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Chair

SEC Chair Atkins Says Few Crypto Tokens Are Treated as Securities

by admin August 20, 2025

On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins said that a very small percentage of crypto tokens are treated as securities. Speaking at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Atkins emphasized that the SEC is taking a fresh approach to digital assets, saying most tokens are not necessarily securities, financial instruments regulated under U.S. law.

“From the SEC’s perspective, we will plow forward on this idea that just the token itself is not necessarily a security,” Atkins said. “Very few, in my mind, tokens that are securities, but it depends on the package around it and how it’s being sold.”

Atkins’ comments mark a major shift from former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who labeled the “vast majority” of crypto assets as securities under the Howey test, a legal standard used to determine if an investment qualifies as a security.

Gensler resigned on January 20, 2025, paving the way for Atkins’ appointment, with Commissioner Mark Uyeda serving as Acting Chair in the interim.

Congress Pushes Crypto Market Rules

The remarks come as Congress moves to create clearer rules for digital assets. The House of Representatives passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act in July 2025, a law designed to define and regulate U.S. crypto markets clearly.

Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott indicated bipartisan support for market structure legislation when the Senate returns from recess on September 2, 2025, noting as many as 18 Democrats could join Republicans in backing the bill.

Atkins also touched upon the Project Crypto initiative of the SEC, which is supposed to create regulatory frameworks to govern companies that trade in blockchain-based tokens, protecting investors without stifling innovation in the crypto market.

This direction is an indicator of a more discriminatory regulatory approach to digital assets, which gives clarity to businesses and investors who are trying to navigate the emerging U.S. crypto market.

Also Read: SEC Extends Review of Nine Crypto ETF Filings Into October

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Anthros V2 Chair review: one of the most expensive gaming chairs in the world for good reason

by admin August 17, 2025

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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Anthros Chair V2: One-minute review

The Anthros V2 Chair is, as the name would imply, the second iteration of Anthros’ gaming chair. Geared towards both desk workers, whether in-office or remote, and gamers alike, it is a complicated product, with more knobs and levers than your local knob-and-lever factory.

It also promises to ‘fix your sit’ which, if true in its promise, would be life-changing for anyone that struggles with posture or back pain.

There’s one caveat, however; this baby is expensive. With the base model sitting at a list price of over $2,000, before any of the optional bells and whistles you can add on, such as materials, colours, and even arm rests which come as extras, you’d be forgiven for hoping this chair might make you breakfast and do the laundry for you while you’re at it.

For context, this is far more expensive than our current favorite premium pick, the Herman Miller x Logitech Embody, and you could also buy three Branch Verve chairs for the same price, too (roughly).

Everything about the chair screams premium, though, from the materials used to the build quality of every component. I could never bring myself to spend this much money on a chair, but since I’m at my desk for a minimum of eight hours every day, comfort and back support are essential. And I’m not sure you’re going to find it anywhere better than with the Anthros V2 Chair.

(Image credit: Future)

Anthros Chair V2 review: Price and availability

$2,146 / Around £1,600 / Around AU$3,300
Price doesn’t include extras – even armrests
More expensive than the Herman Miller X Logitech Embody

Outside of the astronomical price tag, what are you actually getting with the Anthros V2 Chair? How could it possibly be worth that much? Well, according to Anthros themselves, it’s all about the technology behind it, and how it’s “engineered to relieve pain”. The seat features a contoured cushion that utilises ‘Cloudtex’ and ‘Cloudfloat’ technology, as opposed to traditional office and gaming chairs, which are usually flat.

This is part of what makes the Anthros V2 Chair so comfortable to sit in for extended periods, and in my experience with it over the last four months, it works. Compared to my previous office butt-rest, which was a bog-standard gaming chair from a relatively cheap brand compared to some of the premium offerings in that department, this has been like night and day.

The seat isn’t everything, though, as the Anthros V2 Chair promises plenty of lumbar support, and this comes from two areas. The back rest is in two segments, which are “designed to promote an optimal ’S’ curve of the spine by supporting the pelvis”, according to the official site. Both are controlled individually with knobs underneath the seat, so you can position them as you see fit. It’ll feel slightly uncomfortable at first, but the idea is that the chair makes you unable to slouch by keeping your spine upright.

An important note to make folks aware of is, at the time of writing, the Anthros chair is only sold on a US-facing website, but shoppers from outside the United States can still order it with international shipping.

Anthros V2 Chair review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$2,146 (around £1,600 / AU$3,300 plus shipping from the US)

Dimensions (L x W x H)

28 x 18.3 x 43.7in (45.7 x 46.6 x 110.9cm)

Max user weight

300 lbs (136kg)

Seat width

19.8in (50.3cm)

Warranty

12 years

Finish

Athlon performance fabric

Anthros Chair V2 review: Design and aesthetics

Premium feel…
Except one minor part
Lacks a headrest

I’ve talked about the cost a lot because of how jaw-dropping it is initially, but I also must stress how it isn’t completely unjustified. Every part of this chair is high quality, from the swivel base to the seat cushion, back panel, arm rests, and the control knobs.

All of the mandatory parts for the chair feel excellent, but the one exception to this is the footrest. They’ve currently dropped it from $199 to $49, which the skeptic in me would assume is because they’ve had feedback that it’s so underwhelming and cheap-feeling compared to the rest of the chair. It’s plasticky, lacks many adjustments such as the ability to raise or lower it, and it can’t even be locked at a specific tilt angle. Save your cash and pick one up from another manufacturer.

There’s also no headrest on the Anthros V2 Chair, which some folks may find frustrating. It put me off at first, but after a while, you don’t miss it. It’s easier to stay awake and alert without a headrest, and while I’d like an optional headrest attachment to use when I’m reclining and playing video games with a controller, it’s a small thing to lose when I feel better in my posture and more attentive during the working day.

(Image credit: Future)

Anthros Chair V2 review: Comfort and Adjustability

Comfy for long periods
You can feel a difference in your posture
Somewhat of a learning curve

As mentioned earlier, the motto for the Anthros V2 Chair is that it will “fix your sit”, but doing that requires comfort. I am extremely happy to report this is by far the comfiest chair I’ve used for long periods… although I didn’t think that at first. It takes some getting used to because if you’re using it correctly, you’ll have the lower back section pushing into you. If you let it shape your back, then over time, your posture should improve.

Anthros are well aware that purchasing such an expensive chair is an investment, so you’re offered a video call with one of their on-staff therapists to “learn more about the chair and how it can specifically help you”.

I spoke with Anthros’ Ambassador Community Director, Ashley Williams, for 20 minutes or so, alongside carrying out this review, learning a little more about the science behind it, how they went through iterations of the product, and what it looks like underneath the shell. She also helped me set up all the various configurations to perfectly suit my height and desk setup, such as where the arm rests sit, how far forward the lower back support should be, and more.

(Image credit: Future)

That customer service goes a long way, so even though the chair was provided free of charge for review purposes, knowing that service is available to anyone who buys the chair – or who wants to discuss the product prior to purchase – it’s the sort of support you value. It’s especially helpful when you consider how many knobs and adjustments the chair has, which means it has a slight learning curve, and referring to the manual is required until you learn which part tweaks each aspect.

Four months in and I’m thoroughly impressed. If I’d spent upwards of $2,000 on the chair, would I feel the same? I’m not sure, but that’s because that’s a lot of money for me. If you’re lucky enough that this wouldn’t be such a financial investment, this is one of the best chairs on the market for long-term ergonomic support.

(Image credit: Future)

Anthros Chair V2 review: Assembly

Putting it all together is a painless experience, entirely feasible to do by yourself, and you’ll be done in under an hour.

However, this comes with a caveat. Everything with the assembly went flawlessly until the very final step, which is to install the upper back cuff.

This plastic cover for the upper back hinge refused to go on, no matter how hard I tried, so I put it down for a few days. I came back to it later, and it eventually clicked into place, but be prepared to use some serious force.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Anthros Chair V2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Anthros Chair V2: Also consider

If the Anthros V2 Chair hasn’t sunk its claws into you or it’s out of reach financially, consider one of these other desk chairs that promise similar results.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0

Anthros V2 Chair

Herman Miller x Logitech Embody

Branch Verve

Price

$2,146 (around £1,600 / AU$3,300 plus shipping from the US)

$1,795 / £1,496

$549 (about £495, AU$860)

Dimensions (L x W x H)

28 x 18.3 x 43.7 in (45.7 x 46.6 x 110.9 cm)

29 x 29.5 x 45 in (73.7 x 74.9 x 114.3 cm)

27 x 27 x 37 to 41 in (68.6 x 68.6 x 104.1 cm)

Max user weight

300 lbs (136kg)

Seat width

19.8in (50.3cm)

29.5in (74.9cm)

16.5in (41.9cm)

Warranty

12 years

7 years

Finish

Athlon performance fabric

100% polyester fabric

3D knit polyester fabric

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Anthros Chair V2

Used regularly for almost four straight months
Worked from it during the day, usually locked into the upright position
Often gamed from it in the evening, reclining with a controller in hand

I can never see myself going back to any other seat or gaming chair after using the Anthros V2 Chair for so long. My back feels better for it, and I’m looking forward to experiencing some more of the long-term benefits. As explained above, it’ll take a little while for you to start feeling positive changes, but it’s well worth sticking with it.

I work 9-5, typing and using my computer as normal, then recently I’ve started playing Rematch in the evenings on PC, for which I use an Xbox controller. I adjust the tilt and recline, keeping the back supports in the same position, so my spine still fits into that S shape.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: August 2025

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August 17, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Banks Authorized For Crypto Activities, Confirms Federal Reserve Chair Powell

by admin June 24, 2025

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

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced on Tuesday that banks will have the autonomy to determine their customer base, signaling an open door for digital asset investors and the introduction of new investment products centered around crypto assets.

Freedom To Engage In Crypto Activities

During his remarks before the House Financial Services Committee, Powell emphasized that banks are now positioned to offer banking services specifically tailored to the cryptocurrency industry and its associated companies.

On Tuesday, Powell further stressed that these digital asset activities must be conducted with a focus on maintaining safety and soundness for everyday investors.

This announcement follows the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to remove reputational risk from its bank examination criteria on Monday, a change that aligns with similar actions taken by other US banking regulators, such as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Banks had expressed concerns that the previous emphasis on reputational risk could lead to subjective judgments from regulators, potentially penalizing institutions for engaging in legally permissible activities, including cryptocurrency, that do not pose significant financial risks.

With the removal of this standard, the Federal Reserve has signaled a more lenient regulatory environment, allowing financial institutions to engage more freely in crypto-related projects and offerings.

Inflation Forecast

Addressing broader economic issues that can influence cryptocurrency prices, Powell highlighted ongoing concerns about inflation, which remains above the Fed’s target of 2%.

The Fed chair noted that the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the economy is still uncertain, stating, “Policy changes continue to evolve, and their effects on the economy remain uncertain.”

Powell explained that the effects of tariffs will depend on their ultimate levels and that historically, tariffs have led to one-time price increases rather than sustained inflationary pressures.

As for inflation metrics, Powell indicated that the Fed’s preferred measure is likely to rise to 2.3% in May, with the core measure—excluding food and energy—expected to edge up to 2.6%.

In April, these figures were recorded at 2.1% and 2.5%, respectively. Powell and his colleagues on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) are carefully considering these dynamics and do not feel rushed to adjust policy until more data on the impact of tariffs becomes available.

The daily chart shows the total crypto market cap at $3.21 trillion. Source: TOTAL on TradingView.com

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

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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June 24, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Tourist destroys priceless “Van Gogh” chair in museum by sitting on it

by admin June 17, 2025

A tourist visiting the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona has damaged a Swarovski crystal-covered sculpture modeled after Vincent van Gogh’s famous “Chair” painting.

The incident, which took place in April but surfaced publicly on June 16, was captured on CCTV. Footage shows a couple posing for a photo in front of Nicola Bolla’s artwork, titled Van Gogh’s Chair, when the man sits on the fragile piece, causing it to collapse. He then steadies himself against a wall before walking away. Museum staff were not present in the room at the time.

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The sculpture, created in 2008, was constructed from metal and aluminum and covered with thousands of Swarovski crystals. It was part of a solo exhibition dedicated to Bolla’s work, presented alongside modern and contemporary art in the museum’s collection.

Tourist caught-on-camera smashing Nicola Bolla’s ‘Van Gogh’ chair, a very delicate work, entirely covered in hundreds of Swarovski crystals pic.twitter.com/S7N9VzvDfF

— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) June 16, 2025

Palazzo Maffei described the incident as a “nightmare,” stating that the couple ignored “every rule of respect for art and culture.” The museum reported the damage to local police and launched a restoration effort to repair the sculpture. The artwork has since been restored and returned to display.

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“For days we didn’t know if it would be possible to restore it. But we did it. We are sharing this episode not only for the record, but to start a real awareness campaign on the value of art and the respect it deserves.

“A heartfelt thanks goes to the police, our security department and the restorers, whose precious work allowed the work to be recovered […] Because art is not just to be seen. It is to be loved. It is to be protected.”

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Museum director Vanessa Carlon said the visitors appeared to be seeking “the perfect photo,” adding that it highlights the challenges faced by museums and galleries housing fragile works without barriers.

Authorities have not released the names or nationality of the tourists involved.

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June 17, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

CFTC Chair Shares New Crypto Approach Under Trump Admin

by admin June 14, 2025

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

In a recent interview at Coinbase’s State of Crypto Summit, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Acting Chair shared the future of the agency’s crypto regulation under the pro-industry administration.

CFTC Won’t Criminalize Crypto

On Thursday, CFTC’s acting chair, Caroline Pham, told Yahoo Finance’s Brian Sozzi that regulations won’t be easy on anybody, including the crypto industry, despite the end of the “regulation by enforcement” approach under the new administration.

Pham explained that “There is no easy street for anybody, and regulators aren’t easy,” adding that the agency’s shift toward a pro-innovation, pro-growth strategy doesn’t mean companies can bend the law and get away with it.

She clarified that the CFTC’s new approach won’t “twist the law to criminalize an asset class or a technology,” like the past administration. Instead, it will focus on catching fraudsters and scammers in the market. “That’s always been our core mission is to prevent fraud, manipulation, and abuse in our markets and to help victims,” Pham affirmed.

In the interview, the regulatory agency’s chair explained her previous comments about “uberizing crypto,” sharing that it means effectively integrating digital assets into daily life so that banning or criminalizing it becomes nearly impossible, like Uber did with the transportation industry.

“When something becomes so big, so accepted, so part of our lives, you can’t really take it away then. The public, the people, voters, they won’t let you,” she affirmed, noting that the ride-sharing app revolutionized the industry, which resulted in a lot of people unsuccessfully trying to fight it.

Pham considers that the “uberization” of the industry must be the goal to prevent crypto from being unfairly criminalized as a concept or a technology. “The way that you do that is by bringing it to the people, and the people will speak, and voters will speak,” she stated.

Restoring Regulatory Clarity

Speaking about the previous administration, Pham noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and CFTC “really went beyond what the law says and what the statute says,” which has been a common criticism of the US watchdogs.

She condemned how the agency reinterpreted existing laws that applied to traditional markets to go after what they perceived as “bad or evil,” like crypto and blockchain technology, without considering the unintended consequences it could have on the global economy and global markets.

When we start to change the rules for (…) the 700 trillion notional global derivatives markets because we’re trying to be creative and flex it to go after what we perceive to be a bad or evil, you know, crypto or blockchain, that is really breaking the fabric of our global markets.

This is why “restoring the well-settled legal precedents, how the CFTC has applied and interpreted the law for decades, to restore that regulatory clarity” has been a priority under her leadership.

Notably, Pham has repeatedly called for regulatory clarity for the crypto industry, proposing to revive the joint advisory committee between the CFTC and the SEC.

Earlier this year, the regulatory agencies were reportedly discussing their options to effectively collaborate on digital assets regulations, after the launch of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force led by Commissioner Hester Peirce.

Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $105,047 in the one-week chart. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView

Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

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June 14, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

U.S. SEC Chair Says Working on ‘Innovation Exemption’ for DeFi Platforms

by admin June 10, 2025

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is working on policy to exempt decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms from regulatory barriers, said Chairman Paul Atkins.

Software developers building DeFi tools have no business being blamed for how they’re used, Atkins and other SEC Republicans contended at the final of five crypto roundtables that have been held at the agency since the leadership turnover under President Donald Trump.

The chairman told a roundtable of DeFi experts on Monday that he’s directed the SEC staff to look into changes to agency rules “to provide needed accommodation for issuers and intermediaries to seek to administer on-chain financial systems.” Atkins called that potential exemptive relief “an innovation exemption” that would let entities under SEC jurisdiction bring on-chain products and services to market “expeditiously.”

“Many entrepreneurs are developing software applications that are designed to function without administration by any operator,” Atkins said in remarks at the event. While he noted the technology enabling private peer-to-peer transactions can “sound like science fiction,” he said “blockchain technology makes possible an entirely new class of software that can perform these functions without an intermediary.”

“We should not automatically fear the future,” Atkins said.

DeFi is a subsection of the broader cryptocurrency industry that seeks to recreate financial tools and products with code that replaces the role of traditional intermediaries such as banks and brokerages.

The Republican members of the commission — currently outnumbering the Democrat 3-1 — have been eager to move forward with crypto-friendly policy. While DeFi is often given short shrift in policy discussions that focus more on regulation of the higher-volume industry of crypto exchanges, brokers and custodial services. Though DeFi developers have faced years of distrust from U.S. government agencies, Republicans now in power are seeking to lighten those pressures.

“The SEC must not infringe on First Amendment rights by regulating someone who merely published code on the basis that others use that code to carry out activity that the SEC has traditionally regulated,” said Commissioner Hester Peirce, who has led the SEC Crypto Task Force established this year. However, she also noted that “centralized entities can’t avoid regulation simply by rolling out the decentralized label.”

Erik Voorhees, the founder of decentralized exchange ShapeShift, joked that when he got his first SEC subpoena 12 years ago, he didn’t think he’d be invited to speak at the agency years later.

“I appreciate the change of tone and the change of stance for the commission,” he said. “I think that’s absolutely a positive for America.”

Read More: U.S. SEC’s Crypto Trading Roundtable Delves Into Easing Path for Platforms

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Sec Chair Atkins Voices Support For Bitcoin &Amp; Crypto Self-Custody

Crypto Trends

SEC Chair Atkins Voices Support for Bitcoin & Crypto Self-Custody

by admin June 9, 2025

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins delivered a strong message today at the “DeFi and the American Spirit” roundtable in Washington, D.C.

His speech outlined some plans to make the United States a leader in crypto space – a vision that matches President Trump’s goal of turning America into the “crypto capital of the planet.”

🚨 JUST IN: SEC Chair Paul Atkins announces efforts to draft policy that would exempt DeFi platforms from certain regulatory hurdles.

“We recognize the innovation and want to ensure it thrives in the U.S.” pic.twitter.com/v45R7bRicx

— The Crypto Times (@CryptoTimes_io) June 9, 2025

Atkins said that decentralized finance, or DeFi, fits well with American values like freedom, rights to private property, and innovation. He explained what blockchain technology is: “a very creative and potentially revolutionary innovation that has us rethinking evidence of ownership and transfer of intellectual and economic property rights.”

“These are free market systems,” he said in his speech as he explained the openness and fair nature of the network.

Atkin took his time to criticize the previous administration for discouraging Americans from engaging with blockchain networks through lawsuits, regulations, and threats. Also for wrongly treating staking and mining as securities transactions.

He thanked the current staff for clarifying that “voluntary participation in a proof-of-work or proof-of-stake network as a ‘miner,’ ‘validator,’ or ‘staking-as-a-service’ provider is not within the scope of the federal securities laws.” However, he stressed, “It is not a duly promulgated rule with the force of law, so we cannot stop there.”na wee

The SEC Chair also gave his support for people to self-custody their crypto assets in personal digital wallets. “The right to have self-custody of one’s private property is a foundational American value that should not disappear when one logs onto the internet.” He said.

According to Atkin, the software developers who create these tools should also not be treated as brokers under securities law. Quoting a court, he said, “It would be irrational to hold the developer of a self-driving car liable for a third party’s misuse.”

As part of his remark, Atkins praised the resilience of on-chain software systems, which run automatically without central control and continued to operate during recent financial crises, unlike some centralized platforms.

Also Read: SEC Warns Nigerians Against Investing in Punisher Coin $PUN

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June 9, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Ubisoft trial witnesses testify to “being tied to a chair, forced to do handstands, and subjected to constant comments about sex”

by admin June 9, 2025

Ubisoft developers have told a French court that former execs Serge Hascoet, Tommy Francois, and Guillaume Patrux allegedly perpetuated a “systemic” culture of sexism and abuse.

Former chief creative officer Serge Hascoët and ex-VP of editorial and creative services Tommy François both left the publisher in summer 2020, following allegations of widespread abuse, harassment, and discrimination within Ubisoft, including claims against the two executives. Former director Guillaume Patrux has similarly been accused of harassment and bullying. In all, five former executives from Ubisoft were arrested by French police in 2023 following a year-long investigation into sexual assault and harassment within the company. All three defendants deny the charges.

As reported by The Guardian, the trial, which began at the beginning of this month, has heard witnesses tell of feeling “terrified” and “like pieces of meat,” with state prosecutor Antoine Haushalter reporting “overwhelming” evidence of harassment.

“In four days of hearings, female former staff members variously described being tied to a chair, forced to do handstands, subjected to constant comments about sex and their bodies, having to endure sexist and homophobic jokes, drawings of penises being stuck to computers, a manager who farted in workers’ faces or scribbled on women with marker pens, gave unsolicited shoulder massages, played pornographic films in an open-plan office, and another executive who cracked a whip near people’s heads,” The Guardian reports.

Likening the culture to a “boys club” between 2010 and 2020, one alleged victim told the court: “The sexual remarks and sexual jokes were almost daily.”

A woman who worked for François alleged the former VP made her do handstand wearing a skirt.

“He was my superior and I was afraid of him,” she said. “He made me do handstands. I did it to get it over with and get rid of him.”

He is also accused of kissing a member of staff on the lips without consent at a Christmas party as his colleagues “restrained her by the arms and back,” while a different witness said that during a US trip, he “grabbed [her] by the hair and kissed [her] by force.” No one present reacted or stopped him, and when she reported him to HR on her return, she was told “don’t make a big thing of it.” She later had to refute rumors she’d been caught “snogging” François “even though he knew it had been an assault.”

The woman reports these incidents made her feel “stupefied, humiliated and professionally discredited.” François denies all charges, claims there was a “culture of joking around” at the studio, and insists: “I never tried to harm anyone.”

Hascoët is similarly accused of sexual harassment and bullying. He reportedly told colleagues at an away day that one of the senior female colleagues did not have enough sex, and said he would “show how to calm her” by having sex with her in the next room. He’s also alleged to have talked abut sex at the office, bullied his assistants, and made them undertake personal tasks during the working day, such as picking up parcels. The former exec denies all charges, saying: “I have never wanted to harass anyone and I don’t think I have.”

Patrux, also accused of sexual harassment and bullying, allegedly punched walls, mimed punching staff, “played with a cigarette lighter near workers’ faces, setting alight a man’s beard,” and “threatened to carry out an office shooting.” He also reportedly cracked a whip in the faces of his colleagues.

After four days of hearings, the judges have retired to consider the evidence and reach a verdict. All three men deny the charges.

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June 9, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Chair Paul Atkins Says It’s a ‘New Day’ for the SEC, Calls for ‘Rational’ Crypto Regulation

by admin June 4, 2025

In brief

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said Tuesday the agency will prioritize “clear rules of the road” for crypto.
He testified that investor protection and innovation require regulatory clarity.
But some lawmakers are pushing for the CLARITY Act to shift oversight away from the SEC.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins is continuing on his crusade to bring a “new day” to the SEC and shift the agency’s stance toward digital assets.

Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on Tuesday, Atkins vowed to pursue a “rational regulatory framework” for crypto assets, prioritizing rulemaking and transparency over enforcement actions.

“Clear rules of the road are necessary for investor protection against fraud—not the least to help them identify scams that do not comport with the law,” he said.

“Policymaking will be done through notice and comment rulemaking, not through regulation-by-enforcement,” Atkins added.

Atkins, a veteran of the SEC, was confirmed in April after a lengthy and partisan nomination process.

His return marks a stark departure from the approach taken by his predecessor, Gary Gensler, whose tenure was marked by enforcement actions against crypto firms and a broad interpretation of securities laws that made him unpopular with the crypto industry.

Since Gensler’s exit, the SEC has dropped several high-profile lawsuits, first under interim chair Mark Uyeda and then under Atkins, and has issued guidance for multiple categories of crypto, including exempting certain staking activities from securities regulation.

The agency’s evolving posture comes amid growing momentum in Congress to strip the SEC of its authority over crypto altogether.

Last week, lawmakers introduced the CLARITY Act, which would amend securities laws to exempt most crypto assets from SEC jurisdiction and establish a new legal framework.

“Our bill secures American dominance, democratizes digital assets, unleashes innovation, and protects consumers from fraud,”Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), chair of the House’s Financial Services Subcommittee, said at the time.

Democratic staffers on the House Financial Services Committee have criticized the SEC for withholding an impact analysis of the bill, raising concerns that the proposal could create loopholes for traditional finance under the guise of blockchain adoption.

Atkins acknowledged the shifting legislative landscape but emphasized the role of the SEC’s new Crypto Task Force and upcoming DeFi roundtable in supporting innovation.

“I anticipate benefits from this market innovation for efficiency, cost reduction, transparency, and risk mitigation,” he said.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair

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June 4, 2025 0 comments

DXRacer Craft with plant, desk, and pink wall in background

Product Reviews

DXRacer Craft review: a firm yet comfortable gaming chair with an excellent headrest but weak arms

by admin May 24, 2025

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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: One-minute review

The new DXRacer Craft is the latest upgrade in the brand’s line of high-end gaming chairs, promising supreme comfort and ergonomic features. In terms of looks, the Craft shows DXRacer has matured from its previous outings, omitting the typical gamer aesthetic that can plague chairs in this class. It’s even smart enough to furnish workspaces.

The build quality seems to match its sleek appearance. The leatherette upholstery on my unit was taut and neatly stitched, as well as feeling quite durable, although it’s not the most breathable material.

Sitting in the Craft is a comfortable experience for the most part. The seat is on the firmer side compared to what the best gaming chairs have to offer, but I still found it offered sufficient cushioning. It’s also quite wide and deep, which helps to get a comfortable position. What’s more, it adjusts well for height, especially at the lower end.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Price and availability

$499 / £368 / AU$759.99
Different size options and finishes
Well-priced compared to rivals

The Craft costs $499 / £368 / AU$759.99 and is available now. It comes in regular and plus sizes and two upholstery options: EPU leatherette and woven fabric. There’s only one stock color to choose from, but there are various collaboration editions with more extravagant finishes.

The price places the Craft at the higher end of the gaming chair market, although those in the UK get a much better deal. Regardless of territory, though, it’s still less than the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, which we think is still the best gaming chair around. It has better arms than the Craft, and it might just edge ahead in terms of overall build quality, but the Craft comes admirably close.

In the UK, the Craft is priced similarly to the Boulies Elite, which is comparable in many aspects, although that chair does have height-adjustable lumbar support. However, this and its other adjustments are awkward and clunky, which certainly isn’t the case with the Craft.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Specs

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Price

$499 / £368 / AU$759.99

Dimensions

52.4 x 27.6 x 22.1in / 133 x 70 x 56cm

Max user weight

275lbs / 125kg

Min seat height

18.5in / 47cm

Seat width

22.2in / 56cm

Recline angle

135 degrees

Warranty

3 years

Material

Leatherette, fabric

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: Design and aesthetics

Great overall build quality
Leatherette not the most breathable
Less than solid arm rests

The Craft adopts the usual gaming chair silhouette, although thankfully, its design is more pared down than DXRacer’s of old. The all-black colorway of my unit imparts a level of elegance and makes for a more professional appearance, so it wouldn’t look out of place in an office environment.

The overall build quality of the Craft is commendable, with a solid frame that is mercifully lighter than you might expect. There are also some neat touches, such as magnetically attachable covers for the backrest brackets.

The upholstery is similarly premium. The stitching is neat and strong, and the EPU leatherette material on my unit appeared hard-wearing and durable. It also lacks the suede accents you often find on other PU gaming chairs, which I find rather pointless anyway. However, the leatherette finish might prove a little too thick to be breathable for those in hotter climes.

The arms, however, aren’t as solid as you might expect. There’s a fair amount of wobble to them, although this isn’t really noticeable unless you move around quite vigorously, but it’s worth mentioning still.

The castors offer a fairly smooth roll, although they do tend to grab somewhat on carpet, but not to a frustrating degree. I was more thankful for the rounded ends of the wheel base spokes, which means less pain if you happen to clip your heels or stub your toe on them, as I’m personally liable to do.

(Image credit: Future)

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Comfort and Adjustability

Firm but comfortable seat
Built-in lumbar, but not height adjustable
Excellent head pillow

The Craft is a comfortable chair to sit in. The seat is quite firm, which may deter some users, and may cause fatigue after really long sessions, but I personally found it provided enough cushioning.

It also offers plenty of depth, which is something I welcome and is considered a benefit from an ergonomic perspective. It’s quite wide too, which adds to its comfort levels, and the bolstering is largely flat so as not to intrude or encumber various seating positions.

I was pleased with the height range of the Craft as well. It lowered enough for my feet to comfortably touch the ground, which is rare in the various gaming chairs I’ve experienced. The tilt mechanism allows for gentle rocking and locks in place securely when desired.

The 4D armrests are comfortable enough, largely thanks to their width and adjustability. However, the padding is quite hard, which might be a dealbreaker for some gamers, and they don’t move inwards as much as I would like them to. What’s more, some of the adjustments are very stiff and don’t feel as well engineered as those on some other upmarket gaming chairs.

The backrest is very comfortable and offers more cushioning than the seat. It’s also reasonably wide, and the side bolsters curve well out of the way of your arms, so you’re not likely to hit them with your elbow.

(Image credit: Future)

All of these factors help to make the Craft an easy chair to sink into. It doesn’t recline to a full 180 degrees, though, but it still goes back quite far, and the lever to operate it is smooth yet secure.

It also features built-in lumbar support, although oddly, the adjustment dial is labelled as “Resistance”. Regardless, it’s relatively easy to use, and there aren’t too many twists between the two extremes of its range, as I’ve found with other gaming chairs.

Unfortunately, though, this lumbar support isn’t height adjustable, which will be a shame for those who don’t meet its set position. Personally, it was a touch too high for my liking, but it at least covers a wide area, which helps to even out the pressure it exerts on your back. There’s also plenty of adjustment when it comes to its prominence.

Surprisingly, the included magnetic head pillow is one of the highlights of the Craft –rivaling the most comfortable gaming chairs in this regard – with its firm yield offering cushioning and support in equal measure, while its contours fit the back of my head perfectly. I was also fond of its wingbacked design, which offers support for those who like to drift off in their chair.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Assembly

The Craft proved easier to build than other gaming chairs. The instructions were clear, and the box contents were neatly packaged, which helped speed up the process. The chair’s relatively light construction made assembly less onerous than it would’ve been, and a few considerate touches, such as the preinstalled armrests and long double-sided Allen wrench, illustrate DXRacer’s commitment to improving convenience.

Best of all, there’s a slot on the right backrest bracket, which means you can easily slide in and align the backrest before you screw in the bolts. This is a real time-saver, and a feature I wish every gaming chair would adopt.

However, I should mention that the plastic cover for the recline mechanism arrived broken in the box. DXRacer was quick to send a replacement part, but the international shipping (from Europe to the UK) made the dispatch slower than it probably would’ve been domestically.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the DXRacer Craft gaming chair?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it…

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the DXRacer Craft if it doesn’t sound like your kind of gaming chair.

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DXRacer Craft

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 (Regular)

Boulies Elite

Price

$499 / £368 / AU$759.99

$549 / £469 / AU$799

$399 / £339 / AU$594

Dimensions

52.4 x 27.6 x 22.1in / 133 x 70 x 56cm

51.2 x 27.6 x 19.3in / 130 x 70 x 49cm

50.4 x 28 x 18.9in / 128 x 71 x 48cm

Max user weight

275lbs / 125kg

285lbs / 130kg

243lbs / 110kg

Min seat height

18.5in / 47cm

17.7in / 45cm

18.1in / 46cm

Seat width

22.2in / 56cm

18.5in / 47cm

20.9in / 53cm

Recline angle

135 degrees

165 degrees

Warranty

3 years

2 years

Material

Leatherette, fabric

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the DXRacer Craft gaming chair

Tested for full day
Used for gaming and productivity
Plentiful gaming chair experience

I tested the Craft for a full day, during which time I used it for gaming and for working. I made sure to try out all of its various adjustments.

I have been gaming for decades, and during that time, I’ve experienced numerous chairs, from gaming models to those designed for office and productivity. I have also reviewed a number of them previously.

DXRacer Craft: Price Comparison

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May 24, 2025 0 comments