World has expanded access to AgentKit, a framework that has enabled verified users to connect AI agents to their digital identities and prove those agents represent real people rather than automated bot networks.

According to World, the rollout comes as AI agents take on a growing number of online tasks, increasing demand for systems that can distinguish between software acting for a specific individual and large-scale automated operations.

The project, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, said AgentKit allows users to delegate actions to AI tools while keeping identity verification and user controls in place.

The release follows a period of increased attention for the project after major U.S. crypto trading platform Robinhood listed the World token, bringing additional visibility to the ecosystem.

Verified identities allow AI agents to act for users

Details published by World show that AgentKit links supported AI agents to a verified World ID, enabling websites and applications to confirm that an agent is acting on behalf of a unique human user. The company said the system is designed to help businesses enforce user-level rules and reduce abuse associated with automated accounts.

To access the framework, World stated that users need a verified World ID, a World App account, and a compatible AI agent. Supported options currently include Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Hermes, and OpenClaw.

Through World’s ToolRouter interface, users can create credentials and authorize their agents to interact with supported services. According to the company, this process allows individuals to assign tasks to AI systems without giving up identity verification tied to their accounts.

Rather than relying solely on account credentials, the framework adds proof that an agent represents a verified person, which World said can help online services distinguish legitimate activity from coordinated bot behavior.

Demonstration shows AI agents completing purchases

To showcase the technology, World recently organized a limited-edition sale of 500 “Human in the Loop” hats. According to the company, AI agents handled the entire purchase process for participating users.

World said the agents discovered the product launch, checked eligibility requirements, navigated the online storefront, and completed transactions without direct user involvement during the purchase flow.

Identity checks remained active throughout the event. According to the World, World ID verification ensured that purchase limits were enforced on a one-person-per-item basis, preventing users from bypassing restrictions through multiple automated accounts.

The company reported that all 500 hats were claimed by verified users located in countries including the United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. World said the event demonstrated how businesses can permit AI agents to perform online actions while maintaining controls intended to reduce bot-driven abuse and automated farming activity.

As AI-powered software takes on more responsibilities across digital platforms, World said AgentKit provides a way to connect those agents to verified human identities, allowing organizations to verify who is ultimately behind automated actions carried out online.

Quick Summary

• Kalshi launches legal action against Illinois over state prediction market licensing requirements.

• New Illinois statute mandates state licenses for prediction market operators.

• Platform argues existing CFTC regulation preempts state-level requirements.

• Company requests injunction before July 1 implementation date.

• Legal battle intensifies ongoing disputes over sports prediction market jurisdiction.

The prediction market platform Kalshi has initiated legal proceedings against Illinois officials, contesting recently enacted licensing legislation governing prediction markets and imposing fees on specific digital asset activities. The platform maintains that its event-based contracts fall under exclusive federal jurisdiction via the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The company is pursuing court intervention to prevent the regulations from becoming operational on July 1.

Legal Action Targets State Licensing Framework

This week, Kalshi submitted its legal filing to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The defendants include Governor JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and additional state officials. The case targets specific sections of SB3019, legislation that Pritzker approved as part of a comprehensive budget and revenue package.

Under the statute, operators of prediction markets must secure state authorization before conducting business with Illinois residents. Additionally, the legislation implements a 0.2% fee on designated digital asset transactions and associated services. Kalshi contends these mandates undermine a regulatory domain that Congress designated for federal oversight.

The platform functions as a designated contract market with CFTC registration under the Commodity Exchange Act. Kalshi maintains that Illinois lacks authority to establish an independent licensing framework for its federally supervised event contracts. The company asserts that such measures generate contradictory obligations and undermine consistent standards for nationwide derivatives platforms.

Jurisdictional Conflict Between Federal and State Regulators

According to Kalshi, the Commodity Exchange Act grants the CFTC sole jurisdiction over contracts executed on registered exchanges. State authorities, however, classify certain sports-related event contracts as gambling instruments subject to state gaming statutes. This fundamental disagreement has generated multiple legal confrontations between prediction platforms and state enforcement agencies.

The company indicates that adhering to state requirements would necessitate discontinuing specific sports contracts for Illinois customers. Such action could potentially violate federal uniformity standards applicable to products on designated contract markets. Kalshi would also incur significant expenses for geographic restriction technology, regulatory compliance infrastructure, and jurisdiction-specific product modifications.

A jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction regulatory approach could compel nationwide platforms to customize offerings based on individual customer locations. As a result, operators might require distinct licenses, contract portfolios, and access management systems across multiple states. Kalshi contends that Congress established federal derivatives oversight specifically to avoid such fragmented market conditions.

Platform Pursues Emergency Relief Before Deadline

Kalshi has filed for a temporary restraining order preventing Illinois from implementing the challenged provisions. The company also pursues preliminary and permanent injunctive relief pending resolution of its federal preemption arguments. The platform asserts that enforcement would inflict immediate business damage and generate irreversible operational costs.

This legal challenge emerges amid broader litigation concerning sports-focused prediction markets and federal regulatory jurisdiction. The CFTC has contested measures by nine states, including Illinois, while asserting its authority over registered exchanges. States maintain that local consumer safeguards and gaming statutes govern sports outcome contracts.

Illinois officials have previously stated their intention to uphold state authority and pursue consumer protection efforts within their borders. Neither Pritzker nor Raoul have provided immediate statements regarding Kalshi’s current legal filing. The judiciary must now determine whether federal derivatives legislation supersedes the newly established state licensing requirements.

U.S. President Donald Trump has halted the signing of a housing bill that includes a temporary ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), citing a need to prioritize another piece of legislation he is pushing in Congress. The development adds uncertainty to the near-term U.S. regulatory path for digital assets, even as lawmakers move forward on separate crypto bills.

Trump said on Wednesday that he would cancel the signing ceremony for the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act” and hold it “until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE America Act,” according to a post on Truth Social. The housing measure—already passed by both chambers—contains a CBDC restriction through the end of 2030, but also includes a carve-out for certain stablecoins.

Key takeaways

• Trump has delayed signing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act due to his insistence that Congress pass the SAVE America Act first.
• The housing bill bans the Federal Reserve from issuing or creating a CBDC (or a substantially similar digital asset) until the end of 2030, while allowing “dollar-denominated” stablecoins that are open, permissionless, and private.
• Trump’s stance raises uncertainty over how (and whether) he will handle other digital-asset legislation pending in the Senate.
• The Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act remains awaiting a potential Senate vote, and Trump has previously signaled support for codifying a “future-proof” market structure.
• If Trump vetoes related legislation, Congress could potentially override with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Housing bill stalled despite approval from both chambers

The “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act” passed the U.S. House on Tuesday and had previously cleared the Senate. While many observers expected Trump to sign the bill without delay, his Wednesday announcement suggests he may treat the SAVE America Act as a prerequisite for other legislation.

In his Truth Social post, Trump linked the cancellation directly to the need to pass the SAVE America Act. The bill he referred to is associated with changes to voting procedures, including a requirement that voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship in person to register—an approach that critics have argued could disenfranchise eligible voters.

This is not the first time Trump has floated a broader “no other bills” condition. Earlier this year, he said he would not sign other measures until the SAVE America Act is enacted, a position that now appears to be affecting the timeline for the housing package as well.

What the housing bill does on CBDCs—and where stablecoins fit

Supporters of the housing bill included a CBDC-limiting provision that would restrict U.S. central bank digital currency issuance. As reported in earlier coverage by Cointelegraph, the legislation bars the Federal Reserve from issuing or creating a CBDC or “any digital asset that is substantially similar” until the end of 2030.

At the same time, the bill includes a narrow exception for stablecoins. The text described in Cointelegraph’s coverage allows “dollar-denominated currency that is open, permissionless and private,” a carve-out designed to permit certain stablecoin models even under the broader CBDC restriction.

For crypto market participants, the carve-out matters because it frames how Congress could draw a line between CBDC-style instruments and private stablecoin systems. However, with Trump delaying signing, that legal boundary is not yet locked in—meaning the practical effect of the CBDC timeline could remain uncertain until the housing bill becomes law.

Regulatory ripple effects: CLARITY and the broader “market structure” debate

Trump’s insistence on prioritizing the SAVE America Act has also introduced questions about how he might act on crypto-related legislation that is still moving through Congress. As of Wednesday, the U.S. Senate was reportedly awaiting a potential vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, a bill intended to reshape how regulators handle and enforce digital asset-related rules.

Cointelegraph previously reported that Trump said in May he intended to codify a “future-proof digital asset market structure,” which was widely understood as aligning with proposals like CLARITY. While the housing bill’s CBDC provision reflects Congress carving out limitations on central bank-backed digital currency efforts, CLARITY is aimed at defining regulatory roles and enforcement frameworks for the broader digital asset ecosystem.

Given the president’s stated approach of linking bill signings to passage of the SAVE America Act, the immediate risk for crypto policy timelines is straightforward: even if Congress passes measures, final enactment may still depend on executive scheduling and broader political leverage.

Lawmakers may still be able to override a veto

If Trump ultimately vetoes the housing bill or any other digital-asset-related legislation, Congress has a constitutional route to respond. As noted in the source coverage, lawmakers could override a veto by securing a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

That possibility means the outcome is not solely dependent on presidential action. Still, the delay itself can be meaningful for the market: regulatory certainty affects compliance planning, investment decisions, and how institutions allocate resources toward particular product or infrastructure strategies.

For now, investors and builders should watch whether the Senate brings CLARITY to a vote and, crucially, whether Trump’s SAVE America Act condition changes execution timelines for bills affecting the digital asset sector.

Michelle Bond has lost her bid to dismiss criminal charges, with a federal judge setting her trial to begin on Nov. 9 after rejecting arguments tied to her husband Ryan Salame’s plea agreement.

According to an order from Judge George Daniels in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Bond will face trial on four campaign finance-related charges in November. The ruling came one week after the court denied her request to throw out the indictment, which argued that federal prosecutors had agreed not to charge her if Salame pleaded guilty.

The case remains one of the last criminal proceedings connected to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which entered bankruptcy in 2022. Several former executives have already been prosecuted following the exchange’s failure.

Bond will face campaign finance charges in November

According to the August 2024 indictment, prosecutors allege that Bond and Salame illegally financed her 2022 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 1st Congressional District.

Prosecutors claim Salame used about $400,000 originating from FTX through what they described as a sham payment to support the campaign in violation of federal campaign finance laws.

Federal prosecutors have charged Bond with conspiracy to cause unlawful political contributions, causing and receiving a straw donor contribution, causing and accepting excessive campaign contributions, and causing and accepting an unlawful corporate contribution. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.

The indictment further alleges that Bond tried to conceal the source of the campaign money by making false statements to a congressional committee and the Federal Election Commission. Bond has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations remain accusations that must be proven in court.

Earlier filings from Bond’s legal team argued that prosecutors had broken an agreement allegedly made during Salame’s plea negotiations by later bringing charges against her. Judge Daniels rejected that argument, allowing the prosecution to proceed toward trial.

Bond unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for New York’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, losing the primary election to Nicholas LaLota.

Most FTX criminal cases have already concluded

Meanwhile, Salame is serving a 90-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to make unlawful political contributions. After his sentencing, he attempted to withdraw his plea, arguing that prosecutors had misled him about whether Bond would face charges. He later abandoned that effort and reported to prison in October 2024, leaving the legal dispute to be addressed through Bond’s case.

Among senior FTX executives, Salame, former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, and former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison received prison sentences. Former FTX engineering director Nishad Singh and co-founder Gary Wang were sentenced to time served after cooperating with prosecutors and testifying during Bankman-Fried’s trial.

Apart from Bond’s upcoming proceedings, Bankman-Fried remains the only former FTX executive whose case was decided by a jury. He was convicted on seven felony counts and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024.

More recently, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Bankman-Fried’s appeal against his conviction and sentence. Court records leave a review by the U.S. Supreme Court or a presidential pardon as his remaining legal options. Bankman-Fried has also reportedly sought a pardon from President Donald Trump.

Cathie Wood has dismissed mounting inflation fears despite U.S. headline CPI rising to 4.2% in May, arguing that underlying price pressures are close to disappearing.

According to the ARK Invest CEO, inflation fears dominated conversations during her recent investor meetings across Asia and Europe, where many participants questioned whether persistent price growth would force the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy further.

In a series of X posts, Wood said she was surprised by how strongly investors expected inflation to remain elevated, adding that she believes inflation could weaken sharply for reasons extending beyond lower oil prices.

The comments come as financial markets have increased bets that the Fed could raise interest rates by another 25 basis points in September after the latest inflation data. At the same time, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has continued to stress the central bank’s commitment to returning inflation to its 2% target.

Labor costs and real-time data point to weaker inflation

Presenting a different view of price pressures, Wood argued that underlying inflation is already close to disappearing when measured through labor costs rather than headline consumer prices.

According to Wood, U.S. productivity increased roughly 3% year over year during the first quarter while compensation per hour rose about 3.5%. Using those figures, she said unit labor costs indicate underlying inflation of only 0.5% year over year, suggesting businesses are not facing meaningful cost-driven inflation.

Wood also pointed to alternative inflation measures that differ from official government statistics. Citing data from Truflation, she said the platform’s real-time inflation gauge has fallen from approximately 11% year over year in 2022 to 1.8%, while its core inflation reading has declined to 1.4%.

Based on those indicators, Wood argued that current inflation trends are considerably weaker than headline CPI figures suggest. She maintained that investors placing heavy weight on government inflation data may be overlooking signals coming from productivity and private-sector pricing measures.

Wood expects Kevin Warsh to support growth if inflation eases

Looking ahead, Wood said she believes Warsh understands the distinction between official inflation readings and conditions developing across the broader economy.

According to her assessment, productivity gains are helping reduce inflationary pressure, while existing government inflation measures contain methodological shortcomings that can overstate underlying price growth.

Wood added that if the U.S. economy continues expanding while inflation falls toward a range of 0% to 1% or below, she expects the Federal Reserve under Warsh to place more emphasis on supporting economic growth instead of maintaining restrictive monetary policy.

Her outlook contrasts with current market positioning, where traders have increased expectations for another rate hike following the stronger-than-expected May CPI report. Even so, Wood argued that continued improvements in productivity and easing cost pressures could eventually reduce the need for tighter monetary policy.

Concluding her remarks, Wood said she expects the Fed’s policy stance to evolve once inflation weakens further, allowing the central bank to encourage economic growth rather than focus primarily on containing inflation.