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Custodia Chief Doubts TradFi’s Ability To Handle Crypto Bear Market

by admin August 24, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Custodia CEO and key crypto figure Caitlin Long has questioned the readiness of traditional finance firms for their first-ever crypto winter. Speaking with CNBC on Friday at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium 2025, Long emphasized that while Wall Street’s increasing involvement has fueled the current market cycle, its legacy systems and risk models may prove inadequate when the inevitable bear market returns.

Wall Street Titans May Not Be Ready For A Crypto Market Downturn – Custodia Boss

In answering a question on the significance of institutional involvement in the crypto market, Long contrasted the early days of crypto, when retail investors and grassroots participants worked to expand decentralization and secure networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum, with today’s landscape dominated by institutional finance. According to the Custodia founder, the cycle is now largely driven by Wall Street titans who are building financial wrappers, derivatives, and corporate treasuries around digital assets.

Notably, institutional participation in crypto has hit record highs in recent years. The Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which launched early last year, have been TradFi’s biggest digital asset success, boasting $53.80 billion in cumulative inflows. Meanwhile, Spot Ethereum ETFs are beginning to gather momentum, registering $8.20 billion since the beginning of July alone.

While this influx has undoubtedly brought credibility and capital to the sector, Long warned that the traditional playbooks of these institutions are not suited to assets with finite supply, e.g, Bitcoin. The former Morgan Stanley executive and Custodia CEO said:

….They (TradFi) are perfectly comfortable taking more leverage than you would take with an asset of finite supply because they have all these mechanisms to bail them out in the event that supply for an asset becomes too tight. They have discount window. They have fault tolerances built into the securities system so that if the books don’t balance, it’s okay. They can always go the next day and get the shares from the market the next day.

By contrast, crypto operates in real time with no external buffers. Caitlin Long explains that this structural difference could leave TradFi firms exposed if they attempt to apply conventional leverage and hedging strategies to a market that behaves rather differently. Having witnessed multiple boom-and-bust cycles since 2012, the Custodia boss expressed certainty that another downturn will come despite the remarkable market growth in the present cycle, and questions whether traditional players will be able to withstand its impact.

Crypto Market Overview

At the time of writing, the total market crypto cap is valued at $3.95 trillion, following a minor 0.94% decline in the past day.

Total crypto market cap valued at $3.95 trillion | Source: TOTAL chart on Tradingview.com

Featured image from Fox Business, chart from Tradingview

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

15 Best White Noise Machines (2025): Lectrofan, Snooz, Hatch, and More

by admin August 24, 2025

Compare Our Top Picks

More Sound Machines We Like

Baby Brezza Sleep and Soother for $30: This is super light, can run on batteries or be plugged in, and has 18 sleep sounds and three timer options (or it plays continuously). There’s also a night light with three brightness levels.

Yogasleep Hushh 2 Portable Sound Machine for $30: The Hushh 2 is another great portable sound machine that you should consider. It has six sounds, three timer options, and a nice night light for softly illuminating your bedside table or guiding your way to the bathroom. The brand says this model is its most durable sound machine. I didn’t fling it down the stairs, but it has held up to falling off my nightstand.

Lectrofan Evo for $60: Another solid option from the brand that makes our top pick. The Evo has a few more sound choices (like ocean noises) and looks nicer, but we prefer the buttons on the Classic. They’re better for fiddling with in the dark. This one also jumped in price recently.

Dreamegg D1 for $36: This one plays a lot of the same sounds as the D11 portable machine, with a handful more fans and a spectrum of noises. The control panel is matte and soft to the touch, and you can set it to play continuously or for 30, 60, or 90 minutes. I tried the white version, but you can get a few other nice colors on the Dreamegg site. The rim also lights up.

Encalife Sound Machine for $86: This little sound machine has a blue light that you can match your breathing to in order to relax. You’ll also likely find it on sale often, which is good because I wouldn’t spend $86 on it. A very similar model is available under numerous brand names for far less money. Encalife says these are ripoffs, rather than from the same manufacturer. We can’t confirm that, but either way there are better options on this list for less.

Avoid

Allway Aqua10 for $119: I love that this looks like a cute Marshall amp and works as a decent-sounding Bluetooth speaker for sleep sounds and anything else you want to listen to the rest of the day. You need the Allway app to access the sounds, which include crackling fires, busy cafes, a spectrum of colored noises, and a wide selection of instrumentals. They’ll play for anywhere from five to 120 minutes. The Aqua10 also has a humidifier function, which looks extremely cool paired with lights that illuminate the vapor like a fire. But I found it to be fussy and leaky, and it seemed to stop even though the reservoir was full. It’s no longer available on Amazon, which might say something about its longevity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Keep A White Noise Machine All Night?

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If you plan on keeping your white noise machine playing sound on loop all night, make sure first that it has the capacity to do so. Some machines run on 30-, 60-, or 90-minute timers that auto-shut off, while others are continuous.

Does A Fan Make A Good White Noise Machine?

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In a pinch, you can use a bedside or box fan in place of a white noise machine. It will create consistent noise (as well as temperature control for hot sleepers) to help you fall asleep. However, if you aren’t wanting to keep the room a bit cooler, or want more varied noise options, a sound machine’s the stronger choice.

How Did WIRED Select Models to Be Reviewed?

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WIRED works with many brands on a partnership basis, where samples are provided to us for free to test and we give our honest feedback. In these partnerships, we also earn commission if they end up making the cut on whatever topic we are researching—in this case, sound machines. That doesn’t automatically mean they get premier placement on an article nor is it not the only way we select models. There are plenty that we find and purchase ourselves during research.

What Does WIRED Do With the Sound Machines After Testing Them?

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Just like all products we test, including mattresses, pillows, sheets, and more, everything is donated to our local communities when testing is finished.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Arthur Hayes predicts $20000 Ethereum as best ERC-20 tokens gain

GameFi Guides

Best Altcoins Make Gains as Arthur Hayes Predicts Ethereum to $20,000

by admin August 24, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Arthur Hayes believes that Ethereum will push to $10,000 or even $20,000 this cycle, fueled by Donald Trump’s pro-crypto policies.

Hayes’ prediction came during an interview with Crypto Banter where he said that Ethereum breaking through its previous ATH could push it to $20,000 before the end of the cycle.

As Hayes explained, two major factors will fuel Ethereum’s next bull cycle: Trump’s pro-crypto legislation and the increase in institutional adoption.

The first signs of a bull move should become obvious this fall, as the GENIUS Act takes effect, which could push the best altcoins in frenzy mode.

Ethereum’s Marathon Fueled By Institutional Adoption Craze and Favorable Legislation

Trump’s GENIUS Act is the main catalyst behind Ethereum’s 2025 ATH of $4,880 reached yesterday, which may signal the beginning of the alt season.

The GENIUS Act seeks to bring clarity, security, and transparency into the cryptosphere by forcing stablecoin issuers to back their tokens with liquid assets like dollars and governmental bonds.

The Act also protects crypto enthusiasts against illicit activities and scams.

This is what drove the Department of Treasury to issue a Request for Comment on August 18, asking for the public’s opinion on how to tackle illicit activity in the crypto sphere.

This endeavor is part of the implementation process of the GENIUS Act and the comment section will remain open until October 17.

Institutional adoption is another strong case for Ethereum’s next bull cycle, given the accelerated rate at which public companies buy $ETH.

According to CoinGecko, almost 2.8M $ETH are already in public treasuries, making up for 2.31% of the total Ethereum supply. BitMine is the primary investor, with over 1.5M Ethereum, worth over $7.2B.

These factors potentially lay the foundation for a $20,000 Ethereum this cycle, which would kickstart the next alt season. If that happens, the best altcoins of 2025 might see massive gains.

Here are three that you should keep on your radar.

1. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) – Bitcoin’s Layer 2 Promising Faster and Cheaper Transactions

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is the Layer 2 upgrade that promises to change Bitcoin’s network performance.

Hyper’s Canonical Bridge is the link between Layer 2 and Bitcoin’s Layer 1 and is responsible for minting the users’ Bitcoins into the Hyper layer. The Bitcoins are then accessible for use on Layer 2 or can be withdrawn back to Layer 1 whenever necessary.

The Canonical Bridge’s role is to decongest Bitcoin’s native network, circumvent the 7-TPS native cap, and deliver near-instant finality.

Together with the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), which enables the ultra-fast execution of smart contracts, the Canonical Bridge brings Bitcoin’s performance to modern standards, with high throughput and Solana-level scalability.

If you want to invest in the $HYPER presale, now’s the perfect time. The presale has raised almost $11.8M so far and it promises to push $HYPER into wealth-building territory.

Based on the project’s utility, our analysts’s price prediction for $HYPER considers a price point of $1.50 by 2030 which translates to a growth of 11,623% based on today’s price of $0.012795.

Check how to buy $HYPER right now and buy your tokens while Bitcoin Hyper is still in the presale phase.

2. Snorter Token ($SNORT) – The Telegram Bot That Turns Coin Hunting Profitable

Snorter Token ($SNORT) fuels the Snorter Bot, the ravenous Aardvark whose sole mission is to detect and snipe hot tokens on the blockchain.

The Bot finally turns coin hunting profitable thanks to its accuracy and timing, being able to snipe the target tokens in milliseconds after liquidity becomes available. This makes Snorter Bot more effective and reliable even than standard pro UIs like Raydium and Jupiter.

You also no longer need to juggle multiple wallets and browser extensions, because Snorter Bot does it all from its Telegram chat.

And no more watching over your shoulder for scams like honeypots or rug pulls, as the Aardvark’s native scam detectors highlight any suspicious project.

Snorter Token is the $3.3M presale that’s pushing $SNORT into mainstream adoption. Given Snorter Token’s utility, our analysts price prediction for $SNORT is $0.94 by the end of 2025. This is an 818% return rate based on the token’s current presale price of $0.1023.

If you want to invest, read our ‘How to buy $SNORT’ guide and secure your place at the table before the project goes public.

3. Altura ($ALU) – The Perfect Toolset for Game Devs

Altura ($ALU) is one of the most comprehensive toolsets for game developers, offering a multitude of end-to-end solutions designed to streamline the development process.

Aside from tools like Java, Typescript, and Unity SDK, Altura also offers Altura API, which allows you to ‘manage all user, item, token, and collection data, including the developer wallet, and even Smart NFTs’.

The platform also offers you the opportunity to launch your own marketplace on any chain in minutes via Altura’s native dashboard.

$ALU went public in 2021 and went through two peaks so far, with the first one pumping the token by up to 4,839%.

$ALU is now trading at $0.06669 and it’s pumping again, currently up 87% over the last 24 hours and a 24-hour trading volume 160% into the green. Given the 93% positive community sentiment, this may be your buy signal.

Go to your favorite exchange and buy your $ALU while it’s hot. However, don’t forget to visit the official website first to learn more about the project before investing.

Will Ethereum Reach $20,000?

Based on the current legislative support and the growing institutional interest, it’s not impossible that Ethereum could reach $20,000 by the end of the cycle?

Will it? Nobody can tell for sure.

What we can tell for sure is that the next alt season is upon us, at which point we’ll see Ethereum enter a sustained bull phase, once it pushes through its past ATH.

When that happens, projects like Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) and Snorter Token ($SNORT) will see a massive influx of investors as well.

Don’t take this as financial advice. Do your own research (DYOR) and invest wisely.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

The Division 2: Survivors Announced, Ubisoft Says It’s “Your Baby”

by admin August 24, 2025

Ubisoft isn’t done supporting The Division 2 just yet, as the company has announced The Division 2: Survivors, which is described as an “updated take” on the game’s survival-extraction elements. Ubisoft also shared the latest update on The Division: Resurgence.

Development on Survivors is only just beginning, Ubisoft said, noting that The Division veteran Magnus Jansen is leading production as its creative director.

Not a whole lot is known about The Division 2: Survivors, but Ubisoft said it wants to develop it alongside the community. It is “as much your baby as it is ours,” executive producer Julian Gerighty said. “We strive for transparency during its development.”

“Clear communication and community involvement are a focus as we build the new experience, and we will be closely involving you as we move forward on the development journey,” Gerighty added.

The Division 2: Survivors is on the way

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Beyond The Division 2: Survivors, Ubisoft announced that it will launch a new test for the mobile game, The Division: Resurgence, in September. A closed test will take place on iOS and Android, with more testing to follow. Ubisoft has held tests for the game since 2023, and you can sign up for this newest test on Ubisoft’s website.

The Division: Resurgence takes place in Manhattan and its story takes place between the events of The Division and The Division 2. The game is a free-to-play RPG shooter that aims to offer “the same gameplay experience” as the console/PC edition but adapted for mobile.

In addition to The Division 2: Survivors and The Division: Resurgence, Ubisoft is working on The Division 3. It was announced in 2023 with little fanfare and we still don’t know much about it.

The Division 2 is currently available on Xbox Game Pass, and not just for Ultimate subscribers–Game Pass Standard members can play it through their membership as well.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

The Hidden Ingredients Behind AI’s Creativity

by admin August 24, 2025

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.

We were once promised self-driving cars and robot maids. Instead, we’ve seen the rise of artificial intelligence systems that can beat us in chess, analyze huge reams of text, and compose sonnets. This has been one of the great surprises of the modern era: physical tasks that are easy for humans turn out to be very difficult for robots, while algorithms are increasingly able to mimic our intellect.

Another surprise that has long perplexed researchers is those algorithms’ knack for their own, strange kind of creativity.

Diffusion models, the backbone of image-generating tools such as DALL·E, Imagen, and Stable Diffusion, are designed to generate carbon copies of the images on which they’ve been trained. In practice, however, they seem to improvise, blending elements within images to create something new—not just nonsensical blobs of color, but coherent images with semantic meaning. This is the “paradox” behind diffusion models, said Giulio Biroli, an AI researcher and physicist at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris: “If they worked perfectly, they should just memorize,” he said. “But they don’t—they’re actually able to produce new samples.”

To generate images, diffusion models use a process known as denoising. They convert an image into digital noise (an incoherent collection of pixels), then reassemble it. It’s like repeatedly putting a painting through a shredder until all you have left is a pile of fine dust, then patching the pieces back together. For years, researchers have wondered: If the models are just reassembling, then how does novelty come into the picture? It’s like reassembling your shredded painting into a completely new work of art.

Now two physicists have made a startling claim: It’s the technical imperfections in the denoising process itself that leads to the creativity of diffusion models. In a paper presented at the International Conference on Machine Learning 2025, the duo developed a mathematical model of trained diffusion models to show that their so-called creativity is in fact a deterministic process—a direct, inevitable consequence of their architecture.

By illuminating the black box of diffusion models, the new research could have big implications for future AI research—and perhaps even for our understanding of human creativity. “The real strength of the paper is that it makes very accurate predictions of something very nontrivial,” said Luca Ambrogioni, a computer scientist at Radboud University in the Netherlands.

Bottoms Up

Mason Kamb, a graduate student studying applied physics at Stanford University and the lead author of the new paper, has long been fascinated by morphogenesis: the processes by which living systems self-assemble.

One way to understand the development of embryos in humans and other animals is through what’s known as a Turing pattern, named after the 20th-century mathematician Alan Turing. Turing patterns explain how groups of cells can organize themselves into distinct organs and limbs. Crucially, this coordination all takes place at a local level. There’s no CEO overseeing the trillions of cells to make sure they all conform to a final body plan. Individual cells, in other words, don’t have some finished blueprint of a body on which to base their work. They’re just taking action and making corrections in response to signals from their neighbors. This bottom-up system usually runs smoothly, but every now and then it goes awry—producing hands with extra fingers, for example.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

XYZVerse draws investors as it looks to reshape the meme market

by admin August 24, 2025

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

As major coins cool, XYZVerse gains investor buzz, with many eyeing it as the next breakout memecoin.

Summary

XYZVerse presale heats up as the first sports-driven memecoin eyeing 30x gains.
Mixing sports, memes, and GameFi, XYZVerse could be 2025’s breakout presale.
It aims to stand with token burns, liquidity reserves, and rewards.

While some well-known coins are seeing less attention this season, more eyes are turning to a new memecoin, XYZVerse (XYZ). Growing buzz around XYZ, paired with its unique features, is drawing in eager investors. Many wonder if this fresh project could soon take the spotlight and change the scene.

The enduring appeal of Dogecoin

Created in 2013, Dogecoin began as a playful take on digital currency, featuring a Shiba Inu, a nod to a popular internet meme, as its mascot. Unlike Bitcoin, Dogecoin has an uncapped supply, with 10,000 new coins generated every minute.

This unique characteristic, combined with strong community backing and endorsements from figures like Elon Musk, propelled its value significantly in 2021, briefly elevating it to a top-ten cryptocurrency with a market capitalization exceeding fifty billion dollars at its peak.

Functionally, Dogecoin operates as a streamlined version of Bitcoin. Its network relies on miners to validate transactions and earn new DOGE, benefiting from low transaction fees that facilitate rapid micro-payments and tips. While its open supply might raise concerns for some, this steady flow of coins contributes to the network’s consistent activity.

As Bitcoin approaches new all-time highs, many investors are once again turning their attention to memecoins. With its dedicated fanbase, growing adoption in payment applications, and potential for creative marketing, Dogecoin remains a dynamic asset in the current crypto market cycle.

XYZVerse aims high: Could a 30x jump be on the cards?

XYZVerse is entering the memecoin market at a time when community-driven tokens continue to dominate speculative trading. Lower-cap meme tokens are seeing renewed investor interest. As XYZVerse remains in its presale phase, it could ride this wave — provided it can sustain momentum and secure high-visibility exchange listings once it launches.

What makes XYZVerse different from the sea of memecoins is its attempt to anchor the project in sports culture. The branding leans heavily on partnerships with influencers and athletic figures, giving it a broader, more relatable identity than typical meme-driven tokens.

Tokenomics also play a role in its appeal: the project has built in a deflationary mechanism, with 17.13% of the supply allocated for token burns, helping to counter inflationary pressure. On the stability front, 15% of tokens are reserved for liquidity, a move designed to smooth trading after launch. Finally, with 10% directed toward community rewards and incentives, XYZVerse is actively trying to encourage engagement and long-term holding rather than short-term speculation.

Price forecast: Breaking down the scenarios for XYZ

Current presale price: $0.0053
Project’s own listing target: $0.10
Short-term potential (first 1–2 weeks): $0.15–$0.25, if strong listings trigger FOMO.
Medium-term outlook (6–12 months): $0.20–$0.40, assuming sustained growth, new partnerships, and broad exchange support.

Is a 3,000% surge within reach?

XYZVerse has the early ingredients of a successful launch: a strong presale, clear tokenomics, and an active community. Whether that translates into a 3,000% rally from its current presale price depends less on raw hype and more on execution, delivering the promised products, landing high-profile listings, and keeping users engaged beyond launch day.

If those pieces align, $0.10+ is within reach. The bigger question is whether XYZVerse can sustain momentum once the presale adrenaline fades.

Cardano: A green, fast, and future-ready blockchain

Cardano stands out as an innovative blockchain platform designed to support decentralized applications, tokens, and games. Its native cryptocurrency, ADA, serves multiple purposes, allowing users to make payments, save funds, or earn rewards by contributing to the network’s security.

Unlike older blockchain technologies that consume significant energy, Cardano employs a unique, energy-efficient consensus mechanism called Ouroboros. This method ensures network security while maintaining low power consumption. The network’s architecture is cleverly divided into two distinct layers: one for processing transactions and another for executing smart contracts.

This dual-layer design is highly scalable, capable of handling nearly a million transactions per second. In the current market resurgence, there’s a growing shift from energy-intensive mining coins to more environmentally friendly alternatives, and ADA fits this preference perfectly.

Conclusion

DOGE and ADA remain solid, yet focus shifts to XYZVerse, the first all-sport memecoin aiming for 30x gains, mixing sports passion, meme energy, GameFi plans, and community-led growth.

To learn more about XYZVerse, visit its website, Telegram, and Twitter.

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Bitcoin Investor Loses $91 Million to Social Engineering Scam: ZachXBT

by admin August 24, 2025

In brief

An investor lost 783 Bitcoin—$91 million worth a the time—to a social engineering scam, according to on-chain sleuth ZachXBT.
The threat actor allegedly used a coin-mixing service to try to cover their tracks.
ZachXBT alleged that three individuals used similar tactics to steal $243 million worth of Bitcoin a year ago.

A crypto investor lost 783 Bitcoin—valued at $91 million at the time of the attack—on Tuesday after falling victim to a social engineering scam, according to the pseudonymous blockchain sleuth ZachXBT.

The investigator said in a message on Telegram that the victim was approached by individuals impersonating customer support representatives for a hardware wallet manufacturer and a cryptocurrency exchange. The investigator did not identify the impersonated companies in question.

As of this writing, 783 Bitcoin is worth about $88 million, with the price of BTC falling in recent days.

The threat actor made several deposits to Wasabi Wallet, a privacy-focused Bitcoin “mixer” that suspended its services for U.S. users last year, as “the stolen funds began to peel off” across multiple digital wallets, according to ZachXBT.

Social engineering attacks can be lucrative in the cryptosphere. ZachXBT noted in the message that Tuesday’s loss took place exactly a year after he alleged three individuals stole 4,064 BTC, worth $243 million at the time, from a separate unnamed individual using similar tactics.

Two individuals were arrested in connection to the scheme in Florida a month later, after allegedly spending the funds on luxury cars, watches, and real estate. Targeting a creditor of collapsed crypto lender Genesis, they allegedly impersonated members of Google’s support team, convincing the victim to adjust their two-factor authentication settings.

On Aug 19, 2025 a victim fell for a social engineering scam and lost 783 BTC ($91M) after exchange and hardware wallet customer support were impersonated.

The stolen funds began to peel off and deposits to Wasabi were made by the threat actor.

Coincidentally this theft… pic.twitter.com/gglShNo2UC

— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) August 21, 2025

Some social engineering scams are more complex than others. It can be as unsophisticated as “SIM swapping,” where criminals try to convince a mobile service provider to transfer a victim’s phone service to a device in their possession, according to an annual FBI report.

Infamously, an SEC staff member fell victim to a SIM swapping attack in 2024, preceding the debut of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the U.S. The regulator’s X account prematurely said that the ETFs had been approved, and an Alambama later received a 14-month prison sentence for his role in facilitating the scheme.

The Bureau explicitly warned against social engineering scams in April of last year, warning that impersonating employees is also a common social engineering tactic, along with call forwarding to access victims’ phone numbers and phishing campaigns to collect sensitive information.

Job-seekers aren’t safe either. In February, cybersecurity website Bleeping Computer identified a social engineering scam in which the hacking group Crazy Evil created a fake crypto company to get applicants to download wallet-draining malware.

Daily Debrief Newsletter

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Assassin’s Creed Mirage will get fresh content later this year and it’ll be completely free

by admin August 24, 2025

The Assassin’s Creed fanbase may be waiting for the first DLC for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but Ubisoft instead confirmed new content for its previous title, Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The studio announced on the official Assassin’s Creed X account that there will be a new story chapter and missions for protagonist Basim, who will venture into ninth-century alUla. More importantly, the DLC will be free.

According to the post, Ubisoft will bring gameplay improvements to both the new content and the base game, which revisits the franchise’s roots that emphasize open-world design and stealth combat. The announcement from Ubisoft comes after a Les Echos report earlier in the year said that new content for Assassin’s Creed Mirage was created thanks to a partnership between Ubisoft and Savvy Games Group, a gaming and esports company that has backing from the Saudi Arabian government.

The upcoming DLC sheds more light on what Stephane Boudon, one of the Ubisoft developers for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, teased during a Reddit AMA following the game’s release in October 2023. In the thread, Boudon said the game was designed “as a standalone experience without any DLC plan,” only adding that the team had “ideas of how we could extend the story of Basim.” Ubisoft didn’t specify exactly when the DLC would drop, only revealing that it would be “later this year.” In the meantime, Microsoft updated its included games for the Xbox Game Pass for August, which include Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Tornado Cash’s Roman Storm Faces 5 Years for a Crime DOJ Now Says It Won’t Prosecute

by admin August 24, 2025

In brief

The DOJ announced it will no longer charge decentralized software developers under the same law used to convict Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm earlier this month.
DOJ official Matthew Galeotti clarified that prosecutors will avoid such charges when software is truly decentralized and non-custodial, though other charges could still apply if criminal intent is alleged.
The policy shift was celebrated by many crypto industry leaders as a major win, but some advocates questioned its timing and impact given Storm’s recent conviction and the DOJ’s ongoing discretion in related cases.

A top Department of Justice official told an audience of crypto industry leaders Thursday that the U.S. government will no longer charge decentralized software developers with a particular crime—the same crime federal prosecutors successfully convicted Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm of earlier this month.

The charge, U.S. code 1960(b)(1)(C), prohibits operators of unlicensed money transmitting businesses from dealing in funds known to have been derived from a crime, or intended to be used to support unlawful activity. Just weeks ago, a Manhattan jury found Storm guilty of violating the law, a crime which carries a penalty of up to five years in federal prison. The jury failed to reach a verdict on all other counts.

Today in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Matthew Galeotti—the acting head of the DOJ’s criminal division—told a group of crypto lobbyists and industry leaders gathered for a policy summit that federal prosecutors will no longer pursue 1960(b)(1)(C) charges against developers of decentralized software.

“Where the evidence shows that software is truly decentralized and solely automates peer-to-peer transactions, and where a third party does not have custody and control over user assets, new 1960(b)(1)(C) charges against a third party will not be approved,” he said.

The official added that if criminal intent is present in such instances, though, “other charges may be appropriate.”

Galeotti made a point of noting that the new policy will be implemented by the DOJ “going forward,” in a potential nod to Storm’s conviction on the very same charge earlier this month.

Storm was arrested and charged with several crimes in 2023, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and sanctions violations, for his role in operating Tornado Cash—a coin mixing service that allows crypto users to make private on-chain transactions.

When the Trump administration took over Storm’s case earlier this year, it did drop a single charge related to operating an unregistered money transmitting business—but kept the charge accusing the developer of operating Tornado Cash while knowing some of its users were processing funds linked to criminal activity.

That shift was consistent with a DOJ memo circulated in April that instructed federal prosecutors to back off most crypto-related cases—but not necessarily all.

Crypto lobbyists and industry leaders gathered today for Galeotti’s announcement hailed it, cheering him enthusiastically as soon as his speech finished. They were gathered in Wyoming for the inaugural summit of the American Innovation Project, a new pro-crypto nonprofit backed by some of the industry’s most powerful policy players.

Amanda Tuminelli, executive director of the DeFi Education Fund, a crypto lobbying group, was one industry attendee present for Galeotti’s speech today. In a statement shared with Decrypt, she celebrated the DOJ policy change and thanked the Trump department for “hearing our concerns about Section 1960.”

“The fact the DOJ acknowledged that software developers should not be held responsible for third party’s misuse of their code affirms what we have been advocating for years,” she said.

Others, though, were less optimistic. Coin Center Executive Director Peter Van Valkenburg similarly expressed gratitude for Galeotti’s statements in a post on X but lamented the fact that it’s seemingly “a little late” in Roman Storm’s case.

“I’m especially interested if the DOJ keeps fighting when Roman appeals his unlicensed money transmission verdict. If so, what is this speech all about?” Van Valkenburg posted. The Coin Center executive, who oversees the non-profit advocacy group, also expressed concern over Galeotti’s “criminal intent” caveat and noted that the DOJ official’s statements are in no way binding.

In recent months, DeFi and privacy advocates have walked a tightrope, praising the Trump administration for its pro-crypto policy shifts in most instances, but also expressing existential concern about the implications of Storm’s prosecution and conviction by the president’s DOJ.

After Galeotti’s speech this afternoon, the DOJ official participated in an off-the-record Q&A with crypto industry leaders in the room. A source present at the event told Decrypt Galeotti received no questions about the Roman Storm case.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Preorder The Shining Film Vault Special Edition At Walmart Before It’s Gone

by admin August 24, 2025

Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King fans can secure a preorder for a highly collectible 4K Blu-ray edition of The Shining at Walmart. Part of The Film Vault collector’s series, The Shining Special Edition Steelbook is available to order for $100 at Walmart ahead of its September 2 release in the US. Along with the steelbook case with new artwork, this limited-edition release comes with cigar box packaging, a double-sided poster, and a bunch of art cards. It looks like the ultimate collector’s version of the legendary horror movie, so snag a copy while you still can. A cheaper edition without the extras releases the same day. The Shining Solus Steelbook Edition is $65 and has sold out at least twice already.

Created by Vice Press in partnership with Warner Bros. UK, The Shining Special Edition is one of two early ’80s horror films in The Film Vault Wave 3. The Shining will launch alongside the 1982 supernatural horror film Poltergeist. Walmart is also taking preorders for Poltergeist’s Special Edition Steelbook and Poltergeist Solus Steelbook. Both editions were in stock at the time of writing. The Shining and Poltergeist Film Vault limited editions come with region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs.

The Film Vault Wave 3 at Walmart

$100 | Limited Edition | Releases September 2

Steelbook Case with exclusive artwork
Cigar Box with new artwork and Acetate O-Ring
- Remove O-Ring for text-free display box
Numbered Holographic Sticker
Double-sided Movie Poster
- Side 1: New poster by Matt Ferguson & Florey of Vice Press
- Side 2: Retouched version of Saul Bass’ iconic Theatrical Poster
Art Cards
- 5 Character Cards
- 3 Behind-the-Scenes Cards
The Shining on 4K Blu-ray
The Shining & Special Features on Blu-ray

Note: Both of the Film Vault editions listed on Walmart’s site, along with a couple of other retailer-exclusive versions, sold out months ago in the UK and at specialty Blu-ray shops.

Walmart will almost certainly sell out of both editions before launch. If you missed out on the 2025 Walmart-exclusive Steelbook Edition of The Shining, now’s your chance to grab one that looks much cooler. But you may want to move fast. I wrote an article about Walmart’s The Shining Steelbook when preorders opened last December, and it sold out the following day.

The Film Vault: The Shining Special Edition

The Shining Special Edition Steelbook by Vice Press & Warner Bros. UK

The Film Vault places the movie title and other text on acetate O-rings, allowing fans to choose whether to display the cigar box with or without words and logos. The new artwork by Matt Ferguson and Florey looks beautiful. The cigar box has a large silhouette of Jack Torrance with the fireman’s axe overlooking (sorry) the Overlook Hotel. On the back is Jack’s typewriter, and there are even words on the paper–likely the same sentence over and over again. The artwork on the steelbook case recreates the scene where Jack trudges through the hedge maze.

The steelbook artwork is also featured on the double-sided movie poster. The other side is a retouched version of Saul Bass’ well-known poster that was created for The Shining’s 1980 theatrical release. The eight art cards showcase memorable shots from the film as well as behind-the-scenes production photographs.

If you’re unfamiliar with The Film Vault, it’s a series of collectible editions of classic movies from the Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures film catalogs. The Film Vault was created in 2022 by Vice Press, a UK company specializing in officially licensed movie collectibles and artwork. All of the 4K Blu-rays released by The Film Vault are region-free discs, but as a UK company, these limited-edition versions of all-time classics aren’t regularly found at US retailers. We suspect The Shining is exclusive to Walmart in the US.

The Film Vault: The Shining Steelbook Edition

The Shining Solus Steelbook Edition by Vice Press & Warner Bros. UK

At the time of writing, The Shining Solus Steelbook Limited Edition is sold out–but we’d recommend checking to see if Walmart restocked it. It has already received at least one restock. It was sold out when I first found the store page August 22, but I was able to order a copy on August 23, just a few hours before writing this story.

The above image provides a look at the back cover of the steelbook case and the hedge maze landscape artwork on the inside covers. Just like with the Special Edition, the Solus Steelbook comes with an acetate O-ring with with the title and other text. It is worth noting that the Special Edition’s O-ring is for the cigar box–you won’t get a second O-ring for the steelbook case.

$124 | 2-Book Hardcover Box Set (1,396 Pages)

If you are interested in a $100 edition of The Shining, it’s a safe bet that you or someone you know is a huge fan. As a massive fan myself, I can say that if I had to choose between a fancy new edition of The Shining on 4K Blu-ray or the recently released compendium about the film, I would pick the compendium without thinking twice.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a two-volume, 1,396-page box set that offers a staggeringly comprehensive look at the making of the film. This beautiful slipcase collection was designed by M/M Paris and published by Taschen earlier this year.

Written by J.W. Rinzler and edited by Pixar director Lee Unkrich, this compendium is based on hundreds of hours of interviews and mountains of investigative research. The first book, which includes an introduction by Steven Spielberg, chronicles every step of the production. When I received my copy earlier this year, I was astounded by the level of detail provided throughout the roughly 900-page hardcover book. If there’s a more thorough making-of book about a single movie, I would be shocked. This book is nearly as long as all three volumes in Rinzler’s The Making of Star Wars series, which is also fantastic.

The box set also comes with a gorgeous scrapbook filled with a wide array of photographs, artwork, and documents related to the production of The Shining.

To put it simply: This compendium is the best collection of behind-the-scenes material–across any medium–I’ve ever read.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is in stock at Amazon for $124, but it’s unknown how many copies the publisher printed and whether it will receive additional print runs. Amazon sold out when preorders opened last summer, and the box set remained out of stock until a few months ago.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments