Invest ideasNews
24 Apr 2026, 20:40
China is preparing to block major tech firms from taking U.S. money without state approval
China is tightening the gate around its technology sector and making it harder for firms to take U.S. money. The new line from Beijing is: If a Chinese tech company wants funding that comes from America, it may now need state approval first. Bloomberg reported Friday that this policy is part of a wider reaction to Meta Platforms’ takeover of Manus. That deal was worth $2 billion earlier this year. After the December announcement, Beijing opened an investigation into possible illegal foreign investment and the export of technology. Beijing tightens control over U.S. money entering China tech Several state bodies have spent the past few weeks telling private firms to turn down capital from the U.S. unless officials clearly approve it first. One of the main agencies involved is the National Development and Reform Commission, a powerful planning body with broad influence over policy. The message has already reached companies such as Moonshot AI, which is considering an IPO, and StepFun, another startup working in AI. The same kind of limit is also being applied to ByteDance Ltd. The Beijing company owns TikTok and is still the most valuable startup in the country. It also runs one of China’s best-known AI chatbots. Regulators do not want ByteDance to allow secondary share sales to American investors unless the government signs off on it. Beijing simply wants to stop U.S. investors from picking up stakes in sectors it sees as sensitive and tied to national security. The Manus deal pushed that fear into the open. It also put the National Development and Reform Commission at the center of a broader investigation. That review now involves several agencies, including China’s Ministry of Commerce. This could leave China’s tech sector even more cut off from the kind of venture money that helped build it over the last 20 years. A lot of that backing came from American pensions and endowments. The funding pipeline mattered for growth, hiring, product development, and overseas expansion. Now the state is putting more barriers in front of it. The pressure does not stop there. Beijing has also restricted red chips, which are Chinese firms set up overseas, from seeking listings in Hong Kong. That matters because the red-chip route helped Chinese companies raise foreign money for years by going public outside the mainland. That old playbook now looks far less reliable. Foreign carmakers rush into China with new software and electric models While Beijing is shutting some doors in tech finance, foreign car brands are trying to win ground in China by pushing harder on software, electric cars, and driver-assist systems. The timing is not random. Carmakers from the U.S., South Korea, and Germany rolled out fresh plans around the Beijing auto show, which opened on Friday, as they try to fight weak sales in the biggest auto market on earth. General Motors is trying to rebuild Cadillac’s position in China. Will Stacy, vice president of Cadillac China at GM, said, “We have plans to really build this brand and return [to] where we used to be in terms of volume and [market] share.” On Wednesday, Cadillac unveiled its first model for China with driver-assist features. The vehicle is the three-row VISTIQ, a luxury electric SUV priced at 468,000 yuan, or about $68,000, and 508,800 yuan for a higher trim. The VISTIQ can handle highways, city roads, and self-parking through advanced driving support software. That system was developed with Momenta, a Chinese startup focused on autonomous driving. The partnership shows how foreign brands still need local tech ties if they want to stay relevant in China. Hyundai also made its move on Friday by formally launching its all-electric IONIQ brand in China. The Korean company is treating this as its biggest local expansion plan so far. Volkswagen is doing the same on a large scale. On Tuesday, the German automaker said it will start adding AI-powered voice control to cars in China in the second half of the year. Thomas Ulbrich, Volkswagen China CTO, said, “The car should be like a companion.” He also said the company’s in-car AI agent will use technology from Tencent, Alibaba, and Baidu to build a tool with “personality” that can predict what drivers need. Volkswagen also showed four vehicles in Beijing on Tuesday, including the ID. UNYX 09, which it developed with Xpeng in just two years. Your keys, your card. Spend without giving up custody and earn 8%+ yield on your balance with Ether.fi Cash.
24 Apr 2026, 19:05
Bitwise Strategist Says XRP Is No Longer a Crypto Bet. Here’s why
The digital asset market continues to mature as institutional investors refine how they classify crypto assets within broader financial systems. What once operated as a single speculative asset class now increasingly divides into utility-driven infrastructure and short-term trading instruments. This shift is reshaping how analysts interpret long-term value across leading cryptocurrencies. That transition has brought renewed attention to XRP’s role in global finance. In a recent post shared by RippleXity on X, a Bitwise strategist stated that XRP no longer functions as a traditional crypto bet but instead operates as fintech infrastructure. The commentary reflects a growing institutional mindset that evaluates digital assets based on utility rather than speculation. XRP’s Shift From Speculation to Infrastructure The Bitwise strategist’s perspective frames XRP as part of the underlying architecture of financial systems rather than a standalone speculative asset. This classification highlights a structural change in how institutions view blockchain-based assets that support real-world financial operations. XRP’s design aligns closely with this interpretation. The asset powers liquidity and settlement efficiency within cross-border payment systems, allowing financial institutions to move value quickly across jurisdictions. Ripple’s technology has long targeted inefficiencies in traditional banking rails, particularly in high-friction international payment corridors. JUST IN: Bitwise Strategist Says $XRP Is No Longer a Crypto Bet, It Is Fintech Infrastructure Now. — RippleXity (@RippleXity) April 23, 2026 As adoption expands, analysts increasingly measure XRP’s relevance based on its functional role in transaction flows rather than its short-term market performance. Institutional Narratives Drive Reclassification RippleXity’s report underscores a broader institutional trend that separates infrastructure assets from speculative crypto tokens. Market participants now evaluate digital assets based on whether they contribute to financial system efficiency or simply track market sentiment cycles. Under this framework, XRP fits into the infrastructure category due to its integration into payment solutions and liquidity provisioning systems. These use cases position it closer to settlement networks than to retail-driven investment instruments. Institutional analysts argue that this distinction carries long-term implications for valuation models, capital allocation, and adoption strategies. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Utility Over Speculation in Market Maturity The strategist’s classification reflects a wider evolution in digital asset markets. As financial institutions increase exposure to blockchain technology, they prioritize assets that deliver measurable operational value. XRP continues to strengthen this narrative through its role in enabling faster and more cost-efficient cross-border transfers . Rather than relying solely on speculative demand, its value proposition increasingly ties to usage within financial workflows. This utility-driven model often attracts longer-term capital, as infrastructure assets typically experience steadier adoption curves compared to speculative tokens. Implications for XRP’s Market Identity If institutional sentiment continues to align with this perspective, XRP may increasingly trade as a functional component of financial infrastructure rather than a traditional cryptocurrency. That shift could influence how analysts model demand, liquidity depth, and long-term valuation frameworks. While short-term volatility remains part of its market behavior, the broader narrative continues to evolve toward real-world utility and institutional integration. A Broader Shift in Crypto Classification The Bitwise strategist’s statement highlights a larger transformation across the digital asset industry. Market participants no longer treat crypto as a uniform asset class but instead evaluate it through the lens of function, utility, and systemic relevance. For XRP, this evolving classification may define its long-term position in global finance as the line between crypto asset and financial infrastructure continues to blur. 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 urged to do in-depth 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 Twitter , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Bitwise Strategist Says XRP Is No Longer a Crypto Bet. Here’s why appeared first on Times Tabloid .
24 Apr 2026, 17:33
China and US on collision course over AI training, funding disagreements
China has rejected the U.S. accusation that tech giants from the Asian country are exploiting American AI technology, using the distillation process at an “industrial scale.” Both countries are setting up for an explosive collision as Chinese authorities reportedly intend to force domestic tech companies to stop accepting U.S. investments without approval. The accusations of theft come as Deepseek is preparing to launch a new V4 model, while the restriction of domestic companies is due to the strategic loss of the AI startup Manus. What is the US accusing China of? The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on foreign entities accused of exploiting American AI models, after a memo from Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, claimed that entities “principally based in China” are running deliberate, “industrial-scale campaigns” to “distill” U.S. frontier AI systems. Beijing has fired back, calling the accusations an “unjustified suppression” of its companies. Distillation is a method where a developer uses outputs from a larger, more powerful AI model to train a smaller, cheaper one. The U.S. claims this is a form of theft. Cryptopolitan reported that White House science adviser Michael Kratsios stated that the administration will work with American AI companies to build defenses and find ways to punish offenders. Kyle Chan, an expert on China’s technology development, stated that proving distillation among AI models is complex and akin to “looking for needles in an enormous haystack.” The White House memo outlined four specific measures to combat distillation, including sharing intelligence on distillation tactics with U.S. AI companies, coordinating defenses with these firms, developing best practices for identifying and mitigating attacks, and exploring ways to hold foreign actors accountable. OpenAI and Anthropic have previously alleged that Chinese labs used distillation to replicate their models. Specifically, Anthropic accused DeepSeek, along with Moonshot AI and MiniMax, of exploiting its models. Is China blocking US investment in AI? Bloomberg reported that Chinese regulators, including the National Development and Reform Commission, are planning to restrict tech companies from accepting U.S. investment without government approval. Meta’s (NASDAQ: META) acquisition of the AI startup Manus for approximately $2 billion (around ¥14.5 billion) was the catalyst for the decision. Chinese authorities launched an investigation into that deal, viewing it as a strategic asset loss to a geopolitical rival. And now, AI startups like Moonshot AI and StepFun are reportedly being told to reject U.S. capital unless Beijing explicitly approves it. DeepSeek released a preview of its new V4 model on Friday, stating that the DeepSeek-V4-Pro “significantly leads other open-source models” in world knowledge benchmarks, although it is “only slightly outperformed” by Google’s (GOOGL) top-tier Gemini-Pro-3.1. The V4 model is also priced significantly lower than GPT-5.5. The V4 costs 2 yuan ($0.28) per 1 million tokens while GPT-5.5 costs over 100 times more at 216 yuan ($30). Last year, DeepSeek’s cost-efficient model triggered a sell-off in U.S. tech stocks, as it proved that high-level AI could be built for less. Despite the “theft” accusations, the performance gap between top U.S. and Chinese AI models has “effectively closed,” according to a recent Stanford University report. If you want a calmer entry point into DeFi crypto without the usual hype, start with this free video.
24 Apr 2026, 15:42
Trump turns up the heat with “big tariff” threat on a Britain
US President Donald Trump has warned Britain it will face heavy trade tariffs if it refuses to scrap a tax on American technology companies, piling fresh pressure on a relationship already strained by disagreements over the war in Iran. Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said Washington could respond to the UK’s digital services tax by imposing steep import duties on British goods. “We’ve been looking at it, and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the UK, so they better be careful,” he told reporters. “If they don’t drop the tax, we’ll probably put a big tariff on the UK.” The digital services tax, introduced by the UK government in 2020, levies a 2% tax on the revenues of large US tech firms, including Amazon, Google, and Apple. It applies to companies earning more than £500 million globally from digital activities, provided at least £25 million of that comes from UK users. While those companies often pass the cost on to the third-party sellers and businesses using their platforms rather than absorbing it themselves, the tax raises more than most of them pay in UK corporation tax. A 2024 estimate by Tax Justice UK put the total yield at between £4.4 billion and £5.2 billion for 2024-2029. The tax is here to stay, as per Downing Street. “Our position on that is unchanged,” the prime minister’s official spokesperson said. “It is a hugely important tax to make sure that those businesses continue to pay their share. So it is a fair and proportionate approach to taxing business activities in the UK.” The tax was never meant to be permanent The UK agreed in 2021 to replace it once a broader international deal took effect. Under an arrangement brokered by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development among 140 countries, large multinationals would pay tax where they do business, with a minimum corporation tax rate of 15%. That plan was due to take effect in 2024, but has been held up by continued objections from several countries. Trump said the tax was aimed squarely at the best companies in the world. “The UK did it, a couple of other people did it,” he said. “They think they’re going to make an easy buck; that’s why they’ve all taken advantage of our country.” When asked what size tariff he had in mind, he said it would match or exceed whatever the UK collects. “What we’ll do is we’ll reciprocate by putting something on that’s equal or greater than what they’re doing,” he said. The digital services tax survived the UK-US trade deal struck in May 2025, even though it was raised during those talks. France, Italy, and Spain also operate similar taxes. In August 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would protect American tech companies from what he called discriminatory foreign levies. “Digital taxes, digital services legislation, and digital markets regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American technology,” he wrote, warning of “substantial additional tariffs” unless such measures were removed. A weakening economy makes any concession harder to stomach The UK parliament has already raised doubts about whether economic ties with the US are beneficial. Last week, the Business and Trade Committee launched a formal inquiry into this matter. It stated that the US accounts for 17% of the UK’s total trade, while exports stand at 22%. However, the fruition of the Economic Prosperity Deal remains deeply uncertain. Committee chair Liam Byrne said businesses need “more predictability”. He warned the UK may fall behind without a clear strategy. This risk was also highlighted by the IMF recently. It had cut Britain’s 2026 growth forecast by 0.5 percentage points. Worst of all in the G7 nations. Inflation is expected to hit 4%, with unemployment reaching levels not seen in more than a decade. The reason? The UK’s dependency on gas for power generation, and that’s where the Iran conflict is hitting it the most, according to the IMF’s chief economist. Your bank is using your money. You’re getting the scraps. Watch our free video on becoming your own bank
24 Apr 2026, 15:24
Bitcoin 'Q-Day' Draws Nearer as Quantum Researcher Breaks Simplified Key
Project Eleven awarded 1 BTC to an Italian researcher after a public quantum computer breaks a 15-bit elliptic curve key, the largest public demonstration of its kind to date.
24 Apr 2026, 15:08
Visca Crypto! Top Exchange Signs 5-Year Agreement With Spanish Giant FC Barcelona
European crypto exchange WhiteBIT has unveiled a five-year agreement with FC Barcelona to extend its strategic alliance, aiming to take digital assets beyond the industry and support global innovation in sports. WhiteBIT Until 2030, Here We Go! On Friday, Spanish football giant FC Barcelona and crypto exchange WhiteBIT announced the renewal of their partnership. The club, also known as Barça, has signed a partnership agreement with Europe’s largest crypto exchange by traffic volume for an additional 5 years. WhiteBIT has collaborated with Barça since 2022 and will remain one of the club’s Global Partners and its Official Cryptocurrency Exchange Partner until 2030. Last year, the exchange displayed the name of its first International Crypto Trading Cup (ICTC 2025) winner on the LED boards during El Clásico, Spain’s biggest football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. According to the announcement, the strategic alliance will bring together the crypto world and FC Barcelona to “set new standards for how technology is integrated into global ecosystems and how the future relationship between digital finance, fans and sport takes shape.” Following the partnership extension, WhiteBIT will also take on an expanded role across FC Barcelona’s men’s first team, women’s team, and basketball team. In addition, it will partner with the Barça Innovation Hub (BIHUB). Manel del Río, CEO of FC Barcelona, affirmed that the renewal strengthens Barça’s commitment to strategic alliances with globally leading companies: This renewal highlights the strength and appeal of our brand, as well as our ability to connect with innovative sectors. In this case, the cryptocurrency sector, a growing field with significant strategic potential for the coming years. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Nosov, President and Founder of W Group, which includes WhiteBIT, emphasized the exchange’s mission to support mass crypto adoption “by bringing technology to everyone, everywhere.” Taking Crypto Beyond The Industry The alliance seeks to make cryptocurrencies a “practical, everyday tool for millions of fans around the world,” the announcement noted, moving the partnership beyond visibility to execution by developing real-world crypto applications designed to scale across the sports industry . Therefore, both brands will collaborate on new initiatives, including fan engagement, digital education, and interactive experiences, with the goal of bridging the gap between technology and the global audience. “Together with Barça, we are taking crypto beyond the industry and into everyday life—creating experiences that millions of fans can actually use. This is how adoption happens,” Nosov stated. Notably, they will introduce an FC Barcelona-themed design for the exchange’s WhiteBIT Nova debit card, allowing fans to personalize their card with the club’s visual identity. The card will also offer benefits beyond the design update, including special features and future partner advantages linked to the collaboration. Moreover, WhiteBIT has launched a promotion to give away 52 Spotify Camp Nou tickets for El Clásico on May 10, 2026. Users must complete a series of actions on the exchange between April 24 and May 4 for a chance to win. As of this writing, WhiteBIT’s token, WBT, is trading at $55.4, a 1.1% increase in the monthly timeframe.
