DeFiance Daily – The U.S. House passed three major crypto bills—including the GENIUS Act—creating a federal framework for stablecoins, clarifying crypto regulation, and blocking a Fed-issued digital dollar. It’s a game-changer for digital finance, setting the stage for institutional rollout and privacy-focused policy.

DeFiance Media – Halogen Ventures, the early-stage VC firm led by Jesse Draper, has closed its third fund at $30 million. Fund 3 will focus on the $7.5 trillion Future of Family category, prioritizing investments in childcare and family tech while continuing its core mission of backing female-founded startups solving real-world problems.

DeFiance Media – Global DJ and entrepreneur Steve Aoki has launched Aoki Labs, a venture platform focused on investments that blend entertainment, health, and impact. With its first fund closed and capital already deployed, Aoki Labs is backing companies reshaping how we live, feel, and connect—through AI, wellness, consumer tech, and community-driven innovation.

DeFiance Daily – The $88 million MethaneSAT, launched to track methane emissions with unprecedented precision, suddenly went dark over the Pacific on June 20. While the official explanation points to technical failure, its abrupt silence has raised serious questions—especially after it exposed widespread underreporting of methane leaks from major fossil fuel regions.

DeFiance Daily – The Indy Autonomous Challenge is bringing the world’s fastest AI-powered racecars to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on July 24, launching Grand Prix of Monterey weekend with a time-trial showdown unlike anything in motorsports. The fully driverless event will test university-built AI software against one of the most technical tracks in the U.S.—complete with the infamous Corkscrew drop.

Algonomy has launched three new AI solutions—Ensemble AI, Social Proof Messaging, and Active Content—designed to help retailers personalize every stage of the shopping experience in real time. The tools enable dynamic outfitting, behavioral messaging, and personalized content across digital and marketing channels.

Xanadu, a leader in photonic quantum computing, has teamed up with Mitsubishi Chemical to explore how quantum computers can simulate the complex physics behind extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. This marks a critical step in accelerating semiconductor innovation beyond classical computing limits.

Clio has acquired global legal research platform vLex in what’s now the largest legaltech acquisition to date. The combined company will offer a seamless workflow that connects legal research, case management, and AI-powered drafting—reimagining how legal work gets done.

Colossal Biosciences has announced its next de-extinction project: the return of the giant moa, a flightless bird native to New Zealand that vanished nearly 600 years ago. The effort, backed by filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson and led in partnership with South Island Māori leaders, aims to revive one of the world’s most iconic extinct species.

Web3 identity startup Solo has closed a $1.2 million pre-seed round led by Draper Associates to expand its decentralized proof-of-humanity system. The platform enables continuous biometric verification without relying on centralized hardware, bringing scalable, privacy-preserving identity to digital ecosystems.