We bring you the latest in the Web3 and AI industry, structured in bite-sized news that you can read in a minute!
Here’s what’s happening in Web3 and AI in 1 minute.
Web3
Crypto Adoption Surges in South Korea
1️⃣ More than a quarter of South Koreans aged 20–50 now hold digital assets, which account for around 14% of their financial portfolios. A recent report reveals that 70% intend to increase their crypto investments, citing growth potential and diversification.
Coinbase Shares Jump 43% on Stablecoin Bill
2️⃣ Coinbase shares surged 43% in June, driven by progress on the GENIUS Act stablecoin regulatory framework which is expected to benefit Coinbase’s earnings. The share price reached $382 this week, as optimism also boosted sentiment around Circle’s outlook.
TIME Names Coinbase as One of 2025’s Most Influential Companies
3️⃣ Coinbase has been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies for 2025, recognised as a disruptor and key policy advocate for crypto. As the largest crypto exchange in the US, Coinbase is currently expanding into the EU and exploring tokenised equities.
Crypto Cards Overtake Banks for Everyday Purchases
4️⃣ Crypto-linked cards are outpacing traditional banks for low-value transactions in Europe, with 45% of crypto card purchases under €10. Popular spending categories include groceries and dining plus drinks with stablecoins powering 73% of these transactions.
Buterin Calls for Pluralistic Identity to Protect Digital Privacy
5️⃣ Buterin proposed decentralised, pluralistic identity systems as a better alternative to singular digital IDs, arguing that these systems preserve privacy, resist coercion, and allow fairer participation in digital ecosystems.
Bitcoin Treasury Firms Face Death Spiral Risk, Warns Report
6️⃣ A report by Breed VC warns that most Bitcoin treasury firms may not survive an impending death spiral. Companies with unique strategies are more likely to endure, although the current reliance on equity-based financing may help contain wider market fallout.
Vitalik Buterin Critiques Worldcoin’s Identity Model
7️⃣ Buterin criticised Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project, citing privacy concerns with its “one-person, one-ID” model. While he acknowledges the use of zero-knowledge proofs, Buterin warns that mandating a single public identity could erode pseudonymity.
Lido Introduces Dual Governance to Protect Ethereum Stakers
8️⃣ Ethereum staking protocol Lido adopted a dual governance model that gives stakers the power to delay or veto governance decisions made by LDO token holders. Proposals can be delayed if 1% of total staked ETH is used in dissent, and frozen entirely if 10% is locked in opposition.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Denmark to Grant Copyright Over Personal Attributes
1️⃣ Denmark is introducing a legal amendment that grants individuals copyright over their bodily features, facial likeness, and voice to curb the spread of AI-generated deepfakes and unauthorised digital imitations, including synthetic performances.
Google’s Emissions Rise 51% as AI Data Centre Demand Soars
2️⃣ Google’s carbon emissions have increased by 51% since 2019 due to the surging power requirements of AI data centres. The unpredictable growth of AI is proving a challenge for Google’s decarbonisation goals.
Chinese Artists Push Back Against AI’s Impact on Creative Work
3️⃣ Graphic artists in China are voicing concerns over the devaluation of their work due to AI image generators. These tools enable imitation at scale, pressuring creatives to produce faster and cheaper outputs.
Reddit Embraces AI with Summarised Answers
4️⃣ Marking its 20th anniversary, Reddit is doubling down on AI. The platform’s new Reddit Answers feature which summarise human-generated content with clear citations, aiming to provide trustworthy responses.
Runway AI Moves from Hollywood to Gaming Industry
5️⃣ Following its success in film production, generative AI firm Runway is expanding into gaming. The company plans to launch a new interactive gaming experience, with fully AI-generated games expected later in the year
AI Monitors Blood Clots in Real Time
6️⃣ Researchers at the University of Tokyo developed a non-invasive technique to observe blood clotting as it happens with AI assistance. The system monitors platelet behaviour in patients with coronary artery disease and evaluates the effectiveness of antiplatelet drugs.
MIT Uses AI to Enhance Robot Jumping and Stability
7️⃣ Engineers at MIT applied generative AI and physics simulations to optimise robot design, achieving improved jump height and landing stability with unconventional design elements such as a curved linkage and redesigned foot structure.
Gemini to Replace Google Assistant with Enhanced Privacy Controls
8️⃣ Google announced that its Gemini AI will fully replace Google Assistant on Android devices later this year. The AI will control core phone functions such as calls and messages and will continue to operate without using conversations for training or review even when disabled.
