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CORPORATE AI ADOPTION MAY BE LEVELING OFF, ACCORDING TO RAMP DATA

Corporate AI adoption may be stabilizing, based on Ramp's data, which shows a plateau at 41% in May.

OPENAI UPDATES VOICE MODE

OpenAI has upgraded ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode for paid users, improving intonation, emotional expressiveness, and cadence.

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SEC WORKING ON 'INNOVATION EXEMPTION' FOR DEFI PLATFORMS

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins announced that he's directing staff to develop an “innovation exemption” to ease developers' path for bringing DeFi platforms and onchain financial systems to market under adjusted rule relief. Republican commissioners argued that open-source software creators shouldn't be held liable for user actions and stressed accommodation for peer-to-peer blockchain applications. Commissioner Hester Peirce cautioned that simply adding a “decentralized” label won't shield operators from regulation, while ShapeShift's Erik Voorhees praised the SEC's more crypto-friendly tone. Atkins acknowledged the differences between traditional finance and DeFi and its need for clear guidelines.

ETHEREUM PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO LEAD, BUT GLOBAL CRYPTO FUND INFLOWS DECELERATE

Crypto funds saw $286M in net inflows last week, marking eight straight weeks of gains, though the pace is slowing as investors await Fed policy signals. Ethereum funds led for the second week with $296.4M in inflows, driven by U.S. spot ETFs, while Bitcoin products saw $56.5M in outflows. Regional inflows were dominated by the U.S., Germany, and Switzerland, with sentiment showing divergence across assets and geographies.

SINGAPORE'S NEW CRYPTO REGULATIONS EXPLAINED

Singapore has a strict new licensing regime for Digital Token Service Providers (DTSPs) that requires any crypto-related activity “in or from” the country to be licensed regardless of whether services target local or foreign users. The sweeping rules cover nearly all crypto functions, from custody and trading to staking and token issuance, with no transitional period and a low approval rate. While licensed firms like Coinbase and OKX may benefit, unlicensed projects and solo builders face immediate regulatory risk triggering concerns of a Web3 exodus to jurisdictions like Hong Kong and Dubai.

IRIS: AN AUTONOMOUS, PUBLIC-GOOD CONTRACT AUDIT AGENT

Virtuals Protocol and Nethermind are launching IRIS, an AI agent meant to audit smart contracts and act as a public good for the Ethereum ecosystem. This is the first AI agent launched on ETH L1, meaning it will have a native liquidity pool on the chain. 50% of IRIS will go to the Ethereum community, likely rewarding users for transactions, AI adoption, and DeFi use.

THE AGE OF AGENTIC CAPITAL

Agents are autonomous AI systems that require programmable money to transact, yet traditional financial rails impose barriers like KYC, human-centric workflows, high fees, latency, and regulatory gaps. Blockchain infrastructure enables decentralized identities for verifiable agent reputations, smart contracts for programmable access control and complex payment logic, stablecoins for seamless global value exchange, and high-performance networks for low-cost, high-speed microtransactions with transparent audit trails. The main risks include rogue agent spending, cybersecurity threats to private keys, integration friction for providers and users, and regulatory uncertainties.

CIRCLE: IS IT STILL A BUY?

Circle's IPO exploded with a +168% first-day surge and +247% gain over 48 hours, marking the biggest first-day pop for a $1 billion+ IPO in three decades as institutional FOMO drove opening prices from $31 to over $103. By underpricing at $31 despite market demand near $83+, Circle forfeited $1.72 billion in capital, and its December 2025 lockup expiry looms as a source of potential insider selling pressure. At a $23.75 billion market cap and 152x earnings multiple, nearly 90% of revenue stems from USDC reserve interest, with Q1 2025 showing 58.5% revenue growth but 68.2% cost growth eroding margins. Although regulatory tailwinds, institutional confidence, and USDC's role in real-world asset settlement underpin a long-term bull case, scarce near-term catalysts and a premium valuation suggest limited asymmetric upside.

CHANGING ETHEREUM FOUNDATION

The Ethereum Foundation shared a formal Treasury Policy that sets clear ETH-sale thresholds to maintain 2.5 years of fiat runway, an annual spending cap tapering from 15% to 5%, DeFi and staking revenue mandates, enhanced quarterly and annual reporting, and “DeFiPunk” investment standards grounded in cypherpunk ideals. This structured framework shifts the Foundation from passive asset holder to active ecosystem steward, boosting predictability and transparency in its financial operations. However, the policy's selective support criteria risk centralizing influence, and its profit-oriented activities could invite SEC scrutiny under the Howey Test. The coming months will reveal whether the Foundation can uphold Ethereum's decentralization ethos while managing its new, more proactive treasury.

ALIGNING AROUND MORPHO — THE ONLY ASSET FOR MORPHO

Morpho is consolidating its ecosystem around the MORPHO token by making Morpho Labs a wholly owned subsidiary of the nonprofit Morpho Association, thereby aligning all contributors and token holders under the same incentive structure. As a French nonprofit, the Association is legally barred from external profit distribution or share sales, ensuring every resource and protocol fee is reinvested into network growth. This reinvestment-first stance mirrors high-growth startup practices and positions the DAO to deploy capital for maximum long-term impact.

EXPLAINING USDT OUTFLOWS FROM AAVE TO PLASMA

As USDT liquidity shifts from Aave to Plasma, users chasing high APYs (currently 16.42%) may not realize Plasma is built on Aave infrastructure via Veda Labs, meaning deposits technically circle back to Aave anyway.

KAMINO NET DEPOSITS CONTINUE INCREASE

Kamino Finance just recorded $1.6B in new deposits (an 80% jump), bringing its TVL to $3.6B and making it the third-largest lending protocol after Aave and Morpho.

PYUSD CLOSING $1B IN SUPPLY

PYUSD is approaching a $1 billion circulating supply, with steady growth on both Ethereum and Solana networks.

STRATEGY BUYS EXTRA 1,045 BITCOIN FOR $110.2 MILLION

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) added 1,045 BTC worth $110.2M last week at an average price of $105,426, bringing total holdings to 582,000 BTC (~2.8% of total supply).

WWDC 2025: EVERYTHING ANNOUNCED, INCLUDING LIQUID GLASS, APPLE INTELLIGENCE UPDATES, AND MORE

Apple unveiled iOS 26 at WWDC 2025. This was the operating system's most significant design update in over a decade. A new Liquid Glass interface adds translucent, reflective elements across devices. The company also introduced a dedicated Games app, refreshed Apple TV and watchOS experiences, and expanded Apple Intelligence features, including an AI-powered Shortcuts app for macOS and a Workout Buddy on Apple Watch. Additional updates included travel tools in Apple Wallet, interactive iMessage polls, CarPlay enhancements, and new accessories for the Vision Pro headset.

THE SWITCH 2'S MOST UNEXPECTEDLY SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE IS THE ESHOP DESIGN

Nintendo Switch 2's eShop received major performance and design upgrades that surprised fans with their significance. The new digital storefront runs much faster than its sluggish predecessor, eliminating the painful lag that plagued game browsing. Design improvements include better categories, filters, personalized discovery features, and Nintendo's signature red branding, replacing the previous orange color scheme. Social media users are celebrating the smoother experience, with some calling it a "real store" complete with auto-playing trailers and improved navigation.

THE FOUNDER OF DEVIANTART IS MAKING A $22,000 DISPLAY FOR DIGITAL ART

DeviantArt founder Angelo Sotira has launched Layer, a $22,000 premium display designed to showcase digital art. The high-end screen focuses on code-based generative artworks that require significant computing power to render live animations and interactive pieces. Layer operates as a self-sustaining system that automatically sequences art collections, requiring minimal user maintenance over its intended five-year lifespan. The startup raised $5.7 million in funding and operates on a subscription model where artists receive royalties based on the display time of their works.

AN EMPATHETIC DESIGNER

Empathy remains crucial for design work, extending beyond user understanding to internal processes and stakeholder management. It can be as simple as making workflow changes, such as creating a simplified Figma component library for non-designers and anticipating their needs through detailed documentation, tutorials, and support channels. Deep user research through shadowing, active listening, and building trust with internal platform users can reveal insights impossible to gather through traditional interviews alone.

THE POLITICS OF DESIGN SYSTEMS

Building a great design system isn't enough — people won't adopt it just because it exists, they'll only embrace it if they feel included, understood, and see clear value in it for their work. True adoption is built on trust and relationships, not mandates or documentation, and success comes when the system becomes theirs, not just yours.

AWARDS ARE A PROBLEM – DESIGN IS CLAPPING ITSELF INTO THE ABYSS

At a time of seismic cultural and technological change, the creative industry continues to cling to outdated awards rituals that feel increasingly disconnected from the real challenges and opportunities ahead. Instead of celebrating shallow recognition, we should be empowering work that defines new creative standards and leads the future with vision, relevance, and impact.

AI-POWERED DESIGN WORKFLOWS

Turn your creative vision into scalable workflows. Access all AI models and professional editing tools in one node-based platform.

GLOW ICONS

442 light icons in two styles, crisp and beautiful at any size — perfect for interfaces. Figma files are available.

FONT GENERATOR

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MORE ON WHAT MAKES A GOOD ACCESSIBILITY DESIGNER

WHAT IS PHYGITAL DESIGN, AND WHY IS IT EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW?

Phygital design — the blend of physical and digital experiences — is transforming how brands engage consumers, turning everyday objects like packaging into interactive, immersive touchpoints without the need for apps. Once a marketing buzzword, it has become a strategic necessity driven by technological advancements, hybrid lifestyles, and new EU legislation that demands more accessible, transparent, and engaging product interactions.

STUDIO MIMU™'S IDENTITY FOR LAND+FORM REFLECTS A PRACTICE ROOTED IN CARE, CONTEXT, AND CO-EXISTENCE

Land+Form's refreshed identity emphasizes resilience, environmental consciousness, and collaboration. It reflects the company's mission to create interconnected, nature-centric spaces that prioritize landscape over ego. The visual identity, which has a custom Reform-based logotype, earthy Australian-inspired colors, and dynamic web elements like live weather integration, reinforces Land+Form's commitment to blending design with the natural world.

MODELO'S NEW NA BEER MIGHT JUST HAVE THE BEST LOGO OF THE YEAR

Modelo's new nonalcoholic beer features a brilliantly simple logo solution (Model0%) which seamlessly replaces the "o" in Modelo with "0%" to signify zero alcohol content.

THE SIGNALFIRE STATE OF TALENT REPORT - 2025

The tech industry is undergoing a major hiring reset: new grad recruitment has collapsed, especially at startups and Big Tech, while elite AI labs like Anthropic are dominating talent retention with a culture-focused edge, and geographic trends show Texas cooling off as newer hubs like Miami and San Diego rise.

JORDAN MOODY'S DRAWINGS ARE A TECHNICOLOUR TAKE ON LONDON'S STREETSIDE SCENES

South London artist Jordan Moody transforms everyday scenes and overlooked details into vibrant, joyful works using bold color, capturing the spirit of ordinary people and places with a playful, optimistic lens.

LET THEM EAT JUNK FOOD: MAJOR ORGANIC SUPPLIER TO WHOLE FOODS, WALMART, HIT BY CYBERATTACK

United Natural Foods disclosed a cyberattack on June 5 that disrupted operations and order fulfillment. The company activated incident response protocols and took systems offline. This follows similar recent attacks on grocery chains in the UK.

HACKER TARGETS OTHER HACKERS AND GAMERS WITH BACKDOORED GITHUB CODE

Sophos detected a campaign in which an attacker uses GitHub repositories with hidden backdoors to target other hackers and gamers. The repositories use various loaders to deploy various payloads, such as info-stealers and remote access trojans (RATs). Many of the fake repositories are designed to target other hackers, but some also use game cheats, mod tools, and fake exploits as lures.

MISCONFIGURED HMIS EXPOSE US WATER SYSTEM TO ANYONE WITH A BROWSER

While conducting a routine scan of industrial-control hosts, Censys researchers discovered an uncommon TLS certificate configuration that led to the discovery of a browser-based HMI platform. These internet-exposed platforms could be used to view and control water systems without authentication. Censys sent a bulk notification to the EPA, and the number of systems that were either read-only or fully controllable was reduced from 300 to 20.

EKS VS GKE - SECURITY

An in-depth comparison of security features in EKS and GKE. The post breaks down features by Identity and Access Management (IAM), controlling network traffic, configuration/posture management, vulnerability/supply-chain management, and runtime threat detection.

FOLLOW THE SMOKE | CHINA-NEXUS THREAT ACTORS HAMMER AT THE DOORS OF TOP TIER TARGETS

SentinelOne observed and countered Chinese cyberespionage operations targeting the company in 2024-2025, including PurpleHaze reconnaissance and a ShadowPad intrusion via a hardware logistics partner, but SentinelOne wasn't compromised. The broader campaigns targeted 70+ organizations globally, including government, media, and cybersecurity vendors.

OPEN-SOURCE TOOLKIT OF AN IVANTI CSA ATTACKER

In late 2024, Ivanti released advisories for vulnerabilities in its Cloud Services Appliance (CSA) product, which were discovered to be part of an exploit chain against the products. In this post, Synacktiv researchers break down three of the open-source tools they observed used by attackers in post-exploitation activities on these devices and provide YARA rules to detect them. The attacker planted Suo5 after the initial compromise as a webshell to be used on an internet-facing Exchange server. The attacker then established persistence using the iox tunnel and attempted lateral movement using atexec.py to gain remote code execution via Task Scheduler.

GUARDZ (PRODUCT LAUNCH)

Guardz continuously monitors organizations' internal and external digital footprint to provide real-time protection. From a single dashboard, administrators can immediately take action when necessary.

BUGFISH NUKE

Bugfish Nuke is a powerful emergency data deletion tool for Windows designed to help you quickly and securely erase sensitive files, user data, and system traces.

ADELEGINATOR

ADeleginator is a tool for finding insecure trustee and resource delegations in Active Directory environments.

GOOGLE FIXES BUG THAT COULD REVEAL USERS' PRIVATE PHONE NUMBERS

A security researcher discovered a Google bug that allowed attackers to reveal any account's private recovery phone number in under 20 minutes without owner notification. The exploit bypassed anti-bot protections through automated brute-force attacks. Google confirmed the fix after the researcher disclosed the vulnerability in April. It paid a $5,000 bounty and found no confirmed exploits occurred.

EXPLAINER FOR LOCAL NETWORK ACCESS

The Chrome Secure Web and Network team has drafted a proposal to require explicit permission for a site to access devices on the local network. This proposal seeks to address a common attack vector in which an attacker can use a CSRF vulnerability to attack a local device such as a printer. The proposal would require any request that seeks to access a more private IP space (such as public to private or private to loop back) to obtain a new “Local Network Access” permission from the user via a prompt.

LINUX FOUNDATION UNVEILS DECENTRALIZED WORDPRESS PLUGIN MANAGER

The Linux Foundation has launched the FAIR Package Manager, a new way to manage WordPress plugins and themes. It was created after a major conflict between WordPress companies Automattic and WP Engine. This tool gives developers more control by offering a decentralized and secure plugin system.

OPENAI BANS CHATGPT ACCOUNTS LINKED TO RUSSIAN, CHINESE CYBER OPS

OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts associated with hackers in Russia and China who exploited the AI for cyberattacks, malware creation, and disinformation, while successfully mitigating the threats with partner assistance.

TRUMP CYBERSECURITY EXECUTIVE ORDER TARGETS DIGITAL IDENTITY, SANCTIONS POLICIES

President Trump issued an executive order altering previous cybersecurity regulations by eliminating support for digital IDs in public benefits, modifying the government's software, AI, and encryption approaches, and restricting cyber sanctions to foreign threats only.

MALICIOUS NPM PACKAGES POSING AS UTILITIES DELETE PROJECT DIRECTORIES

Two fake npm packages pretended to be useful tools but deleted all files in project folders instead.

THE ‘DEATH OF CREATIVITY'? AI JOB FEARS STALK ADVERTISING INDUSTRY

AI is pushing major firms like WPP (the world's largest ad group) to overhaul operations and invest heavily in tech to stay relevant as big tech platforms like Meta and Google tighten their grip on the £45 billion UK ad market. Meta's plan to roll out AI tools that generate, target, and optimize ads with minimal human input has sparked fears of widespread job losses and the “death of creativity.” While WPP and others argue AI eliminates tasks, not jobs, they are restructuring teams, changing business models, and facing client pressure to cut fees.

STATE OF THE CONSUMER 2025: WHEN DISRUPTION BECOMES PERMANENT

People today are still spending more time alone, prioritizing digital convenience, and redefining what value means. Trust in institutions is low, but digital platforms still shape buying choices. Gen Z is emerging as a powerful force with distinct priorities, blending financial anxiety with a willingness to spend. Local brands are gaining preference over global ones. Consumers are making trade-offs across categories, cutting back on groceries, apparel, or home goods to splurge on dining, travel, or beauty.

10-MIN AUDIENCE RESEARCH HACK

Export analytics from your top-performing LinkedIn post by clicking the three dots, then select Export. In the spreadsheet, check the Top Demographics tab for job titles, seniority, industries, and locations of people who engaged. Write a targeting sentence like “Senior-level marketers in SaaS” and let that shape your next email or ad copy. Use their exact language in subject lines, headers, and CTAs to ensure relevancy.

THE 90-DAY A/B TESTING KICKSTART PLAN FOR ECOMMERCE BRANDS

This 90-day plan improves A/B testing by fixing process gaps, reviewing past failures, and deepening conversion research. Month 1 focuses on analyzing previous tests, conducting research, and prioritizing new ideas. Month 2 uses analytics and AI to generate better tests, boost efficiency, and engage stakeholders through training and meetings. Month 3 personalizes key pages and tests high-traffic emails and ads.