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A GoMining-commissioned survey of over 700 Bitcoin holders across North America and Europe reveals that 77 percent of respondents have never engaged with any BTCFi platform. Only around 8 percent say they actively use BTCFi services for lending, staking or yield generation.

The data exposes a striking contradiction: while the BTCFi sector is receiving strong investment and attention, its reach among actual Bitcoin holders remains minimal. Over 65 percent of those surveyed could not name a single BTCFi protocol, pointing to a significant awareness gap in the industry. Roughly 40 percent of respondents say they would allocate less than 20 percent of their Bitcoin to DeFi products—underscoring cautious attitudes steeped in mistrust or lack of comprehension.

GoMining CEO Mark Zalan argues the survey reflects a mismatch in product design: “There’s an enormous appetite for these opportunities, but the industry has built products for crypto natives, not for everyday Bitcoin holders.” He cautions that BTCFi platforms must prioritise simplicity, trust and education over technical sophistication if they are to attract a broader base.

Despite limited adoption, interest in BTCFi is not absent. Some 73 percent of respondents express a desire to earn yield on their Bitcoin through lending or staking, while 42 percent would like access to liquidity without selling. Yet for now those desires largely remain theoretical.

The survey publication coincides with a sharp rise in BTCFi venture capital activity. Data from industry trackers show that in the first half of 2025, funding to Bitcoin-related infrastructure, custody, and DeFi projects reached US$175 million, spread across 32 funding rounds—20 of which targeted consumer-facing applications. Total value locked in BTCFi has also climbed, hitting US$6.6 billion by mid-2025, up from modest levels just a year earlier.

Industry analysts see this as a pivotal moment. BTCFi is theoretically well-positioned: Bitcoin holders collectively control over US$1 trillion in assets, and unlocking even a small portion into yield markets would shift capital flows substantially. But bridging the adoption chasm requires more than protocol robustness—it demands user trust, transparent security models, and intuitive onboarding.

Several projects are experimenting with custodial BTCFi models that reduce user friction, essentially merging decentralised finance with familiar wallet experiences. These hybrids aim to lower the barrier to entry for mainstream holders who are wary of self-custody risks. Others are focusing on streamlined education and marketing campaigns to bring awareness of BTCFi’s value proposition to non-tech audiences, rather than relying exclusively on high-end technical features.

Skeptics argue the reliance on Ethereum’s DeFi archetype may be a poor fit for Bitcoin’s more conservative base. BTCFi protocols often demand bridging, wrapping or interacting with smart contracts—actions that alienate users comfortable with simpler vehicles like ETFs and custodial wallets. A portion of Bitcoin holders remain risk-averse by nature, preferring regulated, custodial holdings and avoiding experimental protocols.

Some in the industry suggest a phased approach: target early adopters first, establish trust metrics, then gradually roll out to mainstream holders. Others urge a revisit to design philosophy itself: ensuring BTCFi can deliver yield, liquidity and composability while behaving in a way Bitcoin users find intuitive and safe.

Baku, Azerbaijan — Cüzdan LLC has launched a nationwide payment orchestration platform built on the technology of PayTabs Group, aiming to streamline payments for merchants and consumers across Azerbaijan. The new infrastructure enables live pay-in and pay-out transactions and seeks to boost digital inclusion by offering enhanced speed, security and flexibility in payment processing.

The platform is designed to allow merchants to onboard quickly, route payments intelligently across multiple payment service providers, and offer consumers a broader choice of payment methods. Cüzdan says the system is live and integrated with the country’s major acquiring banks. The partnership combines Cüzdan’s local network in sectors such as retail, manufacturing and consumer finance with PayTabs’ proprietary orchestration backbone.

Mustafa Baltacı, Chief Executive Officer of Cüzdan, described the launch as a pivotal moment in Azerbaijan’s shift toward a digital economy. He said the platform “serves the full spectrum of our economy — from neighbourhood shopkeepers to growing SMEs to major enterprises — with modern, secure payment solutions that drive growth and financial inclusion.” PayTabs’ growth-and-development officer, Hany Soliman, added that the firm is “proud to power Cüzdan’s payments journey” by supplying the technological architecture underpinning the rollout.

This launch marks PayTabs’ entry into Azerbaijan, extending its operational footprint beyond the GCC, Levant, North Africa and Central Asia regions into the Caucasus. Abdulaziz Al Jouf, CEO and founder of PayTabs, affirmed that this “hallmark partnership” reinforces the group’s goal to support digital transaction infrastructure across wider geographies.

Industry observers see this move as timely. Azerbaijan’s economy is pushing to modernise its payments infrastructure, support small and medium enterprises in digital adoption, and reduce friction in cross-border and domestic e-commerce flows. The flexibility offered by orchestration platforms — which manage routing, fallback, reconciliation, fraud checks and settlement across multiple payment providers — is now viewed as essential in markets with fragmented banking and payments systems.

Yet challenges remain. Success will depend on how quickly local merchants adopt the platform, the reliability of the supporting payments infrastructure, and the alignment of regulatory oversight. Ensuring interoperability with regional and international payment rails will also be vital if Cüzdan aims to facilitate cross-border commerce.

Hamas has announced that it will free the final Israeli hostages taken in its October 2023 assault on Israel, but insisted that other elements of a U. S.-backed 20-point peace plan remain subject to negotiation, leaving the path ahead fraught with uncertainty. President Donald Trump welcomed the announcement, calling for an immediate halt to Israeli bombardment and offering indications that he might allow flexibility on the broader proposal.

Under the deal endorsed by Israel, all hostages—alive and deceased—are to be returned within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance, in exchange for the release of around 1,950 Palestinian detainees. The agreement envisages a phased Israeli withdrawal, transfer of Gaza’s administrative functions to apolitical technocrats, and demilitarization of Hamas. But Hamas has declined to commit to disarmament, signalling that parts of the plan will undergo further negotiation.

Trump, in a public message, said Israel “must immediately stop” its bombing of Gaza and asserted that he believed Hamas was “ready for lasting peace.” He also warned that failure to accept the terms by the deadline—Sunday at 6 p. m. Eastern Time—would provoke severe consequences. Israel has given tentative backing to the first phase of the plan, though it maintains reservation about Hamas’s retention of weapons.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the peace initiative in principle but imposed caveats: Israel’s withdrawal will be partial, and Gaza will remain under strong security oversight. Netanyahu rejected formation of a Palestinian state under this framework, warning that such a move would reward terrorism. He has also suggested that Hamas participants who commit to peaceful transition could be granted amnesty.

Egypt, Qatar and other regional powers are acting as intermediaries to push Hamas toward acceptance. Israeli officials have reportedly reduced ground operations in Gaza City following U. S. pressure, instructing troops to limit activities to defensive operations even as the air campaign continues. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups warn that any ceasefire in name must be accompanied by unimpeded aid delivery and infrastructure repairs.

Some opposition voices in Israel—particularly among far-right coalition partners—view the latest developments as insufficient, demanding continued military pressure. Families of hostages have expressed cautious optimism, although they remain sceptical of open-ended guarantees.

In Hamas’s statement, the group claimed that the hostage release marks a gesture of “good faith,” but stressed that Israel’s withdrawal, guarantees on the safety of Gaza’s population, and the future role of Palestinian governance must be negotiated further. It described disarmament as “off the negotiating table” and refused to accept unconditional terms.

Analysts caution that the hostages’ release, while important, does not resolve deep structural issues: the role of Hamas in governance, security guarantees for Israel, and Gaza’s long-term reconstruction remain unresolved. Regional watchers view the moment as the most significant opening for a potential ceasefire in years—but one that may collapse without strict adherence to implementation timelines and third-party oversight.

International leaders have responded with varying tones. Some support the deal as a rare breakthrough, while others urge caution, calling for clear mechanisms to enforce demilitarization and civilian protections. The United Nations has reiterated its demand for accountability under international law and its role in aid operations.

Samsung is deepening its collaboration with Coinbase to integrate cryptocurrency services directly into its Wallet app. Users with Galaxy devices in the U. S. will now be able to make crypto purchases using Samsung Pay, and enjoy enhanced access to Coinbase’s premium offerings.

Wallet users will gain special access to a three-month subscription to Coinbase One, and early users may receive a $25 credit after placing their first trade. The alliance bridges Samsung’s digital wallet ecosystem with Coinbase’s crypto infrastructure to simplify onboarding for mainstream consumers.

The rollout begins with U. S. Galaxy customers, where Samsung says more than 75 million device owners could benefit. Samsung executives have signalled plans to extend the integration to other markets globally.

This isn’t the first foray for the two companies. The integration was first announced in July, enabling Samsung Pay within the Coinbase app, allowing users to fund crypto purchases without leaving the app or switching payment methods.

Under the new details, Samsung Wallet becomes a conduit not just for payments and identity, but also crypto trading, staking, and portfolio oversight. The partnership emphasises security, leveraging Samsung’s Knox platform and tokenisation to protect user assets and data.

Shan Aggarwal, Coinbase’s Chief Business Officer, said the tie-up aligns with the firm’s mission to bring “more than a billion people on chain” by meeting them on devices they already use. Drew Blackard, Senior Vice President at Samsung, noted that Galaxy users already rely on their phones for payments, identity verification and digital storage—and crypto access is a natural extension.

The push is part of Coinbase’s broader strategy of embedding crypto capabilities across consumer channels. In August, the company disclosed $1.5 billion in Q2 revenue and underscored its ambition to become what it calls “the everything exchange” — a unified gateway to trading, payments, and on-chain finance.

In parallel, Coinbase has struck partnerships with financial institutions. Notably, it is collaborating with JPMorgan Chase to let customers link their bank accounts to Coinbase wallets, enabling crypto trading and the conversion of credit card points into digital assets.

Industry observers view the Samsung integration as one of the most ambitious consumer-level crypto distribution moves to date. By embedding exchange functionality directly into a widely used mobile wallet, Coinbase and Samsung seek to lower structural barriers that often frustrate new crypto users.

That said, challenges remain. The U. S. regulatory environment around crypto remains volatile, with the SEC and other agencies scrutinising exchanges, token listings, and taxation. Skeptics warn that bundling crypto into everyday apps could expose users to market risk without full awareness.

Meanwhile, the phased rollout in the U. S. and Canada will test adoption rates, user behaviour, cross-border compliance, and competition from rival wallets like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, some of which may pursue their own crypto plans.

Space42 has issued its Foresight Constellation Viewpoint, a strategic dossier that underscores how Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite systems, when paired with artificial intelligence, can reshape decision making for governments and industries. The viewpoint emphasises the capacity for persistent imaging, all-weather operation and near-instant analytics — capabilities that are becoming mission-critical in an era of intensifying climate, security and infrastructure challenges.

At the heart of the Viewpoint is GIQ, Space42’s AI engine that converts raw SAR data streams into decision-grade intelligence within minutes. The report argues that the combination of high-resolution persistent coverage and AI transforms Earth observation from static imagery into a dynamic intelligence layer for monitoring, planning and emergency response. Launching Foresight-1 in August 2024 and Foresight-2 in January 2025 has already bolstered the UAE’s Earth observation capability.

Space42 frames its approach as not just a technological upgrade, but a sovereign asset: reliance on third-party satellite data leaves states vulnerable to disruptions, but a domestic SAR-analytics ecosystem offers resilience and control. The global SAR market, currently estimated around $5.8 billion, is forecast to nearly double to $9.8 billion by 2030. According to the Viewpoint, deployment of integrated SAR systems can yield cost savings — for instance, reducing predictive maintenance expenses by up to 30 per cent while improving emergency response by as much as 90 per cent.

The technical backbone of this strategy depends on both the satellite constellation and ground systems. Space42 has entered into a joint venture with ICEYE to localise manufacturing of SAR satellites in the UAE, aiming to strengthen supply chains and transfer expertise. The joint venture builds on prior collaboration: ICEYE’s technology underpins the Foresight satellites, and cooperation is intended to deepen over coming years.

Foresight-2 was successfully deployed via a rideshare launch on 14 January 2025, expanding the constellation’s capabilities and reinforcing its ability to revisit areas multiple times per day. With Foresight-1 and 2 in orbit, the full constellation is expected by 2027. The satellites exploit SAR’s unique ability to image through clouds and in darkness — a significant advantage over optical systems, especially in disaster and high-latency environments.

The Viewpoint also positions its narrative with real-world scenarios. It cites the 2023 Turkey earthquake, in which optical systems were hindered by cloud cover, while SAR satellites continued functioning — enabling assessments of a major dam’s structural integrity in crisis conditions. That example supports the argument that SAR ecosystems must be treated not as supplements but as core infrastructure for resilience and security.

Space42 positions itself as a full-stack player: not merely a satellite operator but a systems integrator combining space services, geospatial analytics and AI. Its dual business units—Space Services and Smart Solutions—serve satellite operations and downstream intelligence markets respectively. Among its touted use cases are border surveillance, maritime monitoring, infrastructure health, mobility and disaster management.

Yet challenges remain. Building sovereign SAR ecosystems demands investment in ground infrastructure, antenna networks, data processing centres and skilled personnel. Market competition is increasing: global players—commercial and governmental—are accelerating developments in miniaturised SAR payloads, hybrid optical/SAR systems and edge AI processing. Moreover, the cost dynamics of deploying dense constellations must be managed against returns from clients in defence, environment and infrastructure sectors.

By Anjan Roy Donald Trump’s high fees for H1B visas are a serious headache for India, not just for the sake of its impact on India’s IT sector and services exports to USA. This is a huge worry for the overall security environment and strategic- diplomatic scenario for India. Among others, if China is able […]

The article China Is Making Every Effort To Attract Talent Thrown Out By America appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Abu Dhabi — The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has introduced sweeping changes to the UAE’s visa regime, adding four new visit-visa categories tailored to specialists in artificial intelligence, entertainment, events, and cruise or leisure-boat tourism, while also rolling out humanitarian and widow/divorcee residence permits.

Under the new framework, the AI Specialist Visit Visa allows single or multiple entries, provided applicants submit a sponsorship letter from a recognised technology or AI institution. The Entertainment Visit Visa is intended for individuals engaging in licensed entertainment or gaming activities, while the Event Visit Visa covers attendance at festivals, exhibitions, conferences, sports, or cultural events, sponsored by public or private hosts. The Cruise & Leisure-Boat Visit Visa offers multiple-entry permits for travellers arriving via marine routes, on condition of submitting a detailed itinerary and engaging a licensed host in the tourism industry.

Alongside these targeted visit visas, the ICP now issues a Humanitarian Residence Permit, valid for one year, with possible extension under certain conditions. This permit is designed to assist individuals from countries experiencing conflict, natural disasters, or severe unrest. Notably, it can be granted without a guarantor or host, though it may be cancelled or voided if the holder departs the UAE. In exceptional cases involving relatives or in-laws, the authority may waive requirements like financial solvency or degree of kinship.

The revisions also extend protections to foreign widows and divorcees. A one-year renewable residence permit is available to foreign women whose UAE-based husband died or divorced, provided applications are submitted within six months. If the husband was a non-UAE national, eligibility depends on whether the woman held residency at the time, whether she has custody of children, and whether she was previously sponsored. Provisions for adequate housing and financial stability apply, and custody disputes will be adjudicated by a designated committee.

Revised rules for sponsoring friends or relatives now incorporate income thresholds: sponsors must earn at least AED 4,000 per month to sponsor first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second- or third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 to sponsor friends. The updated system also introduces a structured schedule defining visit-visa durations and extension rules.

Other key visa reforms include tightening the Business Exploration Visa criteria and easing Truck Driver Visas—allowing single or multiple entries provided drivers are sponsored by licensed freight or transport companies and meet health, fee, and financial guarantee conditions.

In a statement, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of ICP, said the reforms emerge from “careful studies and forward-looking assessments” that considered global residency trends, client feedback, and the UAE’s strategic demands. He described the changes as intended to “meet the needs of customers while considering humanitarian and economic circumstances” and to drive technology, tourism, and economic diversification.