Tech & Crypto Newsletter (August 4, 2025)

So uhm we were scrolling the internet today and thought we’d share a few things to keep you in the know.

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Today in AI

Meta’s AI shows signs of self‑improvement

Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta’s AI is getting better on its own. He compared it to having a “personal super‑intelligence.” Some experts are excited but others worry that a machine improving itself could be risky. For now, the improvements are slow but real, and critics say big tech companies need to think carefully about safety. They also warn that letting AI access private data without strong rules could be dangerous.

U.S. government’s AI action plan

The White House released a plan to keep America ahead in artificial intelligence. It calls for building more data centers, improving internet access, and creating lots of new computer chips. It also wants to make it easier for researchers and businesses to use AI by cutting some regulations and sharing more government data. The plan has three goals: speed up innovation, build better AI infrastructure, and lead the world in AI standards.

AI chatbots help people communicate

Some neurodivergent adults are using chatbots like ChatGPT to practice conversations. For filmmaker Kate D’hotman, the chatbot acts like an editor and a friendly voice that helps her get ideas across. Others use AI to translate how they feel so they aren’t misunderstood. Experts say this can boost confidence, but warn that too much reliance on AI might weaken our own thinking skills. Because the bots don’t follow professional ethical rules, regulators are discussing safeguards.

🪙 Crypto Corner

PayPal lets U.S. merchants accept crypto

PayPal announced a service called “Pay with Crypto.” Soon, merchants in the United States will be able to accept more than 100 types of cryptocurrency. The money will be converted immediately into PayPal’s own stablecoin or into dollars, so businesses don’t have to worry about price swings. The company says fees could be as low as 0.99% at first, which is cheaper than most credit card fees. Major wallets such as Coinbase and MetaMask will be supported.

Ton coin defies the market with a strong rally

While many cryptocurrencies fell in July, Toncoin (TON) went up 24% over the month. On August 4 it traded between $3.61 and $3.71. A few reasons explain the surge: the decentralized exchange STON.fi raised $9.5 million to expand its DeFi features, and the TON Foundation partnered with Kingsway Capital to create a $400 million treasury fund that will buy and hold TON tokens. New wallet addresses rose 36% and active addresses grew 51% in one week, showing more people are using the network. Analysts say the token could climb higher if it breaks through the $4 price barrier.

White House pushes new crypto rules

Bo Hines, the U.S. Executive Director of Digital Assets, introduced a three‑phase plan to reshape America’s crypto rules. The first “demolition” phase removes old rules that blocked innovation. He announced the end of Operation Chokepoint 2.0, a program that made it hard for crypto firms to use regular banks. The second phase involves creating a stablecoin framework to modernize payments and support a digital version of the U.S. dollar. In the final stage, a CLARITY Act will lay out new laws for how tokens, platforms and exchanges are governed, and tax reforms will make reporting easier and fairer.

At the same time, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has started a “Crypto Sprint.” Working with the SEC, it aims to clarify U.S. crypto rules by supervising spot markets and drafting clear rules for custody, token distribution, and trading. This joint effort follows a recent court decision in the Ripple case and is expected to bring more stability to the market.

That’s all for today

Thank you for reading! If you have questions or want to learn more about any of these topics, let us know. Keep exploring the world of tech and crypto—one step at a time!