DIGITAL TOKENS
UPI sees Diwali boom; AI cracks Captcha
Diwali spending fuelled a surge in UPI transactions, with both payment volumes and values rising. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
The next problem to solve: When money arrives, what can merchants do in the meantime?
At GFF 2026, PRISM founder Ritesh Agarwal and Adyen’s Chief Commercial Officer Roelant Prins discussed why, for merchants such as small hotel owners, how quickly money arrives now matters as much as whether a payment is accepted, and why AI is changing back offices faster than it is changing how people buy.
Indian organisations on edge as sites fail to Captcha AI intruders
Personal AI agents such as Instinct, Muse, Grokbot and OpenClaw have taken over the consumer internet in the US. But last month, major US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley, reportedly flagged AI agents such as Meta’s Muse accessing customer accounts using login credentials voluntarily shared by users laying bare the risks of handing AI agents the keys to consumers’ digital lives.
Trump Media's investors lost $2.2 billion while Trump holds $460 million stake
Ske Jarzenske and other Trump Media investors are facing severe losses as the company's stock value has plummeted. Many investors had high hopes for the social media platform, believing in its potential profitability under Trump's leadership. Instead, Trump Media's shares have lost significant value, and discontent among shareholders has grown. The company's revenue remains stagnant, leading investors to question management practices and investor trust.
India’s new wealth rituals: What are millennials and Gen Z buying on Dhanteras?
Dhanteras investing is evolving from physical gold purchases toward diversified digital portfolios. Younger investors are embracing gold ETFs, mutual funds, Bitcoin and tokenised assets while retaining the festival’s core goal of building wealth and financial security patiently.
Trump-linked crypto assets slip up to 16%, AI data centre stocks slide after Democrats' US midterm win
Trump-linked cryptocurrencies tumbled up to 16%, while shares of Bitcoin miners transitioning into AI data centre businesses slumped as Democrats' strong midterm performance rattled investor sentiment. Concerns over tighter regulations, potential construction delays in Texas and rising financing costs weighed on companies betting on the AI infrastructure boom.
IndiaAI Mission's three indigenous AI models target offline mobile access, secure use in critical sectors
Three indigenous artificial intelligence (AI) models launched under the Centre's IndiaAI Mission are being developed for applications ranging from offline access on mobile phones to secure use in critical sectors such as defence, cybersecurity and banking.
Binance hack exposes limits of crypto exchanges’ emergency shutdown controls
Binance is calling it a “sophisticated, multi-stage campaign” and “not a single isolated breach or a simple phishing incident.”
Binance says North Korean hackers stole $6.34 billion funds in a technical breach
Binance reported a cyberattack attributed to North Korea that compromised $6.34 billion in digital assets. Approximately $2.85 billion of the affected assets have since been frozen or intercepted. The attackers utilized fake job interviews and advanced malware to breach Binance's security systems. Subsequently, the company took steps to replenish the lost assets and mitigate the damage caused.
China's 'Lipstick King' touts AI tokens in first for Singles' Day festival
The launch is the first time AI token packages have been offered as a significant consumer product category during Singles' Day, the world's largest shopping festival originally held on November 11 each year.
From SBI to Binance, how financial institutions are becoming cyberattack targets
Recent incidents involving cryptocurrency exchange Binance and Indian public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI) have once again put the spotlight on the issue. While Binance reported a security breach involving unauthorised cryptocurrency withdrawals estimated at around $6.3 billion, SBI is investigating a suspected data leak involving nearly 3,900 customer records.
Binance hack raises crypto security fears: Why are Strategy and Bitmine still buying Bitcoin (BTC USD) and Ethereum (ETH USD)? What did Michael Saylor and Tom Lee say
Strategy purchased 811 BTC USD worth more than $65 million, its largest acquisition since late September, while Bitmine added $19 million in ETH USD. The buying came as the crypto industry faced renewed security concerns following the massive Binance hack, with Bitmine chairman Tom Lee arguing that the market’s relatively muted reaction was “very constructive.”
Binance sees outflows stabilising as exchange returns online after $6.3 billion heist
Binance customers pulled $3.64 billion, or 2.1% of its assets, as the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange resumed service after a security breach linked to North Korea saw $6.3 billion stolen from the platform last week.
Binance sees net outflows of $3.64 billion after resumption of withdrawals
On November 1, Binance reported net outflows of around $3.64 billion as withdrawals resumed after a pause. During this period, withdrawal volumes reached over $4.64 billion while deposits amounted to $1.01 billion. The exchange stated that the percentage of outflows represented 2.1% of its total assets. Despite the large outflows, Binance highlighted that deposit volumes remained substantial and withdrawal volumes began to stabilize.
Crypto cards enter RBI's radar as Indians use offshore wallets for everyday payments
Offshore crypto cards that allow Indian residents to spend digital assets on domestic purchases and withdraw cash have come under the scrutiny of the RBI and Financial Intelligence Unit. Several users have reported card deactivations in recent days, while authorities are understood to be examining potential violations of payment regulations and FEMA.
Binance to resume withdrawals after recovering bulk of $6 billion in stolen funds
Binance has announced the resumption of cryptocurrency withdrawals after recovering a significant portion of stolen assets. The exchange has identified a North Korean unit behind the theft and is actively working to recover remaining tokens. Law enforcement agencies are tracking the laundering of stolen assets into cryptocurrencies. Binance has committed to covering the financial losses incurred due to the hack.
Binance sets aside USD 6.34 billion to cover crypto hack losses, targets phased withdrawal resumption
In response to a significant security breach, cryptocurrency exchange Binance has earmarked USD 6.34 billion to cover losses incurred from unauthorised withdrawals amounting to about USD 6.3 billion. The company is committed to recovering these funds and restoring withdrawal services incrementally, having already safeguarded USD 5 billion in stolen assets.
How thematic investing is changing the way Indians approach crypto
In India, investors are increasingly embracing thematic investing as they explore cryptocurrency and other sectors. This innovative investment style allows individuals to focus on specific trends and ideas rather than sticking to conventional categories. To support this, ZebPay has launched CryptoPacks, offering users curated portfolios that resonate with various themes. These packs simplify investment management and signify a shift toward future-focused digital asset strategies.
Crypto exchanges call for quick moves to bolster defenses after Binance heist
Crypto exchanges are strengthening defenses and promoting information-sharing after Binance's major $6.3 billion hack. Coinbase adjusted its systems for storing cryptocurrency keys while Kraken monitored incidents to enhance security. Analysts noted that the attack, linked to North Korea, revealed vulnerabilities within the crypto industry. Companies are planning more employee training to combat social engineering tactics used in such hacks.
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