If you have a DePIN project you want to share with the world, or if you’d like to collaborate, sponsor, or just ask a question — get in touch with us today.
Bengaluru, July 2026: Ask anyone in Bengaluru what moving homes actually costs and the rent is the least of it. There is brokerage on the new flat, often a month’s rent. There is the notice period on the old one, frequently a month’s rent again if the timing doesn’t line up. Add packers and movers, deep-cleaning charges, painting deductions from the deposit, and the odd day of lost work, and a single move can swallow two to three months’ rent before the first box is unpacked. For a city whose tech workforce relocates every 11 to 18 months on average, that is a recurring tax on simply living here.
Gullynest, a Bengaluru-based startup, is attacking that moving-cost burden with a community marketplace built on a simple role reversal: the tenant moving out becomes the lister, and earns from the handover instead of only bleeding money through it.
The ask from the outgoing tenant is deliberately tiny. They spend five to ten minutes sharing real information about their flat: the actual rent, water timings, the landlord’s temperament with repairs and deposits, network quality, what the street is like at night. Gullynest handles the rest, from publishing the listing to connecting genuine seekers. When the handover closes, the tenant gets paid, recovering a slice of the moving costs they were going to lose anyway. The incoming tenant, meanwhile, gets the one thing no rental portal has ever offered: the truth about a home from the person who actually lived in it.
A marketplace built like a community
Gullynest operates less like a listings portal and more like a neighbourhood network. The platform runs hyperlocal helper personas on X and active WhatsApp communities in Bengaluru’s high-churn rental hubs, where members flag upcoming vacancies, match outgoing tenants with incoming ones, and share ground-level rental intelligence, sometimes closing handovers within the same apartment complex. Its community programme, Gullynest Insiders, rewards outgoing tenants for bringing their homes and honest disclosures to the marketplace.
Alongside tenant handovers, the marketplace hosts homes listed directly by owners and by RERA-registered agents with registration numbers displayed, and every listing is reviewed before going live. Browsing is free for home seekers, and where any fee applies it is stated clearly on the website against each property, charged only when a deal is finalised, never upfront.
Starting where Bengaluru churns fastest
The platform is live in Bengaluru with early traction in Indiranagar, Bellandur, Whitefield, and HSR Layout, corridors where relocations are most frequent and rental demand runs ahead of trustworthy supply.
“A rental listing written by the outgoing tenant is the closest thing to a friend recommending you a house,” adds Jitesh. “We are building the community where that recommendation is the norm, and where the friend gets paid for making your move cheaper too.”
The marketplace is live at gullynest.com and is free to browse.
About Gullynest
Gullynest is a tenant-to-tenant community marketplace for rental homes, currently live in Bengaluru. Outgoing tenants list their homes in minutes with insider details and earn on successful handovers, helping offset the costs of moving, while owners and RERA-registered agents list directly. Browsing is free, any applicable fees are stated transparently on each property, and nothing is charged before finalisation.
The world’s longest-running crypto casino continues to build out its supplier roster with challenger studios that bring fresh themes and genuine variety — ELA Games joins with 16 titles across its slot catalogue
WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO, May 15, 2026 — Cloudbet, the world’s longest-running crypto casino and sportsbook, has added ELA Games to its casino content roster, bringing new titles to its crypto casino lobby, adding 16 new titles to Cloudbet’s slots catalogue. The Malta-certified studio, founded in 2022, joins a supplier lineup that Cloudbet actively curates to keep its catalogue varied and its players finding new content to explore.
Operational since 2013 and supporting more than 30 cryptocurrencies, Cloudbet has built one of the broadest casino and sportsbook products in crypto gaming. Its approach to supplier selection pairs established providers for depth with challenger studios for variety and discovery. Crypto casino players tend to be internationally mobile and highly engaged with the full lobby rather than a fixed handful of titles — which means the range and freshness of available content carries more weight than it does on a conventional fiat platform. ELA Games, certified across MGA, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, and Romania, and with a catalogue that has expanded consistently since 2022, fits the profile Cloudbet looks for.
ELA Games has moved quickly since its founding. In four years the studio has built a catalogue that spans Latin American festivals, East Asian mythology, maritime adventure, and classic fruit formats — thematically diverse in a market where many studio portfolios default to the same handful of settings. The 16 titles now live on Cloudbet represent the studio’s most-played content, selected by performance. More titles are expected to appear in Cloudbet’s new casino releases as the content relationship develops.
“Our players explore. They don’t default to the same handful of titles; they go looking for something new. ELA Games has built a catalogue with genuine range, and that’s exactly the kind of studio we want in the lobby.” — Cloudbet Spokesperson
Featured Titles
Four titles from the current catalogue:
Piñatas Festival
The most-played title in ELA’s catalogue. A Latin American festival theme on a 5×3 grid where a Collector Symbol charges the piñatas across the base game until they burst into a Hold & Win bonus round. Coloured coins trigger Grow Reels — pushing the grid from 3×5 to 5×5 — alongside multipliers and extra respins, and multiple features can land in the same round. RTP 94%, medium volatility, max 5,000×.
Riches Express
A gold train heist slot built around an escalating bonus structure. Coin drops from the train trigger Hold & Win, where four distinct train types arrive with different features and three locked rows must be opened to summon the Golden Train. Completing the reels unlocks four jackpot tiers. Scatter symbols activate Free Spins. RTP 94.03%, high volatility, 35 paylines, max 5,000×.
Wealth of the East
An Eastern celebration slot where God Fu’s twenty-sided dice activates Fortune Coins, revealing multipliers or triggering instant jackpots. Coins collect into a golden pot that, once full, opens a Hold & Win vault for 3 respins. The Imperial Lotus symbol can boost multiple prizes simultaneously. Grand Jackpot sits at 1,000×. RTP 93.97%, mid volatility, released January 2026, max 5,000×.
Kraken Coins
The sequel to ELA’s SBC-nominated Kraken Bay. A 3×3 high-volatility slot where landing 3 symbols on the middle row triggers Hold & Win. Random multipliers up to 4× apply during the bonus, and collecting all 9 symbols unlocks a Grand Jackpot of 500× total bet. RTP 95.3%, max 5,000×. Marked new in the Cloudbet lobby.
About Cloudbet
Founded in 2013, Cloudbet is the world’s longest-running crypto casino and sportsbook. Over the past decade, players worldwide have placed millions of bets using over 30 different cryptocurrencies. In 2024, Cloudbet introduced the most generous welcome offer and loyalty program online, featuring stacked rewards and guaranteed daily cash drops for frequent bettors.
With a wide selection of slots, live casino games, and sports markets — ranging from esports to Premier League and NFL player props — Cloudbet is the leader in secure crypto betting. Visit us at Cloudbet.com; Instagram (@cloudbetofficial); X (@Cloudbet).
About ELA Games
ELA Games is a premium slot provider founded in 2022, dedicated to narrative-driven casino content. Its portfolio spans diverse themes and formats, unified by strong visual production and Hold & Win mechanics. The studio holds MGA certification alongside approvals in Sweden, Denmark, Greece, and Romania. ELA Games titles are now available at cloudbet.com/en/casino/studios/elagames.
Stakers can earn yield on private BTC and use it across Starknet DeFi without giving up balance privacy
[Bengaluru, 12th May 2026] — Endur, the liquid staking layer for Starknet, today announced the launch of xstrkBTC, a liquid staking token for strkBTC, Starknet’s native shielded Bitcoin asset. xstrkBTC is the sixth LST issued by Endur, the fifth on the BTC side, and the first to carry optional privacy properties through to the staked position.
strkBTC was developed by Starknet to address a structural gap in BTCfi. Bitcoin liquid staking has scaled into a multi-billion dollar market in under two years, yet less than 1% of total BTC supply is productive in DeFi today. The bottleneck is the ledger. Productive BTC sits on transparent chains where balances, transfers, and collateral positions are visible by default. Treasuries, funds, family offices, and individuals with security exposure have largely stayed out as a result. strkBTC, ratified by SNIP-38 and SNIP-39 and powered by Starknet’s zk-STARK cryptography, gives Bitcoin holders optional privacy at the asset layer, with reversible mode switching, threshold-controlled selective disclosure, and full DeFi composability.
xstrkBTC routes that shielded asset into productive use across Starknet from Day 1. Stakers can deploy xstrkBTC as collateral on Vesu, pair it on Ekubo for AMM yield, or in future they can deposit into automated yield strategies on Troves, including a dedicated Hyper xstrkBTC vault launching alongside the LST. The shielded property of the underlying carries through every layer.
For institutions, xstrkBTC enables productive Bitcoin allocations that meet privacy requirements without compromising auditability. Viewing keys allow selective disclosure to auditors and regulators when legally required. For retail users, xstrkBTC is a single token that earns staking rewards, lending interest, LP fees, and vault returns concurrently, while keeping balances and transfers private.
“Endur was built to be the liquid staking layer for Starknet, and that increasingly means the privacy-preserving slice of it,” said Akira, cofounder of Endur. “xstrkBTC is the first proof point that yield, composability, and shielded state can sit in the same token. It will not be the last. As more STRK20 assets come online, the LST stack expands with them.”
Yield accrues through exchange rate appreciation. There is no rebasing and no off-chain reward distribution. Endur charges no stake fee, no redemption fee, and a 15% performance fee on rewards earned, never on principal. Withdrawals are mediated by an NFT-tracked queue, with deposit-withdrawal matching for faster exits than the native ~7 day path.
xstrkBTC is live today on Endur. More information at endur.fi.
About Endur
Endur is the liquid staking layer for Starknet, supporting STRK and Bitcoin liquid staking across a stack of six LSTs: xSTRK, xWBTC, xtBTC, xsBTC, xLBTC, and xstrkBTC. Endur was built as a collaboration between STRKFarm and Karnot Labs, two long-standing builders in the Starknet ecosystem, and is cofounded by Akira. The protocol routes deposits to a curated validator registry and integrates with Vesu, Ekubo, Troves, and the broader Starknet DeFi stack.
Built for the Saylors of the BTC economy, the YOLO Vault uses a value-averaging accumulation strategy to buy aggressively during dips and sit on profits when Bitcoin runs — now live on Troves.fi.
STARKNET ECOSYSTEM, March 2026
Troves.fi, the leading one-click yield aggregator on Starknet, today announced the launch of the BTC YOLO Vault – a fixed-maturity Bitcoin accumulation strategy designed for long-term BTC believers who want a smarter, more systematic way to build their stack. The vault is live now on Troves.fi
Built for the Saylors of the BTC Economy
This vault is a bit special. It is not for traders, not for speculators. It is built for people who believe in the long-term BTC economy — those who see every dip as an opportunity, not a threat. In short: the Michael Saylors of crypto.
Instead of a basic dollar-cost averaging (DCA) approach, the YOLO Vault employs a value-averaging style accumulation strategy — a technique well-established in traditional finance but almost never implemented in crypto. The result is a vault that automatically gets more aggressive when Bitcoin is cheap and pulls back when it is expensive.
When BTC drops: the vault buys much more BTC—deploying capital aggressively to maximize accumulation at lower prices.
When BTC is higher, it buys less—conserving capital and reducing the average cost basis.
When BTC becomes very expensive, it stops buying entirely—protecting the portfolio and sitting on gains.
Example configuration at current market levels:
BTC around $70k: Normal buys — steady accumulation continues as planned.
BTC drops to $50k: The vault spends 5-10x more to aggressively stack BTC at the discount.
BTC goes very high ($100k+): The vault stops buying — no chasing the top.
BTC down → stack aggressively
BTC up → sit on profits
Basically, a system that tries to accumulate the most BTC when it is cheap — automatically, without any manual intervention.
“Saylor didn’t stack billions in BTC by playing it safe. He did it with conviction. YOLO Vault is that conviction — automated, on-chain, and working around the clock.”— Venkat, Troves.fi
Why Starknet?
Starknet’s ZK-rollup infrastructure provides the low-cost, high-speed execution environment that makes value-averaging strategies economically viable on-chain. Each rebalancing event — triggered by BTC price movements — incurs minimal gas, enabling the vault to respond quickly without eroding returns.
Get Started on Troves.fi
BTC YOLO Vault is live now. Users can deposit WBTC, set their strategy, and let the vault do the rest. No dashboards to monitor. No manual rebalancing. No timing the market.
To access the vault and explore all available strategies, visit Troves.fi. Join the community on Telegram and follow @trovesfi on X for updates.
About Troves.fi
Troves.fi is a decentralised accumulation and yield strategy platform built on Starknet. It offers one-click access to institutional-grade DeFi strategies — from yield aggregation to structured accumulation vaults — making sophisticated on-chain finance accessible to everyone.
Media Enquiries:[email protected] | Telegram: troves.fi/tg | Twitter: @trovesfi
Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
That quiet conviction echoed through the halls of Stanford University on the evening of February 2, 2026, as The Future of Tech:Stanford Forum 2026, powered by MiniDoge, brought together the builders, thinkers, and decision-makers actively shaping what comes next for AI, Web3, and global innovation.
The campus transformed into more than a venue—it became a crossroad. Founders compared notes with investors. Policymakers listened closely to builders. Technologists debated not just what could be built, but what should be built as decentralized systems, and AI moves from theory into everyday infrastructure.
This was The Future of Tech: Stanford Forum 2026—not a conference chasing headlines, but a curated evening designed to ask harder questions and surface clearer answers.
A Forum Designed for a New Tech Era
The tech industry is changing tones.
The era of unchecked hype cycles is giving way to something more grounded: real-world deployment, regulatory scrutiny, infrastructure maturity, and long-term accountability. As AI systems scale rapidly and Web3 infrastructure evolves beyond speculation, the need for honest, cross-disciplinary conversation has never been more urgent.
Stanford Forum 2026 was created precisely for this moment.
Curated by The Future of Tech and led by Orbis86, OffChain Global, and BrandPR, the forum intentionally stepped away from the traditional conference format. There were no crowded expo floors or surface-level pitches—only focused discussions, meaningful connections, and space for ideas to evolve into action.
Every detail of the evening was designed to move conversations forward.
How the Evening Unfolded
The evening began not with a rush to seats, but with a sense of anticipation.
As guests checked in and settled into the space, the atmosphere was intentionally different—warm, open, and quietly electric. Hosts, co-hosts, and sponsors welcomed attendees into an environment designed for exploration rather than performance. Conversations sparked easily, introductions flowed naturally, and the room filled with a shared curiosity about where Web3, AI, and emerging technologies are truly headed.
Before the panels began, sponsors and partners took a moment to share their vision. Rather than sales pitches, these were reflections—on why they’re building, what problems they’re solving, and how their work fits into a larger technological shift.
Speaking to this broader evolution, Tony from MiniDoge, emphasized that innovation today is no longer confined to code alone.
“Minidoge is not just a lie of code — it’s a living digital symbol filled with story, creativity, and imagination. We’re combining culture and technology to build long-term value.”
His remarks reinforced the tone of the evening: thoughtful, grounded, and forward-looking in the belief that the next phase of web3 will be shaped by projects that bridge infrastructure with real-world cultural relevance.
With the vision set, the forum transitioned into its first in-depth conversation of the night.
Bringing Trillions On-Chain: Compliance, Capital & the RWA Stack
The first panel, moderated by Ken Nim of OffChain Global, addressed one of the most consequential challenges in Web3 today: how real-world assets move on-chain at true institutional scale.
Rather than idealizing the future, the discussion focused on execution—compliance, distribution, and trust.
“You can tokenize anything—but without compliance and regulation built in from day one, it will never scale,” shared Mia Yu of StockFi, highlighting why early RWA experiments struggled to gain traction.
Sanjeev Birari of Zoniqx echoed this reality, noting that “the biggest reason RWA hasn’t scaled isn’t technology—it’s distribution. Tokens are on-chain, but buyers aren’t.”
Jonathan Zhang, Chief Compliance officer of DOGAU, added an important institutional perspective, emphasizing that scalable RWA adoption depends on aligning on-chain, infrastructure with existing financial workflows and investor expectations. He noted that bridging traditional capital markets with blockchain systems requires not only technical readiness, but also trust, operational clarity, and seamless integration with legacy processes.
Guided by Nim’s moderation, panelists explored how institutional adoption requires more than smart contracts—it demands regulatory alignment across jurisdictions and access to credible buy-side networks. As Birari explained, “We’ve put regulation from over 20 jurisdictions on-chain already. Issuers can select the rules that apply and deploy assets in a compliant way without rebuilding everything.”
Scott Foo of Orbital Beam grounded the conversation further: “You can tokenize a thousand assets—but if there’s no buyer on the other side, what’s the point?”
Together, the panel made one thing clear: the next phase of RWA growth will be defined not by experimentation, but by infrastructure maturity, regulatory clarity, and long-term capital confidence.
Web3 Beyond the Experiment: The Road to 2026 & Beyond
If the first panel examined the foundations of capital and compliance, the second shifted the conversation toward a more pressing question: how Web3 moves from experimentation into everyday relevance.
Moderated by Preethy Padmanabhan, Executive in Residence – CMO at Emergent Ventures, the discussion explored what real adoption looks like as infrastructure matures, regulatory frameworks become clearer, and AI increasingly intersects with decentralized systems. The focus was no longer on theoretical potential, but on usability, trust, and long-term value creation.
As one panelist observed, “The question is no longer whether Web3 will succeed—it’s how we make it matter in everyday life.”
Carrie “Ms. NFTy” Lyn of Stand With Crypto emphasized the role of builders in shaping that future, noting that “builders can see three, five, even ten years ahead—and policymakers need to hear directly from them as these rules are being written.” Her remarks reinforced the importance of aligning innovation with education and policy engagement.
Eric Xu of LBank pointed to tangible financial use cases as the catalyst for adoption. “Adoption happens when decentralized systems are more efficient, more transparent, and clearly better than what already exists,” he shared, highlighting payments and compliance as areas where blockchain is already delivering real value.
From an AI and infrastructure perspective,Fernando Jia,Founder & CEO, Intelligence Cubed i3 offered a broader lens on convergence. “Decentralized intelligence allows us to route tasks to the best-performing models in real time—something centralized systems can’t do,” he explained. In this emerging architecture, “blockchain becomes the connective layer linking data, models, and incentives.”
Taken together, the panel painted a realistic picture of the road ahead—one defined by patience, collaboration, and an honest understanding of user needs. The discussion made clear that Web3’s next chapter will not be shaped by experimentation alone, but by thoughtful execution and real-world relevance.
Ultimately, the question wasn’t whether Web3 would endure—but what builders must prioritize if they want their products to truly matter in 2026 and beyond.
Where Conversations Continued
As the final panel concluded, the forum seamlessly transitioned into a curated networking mixer—where ideas moved off the stage and into real conversations.
Set against an inviting backdrop of curated bites and complimentary drinks, founders connected directly with investors, developers exchanged contacts and technical insights, and ecosystem leaders continued discussions sparked during the panels. Small groups formed and shifted throughout the room as introductions turned into follow-ups and early collaboration talks.
Builders, investors, and operators mingled freely, carrying the momentum of the evening forward. More than networking, it was a shared space to stay connected—where relationships began, and conversations set the stage for what comes next.
This was the forum’s heartbeat: an unstructured, high-signal space where relationships formed organically, and momentum carried forward long after the microphones were turned off.
Partners Powering the Vision
Stanford Forum 2026 was made possible through the support of sponsors and partners committed to advancing responsible innovation.
Lead Partner
MiniDoge: MiniDoge Global is a vibrant Web3 meme coin community fusing DeFi, DePIN, and AI-driven blockchain tech to revolutionize the crypto landscape.
Partners
Stand With Crypto – Stand With Crypto is a grassroot, nonpartisan movement uniting 2.5M+ advocates to support the future of crypto and blockchain innovation. Through education, policy engagement, and community-driven events, it empowers builders and supporters to shape fair digital asset legislation and the future of Web3.
StockFi: is a Web3-native financial platform bridging traditional finance and decentralized markets, with a focus on tokenized financial models, improved liquidity, and accessible on-chain participation.
DOGAU: is a community-driven Web3 project exploring the intersection of culture, engagement, and utility-led blockchain ecosystems, representing the growing role of community-first innovation in Web3.
The Teams Behind the Forum
Hosts
Orbis86: Orbis86 is revolutionizing emerging tech innovation through its Engage – Educate – Elevate approach, engaging users with personalized experiences, educating them on emerging technologies, and elevating their journey with seamless cross-chain integration. Throughout the year, we host global events that bring communities together to explore Web3 and AI, enabling meaningful discussions and collaboration.
OffChain Global: is a global community with 70+ chapters worldwide, bringing together Web3 professionals, tech enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs. Through regular meetups and talks, OffChain creates spaces to connect, collaborate, and grow local and global ecosystems.
BrandPR –is a leading PR and marketing agency partnering with Orbis86 to support Web3 brands globally. Since 2022, BrandPR has helped crypto and Web3 projects gain top-tier media exposure and build strong communities through tailored, high-impact PR strategies designed for long-term growth.
Langrenus Fund – is an early-stage investment and incubation fund founded by professionals from Google, Uber, and OKX. Focused on Web3 and AI, the fund supports founders from idea to launch through capital, incubation, and hands-on value creation, with a global footprint and 20+ successful showcases.
Co-host
OnePiece Labs– is a leading Web3 incubator founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, supporting startups with mentorship, resources, and strategic networks to drive real outcomes. OnePiece Ventures is an early-stage crypto fund providing first-check capital and hands-on support to top founders across North America.
Event Partner
10X Growth Strategies– 10X Growth Strategies is a thriving Silicon Valley community bringing together investors, founders, and corporate executives to foster meaningful connections and long-term growth. Founded by Preethy Padmanabhan, the community hosts curated events across the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring leading venture capitalists and founders actively shaping the future of technology and innovation.
Media Partners
Helping amplify conversations at the intersection of AI, Web3, and emerging technologies, Stanford Forum 2026 was supported by a diverse group of media partners committed to thoughtful coverage and ecosystem education.
Through their platforms, the ideas and insights shared at Stanford Forum 2026 continue to reach a global audience—extending the conversation far beyond the room and into the broader tech and innovation community.
Looking Ahead
Stanford Forum 2026 didn’t aim to predict the future—it aimed to clarify it.
By bringing together people focused on real impact, thoughtful regulation, and scalable systems, the forum reinforced a simple truth: the next era of technology will be built by those willing to collaborate, challenge assumptions, and commit to long-term value.
As conversations sparked at Stanford continue to evolve into partnerships, products, and policy discussions, The Future of Tech looks ahead to expanding this dialogue across global stages in 2026 and beyond
The classified briefings happen in soundproof SCIFs on the Potomac, far from the public eye. But the chatter leaked anyway, U.S. Treasury and NSA analysts poring over blockchain forensics, tracing $80 million in USDT flows from Tehran souks to Dubai mixers last quarter alone. Iran’s not just dabbling in crypto anymore. It’s building parallel financial rails that dodge SWIFT bans, fund proxies, and keep the regime liquid when oil cargoes ghost trackers. Washington’s response? Quietly hawkish, legally surgical, and suddenly very interested in Chainalysis dashboards.
Forget the headlines about “Iranian hackers.” This is statecraft via stablecoins, Tehran’s answer to decades of isolation. Internet blackouts hit; VPNs clogged with crypto ramps spike 400%. State-backed exchanges (nobody names them, but the wallets glow on Dune) process $2 billion yearly, mostly Tether-to-rial P2P. It’s not North Korea’s mixnet chaos. It’s systematic: IRGC-linked OTC desks wiring Hezbollah, Houthis drawing on the same pools.
The Underground Exchange That Isn’t
Step into Tehran’s back alleys, or rather, don’t, since fieldwork’s a no-go, and you’d smell the diesel generators powering mining rigs alongside encrypted Telegram swaps. Iran’s crypto activity isn’t fringe. It’s infrastructure. Nobitex, the local giant, claims 85% compliance with AML theater while quietly handling real ramps for everything from caviar exports to missile parts.
The numbers tell tales. Iran ranks top-15 globally for Bitcoin mining (4% hashrate, state-subsidized electricity), but stablecoins dominate flows, $1.2 billion USDT in 2025, per Elliptic forensics. Endpoints? Turkish exchanges, UAE brokers, and even Indian P2P before Delhi’s clampdown. Mixers like Tornado remnants launder the rest, though ZachXBT-style sleuths tag 60% of wallets back to regime cutouts.
U.S. eyes narrow at the geopolitics. Frozen $7 billion in forex reserves? Crypto fills the gap. Sanctions carveouts for humanitarian goods? Bitcoin pays for wheat. Hamas funding post-October? On-chain traces lead to IR-6 centrifuges via crypto bridges.
Treasury’s Slow Squeeze
The response builds methodically. January’s FinCEN advisory wasn’t bluster; it flagged “jurisdiction-level risks” from high-risk actors mixing Tether with state oil sales. OFAC added 40+ Iranian wallet clusters, freezing $15 million mid-flow. Circle and Paxos comply instantly; Tether drags feet, citing “proportionality.”
But the real weapon? Debanking pressure. U.S. leans on Binance, Kraken, 90-day compliance deadlines, or face secondary sanctions. Tether’s commercial paper empire feels the heat, too; NYDFS whispers of full audits. Iran counters with algorithmic stables (local knockoffs, naturally unstable) and Bitcoin-only ramps via Pakistan.
Congress smells opportunity. Bipartisan Stablecoin Act revisions now include “geopolitical mixer clauses” and $10 million bounties for deanonymizing state actors. Trump’s Treasury signals light-touch for compliant issuers, iron fist for anything touching OFAC lists.
Crypto’s Double-Edged Sword
Tehran knows the clock ticks. Ethereum’s blobspace traces mixer hops better than Bitcoin ever did. Rollups like Arbitrum bake compliance hooks natively, Polygon’s Indian ramps now flag Iranian IP clusters. Stablecoin volumes on compliant rails (USDC, PYUSD) crater 70% to sanctioned endpoints; Tether fills the void, but at widening spreads.
Exiles watch grimly. Iranian devs, some of crypto’s sharpest, build abroad, forking code that once powered Nobitex. “They turned our revolution into their ATM,” one told me over Signal, voice cracking. Diaspora remittances, $2 billion yearly, now route through UAE stables instead.
Wall Street stays chilly. BlackRock’s BUIDL won’t touch tainted flows. JPM’s Kinexys blocks Iranian geos by default. But crypto natives split: cypherpunks cry “censorship,” while builders harden Travel Rule clients, chasing that sweet Treasury greenlist.
The Long Game in Tehran
Zoom out from Langley’s threat boards to Mumbai trading floors, and Iran’s story mirrors the global chessboard. Stablecoin wars rage, but sanctioned states don’t quit; they adapt. Expect more local L1s (Iranian Cosmos forks), RWA wrappers for pistachios, and even CBDC bridges to Russia’s digital rubble.
Washington’s calculus stays cold. Let crypto flow to civilians; choke the regime’s spigots. Success means $500 million seized yearly, proxies starved. Failure? A fully on-chain adversary with nothing left to lose.
The screens glow in dimly lit Virginia basements. Dune dashboards update hourly. In Tehran’s power-choked exchanges, wallets spin up anyway. Sanctions evolve. Crypto endures. And somewhere between, a $100 million flow decides the next proxy war’s funding.
As 2026 begins, one question dominates global tech conversation: who is actually shaping the next era of innovation?
On February 2nd, 2026, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST, that question will be explored live at The Future of Tech: Stanford Forum 2026, an exclusive evening forum hosted at Stanford University. This curated gathering brings together founders, developers, builders, policymakers, and technologists who are actively redefining Web3, AI, and emerging technologies.
Curated by The Future of Tech, led by Orbis86,OffChain Globaland BrandPR, the forum is intentionally designed not as a traditional conference, but as a high-signal experience, where ideas connect with capital, and communities converge around real progress.
From insight-driven discussions to meaningful connections, every element of the evening is built to move conversations forward.
Be where innovation happens. Secure your spot, connect with industry leaders, and experience an unforgettable evening at Stanford Forum 2026 – Register here!
An Evening Focused on What Comes Next
The tech industry is entering a new phase—one defined less by hype cycles and more by real-world deployment, regulation, and scale. As AI systems mature and Web3 infrastructure moves beyond speculation, the need for cross-disciplinary dialogue has never been more critical.
This is exactly where the Stanford Forum sets itself apart.
Rather than focusing on isolated technologies, the event explores the convergence of AI, crypto, Web3, DeFi, Real-World Assets (RWA), and emerging tech—and, more importantly, what this convergence means for builders, businesses, and society at large.
Featured Speaker
We are bringing together experienced builders and ecosystem leaders to share practical insights into where DeFi and RWA are headed next.
Kenneth Hurley – CEO & Co-Founder, Genius Ventures An entrepreneur focused on DeFi, tokenized ecosystems, and scalable on-chain innovation, working closely with emerging blockchain projects driving real utility.
Eric Xu– North American CEO, LBank
An executive leading North American expansion for one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, with deep experience in exchange operations, global market strategy, and institutional adoption of digital assets.
Ken Nim – Co-Founder, OffChain Global A global Web3 community builder helping scale one of the world’s largest decentralized networks, enabling collaboration, education, and ecosystem growth across founders and builders worldwide.
Scott Foo – Founder, Orbital Beam
A founder and strategist focused on infrastructure-led innovation, exploring how decentralized technologies, capital coordination, and emerging protocols can support scalable, long-term Web3 ecosystems.
Lucas Bean– Growth & Strategy Consultant – Fractional CMO, BuildnScale
A 20+ year growth, data, and product leader specializing in user acquisition, retention, and community-driven scale across fintech, gaming, and Web3 ecosystems.
The forum will also feature speakers from StokFi and DOGAU:
StockFi – A Web3-native financial platform bridging traditional finance and decentralized markets through tokenized financial models and improved liquidity.
DOGAU – A community-driven initiative exploring culture, engagement, and utility-led blockchain ecosystems.
Additional speakers from across Web3, DeFi, and emerging technologies will join the forum, with names to be announced.
What to Expect at The Stanford Forum
This curated experience goes beyond a typical conference—it’s where insights are sharpened; partnerships take shape, and communities align around what’s next in technology and finance.
Insight-Driven Panels & Keynotes (DeFi & RWA)
Gain direct perspectives from founders and ecosystem leaders like Kenneth Hurley, Ken Nim, Scott Foo, Lucas Bean, Eric Xu and other industry leaders, as they unpack how decentralized finance and real-world asset tokenization will be evolving in 2026. Discussions will cover practical adoption, regulatory considerations, liquidity, infrastructure maturity, and what it takes to build sustainable on-chain financial systems.
These sessions are designed for builders, investors, and operators looking for grounded insights—not speculation.
Sponsor Showcase
Get hands-on with the projects shaping the future. From blockchain infrastructure to AI-powered decentralized systems, meet the teams pushing boundaries—and see how innovation is moving from vision to reality.
Networking Mixer – Where Innovators and Leaders Connect
As the discussions conclude, the forum transitions into a curated networking mixer designed for genuine, high-quality conversations. Enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments while connecting with founders, developers, investors, and ecosystem leaders in a relaxed yet intentional setting.
This is where conversations deepen; ideas are exchanged freely, and early-stage collaborations begin.
Supporting this vision are the event’s sponsors and partners, whose leadership and innovation help bring Stanford Forum 2026 to life.
Our Sponsors and Partners
Title Sponsor: MiniDoge
MiniDoge: MiniDoge Global is a vibrant Web3 meme coin community fusing DeFi, DePIN, and AI-driven blockchain tech to revolutionize the crypto landscape.
Sponsors:
GNUS.AI: GNUS.AI was formed as a corporation that invests in ideas from geniuses. The first venture is in the cryptocurrency space with the launch ofthe GNUS A.I. Processing Crypto Token. Genius (GNUS) tokens are at the heart of a unique and patented blockchain and software system. The primary GNUS tokenis a multi-chain asset that can be used for decentralized GPU utilization. Also known as DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks).
StockFi: is a Web3-native financial platform bridging traditional finance and decentralized markets, with a focus on tokenized financial models, improved liquidity, and accessible on-chain participation.
DOGAU: is a community-driven Web3 project exploring the intersection of culture, engagement, and utility-led blockchain ecosystems, representing the growing role of community-first innovation in Web3.
About Hosts
Orbis86: Orbis86 is revolutionizing emerging tech innovation through its Engage – Educate – Elevate approach, engaging users with personalized experiences, educating them on emerging technologies, and elevating their journey with seamless cross-chain integration. Throughout the year, we host global events that bring communities together to explore Web3 and AI, enabling meaningful discussions and collaboration.
OffChain Global: is a global community with 70+ chapters worldwide, bringing together Web3 professionals, tech enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs. Through regular meetups and talks, OffChain creates spaces to connect, collaborate, and grow local and global ecosystems.
BrandPR: is a leading PR and marketing agency partnering with Orbis86 to support Web3 brands globally. Since 2022, BrandPR has helped crypto and Web3 projects gain top-tier media exposure and build strong communities through tailored, high-impact PR strategies designed for long-term growth.
Langrenus Fund is an early-stage investment and incubation fund founded by professionals from Google, Uber, and OKX. Focused on Web3 and AI, the fund supports founders from idea to launch through capital, incubation, and hands-on value creation, with a global footprint and 20+ successful showcases.
Our Co-host
OnePiece Labsis a leading Web3 incubator founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, supporting startups with mentorship, resources, and strategic networks to drive real outcomes. OnePiece Ventures is an early-stage crypto fund providing first-check capital and hands-on support to top founders across North America.
Our Event Partner
Stand With Crypto – Stand With Crypto is a grassroot, nonpartisan movement uniting 2.5M+ advocates to support the future of crypto and blockchain innovation. Through education, policy engagement, and community-driven events, it empowers builders and supporters to shape fair digital asset legislation and the future of Web3.
Media Partners
Helping amplify conversations at the intersection of AI, Web3, and emerging tech, our media partners include:
WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao – January 16, 2026 – Cloudbet, the pioneering crypto casino and sportsbook established in 2013, has just released its ranked Top Crypto Casino Picks for January 2026 — the games expected to power the highest player engagement on the site.
The selection highlights Cloudbet’s own provably fair Originals (Dice Golden Ticket, Wheel, and Diamonds) alongside high-volatility powerhouses from leading providers Nolimit City, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and Peter & Sons.
Said a Cloudbet spokesperson, “There is a clear trend for 2026 that players will be gravitating toward simple, fast-action titles that deliver instant excitement and verifiable fairness. Quick-play formats, like dice, wheels, and instant-win mechanics, are seeing strong momentum across the industry – driven by their appeal for short, mobile-friendly sessions with high upside potential.”
According to the 2026 iGaming trends report by SOFTSWISS, casual instant-win titles represented just 5-7% of iGaming activity in 2020. By 2025, this rose to 15-25% and is expected to continue in the new year. Cloudbet is also seeing this trend confirmed in its own internal data since the release of the Cloudbet Originals last year, with quick-play titles like Keno, Plinko, and Dice consistently driving high session volumes and player retention month after month.
Cloudbet’s curated January selection builds on the momentum from December 2025’s titles. 17 new titles were added to the Cloudbet casino lobby last month, including extreme-volatility standouts such as Barbarossa Dragon Empire and Bad Santa by Peter & Sons, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend by Nolimit City, and Big Bass Splash 1000 by Pragmatic Play. In January, Cloudbet is teasing 22 more fresh releases, including those listed in their monthly top picks.
Cloudbet’s Top Casino Picks for January 2026
Cloudbet Dice Golden Ticket – Cloudbet Original – RTP 99%
Wheel by Cloudbet – Cloudbet Original – RTP 99%
Diamonds by Cloudbet – Cloudbet Original – RTP 99%
Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin – Pragmatic Play – RTP 96.52%
Duck Hunters: Happy Hour – Nolimit City – RTP 96.07%
Sugar Rush Super Scatter – Pragmatic Play – RTP 96.58%
Circle of Life – Hacksaw Gaming – RTP 96.33%
Golden Shower – Nolimit City – RTP 96.04%
Pray for Six – Hacksaw Gaming – RTP 96.35%
Rust World – Peter & Sons – RTP 96%
Cloudbet’s Provably Fair Originals
The top three spots go to Cloudbet’s in-house Originals, exclusive games built from the ground up with provably fair technology at their core. Using cryptographic seeds (server seed, client seed, and nonce), every roll, spin, or outcome is generated in a way players can independently verify through Cloudbet’s built-in calculator.
Cloudbet Dice Golden Ticket: Spin the dice, defy probability, and claim the Golden Ticket! This game elevates traditional dice wagering with an exciting feature: each throw can unlock enormous bonus multipliers reaching 200×. The Golden Ticket activates automatically on every roll without requiring special stakes. With each play, you’re competing for your standard payout while also vying for that spectacular bonus prize.
Wheel by Cloudbet: Choose your preferred volatility and select wheel sections to receive immediate multiplier rewards — reaching up to 49.5×. Selecting fewer sections yields more frequent hits with lower multipliers. Opting for more sections? Wins come less often — but the payoff potential is enormous.
Diamonds by Cloudbet: An action-packed game where you construct poker combinations using five luminous stones, each offering preset multipliers — top prize 50×. From simple pairs through five-of-a-kind, every combination delivers its own reward — the more elusive the hand, the greater your winnings.
These games embody the quick-play appeal that’s gaining traction: simple rules, adjustable volatility, and rapid rounds that suit crypto players seeking control and immediate action.
All titles are available instantly with Bitcoin, USDT, and over 40 other cryptocurrencies on Cloudbet. New players can unlock up to $2,500 in welcome rewards, including 10% rakeback and daily cash drops.
Founded in 2013, Cloudbet is the world’s longest-running crypto sportsbook and casino. Players can bet with over 40 cryptocurrencies across thousands of sports markets and a full portfolio of casino games, including slots, live dealers, and provably fair crypto titles.
Cloudbet has processed millions of bets securely, offering sharp odds, high limits, instant crypto payouts, and 24/7 customer support.
In 2024, Cloudbet introduced a welcome offer and loyalty program built for serious players—real cash rewards, daily cash drops, and 10% rakeback with no wagering requirements.
From Premier League and NFL props to esports, tennis, and basketball, Cloudbet delivers the sharp action crypto bettors expect.
Find us at Cloudbet.com, on Instagram @cloudbetofficial, and Twitter/X @Cloudbet.
The Global Games Show 2026 Riyadh edition is poised to become the ultimate destination for gaming enthusiasts, developers, and investors alike. Organized by VAP Group and powered by the Times of Games, the event promises a vibrant lineup of discussions, and engaging experiences that symbolize the rapidly changing gaming sphere.
Participants can explore the latest in game development, esports, and interactive entertainment, with live demonstrations, workshops, and panels led by industry leaders. From indie developers to global publishers, companies will present their most innovative games and technologies, providing attendees with insights into the future of gaming.
In past editions, the Global Games Show (GGS) has brought together leading figures from across gaming, esports, and the Web3 ecosystem. Esteemed speakers have included Johnson Yeh, Founder and CEO of ROEHL/Ambrus Studio; Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Chairman of Animoca Brands; Dirk Lueth, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Uplandme, Inc.; and Paul Dawalibi, CEO of Holodeck Ventures. Industry innovators such as Ilman Shazhaev, Founder of Farcana, and Klaus Kajetski, Founder and CEO of YaLLa Esports, have also shared their insights, alongside Jonathan Bouzanquet, Chief Strategy Officer and Founder of PLAYA3ULL Games, and Assad Dar, Co-Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Medieval Empires.
The show also emphasizes community and collaboration. Dedicated networking areas and matchmaking sessions enable connections between creators, investors, and publishers, fostering partnerships that can drive the industry forward. For startups, the event offers a platform to showcase their innovations and attract investment.
Educational and strategic sessions focus on trends such as immersive gaming, cloud gaming, and monetization strategies. These discussions equip participants with knowledge to navigate challenges, leverage opportunities, and scale their ventures effectively.
Day 1 is all about the future of gaming technology, with talk on Saudi Arabia becoming a world esports capital, the next phase of gaming engines with Unreal Engine 6, brain–computer interfaces, and AI-generated game design. Experts will also discuss what the future of esports will look like in the Kingdom and how it is increasingly driving Vision 2030’s creative economy.
Day 2, entitled “Gameconomics,” explores the gaming business—ranging from crowdfunded games to mobile gaming opportunity, player-coined communities, and developer–investor partnerships that form industry expansion.
By bringing a diverse mix of professionals under one roof, the Global Games Show strengthens Riyadh’s position as a hub for interactive technology and digital entertainment. Attendees also get access to other parallel flagship events, the Global AI Show and the Global Blockchain Show with just one ticket. GGS is a convergence of ideas, creativity, and opportunity in the gaming world.
The Global AI Show 2026 in Riyadh brings an engaging experience for anyone interested in the future of artificial intelligence. Organized by VAP Group and Powered by the Times of AI, the Global AI Show (GAIS) is planned with a vision to explore AI’s potential across multiple sectors, from business solutions to user-centric applications. GAIS brings to fore the transformation of different human spheres led by AI.
Attendees will be a part of deep discussions on AI strategy, machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics. Participants will also engage directly with AI tools and platforms, which will help them with applications in real-world business issues.
Ethics and regulation are central themes, and hence, there will be sessions dedicated to responsible AI deployment, algorithmic fairness, and data privacy. As AI adoption accelerates globally, understanding these frameworks is necessary for businesses and policymakers alike. The event will encourage dialogue on how innovation and responsibility can coexist to create long-term AI solutions.
Our past speakers were a remarkable mix of global leaders, visionaries, and innovators across technology, governance, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Honourable Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta, Canada, has shared his insights alongside Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir UAE. Professor Shafi Ahmed, a renowned surgeon, futurist, humanitarian, and CEO of Medical Realities, and John Nosta, leading innovation theorist in technology, AI, and medicine and Founder of NOSTALAB, have also been part of the lineup. Janet Adams, COO and Board Director at SingularityNET/ASI, and Jeanie Fang, Director of Data & AI at Crunchbase, have brought their expertise in artificial intelligence and data innovation.
Networking is a key focus, with interactive zones designed to facilitate partnerships, investments, and collaborations.
The Global AI Show places a strong emphasis on networking and collaboration, creating a dynamic environment where industry leaders, innovators, and investors can connect and explore new partnership opportunities. The sessions are designed to inspire forward-thinking discussions on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in shaping industries and societies worldwide.
The program includes a series of headliners, keynotes, and panels discussing the future of AI, its real-world applications, and its radical impact across critical industries. The topics address Saudi Arabia’s vision of an AI-led future and its implications globally, the vision for AI by 2030, and the changing partnership between humans and smart machines. These conversations will also delve into actual AGI implementations, the AI-driven revolution toward patient-centered healthcare, breakthroughs in drug discovery, the use of AI in personalized medicine, and predictive technologies transforming healthcare outcomes.
Collectively, these sessions highlight how AI is reshaping possibilities, facilitating cross-industry conversations, and propelling the next generation of technological and societal advancement.
By convening global AI experts, innovators, and stakeholders, the Global AI Show reinforces Riyadh’s reputation as a center for technological advancement. Get inspired, informed, and ready to use AI for meaningful impact, and be a part of GAIS Riyadh edition.
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