Powerbuilding Digital Newsletter #101

Posted byaliwolfbannerPosted inPowerbuilding DigitalTags:, , , , , , , ,

Fitness / Motivation / Technology & A.I / Crypto

Welcome to Edition 101 of the Powerbuilding Digital Newsletter—the first step into our next century of content. After hitting 100, we’re not slowing down—we’re leveling up. If you’re here, it means you’re serious about growth, discipline, and staying ahead in every area that matters.

Each issue is built to give you real value—clear, useful insights across four key areas that fuel long-term success:

  1. Fitness Info & Ideas
    This week, we’re dialing in on training efficiency—how to get stronger, faster, and more resilient without burning out or wasting time.
  2. Motivation & Wellbeing
    New week, new chance to reset. We’re bringing tools to sharpen your focus, protect your energy, and build the kind of mental durability success demands.
  3. Technology & AI Trends
    The AI space is evolving faster than ever. We break down the newest tools, concepts, and breakthroughs in a way that’s practical, not overwhelming.
  4. Crypto & Digital Asset Trends
    Beyond the hype, the real future is in utility. We spotlight new projects, platforms, and applications driving the next wave of Web3 innovation.

Edition 101 is about momentum with clarity—putting one foot forward with purpose. Let’s keep building smart, strong, and future-ready. You’re in the right place.

Fitness

How to Add Cardio Without Killing Your Strength Gains

You’ve probably heard it before: “Cardio kills gains.”
Let’s be real—that’s not the full story.

If you lift heavy, chase PRs, or live for the pump, chances are you’ve either skipped cardio or treated it like a necessary evil. But what if I told you that adding the right kind of cardio, at the right time, could actually help your strength training—not hurt it?

Let’s unpack how to do cardio without sacrificing your hard-earned muscle or strength.

Understanding the Interference Effect

What Is the Interference Effect?

The “interference effect” is a real concept where combining strength and endurance training can cause one to blunt the effects of the other. But it’s often misunderstood and blown out of proportion.

Strength vs. Endurance Pathways

Strength and hypertrophy rely on mTOR pathways. Endurance taps into AMPK. When you go overboard with cardio—especially the wrong kind—it can interrupt your muscle-building signals. But the key word here is overboard.

How Much Interference Is Real?

Unless you’re training like a marathon runner and lifting like a powerlifter at the same time, you likely won’t experience a significant interference effect—especially if you program smartly.

Benefits of Adding Cardio for Lifters

Improved Heart Health

Your heart is a muscle too. Lifting alone doesn’t do enough to keep your cardiovascular system fully tuned. Adding a few cardio sessions improves blood pressure, resting heart rate, and overall stamina.

Faster Recovery Between Sets

Ever get winded after a heavy set of squats? Cardio improves your aerobic capacity, which means you recover faster between lifts.

Enhanced Work Capacity

Want to handle more volume in your workouts? Cardio helps you raise your general physical preparedness (GPP). That means more reps, more sets, and better overall performance.

Better Body Composition

Cardio can help manage body fat without cutting calories too drastically. That’s a win when trying to lean out while staying strong.

Choosing the Right Type of Cardio

Low-Intensity Steady State (LISS)

This includes walking, cycling, or rowing at a slow, consistent pace. LISS is joint-friendly and doesn’t interfere with recovery—perfect for off days or post-lift cooldowns.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Short bursts of intense effort followed by rest. HIIT is great for saving time, but it’s taxing on the nervous system. Use it sparingly—especially if your strength training is intense.

Moderate-Intensity Cardio

Think jogging or cycling at a steady, moderate pace. It’s a middle ground that works for some, but for strength athletes, it can be too intense to recover from and not intense enough to count as HIIT.

Which Type Works Best for Strength Athletes?

Most strength athletes do best with a mix of LISS and occasional HIIT. Walking is underrated and extremely effective. Don’t sleep on it.

How to Schedule Cardio Around Strength Training

Same Day vs. Alternate Day Cardio

  • Same Day: Do cardio after lifting if you must combine.
  • Alternate Day: Ideal setup—gives each system full focus.

Time of Day: Before or After Lifting?

Always lift first. Cardio before strength sessions can zap your energy, compromise performance, and slow down your lifts.

Weekly Programming Tips

Try this:

  • Monday: Upper Body + 20-min walk
  • Tuesday: 30-min LISS or light bike
  • Wednesday: Lower Body + 15-min incline treadmill
  • Friday: Full Body + 10-min rower
  • Saturday: HIIT sprints (optional)
  • Sunday: Active recovery (walk, yoga, stretch)

How Much Cardio Is Too Much?

Understanding Recovery Thresholds

Too much cardio leads to poor recovery, increased fatigue, and loss of strength. If your lifts start to stall or you dread every session, it’s a sign you’re overdoing it.

Monitoring Fatigue and Performance

Use tools like:

  • Heart rate variability (HRV)
  • Resting heart rate
  • Mood and motivation levels
  • Sleep quality

Track these weekly to adjust cardio volume accordingly.

Nutrition Tips for Strength & Cardio Combo

Fueling for Dual Demands

If you’re doing both, you need more fuel—not less. Don’t make the mistake of cutting calories while increasing cardio. That’s a recipe for burnout and muscle loss.

Carb Timing and Recovery

Use carbs strategically—before strength training for energy and after cardio for recovery. This keeps glycogen levels optimal and helps preserve strength.

Protein and Muscle Preservation

Aim for 0.8g–1g of protein per pound of body weight daily. This helps offset any catabolic effects from cardio and keeps you anabolic.

Best Practices for Combining Cardio with Strength

Sample Weekly Template

DayFocus
MondayStrength + LISS Walk
TuesdayLISS Only
WednesdayStrength + Incline Walk
ThursdayOff or Recovery Walk
FridayStrength + Light HIIT
SaturdayOptional HIIT or Fun
SundayRest or Yoga

Balancing Goals Over the Long Term

You can’t maximize both strength and endurance at the same time. But you can make serious progress on both over time with the right strategy. Periodize your goals. Train smart.

Conclusion

Cardio doesn’t have to be the enemy of gains.
It can actually be the secret weapon in your training arsenal—if you use it right.

So no, you don’t have to choose between being strong and being conditioned. With smart programming, solid nutrition, and some real self-awareness, you can have both.

Go ahead—add that walk, that bike ride, that sprint session. Your gains won’t just survive…
They’ll thrive.

Motivation

The Hidden Triggers Blocking Your Self-Realization Journey

What Is Self-Realization?

A Simple Definition

Self-realization isn’t some woo-woo concept reserved for monks in mountain caves. It’s the act of deeply knowing yourself—beyond ego, titles, and fears. It’s when you wake up to your true nature.

Why It Matters in the Modern World

In a noisy world full of comparison, distraction, and hustle, self-realization is your anchor. Without it, you’re just drifting—chasing goals that aren’t even yours.

The Subtle Saboteurs of Your Spiritual Growth

Hidden Ego Patterns

Your ego is slick. It can disguise itself as your “higher self” and trick you into thinking you’ve already arrived. But ego seeks control, validation, and comfort. Growth demands the opposite.

Attachment to Identity and Labels

“I’m an introvert.” “I’m a hustler.” “I’m a victim.” These labels become cages. Your essence can’t breathe when you chain it to identity.

Fear Disguised as Logic

“I just need to be practical right now.” Sound familiar? Often, that “logic” is fear in a business suit. It masks your deeper intuition.

Societal Conditioning: The Invisible Cage

The Schooling System and Conformity

Most of us were trained to obey, not to awaken. We learned to get gold stars, not to ask, “Who am I?” This conditioning runs deep.

Media Narratives That Shape Self-Image

Instagram tells you what beauty is. TikTok tells you how to behave. News tells you what to fear. But none of it tells you who you are.

The Myth of “Normal”

Trying to fit into the mold of “normal” is a form of spiritual self-harm. Your uniqueness is your power—not your flaw.

The Emotional Baggage You Didn’t Know You Carried

Unprocessed Childhood Trauma

What you suppress doesn’t disappear—it just goes underground. Childhood pain manifests in adult patterns unless healed.

Generational Pain Passed Down

Your wounds might not even be yours. Epigenetics proves trauma can be inherited. But so can healing.

Emotional Suppression as a Coping Mechanism

“Just stay positive” is toxic if you’re using it to bury your truth. Real healing starts where pretending ends.

How the Mind Tricks You Out of Awakening

The Monkey Mind and Constant Overthinking

Your mind loves running in circles. It creates problems that don’t exist just to stay busy. Silence it, and you hear your soul.

Over-Identification with Thoughts

You are not your thoughts. You are the observer. The moment you forget that, you’re lost in the movie.

Perfectionism and the Illusion of Readiness

You’ll never feel “ready.” Start anyway. Perfectionism is procrastination dressed up in achievement talk.

Environmental Triggers That Sabotage Inner Work

Toxic Workspaces

If you’re surrounded by gossip, fear, and burnout—it’ll dim your light. Environment matters more than you think.

Relationships That Drain Your Energy

Energy vampires are real. If someone makes your nervous system tighten, that’s data.

Lack of Solitude and Digital Overload

You need stillness to awaken. Constant scrolling kills your intuitive signal.

The Role of the Shadow Self

What Is the Shadow?

The “shadow” is everything you reject or deny in yourself. It’s not evil. It’s unacknowledged power.

How Repressed Aspects Hold You Back

What you deny controls you. What you integrate empowers you.

Integrating the Shadow for Wholeness

Own your anger, your shame, your fear—and they become your fuel.

The Energy Blockages You’re Not Aware Of

Stagnant Chakras

Blocked energy centers manifest as self-doubt, anxiety, even illness. Your body tells the truth when your words don’t.

Somatic Tension and Body Memory

Your body remembers trauma long after your mind forgets. Healing isn’t just talk—it’s felt.

Nervous System Dysregulation

Always tired or wired? That’s your nervous system crying for balance.

Self-Sabotage: The Inner Critic’s Voice

Impostor Syndrome

It whispers, “You’re a fraud.” Truth is, you’re just growing into your next level.

Fear of Success

Success changes your relationships, your responsibilities. Many subconsciously avoid it to “stay safe.”

Procrastination as Protection

You’re not lazy—you’re scared. Your inner self is trying to keep you comfortable. Growth isn’t comfy.

Time Traps: Living in the Past or Future

Nostalgia Loops

Romanticizing the past is a trap. You can’t move forward while looking backward.

Anxiety About What’s Next

The unknown feels scary—but it’s also where magic lives.

Missing the Now Moment

Now is all you ever have. And it’s where self-realization lives.

Healing Begins with Awareness

Mindfulness as the First Step

You can’t heal what you’re unaware of. Start noticing—without judgment.

Radical Honesty with Yourself

Stop lying to yourself to keep the peace. Truth breaks chains.

Journaling, Therapy, and Energy Work

These aren’t luxuries—they’re lifelines. Use them.

Rewriting Your Story and Reclaiming Your Power

Inner Child Work

Your inner child doesn’t need to grow up. It needs to feel safe and seen.

Reprogramming Subconscious Beliefs

Use affirmations, hypnosis, NLP—whatever works. Your beliefs build your reality.

Vision Work and Higher Self Connection

Visualize your healed self daily. Anchor into the future you.

Daily Practices to Unblock Your Path

Breathwork and Meditation

These reset your system and clear your mind’s fog.

Nature Immersion

Nature reminds you of your true rhythm. Go barefoot. Get quiet.

Ritual and Sacred Discipline

Daily rituals give structure to your spiritual progress. Treat them as sacred.

What Happens When You Start Unblocking?

Signs of Real Progress

More peace. More clarity. Less drama. That’s how you know.

Increased Synchronicities and Flow

You stop forcing. Life starts aligning.

The Unfolding of Purpose

Your soul’s mission reveals itself when you’re ready—not when you’re stressed.

The Journey Is Not Linear—And That’s Okay

Expect the Spiral Path

You’ll revisit old wounds. That doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re healing deeper.

Embrace the Setbacks

Every dark night has its dawn. Keep walking.

Celebrate the Small Wins

Every time you choose growth over fear—it counts.

Final Thoughts

Self-realization isn’t a destination—it’s a way of living. It’s peeling back everything you’re not until only truth remains. It’s not always pretty, but it’s always worth it.

Technology & A.I

How to Use AI to Supercharge Your Job Search in 2025

In today’s hyper-competitive job market, knowing how to use artificial intelligence isn’t just a bonus—it’s a strategic edge. As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang put it, “You won’t lose your job to AI, but you will lose it to someone who knows how to use it.” That wisdom holds true for job seekers, too.

Whether you’re rewriting your resume, applying to dozens of jobs in minutes, or rehearsing your next interview, AI offers a powerful toolkit to enhance every step of the hiring process. Here’s how to leverage cutting-edge AI tools to find your next role faster, smarter, and with less stress.

Why AI Job Search Tools Matter in 2025

The job hunt has become more data-driven and automated than ever. Recruiters are using algorithms, bots, and AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter through candidates at scale. That means candidates need to fight fire with fire—by using AI to tailor applications, optimize resumes, and speed up outreach.

But there’s a balance. While AI can handle the heavy lifting, employers still expect authenticity. That means knowing how to use AI—not blindly relying on it.

1. AI Resume Builders: Streamline the First Step

Craft Custom Resumes in Minutes

Creating a resume is often the first (and most dreaded) task. AI resume builders like KickResume, Canva’s AI Resume Tool, and ChatGPT-powered templates make it easy to:

  • Input your experience once
  • Auto-generate multiple tailored resumes
  • Format them to be ATS-friendly

These tools allow you to adapt your resume for each role without starting from scratch. You can also use ChatGPT to instantly rewrite bullet points using specific job descriptions for maximum impact.

Top Tools for AI Resume Generation

  • KickResume: Includes resume, cover letter, and personal website options
  • Canva AI: Combines powerful design templates with resume editing
  • Teal HQ: Offers keyword optimization and LinkedIn syncing

2. Cover Letter Support Without Losing Your Voice

AI as Your Writing Assistant

Many hiring managers still value a good cover letter—but they can spot a generic AI-generated one from a mile away. The trick? Use AI like ChatGPT to help draft your letter, but always revise it with your voice, personality, and unique story.

Tips for AI-Powered Cover Letter Creation

  • Ask ChatGPT to create a first draft based on your resume and the job listing
  • Replace generic phrases with personal anecdotes or company-specific insights
  • Keep tone professional, but human

3. AI-Powered Job Boards: Go Beyond Traditional Search

Hiring.cafe: The Smart Job Aggregator

Hiring.cafe blends traditional job search functionality with advanced AI filters. Unlike Indeed or Monster, this platform:

  • Scrapes jobs directly from company sites
  • Applies ChatGPT-powered filters like salary, certification, and schedule
  • Removes “ghost listings” that are no longer active

How It Helps

  • Cut through outdated listings
  • Find high-relevance roles faster
  • Save, apply, or hide jobs with one click

4. JobCopilot: Apply to Hundreds of Jobs Automatically

Set It and Forget It (Almost)

JobCopilot is a smart platform that submits applications on your behalf. Just upload your resume, answer a few questions, and let the AI do the legwork.

Key features:

  • Access to 300,000+ company career sites
  • Custom application options
  • Massive time savings on repetitive applications

Per JobCopilot, most users need to apply to 50–100 jobs to get one interview—this tool automates that grind.

5. Sonara: A Sleeker Alternative with a Softer UI

Ease of Use Meets AI Efficiency

Sonara mirrors JobCopilot’s functionality but is praised for its smoother onboarding process and clean interface. It applies for jobs using your preferences and resume, acting like a virtual recruiter.

It doesn’t disclose exactly where it scrapes listings from, but its performance is on par with competitors. Use both Sonara and JobCopilot for broader reach.

6. Wobo.ai: Deep Matching Based on “Persona” Profiles

AI That Understands You First

Wobo adds a layer of personalization by building a profile (or “persona”) based on your preferences and resume. Each job listing receives a similarity score, showing how well it fits your persona.

It also scrapes platforms like:

  • Greenhouse
  • BambooHR
  • Lever
  • Company career pages

This added intelligence means more relevant job matches—and less time wasted applying to poor fits.

7. AI-Powered Interview Coaching: Practice Like a Pro

Train with Virtual Interviewers

Landing interviews is only half the battle—you still have to perform under pressure. Tools like Interviewsby.ai and Huru simulate real interview settings:

  • Generate role-specific questions
  • Record your answers via webcam
  • Analyze your speech, tone, and body language

You’ll receive AI-generated feedback to improve your delivery, content, and confidence.

ChatGPT Bonus Tip

Paste job descriptions into ChatGPT and ask it to generate practice questions or even critique your responses. It’s a free way to train with highly relevant prompts.

8. Best Practices: Balance Automation with Authenticity

Don’t Let AI Overwrite Your Humanity

While AI can streamline and scale your job hunt, it shouldn’t replace your voice or intuition. Companies still hire people, not prompt engineers.

Use AI for:

  • Drafting resumes and cover letters
  • Automating bulk applications
  • Practicing interviews

Don’t use AI for:

  • Faking experience
  • Blindly applying without reading roles
  • Submitting unedited robotic language

9. The Future of AI in Job Hunting

This space is growing fast. As AI tools evolve, expect more personalized matching, real-time recruiter bots, and deeper integrations with platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Slack.

The real winners will be job seekers who blend AI efficiency with human creativity and strategic thinking.

Use AI to Multiply Your Efforts—Not Replace Them

AI won’t get the job for you, but it will help you do the job of getting a job faster and smarter. Think of it as your virtual assistant, resume coach, and job-hunting ally—working tirelessly behind the scenes so you can focus on what matters most: telling your story and finding the perfect fit.

Now go out there and let your AI-powered career journey begin.

AI Is Reshaping the Internet — But Who Pays the Price?

The Death of the Click: From Web Browsing to AI Chatbots

For decades, the internet was driven by one core mechanic: search and click. Google indexed billions of pages. We searched for information, clicked results, visited sites like Reuters, The New York Times, Reddit, or Pinterest, and spent time consuming content. That attention generated revenue—either through ads or subscriptions. Content creators were rewarded for crafting high-quality, unique, and engaging material.

Now, that paradigm is under threat.

Artificial intelligence companies are introducing a radical shift. Instead of clicking through to various sources, users can now ask a chatbot anything—and receive a summarized answer, pulled from across the web, without ever leaving the chat window. Convenient for the user, yes. But for the content creators? It’s a game of survival.

AI Agents and the Rise of Frictionless Browsing

Tech giants like OpenAI are pioneering a “frictionless web” where users no longer open links, juggle tabs, or browse manually. Instead, users interact with personal AI agents—autonomous systems designed to navigate the web, compare prices, book tickets, or gather information—all on your behalf.

These AI-powered agents rely on large language models (LLMs) that need enormous volumes of training data. And where do they get that data? From the web. That means your website, your blog, your article.

Cloudflare’s Warning: Bots Are Winning the Traffic Battle

According to Cloudflare, which manages nearly 20% of the world’s web traffic, the change is accelerating rapidly. Over the past few months, publishers have reported a sharp decline in referral traffic. Why? Fewer humans, more bots.

While traditional bots (like Google’s crawlers) have long helped websites get discovered in search results, we’re now seeing an explosion in AI-specific bots—tools designed to scrape the internet for massive datasets to feed machine learning systems.

AI Web Scraping Spikes 125% in Just Six Months

Data from Webflow reveals that bot activity, particularly from AI companies, has surged by 125% over six months. Initially, AI models targeted static sources like books or archives. But now, the emphasis is on real-time content—up-to-the-minute news, blogs, and opinion pieces.

As users expect chatbots to deliver instant and accurate answers, AI tools must constantly scrape the living web. The result? Creators and publishers are caught in the crosshairs.

Legal Battles and Emerging Alliances: AI vs. Media

This rising tension has triggered a wave of lawsuits, negotiations, and partnerships:

  • OpenAI has begun striking deals with major publishers to license content.
  • Perplexity attempted to launch a publisher partnership program, with underwhelming reception.
  • Reddit filed a lawsuit against AI firm Anthropic for unauthorized data use—even after licensing its data to Google for $60 million.

AI companies defend their practices, claiming that web scraping is legal and enhances user experience. They also promise to credit original sources. But is a backlink in a chatbot response really equivalent to a visitor on your site?

“Block or Pay”: Cloudflare’s New Monetization Model

To counterbalance this imbalance, Cloudflare introduced a bold new system: “Block or Pay.” This gives website owners the choice to block AI bots—or charge them on a per-crawl basis.

Early adopters include heavy hitters like Reddit and Condé Nast. The model is innovative, but it’s still unclear whether the revenue generated from bot activity will ever match the value of human traffic and ad impressions.

Shocking Stat of the Week: 60,000 Crawls, 1 Human

Here’s how extreme the disparity has become. Data shows that Anthropic’s bot scrapes 60,000 web pages for every single human user it refers back to a source. That’s not just imbalance—it’s digital cannibalization.

Adapting for AI: Websites Must Become Bot-Friendly

If your brand depends on organic traffic, you’re facing a new challenge. Webflow’s CEO, Linda Tong, notes that many businesses are now optimizing their websites not for people, but for machines—ensuring content is readable, extractable, and contextually clear for AI agents.

It’s a shift toward a new kind of SEO: not Search Engine Optimization, but Scraping Efficiency Optimization.

What AI Is Doing to Your Brain

While AI is transforming the web, it’s also rewiring us—specifically, how we think and create.

A recent study from MIT Media Lab titled “Your Brain on ChatGPT” examined how using LLMs like ChatGPT affects brain function during writing.

The Experiment: Three Groups, One Task

Researchers split university students into three groups:

  1. ChatGPT-only: Could use only AI-generated assistance.
  2. Search Engine-only: Used tools like Google, no AI help.
  3. Brain-only: Relied solely on memory and internal knowledge.

The Results: Outsourcing Thinking Weakens the Brain

Students who used no tools showed the highest levels of brain connectivity—especially in regions tied to memory, creativity, and executive function. Those using Google had moderate engagement. The ChatGPT group? The weakest.

And it wasn’t just brain scans. Students who used ChatGPT couldn’t remember their own writing minutes after submitting it. They felt less ownership and connection to their essays, and the writing was often formulaic.

Even when switching from AI to brain-only writing, students struggled to re-engage. The study warns of “cognitive debt”—a deterioration of mental faculties from over-reliance on artificial tools.

The Takeaway: Use AI, Don’t Let It Use You

AI can enhance productivity, but if you hand over too much of your thinking, you might lose your originality, memory, and voice. Write, create, and think with intention—even in a world of powerful digital tools.

AI Needs a Universal Language: Enter Model Context Protocol (MCP)

As AI agents become more complex, they need to connect to calendars, emails, databases, and task tools. But right now, each integration must be custom-built.

To solve this, Anthropic introduced the Model Context Protocol (MCP)—a universal adapter for AI systems. Backed by OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google, MCP lets AIs interact with external tools without endless configuration.

This is crucial for the future of autonomous AI agents. With MCP, AI tools can finally manage real-world tasks seamlessly—booking appointments, accessing live databases, or navigating apps in real time.

The AI-Powered Internet Is Here—But It’s Not Free

The future of the web will be shaped by how we balance automation with authorship. While AI brings efficiency, the creators behind the content deserve recognition, compensation, and control.

This new digital ecosystem raises urgent questions:

  • Who owns the data AI uses?
  • How do we value original content?
  • What’s the long-term cost of outsourcing our memory and creativity?

The answers will define not just the next wave of innovation—but the integrity of the internet itself.

The AI Talent Wars: Why Tech Giants Are Battling for Human Intelligence

Don’t be distracted by the dazzling headlines about artificial intelligence surpassing human capabilities. At its core, the AI revolution is still a human-driven endeavor—and it’s fueling the most intense talent war the tech world has ever seen. From Silicon Valley to global headquarters, companies are fiercely competing not just for innovation but for the brilliant minds shaping it.

Big Tech’s Billion-Dollar Recruitment Frenzy

Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google are no longer just competing over product features—they’re battling over people. Meta Platforms, under Mark Zuckerberg, has been reported to offer signing bonuses reminiscent of football contracts—rumors suggest up to $100 million per recruit for top-tier AI researchers. According to Wired, total packages could be as high as $300 million over four years.

While Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth attempted to downplay these claims by stating such figures are reserved for “a small number of leadership roles,” the trend is undeniable: elite AI talent is commanding unprecedented value.

Acquihires: Buying Companies for Brains

A growing number of Big Tech acquisitions aren’t about products—they’re about people. These “acquihires” reflect the urgent demand for AI engineers and researchers. For example:

  • Meta acquired 49% of Scale AI for $15 billion, effectively bringing its co-founder, Alexandr Wang, on board.
  • Microsoft licensed Inflection AI’s technology in a $650 million deal and brought in a slew of its key personnel, including DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman.

The traditional equity vesting period of several years has now collapsed into mere months, reflecting the accelerated pace of talent movement and wealth creation.

AI Engineers: The New Elite Class of Tech

Those who invested in machine learning and large language models early on have hit the jackpot. This niche expertise is now in ultra-high demand, with a relatively small global pool of experts driving the frontier of innovation.

OpenAI, Anthropic (founded by former OpenAI employees), and other AI pioneers form a tight-knit web of influence. These leaders are not just shaping products—they’re shaping the future of work, education, and human-computer interaction.

The Growing Divide in the Tech Workforce

While a select few are reaping the benefits of the AI explosion, many others in tech are facing uncertainty or even displacement. The sector is undergoing a stark polarization:

  • AI, data science, and cybersecurity roles command high premiums.
  • Meanwhile, software engineers, especially those without AI expertise, are increasingly vulnerable.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently emphasized how AI allows companies to do more with fewer engineers. This sentiment is echoed across the industry—and it’s reshaping hiring strategies.

Tech Workers Speak Out: Fewer Jobs, More Pressure

Platforms like Blind and Reddit are filled with tech workers voicing anxiety:

  • Fewer job offers from recruiters.
  • More stringent hiring processes.
  • Reduced flexibility for remote work.
  • Age-related job fears, with workers over 40 viewing AI as a looming “extinction-level event.”

Recent graduates, too, are finding that the door into tech is narrowing as AI tools automate junior-level tasks once handled by entry-level developers.

The Layoff Landscape: Bloodshed in the Code

The data tells a grim story:

  • 2023: Over 250,000 tech jobs cut.
  • 2024: Another 152,922 eliminated.
  • 2025 (so far): 72,808 job cuts and counting.

Microsoft alone announced 9,000 layoffs recently, on top of the 6,000 in May. In the UK, IT and computing job vacancies have seen their sharpest decline in four years, according to a joint KPMG and Recruitment & Employment Confederation survey.

A Tale of Two Markets: Rising Salaries Amid Shrinking Jobs

Despite the layoffs and tightening job market, there are bright spots:

  • According to Adzuna, the average UK tech salary in 2025 rose to over £59,000, up from £55,500 in 2024.
  • European tech professionals still offer value compared to their U.S. peers, and they remain in demand.
  • A Hays survey reported that 74% of British tech employers plan to increase salaries over the next 12 months.

This reveals a dual reality: while some roles are being phased out, others are becoming more valuable than ever.

The AI Paradox: Efficiency vs. Employment

The productivity gains of AI are undeniable. But those gains often come at the cost of jobs, particularly in areas like:

  • Software development
  • Customer service
  • Administrative support

AI tools can now write code, generate content, and even manage workflows—tasks that once required teams of professionals. While businesses benefit, many workers are left wondering where they fit in.

The Rising Anxiety in Tech Culture

Even amid growth and innovation, there’s a noticeable anxious undercurrent in the tech world. Job seekers sense that something fundamental is changing—and not everyone will benefit. AI is transforming not just the tools we use but the structure of the workforce itself.

What It All Means for the Future of Work

As AI continues to evolve, here’s what to expect:

  • Specialized AI roles will dominate hiring trends.
  • Generalist roles will decline unless they adapt or reskill.
  • Younger workers may struggle without hands-on opportunities to develop.
  • Older professionals must retool quickly to stay relevant.

Ultimately, the companies that win won’t just be those with the best algorithms—they’ll be those that understand how to integrate human expertise into an AI-driven world.

It’s Still a Human Game

AI may be changing the rules, but humans are still the players. The ongoing war for AI talent isn’t just about building better machines—it’s about who controls the future of technology. For individuals and organizations alike, the message is clear: adapt, specialize, or risk being left behind.

Real-Time AI: Nvidia Unveils Helix Parallelism to Supercharge Language Model Performance

Breaking the Bottleneck in AI Responsiveness

Nvidia has introduced a groundbreaking innovation in AI architecture—Helix Parallelism—that promises to redefine how large language models (LLMs) manage vast information while maintaining real-time speed. This revolutionary method directly addresses one of AI’s biggest limitations: how to scale memory and processing power without sacrificing speed or user interactivity.

As AI-powered tools—like virtual assistants, legal advisors, and code generation engines—grow in complexity, they must juggle massive data inputs while delivering lightning-fast responses. With Helix Parallelism, Nvidia offers a powerful solution that significantly enhances how LLMs perform in high-demand, low-latency environments.

What Is Helix Parallelism?

Helix Parallelism is a new multi-dimensional data processing strategy developed by Nvidia researchers. Its primary function is to optimize how AI systems handle ultra-long context windows, such as processing an entire legal document, multi-turn conversation, or extensive codebase—without slowdowns.

Traditional methods often face trade-offs: speed vs. memory. Helix Parallelism eliminates that dilemma by orchestrating three distinct forms of parallelism—KV (key-value), tensor, and expert parallelism—within a unified, dynamically balanced execution loop.

Inspired by Nature, Engineered for GPUs

The architecture of Helix Parallelism draws inspiration from the double-helix structure of DNA. Just like DNA efficiently stores and accesses genetic information, Helix synchronizes memory and processing layers across multiple GPUs, each tailored to its unique workload.

Nvidia has designed this parallelization model to maximize the capabilities of its next-gen Blackwell GPU architecture, tapping into high-bandwidth interconnects that seamlessly share resources and data between GPUs. This tightly woven system ensures every stage of AI computation is optimized for performance and latency.

Massive Boosts in Throughput and User Interactivity

According to Nvidia’s internal benchmarks, Helix Parallelism delivers:

  • Up to 32x increase in concurrent users at the same latency compared to traditional parallelism techniques.
  • Up to 1.5x improvement in real-time responsiveness for low concurrency scenarios.
  • Sustained performance with million-token contexts, a key metric for cutting-edge LLMs.

This positions Helix as a core enabler for AI products that require deep context awareness and instantaneous responses, like:

  • Conversational AI assistants that remember entire histories.
  • Legal AI systems that scan volumes of case files.
  • AI coding companions that evaluate thousands of lines of code.

Solving the Scalability Puzzle in AI Inference

At the heart of the innovation is how Helix distributes memory and computation tasks across multiple GPUs. Instead of overloading a single device’s memory—causing bottlenecks or degraded performance—the system distributes and synchronizes workload across a cluster, dramatically improving throughput and stability.

This approach is particularly effective during real-time inference, where latency must be kept minimal even as context size balloons into the millions of tokens. Helix not only scales efficiently but also ensures each GPU operates at optimal load—resulting in minimal waste and maximal efficiency.

Tailored for Nvidia’s Blackwell Architecture

Helix Parallelism is tightly integrated with Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs, the latest generation of high-performance graphics processors. These chips are engineered for AI workloads, offering:

  • High-speed GPU interconnects
  • Enhanced memory bandwidth
  • Specialized AI accelerators

By utilizing Blackwell’s architecture, Helix can achieve fine-grained synchronization between parallel threads, ensuring consistent latency and reliable throughput at scale.

Implications for the Future of AI Applications

This development is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a paradigm shift in how AI will be deployed across industries. Imagine:

  • Legal teams running AI tools that instantly process entire legal libraries.
  • Developers using coding assistants that scan entire repositories in real-time.
  • Medical professionals receiving instant insights from patient histories spanning years.

With Helix Parallelism, these applications are no longer theoretical—they’re within reach.

Nvidia’s Vision: Helix as a Foundation for Next-Gen AI

Nvidia plans to integrate Helix Parallelism into its broader AI inference frameworks, making it accessible to developers and enterprises building next-gen applications. By embedding Helix into popular AI platforms, Nvidia is laying the groundwork for more responsive, scalable, and intelligent systems that can handle vast data loads without breaking a sweat.

Ushering in the Era of Real-Time, High-Context AI

Nvidia’s Helix Parallelism sets a new standard for AI scalability. By resolving the long-standing conflict between context size and system speed, it empowers language models to serve more users, handle richer data, and react instantly—all at once.

As AI continues to evolve, innovations like Helix Parallelism will be crucial in unlocking new use cases, improving reliability, and ensuring AI systems remain efficient, responsive, and profoundly intelligent.

Perplexity Launches Comet: An Ambitious AI Browser Aiming to Redefine Search

Perplexity has unveiled its first AI-powered web browser, Comet. This release represents the company’s most strategic initiative yet in its mission to offer a viable alternative to Google Search — and possibly even Google Chrome itself.

Initially, Comet is exclusive to users subscribed to Perplexity’s $200-per-month Max Plan and select individuals on a pre-approved waitlist. The browser’s core feature is its integration of Perplexity’s AI search engine, positioned front and center to deliver real-time, AI-generated summaries of search results directly within the browser.

Built-In AI Companion: Comet Assistant

A standout element of the browser is the Comet Assistant — an AI agent built directly into the browser interface. This assistant is designed to handle repetitive digital tasks such as:

  • Summarizing emails
  • Managing browser tabs
  • Reviewing calendar events
  • Navigating web pages in real-time

Comet Assistant becomes active via a “sidecar” interface, allowing it to view the content of any webpage and answer context-specific questions instantly. It essentially brings contextual AI support to the heart of your browsing experience.

Perplexity’s Vision: Competing With Giants

According to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, Comet is a central part of the company’s long-term vision — not only to rival Google Search, but to potentially become the default digital ecosystem for information discovery, productivity, and automation. Srinivas has positioned Comet as a foundational step toward building an “operating system for the internet.”

This move puts Perplexity in direct competition with Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and other rising AI browsers such as the Browser Company’s “Arc” and the newly launched “Dia.” Even OpenAI is reportedly exploring its own AI browser offering, indicating that the market is heating up rapidly.

User Growth and Market Timing

Comet’s debut comes on the heels of impressive user growth. In May 2025, Perplexity logged 780 million search queries, with month-over-month growth exceeding 20%. This momentum may give Comet the boost it needs to carve out a meaningful user base, especially if current users embrace the new browser.

Hands-On Experience with Comet

Everyday Utility, With Limitations

Early user feedback suggests that Comet Assistant performs well with simple tasks. It effectively reads the contents of a web page, summarizes relevant information, and answers user queries without requiring manual copy-paste actions or tab switching.

However, the browser demands significant access to personal data. In order to summarize emails or calendar events, Comet needs permission to view Gmail, Google Calendar, and other sensitive content. This may raise privacy concerns for many users.

Impressive for Browsing, Cautious for Automation

While navigating websites, the Comet Assistant can:

  • Read and summarize social media posts
  • Analyze YouTube videos
  • Understand documents, like those in Google Docs

One of the best use cases reported is opening the sidecar Assistant while browsing, allowing for seamless in-page queries without disrupting the flow of research or content consumption.

Still, more complex tasks expose its flaws.

Where Comet Assistant Stumbles: Complex Task Handling

In practical testing, the Assistant struggled with multi-step operations. One user requested help in booking long-term parking at San Francisco airport, with constraints like pricing and quality reviews. While the assistant initially appeared to navigate the process, it made critical errors:

  • Entered the wrong travel dates
  • Misinterpreted search criteria
  • Pushed the user to complete a faulty transaction

This reflects a broader challenge in AI tools — hallucination, where the AI invents or misunderstands facts. Despite its contextual awareness, Comet Assistant is not yet reliable for tasks that require precision and multiple decision points.

AI Access: The Tradeoff Between Convenience and Privacy

To unlock the full potential of Comet Assistant, users must grant extensive permissions — such as allowing access to emails, contacts, calendars, and web browsing behavior. This level of access raises valid concerns, especially when dealing with sensitive or personal data.

Although Perplexity assures that this access is necessary for advanced automation, user trust and transparency will be essential to long-term adoption.

Where Comet Excels: Modern Workflow Integration

Despite its flaws, Comet offers features that signal the next generation of browser-based productivity:

  • Summarizing email digests from key senders
  • Providing directions and scheduling suggestions based on calendar data
  • Offering real-time context-based answers from active webpages

These functionalities may prove invaluable for busy professionals, researchers, and tech-savvy users, who rely on fast, integrated digital tools.

Comet vs. the Competition

Google’s Countermove: AI in Chrome

Google has been quietly integrating AI into Chrome with features like AI writing suggestions, automated tab groups, and an “AI Search Mode” that mirrors some of Perplexity’s innovations. The tech giant isn’t standing still, but Comet’s launch forces Google and others to rethink the browser experience.

Is Comet a Game-Changer?

In the evolving AI browser landscape, Comet may not dethrone Chrome or Safari overnight. But it does offer a fresh perspective on how AI can be embedded more deeply into the web browsing experience.

If Perplexity can refine its Assistant’s reliability and earn user trust around privacy, Comet might become the preferred browser for AI-first workflows.

Final Verdict: Ambitious but Unfinished

Comet is clearly a strategic move in Perplexity’s ongoing effort to differentiate itself in the crowded AI and search engine marketplace. The browser blends a unique user interface, built-in AI search, and powerful on-page tools — but its real-world execution is still a work in progress.

Pros:

  • AI-first browsing with real-time summaries
  • Powerful Comet Assistant for basic tasks
  • Deep integration into personal workflows

Cons:

  • Accuracy issues with complex tasks
  • High demand for personal data access
  • Limited availability at launch

The Future of Browsing: Intelligent, Integrated, and AI-Driven

As the browser wars enter a new phase defined by AI integration, Comet positions itself as a serious contender. While it may not be perfect today, it signals the direction the entire industry is headed — toward more intelligent, intuitive, and personalized browsing.

Whether it can truly rival Google’s dominance remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Perplexity is playing to win.

Crypto

Polymarket Sees Record Volume in June, But Faces Declining Trader Engagement

Polymarket, the innovative decentralized prediction market platform, achieved a remarkable $1.16 billion in trading volume during June, marking a significant 9.4% increase compared to the previous month. This figure also positions June as the platform’s highest monthly volume since January, when it recorded $1.26 billion in trades. While the volume surge showcases strong user engagement, a deeper look reveals underlying trends in user behavior and market dynamics.

The Surge in Market Activity: What’s Driving It?

The trading volume surge was accompanied by a notable increase in the number of markets available for trading. June saw a 21.4% rise in new market listings, bringing the total number of active markets to an all-time high of around 7,990. This trend highlights Polymarket’s expanding diversification, moving away from its early focus on political markets toward a broader range of sectors. This shift is a strategic move that demonstrates the platform’s adaptability in catering to the growing interest in decentralized prediction markets across various industries.

Deeper Engagement from Fewer Traders

While Polymarket’s market breadth is expanding, the platform’s user base shows a contrasting trend. The number of active traders on the platform dropped by 9.4% month-over-month in June, with just over 242,000 active traders. This figure is a striking 47.6% decrease from the all-time high of approximately 462,000 traders in January.

The decline in active traders, however, comes with an interesting twist: the volume of trades per user has notably increased. The average notional traded per account has surged to about $4,800 in June, up from approximately $2,700 in January. This suggests that existing traders are significantly more engaged, placing much larger bets than before. The data points toward a concentration of trading activity among a smaller, more active cohort of users, sometimes referred to as “power users,” who are contributing to a larger share of the platform’s total trading volume.

Challenges in User Growth and Onboarding

While Polymarket’s platform is expanding in terms of market diversity and engagement from a smaller group of power users, the decline in the total number of active traders highlights a potential issue with user acquisition and onboarding. Despite the record number of markets being introduced, the platform’s ability to attract new users seems to be stalling, with a clear drop in new traders joining the platform in recent months. This trend suggests that Polymarket may need to reassess its marketing strategies or improve its user onboarding process to maintain a steady influx of new users.

Given that a more concentrated group of users is responsible for the surge in trading volume, Polymarket must focus on increasing its “top-of-funnel” user growth. Implementing effective marketing campaigns, expanding its target audience, and enhancing the platform’s usability could help drive fresh sign-ups and reinvigorate growth.

The Road Ahead: Strategies for Growth

As Polymarket continues to break records in trading volume, its ability to sustain long-term growth will hinge on its capacity to address its challenges in user acquisition. Diversifying market offerings is clearly a step in the right direction, but attracting a larger base of active users will be crucial for maintaining this momentum. The platform will need to find ways to bridge the gap between its growing market diversity and the shrinking number of active traders to ensure continued success.

To tackle this, Polymarket may want to explore new methods for reaching potential users. This could include targeted campaigns aimed at educating users about decentralized prediction markets, promoting the platform’s versatility, and offering incentives for new traders. Additionally, improving the overall user experience, including faster transaction times and simplified interfaces, could help make Polymarket more accessible to a broader audience.

The Future of Polymarket

Polymarket’s impressive volume growth in June underscores the platform’s strong position in the decentralized prediction market space. However, its declining trader base and the need for better user acquisition strategies highlight important challenges that need to be addressed moving forward. By expanding its user base and refining its onboarding processes, Polymarket can continue to leverage its market innovations and secure a solid foundation for future growth.

New TRON ETF Filing Could Shake Up Crypto Investment Landscape

A recent registration filing has unveiled a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) aimed at tracking the daily performance of TRON (TRX), further expanding the number of funds awaiting approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The T-REX 2X Long TRON Daily Target ETF

ETF Opportunities Trust made the filing for the “T-REX 2X Long TRON Daily Target ETF” on Thursday, marking a significant addition to the growing list of cryptocurrency-focused funds. This particular fund seeks to deliver leveraged investment results on a daily basis, with a unique approach that sets it apart from traditional ETFs.

What Makes T-REX 2X Unique?

Unlike other ETFs that passively track an index or asset, the T-REX 2X Long TRON Daily Target ETF aims to magnify the daily returns of TRON by a factor of 200%. This makes the fund inherently more volatile and risky compared to non-leveraged alternatives. According to the filing, the fund’s objective is to use leverage to amplify the daily performance of TRON.

The Fund’s Strategy and Risks

The T-REX 2X ETF will utilize total return swaps to gain exposure to TRON and related derivatives, such as futures contracts or other exchange-traded products. While leveraging can generate higher returns, it also increases potential risk. The filing notes that the use of leverage means the fund’s performance will be more volatile, and it could be riskier than similar funds that do not employ leverage.

As stated in the filing, “the Fund’s objective is to magnify (200%) the daily performance of TRON,” emphasizing its goal of achieving twice the daily return of TRON. This strategy involves significant risk, particularly in a highly volatile market like cryptocurrency, where prices can swing dramatically in short periods.

TRON: A Rising Force in the Crypto World

TRON, created by entrepreneur Justin Sun, has gained significant attention in the cryptocurrency space. As of the latest market data, TRON boasts a market capitalization of $27.6 billion, making it one of the more prominent cryptocurrencies in the market. Sun’s backing of TRON has drawn attention, particularly due to his involvement in various high-profile ventures, including his recent support for former President Donald Trump’s administration. Sun is also known for his ownership of the TRUMP memecoin, adding to his controversial persona within the crypto world.

The Fund’s Sponsor and Future Prospects

The fund’s sponsor, REX Shares, LLC, is known for creating specialized investment products, and this new TRON-focused ETF is no exception. However, at the time of the filing, the custodian for the fund had not yet been named, leaving one piece of the puzzle yet to be confirmed.

Should the SEC approve this fund, it could pave the way for other cryptocurrency ETFs that use leveraged strategies. The launch of this fund represents a significant moment in the cryptocurrency investment world, highlighting the growing interest in digital assets like TRON. Investors interested in leveraging the daily fluctuations of TRON’s price may find this ETF appealing, but it’s important to consider the risks involved in such a volatile market.

Final Thoughts

The T-REX 2X Long TRON Daily Target ETF filing brings new dynamics to the cryptocurrency ETF space. While it offers the potential for significant gains, it also comes with increased risk, making it more suitable for investors who are prepared to handle the volatility inherent in cryptocurrency markets. As we await SEC approval, the future of this ETF could signal broader trends in the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets.

Coinbase Partners with Perplexity AI to Revolutionize Crypto Data Access for Traders

Coinbase has unveiled a groundbreaking partnership with the AI search platform, Perplexity, aimed at providing cryptocurrency traders with real-time, reliable market data. The announcement was made by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on July 10, via the social platform X. With this collaboration, Phase 1 of the integration has already gone live, offering traders direct access to live crypto market data, including the COIN50 index.

Real-Time Data for Smarter Decisions

The integration allows Perplexity to ingest Coinbase’s live market data, providing a significant leap in crypto price discovery and analysis. Users can now dive deeper into market shifts through Perplexity’s browser, Comet. This functionality enhances the user experience by enabling them to “double-click” into price movements, offering a more in-depth analysis and smarter decision-making tools.

Brian Armstrong highlighted that this partnership marks a major step forward, with the new data access powered by intelligent Large Language Models (LLMs). These models help traders and enthusiasts make smarter, informed decisions about cryptocurrency, further cementing the value of accurate real-time data.

The Growing Mainstream Interest in Crypto

In his update, Armstrong also pointed out that Perplexity’s analytics team has observed a notable shift. Interest in crypto topics now matches that of traditional equities, signaling the increasing mainstream relevance of digital assets. As more individuals look to digital currencies for investment and trading, the demand for tools like Perplexity that provide real-time insights into market behavior is skyrocketing.

Phase 2: AI-Enhanced Trading Experience

Looking ahead, Armstrong teased what’s to come in the next phase of the integration. In Phase 2, Coinbase’s market data will power Perplexity’s AI-generated responses, providing users with a fully interactive, conversational interface. This feature will enable traders to scan for opportunities, track token-specific activity, and interpret market trends—all from within the Perplexity platform. This AI-enhanced experience promises to simplify crypto trading and analysis for both experienced traders and newcomers alike.

Optimizing the User Experience with AI

Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, affirmed the importance of this partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to integrate Coinbase’s real-time crypto data into Perplexity Finance. Soon, users will be able to access this information directly through their queries, streamlining the entire trading and research process.”

This integration is made possible through CoinbaseDev, the company’s developer-friendly infrastructure, designed to facilitate smooth data access and app-building. CoinbaseDev is key to ensuring that developers can easily integrate Coinbase’s extensive data offerings into a wide range of platforms and applications.

The Future of Crypto and AI

Beyond the immediate benefits for traders, Armstrong expressed optimism about the broader implications of integrating real-time crypto data with AI systems. He suggested that this collaboration could drive the next wave of innovation in the financial technology space, with AI playing an increasingly central role in how people interact with crypto markets.

Armstrong also hinted at a future where crypto wallets could be fully integrated into AI systems, contributing to a permissionless digital economy. Such advancements would create a more seamless, efficient, and accessible system for users worldwide, aligning with Coinbase’s broader mission to accelerate the adoption of digital assets.

Conclusion

With its partnership with Perplexity, Coinbase is not only enhancing the user experience for crypto traders but is also pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI in the world of cryptocurrency. The combination of live market data, AI-driven analysis, and user-friendly tools is set to reshape how traders interact with crypto markets—paving the way for more informed, efficient, and intuitive trading experiences.

Robinhood Launches Ethereum and Solana Staking Services for U.S. Customers

Robinhood has officially launched Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) staking services for U.S. customers, marking a significant expansion in its crypto offerings. Starting July 10, users in the U.S. can now earn staking rewards on their crypto holdings with a minimum investment of just $1. This new feature enhances Robinhood’s staking services, which were previously only available to European users, and now allows Americans to participate in blockchain validation without the need to manage validators themselves.

Ethereum Staking: Pooling and Rewards

Robinhood’s Ethereum staking service works by pooling customer stakes to meet the Ethereum network’s validator requirement of 32 ETH. Through this batch-processing method, users can join forces to meet the required staking threshold. In exchange, users can expect to receive between 50% and 100% of Ethereum’s protocol staking rewards, depending on the aggregation dynamics. This allows retail investors to participate in Ethereum’s staking system without needing to handle the technical complexities of running a validator node.

Simplifying Solana Staking for Retail Investors

Alongside Ethereum, Solana staking is also now available to Robinhood users. The company manages all technical aspects of Solana’s staking process, making it even easier for everyday investors to participate. By simplifying the entry process, Robinhood aligns with its goal of providing user-friendly crypto services that cater to a broader audience, particularly retail investors who may not have the technical expertise to engage with the blockchain directly.

A Strategic Move to Expand Robinhood’s Digital Asset Offerings

The addition of staking to Robinhood’s platform reflects the company’s continued push to expand its digital asset services. This move is part of a broader strategy to increase Robinhood’s role in the growing cryptocurrency space. In addition to the new staking feature, Robinhood has recently made significant strides to enhance its digital asset offerings. In a bid to bolster its global presence, Robinhood acquired Bitstamp, one of the oldest and most respected crypto exchanges, solidifying its institutional capabilities. Furthermore, Robinhood’s acquisition of Canadian crypto platform WonderFi highlights its ambition to broaden its financial services to include digital assets.

Staking Services Not Available in All U.S. States

While Robinhood’s new staking services are an exciting development for crypto enthusiasts, there are some geographic limitations. Due to state-specific regulatory restrictions, staking services will not be available to residents of California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin at this time. Users in these states will have to wait for the regulatory landscape to evolve before they can take advantage of staking opportunities.

Introducing a 25% Commission on Staking Rewards

Starting in October 2025, Robinhood plans to introduce a 25% commission on staking rewards, in addition to any third-party provider fees. While this fee structure is in line with the industry’s standard rates, the company emphasizes that it will keep the entry threshold low to attract a wide range of retail users. This is in line with Robinhood’s ongoing mission to make cryptocurrency accessible to as many people as possible, despite the added fees.

Strengthening Robinhood’s Position in the Crypto Market

The launch of Ethereum and Solana staking services is just one part of Robinhood’s aggressive expansion strategy into the digital asset space. The company’s push to build its own blockchain on Arbitrum for on-chain equity trading and decentralized services demonstrates its ambition to become a key player in the crypto ecosystem. Furthermore, Robinhood’s growing involvement in crypto is contributing to an increase in its transaction-based revenue, signaling the company’s commitment to positioning itself as a competitive alternative to traditional crypto exchanges.

Regulatory Shifts Pave the Way for Staking Services

Robinhood had previously been hesitant to offer staking services to U.S. customers, citing regulatory uncertainty as a primary concern. However, recent changes in the regulatory landscape have enabled the company to move forward with the new offering. As the regulatory environment continues to evolve, it is likely that Robinhood will expand its services further, giving U.S. customers access to more opportunities in the cryptocurrency space.

Robinhood’s Crypto Strategy

With the launch of Ethereum and Solana staking services, Robinhood is further establishing itself as a retail-friendly gateway to digital assets. This strategic move into staking complements the company’s broader crypto strategy, positioning it as a competitive player in the rapidly expanding market. By making staking accessible to users with as little as $1, Robinhood is opening the door for more retail investors to engage with the blockchain and earn rewards from their crypto holdings. As the company continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it’s clear that Robinhood is committed to remaining a major player in the digital asset space.

Bitcoin Miners Face Shareholder Pushback Over Executive Compensation: A Shift in 2024

In the latest proxy season, shareholder support for executive compensation packages at prominent U.S. Bitcoin (BTC) mining companies dropped significantly, with approval falling to an average of just 64%. This is far below the over 90% approval rate typically seen across the broader S&P 500, according to a July 10 research note from VanEck.

Declining Approval for Executive Pay in 2024

VanEck’s analysis, which reviewed filings from eight publicly listed Bitcoin miners, revealed a significant rise in executive pay. The average compensation for named executive officers (NEOs) jumped from $6.6 million in 2023 to $14.4 million in the draft proxies for 2024. Despite the increase in pay, shareholders expressed mounting concerns, as evidenced by the reduced approval rate.

Compensation Structure: Equity on the Rise

A closer look at the compensation structure shows a substantial shift towards long-term incentives. In 2023, equity and other long-term instruments made up 79% of total executive pay, with that number rising to 89% in 2024. This is considerably higher than the Russell 3000’s 63% and the energy sector’s 63% weighting, reflecting the industry’s focus on aligning compensation with long-term performance.

Base salaries, however, remained in line with industry standards, hovering around $474,000. The significant increase in equity grants highlights the industry’s emphasis on incentivizing executives with stock options, aiming to align their interests with the long-term growth of their companies.

Major Disparities in Stock Awards

Some companies saw eye-popping stock awards for their top executives. Riot Platforms’ CEO, for instance, secured a $79.3 million stock grant for 2024, nearly double the $40.1 million awarded to Marathon’s CEO. These stock grants are well above industry averages and have sparked concerns over the fairness of such compensation relative to company performance.

Meanwhile, Core Scientific (CORZ), which was emerging from bankruptcy, issued a substantial $39.5 million stock award to its CEO. This move, while aimed at retaining talent during a challenging financial period, further contributed to shareholder skepticism.

Rising Resistance: Say-on-Pay Votes

Several Bitcoin mining companies faced significant resistance in their 2025 advisory votes on executive compensation. CORZ, Riot, and Marathon all failed to pass the votes, receiving approval rates of only 38%, 32%, and 22%, respectively. This represents a stark contrast to the broader market, where approval rates typically exceed 90%.

Industry-wide, six out of the eight companies reviewed failed to meet the 70% support threshold, a level considered “low support” by proxy adviser ISS. This high failure rate—75% of the companies involved—illustrates growing shareholder dissatisfaction with the escalating executive pay packages.

Dilution Concerns and Equity Expansions

Another area of shareholder concern is dilution. Some Bitcoin miners approved equity plan expansions that represent about 10% of their shares outstanding. Both Terawulf and Core Scientific made these moves, while smaller increases were authorized by Bit Digital, Hut 8, and Marathon. These share expansions raise the issue of insider dilution, as generous share reserves increase the potential for executives to receive large amounts of stock at the expense of existing shareholders.

Analysts have warned that such stock awards, which often vest quickly, could result in significant dilution for existing investors, diminishing their ownership stakes.

The Shift Toward Performance-Based Pay

Despite the controversies surrounding executive compensation, a notable trend is emerging in the industry: the shift towards performance-based stock units (PSUs). Six of the eight reviewed miners now use PSUs that vest based on multi-year share price or total shareholder return targets, a significant increase from just two companies in 2022. This move is aimed at aligning executive compensation more closely with long-term performance.

However, some companies are still lagging in adopting performance-based incentives. CleanSpark, for example, has yet to adopt PSUs, and Bit Digital has authorization but has not yet issued them. VanEck’s research highlights that most equity plans still rely on two to three-year vesting schedules, which can create gaps in aligning compensation with long-term shareholder value.

Compensation vs. Market Capitalization: A Mixed Picture

When comparing executive compensation to market cap growth, a wide disparity emerges. Riot Platforms, for instance, paid out $230 million in executive compensation, which equated to 73% of its market cap increase. In contrast, Marathon’s compensation ratio was much lower at 18%, while Core Scientific’s stood at just 2%. This stark contrast underscores the issue of alignment between executive pay and company performance, with some companies paying disproportionately high amounts relative to their market growth.

Addressing Shareholder Concerns: Suggestions for Companies

In light of shareholder concerns, VanEck offers several recommendations for improving alignment between executive pay and company performance. First, boards could consider tying bonuses to key operational metrics, such as cost-per-coin-mined, to incentivize operational discipline. Additionally, long-term equity grants should be linked to return-on-capital metrics rather than just share-price targets. Extending vesting schedules and capping the total value of stock awards can also help curb dilution and address investor concerns.

A Call for Accountability

The growing shareholder resistance to rising executive pay packages in the Bitcoin mining industry underscores the need for greater accountability and alignment with long-term shareholder value. As the industry continues to evolve, companies will need to adopt more transparent and performance-based compensation structures to maintain shareholder trust and avoid the potential for regulatory scrutiny.

The trend toward performance-based stock units and extended vesting periods represents a positive shift, but it will take time for these changes to be fully implemented across the sector. Companies that fail to address shareholder concerns may face increasing resistance in future proxy votes, potentially harming their reputations and stock prices in the process.

US House Plans Hearing on Crypto Tax Policy and Digital Asset Legislation

In an important move for the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors, the US House of Representatives is set to hold a crucial hearing on July 16 to discuss a comprehensive crypto tax policy framework. This hearing is part of a broader push by Republicans to introduce and review new bills related to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, and the overall market structure of digital assets.

Focus on Tax Policy Framework for Digital Assets

The hearing, organized by the leadership of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Oversight Subcommittee, aims to examine the “affirmative steps needed to place a tax policy framework on digital assets.” As digital currencies and blockchain technologies continue to evolve, lawmakers are seeking to ensure that the United States is prepared with a tax policy that accommodates the emerging trends in digital asset markets.

This event is particularly timely, as it coincides with the expected vote on three key crypto-related bills in the House. The bills are part of ongoing efforts to address the regulatory challenges facing the rapidly growing digital asset space, ensuring that policy is in place to support both innovation and compliance.

The Importance of Crypto Legislation for the Future

The House hearing, titled “Ensuring Digital Asset Policy Built for the 21st Century,” signals the urgency with which legislators are pursuing a future-proof approach to crypto regulation. The committee’s focus on tax policy highlights a critical area of concern for cryptocurrency users and businesses: the need for clear, fair, and adaptable tax guidelines.

As lawmakers debate the future of digital asset regulation, the question of who will testify at the hearing remains unanswered. However, the event is expected to provide valuable insights into the direction of digital asset taxation and the overall regulatory landscape.

The Push for “Crypto Week” Legislation

In addition to the hearing, Republicans in the House are preparing for a “crypto week” of legislation, which will focus on several important bills aimed at shaping the future of digital asset regulation. Among the key pieces of legislation to be discussed are:

  • GENIUS Act for Payment Stablecoins: This bill focuses on creating a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of traditional assets like the US dollar.
  • Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act: Aimed at limiting the power of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and preventing the rise of a surveillance state, this bill seeks to protect privacy rights in the digital economy.
  • Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act: This act is focused on providing clearer regulations for digital asset markets, aiming to create a more transparent and structured environment for digital currencies and blockchain-based assets.

These discussions reflect the growing importance of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in the global economy. As lawmakers consider these bills, they will also evaluate the broader implications of crypto regulation on innovation, security, and economic growth.

Legislative Efforts Across Both the House and Senate

Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate have taken different approaches to addressing the regulatory challenges facing the crypto industry. For example, during the debate over President Donald Trump’s budget bill, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis proposed an amendment to address the issue of double taxation for cryptocurrency miners and stakers. Although the provision did not make it into the final budget bill, Senator Lummis later introduced a standalone bill on digital asset taxation.

The CLARITY Act, which originated in the House, is one of the major legislative efforts aimed at addressing the market structure for digital assets. However, the Senate Banking Committee has indicated its intention to pursue its own plans for crypto market structure, with a goal of finalizing its approach by September.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act has also been introduced in both the House and Senate, but as of now, neither version of the bill has been passed in either chamber.

Status of the GENIUS Act and Other Key Bills

Unlike the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which has faced challenges in gaining traction, the GENIUS Act for stablecoins is poised for a full House vote. Having already passed the Senate in June, this bill has gained significant support and is expected to move forward after some possible amendments and debate in the House. President Trump has expressed his support for the bill, urging lawmakers to pass it without any additional amendments, signaling his readiness to sign the bill into law immediately after a vote.

Conclusion

The July 16 hearing in the US House of Representatives is a critical step in advancing the legislative framework for digital assets, including tax policies, stablecoins, and CBDCs. With significant bills like the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act under consideration, lawmakers are aiming to shape a regulatory environment that fosters innovation while protecting users and the broader economy. As the crypto and blockchain sectors continue to evolve, these legislative efforts will play a key role in determining the future of digital assets in the United States.

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