Bitcoin reacts to oil shocks as institutions deepen crypto bets, while AI expands rapidly amid rising concerns over privacy, governance, and trust.
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In Web3 and crypto, Bitcoin’s drop towards $66,000 following oil shocks and inflation fears highlights how sensitive the asset remains to geopolitical risk and monetary expectations. At the same time, institutional players are leaning in with more competitive products, such as Morgan Stanley’s proposed low-fee Bitcoin ETF even as firms like Ark Invest reduce exposure to both tech equities and crypto-linked assets.
In AI, governments are aligning more closely with industry leaders through advisory councils, while companies expand integration into personal and enterprise systems, from Apple’s planned chatbot-enabled Siri to Google’s push to centralise user data across AI platforms. Yet incidents ranging from deceptive model behaviour to privacy concerns in healthcare data and a blanket ban on AI-generated Wikipedia content point to rising risks around trust and control.
Get up to speed with the latest in Web3 and AI with this week’s Pasar Pulse.
Crypto and Web3
Ark Invest Sells Tech Stocks, BTC ETF Shares
Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest has sold nearly $41 million in Meta shares and $26 million in Nvidia as markets weakened. The firm also divested $11 million from its spot Bitcoin ETF and reduced exposure to Block and Bullish.
Bitcoin Dips Below $66,000 Amid Oil Shocks
Bitcoin fell towards $66,000 as geopolitical tensions escalated following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts warn that rising oil prices could fuel persistent US inflation, prompting expectations of an extended Federal Reserve pause.
Ripple Implements AI Security for XRPL
Ripple is introducing an AI-driven security framework to stress-test the XRP Ledger, using machine learning for code audits and adversarial testing. The next protocol update will prioritise bug fixes and codebase hardening.
Morgan Stanley Plans to Launch BTC ETF
Morgan Stanley plans to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF with a fee of 14 basis points, undercutting competitors such as Grayscale and BlackRock. It aims to leverage its wealth management network for distribution.
Binance Australia Fined Over Derivatives Violations
A federal court has ordered Binance Australia to pay a $6.9 million penalty for misclassifying 524 retail clients as wholesale investors. These users were allowed repeated attempts to pass qualification tests and bypass protections.
ECB Highlights Governance Concentration in DeFi
A European Central Bank report found that the top 100 token holders control more than 80% of governance in major DeFi protocols such as Aave and Uniswap. This concentration complicates efforts to distinguish between users and effective controllers.
Intercontinental Finalises $1.6 Billion Polymarket Stake
Intercontinental Exchange has completed a $1.6 billion investment in Polymarket, fulfilling a commitment made in October 2025. The move comes as the platform faces growing competition from Kalshi.
Lawmakers Move to Ban Insider Trading on Prediction Markets
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an order banning state officials from placing insider bets on prediction markets, aiming to restrict members of Congress and their families from trading on government outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Trump Appoints Tech Leaders to Advisory Council
President Trump has appointed Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Larry Ellison, and Sergey Brin to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The group will advise on AI policy, economic strategy, and national security.
NVIDIA Introduces New Digital Blueprints
NVIDIA introduced new models for physical AI that enable enterprises to simulate AI factories using digital twins. This will convert computing resources into high-quality training data for robotics and autonomous systems.
Apple to Support Third-Party AI Chatbots via Siri
Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 update is expected to include an ‘Extensions’ feature that allows users to connect third-party chatbots such as Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude to Siri. Users will be able to choose which models handle queries.
NYC Hospitals Drop Palantir Amid Privacy Concerns
New York City’s public hospital system will not renew its contract with Palantir, opting instead for in-house solutions over concerns that its technology runs the risk of re-identifying anonymised patient data.
David Sacks Steps Down as AI, Crypto Adviser
David Sacks has stepped down from his role as Special Adviser on AI and Crypto. His tenure drew criticism over his handling of state-level AI legislation and public disagreements with the administration.
Google Gemini Adds Tools to Import AI Memories
Google is introducing features that allow users to import chat history and stored preferences from other AI systems into Gemini. Users can upload large files or use prompts to transfer data.
Study Finds Sharp Rise in Deceptive AI Behaviour
Research supported by the AI Security Institute reports a significant increase in AI systems exhibiting deceptive behaviour to bypass safeguards. Examples include unauthorised actions and attempts to circumvent restrictions.
Wikipedia Bans AI-Generated Content to Protect Accuracy
Wikipedia has banned the use of AI to generate or rewrite articles, citing concerns over reliability and adherence to editorial standards. Limited use is still permitted for translation and minor edits with human oversight.
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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