Tornado Cash Developer Won’t Testify as Trial Nears Conclusion

Breaking News: Roman Storm, the developer at the center of the Tornado Cash trial in Manhattan, will not take the stand to testify in his own defense. His legal team informed the district court that Storm is aware of his right to testify but has opted against it. This decision marks a significant turn as Storm’s defense team, led by Waymaker LLP’s Keri Axel and Brian Klein, rested their case on Tuesday afternoon.Evergreen Insight: The decision of whether a defendant testifies is a critical strategic choice in any trial.For Storm,this move suggests his legal team believes the evidence presented,or the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses,is sufficient to make their case,or that storm’s testimony could introduce unintended risks. In high-profile cases involving complex technology like cryptocurrency mixers, the narrative often hinges on the developer’s intent and knowledge. By not testifying, Storm avoids the potential for damaging cross-examination, but also foregoes the opportunity to directly address accusations and present his viewpoint to the jury. This tactic underscores the intricate legal strategies employed when navigating the intersection of innovative technology and criminal law, highlighting the enduring challenge of establishing intent and culpability in the digital age.

September 22-28: Korea blockchain Week, Seoul
October 1-2: Token2049, Singapore
October 13-15: Digital Asset Summit, London
October 16-17: European Blockchain Convention, Barcelona
November 17-22: Devconnect, Buenos Aires
December 11-13: Solana Breakpoint, Abu Dhabi
February 10-12, 2026: Consensus, Hong Kong
May 5-7, 2026:* Consensus, Miami

Here are 4 PAA (People Also Ask) related questions, each on a new line, based on the provided text:

Ethereum at Ten: A Decade of Innovation and change

The Genesis Block and Early Days (2015-2017)

Ethereum, conceived by Vitalik Buterin, launched on July 30, 2015, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of blockchain technology. Unlike Bitcoin, focused primarily on digital currency, Ethereum introduced the concept of a smart contract – self-executing agreements written into code. This opened the door to a vast range of decentralized applications (dApps) beyond simple transactions. The initial Ethereum price was minimal, around $0.30, but the potential was immediately apparent to developers and early adopters.

Key Innovations: The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), Solidity programming language, and the concept of gas to measure computational effort.

Early Use Cases: Initial experimentation focused on token creation (early ERC-20 tokens), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and basic DeFi applications.

The DAO Hack (2016): A meaningful event that highlighted the security challenges of early smart contracts and led to the Ethereum hard fork creating Ethereum Classic (ETC). This demonstrated the community’s ability to respond to critical vulnerabilities, albeit controversially.

DeFi Revolution: Platforms like Aave, Compound, and Uniswap emerged, offering decentralized lending, borrowing, and trading services. Yield farming and liquidity mining became popular strategies for earning rewards. Total Value Locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols soared, demonstrating the growing demand for decentralized financial services.

NFT Boom: NFTs exploded in popularity, transforming digital art, collectibles, and gaming. Projects like cryptopunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club captured mainstream attention, driving significant volume and speculation.Ethereum NFTs became synonymous wiht digital ownership.

Layer-2 Scaling: Solutions like Optimism, Arbitrum, and Polygon (formerly Matic Network) gained prominence, aiming to reduce Ethereum gas fees and increase transaction throughput. These Layer 2 solutions are crucial for mainstream adoption.

Ethereum 2.0 (The Merge): Development began on Ethereum 2.0, a major upgrade focused on transitioning from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism.

Proof-of-Stake Benefits: Reduced energy consumption (over 99.95%), increased security, and a foundation for future scaling upgrades.

Sharding Roadmap: Ongoing development of sharding, a technique to divide the Ethereum blockchain into smaller, more manageable pieces, further enhancing scalability.

EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding): Implemented in March 2024, this upgrade substantially reduced Layer-2 transaction costs, making Ethereum scaling more efficient and affordable.

Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization: A growing trend involving the tokenization of real-world assets like stocks, bonds, and real estate on the Ethereum blockchain, bridging the gap between conventional finance and DeFi.

Account Abstraction (ERC-4337): Introduced more flexible account management, allowing for features like social recovery and multi-factor authentication, improving user experience and security.

Ethereum’s Impact on Web3 and Beyond

Ethereum’s influence extends far beyond it’s own ecosystem, serving as the foundational layer for much of the Web3 landscape.Its impact is visible in areas like decentralized identity, supply chain management, and gaming.

Web3 Infrastructure: Ethereum provides the infrastructure for countless Web3 projects, including decentralized exchanges (DEXs), lending platforms, and NFT marketplaces.

decentralized Identity (DID): Ethereum-based DIDs offer users control over their digital identities, reducing reliance on centralized authorities.

Supply Chain Transparency: Blockchain technology,powered by Ethereum,can enhance supply chain transparency and traceability.

Gaming and Metaverse: Ethereum is a key platform for blockchain-based games and metaverse projects, enabling true digital ownership and interoperability.

Enterprise Adoption: Increasing interest from enterprises exploring the use of Ethereum for various applications, including supply chain management, digital asset management, and secure data storage.

Decentralization: Eliminates single points of failure and censorship.

Transparency: All transactions are publicly verifiable on the blockchain.

Security: Cryptographic security protects against fraud and manipulation.

Innovation: A vibrant developer community constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Programmability: Smart contracts enable a wide range of applications.

Practical Tips for Engaging with Ethereum

Choose a Secure wallet: Select a reputable Ethereum wallet like MetaMask, Ledger, or Trezor.

Understand Gas fees: Be aware of gas prices and network congestion before making transactions. Utilize gas trackers to optimize costs.

Explore Layer-2 Solutions: Consider using Layer-2 solutions to reduce transaction fees and improve speed.

Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest Ethereum developments and security best practices.

* DYOR (Do Your Own Research): Thoroughly research any DeFi protocol or NFT project before investing.

Case Study: uniswap – A DeFi Pioneer

Uniswap, launched in 2018, revolutionized decentralized exchange (DEX) trading.By utilizing an automated market maker (AMM) model, Uniswap eliminated the need for traditional order books, making it easier and more accessible to trade ERC-20 tokens. Its success demonstrated the power of DeFi and inspired countless other AMM-based DEXs. Uniswap’s governance token, UNI, further decentralized the platform, giving token holders a voice in its future development.

First-Hand Experience: The Evolution of Ethereum Development

As a developer working within the Ethereum space since 2017,the transformation has been remarkable. Initially, development was challenging due to limited tooling and high gas fees. The introduction of Layer-2 solutions and account abstraction has significantly improved the developer experience, making it easier to build and deploy scalable and user-pleasant dApps. The community support and constant innovation are truly inspiring. The shift to proof-of-Stake has also been a positive change, reducing the environmental impact and fostering a more sustainable ecosystem.

Looking ahead: The Future of Ethereum

Ethereum’s journey is far from over. Ongoing development efforts focused on scalability, security, and usability will continue to shape its future. The integration of real-world assets,the expansion of account abstraction,and the continued growth of the Web3 ecosystem all point towards a luminous future for Ethereum as a foundational technology for the decentralized web. The next decade promises even more innovation and transformation, solidifying Ethereum

Meta Stock Faces Uncertainty as Earnings Loom

meta Platforms (META) is currently navigating a period of correction, with its stock failing too regain an upward trend after being rejected near the $724 resistance mark. Investors are now closely watching the critical support zone between $680 and $695. The upcoming earnings report is poised to be a significant catalyst, with expectations for results to come in weaker than previously anticipated.

Breaking News:

Meta’s stock price is exhibiting signs of weakness, trading within a corrective phase. The recent failure to break past the $724 resistance level suggests that downward pressure may continue. Key support is now eyed at the $680-$695 range. Market participants are keenly awaiting Meta’s upcoming earnings announcement for clarity on the company’s performance and future outlook. A stronger-than-expected earnings report could potentially trigger a reversal, breaking through the current trendline and resistance, and paving the way for a push towards all-time highs.

Evergreen Insights:

The current technical setup for Meta Platforms highlights a crucial juncture. Stocks frequently enough experience pre-earnings volatility as investors position themselves ahead of significant financial data releases. The $724 level represents a significant technical hurdle, and a decisive break above it would signal renewed buyer confidence. Conversely, failure to hold the $680-$695 support could invite further selling pressure.For any company,especially in the fast-paced tech sector,earnings reports are not just a reflection of past performance but a crucial indicator of future growth potential.Factors such as revenue, profitability, user growth, and forward-looking guidance all play a vital role in shaping investor sentiment. Meta’s performance in these areas will be under intense scrutiny.

Key Takeaways for Investors:

Technical Levels to Watch: Be mindful of the $724 resistance and the $680-$695 support zone. A break above resistance or a failure to hold support will provide significant clues about the next directional move.
Earnings as a catalyst: the upcoming earnings report is expected to be a major driver for Meta’s stock. Stronger-than-expected results could ignite a rally, while weaker figures may lead to further declines.
* Long-Term Viewpoint: While short-term price action can be influenced by news and technical factors, it’s important to consider Meta’s broader strategic initiatives, competitive landscape, and long-term growth prospects when making investment decisions.

The market’s reaction to Meta’s upcoming earnings will undoubtedly be a key event to monitor, potentially setting the tone for the stock’s trajectory in the near future.

what specific AI-driven features or products are contributing most significantly to revenue growth?

Meta’s AI Gamble: Will Earnings Reveal a Path to profit?

The Multi-Billion Dollar Bet on Artificial Intelligence

Meta Platforms (META), formerly Facebook, has aggressively pivoted towards artificial intelligence (AI). This isn’t a subtle shift; it’s a full-blown, multi-billion dollar investment. But as the company prepares to release its Q2 2025 earnings report on July 30th,the crucial question remains: will these earnings demonstrate a clear path to profitability from this ambitious AI strategy? Investors are keenly watching for signs that Meta’s AI investments – spanning large language models (LLMs),generative AI,and AI infrastructure – are translating into tangible revenue and improved margins. The focus is less on if AI will pay off, and more on when.

key Areas of AI Investment & Revenue Streams

Meta’s AI efforts aren’t concentrated in a single area. They’re strategically deployed across several key platforms and initiatives:

AI-Powered Advertising: This is arguably the most immediate revenue driver. Meta is leveraging AI to improve ad targeting, personalization, and creative optimization. Expect earnings calls to highlight improvements in Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) for advertisers.

Meta AI Assistant: Integrated across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger, the Meta AI assistant aims to enhance user engagement and possibly unlock new monetization opportunities. Early metrics on user adoption and interaction frequency will be vital.

Generative AI Tools: Features like image generation within Instagram and Facebook are designed to boost user creativity and platform stickiness. While not directly monetized yet, these tools contribute to a more engaging user experience.

AI Infrastructure: Meta has invested heavily in building its own AI infrastructure, including custom silicon and data centers. This is a long-term play to reduce reliance on external providers like Nvidia and control costs.

The Metaverse & AI: While the metaverse hype has cooled,AI remains central to Meta’s vision for immersive experiences. AI-driven avatars, realistic environments, and personalized interactions are all key components.

Increased R&D Spending: Developing and refining AI models requires significant research and advancement resources.

Higher Capital Expenditures (CapEx): Building and maintaining AI infrastructure – servers, data centers, and specialized hardware – is capital intensive.

Talent Acquisition: Attracting and retaining top AI talent commands premium salaries.

Earnings reports will need to demonstrate a clear plan for managing these costs and achieving economies of scale. Investors will be scrutinizing metrics like R&D spend as a percentage of revenue and CapEx efficiency. A key indicator will be whether Meta can demonstrate a decrease in cost per AI-driven interaction or ad impression.

The Competitive Landscape: Meta vs. Google, Microsoft & Emerging Players

Meta isn’t operating in a vacuum. The AI landscape is fiercely competitive, with major players vying for dominance:

Google (GOOGL): Google’s Gemini and its integration with Google Ads pose a direct threat to Meta’s AI-powered advertising business.

Microsoft (MSFT): Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI and its integration of AI into its productivity suite and cloud services (Azure) represent a significant competitive force.

Emerging AI Startups: Numerous startups are developing innovative AI solutions, potentially disrupting the market.

Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): An increase in AR

Archyde Exclusive: Trade War Fears Loom as Canada Faces Tariff Uncertainty

Breaking News: The Bank of Canada’s latest economic projections reveal a stark portrait of the potential fallout from escalating trade tensions. Pre-trade war forecasts from January painted a more optimistic picture, but current outlooks suggest real GDP growth could be 0.5 percentage points lower in both 2025 and 2026. This revised forecast highlights the critically important impact of unpredictable trade policies on economic trajectory.

Evergreen Insight: The Fragility of Economic Stability in a Globalized World
This situation underscores a basic principle of modern economics: interconnectedness. Even the most robust economies are susceptible to disruptions stemming from trade disputes. As nations navigate increasingly complex global trade landscapes,the ability to adapt and mitigate the impact of protectionist measures becomes paramount. Forecasting economic performance, thus, is not just about analyzing domestic factors but also about understanding and anticipating the ripple effects of international relations.

The Bank of Canada’s analysis indicates that in a scenario of de-escalation, where U.S. tariffs on Canada are halved and Canada’s counter-tariffs are waived, inflation would likely be tempered, and growth recovery would be accelerated. However, the specter of a more severe trade conflict looms large.

Evergreen Insight: tariffs as a Double-edged Sword
While intended to protect domestic industries, tariffs frequently enough carry unintended consequences. They can lead to increased consumer prices (inflation), disrupt supply chains, and invite retaliatory measures, ultimately harming all parties involved. The effectiveness and long-term viability of tariffs as an economic tool are subjects of continuous debate among economists and policymakers.

The Bank’s projections paint a grim picture for an escalation scenario. Such an outcome could see the United States impose a sweeping 10 percent tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico,irrespective of current exemptions for CUSMA compliance,in addition to a threatened 50 percent tariff on copper imports. Canada,in response,would likely implement a 25 percent tariff on $120 billion of U.S. goods, a significant increase from the current $60 billion. This aggressive tit-for-tat would likely trigger a surge in inflation and push the Canadian economy into a recession for the remainder of 2025.

Evergreen Insight: The Importance of Predictability in Economic Policy
Businesses thrive on predictability. Fluctuating trade policies, arbitrary tariffs, and the threat of sudden economic sanctions create an surroundings of uncertainty that stifles investment and long-term planning. For enduring economic growth, clear, consistent, and mutually beneficial trade agreements are essential.

It is important to note that the Bank of Canada’s current forecasts do not specifically account for the impact of the most recent threat: a potential 35 percent duty on Canadian imports starting as early as Friday, should no trade deal be reached. This adds yet another layer of critical uncertainty to the economic outlook, emphasizing the dynamic and frequently enough volatile nature of international trade relations.

How might the Bank of Canada’s focus on core inflation influence future interest rate decisions?

Bank of Canada Maintains Interest Rate amid economic Resilience

Key Takeaways from the July 2025 Rate Decision

On July 30, 2025, the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced it would hold its overnight rate at 5%. This decision comes as a surprise to some analysts who predicted a potential cut, given recent signals of cooling inflation. Though, the BoC cited continued economic resilience and the need to ensure inflation returns to the 2% target sustainably. This marks the fifth consecutive meeting where the BoC has maintained the current rate. Understanding the nuances of this decision requires a deeper dive into the factors influencing the central bank’s policy.

Analyzing the Economic Landscape

Several key economic indicators played a role in the BoC’s decision.

GDP Growth: Canada’s GDP has demonstrated surprising strength in the first half of 2025, exceeding expectations. While growth is moderating, it remains positive, indicating the economy isn’t currently in a recession.

Inflation Trends: While headline inflation has decreased from its peak in 2023, core inflation – wich excludes volatile items like food and energy – remains stubbornly above the 2% target. The boc is particularly focused on core inflation as a more reliable indicator of underlying price pressures.

Labor Market: The Canadian labour market remains tight, with the unemployment rate hovering near historic lows. This continues to put upward pressure on wages, contributing to inflationary concerns.

Global Economic Conditions: Global economic growth is uneven, with some regions experiencing slowdowns. However, the US economy, a major trading partner for Canada, has remained relatively robust.

These factors collectively paint a picture of an economy that is proving more resilient than anticipated, prompting the BoC to adopt a cautious approach. The central bank is prioritizing price stability over stimulating economic growth at this juncture.

Impact on Key Interest Rates & Financial Products

The BoC’s decision directly impacts several key interest rates and financial products:

Prime rate: Canadian banks typically adjust their prime rates in line with the BoC’s overnight rate.As the overnight rate remains unchanged,the prime rate will likely stay stable.

Mortgage Rates: Variable-rate mortgages are directly linked to the prime rate. Homeowners with variable-rate mortgages will not see an immediate change in their payments. Fixed-rate mortgages, while less directly affected, are influenced by bond yields, which are in turn influenced by expectations about future BoC policy.

Savings Accounts & GICs: Interest rates on savings accounts and Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) may remain relatively stable in the short term.

Loans & Lines of Credit: Interest rates on loans and lines of credit will likely remain consistent for now.

Sector-Specific Implications

The BoC’s rate hold has varying implications for different sectors of the Canadian economy:

Housing Market: A stable interest rate environment provides some support to the housing market, preventing a further decline in prices. However, affordability remains a significant challenge for many Canadians.

Retail Sector: Consumer spending is a key driver of the Canadian economy. Stable rates could encourage continued spending, but high household debt levels remain a concern.

Manufacturing Sector: The manufacturing sector is sensitive to interest rate changes and exchange rate fluctuations. A stable rate environment provides some predictability, but global demand remains a key factor.

Financial Sector: Canadian banks are generally well-capitalized and resilient. A stable rate environment reduces the risk of significant loan losses.

The BoC’s Forward Guidance & Future Outlook

The BoC’s statement accompanying the rate decision provided some forward guidance. the central bank indicated that it remains prepared to raise interest rates further if inflation does not moderate as was to be expected. However, it also acknowledged the risks associated with over-tightening monetary policy and potentially triggering a recession.

Looking ahead, several factors will influence the BoC’s future decisions:

Inflation Data: The BoC will closely monitor inflation data in the coming months. A sustained decline in core inflation would likely pave the way for rate cuts.

Economic growth: A significant slowdown in economic growth could prompt the BoC to reconsider its stance.

Global Developments: global economic and geopolitical events could also influence the BoC’s policy decisions.

Wage Growth: Continued strong wage growth could keep inflationary pressures elevated.

benefits of a Stable Interest Rate Environment

Maintaining a stable interest rate, even at a relatively high level, offers several benefits:

Predictability for Businesses: businesses can make more informed investment decisions when interest rates are stable.

reduced Financial Market Volatility: Stable rates help to reduce volatility in financial markets.

Support for Long-Term Planning: Individuals and families can plan their finances with greater certainty.

Avoidance of Recessionary Risks: While higher rates can slow growth, abrupt changes can trigger a recession.

Practical Tips for Navigating the Current Rate Environment

Review Your Debt: Assess your debt levels and consider strategies to reduce your debt burden.

Shop around for Rates: Compare interest rates on mortgages, loans, and savings accounts.

Budget Carefully: Create a budget and track your spending to ensure you are living within your means.

Seek Financial Advice: Consult with a financial advisor to develop a personalized financial plan.

* Stay Informed: