for this week’s Pasar Pulse. Want more insights? Stay tuned to our site or subscribe via email!
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