Odaily reports that Apple and Google have both recently posted job openings related to stablecoins and digital assets.Apple is hiring a Head of Financial Product Strategy for Apple Pay, preferring candidates with experience in stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and blockchain; Google is hiring a Principal Industry Architect in Hong Kong to support Google Cloud's Web3 and digital asset business in the Asia-Pacific region, preferring candidates with experience in RWA tokenization, stablecoin payment networks, tokenized deposits, and digital asset custody. (Bloomingbit)

Odaily reports that general-purpose AI compute chip unicorn EVAS Intelligence has announced the completion of a new funding round totaling nearly RMB 2 billion, with an estimated post-money valuation approaching RMB 15 billion. This round attracted participation from more than 20 investment institutions, including Huatai Innovation, Zhongding Capital, SMIC Juyuan, Jiuan Medical, Ren'ai Capital, Tongfu Microelectronics, Saiyi Industrial Fund, Holly Capital, Xinxin Leasing, Hengxu Capital, Shangqi Capital, Jianguang Zhanlu, and Rongyi Capital. EVAS Intelligence primarily provides efficient, scalable AI computing acceleration solutions to drive the widespread application of AI technology across various industries.

Odaily reports that the Board of Directors of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has approved a proposed rule aimed at establishing parity of treatment for out-of-state state-chartered banks and federal banks with respect to the application of state law. The rule would clarify the state laws applicable to state-chartered banks operating across state lines, covering innovative financial activities such as digital asset-related business. U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming stated that the proposal is expected to inject new momentum into the state-level banking system and responsible innovation, including in digital assets.

Odaily Report: If congressional authorization is explicitly required, I will meet with US House Speaker Johnson. In the field of artificial intelligence, we need to address both innovation and security issues simultaneously. We are engaged in "the most important fight of a lifetime" for strategic industries. The Treasury's bond buyback intervention has been successful. The funding offset plan for $5,000 checks is "moving forward." Lawmakers are encouraged not to exempt AI from liability. AI companies should not be given a "blank check on liability." We made tens of millions of dollars in past aid to Argentina. We have maintained ongoing dialogue on the Japan intervention issue. The US used "notional amounts" in the yen intervention. The US made tens of millions of dollars in the yen intervention.

Odaily reports: Tom Lee stated that market concerns over debt financing for AI infrastructure are heating up, but the expansion of growth industries has never relied entirely on equity capital, and AI companies taking on more debt does not mean their business models are failing or that the bubble is about to end badly.Tom Lee believes that AI will become the "third major engine" of economic growth, and investors tend to underestimate the long-term value and diffusion speed of new technologies in their early stages. Within the AI investment chain, he remains bullish on Nvidia, semiconductors, storage, as well as energy and power assets driven by the expansion of computing power.

Odaily reports: U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis posted on X that the Senate will face a critical choice tomorrow: whether to solidify the United States' leadership in the digital asset space, strengthen consumer protections, and equip law enforcement with the tools needed to combat illicit finance, or allow the crypto industry to move overseas. She stated that if the U.S. fails to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets in a timely manner, American consumers will face greater risks, and its leadership in this field could be undermined. The CLARITY Act is now before the Senate, and such a legislative opportunity may not arise again for years to come.

Odaily News: The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce answered reporters' questions regarding the U.S. announcement on cybersecurity related to Chinese AI enterprises' distillation activities in the U.S. The spokesperson stated that distillation is a common practice for AI models to learn from each other, and is essentially a neutral technical means, used by global model companies including U.S. firms. This technical approach helps models improve learning efficiency and achieve more efficient utilization of human knowledge, which has positive significance for countries developing their AI industries, unleashing the potential of AI technology, bridging the development gap, and more broadly benefiting developing countries and the general public.The U.S. approach is a typical case of double standards. Regarding AI, China encourages open-source, open, and collaborative sharing. China's open-source models are open to global enterprises, including U.S. firms, facilitating their model research and development. U.S. companies' model R&D reports also disclose that they have extensively distilled Chinese models. In contrast, the U.S. has repeatedly and unilaterally accused Chinese enterprises of engaging in "industrial-scale" distillation, stigmatizing common industry practices as attacks. This reflects both the anxiety of the U.S. and its double standards.

Odaily News Hong Kong Legislative Council Member for the Technology and Innovation Sector, Duncan Chiu, has released a policy proposal titled "The '3+3 Synergistic Development Blueprint' - Hong Kong's Innovative Path to Integrating into the Nation's Future Industries." The proposal recommends that the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) establish an independent department dedicated to digital assets, and sets a goal of positioning Hong Kong as an international digital asset hub by 2032. The blueprint also includes building early-stage investment channels for Web3 finance, exploring the establishment of a "Hong Kong-style Web3 Pinksheet" over-the-counter fundraising mechanism, and promoting the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) and tokenized stocks.

Odaily News: Market data shows that Hong Kong-listed star tech stocks have rebounded, with JD.com (09618.HK), Baidu (09888.HK), and Tencent Holdings (00700.HK) all rising over 2%, while Alibaba (09988.HK), Meituan (03690.HK), Kuaishou (01024.HK), and Xiaomi Group (01810.HK) are also following with gains. Ken Fang, Head of China Internet Research at UBS, stated that over the next two to three years, as the bottleneck in AI computing power supply gradually eases, industry pricing power is expected to shift from upstream segments such as chips and infrastructure to internet platforms.

Odaily News: South Korea's state-owned utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), is in talks with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix on a multi-billion-dollar electricity prepayment plan to raise funds for building the power grid needed for a new semiconductor industrial cluster. Under the current proposal, Samsung Electronics would prepay 20 trillion won and SK Hynix 5 trillion won, totaling 25 trillion won—roughly equivalent to electricity costs over the next five years.KEPCO said in a statement: "The large-scale electricity prepayment system is a mechanism that meets the mutual needs of companies urgently requiring grid expansion and KEPCO, which needs investment funds. Specific details, including the prepayment amount and coverage period, have yet to be finalized."