THE DAILY BLOCK
OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM
Real-time intelligence on cryptocurrency markets, venture capital, technology innovation, and financial systems.
Curated from trusted sources across the digital economy.
CRYPTO
Real-time intelligence on cryptocurrency markets, blockchain protocols, and digital asset developments. Aggregated from leading crypto news sources.
Japan’s Nomura cuts down crypto exposure following Q3 losses
Nomura's crypto subsidiary, Laser Digital, saw losses in Q3, leading Nomura to report lower-than-expected quarterly net profit....
Binance commits to gigantic Bitcoin purchase as an implicit apology for October liquidation meltdown
Binance just turned its emergency insurance fund into a public, auditable pledge. And it reads like a crisis-repair letter in balance sheet form. The exchange announced Jan. 30 that it will convert SA...
Bitcoin's crash exposes painful truth – crypto market still dances to BTC's tune
Despite thousands of alternative tokens and institutional adoption, crypto markets in 2026 still largely move in lockstep with bitcoin, offering little real diversification....
Nomura temporarily reduces crypto exposure as Q3 profits drop
Nomura's CFO, Hiroyuki Moriuchi, reportedly reaffirmed the company's long-term commitment to digital assets but said it had to manage short-term risks....
Crypto stolen hit $370M in January, nearly quadrupling year on year: CertiK
The amount of crypto stolen in January is also a 214% increase from the month before, with a majority of the value lost due to a single phishing incident....
Jupiter brings Polymarket to Solana and lands $35 million investment deal
Jupiter said Polymarket will be integrated on its platform, while ParaFi Capital has made a $35 million strategic investment in JUP with an extended lockup....
VENTURE
Venture capital trends, startup funding rounds, and investment strategies. Tracking the companies and capital shaping tomorrow's economy.
The Week’s 10 Biggest Funding Rounds: AI Megadeals Dominate Again
This week’s largest fundraising recipient was frontier AI lab Recursive Intelligence, and agentic AI, AI-compute, and AI-native startups filled up much of the rest of the Top 10 list....
Reid Hoffman urges Silicon Valley leaders to stop bending the knee to President Trump
Some Valley CEOs have condemned recent border patrol events, but Hoffman urges them to wield their influence more powerfully....
Last 24 hours to grab your plus-one pass at 50% off to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Today is the last day to lock in a plus-one pass at 50% off to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, happening on October 13-15 in San Francisco....
6 Trends In Tech And Startups We’re Watching In 2026, From An IPO Boom To More Huge AI Deals
Last year was the third-strongest on record for global venture funding with a surprisingly strong year for IPOs and an uptick in startup M&A numbers, and industry insiders we spoke with expect 2026 wi...
What’s Fueling California’s Record Run For Startup Funding?
In recent quarters, California’s dominance in startup funding has grown even more pronounced, pulling in 63% of all U.S. startup funding at seed through growth stage in 2025, per Crunchbase data....
The Crunchbase Tech Layoffs Tracker
Over 127,000 workers at U.S.-based tech companies were laid off in mass job cuts in 2025, per a Crunchbase News tally, and the layoffs have continued into 2026. See the latest companies to cut roles....
TECH
Breakthrough technologies, innovation trends, and the companies driving technological transformation across industries.
Why workers are losing confidence in AI - and what businesses can do about it
AI adoption is up while employee confidence in the technology is down. A report from ManpowerGroup explains why....
Ring vs. Blink: I compared Amazon's two biggest security brands, and here's my winner
Both Ring and Blink dominate the security camera market, but they couldn't be more different. Here's the breakdown....
Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro: How to decide which edition to upgrade your PC to
Windows 11 Pro offers more control - but is it worth the extra money? Here's my two cents, as someone who's used both....
Is Google's new $8 AI Plus plan worth it? How it compares to the $20 Pro subscription
Want more Gemini without paying for Pro? Google AI Plus might be for you. Here's what it includes....
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Apple AirPods Pro 3: I listened to both models, and this pair wins
It's a battle of ecosystems - but is one a true victor? Here's my verdict after testing both pairs for a month....
AirTag 2 vs. AirTag 1: I compared both Bluetooth trackers, and the winner is not so obvious
Apple's new AirTag has finally launched, but is it worth upgrading when you can frequently buy the older one at a discount?...
FINANCE
Financial markets intelligence, investment strategies, and the convergence of traditional finance with emerging digital technologies.
India courts Big Tech with long‑term tax breaks as it doubles down on AI ambitions
India woos global cloud service companies with tax holiday for 20 years....
European stocks slide as precious metals sell-off weighs on markets; Mining stocks drop 3%
European stocks started the trading week in negative territory as concerns over AI and volatility in precious metals haunted global markets....
Oil slides over 5% as Trump signals Iran talks, easing supply shock fears
Oil prices slid as investors dial back fears of a supply shock after Donald Trump said Iran was "seriously talking" with Washington over the weekend....
Gold dives 5% and silver crashes 7%, extending sell-off in precious metals after historic plunge
Gold and silver extended sell-off on Monday, deepening losses from last Friday's rout....
South Korea stocks fall more than 5%, triggering temporary halt in trading
Asia-Pacific markets saw a mixed trading session as investors assessed China's factory activity for January....
Is 'America First' starting to backfire as Washington's allies go it alone?
Trump's volatility and unpredictability, as well as tariffs and territorial threats, have spooked erstwhile allies....