The Unchained Web Daily #142

If you enjoy and find value in the newsletter, please feel free to donate for its upkeep and independent nature as much as you think is fair:

Monero Wallet Address:

42EkgN23XZoLJXrgMJjrRM7jYpmirk1WvWUWc2SDF6kZAXVzHMGy5XB8JM8Vce3iHGKh9H8ACWF9J6ErrfKCP48mL2yeWcw

Bitcoin Wallet Address: bc1q4283c60tv2p7exfeu2ql7dk2n7utswgl43n2fk

ETH & ERC-20 Address: 0xD16429e3F253f50CfF306B2bE8966ce935332116

BNB & BRC-20 Address: 0xD16429e3F253f50CfF306B2bE8966ce935332116

Reclaim (some) Privacy Webinar Series: Intro to SearXNG & other privacy engines

In April, I am planning my first webinar in a series focused on privacy. The specific webinar will be focused on why Google may not be the best search engine to use and the SearXNG meta search engine and how it can be used to enhance privacy when using a search engine to research or find something to one's interest.

If you are interested in the topic, feel free to click "attend" on the link to the event below: https://www.dhirubhai.net/events/7167975601373458433/about/

Rumble Launches #SupportFreeSpeech Campaign In Response To Media Pressure

Rumble, the neutral video sharing platform, is launching a #SupportFreeSpeech campaign through its membership platform Locals in response to recent government and media pressure. The platform has been under scrutiny for maintaining a neutral stance on comedian Russell Brand amid anonymous sexual assault allegations against him. Rumble resisted calls to demonetize Brand and emphasized the importance of due process. The #SupportFreeSpeech campaign offers creators a promo code for one month of free access to their Locals community and reaffirms Rumble's commitment to free speech and neutrality. Click here for more.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino Is “Successfully” Censoring “Lawful But Awful” Speech, Interview Reveals

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, has faced scrutiny over her stance on free speech during an interview with the Financial Times. Yaccarino initially emphasized the importance of free speech but then discussed the platform's control over content and its restriction of "lawful but awful" speech, raising questions about who decides what is "awful." Her statements have ignited a debate over the politicization of free speech and tech giants' role in shaping public discourse. The controversy comes after a meeting between Yaccarino and ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt, during which they discussed issues related to content moderation and hate speech. Yaccarino is increasing efforts to safeguard the platform against manipulation and inauthentic accounts in preparation for the 2024 US presidential election. Click here for more.

The EU Tells Apple To Open Up Its Stranglehold On The App Store

The European Union (EU) has directed Apple to open up its ecosystem and create room for competitors, as mandated by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA, which became law in the EU in November 2022, aims to regulate Big Tech firms like Apple and promote a fair business environment for all players in the digital markets. European Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized the need for Apple to open its gates to competitors, particularly in areas like electronic wallets, browsers, and app stores, to give consumers more choice. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, recently met with Breton in Brussels, although the details of the conversation remain undisclosed. Apple, known for its emphasis on security and privacy, has yet to publicly comment on the matter, while Breton reiterated the EU's commitment to fostering innovation while maintaining security and privacy. Click here for more.

Saudi Arabia Sentences Teenager To 18 Years in Prison For Tweets

The recent 18-year prison sentence handed to 18-year-old Saudi Arabian schoolgirl Manal al-Gafiri for her social media posts advocating for political prisoners has sparked global concern over the suppression of free speech in the country. This case highlights the ongoing crackdown on digital activism, particularly on platforms like Twitter, in Saudi Arabia. Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's leadership, strict cyber activism sentences have increased, stifling freedom of expression and human rights. Recent cases, such as the death sentence for Mohammed al-Ghamdi and a 34-year sentence for Salma al-Shehab, demonstrate the misuse of counterterrorism laws to silence dissent. The international community's role in amplifying the voices of the silenced and advocating for change is crucial in addressing these human rights abuses. Click here for more.

YouTube CEO: “My Number One Responsibility Is Keeping Our Ecosystem Of Creators, Viewers,…Partners, Safe”

During an interview with CBS Mornings, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan emphasized the platform's mission to give everyone a voice and show them the world. However, he admitted that safety is the platform's top priority, leading to the censorship of various types of speech. YouTube's policies often use the term "safety" to justify censorship, such as the prohibition of contradicting health authority guidelines on vaccines. Mohan's statement highlights the challenge of defining safety, as authorities' opinions can change. Moreover, he confirmed that "authoritative sources" (legacy media outlets) will be boosted at the expense of independent creators, indicating a shift away from the platform's roots in favor of established media. Click here for more.

EU official urges crypto industry to ‘up your game’ and help build blockchain for 450 million inhabitants by Inbar Preiss

The European Union (EU) is committed to building a blockchain-based ledger to help manage the lives of its 450 million inhabitants. A political body responsible for constructing a digital ledger to host public services like digital identity, licenses, and records is being formed through an EU-wide blockchain service infrastructure. The EU project is set to launch in October, with nine member states already committed to it. The initiative is designed to support new applications and services while eliminating intermediaries and fostering innovation. While the EU is providing policy support, the buildout will largely rely on the blockchain industry for expertise and technological innovation. Click here for more.

Poland hits the throttle on crypto by registering 13 new firms in a week by Inbar Preiss & Ana ?uri?

Poland has emerged as the leading destination for blockchain firms in the European Union, offering an affordable and efficient registration process for crypto ventures, with only a two-week timeline and approximately €150 in fees. In the last week alone, Poland has added 13 new crypto firms to its Virtual Currency Business registry, boasting almost twice as many registrants as Lithuania, which comes in second place. However, this trend may change as the EU prepares to implement the Market in Crypto-assets law (MiCA) over the next 15 months, prompting member states like France to align their regulations with MiCA requirements in an effort to attract crypto businesses. The varying number of registered crypto firms across EU states highlights the fragmented regulatory landscape in the bloc, a situation MiCA aims to standardize. Click here for more.

Coinbase says it will decide on Europe hub in weeks amid hunt for ‘trusted’ regulator by Inbar Preiss

Coinbase is in the process of determining its European hub for regulatory compliance under the Markets in Crypto-Assets legislation (MiCA). While the company recently obtained registration from Spanish authorities, it has yet to decide on a single member state from which it will conduct its supervisory activities for the entire European market. Coinbase's Vice President of International Policy, Tom Duff Gordon, emphasized the importance of selecting a trusted and tier-one regulator, access to talent, and a supportive government in the chosen hosting member state. This decision comes amidst legal battles with US regulators, notably the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the evolving regulatory landscape in Europe driven by MiCA. Coinbase is currently collecting individual registrations from EU member states to continue offering its services during the transition to the new regulatory framework. Click here for more.

European Central Bank chief says ‘conspiracy theories’ hinder digital euro adoption by Inbar Preiss

The European Central Bank (ECB) anticipates that it will take at least two more years before a digital euro is potentially launched, according to ECB President Christine Lagarde. The ECB will decide in October whether to proceed with the realization of a digital euro, following two years of investigation and prototype design. The digital euro has faced skepticism and distrust from the public and lawmakers, with concerns about privacy and potential government surveillance. Lagarde emphasized the need to address these concerns and ensure privacy protection for the digital euro to be considered a success. The proposal for the digital euro's legal framework has already been laid out by the European Commission, but its implementation is not guaranteed. Click here for more.

Coinbase CEO tells users to ditch Chase UK as JPMorgan arm bans crypto by Adam Morgan McCarthy

Chase UK has announced that it will prohibit its customers from purchasing cryptocurrencies through debit cards or bank transfers starting from October 16, citing a surge in crypto-related scams and referencing government data indicating a 40% increase in losses due to such scams. The bank informed its customers that transactions related to crypto assets will be declined. Several UK banks have already imposed restrictions on the amount of cryptocurrencies customers can purchase. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong criticized Chase UK for its decision, stating that it doesn't align with the policy goals of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his economic secretary Andrew Griffith and encouraged UK crypto holders to consider closing their Chase accounts. Chase UK advised customers to seek alternative banks or providers if they wish to invest in crypto but cautioned about the risk of fraud or scams in such transactions. In the United States, Chase has prohibited the purchase of crypto with credit cards since 2018, but debit cards and bank transfers remain viable options. Click here for more.

SEC Chair Gensler Claims Mandate to Regulate Crypto Without Acknowledging Ripple Outcome by Michael Washburn

SEC Chair Gary Gensler defended the SEC's role in regulating the cryptocurrency markets during his testimony before the House Financial Services Committee. Gensler argued that securities laws apply to cryptocurrencies, citing the inclusion of "investment contract" in the definition of a security in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. He claimed that the "vast majority" of crypto investment tokens can be classified as securities due to the presence of an investment contract. However, he did not mention the legal setback the SEC faced in July when a US District Court judge ruled in favor of Ripple, stating that sales of Ripple's XRP token via public exchanges do not constitute securities. Many in the crypto industry viewed this ruling as a significant defeat for the SEC's regulatory stance on crypto. Click here for more.

Mixin Network Offers $20 Million Bug Bounty to Hackers by Harsh Notariya

Mixin Network, a blockchain protocol that suffered a $200 million exploit, has made an unusual offer to the hacker responsible for the attack. The project has asked the hacker to return the remaining stolen funds and offered them a 10% bug bounty reward, amounting to $20 million, for keeping a portion of the assets. Mixin Network stated that the losses were not as significant as initially estimated and is attempting to contact the hackers through blockchain messages. Users who lost funds in the attack have also reached out to the hackers, pleading for the return of their savings. The situation is reminiscent of past instances where hackers negotiated with crypto projects to return stolen funds in exchange for a reward. Click here for more.

ASIC Fines Marketer of Crypto Investment Fund Amid Escalating Crackdown by Michael Washburn

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has imposed a penalty of AU$53,280 (approximately $33,300 USD) on fintech firm Bobbob Ltd for misleading marketing of its cryptocurrency investment product. ASIC found that Bobbob and its director, Byron Goldberg, made misleading representations about the product, including implying ASIC approval and likening it to a bank account. The marketing also failed to disclose the product's risk profile and likely returns, leading customers to expect a 7.6% interest rate, which did not reflect the actual returns. As part of the penalty, neither Goldberg nor Bobbob may offer financial services to retail customers for one year. ASIC has been cracking down on fraudulent cryptocurrency activities and recently issued a warning about "digitally enabled misconduct." Click here for more.

Xbox Goes Crypto? Leaked Microsoft Roadmap Includes Wallet Plans by Kate I.

Unredacted documents published as part of the FTC's case against Microsoft in its planned acquisition of developer Activision have revealed that the next-generation Xbox console ecosystem could potentially offer integration of a crypto wallet. An internal Microsoft presentation slide from May 2022 showed plans for the next-gen Xbox console and surrounding ecosystem to include a "crypto wallet" feature, which would be an "Xbox/Microsoft solution." It is unclear whether the wallet would be developed in-house or integrated with existing crypto wallets. These plans were shared internally in May 2022, before the crypto market's decline. Microsoft has not yet issued a statement regarding these plans. Click here for more.

Sam Bankman-Fried Can Use an 'Air-Gapped' Laptop in Court, Judge Rules by Nikhilesh De

A federal judge has approved a defense request to allow FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried to use an "air-gapped" laptop to take notes during his trial next month. The defense team requested that Bankman-Fried be allowed to use a laptop with no internet access for note-taking during the trial. The laptop would be the same one he used while out on bail earlier this year, with network connectivity functions disabled by a technology consultant. A paralegal will bring the laptop to court each morning and take it back from Bankman-Fried at the end of each trial day. The trial is set to begin on October 3. The judge also approved a request for Bankman-Fried to wear a suit in court, provided that the U.S. Marshals Service or the Metropolitan Detention Center accepts and maintains the clothing items. Bankman-Fried has been in custody since last month and has appeared in court in a prison uniform. Click here for more.

IBM, Microsoft, others form post-quantum cryptography coalition

IBM Quantum and Microsoft, along with MITRE, PQShield, SandboxAQ, and the University of Waterloo, have joined forces to address the cybersecurity challenges posed by quantum computing. This coalition aims to accelerate the adoption of post-quantum cryptography in both commercial and open-source technologies. Post-quantum cryptography is vital in countering the potential threat quantum computers pose to current encryption methods, as quantum computers could theoretically break traditional encryption schemes in a matter of weeks, days, or hours. This collaboration will develop standards for post-quantum algorithms, create secure implementations, and integrate them into cryptographic libraries and protocols. As quantum computers advance, technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency become vulnerable, making the transition to quantum-safe encryption crucial. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has selected four post-quantum encryption algorithms for standardization, with three already accepted, and the coalition will work to ensure various industries can transition to post-quantum encryption. Click here for more.

Texas is home to nearly 30% of all Bitcoin hash rate — Foundry by Ana Paula Pereira

Texas leads in Bitcoin mining within the United States, accounting for over 28% of the country's total Bitcoin hashing power, as reported by Foundry USA's latest Hashrate Map. This updated map highlights Texas with 28.5% of the Bitcoin hash rate, followed by Georgia at 9.64%, New York at 8.75%, and New Hampshire at 5.33%. The hash rate represents the speed at which mining machines calculate valid block hashes. Compared to December 2021, when Texas had 8.43% of the hash rate and Georgia had 34.17%, more U.S. states are now involved in Bitcoin mining. Overall, by July 2023, the global Bitcoin hash rate reached 400 EH/s, nearly double its 2021 level of 174 EH/s. Texas's growth as a crypto mining hub is attributed to its favorable energy prices and regulatory environment, making it attractive to miners, especially after China's crackdown on crypto mining in 2021. However, the reported data may underestimate Texas's actual hash rate due to power curtailments during the data collection period. Click here for more.

CBDC frameworks must guard user privacy, monetary freedom — BIS chief by Gareth Jenkinson

The head of the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), Agustín Carstens, emphasized that legal frameworks ensuring user privacy and the freedom to choose between central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and other forms of money are crucial for driving CBDC adoption. Speaking at the BIS Innovation Hub conference, Carstens stated that the legitimacy of a CBDC is derived from the central bank's legal authority to issue it, and many countries' laws are unclear on this matter. He noted that 93% of the world's central banks are actively developing CBDCs, and outdated or unclear legal frameworks hindering their deployment are unacceptable. Carstens also addressed concerns about potential misuse of CBDCs, emphasizing the importance of defined rights and obligations, privacy, financial system integrity, and people's right to choose between CBDCs and other forms of money. He stressed that CBDCs should increase choices for society, not diminish them, and highlighted ongoing developments in countries like China and the United States regarding CBDCs. Click here for more.

Cricket World Cup to feature Web3 fan app as ICC taps into Near blockchain by Gareth Jenkinson

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has teamed up with the Near Foundation to develop a blockchain-powered Web3 fan engagement app for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. This innovative app aims to engage hundreds of millions of cricket fans before, during, and after the tournament. It builds upon the ICC's previous Web3 initiative, FanCraze, which introduced nonfungible tokens (NFTs) for cricket highlights. The new app will enable fans to participate in prediction games, earn points based on their selections and match outcomes, and compete on leaderboards for rewards. The partnership leverages Near's Blockchain Operating System, which offers interoperability with other blockchain networks, providing flexibility for future use cases. The Cricket World Cup in India offers a prime opportunity to showcase the potential of blockchain and Web3 technology in sports and fan engagement. Click here for more.

Binance still struggling to find banking partner in France by Dave A.

Following the expiration of its partnership with euro banking provider Paysafe, Binance France has recommended that its customers convert their fiat money into cryptocurrencies. The partnership ended on September 25, and although it was announced in late June, Binance France has not yet secured a new partner for euro deposits and withdrawals. Binance is reportedly working to onboard new partners, but in the meantime, the exchange is urging users to make the conversion for free. Users have reported receiving a prompt to convert their fiat balances into crypto when using the mobile application. Binance has been facing regulatory challenges in various countries, including Europe, and recently announced its exit from the Russian market. Click here for more.

Argentinian oil company to start mining crypto with gas power leftovers by Dave A.

Tecpetrol, an oil company based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has announced plans to convert excess natural gas into energy for cryptocurrency mining. The company will establish its first gas-powered crypto mining facility in the Los Toldos II Este region in Argentine Patagonia. Tecpetrol's decision to explore crypto mining comes as a way to utilize gas that is currently going to waste due to a lack of infrastructure for consumption. The company aims to extract at least 35,000 barrels of oil daily at the facility while reducing environmental impact by avoiding gas emissions and generating additional profits through crypto mining. They plan to start crypto mining operations between late October and early November in collaboration with an experienced partner from the United States. This move aligns with a recent report suggesting that Bitcoin mining can help reduce global emissions by converting wasted methane emissions into less harmful forms. Click here for more.

Binance fully exits Russia with sale to CommEX by Helen Partz

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has announced its complete exit from Russia by selling its Russian business to a newly launched crypto exchange called CommEX. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but Binance will facilitate a one-year off-boarding process for existing Russian users to ensure a smooth transition. Binance's chief compliance officer, Noah Perlman, stated that operating in Russia is not compatible with the exchange's compliance strategy. The user migration process will allow some Russian users with completed Know Your Customer checks to be immediately redirected to CommEX, with Binance gradually phasing out its platform in Russia over the next several months. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao also noted that Binance Coin (BNB) holders will continue to receive a 25% trading discount on CommEX. Binance emphasized that it will have no ongoing revenue split or option to buy back shares in the new business, marking a complete exit from the Russian market. This move comes after Binance faced regulatory challenges and saw its top Russian executives leave the company in early September. Click here for more.

If you enjoy and find value in the newsletter, please feel free to donate for its upkeep and independent nature as much as you think is fair:

Monero Wallet Address:

42EkgN23XZoLJXrgMJjrRM7jYpmirk1WvWUWc2SDF6kZAXVzHMGy5XB8JM8Vce3iHGKh9H8ACWF9J6ErrfKCP48mL2yeWcw

Bitcoin Wallet Address: bc1q4283c60tv2p7exfeu2ql7dk2n7utswgl43n2fk

ETH & ERC-20 Address: 0xD16429e3F253f50CfF306B2bE8966ce935332116

BNB & BRC-20 Address: 0xD16429e3F253f50CfF306B2bE8966ce935332116

Reclaim (some) Privacy Webinar Series: Intro to SearXNG & other privacy engines

In April, I am planning my first webinar in a series focused on privacy. The specific webinar will be focused on why Google may not be the best search engine to use and the SearXNG meta search engine and how it can be used to enhance privacy when using a search engine to research or find something to one's interest.

If you are interested in the topic, feel free to click "attend" on the link to the event below: https://www.dhirubhai.net/events/7167975601373458433/about/

Brought to you by Alexandros Dolgov CBA? (Study/Bitcoin)