Charles Schwab offers spot crypto trading, Google pivots to gas, Anthropic enforces a paywall, and Utah allows AI bots to refill psychiatric medicine.
What’s up, Pasar Crew?
In Web3 and crypto, Charles Schwab is preparing to launch crypto spot trading, Cambodia is cracking down on scams, and Leap Wallet is sunsetting its platform. It’s no longer just about the next bull run; it’s about whether the infrastructure can survive its own global weight and a sharp cooling in capital.
In AI, the “move fast” era has officially hit a wall. Anthropic is ending the OpenClaw free ride to protect its capacity while Google trades climate goals for natural gas. Chatbots are now prescribing psychiatric meds in Utah and OpenAI has confirmed its intent to buy the TBPN talk show.
Get up to speed with the latest in Web3 and AI with this week’s Pasar Pulse.
Crypto and Web3
Prediction Markets Navigate Asia’s Legal Grey Zones
Prediction markets are expanding into major Asian economies despite strict gambling laws. While India and China lack specific frameworks, startups like PredicXion are localising content to navigate regulatory risks and retail demand.
Polymarket Pulls Betting Market on Missing Pilot
Polymarket removed a controversial market regarding the fate of a missing US service member after public backlash. While citing integrity standards, the platform faced criticism for a lack of transparency regarding its specific rule enforcement.
Cambodia Passes Law Targeting Crypto Scam Compounds
Cambodia’s Senate approved a bill imposing prison terms and heavy fines for crypto-related scams. The law aims to dismantle forced-labour compounds and restore the nation’s reputation following international pressure and targeted sanctions.
Charles Schwab to Launch Spot Crypto Trading in Q2
Financial giant Charles Schwab will debut spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for US residents by the end of this quarter. Managing $12.2 trillion, the firm is also exploring stablecoin exposure as it clarifies its long-term digital asset strategy.
Cosmos Ecosystem’s Leap Wallet Set to Shut Down
Leap Wallet, a major wallet for the Cosmos ecosystem, will sunset its services by May 28. Originally a Terra-focused project, the team cited a difficult restructuring but ensured users can still access assets via private keys.
JPMorgan Reports Sharp Decline in Q1 Crypto Inflows
Digital asset flows dropped to $11 billion in Q1 2026, a significant fall from 2025 levels. JPMorgan noted that corporate treasury buys and VC funding dominated the quarter, while institutional and retail interest through ETFs cooled significantly.
Circle Faces Backlash Over Inaction in Drift Hack
Following a $285 million exploit on the Drift protocol, critics have slammed Circle for failing to freeze stolen USDC. Circle maintains that as a regulated entity, it only freezes assets upon receiving formal legal or law enforcement orders.
Jack Dorsey Teases Bitcoin Day Faucet Revival
Jack Dorsey is sparking community buzz with a Bitcoin Day countdown, hinting at a return of the classic BTC faucet on April 6. The move comes as Bitcoin struggles with a 50% price decline over the last six months.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Anthropic Ends Third-Party Support for OpenClaw
Claude subscribers can no longer use third-party tools like OpenClaw under standard limits, and users must now opt for pay-as-you-go billing or API keys. Anthropic cited high demand and infrastructure strain for the policy shift.
UK’s Alan Turing Institute Faces Major Overhaul
The UK Research and Innovation body ordered the Alan Turing Institute to improve its strategic focus and value for money. Under new leadership, the institute will prioritise national security and defence over health and environment work.
AI Can Prescribe Psychiatric Meds in Utah
Utah is launching a pilot program allowing Legion Health’s chatbot to refill 15 maintenance psychiatric medications. While intended to ease provider shortages, physicians warn that delegating clinical authority to AI carries significant risks.
OpenAI Acquires Tech Talk Show TBPN
OpenAI has purchased the popular tech talk show TBPN to engage more directly with the public. While editorial independence is promised, the move signals a strategic push by the AI giant to shape cultural conversations.
Google Turns to Natural Gas to Power Texas AI Data
Google is partnering with gas plants in Texas to support high-energy AI data centres, casting doubt on its 2030 carbon-neutral goal. The Armstrong County plant alone could emit 4.5 million tons of CO2 annually, rivalling emissions from San Francisco.
NVIDIA Optimises Google’s Gemma 4 for Local Use
Google and NVIDIA have collaborated to optimise the Gemma 4 model family for RTX GPUs and edge devices. These compact, multimodal models allow for efficient offline reasoning, coding, and agent-driven workflows directly on local hardware.
China Outlines AI Goals in 15th Five-Year Plan
China’s new Five-Year Plan prioritises intelligent computing clusters and high-performance chips. The strategy focuses on integrating AI into manufacturing, agriculture, and public services while establishing new regulatory frameworks by 2030.
English Teachers Warn AI is Eroding Critical Thinking
A survey of 9,000 teachers in England suggests pupils are losing core problem-solving and writing skills due to AI reliance. Educators remain sceptical of government plans for AI tutors, fearing they undermine human interaction and teaching quality.
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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