UK Regulator Sues Crypto Exchange HTX for Unlawful Promotions

/in /tarafından

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has filed a lawsuit against global cryptocurrency exchange HTX — formerly known as Huobi — accusing the company of illegally promoting crypto asset services to British consumers without authorization.

The regulator confirmed on Wednesday that it had launched civil proceedings in London’s High Court, arguing that HTX breached Britain’s strict financial promotions regime, which requires any firm marketing crypto services in the country to be registered and authorised. HTX, the FCA’s database shows, is not authorised to operate in the UK.

“This action is part of our commitment to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of UK financial markets,” an FCA spokesperson said, adding that unlicensed promotions could mislead investors about the risks of digital assets.

HTX, founded in 2013, lists Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun as a global adviser. Sun, a controversial figure in the crypto world, has drawn attention for his links to World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s crypto venture, and for his financial support of its $TRUMP memecoin, where a blockchain wallet labeled “SUN” was identified as the largest holder.

The FCA introduced new regulations in 2023 to bring crypto advertising under tighter control, forcing exchanges to include risk warnings and secure approval from authorized firms. These rules form part of Britain’s push to develop a “competitive yet responsible” crypto regime.

HTX currently appears on the FCA’s warning list, which identifies companies that investors are urged to avoid. The lawsuit, filed against Huobi Global and four “persons unknown” — including the exchange’s owners, operators, and promotion heads — signals the regulator’s intent to hold overseas firms accountable when their activities target UK consumers.

The case underscores Britain’s broader crackdown on unregulated crypto activity, as authorities attempt to balance innovation with consumer protection amid a volatile global digital asset market.

Right-Wing Media Figures and AI Pioneers Unite to Call for Superintelligent AI Ban

/in /tarafından

A coalition of U.S. right-wing media figures and AI pioneers has issued a joint statement urging a global ban on developing superintelligent artificial intelligence, warning that progress toward machines exceeding human cognition must halt until society can ensure safety and democratic oversight.

The initiative, announced Wednesday by the Future of Life Institute (FLI), includes signatures from Steve Bannon, Glenn Beck, and tech luminaries Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio—two of the so-called “godfathers of AI.” The non-profit, founded in 2014 and initially supported by Elon Musk and tech investor Jaan Tallinn, has long advocated for responsible AI development and limits on advanced machine intelligence.

The statement calls for governments worldwide to prohibit the creation of AI systems capable of surpassing human intelligence until “science shows a safe way forward” and “the public demands it.” It argues that current AI development races are reckless and could produce technologies that threaten human autonomy, stability, and safety.

The unusual alliance between conservative media figures and leading scientists highlights the broadening political and cultural anxiety surrounding AI’s rapid evolution. It also reflects growing skepticism on the populist right, where some commentators have warned that unchecked AI could concentrate power in corporate and political elites.

While many in the technology industry and the U.S. government have dismissed calls for AI moratoriums as harmful to innovation and economic competitiveness, the involvement of influential figures like Bannon, Beck, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak could amplify public debate. Other signatories include former Irish President Mary Robinson and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.

Supporters of the ban say the move is not anti-technology but a precautionary measure. “The race to build superintelligent AI must not outpace our ability to control it,” said an FLI spokesperson. “Without democratic input and safety guarantees, the risks are existential.”

The statement follows a broader series of warnings from experts and public figures, including Musk and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, who have both urged the creation of global AI safety frameworks.

Applied Digital Strikes $5 Billion AI Infrastructure Deal with U.S. Hyperscaler

/in /tarafından

Applied Digital (APLD.O) announced on Wednesday that it has signed a $5 billion, 15-year lease agreement with a U.S.-based hyperscaler for 200 megawatts (MW) of capacity at its Polaris Forge 2 data center campus in North Dakota, solidifying its position as a major player in AI infrastructure development. The deal sent Applied Digital’s shares up 4% in premarket trading.

The agreement is expected to generate about $5 billion in contracted revenue over its term and reflects the surging demand for high-performance compute capacity driven by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence applications. Tech giants and AI developers are racing to secure energy-intensive infrastructure capable of training and deploying advanced language and vision models.

With this latest contract, Applied Digital’s total leased capacity across its Polaris Forge 1 and 2 campuses now reaches 600 MW, marking a significant milestone in its expansion strategy. The company also recently finalized a separate 150 MW lease with CoreWeave (CRWV.O) earlier this year, underscoring its growing role as a key infrastructure provider for the AI ecosystem.

Applied Digital’s stock has soared more than 325% in 2025, buoyed by investor enthusiasm for companies building AI-ready data centers capable of handling the computational load required by large language models and generative AI systems.

Industry analysts say the deal highlights how AI infrastructure has become the new frontier of big tech investment, with hyperscalers — massive cloud computing companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft — locking in long-term capacity agreements to meet explosive AI demand.

The company’s Polaris Forge complex in North Dakota is one of several U.S. projects focused on delivering high-density compute environments optimized for AI workloads. Applied Digital said the partnership will also support future energy efficiency improvements and renewable power integration, aligning with broader sustainability goals across the data center industry.