Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 30 June 2026: VAP Group announced the launch of VAP Ventures, its dedicated investment arm, marking a significant milestone in the company’s evolution from building global platforms for innovation to directly supporting the founders shaping the future of technology.

The announcement was made at the Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show Riyadh 2026, from 29-30 June, where thousands of global industry leaders, innovators, investors and decision-makers have gathered to explore the technologies defining the next decade. The introduction of VAP Ventures represents one of the flagship announcements of this year’s Riyadh editions.

For years, VAP Group’s global stages have brought together founders, enterprises, governments and investors across AI, Web3, blockchain, gaming and emerging technologies. Through VAP Ventures, the company is taking the next step moving beyond creating opportunities for conversations to building the next generation of high-impact startups..

Over the next five years, VAP Ventures will back 100 startups by 2030 building across AI, Web3 & Blockchain, and Digital Games. The initiative reflects VAP Group’s long-term commitment to strengthening the global innovation economy through an integrated ecosystem that combines investment with market access and strategic growth support.
Unlike traditional investment models, VAP Ventures is designed to provide more than funding. Each selected startup will receive a blended support with direct capital alongside access to VAP Group’s media ecosystem, marketing capabilities, talent network and globally recognised event platforms. The objective is to help founders move from early-stage ideas to scalable businesses with the resources needed beyond investment alone.

VAP Ventures will focus on technologies shaping the future of the digital economy, including enterprise AI, Web3 infrastructure, blockchain innovation and next-generation gaming ecosystems. The initiative is strategically aligned with the Kingdom’s vision of fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge-based industries while supporting globally ambitious founders.

Key Highlights

• 100 startups to be backed by 2030
• Launching from Riyadh, KSA
• Focus sectors: Artificial Intelligence, Web3 & Blockchain, and Digital Games
• Support extending beyond capital to include media, marketing, talent and global stage access

“We gave founders a stage for years. Now we’re backing them. VAP Ventures will invest in more than 100 startups across AI, Web3, and gaming over five years in capital, media, talent, and reach, all under one roof. This is visibility turning into vital support” Vishal Parmar, Founder & CEO, VAP Group.

The launch of VAP Ventures reinforces VAP Group’s broader mission to strengthen the global innovation economy by bringing together capital, media, talent and international platforms under one roof. By expanding from convening innovators to backing them, the company aims to create lasting impact across the startup ecosystem while enabling the next generation of technology companies to grow from the region onto the global stage.

Startups interested in applying to VAP Ventures will be able to submit their details through the dedicated application platform, including company information and pitch materials, as the initiative begins building its inaugural cohort.

About VAP Group

With 13+ years of expertise, VAP Group is a premier global consulting and media powerhouse driving the next wave of technology-led growth.

Through its media ecosystem and flagship events, including the Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show, VAP Group connects policymakers, enterprises, and innovators worldwide, enabling strategic communications, ecosystem-building, and talent solutions.

For more information: https://www.vapgroup.co/vap-ventures/

Media Enquiries:

media@vapgroup.co

The United States Senate returned from its holiday recess on July 13 with one piece of paper waiting on its desk that matters more to crypto markets than any price chart. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, the market structure bill the industry has chased for the better part of two years, sits on the Senate Legislative Calendar with no floor vote scheduled, a shrinking window before the August recess, and prediction market odds that have collapsed from the low seventies to roughly 43 percent.

On July 17, the House Financial Services Committee takes the unusual step of holding a field hearing in New York titled Building the Future of Finance: How CLARITY Act Unlocks Innovation. The hearing cannot pass anything. What it can do is force every participant in this fight, from Senate holdouts to ETF issuers to the White House, to show their cards in public during the exact week when the bill’s fate for 2026 gets decided.

The stakes are not abstract. Bitcoin trades near $63,000 after months of pressure from a Federal Reserve that markets now expect to raise rates instead of cutting them. Ethereum sits under $1,800. XRP clings to the $1 level it has defended all summer. The total crypto market capitalization hovers around $2.17 trillion, and the Fear and Greed Index has spent weeks in the twenties, deep in fear territory. Against that backdrop, the CLARITY Act has become the one catalyst that does not depend on the Fed, on oil prices, or on the war headlines out of the Middle East. It is the single lever Washington can still pull this year, and the market knows it.

What the bill actually does

The CLARITY Act is a market structure law, not a price support program. Its core function is taxonomy: it draws a statutory line between digital assets that count as commodities, overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and those that count as securities, overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission. For a decade, that line existed only in enforcement actions, court rulings, and agency guidance that shifted with each administration. The bill would replace that patchwork with a durable federal framework covering how tokens are issued, how exchanges register, how custody works, and which regulator answers for which market.

That distinction sounds technical until you consider what currently protects the industry’s legal footing. On March 17, 2026, the SEC and CFTC issued a joint interpretive release that classified 16 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, as digital commodities. That release did enormous practical work. It handed day-to-day oversight to the CFTC, lifted the threat of unregistered securities treatment from the largest tokens, and cleared the path for the spot ETFs that now trade on all three assets. But an interpretive release is not a statute. A future administration, or even a future commission majority, could withdraw or rewrite it. The CLARITY Act exists to convert that reversible administrative posture into permanent law. For holders of the affected assets, the difference is the difference between renting legal certainty and owning it.

Coinbase says it has moved far beyond early experiments with artificial intelligence, with executives describing AI as now being deeply embedded in how the exchange builds and tests software. In the wake of a May workforce reduction, the company’s leaders pointed to AI as a central reason it has been able to speed up development and reorganize teams.

According to Coinbase executives, more than 95% of the company’s code is now written by or with large language models (LLMs). That figure marks a sharp jump from an earlier estimate Coinbase shared in February, when it said AI supported about 40% of its code.

Key takeaways

• Coinbase reports that between 95% and 100% of its code is written by or with LLMs, according to platform chief Rob Witoff.
• The company links its May layoffs to a need to restore the “speed and focus” of its startup-era operations, placing AI at the core.
• Witoff describes a “wide spectrum” of AI usage—from human-led work on core cryptography to fully automated prototyping.
• Coinbase says smaller, senior teams can handle work that previously required far larger groups, with AI agents running continuously.

From “helping” to “writing”: Coinbase’s evolving AI role

Coinbase cut roughly 14% of its workforce in May, laying off about 700 employees. In an email to staff, CEO Brian Armstrong said the company needed to “return to the speed and focus of our startup founding, with AI at our core,” framing AI as a major shift in how work moves.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Coinbase’s head of platform, Rob Witoff, said the company has reached a state where AI is used on an everyday basis. “Effectively, 100% of our employees are using AI on a daily basis,” Witoff said. He added that “close to 100% of our code” is written by or with LLMs—“probably somewhere between 95% and 100%.”

The size of that jump matters because it signals how quickly AI adoption has progressed within crypto infrastructure, not just as a productivity tool but as part of the coding workflow. Coinbase’s earlier February estimate—AI supporting around 40% of its code—suggests a rapid acceleration in how the exchange operationalizes AI in engineering.

Human oversight stays central for high-stakes cryptography

Even with such high automation claims, Witoff emphasized that Coinbase’s use of AI isn’t uniform across all parts of its stack. He described a “wide spectrum” in the way AI is deployed, depending on risk and complexity.

“For example, when we’re writing core cryptography, we have industry-leading cryptographers that are meticulously researching and reviewing one line at a time.”

In other areas, AI plays a different role. Witoff said AI is used heavily to test and verify that code behaves correctly and to help check for vulnerabilities. However, he portrayed this work as still requiring more manual oversight than the prototyping pipeline.

“We’re using AI quite a bit to test and make sure the code we’ve written is working the way it should, there’s no vulnerabilities, we’re verifying the math,” Witoff said, adding that this verification process remains more hands-on. By contrast, he said internal prototyping is now “effectively a 100% automated” workflow.

For builders and investors watching how AI reshapes crypto companies, this distinction is important: the move toward AI-driven development appears strongest in low-to-medium risk areas like prototyping and iteration, while core security work remains tightly supervised by specialized experts.

Smaller teams, more senior judgment—and the “agent” layer

Coinbase also linked its AI-driven coding changes to a reorganization of how teams are structured. Witoff said the company has been able to move toward smaller, more senior groups, where two or three employees can handle work that previously required 10 or more people.

He noted that the May layoffs disproportionately affected junior roles, describing “a lot of junior development roles” among those impacted. While engineering saw major changes, he also said cuts extended beyond developer functions, including positions in marketing, legal, customer support, and compliance.

“For those smaller teams to work, for people to have the taste, the judgment, I think a lot about people having the battle scars so they know how to point agents in the right direction.”

The “agent” concept is a key part of the operational picture. Witoff said most Coinbase engineers now work with five to 10 AI agents running at any given time, and that these agents collectively perform coding work equivalent to about 1,200 employees.

Looking further ahead, Witoff suggested that by 2030 AI agents could do the equivalent work of 100,000 employees. While such projections are inherently speculative, the company’s internal framing underscores a broader industry belief: once AI agents are integrated into development processes, the bottleneck shifts from generating code to steering systems responsibly and validating outcomes—especially where security and correctness are non-negotiable.

AI-led restructuring is spreading across crypto

Coinbase’s story fits into a wider pattern seen across the sector this year, where multiple crypto firms cited AI-driven efficiency as they rebalanced headcount.

In March, crypto exchange Crypto.com cut about 12% of staff, according to Cointelegraph reporting, affecting roles that “do not adapt in our new world.” Earlier, Block CEO Jack Dorsey said he was cutting about 40% of the company’s workforce, describing AI-enabled changes to how companies build and operate.

Other crypto organizations mentioned in the same broader wave include Kraken, Gemini, Messari, and Dune, each of which has been reported to have adjusted staffing in part as they increased AI use.

For market participants, this matters beyond workforce headlines. When exchanges and crypto services reduce layers of staffing while increasing reliance on AI-driven workflows, it can change how quickly they ship product, how they manage operational risk, and how they allocate resources between core engineering and support functions.

There is still an open question for readers: how sustainable and measurable these gains are over time, especially for the parts of the stack that require specialized security review. Coinbase’s next signal will likely be whether its AI-heavy approach continues to hold up under stress—whether in scaling performance, minimizing vulnerabilities, or maintaining reliability as token and user activity grows.

Stablecoin treasury platform Velocity has raised $38 million in a Series A funding round to expand infrastructure that helps enterprises and financial institutions use stablecoins for cross-border settlement and treasury operations.

The funding round was led by Dragonfly and FirstMark, with participation from Activant Capital, Capital One Ventures, QED Investors, Coinbase Ventures, Wintermute Ventures and Ripple. Velocity said it plans to use the capital to expand its banking and payments network, develop new products and strengthen its regulatory capabilities.

Founded in 2025, Velocity develops software that connects stablecoin networks with banking, custody, compliance and settlement systems. The company targets enterprise finance teams, payment providers, fintech firms and financial institutions using stablecoins for cross-border payments and treasury operations.

The latest financing brings Velocity’s total funding to nearly $50 million since it launched in 2025, according to the company.

Related: JCB signs Circle MOU to test stablecoin payments in Japan

The funding comes as competition in the enterprise stablecoin market intensifies. In June, more than 140 companies backed the launch of Open USD (OUSD), a dollar-pegged stablecoin supported by companies including Visa, Mastercard, Coinbase and Ripple.

Stablecoin infrastructure investment accelerates

Investment in stablecoin infrastructure has accelerated this year as companies build the software and network infrastructure supporting payments, settlement and enterprise financial services.

In March, Tether participated in a $5.2 million funding round for Ark Labs, a startup building infrastructure for stablecoin issuance and settlement on Bitcoin. The company is developing a programmable execution layer to enable faster payments and more complex financial applications on the network.

Later that month, OpenFX raised $94 million in a Series A funding round to expand its stablecoin-based foreign exchange network, which is designed to speed up cross-border payments for businesses. The company said it would use the capital to expand into Southeast Asia and Latin America while increasing liquidity across its network.

Trace Finance secured $32 million the following month to expand its cross-border payment infrastructure, which combines banking, foreign exchange and stablecoin settlement services for businesses operating across multiple markets.

The investments come as stablecoin payments continue to expand. A joint analysis by McKinsey and Artemis Analytics estimated that stablecoins processed $390 billion in annualized real-world payments in 2025, including about $226 billion in business-to-business transactions.

Annualized real-world stablecoin payment volume by use case. Source: McKinsey, Artemis Analytics

Magazine: UK government defers capital gains on certain crypto with ‘no gain, no loss’ approach

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – The Global AI Show Riyadh held from 29-30th June,2026 cementing its status as the definitive anchor for the Kingdom’s newly designated “Year of Artificial Intelligence.”

Defying the challenges of the prevailing geopolitical landscape, organized by VAP Group and powered by Times Of AI, the event emerged as a resounding success. Co-located with Global Blockchain Show Riyadh and Global Games Show Riyadh, the two-day summit attracted 15,000+ registrations, welcomed 6,723 attendees, featured 100+ global speakers and 100 exhibitors, and convened a 70% CXO-level delegation from 80+ countries. The unprecedented international participation reinforced Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global AI powerhouse while marking a decisive shift from experimental AI pilots to centralized, nation-scale AI deployment.

As a forward-looking platform, the Global AI Show served as an example of how to create an environment for collaboration, constructive dialogue, and ultimately action, connecting the newest technologies with large-scale, real-world applications across multiple sectors and government entities. The event also witnessed the announcement of VAP Group’s most ambitious initiative yet- The launch of VAP Ventures, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030 and accelerate the next chapter of the global innovation ecosystem.

The 2026 edition highlighted the “Human-AI Interaction” framework. Keynote tracks focused heavily on workforce planning, AI-driven recruitment, and upskilling programs designed to equip the next generation of Saudi talent with the tools required to steer autonomous digital agents.

A Worldwide Convergence of Thought Leaders and Visionaries

The Global AI Show welcomed attendees from all over the world, including AI enthusiasts, developers, and government officials. This diverse mix of attendees highlights that AI isn’t just a concept anymore; it’s being adopted across industries as a key component for optimizing workflows.

The first day of the Global AI Show witnessed an opening keynote by Dr. Mohammed Nasser Alshahrani, Executive Advisor to the Minister, Council of Economic and Development Affairs,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on why data quality will define the winners of the AI era and how trustworthy, transparent AI systems can drive real-world impact.

Day 2 opened with the keynote speech by Nezar Al Turki, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of National Guard, outlining the shift from digital transformation to AI transformation and the leadership, governance, and workforce foundations required to scale AI-driven enterprises.

Actionable Insights Arise At The Global AI Show Riyadh

The two-day summit featured panel discussions, keynote speeches, informal discussions, and industry-relevant sessions. The discussions on the agenda included practical examples and opportunities for incorporating AI further into modern-day industries.

The summit explored the next frontier of artificial intelligence through discussions on agentic AI, sovereign AI infrastructure, enterprise AI transformation, responsible governance, AI-powered healthcare, financial services innovation, cybersecurity, workforce development, and the future of human-AI collaboration. Michael Lints, Founding Partner MENA, Golden Gate Ventures remarked, “The AI era is reshaping venture capital. Today’s founders need more than funding, they need access to infrastructure, strategic partnerships and global networks that help them move from breakthrough ideas to scalable businesses faster than ever before!”

The sessions also examined scalable AI deployment, investment opportunities, digital public infrastructure, intelligent automation, and the role of AI in accelerating Saudi Vision 2030 while strengthening cross-border innovation and economic collaboration.

Few Notable Speakers Included:

• Dr. Ibraheem Sheerah – Chief Transformation Officer, Digital Transformation & Technology, Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding (Saudia Group)
• Eng. Layla AlSalehi – Director General, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Paul Pacifico – Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Music Commission, Ministry of Culture
• Nate Busa – Executive Director, AI & Emerging Technologies, NEOM
• Amal Dokhan – Managing Partner, 500 Global MENA
• Kalyana Sivagnanam – Group Chief Executive Officer, Petromin Corporation
• Ayman Alhabib – Chief Data & AI Officer, D360 Bank
• Abdulrahman Alonaizan – Head of Data & Artificial Intelligence, Arab National Bank (ANB)
• Alyn Bailey – Chief Human Resources Officer, Albawani Holding
• Abdulaziz Al-Ghufaili – AI & Digital Transformation Leader, Saudi Aramco
• Abdullah Alshargi – AI & Innovation Executive, Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA)
• Aamir Khalid Pirzada – Chief Technology Officer, Mozn
• Dr. Mohamed Alhussein – Artificial Intelligence Advisor & Digital Transformation Leader
• Global AI founders, policymakers, investors, researchers, and enterprise technology leaders representing 80+ countries, driving discussions on the future of agentic AI, enterprise transformation, and sovereign AI ecosystems.

Innovation and Exhibition Spotlight

The exhibition floor emerged as a vibrant hub of innovation, bringing together a diverse lineup of leading technology companies, AI pioneers, startups, and solution providers showcasing cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of artificial intelligence. From enterprise AI platforms and cybersecurity to HR technology, observability, autonomous systems, and intelligent infrastructure, exhibitors and sponsors demonstrated real-world solutions that fostered meaningful collaborations, sparked investment conversations, and accelerated technology adoption across industries.

Few Notable Exhibitors:

• Zen HR
• Netskope
• Nournet
• Magna AI
• Sarj Digital Information Technology CO.
• Edarat Group
• NTT Data
• Dynatrace
• Scale AI
• AQUIVIO Inc.
• Takween
• SAS
• Thethinkthankx
• ait
• Emotii
• OPM UAE
• Fanruan Software
• ManageEngine
• Wakeb Data Company
• Kamsora
• Sigmix Inc.
• Cloud Wave Telecommunications and Information Technology Company LLC
• Spark.ai
• Open
• Sirma Group Holding
• Wafra Greentech

AI Moves From Being An Afterthought To A Key Driver of Innovation

It’s not a surprise to see AI transforming how industries operate these days. From simply generating reports to optimizing workflows in critical areas like healthcare, the technology has made almost every aspect of work more efficient. The Global AI Show united innovators, regulators, and policymakers under one roof to ensure AI is scaled and incorporated into systems responsibly.

“What we’ve built with the Global AI Show goes far beyond a conference into a catalyst for global innovation. Seeing thousands of innovators, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs come together in Riyadh has been incredibly inspiring.Our vision has always been to create a platform where conversations lead to collaboration and collaboration leads to action. VAP Ventures is the natural next step in that journey, empowering founders who will shape the future of global innovation.” — Vishal Parmar, Founder & CEO, VAP Group

The momentum established at this summit will carry forward to the next Global AI Show set for Abu Dhabi on 12-13 November, 2026. This creates a perfect window for the discussions at Riyadh to materialize into something tangible and distribution-ready for the Abu Dhabi edition.

About Global AI Show

The Global AI Show is the definitive international stage where the future of artificial intelligence is forged. Hosted by VAP Group, this premier AI summit and conference unites global CXOs, visionary policymakers, and tech pioneers to move beyond the hype and address the real-world impact of AI.

About VAP Group

With 13+ years of expertise, VAP Group is a premier global consulting and media powerhouse driving the next wave of technology-led growth.

Through its media ecosystem and flagship events, including the Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show, VAP Group connects policymakers, enterprises, and innovators worldwide, enabling strategic communications, ecosystem-building, and talent solutions.

Media Enquiries: media@globalaishow.com

The European Central Bank has selected 36 payment firms, including Deutsche Bank, for a digital euro pilot as Europe presses ahead with its CBDC plans.

According to a July 14 announcement from the European Central Bank (ECB), the selected payment service providers will participate in a 12-month pilot beginning in the second half of 2027. The testing program will involve the ECB, 19 national central banks and private-sector firms as officials continue preparations for a possible digital euro launch by 2029.

Among the companies chosen for the program are Deutsche Bank, Revolut Bank, Stripe and UniCredit. The pilot will examine the digital euro’s technical performance, operational processes and user experience using a beta version of the currency that will not have legal tender status.

ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said the level of participation from payment providers demonstrates that private-sector firms are prepared to contribute to the project and support the development of Europe’s payments infrastructure.

The pilot expands testing before any launch decision

During the testing phase, some participating firms will allow users to create beta digital euro accounts and make payments through the experimental platform. According to the ECB, other providers will focus on additional services linked to the pilot instead of customer-facing features.

The central bank also said staff at participating national central banks will conduct person-to-person and person-to-business beta transactions. Those payments will be tested across physical retail locations, including Software Point of Sale systems, as well as e-commerce platforms and mobile payment channels.

The ECB stated that the pilot forms part of its ongoing preparatory work and does not represent a final decision to issue a digital euro. Officials have said any eventual launch would depend on the completion of the legislative process within the European Union.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament has already voted in favor of digital euro legislation, allowing work on the proposed CBDC framework to continue alongside the technical testing program.

Europe advances while the US continues opposing a CBDC

As European institutions continue developing a digital euro, policymakers have said the project could reduce dependence on payment networks such as Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay. At the same time, the proposal has drawn criticism from some observers who have raised concerns over financial privacy and transaction monitoring.

The digital euro initiative is also progressing alongside the European Union’s implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, under which several crypto companies, including Ripple, OKX and Coinbase, have received regulatory approval to operate in the region.

Across the Atlantic, the policy direction remains different. As crypto.news reported last week, President Donald Trump refused to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, even though the legislation includes a provision preventing the U.S. Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency through 2031 and has remained on course to become law.

According to a Truth Social post cited by crypto.news, Trump said he was withholding his signature because the Senate had not yet passed the Save America Act, legislation he has repeatedly urged lawmakers to approve. The outlet also reported that Trump had delayed signing the same housing bill a month earlier for the same reason, describing the voting measure as a higher legislative priority.

Taken together, the developments leave the world’s two major economic blocs pursuing different paths, with the ECB expanding preparations for a possible digital euro while the United States continues debating whether the Federal Reserve should be allowed to issue a CBDC at all.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Riyadh cemented its status as the world’s most vibrant sandbox for interactive media as the Global Games Show Riyadh held from 29-30th June, concluded its highly anticipated two-day B2B run. Shifting focus away from traditional console lifecycles, the event leaned heavily into technological innovations that transformed the back end of game development, including cloud gaming, AR/VR, and automated AI game design. It also focused on an emerging gaming platform: mobile phones.

Defying the challenges of the prevailing geopolitical landscape, organized by VAP Group and powered by Times Of Games, the event emerged as a resounding success. Co-located with Global AI Show Riyadh and Global Blockchain Show Riyadh, the two-day summit attracted 15,000+ registrations, welcomed 6,723 attendees, featured 100+ global speakers and 100 exhibitors, and convened a 70% CXO-level delegation from 80+ countries. Bringing together game developers, publishers, Web3 gaming pioneers, esports leaders, investors, content creators, technology providers, and policymakers, the event showcased how gaming is rapidly evolving into a multi-billion-dollar global ecosystem at the intersection of artificial intelligence, blockchain, immersive technologies, digital ownership, and entertainment. The event also witnessed the announcement of VAP Group’s most ambitious initiative yet- The launch of VAP Ventures, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030 and accelerate the next chapter of the global innovation ecosystem.

The Global Intersection For Entertainment And Digital Entertainment

The Global Games Show opened with a keynote by Johnson Yeh, Founder & CEO of Ambrus Studio, who explored the future of immersive gaming, highlighting how emerging technologies are redefining player experiences beyond traditional screens.

Also, a keynote by Virginia Villar Arribas, Director of the Private Sector Partnerships Service at the UN World Food Programme, who demonstrated how gaming and play can drive social impact by advancing global awareness, education, and humanitarian initiatives.

The Global Games Show Riyadh attracted game studios, publishers, Web3 gaming, esports, investment, technology providers, and game communities from across the globe. The event highlighted the fact that the world of gaming and digital entertainment has evolved at an unprecedented rate. Mobile-centric ecosystems took the center stage, and the discussions at the event have established this new platform as a key economic engine.

In this context, Charity Joy, CEO, Mirai said, “The future of gaming will be defined by immersive experiences, meaningful communities and the incredible talent building them. What excites us most about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the ambition, creativity and passion of its young developers. They aren’t just participating in the future of gaming, they’re helping create it!”

Mobile gaming has also altered the competitive landscape, with discussions highlighting that expensive PCs and consoles aren’t a requirement to get into esports. Games like PUBG and Mobile Legends Bang Bang set the ball rolling, and other games are following suit all over the world.

Visionaries in Gaming Defined the Next Generation of Gaming

Over the course of the event, key visionaries and thought leaders discussed key aspects of gaming and esports. These themes and agendas included:

Few Notable Speakers Included:

• Johnson Yeh – Founder & CEO, Ambrus Studio
• Nayef BinHumaid – Chairman of the Board, Saudi Baseball and Softball Federation
• Nadeem Bakhsh – Chief Executive Officer, webook.com
• Virginia Villar Arribas – Director, Private Sector Partnerships Service, UN World Food Programme (WFP)
• Hassan Yusuf – Head of Partnerships, Real Madrid Foundation – Education Football Program powered by Riyadh Schools
• Kanessa Muluneh – Chief Executive Officer, Rise of Fearless
• Yasmina Kazitani – President, Blockchain Game Alliance

Few Notable Exhibitors:

• ClubMOS Technologies LLC
• Cropr Digital Limited
• Plotdex
• JPYR
• Arkonix
• TorusChain Association
• Smartflow
• The Loopcraft
• EGS
• Setup Master the Art of Gaming
• Venn Studio

Mobile Gaming and Digital Ownership At the Core of Digital Entertainment

As mobile gaming and digital ownership rapidly evolve, their combination is redefining how digital entertainment is perceived and consumed worldwide. The agenda featured deep dives into how decentralized architectures enable new avenues for player ownership, monetization, and community engagement, rewriting the traditional dynamic between developers and their audience. Furthermore, esports pioneers and gaming founders addressed the maturity of the mobile esports ecosystem across the MENA region, Asia, and LATAM, examining the next generation of tournament structures and revenue-generation models.

“The future of gaming belongs to those who can bring together technology, creativity, and community. Global Games Show is where those conversations begin, and we’re excited to see the ideas born in Riyadh evolve into the next generation of global gaming experiences.” – Vishal Parmar, Founder & CEO, VAP Group

Building the Future of Gaming By Addressing the Foundational Pillars of Gaming

The conclusion of Global Games Show Riyadh 2026 set the foundation for the evolution of interactive gaming and digital entertainment. The positive momentum generated by attendees, exhibitors, and speakers at this event will inform the decisions that will shape the discussions at the Global Games Show 2026 Abu Dhabi.

About Global Games Show

The Global Games Show is the ultimate B2B gaming event for the next evolution of interactive entertainment. This elite event series is dedicated to uniting major industry titans, visionary developers, and investors to map out the future of gaming.

About VAP Group

With 13+ years of expertise, VAP Group is a premier global consulting and media powerhouse driving the next wave of technology-led growth.

Through its media ecosystem and flagship events, including the Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show, VAP Group connects policymakers, enterprises, and innovators worldwide, enabling strategic communications, ecosystem-building, and talent solutions.

Media Enquiries: media@globalgamesshow.com

Humanity Protocol says it is tightening its operational security after an exploit that traced back to a compromised employee laptop and led to the theft of $36 million worth of Humanity (H) tokens. In remarks to Cointelegraph, founder Terence Kwok said the incident stemmed from production keys that were inadvertently copied onto the laptop during the company’s mainnet launch last year.

The breach underscores a broader shift in crypto hacking: rather than only targeting smart contract bugs, attackers increasingly focus on human and process weaknesses—phishing, endpoint compromise, and operational handling of sensitive keys. Security firm Quantstamp linked the phishing delivery to North Korea-linked threat actors and described malware installation that provided remote access to the affected machine.

Key takeaways

• Humanity Protocol attributes a June $36 million loss to compromised endpoint security rather than a smart contract flaw.
• Founder Terence Kwok says production keys—admin hot wallet keys and multisig owner keys—were unintentionally backed up to a laptop after last year’s mainnet launch.
• Quantstamp reported that the initial intrusion used a phishing email and a malicious attachment disguised as a Bithumb token schedule update.
• The incident fits a wider H1 2026 pattern highlighted by CertiK: phishing drove Q1 losses, while wallet compromises dominated Q2.
• Industry data in the period continues to associate major thefts with North Korea-linked activity, keeping geopolitical threat a central concern for operators.

Why Humanity is changing its security posture

Humanity Protocol’s founder framed the incident as a hard lesson in operational security. Kwok explained that the attackers gained the leverage needed to steal tokens from last year’s mainnet launch period, when several production keys were inadvertently backed up onto an employee laptop.

According to Kwok, those copied items included administrative hot wallet keys as well as a quorum of multisig owner keys across both chains. The company is now “rebuilding accordingly,” emphasizing that the defenses protecting smart contract logic must be matched by protections around key management processes and the systems employees use day-to-day.

For investors and users, this distinction matters because smart contract audits and formal verification can’t fully mitigate failures in how private keys are stored, accessed, and recovered. When key material leaks through endpoint compromise, even well-written code can become irrelevant to the attacker’s path to funds.

Details of the exploit: from phishing attachment to remote access

The compromise became public last month, when Cointelegraph reported that a compromised employee laptop enabled attackers to steal $36 million in Humanity (H) tokens. CoinMarketCap data puts the token’s current market capitalization at roughly $211 million, at the time of the report.

Quantstamp’s analysis pointed to phishing as the entry point. In its assessment, a malicious attachment delivered via a phishing email was disguised as a token lockup schedule update associated with South Korean exchange Bithumb. Once opened or processed, the attachment installed malware on the machine and gave the attackers remote access.

Operationally, that chain of events is a reminder of how quickly attackers can move from social engineering to direct access. Rather than waiting for a vulnerability in decentralized infrastructure, the threat model shifted to the environment where keys and operational access controls live.

Operational failures are becoming a dominant attack theme

The Humanity incident aligns with broader findings from blockchain security research during the first half of 2026. CertiK reported that cryptocurrency exploit losses were heavily driven by operational failures and social engineering schemes.

In the first quarter of 2026, CertiK said phishing drove the majority of losses, totaling $508 million. By the second quarter, wallet compromises emerged as the biggest attack vector, contributing $807 million in losses. CertiK also cautioned that year-over-year declines can be misleading: while hack losses fell 46.8% year-on-year to $1.32 billion in the first half of 2026, the reduction was influenced by a major outlier, the $1.4 billion Bybit hack in early 2025.

During Q2 2026 specifically, CertiK noted that more than 70% of losses came from the Drift Protocol and KelpDAO exploits—both widely attributed to North Korean state-sponsored hackers. Humanity’s experience fits this same general pattern of sophisticated actors leveraging weaknesses outside the smart contract code itself.

North Korea-linked activity remains a central risk

Quantstamp tied the phishing delivery used in Humanity’s case to North Korea-linked threat actors. The report also echoes a wider set of security observations about the scale of thefts linked to such activity.

The article notes that North Korea-linked threat actors were associated with at least $578 million of the $634 million stolen in crypto-related incidents in April alone. That concentration helps explain why many security teams keep focusing on threat intelligence and adversary capabilities—not only the technical vulnerabilities of protocols, but also the delivery mechanisms attackers use to reach systems and accounts.

For crypto organizations, the implication is clear: even if contract code is robust, attackers may still win by targeting the operational and human layers around deployment, custody, and key handling. Humanity’s stated response—rebuilding operational security after an exploit linked to misplaced key backups—directly reflects that reality.

Going forward, readers should watch how Humanity Protocol implements key management changes and whether it will publicly outline new operational controls—especially around backup procedures, access separation, and endpoint risk reduction—since those are now the obvious weak points. More broadly, the market will likely treat operational security measures as a comparable priority to smart contract audits whenever large thefts trace back to compromised systems.

Quantum computing concerns are renewing focus on Bitcoin security as institutions research long-term cryptographic protections and network resilience.

With the continued development of quantum computing technology, the future security of Bitcoin has once again become a focus of market attention.

According to Bloomberg, research by Galaxy Digital indicates that in the long term, approximately $470 billion in Bitcoin assets may face potential security risks from quantum computing, representing about one-third of the current total value of circulating Bitcoin. However, this risk remains theoretical at present, as existing quantum computers do not yet possess the practical ability to crack Bitcoin’s encryption algorithm.

Quantum security draws attention, industry prepares in advance

Bitcoin uses a public-key and private-key encryption mechanism to ensure asset security. It is widely believed in the industry that if quantum computing capabilities achieve significant breakthroughs in the future, existing encryption systems may face new technological challenges. To this end, Coinbase has established a quantum security advisory committee, and large institutions such as Strategy have begun researching related solutions to prepare for potential future network upgrades.

Although quantum computing still has a long development cycle before it truly threatens the Bitcoin network, digital asset security, infrastructure construction, and long-term sustainable development capabilities are becoming important issues of continued concern for industry investors.

Meanwhile, as market attention to digital asset security and risk management continues to grow, more and more investors are exploring more diversified ways to participate. Compared to direct Bitcoin trading, EX DeFi cloud mining provides users with an option to participate in the Bitcoin ecosystem through continuous computing power, offering a relatively reduced impact from short-term market volatility.

Cloud mining: Another way to participate in the Bitcoin ecosystem

Amidst market volatility and technological change, more and more investors are focusing on digital asset participation methods beyond direct buying and selling, hoping to explore more diversified participation paths while focusing on the long-term development of Bitcoin.

Compared to traditional mining, which requires purchasing specialized mining equipment and bearing electricity and equipment maintenance costs, the cloud mining model centralizes hardware deployment, computing power management, and operation and maintenance work, all handled by the platform. Users only need to choose the appropriate computing power plan according to their needs to participate in the Bitcoin network and receive corresponding returns according to the platform’s rules.

EX DeFi’s compliance infrastructure

As a digital asset service platform, EX DeFi has established a relatively complete compliance management system at the operational level, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

The platform is registered and operates in the UK and conducts business in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements.

The core operational architecture references relevant regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s MiFID.

The platform undergoes regular security and compliance audits by PwC.

The digital asset custody system incorporates Lloyd’s of London insurance protection mechanisms.

These measures help improve the platform’s transparency and standardization in areas such as fund management, information disclosure, and system security.

EX DeFi’s security system

In terms of security, the platform employs mechanisms such as separate storage of cold and hot wallets and multi-signature authorization to further enhance the security level of user assets.

Simultaneously, the system integrates Cloudflare enterprise-grade network protection, McAfee cloud security system, and two-factor authentication (2FA), and is equipped with real-time risk monitoring and abnormal behavior identification mechanisms, providing multi-layered security protection for platform operations.

How to join EX DeFi and participate in mining services

Step 1: Register an Account. Visit the official EX DeFi platform and complete registration. New users will receive a $17 reward upon registration.

Step 2: Complete Account Deposit

Go to the deposit page, obtain the official wallet address, and complete the transfer (minimum deposit amount is $100 USD).

Step 3: Select a Hashrate Plan

Choose a suitable mining contract based on your budget and time horizon. The system will automatically settle earnings during the contract’s execution period.

Referral rewards program

Users can also participate in the EX DeFi referral program and enjoy a 3% + 2% referral reward mechanism. By inviting friends to join the platform, you have the opportunity to earn up to $50,000 in referral commissions, further expanding your income sources and achieving long-term earnings growth.

Popular short-term mining contracts

BTC (Beginner Trial Contract): Investment of $100, Term: 2 days, Daily Yield: $4, Total Profit: $100 + $8

DOGE (Golden Shell Mini Dogecoin Pro): Investment of $500, Term: 6 days, Daily Yield: $6.5, Total Profit: $500 + $39

BTC (Canaan-Avalon-A1466): Investment of $1,000, Term: 10 days, Daily Yield: $13.4, Total Profit: $1,000 + $134

LTC (Bitmain-Antminer-L7): Investment of $5,000, Term: 20 days, Daily Yield: $73.5, Total Profit: $5,000 + $1,470

BTC (Bitmain-S19K-Pro): Investment of $10,000, Term: 30 days, Daily Yield: $161 Total Profit: $10,000 + $4,830

For more details on mining contracts, please visit the EX DeFi official website.

About EX DeFi

EX DeFi is a global platform focused on green energy cloud mining and digital asset services, headquartered in the UK and founded in 2021. The platform supports multiple mainstream digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP), and is committed to providing global users with a more convenient and efficient way to participate in digital assets through intelligent computing power and cloud computing technology.

To improve operational efficiency and practice sustainable development, EX DeFi’s data centers are deployed in areas rich in renewable energy resources, primarily using hydropower, wind power, and solar power. The platform offers a variety of flexible intelligent computing power solutions, allowing users to participate in the digital asset ecosystem through cloud mining without purchasing mining equipment or possessing professional technical skills, enjoying a simpler and more efficient user experience.

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