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20 Jan 2026, 12:50

Kazakhstan implements new AI law to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms

Kazakhstan has taken a major step in human-centered artificial intelligence with its new law on AI, which came into force on January 18. The legislation sets a legal framework that prioritizes individuals, their rights, freedoms, and well-being while regulating the development and use of AI. Core principles of law and fairness, transparency, accountability, and data protection. Citizens will be entitled to know what automated processing is used for and what might happen as a result, and how to protect themselves. AI systems are categorized and ranked by their level of risk and the level of autonomous decision-making capability; this means that AI systems deemed “high risk” will have the highest level of information systems security, similar to those of government-owned organizations. Law to protect citizens and guide AI development In addition to defining the individual responsibilities of AI system owners, operators, and users during the lifecycle of an AI solution, this legislation specifically prohibits the use of AI systems that manipulate an individual’s behavior, discriminate against individuals, exploit an individual’s vulnerability, detect emotions without the individual’s consent, violate data protection laws, or generate prohibited content. Kazakhstan is not the only one, as many other countries are pushing for laws that protect users from deepfakes and other harmful content. For instance, China recently announced new rules that restrict AI chatbots that push users into suicidal emotions, self-harm, and gambling, in a move meant to protect users especially minors. For Kazakhstan, this legislation requires transparency for AI systems and mandates that all synthetic content be clearly identified as such through labels. This law provides that works created with human creativity are copyrightable, while the training of AI with copyrighted material is permissible as long as it is not expressly prohibited by the copyright owner. The Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development recommends that AI be developed in compliance with the personal data protection regulations, information security regulations, energy efficiency standards and reduced environmental impact. The Ministry’s overarching goal is to provide individuals with safe, responsible and human-focused AI technology while continuing to foster the innovation of new technologies. Kazakhstan launches AI Governance 500 to train executives According to The Asana Times, the launch of the inaugural group of AI Governance 500, a strategic program aimed at teaching executives how to implement and expand upon AI within governmental organizations, took place on January 19. The program was introduced by Zhaslan Madiyev, who serves as Deputy Prime Minister as well as the Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. “The program seeks to create a pool of digital officers capable of systematically implementing AI based on data, a unified architecture, and end-to-end processes.” Madiyev. Around 100 executives from government and quasi-public sectors are participating, covering strategic AI understanding through to applied project development for regional and departmental implementation. Currently, the country is in the early stages of conducting a UNESCO-led assessment to determine the country’s overall preparedness in the area of artificial intelligence. Using the UNESCO Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), the assessment will look at all facets of the country’s AI ecosystem , including the legal, social, economic, scientific, educational, and technological aspects. In addition, there will be a National Stakeholder Team, consisting of members from various ministries, universities, private companies, civil society, and international partners. “Practical recommendations will be developed to support a human-centred AI ecosystem,” the Foreign Ministry noted. This project underlines Kazakhstan’s commitment to international cooperation, human rights, and universal values in its AI strategy. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

20 Jan 2026, 12:45

SEC Chairman confirms U.S. crypto bill nears finish line: Details

If properly refined, this legislation could shape crypto’s next decade, not just its next market cycle.

20 Jan 2026, 12:30

Forward Industries Grows Solana Treasury to Nearly 7 Million SOL

Forward Industries reported holding nearly 7 million SOL as it expands its solana-focused treasury strategy. The company is also advancing tokenized equity and decentralized finance ( DeFi) initiatives on the network. Nasdaq-Listed Forward Expands Solana Strategy and Tokenized Shares Forward Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: FWDI) has released an update on its solana treasury and recent operational

20 Jan 2026, 12:22

UK Regulators “Exposing Consumers to Serious Harm” as AI Oversight Gaps Widen — Committee Warns

The regulators in the U.K. are being cautioned that their existing approach to artificial intelligence in financial services may expose consumers to severe harm, as loopholes in regulation increase when AI is taking off more rapidly in the industry. The Treasury Select Committee has issued this warning, saying the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, and HM Treasury have been over-reliant on a wait-and-see strategy when AI is already in the heart of financial decision-making. In a report published on January 20, the committee said the pace of AI adoption has outstripped the regulators’ ability to manage its risks. Approximately 75% of financial services companies in the UK are currently employing AI, with the most intense adoption amongst insurers and major global banks. Although MPs admitted that AI is able to enhance efficiency, accelerate customer services, and enhance cyber defenses, they concluded that all that is being compromised by unaddressed risks to both consumers and financial stability. Lawmakers Say UK’s AI Approach in Finance Is Too Reactive Currently, there is no specific AI legislation for financial services in the UK. Rather, regulators use pre-existing rules and claim they are flexible enough to include new technologies. The FCA has pointed to the Consumer Duty and the Senior Managers and Certification Regime as providing sufficient protection, while the Bank of England has said its role is to respond when problems arise rather than regulate AI in advance. The committee rejected this position, saying it places too much responsibility on firms to interpret complex rules on their own. AI-driven decisions in credit and insurance are often opaque, making it difficult for customers to understand or challenge outcomes. Automated product tailoring could deepen financial exclusion, particularly for vulnerable groups. Unregulated financial advice generated by AI tools risks misleading users, while the use of AI by criminals could increase fraud . A 2024 @chainalysis report reveals that cryptocurrency scams defrauded victims of at least $9.9 billion, with AI-powered fraud and pig butchering scams surging by 40%. #CryptoScams #CryptoFraud #AI https://t.co/Mt5c5XXmOL — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) February 13, 2025 The committee said these issues are not hypothetical and require more than monitoring after the fact. Regulators have taken some steps, including the creation of an AI Consortium and voluntary testing schemes such as the FCA’s AI Live Testing and Supercharged Sandbox. However, MPs said these initiatives reach only a small number of firms and do not provide the clarity the wider market needs. Industry participants told the committee that the current approach is reactive, leaving firms uncertain about accountability, especially when AI systems behave in unpredictable ways. AI Risks Rise as UK Regulators Lag on Testing and Oversight The report also raised concerns about financial stability, as AI could amplify cyber risks, concentrate operational dependence on a small number of US-based cloud providers, and intensify herding behavior in markets. Despite this, neither the FCA nor the Bank of England currently runs AI-specific stress tests. Members of the Bank’s Financial Policy Committee said such testing could be valuable, but no timetable has been set. Reliance on third-party technology providers was another focus. Although Parliament created the Critical Third Parties Regime in 2023 to give regulators oversight of firms providing essential services, no major AI or cloud provider has yet been designated. This delay persists despite high-profile outages, including an Amazon Web Services disruption in October 2025 that affected major UK banks. Multiple major platforms — including Snapchat, Amazon, Coinbase, — went down early Monday due to an AWS outage. #AWS #Outage https://t.co/tsgRVsx830 — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) October 20, 2025 The committee said the slow rollout of the regime leaves the financial system exposed. The findings land as the UK continues to promote a pro-innovation, principles-based AI strategy aimed at supporting growth while avoiding heavy-handed regulation. The government has backed this stance through initiatives such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the AI Safety Institute . However, MPs said ambition must be matched with action. The post UK Regulators “Exposing Consumers to Serious Harm” as AI Oversight Gaps Widen — Committee Warns appeared first on Cryptonews .

20 Jan 2026, 11:40

BitMine ramps up Ethereum staking to $5.6B as token reserves on exchanges thin

BitMine Immersion Technologies, the leading Ethereum Treasury company in the world, has recently staked about 86,848 tokens, rapidly expanding its ETH stockpile to approximately 1.77 million ETH—roughly $5.66 billion at current prices. This move demonstrated a growing trend in which institutional investors, public firms, and treasury companies like BitMine are allocating a significant portion of their funds to staking to push their long-term Ethereum holdings. Meanwhile, as this trend persists, analysts have conducted research and found a significant shortage of ETH supply on crypto exchanges. However, hope for a more positive future for Ethereum has been sparked by the reduction in the number of Ethereum available on crypto exchanges, and by BitMine’s long-standing effort to make significant staking of the cryptocurrency. BitMine makes a big move in the crypto ecosystem Regarding BitMine’s recent move, the on-chain analytics platform Lookonchain initially disclosed the leading Ethereum Treasury company’s staking activities on the social media platform X. According to reports from Lookonchain, these staking activities took place five hours ago, on January 20. With fewer ETH tokens on the market, analysts see potential upward price pressure if demand holds or increases. Interestingly, even with significant staking, BitMine’s industry executive asserted that they will continue to promote further accumulation of Ethereum in their holdings despite rising market instability. To illustrate their commitment to achieving this goal, sources highlighted that the firm acquired around 24,000 Ethereum, expanding its total ETH holdings to 4.17 million. This approach drew the attention of several investors. BitMine’s CEO, Tom Lee, weighed in on the matter. He noted that, “We continue to be the largest ‘fresh money’ buyer of ETH worldwide. And when MAVAN starts its commercial operations, we will become the biggest staking provider in the entire crypto ecosystem.” Lee also pointed out that he adopted the Ethereum staking program for BitMine as a critical step to help the firm address its $4 billion debt. While pursuing this aim, Ether traded below $3,000, resulting in $4 billion in losses. Nonetheless, even with this temporary downturn, Lee expressed optimism about the long-term potential of cryptocurrency and stated that the company will begin staking to generate additional income. Crypto firms demonstrate heightened interest in purchasing the largest altcoin BitMine’s staking move has played a crucial role in boosting the firm’s overall Ethereum staking. To remain competitive in the industry, key players have decided to follow the Ethereum treasury company’s lead by retaining their tokens for the long haul. As this trend persists, reports indicate that Ethereum staking has soared to a record $118 billion. Apart from staking, analysts also discovered that significant institutions such as BitMine have shown heightened interest in purchasing the largest altcoin. Other firms that have played a part in this move include Sharplink, The Ether Machine, and ETHZilla . These companies have gone so far as to create their own Ether reserves. Regarding the supply shortage, sources explained that the surge in corporate Ether purchases is the root cause of the sharp decline in the token’s supply on cryptocurrency exchanges. Currently, only about 16.3 million Ether are available on centralized exchanges (CEXs), according to CryptoQuant. On the other hand, analysts anticipated that such a scenario could lead to price increases in ETH as demand for the cryptocurrency escalates. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

20 Jan 2026, 11:31

This Man Lost $3M Worth of XRP Overnight. Here’s What Happened

A North Carolina man experienced a devastating loss in the early hours of October 15, 2025, when over $3 million in XRP disappeared from his wallet. The incident involved Brandon LaRocque, a long-time investor who had accumulated 1,210,000 XRP over the past eight years. YouTuber and crypto pundit BullRunners (@BullrunnersHQ) recently drew attention back to this event by sharing LaRoque’s video. He believed his assets were stored securely in an Ellipal cold wallet. Instead, the funds were exposed, leading to a complete loss. This man lost $3 Million Worth Of #XRP Overnight On Oct 15, 2025, a North Carolina man watched $3M+ in XRP — his life savings — vanish overnight. What he believed was a secure cold wallet may have actually been a hot wallet, exposed by confusing branding. Blockchain sleuth… pic.twitter.com/IKTRROnwMl — BULLRUNNERS (@BullrunnersHQ) January 19, 2026 Confusing Wallet Design The incident centers on the nature of the wallet LaRocque used. While marketed as a cold wallet , which is generally considered secure for long-term storage, BullRunners noted that it may have functioned with hot wallet vulnerabilities. Confusing branding likely contributed to the exposure of his funds, allowing attackers to access them without warning. Clarity in wallet design is essential. A wallet’s labeling and actual security protocols must align to prevent accidental exposure. In this case, the gap between expectation and reality proved financially catastrophic. Tracing the Funds BullRunners also revealed that blockchain analyst ZachXBT traced the stolen XRP as it moved through the network. The funds were bridged, split, and transferred across multiple chains. According to his findings, the assets ultimately entered networks linked to Southeast Asian scam operations. The tracing confirms the movement but does not provide a path to recovery . Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and local cyber units, were unable to recover the stolen assets. Efforts by private recovery services proved ineffective, often operating as scams themselves. LaRocque’s case illustrates the challenges of recovering cryptocurrency once it leaves the original wallet. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Lessons on Security LaRocque’s experience emphasizes the importance of careful security management. He noted that he had held XRP since 2017 and took what he believed were standard precautions. Despite this, a single mistake resulted in the loss of years of accumulated savings. The case demonstrates that even well-established wallets require users to understand their functions. Investors are frequently advised to store their tokens in cold wallets . However, they must confirm the wallet’s actual operational protocols rather than rely solely on branding or marketing. The story also serves as a reminder for the cryptocurrency community. LaRocque’s situation suggests the need for ongoing vigilance, particularly with high-value holdings stored in wallets that claim enhanced security. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post This Man Lost $3M Worth of XRP Overnight. Here’s What Happened appeared first on Times Tabloid .