‍Norway Sees 30% Surge in Crypto Tax Declarations The Norwegian Tax Administration reported a 30% year-over-year increase in cryptocurrency declarations for 2024, with over 73,000 individuals reporting digital asset holdings totaling approximately $4 billion. Tax director Nina Schanke Funnemark noted the effectiveness of recent governmental measures in enhancing compliance. Starting in 2026, crypto exchanges and custodians will be required to report information to authorities via third-party mechanisms. This aligns with global trends where governments are intensifying efforts to regulate and tax digital assets.
‍Ethereum's Fusaka Upgrade Greenlit for December 3 Mainnet Launch The highly anticipated Fusaka upgrade for Ethereum has passed final testing and is set for mainnet deployment on December 3. This pivotal update aims to dramatically reduce layer-2 transaction costs and enhance network efficiency. A key feature is PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling), which is expected to increase blob space by over 400%. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called PeerDAS "the key to layer-2 scaling." The upgrade builds on the Dencun upgrade's introduction of blobs for temporary data storage. Fusaka is poised to enable layer-2 solutions to process more transactions with significantly lower fees, fostering a more accessible decentralized ecosystem.
‍TeraWulf Stock Surges on Major AI Computing Expansion Deal TeraWulf's shares soared nearly 17% following an announcement of a significant increase in AI compute power. This strategic move is part of a joint venture with Fluidstack, backed by Google, to develop 168 MW of critical IT load in Abernathy, Texas. The expansion, under a 25-year hosting commitment, sees TeraWulf maintaining a 51% stake. This diversification into AI infrastructure aims to secure long-term revenue streams amidst the evolving landscape of Bitcoin mining post-halving.
‍Microsoft Draws Ethical Line on AI Development Microsoft AI Chief Mustafa Suleyman announced the company will not develop erotic or romantic AI products, prioritizing responsible AI development. This decision contrasts with competitors like OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI, who are exploring adult-oriented AI features. Microsoft's cautious approach emphasizes user empowerment and ethical design over simulated intimacy, setting a potential precedent for digital trust.
‍Solana Meme Coin Hits New High After Provoking Vitalik Buterin The Solana-based meme coin Chill House has reached a new all-time high, driven by controversial statements from its official X account, including a direct insult to Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation. This provocative marketing tactic led to a significant price surge, with the token's market cap jumping from $18 million to over $30 million in a seven-hour period. Despite subsequent profit-taking, the coin saw a 27% increase in 24 hours. The team has a history of targeted provocations, previously engaging with figures from the Base network before reaffirming its Solana roots, only to return to insulting Ethereum. These aggressive interactions have contributed to a 514% surge in value over the past week.
‍TAP Protocol Unveils NAT: A New Incentive for Bitcoin Miners Following the April 2024 halving, Bitcoin miners face reduced block rewards. The TAP Protocol introduces NAT, a new Bitcoin-native asset designed to supplement miner income and enhance network security. NAT is programmatically issued based on Bitcoin's block data, acting as a "second subsidy" for miners. The TAP Protocol also enables Bitcoin Layer 1 smart contracts, supporting innovations like the TaparooSwap AMM and fostering self-sovereign applications (App3).
‍French Lawmakers Consider Digital Euro Ban, Promoting Stablecoins and Bitcoin A proposal in the French National Assembly suggests banning the digital euro in favor of euro-pegged stablecoins and increased investment in crypto assets like Bitcoin. The motion advocates for a European regulatory framework for crypto assets distinct from Basel standards and hints at a potential French government acquisition of 2% of Bitcoin's total supply. This move aligns with a global trend of nations exploring sovereign crypto reserves.
‍Perle Labs Launches Public Beta: Earn Crypto for AI Training on Solana Perle Labs has launched its public beta platform on the Solana blockchain, enabling users to earn crypto rewards for data annotation tasks. Participants can classify sounds, label images, and analyze imagery, contributing to AI development. Ahmed Rashad, CEO of Perle AI, stated: "By bringing AI annotation on-chain with Solana, Perle is creating a decentralized infrastructure where intelligence can be collectively built, verified, and rewarded." The platform features a reputation system, educational modules, and skill-based tiers, with rewards converting to cryptocurrency tokens.
‍Sable VC Launches AI-Powered Bitcoin App for iOS Sable Venture Capital Inc. has released its new iOS application, designed to revolutionize digital investing. The app provides users with seamless access to Bitcoin growth contracts, real-time market insights, and institutional-grade security. Leveraging advanced AI and analytics, Sable VC's platform optimizes asset allocation and identifies high-potential blockchain ventures. Jonathan F., President of Sable VC, stated, "Our goal has always been to make Bitcoin investment simple, secure, and intelligent." An Android version is also under development.
‍SharpLink Gaming to Deploy $200M ETH into Linea DeFi SharpLink Gaming plans to deploy $200 million worth of ETH into DeFi protocols on the Linea layer-2 network. This multi-year initiative, in partnership with Consensys, aims to generate enhanced yields through a risk-managed approach, including native staking, restaking, and network incentives. Joseph Chalom, SharpLink Co-CEO, stated, "This deployment allows us to access the best of Ethereum’s staking, restaking and DeFi yield, while maintaining the institutional safeguards." The operations will be secured via Anchorage Digital Bank. This move is part of SharpLink's strategy to develop institutional capital markets infrastructure on Ethereum. SharpLink is the second-largest publicly traded ETH holder with nearly 860,000 ETH. This deployment signals growing institutional interest in DeFi yield opportunities and the maturity of layer-2 solutions.