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Jason Nelson

Jason Nelson

Jason is a reporter at Decrypt covering artificial intelligence, emerging technology, and internet culture. Disclosure: No significant crypto holdings.

Stories by Jason Nelson

  • After Clarity Act Fails, Crypto Super PAC Fairshake Targets Sherrod Brown With $30 Million

    Crypto super PAC Fairshake plans to spend $30 million opposing former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown’s bid to return to Congress, days after the Senate blocked the Clarity Act. Fairshake confirmed the plan to target Brown, who is challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted in an Ohio race that could help determine control of the Senate, Politico reported. Myriad: Will Congress pass the Clarity Act? Click to make your prediction. “Of course the special interests are panicking, they know Sherrod will fi...

    NewsLaw and Order
    2 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Coinbase. Image: Decrypt

    Coinbase Brings IPO Shares to US Retail Traders, With Oura Up First

    Coinbase is making a bigger play for retail investors by adding IPO share allocations to its expanding lineup of traditional investments. The crypto exchange will open the service to eligible U.S. customers this week with smart-ring maker Oura’s planned Nasdaq debut. According to a Monday announcement, eligible U.S. customers can request Oura shares at the IPO price through the Coinbase app before public trading begins this week. Coinbase said the move is “another tool that allows them to access...

    NewsBusiness
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank. Image: Shutterstock

    Europe’s Central Bank Prepares to Invest Own Funds in Tokenized Securities

    The European Central Bank has begun preparing to invest a small portion of its own funds in tokenized securities, with the transactions settling through its newly launched Pontes service. In an announcement on Monday, the ECB said the purchases would help it “gain practical experience as an investor and build institutional expertise in the use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in financial markets.” Myriad: Which company IPOs next? Click to make your prediction. “Tokenised financial markets...

    NewsBusiness
    2 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Bitcoin mining. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Can a Fruit Fly Brain Mine Bitcoin? These Companies Are Testing It

    As Bitcoin miners turn to increasingly specialized chips for greater speed and energy efficiency, hardware maker FutureBit says it has tested a different approach: using a simulated fruit fly brain to perform mining calculations in a web browser. The HashFly demonstration simulates activity across 2,914 neural pathways taken from MaleCNS v1.0, a digital wiring diagram of an adult male fruit fly’s brain and central nerve cord. Myriad: How high will Bitcoin go? Click to make your prediction. Futur...

    NewsTechnology
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Apple logo. Image: Apple/Decrypt

    Apple and Google Go Hunting for Crypto Talent, Hint at Stablecoin Push

    As financial firms expand their use of tokenized assets, Apple and Google are recruiting senior employees with expertise in stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and blockchain infrastructure, according to job listings from the companies. According to the listings, Apple is looking for a New York-based strategist to help shape Apple Pay products, with blockchain knowledge among the preferred qualifications. Google Cloud is seeking a technical leader to advise digital asset customers across Asia-Pacif...

    NewsCoins
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • The bomb. Image: Decrypt/Wikimedia

    Security Experts Want the US and China to Promise Never to Let AI Control Nukes

    Security experts from the United States and China have proposed rules that would bar artificial intelligence from independently launching cyberattacks against nuclear command systems or deciding to use nuclear weapons. A recent report by Brookings and Shanghai-based Fudan University urges the U.S. and China to extend their commitment to human control of nuclear weapons to other military uses of AI, including cyberattacks on nuclear command systems. Myriad: Next round of US-Iran peace talks? Clic...

  • CFTC. Source: Decrypt/Shutterstock

    CFTC Opens Door for Crypto Apps to Offer Regulated Derivatives Access

    Crypto apps that want to offer access to regulated derivatives markets got new guidance Thursday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In the no-action letter, the agency’s Market Participants Division said passive software providers can avoid registering as introducing brokers if they limit their role to front-end software and meet a list of conditions. Myriad: Where does Solana go next? Click to make your prediction. That could matter for wallet developers and trading apps because bro...

    NewsLaw and Order
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Vitalik Buterin. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Says AI Won’t Doom Crypto Security

    Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says AI does not spell the end of cybersecurity, arguing instead that advanced models could help make crypto software harder to break. In a Wednesday post on X, Buterin argued that AI will not give hackers an insurmountable advantage, adding that crypto holders—including himself, with roughly 90% of his net worth in crypto—are betting that security defenses can keep pace. Myriad: Ethereum's next move? Click to make your prediction. “It’s an increasingly common...

  • Andrew Yang. Image: Decrypt/Wikimedia

    Andrew Yang Calls for AI Kill Switch as Safety Fears Mount

    Andrew Yang is calling for a federal crackdown on frontier AI labs, saying researchers are warning that powerful models are advancing faster than the rules meant to contain them. Yang, a former Democratic presidential candidate and founder of Noble Mobile, said the U.S. can compete with China on artificial intelligence without giving AI firms a free hand to deploy increasingly capable systems. Myriad: How much will Elon Musk be worth? Click to make your prediction. “The fear is real. The concern...

  • Financial stock exchange market display screen board on the street. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Financial Data Giant S&P Global Moves Deeper Into Crypto With OpenZeppelin Deal

    Credit ratings giant S&P Global has agreed to acquire smart contract security firm OpenZeppelin, expanding its risk assessment business to the code underpinning tokenized financial products. Announced on Thursday, the deal will give S&P Global access to OpenZeppelin’s smart contract security tools and technical expertise as banks and asset managers move more financial products onto blockchain networks. Myriad: How high will gold prices go? Click to make your your prediction. "As digital assets a...

    NewsBusiness
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Arc. Image: Decrypt

    What Is Arc? The Stablecoin Blockchain From USDC Issuer Circle

    Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, launched a blockchain platform called Arc, which opened to the public on September 16, 2026. Unlike blockchains like Ethereum or Solana, Arc is a layer-1 network designed specifically to support stablecoin-based applications. Stablecoins are tokens whose value is tied to fiat currencies such as the dollar. Arc is Circle's effort to address the infrastructure challenges that limit the adoption of stablecoins at an institutional scale. "We've helped...

  • The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Crypto Tax Bill Clears House Committee After Clarity Act Setback

    The House Ways and Means Committee approved the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act Wednesday, sending a proposal to overhaul crypto taxation to the full House. The committee announced the markup on Monday, scheduling the session for lawmakers to review H.R. 10357, consider amendments and vote on whether to send it to the full House. Myriad: Will Democrats sweep midterm elections? Click to make your prediction. “This wasn’t built overnight,” committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a stat...

    NewsCoins
    2 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Bitcoin is the leading cryptocurrency by market cap. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Bitcoin Core Software Update Aims for Speed and Security Patches

    The software that lets users independently verify Bitcoin payments is getting an update aimed at speeding up those checks and fixing security flaws, with a release targeted for October. Bitcoin Core 32.0 entered release-candidate testing on Monday, according to the project’s schedule. Developers are aiming for October 10 to deliver the finished version, though testing could change that timeline. Myriad: Where does Bitcoin go next? Click to make your prediction. Bitcoin Core lets computers verify...

    NewsCoins
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • CFTC Chairman Michael Selig. Image: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission/Decrypt

    CFTC and SEC Double Down on Crypto After Clarity Act Defeat

    The heads of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission pledged to press ahead with crypto regulation using their existing powers after the Senate failed to advance the Clarity Act. In a post on X on Wednesday, CFTC Chair Mike Selig said his Commission is “locked in and ready to ship its rules for the new frontier of finance.” Myriad: Will Democrats sweep midterm elections? Click to make your prediction. “The outcome of yesterday’s Senate vote was unfortunate...

    NewsLaw and Order
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Reddit. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Hackers Hijack HBO Max’s Reddit Account to Spread Crypto-Stealing Malware

    Hackers hijacked streaming service HBO Max’s verified Reddit account earlier this month and used it to run 108 malicious advertisements over two days, cybersecurity experts warn. In its report on Monday, researchers from cybercrime intelligence firm Hudson Rock link the account takeover to a broader operation targeting passwords and cryptocurrency wallet information. Myriad: Who will be the top Spotify artist of 2026? Click to make your prediction. “The incident was brought to light by Alex Cutt...

    NewsTechnology
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • Mark Zuckerberg. Image: COMEO / Shutterstock.com

    Zuckerberg Pushes Back on Coordinated AI Slowdown, Says Labs Can Act Alone

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushed back against calls for a coordinated slowdown in artificial intelligence development, saying companies can take safety measures themselves—and have business reasons to do so. In a post on X on Tuesday, Zuckerberg argued that users want AI they can trust and that companies face potential liability when their systems cause harm. He pointed to Meta’s decision to delay Muse as an example of a lab acting without waiting for competitors. Myriad: How low will Nvidia go?...

  • Source: Decrypt

    AI Pause Would Help Dominant Firms, Not Safety, Think Tank Warns

    The libertarian Cato Institute is warning that a government-mandated pause in artificial intelligence development could shield dominant companies from competition and delay beneficial technology, as lawmakers and AI executives push for restraints. In a blog post on Monday, Jennifer Huddleston, a technology policy scholar at the think tank, argued that companies can address specific dangers through voluntary safeguards and shared standards without halting development across the industry. Myriad:...

  • Toncoin (TON). Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Tonkeeper Becomes Keeper as Wallet Adds Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tron

    Tonkeeper has rebranded to Keeper and added support for six blockchains beyond The Open Network, turning one of the TON ecosystem’s largest self-custodial wallets into a multichain product. In an announcement on Tuesday, the team behind Keeper said the wallet now supports TON, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tron, BNB Smart Chain, Arbitrum, and Base. Myriad: Where does Solana's price go next? Click to make your prediction. “Tonkeeper earned its place as the home of TON, trusted by millions of people around t...

    NewsCoins
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • US Capitol building. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Coinbase-Backed Crypto Group Warns of Midterms Payback After Clarity Act Fails

    Stand With Crypto, a Coinbase-backed advocacy group, warned of electoral consequences Tuesday after the Senate failed to advance the Clarity Act. In a statement following the vote, Stand With Crypto said it would add senators’ votes to its lawmaker scorecards ahead of November’s midterms. Myriad: Will Democrats sweep midterm elections? Click to make your prediction. “Today’s vote was a failure of leadership,” executive director Mason Lynaugh said in a statement. “67 million crypto-owning America...

    NewsLaw and Order
    3 min read
    Jason Nelson
  • The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Image: Shutterstock/Decrypt

    Clarity Act Stalls in Senate as Crypto Bill Fails to Clear Key Vote

    The U.S. Senate on Tuesday failed to clear a key procedural hurdle for the Clarity Act, setting back efforts to establish a federal framework for crypto markets. In a 49 to 50 vote, Senators voted to reject cloture on the motion to proceed—a step that limits debate on whether to take up the legislation and requires 60 votes. Myriad: Will Congress pass the Clarity Act? Click to make your prediction. All Democrats present, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Elissa Slotkin, voted no, alongside Re...

    NewsLaw and Order
    5 min read
    Jason Nelson
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