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The rise of tokenized Real World Assets (RWAs) in decentralized finance (DeFi) gained traction as traditional bond yields surpassed low-risk DeFi yields during the 2022-2023 bear market. The Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes made U.S. Treasury yields competitive with stablecoin yields in DeFi, despite their lower risk. As of June 13, one-year Treasury bills offered an average yield of 5% to 5.24%, while Aave's stablecoin yields varied from 3.73% to 7.46%. Several protocols seized on higher borrowing costs and reduced DeFi activity by introducing tokenized U.S. Treasurys and private loans on blockchain platforms. By early June, tokenized private loans yielded an average annual percentage of 9.57%. With the crypto market's recovery and increased institutional involvement in 2024, the Total Value Locked (TVL) in RWA projects reached $8 billion. Asset management giant BlackRock entered the space, swiftly becoming the largest provider of tokenized U.S. Treasurys through its BUIDL fund. Initially launching with a $180 million market cap, it has since grown to $462.27 million, commanding a 30% market share and surpassing Franklin Templeton's Benji Investments fund. The growth of the RWA market is evident not only in TVL but also in token performance. In May alone, RWA tokens appreciated by 55.20% and have risen by 224.57% year-to-date. Leading contributors to this growth include TrueFi, Ondo, Dusk, Clearpool, and TokenFi. 3.5

The global landscape of cryptocurrency ATMs has experienced a robust expansion, growing by 17.8% over the past twelve months to a total of 38,279 installations, closely approaching the record high set in December 2022 at 39,541 units. This surge marks a significant turnaround from the previous year, which saw a net loss of 2,861 machines according to Coin ATM Radar. From July 2023 to May 2024, the number of installations consistently increased month over month. While there was a slight dip of 115 installations from May to June, the trend swiftly rebounded in June with a strong net increase of 377 ATMs. Leading the charge in the cryptocurrency ATM market are operators like Bitcoin Depot, Coinflip, and Athena Bitcoin, collectively managing 7,543, 5,057, and 2,756 machines respectively. The United States dominates the global landscape with over 82% of the world's cryptocurrency ATMs, followed by Canada at 7.7%. Australia has emerged as a significant player with a remarkable surge in installations, growing nearly 17-fold to 1,107 machines over the past two years. At this pace, Australia is well-positioned to surpass Europe's count of 1,584 ATMs in the near future. Other countries showing notable growth in cryptocurrency ATM installations include Spain (313), Poland (279), El Salvador (215), Germany (177), and Hong Kong (169). Countries like Romania, Georgia, Switzerland, Austria, and New Zealand also boast over 100 ATMs each. Despite a previous decline in installations between December 2022 and July 2023, reaching a low of 32,764, the market has since rebounded. Coin ATM Radar data indicates that BitAccess, a prominent manufacturer, contributed to the decline with a net decrease in installations. However, the company has since reversed this trend, increasing net installations by 1,208 units as of January 2024. With cryptocurrency ATMs now present in 72 out of 193 United Nations-recognized countries worldwide, the sector continues to expand its global footprint. This growth underscores the increasing adoption and integration of cryptocurrencies into everyday financial transactions across diverse global markets.

Web3 innovations continue reshaping digital interactions, with decentralized identity (DID) systems emerging as robust alternatives to conventional IDs. These systems empower users with enhanced privacy and security, crucial for navigating sectors like banking and decentralized finance (DeFi). In a significant move for Web3 and DIDs, Swiss fintech Fiat24 has partnered with ONTO Wallet, a leading self-sovereign Web3 wallet. This collaboration integrates enhanced banking functionalities into the Web3 ecosystem, bridging digital and traditional finance seamlessly. ONTO Wallet boasts a global user base across 156 countries, recognized for its comprehensive management of digital identities and assets. The partnership leverages Fiat24's Arbitrum blockchain platform, known for its speed and cost efficiency via smart contracts and NFT-managed client identities. Through this integration, ONTO users can now access e-banking services directly within their wallets, including the ability to open Swiss IBAN accounts. By minting Fiat24 NFTs, users securely store KYC data, facilitating safe participation in DeFi activities. The ONT ID serves as a digital passport, empowering users to independently manage on-chain assets and identity data, enhancing data privacy in line with Web3 principles. ONTO's dedicated 'Fiat24' tab simplifies financial management within its mobile app, offering a unified interface for digital and traditional asset management. This collaboration not only enhances user convenience and security but also exemplifies Web3's practical applications in empowering individuals with data ownership. As Web3 services evolve, they promise to revolutionize digital and financial ecosystems by restoring control over identities and assets to users, setting a new standard for autonomy and privacy in the digital age.

Robinhood users will soon have access to AI tools for making more informed trades following the firm’s acquisition of AI-powered investment research company Pluto Capital. Pluto’s AI technology will offer Robinhood traders personalized investment strategies, advanced data analytics, and real-time insights to help them make informed decisions quickly and confidently, as stated by Robinhood on July 1. With this acquisition, Pluto’s founder and CEO, Jacob Sansbury, will join Robinhood to assist with its product roadmap and AI integration. The AI tools will help optimize investors’ portfolios by analyzing each user’s risk tolerance, investment objectives, and past trades. Pluto’s large language models provide real-time insights on global financial data, including stock prices, news articles, company financials, and reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This capability allows for the rapid identification of trends and opportunities, giving investors a competitive edge, according to Robinhood. Cointelegraph reached out to Robinhood for additional information but did not receive an immediate response. Pluto Capital was founded by Sansbury in August 2021 in the San Francisco Bay area. Before founding Pluto, Sansbury served as a technical lead and senior software engineer at NVIDIA, the graphics processing and AI chip giant that briefly became the world’s most valuable company last month. In related news, Robinhood recently acquired cryptocurrency exchange Bitstamp for $200 million to serve institutional clients in the United States. This acquisition is still subject to regulatory approval but is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2025. Robinhood’s CEO, Vlad Tenev, emphasized that the cryptocurrency industry will "fundamentally reorganize the financial system." Robinhood currently has 23.9 million funded customers, 13.7 million monthly active users, and $130 billion in assets under custody. As of June 1, Robinhood’s (HOOD) stocks were trading at $22.97, reflecting a 0.35% increase for the day, according to Google Finance data.

After extensive development, Meta has unveiled the initial phase of its "AI Studio" platform, which allows Instagram creators to develop AI versions of themselves to interact with fans through direct messages. As demonstrated in the example, these custom AI bots, currently in beta and limited to a select group of creators, can respond to questions in the style of the creator's account. The bots are marked with a stars icon on the message tab, indicating a bot response, and there are disclaimers within the chat to inform users they are interacting with an AI bot. This should make it clear that users are not conversing with the actual person or account holder. However, clarity may still be an issue. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the AI Studio launch during an interview with YouTuber Kane Sutter. In the interview, he also touched on Meta’s broader AI initiatives, including improved translation and VR hologram-like projections of real people. The key announcement is the commencement of live testing of AI Studio with select Instagram creators in the U.S. According to Zuckerberg, AI Studio enables creators to build "AI agent" versions of themselves to engage with their community. This feature, integrated into Instagram and recently uncovered by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, offers various prompts and tools for generating AI bot variations. Zuckerberg explained that the primary purpose is to handle fact-based queries, though more complex responses that replicate the creator's style will be more challenging. Creators will have the freedom to train their bots on different aspects of their social media presence, aiming to produce more realistic replicas. Despite this, Meta does not intend to deceive users into thinking they are interacting with the real person. Zuckerberg emphasised that they are still refining the AI disclosure elements, but there are already several indicators in place. While the basic use case—handling the numerous queries creators receive and providing generic answers in the creator's style—makes sense, expanding this functionality could be seen as deceptive and contrary to the essence of "social" media platforms.

During the Burning Man-inspired Lampu festival in Bali, Web3 technology showcased its real-world utility through NFT ticketing and crypto payments. The journey from niche technology to mainstream adoption often hinges on finding tangible use cases that resonate with everyday people, and Web3 and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are no exception. While early adopters and tech enthusiasts have embraced these innovations, the broader public remains unfamiliar with their practical benefits. Closing this gap involves demonstrating how these technologies seamlessly integrate into everyday experiences, providing real value and convenience. A prime example of Web3 technology in action is NFT ticketing. Unlike traditional tickets prone to loss, counterfeiting, or scalping, NFT tickets offer a secure and verifiable method of event entry. Each NFT ticket is a unique digital asset stored on a blockchain, ensuring authenticity and ownership. This not only enhances security but also enables new opportunities for fan engagement, such as access to exclusive content, merchandise, or special areas. Furthermore, NFT ticketing leverages blockchain's decentralised nature to create a transparent and efficient ticketing process. Event organisers can manage ticket sales, transfers, and resales with ease, while attendees enjoy a streamlined and secure experience. By adopting NFTs for ticketing, events can combat fraud, streamline operations, and provide a modern, tech-savvy experience appealing to both Web3 enthusiasts and newcomers. This innovative use case underscores how NFTs bring tangible value to everyday activities, paving the way for wider adoption of Web3 technologies.

Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Input Output Global and the Cardano blockchain ecosystem, recently voiced his concerns on X regarding the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) censorship. Hoskinson described the implications of AI censorship as “profound” and a continuous concern for him, arguing that AI systems are “losing utility over time due to ‘alignment’ training.” He highlighted that the leading AI systems in use today—developed by companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and Google—are controlled by a small group of individuals who oversee the training data and cannot be “voted out of office.” To illustrate his point, Hoskinson shared two screenshots where he asked the same question, “tell me how to build a Farnsworth fusor,” to two top AI chatbots: OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. Both chatbots provided a brief overview of the technology and its history, along with warnings about the dangers of attempting such a build. ChatGPT advised that only individuals with relevant expertise should attempt it, while Claude stated it couldn’t provide instructions due to potential dangers if mishandled. Hoskinson’s followers largely agreed with his stance, emphasizing that AI should be both open-sourced and decentralized to prevent control by Big Tech gatekeepers. 4o

According to the Yuri Group, Yamakoshi village’s experimental NFT strategy could attract attention from other nations facing declining birth rates. Yamakoshi, a secluded Japanese village nestled in the Niigata mountains, has attracted 1,700 “digital citizens” through the sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in an initiative aimed at supporting and sustaining its aging population. This innovative approach leverages the global interest in digital assets to address local demographic challenges. The Neo-Yamakoshi Village project, led by local residents, manages the Nishikigoi NFT collection, named after the vibrant breed of koi carp that is symbolic of the region. These digital assets serve multiple purposes. They act as identifiers for Yamakoshi’s “digital citizens,” who are part of a global community supporting the village. Additionally, these NFTs function as governance tokens, allowing holders to participate in the village’s decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO)-managed voting processes. This enables digital citizens to have a say in various local initiatives and decisions, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility. A new report by the Japanese research and consulting firm Yuri Group reveals that the project has raised over $423,000 through Nishikigoi NFT sales since its launch in 2021. The proceeds from these sales have been directed toward various community initiatives. For instance, the funds have been used to organise a sports day for local schoolchildren, providing them with opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. This not only benefits the children but also helps to foster a sense of community and continuity in the village. The success of the Neo-Yamakoshi Village project illustrates the potential of combining traditional community values with modern digital technologies. By attracting digital citizens from around the world, Yamakoshi has found a novel way to support its aging population and ensure the village’s sustainability. This approach could serve as a model for other rural areas facing similar demographic challenges, highlighting the potential for NFTs and decentralised governance to make a tangible impact on local communities.

The investment comes after a March commitment to spend $90 billion on a chip fabrication facility near Seoul. SK Hynix, the second-largest chipmaker in South Korea after Samsung, plans to invest $74.6 billion over the next three years to develop memory chip technologies focused on artificial intelligence (AI). Parent company SK Group aims to secure an additional $57.8 billion by 2026 to further fund its AI initiatives, according to a Reuters report. The report also notes that SK Group has recently "suffered heavy losses" through SK Hynix and its vehicle battery subsidiary. If the additional funds are secured, the total investments will reach nearly $133 billion, despite SK Hynix having a market capitalisation of about $118 billion at the time of publication, according to Companies Market Cap. SK Group sees these significant investments and the increased focus on AI technologies as a strategy to recover from its reported losses and ensure the company's future financial stability. The shift towards AI will also help streamline SK Group's operations, reducing the number of its subsidiaries from the current count of "more than 175" to better align with its goals and ambitions. The enterprise-level AI market is highly competitive, dominated by Big Tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia. However, the semiconductor market is broader and more competitive. As technology companies increasingly enter the AI space and Big Tech continues to innovate, the demand for AI-capable chips has surged, leading to a global shortage. SK Group reportedly believes that its current investment strategy will boost its profits from a projected $16 billion in 2024 to nearly $30 billion by the end of 2025.

Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, envisions a future where smart glasses with holographic displays gradually replace mobile phones as the primary communication and computing device for people. In a recent interview with YouTuber Kane “Kalloway” Sutter, Zuckerberg discussed various topics, including artificial intelligence and open source technology. When asked about Meta’s most exciting future product, Zuckerberg enthusiastically described a set of glasses equipped with cameras, microphones, speakers, and a full field-of-view (FOV) holographic display. Critics in the tech and advertising industries have often mocked Meta and Zuckerberg for transitioning from "Facebook," the well-known social media platform, to "Meta," a company focused on developing the metaverse. Despite this, Zuckerberg remains optimistic about the potential of smart glasses, suggesting that they could signal the beginning of the end for smartphones. He compared this transition to how smartphones didn’t entirely replace desktop or laptop computers but became a dominant device in people's lives. With the right hardware and software, he believes smart glasses could be practical enough for most people to keep their phones in their pockets most of the time. Meta has three products in development to advance this technology. The first is a “displayless” glasses product featuring voice AI, similar to the existing Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The second is a pair with a limited heads-up display without full holography. The third is a “premium version” featuring a full field-of-view holographic display. Zuckerberg aims to create a bridge between the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which lack a display, and the bulkier headsets designed for virtual reality (VR) rather than augmented/mixed reality (A/MR). He envisions that glasses with a full FOV holographic display will enable real-time communications, informational overlays, and heads-up displays akin to those in video games or military equipment. These glasses, he insists, will look unmistakably like regular glasses and not like headsets. Additionally, Zuckerberg discussed the appeal of obtaining information through glasses rather than constantly glancing at smartphones. He and host Kalloway described how frequently checking smartphones can be disengaging and disruptive, a habit that Kalloway said “shatters your presence.”

Japanese game developer and publisher Konami Digital Entertainment has partnered with the Avalanche blockchain to introduce a new non-fungible token (NFT) solution called “Resella.” The Resella platform aims to enhance Web3 services by providing an efficient solution for companies and organizations looking to integrate blockchain technology into their operations. According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the Avalanche team stated that Resella is designed to simplify the creation, issuance, and trading of NFTs. The platform aims to make it easier for newcomers to engage with blockchain technology by eliminating the need for external Web3 wallets or complex cryptocurrency transactions, emphasizing a user-friendly approach. Resella supports transactions in Japanese yen, catering to Japan’s local market needs. However, the platform also plans to expand its functionalities for global users, aiming to broaden its reach. Additionally, developers can integrate the platform’s functions into their applications, providing users with a straightforward marketplace experience. Resella facilitates the transition of existing platforms into the Web3 space, making Web3 technologies more accessible. Konami Digital Entertainment aims to create an inclusive environment where businesses across various sectors can explore blockchain innovations. Resella also envisions new social experiences within the Web3 ecosystem. For instance, NFTs from gaming environments could be used as event tickets or to unlock exclusive in-game content, enhancing user engagement and creating richer experiences. Powered by an Avalanche Subnet and supported by Ava Labs’ AvaCloud Web3 launchpad service, Resella offers efficient operations with zero gas costs for users and consistent processing speeds, ensuring a smooth transaction experience and reinforcing its appeal as an NFT solution.

Nvidia has overtaken Microsoft and Apple to become the world’s most valuable publicly listed company. The graphics processing and AI chip leader now boasts a market capitalization of $3.34 trillion, edging out Microsoft's $3.32 trillion and Apple's $3.29 trillion valuations. Nvidia's shares are trading at approximately $135 following a 10-for-1 stock split in early June. Before the split, Nvidia's shares were around $1,200. This stock split aimed to position Nvidia favorably for inclusion in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which prefers companies with lower share prices to maintain a balanced index. Nvidia, founded in 1991 as a gaming company specializing in graphics cards for high-performance video games, has since shifted its focus to pioneering technology for the artificial intelligence era. During the GPU-mining boom of the cryptocurrency era starting around 2010, Nvidia saw increased demand for its graphics processors. This boom ended with the advent of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining. Nvidia’s advanced graphics processors are now the preferred choice for industry leaders like OpenAI, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft in developing their AI systems and infrastructure. The company reported strong Q1 results, earning $26 billion in revenues, with $22.6 billion coming from data center revenue. These results led Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang to announce that the company will release new AI chipsets annually, marking what he describes as a modern industrial revolution that will impact all sectors of the global economy. Previously, Nvidia updated its high-end microprocessors every two years, with Ampere released in 2020, Hopper in 2022, and Blackwell architecture in 2024.