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Anonymous Men Have Turned Cyberharassment Into a Group Sport—Here’s One Woman’s Side of the Story

This week on Uncanny Valley, we take you behind our feature on the women struggling after being targeted by the burnerverse.

I Think I Found an AI Agent Worth the Risk

Instinct saved me $550, booked my restaurant reservations, and warned me about a phishing scam. It also wasted $64 and might be a security nightmare.

Lightspark Brings Stablecoin Settlement to Visa Cards via Lithic

Bo Jiang, chief executive of Lithic, described the Lightspark programme as one of the most ambitious card builds the platform has supported, spanning multiple geographies and incorporating stablecoin capabilities. Jiang attributed Lithic’s readiness to architectural choices made years before the partnership.Neither company disclosed deal terms, transaction volume targets or the number of markets at launch beyond the broader figure of 65-plus countries cited for the Lightspark platform.Mark

AFC Urges FDIC to Adopt Risk-Based AML Rules for Stablecoin Issuers

The American Fintech Council (AFC) has submitted a formal letter to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation urging it to adopt a coordinated, risk-based framework for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance as it implements the GENIUS Act’s rules for payment stablecoin issuers.The letter, dated 5 August 2026, responds to the FDIC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions compliance standards for what the Act designates as permitted p

Is Transparency Becoming Crypto’s Biggest Competitive Advantage?

<h2><em>Volatility. Speculation. Technical complexity. For years, these were the topics that would come up first when discussing cryptocurrency. However, there’s one characteristic increasingly separating serious blockchain projects from everything else: transparency.</em></h2><p>As the industry matures, investors and users alike are paying closer attention to how platforms operate. They’re assessing how transactions are verified and whether systems can be independently audited. It’s why a growing number of crypto-based platforms are building systems where participants can verify key information for themselves.</p><p>It’s not just isolated to cryptocurrency exchanges and decentralized finance, either. From online gaming to supply chain management, it is affecting industries that have adopted blockchain technology for entirely different purposes.</p><p>Transparency is becoming more valuable. With it, it could end up being one of cryptocurrency’s strongest advantages.</p><h3>Why Does Transparency Matter More Than Ever?</h3><p>Trust. It has always been one of the digital asset industry’s biggest hurdles. From high-profile exchange failures and fraud cases to security breaches, investors have become increasingly cautious about where they place their money.</p><p>Blockchain technology presents a fundamentally different approach. They don’t depend entirely on central authorities. Many transactions are also permanently recorded on public ledgers that anyone can inspect. Okay, this doesn’t eliminate every risk. However, it does create far greater visibility compared to traditional financial systems.</p><p>For users, that can mean:</p><ul><li>Publicly verifiable transaction histories.</li><li>Immutable blockchain records.</li><li>Greater accountability from platform operators.</li><li>Reduced reliance on blind trust.</li><li>Easier independent auditing of certain processes.</li></ul><p>As it evolves beyond its foundational stage, these characteristics are becoming vital differentiators for crypto.</p><h3>Verification, Not Promises</h3><p>Businesses typically advertise fairness and security. The issue is it doesn’t go beyond advertising. Increasingly, and interestingly, crypto companies are aiming to demonstrate these qualities and not simply claim them without proof.</p><p><a href="https://www.coinbase.com/en-gb/learn/crypto-glossary/what-is-a-crypto-proof-of-reserves-por">Proof of reserves</a> is one example. Several exchanges now publish evidence that customer assets are <em>really</em> held in reserve. That goes against them expecting users to take their word for it. Smart contracts offer another illustration. Their code can be audited independently, allowing developers and security researchers to identify vulnerabilities before they become serious problems.</p><p>The wider trend is clear: users increasingly value independently verifiable systems over those dependent solely on reputation.</p><h3>Blockchain Is Influencing Industries Beyond Finance</h3><p>It’s true: financial services remain blockchain’s largest application. Yet it would be a mistake to assume they’re the only one. Here are some quick examples of alternative industries:</p><ul><li>Supply chains increasingly use blockchain to verify product origins.</li><li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10701638/">Healthcare organizations</a> continue exploring secure record management.</li><li>Digital identity projects give individuals greater control over personal information.</li><li>Online gaming has become an interesting testing ground for blockchain transparency.</li></ul><h3>Online gaming: a practical example</h3><p>Compared to using traditional technology, crypto-based casinos have introduced concepts that would have been difficult otherwise. One notable example of this is seen at <a href="https://duel.com/">duel.com</a>, a casino where verification is a much bigger aspect of its operations than conventional casino marketing.</p><p>In fact, Duel uses provably fair technology for its original games. This allows players to verify individual game outcomes independently. That means not depending entirely on the operator’s internal systems. Several of these Duel Originals also hit 100% RTP, creating an entirely unique, transparent approach to expected game returns.</p><p>Combined with an intentionally crypto-native design philosophy and unconventional branding, the platform is a clear demonstration of how blockchain technology is changing user expectations around fairness and openness. It’s not just replicating the traditional casino model with cryptocurrency payments stitched on as an afterthought.</p><p>Will this approach become an industry standard? That remains to be seen, but it underlines a movement toward systems that users can inspect and not just trust.</p><h3>Transparency Still Has Limitations</h3><p>Greater visibility shouldn’t be confused with complete protection. For instance, blockchain records can verify that transactions occurred. Those same records cannot prevent <a href="https://www.ig.com/uk/crypto-need-to-knows/minimise-risk-investing-trading-crypto">poor investment decisions</a> and eliminate market volatility. Additionally, even transparent systems require careful security reviews and ongoing maintenance.</p><p>Consumers should also keep in mind transparency varies considerably between platforms. Some businesses embrace open verification whenever possible. Others selectively disclose information that presents them in the best light.</p><p>That’s why knowing exactly what is, and is not, being verified remains imperative.</p><h3>The Competitive Advantage Will Grow Stronger</h3><p>Cryptocurrency is only going to become more mainstream. As it does, transparency is likely to move away from being a novelty and position itself as an expectation.</p><p>Institutional investors already demand greater reporting standards. <a href="https://www.zendesk.co.uk/blog/industries/retail-and-ecommerce/ultimate-guide-cx-retail/retail-customer-engagement/">Retail users</a> increasingly expect clear explanations of platform operations. Regulators continue promoting stronger disclosure requirements.</p><p>When companies can demonstrate transparency through verifiable systems, and not just marketing language, they might ultimately enjoy a significant competitive advantage. They’re not competing solely on fees, features, and incentives any longer. Crypto businesses increasingly have an opportunity to compete with trust itself.</p><h3>The View Beyond Cryptocurrency</h3><p>With blockchain’s emphasis on transparency, perhaps the most interesting development is how it could influence industries which have little direct connection to digital assets.</p><p>For instance, consumers are increasingly going against simply accepting corporate claims at face value. That’s because they are becoming accustomed to verifying information, and this mindset could eventually change expectations for the following industries:</p><ul><li>Banking</li><li>Insurance</li><li>Logistics</li><li>Digital identity</li><li>Healthcare</li></ul><p>That’s just a small sample size. It could have an impact on countless other sectors.</p><p>In that sense, cryptocurrency’s most lasting contribution may not revolve around digital currencies alone. It could become a key pillar that establishes a culture in which openness and independent verification become standard expectations rather than premium features.</p><h3>Final Thoughts</h3><p>From regulatory uncertainty to market volatility, there are still several challenges for cryptocurrency to overcome. Yet transparency remains one area where blockchain technology offers genuinely distinctive capabilities.</p><p>Public ledgers, provably fair systems, auditable smart contracts, independently verifiable transactions – they all represent major departures from traditional trust-based models. They also continue to grow in prevalence.</p><p>Not every crypto platform adopts these principles equally. Transparency alone also cannot solve every problem. Despite these points, and as users become increasingly selective about where they place their confidence, the ability to verify, and not simply believe, could become one of the industry’s most valuable competitive advantages.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thefintechtimes.com/is-transparency-becoming-cryptos-biggest-competitive-advantage/">Is Transparency Becoming Crypto’s Biggest Competitive Advantage?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thefintechtimes.com">The Fintech Times</a>.</p>

Google’s Gemini Can Now Make Calls for You on Pixel Phones

Call for Me—a feature that’s exclusive to the Pixel 11 series—gives robocalls a new meaning.

Billy actor from Gremlins starred in controversial movie in 1984 that wasn't released until 2015

(@warnerbros) September 23, 2026He returned for the second film but outside of that has had a pretty wild career in the years since, starring in erotic thrillers, B-Horror movies, and one controversial film that wasn’t released until 31 years after it was made, Nothing Lasts Forever.Galligan starred in the movie the same year as Gremlins, in 1984, and it only released in 2015 for the first timeZach Galligan starred in Gremlins and Gremlins 2 (Warner Bros)The actor starred in two movies in 1984,

CIA says Russia is 'preparing drone attacks' on three major British holiday destinations

US intelligence services have claimed Russia could be preparing drone attacks on holiday hotspots popular with British tourists.According to reports, the CIA has gathered information and shared details with several European countries pointing to a possible Russian operation using drones against targets.These could be in Spain, France or Italy, according to Spanish media.A report in newspaper El Mundo has traced the alert to CIA director John Ratcliffe's supposed visit to Moscow in August.An unna

What woman from iconic Black Sabbath album cover is doing now 50 years on

I had to get up at about 4 o’clock in the morning.”Whatever she thought of the shoot at the time, Livingstone certainly had no idea how iconic her photo would go on to be.“I’m sure [Macmillan] said it was for Black Sabbath, but I don’t know if that meant anything much to me at the time," she confessed.These days Livingstone is working on a music career of her own, under the name Indreba.Although her genre of choice is electronic music, Livingstone has made some music inspired by her time on the

Biohacker Bryan Johnson leaves internet confused with bizarre photo lying on top of girlfriend

(@bryanjohnson_/Instagram)‘GLP-Bryan’In the pretty mad photo, Tolo lies straight on her back on the sofa, arms by her side while Johnson lays flat on top of her in what seems like an intimate but somehow, not intimate position.So yeah, let’s just call it what it is, the bloke is planking his girlfriend.But he claims: “I frequently lay on top of Kate with all of my bodyweight.“The deep pressure calms her nervous system, quiets racing thoughts, and releases oxytocin which lowers cortisol. We call

Grandfather loses legal career after rollercoaster left him needing emergency brain surgery

A grandfather claims that a trip to US theme park Six Flags with his grandchildren landed him with a brain injury that forced him to drop the legal career he'd spent decades building.Michael Wilk is one of three people suing Six Flags Magic Mountain in California over its X2 rollercoaster, alleging that it caused him life-changing neutological damage.The once-popular rollercoaster has been under scrutiny after an explosive investigation by CNN found that the ride had been linked to multiple case

Taylor Swift makes pointed move against Donald Trump after president shares controversial post

Instead, the @TeamTrump post states: "This sound isn’t available."The pop star shared a teaser of her new music video and her fans think Trump is trying to ride on her coattails (Instagram/@taylorswift)In response to Swift's apparent work to remove the track, one person said: "As she should, they so desperately want attention and for Taylor to respond."Another wrote: "Never the hugest TS music fan - but respect how she gets s**t done."A third added: "Why does he keep doing things like that? He’s

Woman with world's longest eyelashes says doctors 'can't explain' bizarre phenomenon

A woman with the world's longest eyelashes has spoken out about why she thinks they've ended up so long.You Jianxia, from China, has held - and has since beaten her own - world record for having the longest eyelashes in the world.Back in 2016, they were measured at 12.40cm, but they still didn't stop growing.Then five years later, they had grown an incredible 8.10cm longer, measuring in at 20.5cm in total, meaning she still holds firmly onto the world record.All of Jianxia's eyelashes are long,

Disturbing texts Dolly Parton’s nephew allegedly sent threatening ‘warfare’

Dolly Parton's nephew Bryan Seaver is alleged to have waged a campaign of 'threats, intimidation and coercion' against the late star's management company.It is claimed that the singer's former head of security - who she selected to announce her death - threatened to destroy her legacy and business empire.According to court documents, Seaver sent a slew of messages where he described himself as an 'international arms dealer and mercenary', adding: "All I do is warfare."Parton's estate is managed

JonBenét Ramsey detective who quit over the case revealed the theory he still stands by

Lin Wood called 'fiction and utter nonsense', the New York Times reported.Mr Thomas has claimed in his book JonBenet: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation that Patsy had strangled her daughter on Christmas night in 1996 after she accidentally seriously injured her, and that John Ramsey then 'chose to protect his wife' in the resulting investigation, though he claimed he believed that Mr Ramsey had not had a role in his daughter's death.John and Patsy Ramsey (Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Pos

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Are $100 Off Right Now

They’re some of my favorite open earbuds, and matching their lowest price ever.

Lizzie Borden's famous axe may not have actually been the murder weapon

You may be familiar with that famous rhyme: "Lizzie Borden took an axe..."Only, when you dig into the actual evidence, the details get a little bit fuzzy.The story has been retold many times over the years, with Lizzie becoming almost inseparable from the image of a woman wielding an axe before supposedly brutally murdering her parents.And Netflix has naturally leaned into that grisly reputation, putting the axe front and centre as it dramatises the killings.Lizzie Borden stood trial, and was la

Cboe Clear Europe Adds Fixed Income to SFT Clearing From August

For bank-affiliated securities lending desks, that RWA compression can be material, particularly in fixed income where the notional values involved are large relative to the margins earned.Vikesh Patel, global head of clearing and president of Cboe Clear Europe, said the addition of fixed income was a response to demand from participants that had already seen capital efficiency gains in equities and ETFs and wanted to extend those benefits to other asset classes. The equity SFT service has repor

An OpenAI Agent Hacked Australia’s Health Service. Their Government Found Out Months Later

The country’s prime minister expressed disappointment at being informed of the hack only via email. Now Australia is investigating whether OpenAI broke the law.

SeaWorld Wants to Make You Horny

The Orlando theme park’s immersive Halloween experience now includes hot, brooding guys in an homage to romantasy antiheroes—and it’s leading to record-breaking ticket sales.