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Qualcomm announces Snapdragon X2, the first 5 GHz Arm CPU, its ‘biggest advance in PC gaming’ and the chip that might finally make gaming on Arm an actual thing

by admin September 25, 2025

Qualcomm has announced its second-gen Snapdragon X2 SoC for PCs and with it come some big claims, especially for gaming performance. The new chip has 18 CPU cores, 50% more than the the OG Snapdragon X, and over double the GPU performance. But will this actually translate into usable gaming performance?

First, some more details as announced at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit 2025. Qualcomm has shrunk Snapdragon X2 down to 3 nm thanks to a newer production process from TSMC. That’s essentially the enabler for everything else that follows.

The 18 cores are all a new third-gen Oryon design that Qualcomm claims was started from a “blank slate.” The result is 39% improved per-core performance and 50% faster peak multi-threaded CPU performance. To that you can add 2.3x peak GPU performance and 78% more NPU performance.

What’s more, Qualcomm claims to have created the first 5 GHz Arm chip. Oh, and the top chip now has a 192-bit memory bus and supports 4K 144 Hz displays. This is serious stuff.

In fact, Qualcomm has introduced a whole new tier of Snapdragon for the top model. The 18-core 5 GHz variant will be know as the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Edition. Shades of Intel, intentionally or otherwise.

Of course, it’s gaming we’re most concerned with and Qualcomm is making some pretty serious claims. Performance is up hugely compared with the first-gen Snapdragon X chips. Black Myth Wukong runs 2.1x faster than before. The same applies to Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2. Hitman World of Assassination is claimed to be 2.2x faster, and a slew of further games are around the 2x mark.

Qualcomm is making some mega claims for gaming performance. (Image credit: Qualcomm)

All told, Qualcomm’s head of compute and gaming, Kedar Kondap, says the new chip is “Snapdragon’s biggest advance in PC gaming.” However, just as important as pure performance is efficiency. Here, Qualcomm reckons the new chip delivers 44% more CPU performance per watt than an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H and 75% more performance per watt than AMD’s Ryzen 9 AI HX 370.

As for GPU efficiency, the second-gen Snapdragon X is said to be 52% better than Intel’s Lunar Lake laptop chips. The same gaming performance as Lunar Lake but with dramatically lower power consumption, or a lot more performance for the same power budget, would be very interesting for a handheld gaming PC. Bottom line, if all of this is true, then the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Edition is one heck of a chip.

There will also be a 12-core plain-old Elite version. It’s not totally clear if that offers the same GPU and NPU performance, but the branding for the Adreno GPU implies the 12-core chip gets a lower spec. But if it does, that’s a pity as an 18-core CPU is probably overkill.

Of course, the big question hanging over all this is game support. “We are collaborating across the industry to bring more titles on Snapdragon,” Kondap said in front of a presentation slide showing a long list of supported titles.

In our testing, Snapdragon’s gaming support thus far has fallen well short of Qualcomm’s bullish claims, whatever the raw capabilities of its chips. And that remains the doubt. Even if the new Snapdragon X2 is super fast, will games actually run reliably?

The top chip even gets a 192-bit memory bus. (Image credit: Qualcomm)

But here’s the thing. Sometimes you get a sense from a product launch that a company knows they have something special. That’s the vibe I got from the Snapdragon X2 launch. A lot of that is probably down to the use of TSMC 3 nm technology. No other PC vendor is currently offering 3 nm GPU tech, integrated or discrete.

On paper, then, this thing looks like a huge advance and the best APU for handheld PCs. It should be far faster than anything AMD or Intel can currently offer, if you ignore AMD’s Strix Halo, which isn’t truly a chip for handhelds and costs megabucks.

In the end, of course, it will all hinge on software, both the games themselves and Qualcomm’s GPU drivers. We’ve heard it all before when it comes to gaming on Arm. But if Qualcomm can make some strides on the software, then this chip needs to be taken very seriously in the handheld gaming market. It could be awesome.

Best handheld PC 2025

All our current recommendations

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September 25, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Biggest Is Best, Except If It’s Not

by admin September 25, 2025

This past April marked the 10-year anniversary of the Apple Watch. Those early aluminum, stainless steel, and—yes—18k gold models launched without a clear idea of what they were for. Apple wanted its smartwatch to be a fashionable timepiece, a fitness tracker, a cellphone, a music player, a turn-by-turn navigator, and more. It seemed obvious that the Apple Watch could eventually replace the iPhone. A decade later, that is not only not the case, it’s looking like it may never be, though the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is ever closer (but still a far way off) from that dream.

Starting at $800, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is not cheap. That’s the same price as an iPhone 17—a whole damn computer with great cameras, not an accessory for your phone. The first Apple Watch Ultra targeted adventurers and outdoorsy types like divers, justifying the price and large size as fitting for these groups of people who want a bigger screen, longer battery life, more precise GPS, and a customizable Action button.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the biggest and most feature-packed smartwatch that Apple sells, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to upgrade.

Pros

Big screen
Satellite connectivity is useful for emergencies
Even longer battery life
Rugged and durable
Sleep Score is great

Cons

Too still huge
Still $800
Only two colors

Fast forward three years, and I see people donning Apple Watch Ultras on their wrists even if they’re not going mountain climbing or scuba diving. My sister gifted her husband an Apple Watch Ultra because he’s got a big wrist. I have several friends with dainty wrists, and yet they don’t seem to care that the Apple Watch Ultra looks massive because the screen is large and the battery lasts for 2 to 3 days on a single charge. The Apple Watch Ultra is no longer just for enthusiasts; Ultra just means you get the most features in Apple’s smartwatch lineup.

That pretty much sums up the Apple Watch Ultra 3. It’s still the same design as the first and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, except now it has some more stuff. Do you need all the new features? Read my helpful little guide here. Otherwise, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is just a better version.

Same Ultra design, now 3D-printed

I am not an Apple Watch Ultra user. I understand its appeal and, hell, I even like some chonky watches like G-Shocks, but I find the Apple Watch Ultra just too bulky; the case is too thick and the screen is too big. More power to you if these are things you want. The 49mm titanium case—in natural or black—is rugged, and the display is big by design. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is better at surviving unpredictable outdoor weather and conditions compared to non-Ultra models, but anybody who simply wants the durability or easier-to-see display could appreciate it. Who am I to tell you that a smartwatch is too big if you want it? For the same reasons some people prefer the tank-like iPhone 17 Pro Max over the super slim iPhone Air and its tradeoffs, I’m more a regular Apple Watch “Series” guy than Ultra.

Invisible to the naked eye is how the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is produced. This time, instead of being CNC’d out of a block of aluminum, Apple is 3D-printing the cases using 100% recycled titanium, which not only wastes less of the metal, but is more environmentally friendly since it doesn’t require new mining. I’m not out here bashing my Apple Watch Ultra 3 review unit against rocks, so I can’t confirm the rigidity of the 3D-printed case, but I did have some startling contact with my kitchen cabinet doors and a pile of 40-pound cat litter boxes, where I thought I might have scuffed or chipped the black case. But nope, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 suffered no damage. Not even a scrape.

On the whole, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is virtually the same smartwatch as the Ultra 2. The screen is so minimally bigger because Apple thinned the black bezel around it that it’s not even measurable with a ruler. Nor does Apple even have an official display size spec for it. All of that’s to say you won’t be seeing more content on the sapphire crystal display. The screen is also equally as bright as the Ultra 2. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 display uses a more advanced LTPO 3 display technology versus LTPO 2, but that’s really more for power efficiency than making the screen any more visible.

There’s a new “Waypoint” watch face with a compass that I like the look of, even though I don’t need to know which direction I’m facing riding on the subway from Queens to Manhattan or Brooklyn. The watch face is also not exclusive to the Ultra 3; Ultra and Ultra 2 owners can get it with the watchOS 26 update.

Inside is a new S10 chip, but nobody is begging for more performance in the Apple Watch Ultra 3. watchOS 26 is as zippy and responsive as on my Apple Watch Series 9. If there’s anything the S10 chip enables, it’s 5G and satellite communications—two firsts for Apple Watches.

If you cannot entertain the idea of a big smartwatch on your wrist, even with the upsides of a larger screen and longer battery life, Apple is happy to sell you an Apple Watch Series 11 or an SE 3. Smartwatch size, after all, is a matter of personal preference. Though, you will only get the highest water-resistance rating (100m) on the Ultra models.

More health tracking features

Even though the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is mostly a spec bump update, there are two features—hypertension notifications and Sleep Score—that may sway you if you have a first-gen Ultra or an Apple Watch model that isn’t getting the two features via watchOS 26.

I went into more detail on hypertension notifications and Sleep Score in a previous write-up. I’ve found both features to be very useful. Hypertension notifications work in the background after initial setup and are something you hope to never receive. Essentially, your Apple Watch Ultra 3 will send you a notification if it detects signs that you may have high blood pressure. The smartwatch isn’t measuring your blood pressure (it’s not a medical diagnosis), but merely using data from the optical heart rate sensor to correlate it against a “machine learning-based algorithm” for patterns typical of hypertension. The feature is FDA-cleared, which is different from FDA-approved, and means that Apple has demonstrated that hypertension notifications are safe and effective compared to other similarly marketed devices.

The same way I hope my Apple Watch will never have to call emergency services to alert them that I’ve fallen down, there is no reason not to turn on hypertension notifications. It’s a precautionary feature that could mean the difference between life and death. Since Series 4, Apple has positioned the Apple Watch not as a healthcare provider replacement, but as a health guardian. Hypertension notifications are just another addition to the Apple Watch’s, er, watchful eye.

Sleep Score is also the sleep tracking function that I think everybody has been waiting for. It’s catching up to other wearables and smartwatches, but in typical Apple fashion, presented better in every way. Sleep Score automatically kicks in when you fall asleep while wearing your Apple Watch Ultra 3. It measures duration, bedtime, and interruptions, and then presents them in a donut-shaped sleep ring along with a score. You’ll see your sleep classified as very low, low, OK, high, or excellent. You can scroll to see more detailed sleep data or open up the Health app on your paired iPhone to get even more in-depth metrics. All of this information is presented very clearly and in easy-to-understand charts.

I likened Sleep Score to Activity Rings. Seeing a “low” Sleep Score every morning really did make me want to achieve “OK” or even “high.” I’ll be impressed if I ever see “excellent,” given how erratic my sleep is. But that’s the whole point of Sleep Score—to help you build daily routines that improve your sleep. We commoners may think burning the midnight oil is the way to get ahead, but sleep is health, and health is wealth. Billionaire Bill Gates and multimillionaire Arianna Huffington attribute good, consistent sleep as the secret to living longer and healthier lives. Huffington even wrote a whole book on sleep and its unappreciated powers. (My cats, Lemons and Kiwi, who sleep 12+ hours every day, also corroborate that good sleep is essential to happiness.)

Now, am I saying the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been successful at bullying me into winding down at my set schedule every night and getting enough shuteye? I wish it were, but I’m only human, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t prone to ignoring my Sleep Score on some days to stay up and rot my brain with Netflix and Switch 2. Maybe you’re more disciplined than I am. I have tons of friends who are addicted to closing their Activity Rings because it’s gamified in a way. If seeing a number and a donut that gets thicker or thinner helps you sleep better, then why the hell not?

You don’t need to buy an Apple Watch Ultra 3 to get hypertension notifications or Sleep Score. Hypertension notifications are free in watchOS 26 for Apple Watch Series 9 and later, or Ultra 2. If you have an Apple Watch Series 6 and later, SE 2, or Ultra and later, the update also adds Sleep Score.

Peace of mind with 5G and satellite comms

Some half a decade after 5G promised to revolutionize smartphones with wicked fast data speeds and make poor connections a thing of the past, the cellular connection is finally available on all three 2025 Apple Watch models. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really translate to any noticeable real-world benefit. Cellular connectivity on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is not considerably faster than on my Apple Watch Series 9. Built-in 5G is more for futureproofing. One day, 4G networks will be turned off the same way 2G and 3G networks were sunset. But that’s many years ahead, and who knows if the Ultra 3 will even be functional by then.

However, the new wireless connection exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 that you might appreciate is satellite connectivity. Like the feature on iPhones, the satellite connection on the Ultra 3 works the same. You can use it to communicate with emergency services (Emergency SOS), send messages to contacts, or share your location via Find My app. How you access satellite services on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 tells you how Apple intends people to use the feature: not often, and likely only when you can’t connect to a 4G or 5G cell tower. There’s no satellite app on the honeycomb “home screen.” Instead, you access satellite services by adding a shortcut button within Control Center.

Using satellite services on the Ultra 3 works just like on a supported iPhone. First, you need to be outside to establish a connection to a satellite in the sky. Then, you move your wrist left and right to connect, which can take a few seconds depending on where you are and what your line of sight to the sky is. Once connected, you can tap through buttons for the three features; you don’t need to keep your wrist aimed at the sky anymore. It works well, and contacts you send messages or your location to will see a label that you communicated via satellite. This is for them to know that you’re out of civilization range and may need aid if you haven’t made it safely back.

Again, the fact that satellite services is an opt-in setting, not an app, that you need to turn on within Control Center tells you it’s for either emergencies or just check-ins. You won’t be using satellite services daily, unless you’re living off the grid all the time. But even then, satellite connections are not as fast as cellular. It’s a nice feature to have for those just-in-case moments, but you have to ask yourself whether it’s worth buying a gadget with reassurance features you’ll hopefully never need to use.

Apple’s biggest and best smartwatch, but it may not necessarily be yours

The same way an iPhone 17 Pro Max is just a newer iPhone with improved features, an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is still just an Apple Watch. You get some new stuff because it’s the shiny new smartwatch, but it’s fundamentally the same device. It’s no longer like the early days of the Apple Watch when new features felt foundational with each generation or two.

Do you really need a big, thick smartwatch with all its features? Could you make do with fewer features to save some money? The Apple Watch Ultra 3, specifically, has everything that Apple could fit into a 49mm case design. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right fit for your needs and wrist size. If my Apple Watch Series 9 didn’t work just fine (and get hypertension and Sleep Score with watchOS 26), I would consider the Apple Watch Series 11 over the Ultra 3 simply because of its smaller size (I don’t need an Action button or up to 42 hours of battery life). The Apple Watch SE 3 is an incredible value for $250 if you want just the basics, but it’d be a downgrade from my model. Before I picked up a Series 9, I had a Series 4, and before that, the original “Series 0.” That’s the thing about Apple Watches—they last several years until software updates make them too slow or incompatible with iPhones.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is an excellent smartwatch if its size and feature set appeal to you. But you absolutely don’t need to upgrade if you have a model from recent years. Get the Apple Watch size that literally fits your wrist best or has the features you want the most. As for Android users, you’re out of luck again since you still need an iPhone to set up any Apple Watch. Fortunately, there are great Wear OS options like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, Google’s Pixel Watch 4, and the OnePlus Watch 3 series.

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September 25, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Louisiana Hands Meta a Tax Break and Power for Its Biggest Data Center

by admin September 23, 2025

The agreement sets out hiring timelines that the company must also hit to receive these tax incentives: Meta can receive the highest property tax exemption as long as it hires the equivalent of 300 “full-time” jobs by 2030, 450 by 2032, 475 by 2033 and 500 by December 31, 2034.

Louisiana’s agreements ask for more than some other states’ tax subsidies. According to Good Jobs First, nearly half of state tax subsidies for data centers don’t require any new jobs to be created. But Miller has concerns that the tax breaks were not necessary at all to entice a company as large as Meta. “While everyone likes to avoid taxes, they’re not going to hire people in Richland [Parish] just because they’re going to get a tax break,” Miller says.

Louisiana had already amended a tax rebate to create an exemption for data centers in 2024 to entice Meta; in its latest iteration, it says data centers can receive a full sales tax exemption for equipment purchases in the state as long as they hire 50 full-time jobs and invest at least $200 million by July 1, 2029. A separate contract viewed by WIRED affirms that this applies to the Richland Parish data center, in addition to the PILOT agreement.

Good Jobs First says that at least 10 states have subsidies for data centers that are worth more than $100 million each, and “have suffered estimated losses of $100 million each in tax revenue for data centers,” according to its data. In total, these states forgo more than $3 billion in taxes annually for data centers. Texas revised the cost of its data center subsidy in 2025 from $130 million to $1 billion. In 2024, a pause on data center subsidies was passed in Georgia but vetoed by governor Brian Kemp.

The Franklin Farms site in Holly Ridge, the area of Richland Parish where Meta’s data center is being built, was purchased by Louisiana specifically for economic development projects. In its ground lease with Meta, Louisiana offered the 1,400-acre plot to the company for $12 million, which the lease says was the cost to the state of acquiring and maintaining the land. The lease also says Meta’s $732,000 a year “rent” is “credit toward the Base Purchase Price,” meaning the company will have paid for the property by a little over 16 years into its 30-year lease.

The price for the potential sale would be slightly higher if Meta does not reach minimum hiring and investment thresholds: As an example, the lease says if Meta only spends $4 billion in the state instead of $5 billion, the property would end up costing it $19 million. Louisiana Economic Development reserves the right to reclaim the property if Meta doesn’t invest at least $3.75 billion and hire the equivalent of 225 “full-time” jobs by 2028. When asked if Meta plans to purchase the property, Clayton said, “We’ll keep you updated on our future plans for this site.”

Meta’s presence has already caused land values to jump. A nearby tract of 4,000 acres of land in Holly Ridge is for sale for $160 million, or $40,000 per acre—more than 4.5 times the price paid by Louisiana for the data center’s site.

But there’s also a concern that Meta could delay or abandon the data center project. The PILOT agreement its subsidiary signed with the state says the company’s timeline will depend on “numerous factors outside of the control of the lessee, such as market orientation and demand, competition, availability of qualified laborers to construct and/or weather conditions.”

“My general fear is that too many data centers are being built,” Miller says. “That means some of the data centers are just going to be abandoned by the owners.”

She says in the scenario that Big Tech cuts back investments in data centers, Meta would not even be able to find another buyer. “Essentially, the state will be stuck with this warehouse full of computers,” Miller says.

Update: 9/22/2025, 12:50 PM EDT: Wired has clarified the subhead to reflect how critics perceive the data center.

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September 23, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

$180 Billion XRP Faces Its Biggest Upgrade Yet With New Ripple DeFi Roadmap

by admin September 22, 2025

Ripple’s new roadmap makes it clear that XRP, already valued at $180 billion, is being promoted as an institutional DeFi asset at a time when the sector is demonstrating its true size: $161.8 billion is locked in protocols, $292.8 billion in stablecoins, $15.6 billion is traded daily on DEXes and there is $23 billion in perpetuals volume, according to DefiLlama.

The message is clear: XRPL is evolving beyond payments to encompass the compliance, credit and tokenized markets, where billions are already changing hands daily.

1/ Institutional DeFi is here and the XRP Ledger has solidified its position as the trusted open source settlement layer for global institutions.

The next phase of the roadmap starts now. Explore it below and read the full blog for details 🧵⬇️ https://t.co/YLQ9Po8xMQ

— RippleX (@RippleXDev) September 22, 2025

Upgrades are now live, with on-chain proof of regulatory status, freeze controls for issuers and simulation tools for reducing errors. These features address regulators’ concerns, contributing to the growth of XRPL’s stablecoin, which recently surpassed $1 billion in a single month, and its position in the top 10 real-world asset chains, valued at $15.6 billion in DeFi. XRP’s role as a settlement asset within this system continues to expand.

Source: DefiLlama

The bigger shift will come with version 3.0. A protocol-level lending system will pool liquidity and issue loans natively under KYC/AML standards, creating cheaper institutional credit and direct yield opportunities. The Multi-Purpose Token standard, due in October, will allow bonds and structured products to be issued and traded directly on XRPL.

Bottom line

These are not side experiments but are ways of pulling regulated money into markets where XRP is both the collateral and the liquidity rail.

Privacy is next. Zero-knowledge proofs are being developed to enable institutions to transact and collateralize positions without revealing details while still passing audits.

In a market where ETFs are pulling in inflows of $270 million in a single day and stablecoins are approaching $300 billion, Ripple’s plan signals that XRP is not just surviving but is being positioned to sit at the heart of the largest flows in digital finance.

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September 22, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

XRP’s Biggest Drawback Uncovered by Top Analyst, It Is Not Price

by admin September 21, 2025

XRP, within the week, dipped below the psychological $3 level again and shed 6.21% in the last seven days. This long, drawn-out consolidation has raised concerns among XRP investors. Versan Aljarrah, the founder of Black Swan Capitalist, has shared new insights into the seeming stagnation in the price of the asset.

XRP price suppression strategy

Aljarrah claims that the low price of XRP is not a weakness in the momentum of the asset. Rather, it is due to major institutions intentionally suppressing it for their own interest. According to him, these powerful traditional institutions are looking to stockpile XRP at this low price, hence the deliberate suppression.

We agree, #XRP isn’t stuck, it’s being stalled, the strategic value alone confirms it,

If the dollar is overextended and liquidity is strained as a result, XRP is the alternative source and bridge that provides liquidity for institutions,

Thats how it becomes the solution. https://t.co/ZadNEIUhhk

— Black Swan Capitalist (@VersanAljarrah) September 19, 2025

Aljarrah appears aligned with the views of Jim Willie, who alleged that big banks, including BlackRock, the asset manager, are actively accumulating the asset to have leverage when the price soars to over $7-$8, where it ought to be at this point.

Both views imply that there is a deliberate conspiracy going on that involves the manipulation of XRP’s price. Aljarrah and Willie maintain that this is deliberate so that these powerful financial institutions can buy it cheaply before it gains adoption in the traditional finance space.

“If the U.S. dollar is overextended and liquidity is strained as a result, XRP is the alternative source and bridge that provides liquidity for institutions,” Aljarrah wrote.

The Black Swan Capitalist founder believes XRP could serve as a “bridge currency” that supplies liquidity for global transactions when the U.S. fiat currency faces stress.

XRP price performance and ETF anticipation

XRP slipped from a peak of $3.05 as the $3 support gave way due to market volatility. As of this writing, XRP price was changing hands at $2.98, which represents a 1.75% decline in the last 24 hours of trading. This has triggered caution among investors as trading volume has declined by a significant 27.53% to $4.08 billion within the same time frame.

XRP traders have been in a sell mode after the asset’s Bollinger Bands signaled the $3 support might give way earlier in the week. This technical signal, combined with XRP’s performance history for September, could be behind the significant pullback seen on the part of market participants.

Meanwhile, the broader crypto industry awaits the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Many believe an approval will trigger a price surge.

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September 21, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Moon Helium Deal Is the Biggest Space Resource Grab Yet

by admin September 20, 2025

For billions of years, solar winds have bombarded the Moon. Over time, this constant onslaught of charged particles has caused helium-3 to accumulate in the lunar surface. This isotope is rare on Earth, and rising demand from several industries—including quantum computing—has incentivized some companies to explore the possibility of lunar mining.

One such company is Interlune, a Seattle-based startup that aims to extract natural resources—primarily helium-3—from the lunar surface. Interlune eventually hopes to sell its harvested helium-3 to government and commercial customers in the national security, medical imaging, fusion energy, and quantum computing industries—and it just struck a major commercial deal.

The largest purchase of lunar resources yet

On Tuesday, Interlune announced a partnership with Bluefors, a leading manufacturer of dilution refrigerators and one of the world’s largest consumers of helium-3. Its continuous cooling systems use helium-3 to keep quantum computers running at the ultra-low temperatures required for maintaining qubit stability and reliable operation.

As the quantum computing industry moves toward commercialization—with tech giants such as Google, IBM, and Microsoft reporting progress in scaling—the demand for helium-3 is set to rise. Bluefors agreed to purchase up to 10,000 liters of helium-3 annually from Interlune between 2028 and 2037. This substance trades at around $2,500 per liter, according to a 2024 estimate from The Edelgas Group. The deal is the largest purchase of lunar resources to date.

“A majority of the quantum technology industry relies on Bluefors systems to operate and accelerate development,” Rob Meyerson, Interlune co-founder and CEO, said in a company release. “We are excited to help Bluefors continue advancing companies toward unlocking scientific and medical discoveries made possible only by near-absolute-zero temperatures.”

How Interlune plans to mine the Moon by 2028

Meyerson, former president of Blue Origin, founded Interlune in 2020 alongside former chief architect Gary Lai and Harrison Schmitt, the only living member of Apollo 17. Ever since that mission, Schmitt—a geologist—has advocated for humanity to harness the Moon’s helium-3 reserves.

Interlune has spent the past five years working toward that goal. The company has raised over $18 million in venture funding to develop robotic harvesters and launch a demonstration mission in 2027 as well as a pilot plant by 2029, according to SpaceNews.

This funding and the clearly laid-out roadmap are promising, but it remains to be seen whether Interlune will overcome the steep technological, logistical, and financial challenges of lunar mining by 2028. Though the prospect has garnered plenty of buzz in recent years, very few companies have made real progress toward achieving it.

What’s more, some experts argue that the value of mining the Moon’s helium-3 is overblown. The fact is, we don’t know for sure how much is up there. And although the highest concentrations measured in the Apollo and Luna samples are greater than Earth’s, they’re still very low.

For now, the Moon’s helium-3 is more promise than product, but Interlune’s deal with Bluefors signals rising demand from the quantum computing industry—and could mark a major step toward a new era of space resource extraction.

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September 20, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Biggest Crypto Market Volatility Indicator Just Flashed

by admin September 19, 2025

Capital rotation
Alts back?

The SOL/ETH ratio, which flashes a strong volatility warning for the larger digital asset ecosystem, has broken higher, sending one of the crypto market’s most underappreciated but potent signals. The SOL/ETH ratio shows the momentum balance between Ethereum — the leading layer-1 smart contract platform — and Solana, one of its fastest-growing rivals, in contrast to isolated price movements of BTC or ETH.

Capital rotation

Since capital rotation between ETH and SOL frequently spills into mid- and small-cap tokens, recent sharp movements in this pair have historically served as a barometer for altcoin and DeFi cycles. At the moment, the ratio indicates that Solana is strongly outperforming Ethereum, which suggests that risk appetite is returning to the DeFi and altcoin industries.

When Solana gains strength against ETH, it frequently happens before waves of speculation spread throughout secondary ecosystems, supplying liquidity to new DeFi and decentralized exchanges. This dynamic has increased market volatility on multiple occasions. In terms of charting, SOL/USD is trading above $240 and is still on a strong upward trend, while ETH/USD is consolidating in a sizable symmetrical triangle close to the $4,500 mark.

SOL/ETH Chart by TradingView

The SOL/ETH breakout is more significant because it shows that Solana’s ecosystem is drawing capital more quickly than Ethereum, which usually leads to a new risk-on rotation on alternative markets. These levels imply that both majors are still in good shape. It is not enough for traders to focus on whether ETH breaks $5,000 or Solana reaches its $260+ highs again.

Alts back?

Actually, the news is that altcoin beta is back. Smaller-cap DeFi projects and ecosystem tokens might see disproportionate gains if history repeats itself, but there would be an equally high risk of downside if the ratio went the other way. For many years, the SOL/ETH ratio has served as a covert volatility gauge. It has sent a clear signal recently: get ready for more significant fluctuations on the cryptocurrency market. Investors must adjust their portfolios for future volatility because the altcoin market rarely remains motionless when Solana surpasses Ethereum.

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September 19, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Rex-Osprey’s XRP ETF Beats IVES In Biggest 2025 ETF Launch

by admin September 19, 2025

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

Rex-Osprey’s new XRP exchange-traded fund finished its debut session with $37.7 million in trading volume, edging out Wedbush’s Dan Ives AI fund (ticker: IVES) for the largest “natural” day-one dollar volume of any 2025 ETF launch, according to Bloomberg Intelligence’s Eric Balchunas. He added that the firm’s Dogecoin product (DOJE) closed at $17 million, a tally that would rank among the top five debuts this year out of roughly 710 launches.

“XRPR traded $37.7m on Day One, which edges out IVES for the biggest day one (natural) $ volume of any 2025 launch. $DOJE is no slouch at $17m, which would be Top 5 for year.. out of 710 launches. Good sign for the onslaught of 33 Act ETFs coming soon..,” Balchunas wrote via X.

The early order flow was striking. Within 90 minutes of the opening bell, the XRP fund had already crossed $24 million in turnover—“5x more than any of the XRP futures ETFs did on Day One,” Balchunas noted. “SEMI-SHOCK: Rex XRP ETF is already at $24m in volume.”

For Dogecoin, the first hour wasn’t less spectacular. “My over/under got destroyed in the first hour of trading as DOJE already posting nearly $6m in volume. That’s shockingly solid.. Most ETFs trade under $1m on Day One,” Balchunas noted via X.

Why The XRP And Dogecoin ETF Are Big Surprises

Both funds list on Cboe and trade under the tickers XRPR and DOJE (Dogecoin). They are not structured like the 1933 Act spot bitcoin and ether ETFs; instead, they launched under the Investment Company Act of 1940, a framework that carries “stricter limits” and a different exposure design.

Prior to both launches, Balchunas set the expectation bar quite because of that: “The fact that’s it 40 Act and not 33 Act (and is not big boy issuer) could diminish interest a bit relative to other crypto first evers. We’ll soon find out.”

Surpassing IVES matters because the Dan Ives Wedbush AI Revolution ETF has been one of 2025’s breakout thematic launches. While Balchunas used “natural” to describe the record—his term for organic first-day trading rather than seeded prints—his comparison underscores that XRPR’s debut bested a widely watched, high-velocity AI fund. Public materials describe IVES as a June 2025 launch tracking a Solactive AI index.

The robust openings land alongside a pivotal regulatory shift. On September 18, the SEC approved generic listing standards across major US exchanges for spot commodity ETPs, streamlining the path for crypto products beyond bitcoin and ether. In tandem, the agency approved Grayscale’s Digital Large Cap Fund to list, tracking a CoinDesk index of five assets. The move is widely expected to catalyze a wave of additional crypto ETFs.

ETF strategist Nate Geraci flagged that an index-based, multi-asset spot crypto ETF was imminent: “Looks like first index-based spot crypto ETF launches tomorrow… Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5 ETF. Holds btc, eth, xrp, sol, & ada. IMO, index-based & actively managed spot crypto ETFs will be met w/ *significant* demand, esp from financial advisors. Will be *huge* category.”

At press time, XRP traded at $3.04.

XRP retests the 0.786 Fib, 1-day chart | Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com

Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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September 19, 2025 0 comments

A ROG Xbox Ally X floats against a green background.

Game Reviews

The Biggest Reason To Buy The Xbox Ally Handheld Just Leaked

by admin September 18, 2025

Windows may prove a perfectly suitable platform for gaming on a traditional PC, but on handheld devices like the ROG Ally, Legion Go, or even the Steam Deck, it’s another story. Microsoft’s operating system is often too clunky and frustrating when you’re restricted to a gamepad for input. The upcoming Xbox-branded Ally from Asus, however, has promised a solution with a dedicated, controller-friendly user interface for running PC games on the go. These devices have yet to hit shelves, but a downloadable preview of a new version of Windows 11 is giving folks access to the new interface on just about any Windows handheld device.

Read More: Steam Ate Microsoft’s Lunch On PC, It’s About To Do The Same On Handhelds

As noted by The Verge, The upcoming 25H2 update for Windows 11 lets you launch the new gaming-focused, fullscreen Xbox app for Windows with just a few tweaks to the registry and the help of a third-party tool (a Reddit post by user Gogsi123 outlines the whole process). Unlike the overlay that software companies like Asus provide for their Windows handhelds, this new Xbox app skips the entire Windows desktop environment in favor of a fullscreen, controller-friendly experience. And people are finding, by way of the preview workaround, that it seems to lead to marginal performance gains as well.

Read More: The Xbox Ally PC Gaming Handheld Feels Great, But At What Price?

While this version of the fullscreen Xbox app requires some legwork to get working, its availability across Windows handhelds undercuts one of the main appeals of the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X–which is distinctly different from Asus’ ROG Ally X–which is expected to arrive on October 16, 2025.

The ROG Xbox Ally X is less than a month away, and we’re still not sure of pricing

Though the best graphical experiences are still had on well-kitted PCs and cutting-edge consoles, we are in the midst of a handheld arms race kicked off by Valve three years ago when it launched the Steam Deck. Since then, other PC manufacturers have jumped in with Windows-based options. More recently, the power of the Switch 2 has made it something of a competitor in this space as well.

It’s all the stranger, then, that we’re not actually sure exactly how much Microsoft and Asus’ collaboration is going to cost. According to a report from former IGN writer Destin Legarie, a local Best Buy indicated that a $549 version and an $899 one would be available when he called to ask about it. If this is accurate, that puts the lower-tier version of the Xbox Ally at the same price as the smaller-capacity Steam Deck OLED, and within competitive pricing range of the current ROG Ally and Ally X, which retail for about $649 and $899, respectively.

Having enjoyed my time with the ROG Ally X, I can definitely attest to the value of having more games available on a handheld that’s running Windows instead of Valve’s Linux-based SteamOS, though I typically prefer the form factor and controller-focused interface of the Steam Deck. Now, if a few tweaks to the Windows registry can also give people that experience on a non-Xbox Ally X, I imagine it’ll be harder to find a use case for the Xbox Ally for those who already own a handheld gaming device and aren’t afraid to tinker with their machines.

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September 18, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Crypto Market Prediction: Bitcoin Needs One Push for $150,000, XRP Lost $3 Again, Dogecoin (DOGE) Biggest $0.30 Crash From July

by admin September 16, 2025

The market could be ready for solid growth if bulls provide just a little bit of help to Bitcoin, which is actually in a better position than may seem at first sight. Meanwhile, Dogecoin and XRP are struggling to keep their important psychological targets.

Bitcoin does not need much

The price structure of Bitcoin is preparing for what might be a significant surge toward all-time highs. After a significant decline in September, Bitcoin is currently trading just above $115,000 and is in a technically advantageous position.

Moving averages, market structure and momentum indicators all point to the possibility that Bitcoin could spark a run toward the $150,000 mark with just steady inflows.
Following its breakout last week, the $114,000-$115,000 range has become near-term support, and Bitcoin is currently consolidating above it. With the 50-day EMA (~$113,400) and 100-day EMA (~$111,300) converging near the price, the daily chart displays Bitcoin trading above its major moving averages.
This support level clustering offers a solid technical foundation, lowering downside risks and promoting bullish sentiment. The 200-day EMA, which is much longer and sits at about $105,200, supports the current upward trend.

With the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at about 55, there is still opportunity for growth without running the risk of an overbought situation right now. Consistency in trading volume, as opposed to excess, points to controlled accumulation rather than speculative overheating. Crucially, there is not much of a barrier separating Bitcoin’s current levels from the $120,000-$125,000 range, and once that barrier is removed, the road to $150,000 will be comparatively clear.

BTC/USDT Chart by TradingView

Bitcoin appears to be bullish on all fronts from a structural standpoint. It is devoid of consistent inflows, whether from retail buying pressure, institutional demand or ETF activity. Recent ETF flows have been encouraging but not particularly strong; a spike in these funds could give Bitcoin the boost it needs to start rising.

XRP loses it again

XRP has once again dropped below the crucial $3 threshold, disappointing bulls who thought the token’s recent breakout would signal the start of a more robust rally. This month, XRP briefly tested $3.20 before slipping back to trade around $2.99, casting doubt on whether its momentum can last.

Dogecoin’s worst decline

After briefly reaching new multi-month highs, Dogecoin saw its steepest decline since July, plunging precipitously from the $0.30 level. It is unclear if this is merely a correction or the beginning of a more significant reversal, as the meme coin, which had been experiencing significant bullish momentum throughout early September, is currently finding it difficult to maintain above $0.27.