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Spain Bans Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Amid Data Collection Concerns

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Spain Bans Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Amid Data Collection Concerns

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Spain has banned Worldcoin, a digital ID cryptocurrency venture launched by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, after the country’s privacy watchdog cited concerns over how the company’s eyeball-scanning technology collects and processes biometric data.

Key Facts

The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) issued a precautionary measure Wednesday that prohibits Worldcoin’s activities in the country for up to three months, after the agency received “several complaints” about alleged insufficient information, the collection of data from minors and concerns that consent can’t be withdrawn.

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Worldcoin’s World ID requires users to scan their eyeballs through “orbs,” a device that captures an image of the user’s irises, before they receive a unique form of identification and the Worldcoin cryptocurrency.

AEPD requested Tools for Humanity, the company that collects and processes users’ personal data, to cease collecting additional data for new users in the country and stop using the data already gathered by Worldcoin.

Processing biometric data requires “special protection” because of “high risks to the rights of individuals,” including possible data transfers to third parties, the agency said.

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Jannick Preiwisch, Worldcoin’s data protection officer, said in a statement to Forbes the Spanish agency was “circumventing EU law” while spreading “inaccurate and misleading claims” about the company, which added its World ID was “the most privacy-preserving and safest solution for asserting humanness in the age of AI.”

What To Watch For

Preiwisch noted Worldcoin has been communicating with data protection officials in Bavaria, the region of Germany where Tools for Humanity is located. Michael Will, president of Bavaria’s data watchdog, told Reuters discussions with Worldcoin would result in a “final evaluation” for other European agencies “very soon.”

Big Number

4 million. That’s how many people across 120 countries have signed up to have their eyes scanned through Worldcoin’s “orb,” according to the company.

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Key Background

Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency and digital ID project, launched last year following a yearslong development process. The project aimed at resolving issues presented by developments in artificial intelligence, including challenges verifying someone’s identity. Worldcoin provides users with a unique digital identity after their eyes are scanned by a silver orb. Prospective users were incentivized to join the project through the Worldcoin cryptocurrency token, which becomes available to new users. Worldcoin has suffered from technical issues since its launch, with some users saying they were unable to claim their tokens after their eyes were scanned. One Kenya-based operator told Forbes that Worldcoin failed to respond to hundreds of complaints after its network went offline less than two weeks after its launch. Some users also managed to trick the orb into creating multiple Worldcoin accounts for the same person.

Further Reading

What Is Worldcoin? Here’s What To Know About The Eyeball-Scanning Crypto Project Launched By OpenAI’s Sam Altman (Forbes)

Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Soars After Launch Of OpenAI’s ‘Sora’ Video Tool (Forbes)

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Bitdeer Invests $36 Million in First US Sealminer Factory as Bitcoin Mining Margins Stay Tight

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Bitdeer Invests  Million in First US Sealminer Factory as Bitcoin Mining Margins Stay Tight

Key Takeaways

Bitdeer Targets 10,000 Monthly Sealminer Units With New $36 Million Nevada Factory

Bitdeer is moving ahead with a major U.S. manufacturing push, breaking ground on a $36 million advanced electronics facility in Sparks, Nevada, even as bitcoin mining economics remain near historic lows.

The 187,000-square-foot plant will be the company’s first domestic manufacturing and assembly site in the U.S. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and is designed to produce 10,000 Sealminer units per month.

Bitdeer said the project will create about 70 local jobs across engineering, skilled technician and support roles. The facility will expand the company’s U.S. footprint beyond mining and data centers, adding a domestic production base for its proprietary mining machines.

“Producing our advanced Sealminer units right here in Nevada reflects our long-term commitment to building capacity and nurturing the talent necessary to support our growing digital infrastructure operations in America,” remarked Paul Hanson, Chairman of Bitdeer Industrial.

Vertical Integration During a Mining Slump

The timing is notable. Bitcoin miners are still dealing with weak hashprice, a key measure of mining revenue per unit of computing power.

Spot hashprice was recently around $29.81 per PH/s/day, after touching a daily low of $27.89 on Feb. 24. March also marked a record-low monthly average of $31.27, according to industry data.

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The pressure reflects several factors: the April 2024 halving, rising network hashrate, and low transaction-fee revenue. Together, they have reduced revenue for miners using the same amount of computing power.

At these levels, profitability is increasingly concentrated among operators with cheap power and newer, more efficient machines.

Bitdeer is trying to address that pressure through vertical integration. The company has been developing its own Sealminer hardware and deploying the machines across its self-mining fleet.

Catherine Guo, CEO of Bitdeer Industrial, commented that the Sparks plant reflects the company’s contribution to Nevada’s diversifying economy.

“Our commitment underscores the state’s strategic advantages, including a highly accessible and skilled workforce, robust logistics networks, and a consistently business-friendly environment,” Guo said.

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U.S. Expansion Meets AI Demand

The Nevada facility will complement Bitdeer’s existing U.S. data centers and its innovation hub in San Jose, California.

The project also comes as Bitdeer expands across mining and AI infrastructure. In its May operating update, the company reported 70.2 EH/s of self-mining hashrate, 921 bitcoin mined during the month, and about $69 million of annualized recurring revenue from its AI Cloud business.

Bitdeer also said it was in advanced talks with a potential colocation tenant at its Tydal, Norway site. That follows a broader industry trend in which miners are exploring AI and high-performance computing uses for power-rich data center assets.

The facility is expected to begin contributing to Bitdeer’s manufacturing capacity as the mining hardware market becomes more selective. Weak hashprice can slow equipment demand, but it can also push well-capitalized miners to replace older machines with more efficient models.

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British Airline Jet2 Shares Jump 9% After $536M Fuel Hedge Gain Offsets Middle East Travel Fears

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British Airline Jet2 Shares Jump 9% After 6M Fuel Hedge Gain Offsets Middle East Travel Fears

Key Takeaways

Sector Resilience Amid Fuel Volatility

British airline and package holiday provider Jet2 defied intense geopolitical instability and travel sector panic triggered by the Middle East war by reporting a more than $500 million balance sheet boost, fueled by the rising price of jet fuel.

As the conflict in the Middle East escalated, spiking fuel rates caused the value of the company’s fuel derivatives to soar. According to Jet2’s full financial results released July 8, an extra $536 million in income was primarily driven by these favorable fair value movements.

The financial buffer comes after widespread fears earlier this year that rising energy costs could push airlines into bankruptcy and force massive summer holiday cancellations. In the United States, higher fuel prices contributed to the collapse of low-budget airline Spirit in May. The United Kingdom had been labeled as the nation “most exposed” to the jet fuel crisis, forcing government ministers to scramble to protect airline fuel access and temporarily suspend airport capacity rules.

While Jet2 was able to mitigate the price shock, the broader conflict still took a toll on booking behaviors. The airline conceded that ongoing travel uncertainty from the war caused holidaymakers to delay their trips and book much closer to their departure dates than usual. As a result, Jet2’s cash inflow plummeted by 67% to approximately $103 million for the fiscal year ending March 31.

Financially, Jet2 reported mixed full-year results. Group revenue climbed 4% to $10.05 billion, but pre-tax profit slipped 7% to $738.6 million, hit hard by lower income earned on its cash deposits.

Despite the profit dip, operational metrics showed strong consumer demand. Jet2 increased its total seat capacity by 8% to 24 million and flew 20.8 million passengers — a 5% increase year-over-year. The company also announced a new $335 million share buyback program, pointing to robust liquidity and confidence in its midterm outlook.

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On the stock market, shares of the AIM-listed company jumped 9% to $19.92 at Wednesday’s opening bell, leaving the stock up 5% for the year.

Chief Executive Issues Tax Warning

The financial report coincided with an aggressive political warning from Jet2 Chief Executive Steve Heapy. Speaking to shareholders, Heapy cautioned political figures — specifically naming prominent politician Andy Burnham — against treating the aviation and holiday industry as a “cash cow.”

Burnham is widely anticipated to enter Downing Street later this month following recent political shifts.

“Don’t treat the aviation or holiday industry as a cash cow, because taxes increase the price of flying,” Heapy said, pointing out that Jet2 had to absorb $67 million in additional regulatory and tax costs over the last year. “I think, you know, enough is enough.”

Operationally, Jet2 is pushing a major expansion strategy designed to challenge the UK’s dominant legacy carriers. In March, the airline launched a six-aircraft hub at London Gatwick Airport, signaling an aggressive move out of its traditional northern England strongholds. The company notes it now operates within a 90-minute drive of more than 90% of the UK population.

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Binance maintains commitment to EU, seeking more licences in Asia

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Binance maintains commitment to EU, seeking more licences in Asia
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance remains in “close talks” with regulators in the ​European Union over its application to operate in the bloc and is seeking to secure more licences in ‌Asia, said its co-chief executive Richard Teng on Thursday.
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