The European Union will give tech and social media companies a “stress test” to see how they handle misinformation ahead of Germany’s election next month.

European Commission officials have invited tech companies, including X, Meta, Snap, TikTok, Google, Microsoft, and LinkedIn, to a meeting on January 31, according to multiple news outlets. During this meeting, European Commission officials will quiz these tech companies about how they would react to different scenarios that could interfere with the upcoming election, from AI-generated fakes to disinformation campaigns, according to Bloomberg.

TechCrunch has reached out to all the companies included for comment and will update this piece if we hear back.

This stress test will see whether tech companies are compliant with the EU’s Digital Services Act, which requires companies to have safeguards and protocol in place to combat misinformation and illegal content on their platforms.

This test is ahead of Germany’s snap federal election in February; the results could have large implications on the broader EU, as Germany is the largest member of the bloc.

The EU is likely taking a closer look at how tech companies are complying with the DSA now after bloc member Romania annulled the results of the first round of its presidential election last year after evidence of Russian interference, which they think may have been boosted by TikTok’s algorithm, and the documentation of 85,000 attempted cyberattacks on election websites and IT.

Elon Musk, and X, have already played a role in this upcoming election in Germany. Musk recently interviewed Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party and a candidate in Germany’s upcoming election, on X.

This news comes just one day after President Donald Trump took aim at how EU regulators treat U.S. tech companies, including Google, Meta, and Apple, two of which have been invited to this stress test.

While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said that the regulation of U.S.-based tech companies by EU regulators was “a form of taxation.”

A veteran crypto investor has identified Rexas Finance (RXS) as the next Ripple (XRP).

The cryptocurrency market is well-known for its surprises; chances arise from unanticipated directions. Although popular names like Bitcoin and Ethereum rule headlines, experienced investors constantly search elsewhere for the next great investment. 

Inspired by early breakout analogies to Ripple (XRP), a seasoned crypto investor recently named Rexas Finance (RXS) as the next major contender. As a concept that could change the market, Rexas Finance has been progressively attracting attention and causing ripples in the crypto world.

A familiar story of disruption

The early years of Ripple were defined by its aim to transform global payments. As institutions started using XRP’s technology, the coin’s value shot up, paying early investors handsomely. 

In 2025, Rexas Finance aims to upend another important component of the financial system: the tokenization of actual assets. Rexas Finance seeks to bring real estate, commodities, and other physical assets onto the blockchain. By streamlining ownership, trade, and fractional investment, this invention aims to open a fresh field of opportunities for both people and businesses.

Presale success sets the stage

In its eleventh presale round, Rexas Finance has produced amazing outcomes so far. The presale has drawn interest from investors, with over $37.8 million raised and 407.2 million tokens sold. 

Priced at $0.175, RXS offers a low starting point for investors wishing to get early on a project with great future development capacity. This degree of presale success reflects the excitement of the early Ripple days when visionary investors realized blockchain technology had the power to transform industries. The difference now is that Rexas Finance is using years of industry evolution to build a stronger and complete ecosystem from the beginning.

Real-world utility

Rexas Finance’s practical relevance is among its most appealing features. The platform’s tokenization system will facilitate transactions faster and more effectively, allowing investors to convert assets into blockchain-based tokens. 

Having a fraction of a high-value asset, such as a luxury house, will become as easy as purchasing a stock. This invention opens the path for more general acceptance and major development possibilities by bridging the gap between conventional finance and blockchain. 

Certik has already audited Rexas Finance, increasing investor trust in its openness and security. Moreover, its listings on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko have given more exposure, enabling RXS to reach a larger spectrum of investors.

Comparisons to Ripple

Making a comparison to Ripple is about vision rather than only commercial potential. While Rexas Finance aims to transform asset ownership, Ripple aims to solve inefficiencies in world banking. Both initiatives use blockchain technology to develop answers and point out important flaws in current systems. 

Ripple became well-known because of its potential to attract institutional interest. Likewise, Rexas Finance presents a modern solution that fits the direction of finance, drawing in individual and institutional investors. 

The presale is entering its later phases, and RXS is ready to hit the market hard. According to analysts, its unique value proposition could drive its valuation tremendously, paying early investors in ways evocative of XRP’s climb.

A veteran’s insight

The experienced investor who selected Rexas Finance lists some factors explaining his optimistic view.

Firstly, the time is perfect. Projects with clear use cases should trump speculative tokens as the crypto market prepares for a 2025 bull run. 

Second, RXS’s emphasis on tokenizing actual assets fits general market trends. Blockchain-based solutions that smoothly interact with current financial systems have increasingly piqued the curiosity of institutional investors.

Finally, presale pricing offers a chance to lock in a share of a high-potential initiative before it goes public. Given the hope of a notable surge, early adopters could find gains that match those of early XRP investors.

The way forward

The market for cryptocurrencies is ready for a surge in 2025. Once leading the charge, Ripple proved blockchain technology could transform sectors. Rexas Finance is poised to carry that fire into fresh ground. With its emphasis on asset tokenization, successful presale, and expanding network of supporters, RXS is more than a token; it’s a movement. 

Investors who lost out on Ripple’s early days now have a second chance on a project that could change the crypto environment. As the seasoned investor said, “Rexas Finance is the future — more than the next big thing.”

For more information on Rexas Finance, visit their website ,whitepaper, X, or Telegram.

Following Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20th, Bitcoin (BTC) has remained range-bound, trading between $101,000 to $110,000. However, a new report by CryptoQuant states that behind this routine price action, Bitcoin ‘whales’ are quietly back to accumulating the premier cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin Whales Back In Accumulation Mode

According to the report, large BTC holders – commonly referred to as Bitcoin ‘whales’ – have re-entered the accumulation phase. Recent data shows a significant uptick in the monthly percentage growth of BTC holdings among these large investors.

Related Reading

Notably, Bitcoin whale holdings increased from a decline of -0.25% on January 14 to a growth of 2% by January 17, marking the highest monthly growth rate since mid-December. In absolute terms, these investors’ BTC holdings rose from 16.2 million on November 4 to 16.4 million as of January 24.

The surge in whale accumulation appears to be driven by several bullish developments early in Trump’s administration. For example, the US president has already signed an executive order establishing a Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.

This Working Group has been tasked with proposing a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies – including stablecoins – within six months. Additionally, the group will evaluate the potential creation of a national digital asset stockpile, fueling speculation about a potential US strategic Bitcoin reserve.

Besides growth in whale holdings, selling pressure for BTC has declined sharply since major profit-taking in December. This aligns with a recent report which found that BTC profit-taking has dropped by 93% from its December peak. The report reads:

Bitcoin holders realized daily profits as high as $10 billion as Bitcoin approached $100K in December. However, daily realized profits have fallen to levels around $2-$3 billion in January, which indicates market participants may have finished selling Bitcoin for the most part. Moreover, the traders’ unrealized profit margins have declined near zero, a level which typically marks a price floor during bull markets.

However, the report also highlights that overall Bitcoin spot demand has weakened over the past month, raising concerns about the likelihood of another bullish rally. Specifically, the rate of demand growth for Bitcoin has fallen from 279,000 BTC in early December to just 75,000 BTC at the time of writing.

Analysts Confident Of Another BTC Rally

Despite the cooling of on-chain demand, crypto analysts remain optimistic about another major price rally for Bitcoin. For instance, a recent report suggested that BTC could target a price as high as $249,000 during Trump’s presidency.

Related Reading

Another report by Bitfinex predicted that BTC is likely headed to $200,000 by mid-year amid mild price pullbacks. However, a lot depends on how the US Federal Reserve handles interest rate adjustments this year.

From a technical standpoint, BTC’s cup-and-handle pattern projects a price target of as high as $275,000. At press time, BTC trades at $106,074, up 0.1% in the past 24 hours.

Featured image from Unsplash, Chart from TradingView.com

• Roli has a new Piano AI Assistant to go with its latest instruments.
• The Piano AI Assistant offers personalized, real-time help and lessons.
• The AI is there to make learning and creating music more intuitive.

Piano teachers of both the strict and whimsical variety are a staple of movies and television, but music technology company Roli now offers a piano tutor built right into the instrument. The new Roli Piano features personalized AI guidance underneath the 49-key, $800 keyboard.

Roli’s Piano AI Assistant does exactly what it sounds like: It makes learning music more straightforward and fun than practicing alone. It can guide players through scales, explain ways of varying a tune, and even explain some music history in the context of specific compositions. It’s like having a music teacher who never gets tired and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject.

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One of Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks has been narrowly confirmed by the US Senate to head the Pentagon, despite allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse. 

Pete Hegseth will become US secretary of defence after the Senate voted 51-50 in his favour late on Friday night, squeaking by after vice-president JD Vance broke the tie.

Republican senators Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joined Democrats in voting against Hegseth’s confirmation. 

Hegseth survived a last-ditch effort by Democrats to prevent his confirmation after his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, made a sworn statement accusing him of being so abusive to his ex-wife that she hid in a closet out of fear for her safety. She also alleged that he had abused alcohol for years. 

The former Fox News host is a departure from the typical defence secretary. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired army general who oversaw US Central Command, which encompasses military operations in the Middle East.

A vocal opponent of “wokeness”, Hegseth has vowed to bring a “warrior” culture back to the US military as the Trump administration moves to do away with the federal government’s diversity initiatives.

He also said one of his priorities will be to secure the US-Mexico border. The Pentagon on Wednesday said it would send an additional 1,500 active duty troops to the US’s southern border, a 60 per cent increase, on the president’s orders.

McConnell said he voted against Hegseth because the nominee lacks the “strategic vision” for how to address the US’s greatest national security challenges.

Hegseth “provided no substantial observations on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines” and did not “articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing with” with China, McConnell said. The incoming defence secretary also failed to demonstrate he can manage the Pentagon effectively.

On Thursday, Murkowski said she could not vote for him “in good conscience”, while Collins said she was “not convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has changed”.

Ahead of the vote, Trump told reporters on Friday that he “was very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do that”, adding that “Pete’s a very, very good man”.

He also anticipated that McConnell would be a hold out too: “Of course, Mitch is always a ‘no’ vote, I guess.”

Trump shocked Washington and defence circles when he selected Hegseth, who served in the Army National Guard, for the role. He has since been dogged by allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, misogyny, sexism and racism.

Hegseth said in written answers to questions that he paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in a California hotel room in 2017, according to Senator Elizabeth Warren. 

Hegseth dismissed the allegations about the sexual assault, his character and preparedness for the top Pentagon job as “a smear campaign” at his Senate confirmation hearing last week. He also tried to revise his previous statements about women soldiers, saying they would “have access to ground combat roles, given the standards remain high”. 

On air Hegseth became known for denouncing diversity, equity and inclusive initiatives. DEI policies in the military were “dividing troops” and forcing “commanders to walk on eggshells”, Hegseth said at his hearing.

More Senate confirmation fireworks could come when two other contentious cabinet nominees, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Tulsi Gabbard, are grilled by senators on January 29 and January 30, respectively. Both ex-Democrats, Kennedy has been tapped for health secretary and Gabbard for director of national intelligence.