Articles by Khal
Latest from Khal
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Hyperliquid launches native and Ethereum-compatible options trading
Hyperliquid announced plans to launch both native and Ethereum-compatible options on its Layer-1 blockchain, leveraging its existing speed and user base to compete with centralized venues like Deribit.
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Taiwan charges three in Nvidia chip smuggling crackdown to China
Taiwan's Keelung District Prosecutors Office charged three individuals with forging export documents to reroute approximately 50 Supermicro AI servers equipped with Nvidia chips toward mainland China, marking the nation's first formal enforcement action against semiconductor smuggling tied to US export controls.
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Samsung invests $1.5B in Vietnam semiconductor testing plant, targets 2027
Samsung Electronics is building a $1.5 billion semiconductor testing facility in Vietnam, with commercial operations set for November 2027. The plant marks the company's deepened commitment to Southeast Asia's chip supply chain.
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BOJ Holds Rates at 0.75% as Oil Shock Threatens Inflation Outlook
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda warned that surging crude prices from Middle East tensions could stoke inflation and slow growth simultaneously. The BOJ kept rates at 0.75% and lifted its FY2026 inflation forecast to 2.8%, leaving the door open to a June hike if second-round inflation emerges. Low rates may continue supporting the yen carry trade and risk assets like Bitcoin.
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China's industrial profits surge 24.7% in April on AI demand, oil prices
China's industrial profits jumped 24.7% year-on-year in April, accelerating from March's 15.8% gain, as surging AI-related demand and rising crude oil prices lifted both high-tech and energy sectors simultaneously.
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CBP certifies $20.6B in tariff refunds after Supreme Court ruling
US Customs and Border Protection certified $20.6 billion in tariff refunds following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. CBP estimates total refunds could reach $85 billion across multiple phases.
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Fireworks AI seeks $15B funding, quadrupling October 2025 valuation
Fireworks AI is in discussions to raise a new funding round at a $15 billion valuation, nearly four times its October 2025 Series C price of $4 billion, underscoring intensifying competition in the AI inference market.
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Qualcomm lands ByteDance AI chip deal for data centers
Qualcomm reached a deal to supply ByteDance with custom AI chips for data centers, marking a significant win in the company's push into AI infrastructure and challenging Nvidia's dominance.
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Marathon Digital acquires Long Ridge for $1.5B power expansion
Marathon Digital Holdings hosted an executive event highlighting its strategic shift toward digital infrastructure and AI. The company acquired Long Ridge Energy & Power for $1.5 billion to diversify revenue beyond volatile Bitcoin mining.
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SEC proposes biggest IPO rule overhaul in two decades
The SEC on May 19 proposed sweeping amendments to registered offering rules, the most significant overhaul in over 20 years. The changes aim to lower barriers to going public and address the 40% decline in US publicly traded companies over three decades.
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Oklo partners with newcleo to convert Cold War plutonium for advanced reactors
Oklo, selected by the US Department of Energy for its Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program, has partnered with European reactor developer newcleo to build fuel fabrication facilities. The collaboration could repurpose weapons-grade material as "bridge fuel" for next-generation nuclear plants.
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Bitcoin consolidates near $74K as whale accumulates 450 BTC daily
Bitcoin traded in a narrow range for a fourth consecutive week, with support at $74,000 and resistance near $78,000–$80,000, while a major whale accumulated 450 bitcoins per day using a time-weighted average price strategy.
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$8.5M in Bitcoin permanently destroyed in burn address transfer
An unidentified sender transferred 107 BTC to a provably unspendable burn address on May 26, permanently destroying roughly $8.5 million worth of Bitcoin. The transfer raises questions about whether the sender made a catastrophic mistake or an intentional, ideologically-motivated choice.
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Binance returns to Philippines via BlockShoals SEC sandbox partnership
Binance has partnered with BlockShoals Technologies to re-enter the Philippines market through the SEC's Strategic Sandbox framework, providing technology and compliance support while BlockShoals operates as the approved local intermediary.
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Coinbase Activates Limit-Only Mode for CTR-USD Trading Pair
Coinbase has restricted the CTR-USD trading pair to limit orders only on both Coinbase Exchange and Coinbase Advanced, disabling market orders to prevent price volatility for the illiquid Bitcoin layer token.
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ECB's Schnabel calls for June rate hike to combat 3% inflation
Isabel Schnabel, an ECB Executive Board member, says the central bank must raise rates at its June 10-11 meeting to counter euro-area inflation running at 3%, well above the 2% target. Markets price the odds of a 25 basis point hike at 85%.
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UK sanctions HTX crypto exchange over alleged Russia support
The UK government added cryptocurrency exchange HTX (formerly Huobi Global) to its sanctions list, alleging the Panama-based platform facilitated financial support for Russia through intermediary entities and shadow networks.
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Spain Blocks Polymarket and Kalshi Over Gambling Law Violations
Spain's gambling regulator has blocked Polymarket and Kalshi, citing violations of gambling laws and lack of required administrative authorization. The platforms face three to four months of suspension as disciplinary proceedings unfold, marking the latest regulatory action against prediction markets globally.
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Vitalik Buterin pushes Ethereum privacy tools over narratives
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is pushing developers to build privacy solutions rather than discuss them, unveiling a roadmap centered on wallet-level tools like Kohaku and protocol upgrades to strengthen user autonomy.
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US-Iran tensions escalate as tanker boarding strains ceasefire talks
US Marines boarded an Iranian tanker in the Gulf of Oman on May 20, prompting Iran to demand $12 billion in frozen assets and threatening negotiations. The seizure marks the latest flashpoint in a fragile ceasefire and highlights crypto's role in sanctions enforcement.
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TeraWulf Stock Rises 9% on Kentucky AI Data Campus Acquisition
Bitcoin miner TeraWulf announced the acquisition of a 285-acre site in eastern Kentucky to build the Muskie Data Campus, expected to support over one gigawatt of AI data center capacity, sending shares up 9% to $24.78 on the day.
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UK Sanctions HTX Over Alleged Russia Financial Services
Britain's government sanctioned HTX and other crypto firms for allegedly providing financial services to Russian entities, barring all UK institutions from doing business with the exchanges and requiring asset freezes on related transactions.
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TeraWulf acquires Muskie Data Campus, expands AI infrastructure 36%
TeraWulf acquired the Muskie Data Campus in Eastern Kentucky for over 1 GW of planned AI and high-performance computing capacity, expanding its development pipeline by 36% and pushing total capacity to 2.8 GW across five sites.
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TeraWulf Closes Kentucky Data Center Acquisition, Targets 1.5 GW
TeraWulf closed its acquisition of the Muskie Data Campus in Kentucky on May 22, a 285-acre site the company plans to develop into a hyperscale facility with over 1 gigawatt of capacity. Combined with its Hawesville site, TeraWulf's Kentucky portfolio could exceed 1.5 GW by 2030.