DeFiance Daily – President-elect Donald Trump has appointed David Sacks, former PayPal executive and venture capitalist, as the White House AI and Crypto Czar. Sacks will lead U.S. policy development in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, aiming to position the nation as a global leader in these sectors.

Stellar Development Foundation partners with Mastercard to enhance blockchain-based remittance and peer-to-peer payment solutions using Mastercard’s Crypto Credential technology. The collaboration aims to improve transaction security and usability.

DeFiance Daily – Bitcoin surges past $100,000 for the first time, fueled by institutional investments, favorable regulatory prospects, and Federal Reserve comparisons to gold. Experts predict further growth as the cryptocurrency market gains momentum.

DeFiance Daily – Netflix’s upcoming documentary, “Biggest Heist Ever,” dives into the infamous $4.5 billion Bitcoin laundering case involving Heather Morgan, aka the “Crocodile of Wall Street,” and her husband, Ilya Lichtenstein. The film explores their audacious schemes, eventual arrest, and the quirks of Morgan’s alter ego, Razzlekhan, offering a gripping look at one of the largest cryptocurrency heists to date. Premiering December 6, 2024, the documentary unravels the story of a couple whose crime captivated the world.

DeFiance Daily – XRP, designed for fast and low-cost cross-border transactions, has surpassed Solana (SOL) in market capitalization, reaching $138 billion. This milestone reinforces XRP’s unique position as a bridge currency for financial institutions, enabling seamless global money transfers in seconds. Ripple’s cryptocurrency is now the third-largest, showcasing its growing adoption and investor confidence.

Near Space Labs has launched high-altitude balloons equipped with AI-enabled cameras to capture high-resolution images of disaster-prone U.S. neighborhoods. Operating in the stratosphere, these “Swifts” provide insurers with detailed, timely data to expedite property risk assessments and claims processing following extreme weather events.

Zest Protocol is driving innovation on the Stacks blockchain with new features like the BTCz token and upcoming Rune Bridge. As Stacks upgrades its infrastructure with the Nakamoto Upgrade, Zest is enhancing Bitcoin’s utility for the decentralized finance ecosystem.

Bitrefill offers an easy way to use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to buy gift cards, pay bills, and top up mobile phones—ideal for the upcoming holiday season.

Verge Genomics and Eli Lilly expand their ALS collaboration, with Verge’s AI-driven CONVERGE® platform identifying therapeutic targets. This milestone triggers milestone payments and potential royalties for Verge as Lilly moves forward with ALS drug development.

Radiant Industries has advanced to the DEEP phase for its 1 MW Kaleidos microreactor, marking a key step toward commercialization. Supported by the DOE and INL, the company is focused on finalizing reactor design, safety analysis, and preparing for future testing at the DOME facility.