Published: July 31, 2026 at 10:00 am Updated: July 31, 2026 at 9:22 am
by Anastasiia O
Edited and fact-checked:
July 31, 2026 at 10:00 am
To improve your local-language experience, sometimes we employ an auto-translation plugin. Please note auto-translation may not be accurate, so read original article for precise information.
In Brief
Circle secures NY trust charter for USDC, expanding regulatory footprint with state and federal approvals to fortify stablecoin infrastructure.
Financial technology firm and operator of the USDC stablecoin, Circle secured a limited-purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), significantly expanding its regulatory footprint across both state and federal jurisdictions.
The NYDFS granted the charter to Circle Internet Trust Company LLC, which will operate as Circle New York Trust. The approval reinforces the company’s commitment to the highest standards of safety, transparency, and compliance as it scales its digital dollar infrastructure globally. Circle, which became the first company to receive a BitLicense from NYDFS in 2015, has maintained a regulatory relationship with the agency for more than a decade.
The state-level charter arrives alongside a separate federal approval granted earlier this month. On July 10, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) cleared Circle to establish First National Digital Currency Bank, N.A., operating as Circle National Trust. That federal license authorizes fiduciary custody of digital assets, though management of the USDC reserve—a core objective of Circle’s original application—has been deferred to a subsequent phase, indicating a phased approach to full banking integration.
These dual approvals illustrate the layered architecture of U.S. financial oversight. While the OCC clearance provides federal authority for digital asset custody, the New York charter specifically anchors USDC issuance within a state-regulated limited-purpose trust company rather than a national banking entity. This distinction clarifies how Circle intends to route its dollar-pegged token through established regulatory channels while maintaining clear separation between custody and issuance functions.
Circle has received a limited purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services for Circle New York Trust.
A meaningful step in strengthening the regulatory foundation behind Circle and USDC.https://t.co/RXX8Hkg1Yu
— Circle (@circle) July 31, 2026
Strategic Implications for USDC and Institutional Adoption
Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s co-founder, chairman, and chief executive, characterized the New York trust charter as a longstanding strategic goal. He noted that NYDFS functions as an international standard setter for digital asset regulation and that the charter positions USDC within a respected compliance framework as digital dollars move toward the center of the global financial system.
Circle operates the largest regulated stablecoin network centered on USDC, alongside its Circle Payments Network and the Arc blockchain. According to data from CoinMarketCap, USDC ranks as the second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin by market capitalization, trailing only Tether’s USDT.
As regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins intensifies across major economies, Circle’s accumulation of state and federal licenses signals a deliberate effort to differentiate USDC through adherence to stringent oversight standards. The approvals provide a structured pathway for the company to deepen institutional adoption while navigating the evolving boundary between traditional finance and digital assets, potentially setting a precedent for how stablecoin issuers integrate into the regulated banking ecosystem.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.
About The Author
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
More articles
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
Here’s a look at what celebrities have been up to as of late!
Minka Kelly was out and about in New York City wearing the AGOLDE Arc Jean in Orten.
Tom Holland was out and about in Paris, France wearing Jimmy Fairly’s The Idro sunglasses. The actor also wore Jimmy Fairly’s The Etty sunglasses in Mumbai, India. He was also out in London, England in the line’s The Etty sunglasses before being spotted again in New York City wearing the brand’s The Napoli sunglasses and The Idro sunglasses.
Selena Gomez was out and about in London, England wearing earing Mejuri’s Stevie Hoop Earrings.
Kristen Stewart enjoyed dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California wearing Reebok’s Club C 85 sneakers.
Gigi Hadid shopped in Paris, France wearing Jimmy Fairly’s The Aela sunglasses.
SZA posed on Instagram wearing the Azalea Wang Onni Citron Wedge Sandal by AKIRA.
Kesha strolled in New York City wearing the Lounge Adelyn Balcony Bra and Adelyn Thong under a sheer dress.
Jennifer Lawrence was out and about in New York City wearing ALO’s 16″ High-Waist Airbrush Capri.
Martha Stewart appeared on TODAY in New York City wearing The Stashed Picky Jacket and The Stashed Hustler Roller Sneak in Whisk Me Away from MOTHER.
Charli XCX released her music video for “Camera” wearing the Honey Birdette Annalise Bra.
Chrissy Metz and Joey Fatone starred in the Broadway production of & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim theatre in New York City.
Evan Zimmerman for Murphy Made
Julia Roberts strolled in New York City wearing the Short Sleeve Striped Polo by TWP.
Kourtney Kardashian stopped by It’s Time TCG in Agoura Hills, California to pack battle KyKyRips while promoting her brand Lemme.
Hannah Waddingham attended the Season 4 premiere of Ted Lasso in Los Angeles, California wearing Monique Lhuillier Spring 2026 Metallic Raffia Floral Embroidered Tulle Strapless Sculpted Dress in Gold Multi.
Jenna Dewan and Emmanuelle Chriqui appeared on iHeartMedia’s podcast Waking Up with Ryan, where they spoke about their friendship.
Naomi Watts shared her love for the medicube Booster Pro in an interview with CNN Underscored.
Dua Lipa was out in New York City wearing Helsa’s Trouser with Attached Skirt.
DJ Khaled celebrated the launch of the MCM x DJ Khaled x We The Best collaboration at Boom at The Standard in New York City.
Anne Hathaway was out in New York City wearing the Venezia Top by Cult Gaia. The actress also posed on Instagram in the Stella Heel by Cult Gaia. The actress also stunned in The Odyssey after getting her glam done by makeup department head Luisa Abel using Typology’s Glow Drops T31.
Sofia Richie launched SRG Atelier’s Summer Collection featuring maxi dresses, babydoll silhouettes, halter tops, and coordinating sets with scarf details, open-back details with stone accents, and more in sizes XXS-XL with prices ranging from $60 to $400.
John Mayer was announced to perform an exclusive SiriusXM concert at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York to celebrate his channel, Life with John Mayer.
SiriusXM
Terry Dubrow appeared on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast. more.
Stassi Schroder was out and about in New York City wearing the Armarium Mini Dress.
Heidi Montag performed at Neon Skies Festival in Alberta, Canada.
Michelle Branch celebrated the 25th anniversary of “The Spirit Room” album by speaking with Kat Corbett on SiriusXM’s PopRocks and performing “Everywhere,” “All You Wanted,” “Breathe,” and more at the SiriusXM LA studios in Los Angeles, California.
Lupita Nyong’o attended the premiere of The Odyssey in New York City wearing ALDO’s Forevermore Strappy Gold Heel. The actress also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City wearing the Alexandre Birman Pamela Satin 85 Black.
Dwyane Wade attended the WNBA All-Star 2026 game in Chicago, Illinois wearing the AGOLDE Darius Polo in Sand.
Hudson Williams posed on Instagram in the Roots Summer League Mesh Short 7.5 Inch.
Francois Arnaud attended the opening night of Broad Strokes in New York City wearing the Cade Camp Shirt paired with the Elvis Trousers from SIMKHAI.
DJ Bea Hardy performed at Chez Zsa Zsa by Les Filles, a traveling disco tent, ahead of the Three Nights of Music from the Films of West Anderson event at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.
Les Filles
Lindsie Chrisley released a two-part tell-all crossover across Coffee Convos and The Southern Tea podcasts.
Gia Giudice returned as a cast member for Season 2 of Bravo’s Next Gen NYC.
Nara Smith appeared on Call Her Daddy wearing the Le Seul Iris Slingback in Black Soft Calf.
Jennie performed at Polish Open’er Festival 2026 in Gdynia-Kosakowo, Poland wearing Bared Footwear’s Softtail Black Leather Knee High Boots. The singer also performed in Boston, Massachusetts wearing an archival look from Betsey Johnson’s Spring/Summer 1999 collection.
Dinah Jane attended the premiere of Moana at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California wearing the Omega Earrings in gold by Ariel Taub.
Corey Hawkins appeared on TODAY in New York City wearing the AGOLDE Afton Jean in Orbital.
Lexi Minetree wears posed on Instagram wearing an archive Bestey Johnson dress.
Lauren Cohan stepped out in New York City in the Alexandre Birman Solene 85 Silver.
Déjà Clark celebrated her collaboration with Aéropostale in Los Angeles, California, where guests enjoyed photo moments, a denim customization station, açai bowls, candy carts, and a live set by DJ Livia.
Aéropostale
Marley Shelton attended a screening of Moana at the United Palace Theater in New York City wearing the Nadine Merabi Tara Black Dress.
Trinity Tatum wore the Rosalia Top and Rosalia Maxi Skirt from Outcast Clothing for the finale of Love Island USA Season 8.
LISA posed on Instagram in the Possession Ballerina from Melissa.
Olivia Nelson wore the Citizens of Humanity Faye Tank yesterday, July ahead of the Connecticut Sun’s game against the Portland Fire in Uncasville, Connecticut. The basketball player also wore the AGOLDE Arc Jean 29″ in Type and Gwynne Tube in Source ahead of the Connecticut Sun’s game against the Golden State Valkyries in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Dafna Gershoony and Brad Crerar, board-certified Physician Assistants and CONTŌR co-founders opened their second New York City location to provide a natural, prevention-first approach to injectables, medical skin treatments, and personalized skin health.
KPop Demon Hunters teamed up with ohora to launch the KPop Demon Hunters x ohora collaboration with gel press-on nails featuring unique details and expressive colors.
Jake Musser attended the Rowing Blazers x Seiko launch dinner in partnership with Wind Vintage and Basil Hayden at Boni & Mott in New York City.
Kyra Green appeared on the Spill Sesh: After Hours podcast.
Thuso Mbedu attended the Children of Blood and Bone trailer launch event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City wearing the Alexandre Birman Ysabel 100 Oro shoes.
alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet launched the Legends capsule collection filled with eleven-pieces including mesh t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more celebrating The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, and The Who, with prices ranging from $250 to $495.
alice + olivia
Amora Cacheé appeared on the Hyperfixating with Asante podcast.
Shira Lazar attended the TIME100 reception in New York City.
Violet Witchel partnered with Safeway on a special installment of her Sunday Stock series to highlight the brand’s new location in San Francisco, California.
Gabby George celebrated the opening of her studio and new workouts on the GGStudio App.
TJ Palma attended the premier of Netflix’s 72 Hours in New York City.
Carson Roney attended WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, Illinois.
Aditi Shah attended Wimbledon in London, England.
Kira Kosarin attended the Season 4 premiere of Ted Lasso in Los Angeles, California wearing the Mini Ipanema Earrings by Dean Davidson.
Jude Bellingham vacationed in Hawaii wearing the AGOLDE Viggo Tank in both Black and Powder.
MOTHER restocked The Fringe Half-Pipe Button Sneak in Folkstar jeans worn by Kacey Musgraves.
Kacey Musgraves/Instagram
Sarah Strimel Bentley appeared on the PINK365 podcast.
Mitchie Nguyen partnered with Logitech for the Logitech Ergo Series.
Enrico Bernardo released Wine & Travel: Latin America with Assouline as part of its Wine & Travel series.
Sophie Cunningham wore the AGOLDE Ellery Tee in Black while arriving to the Indiana Fever game against the New York Liberty. in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Jamie Milne announced the September 1 release of her debut cookbook, Everything Delish.
Brittny Button attended the Fendi Couture show in Rome, Italy.
Sophie Saint was named Miss July for Playboy.
Sasha Therese launched the Giselle Collection filled with modern matching sets, playful polka dots, and one-and-done statement dresses made for beachside lunches, sunset dinners, cocktail parties, and wedding weekends.
Sasha Therese/Instagram
Allie Eklund teased a new collaboration for her brand Triple E Mercantile.
Sarah Trott teased the launch of her YouTube series From Here to Where.
Dr. Arvind Chakravarthy hosted a talk at the ARTS 2026 Regenerative Therapies Summit in La Jolla, California.
Odd Muse founder Aimee Smale launched her Bridal Collection.
Carley Fortune and Caitlin Bea appeared on the Booked, Blonde & Busy podcast.
Trisha Paytas’ podcast Just Trish partnered with The Roost Podcast Network for its relaunch as Podium.
Ariana Medizade partnered with Dripology and YONO to host a Matcha and Minerals wellness event at Dripololgy in New York City.
Cameron Oaks Rogers launched the WTF Is Happening to My Body? pregnancy journal.
RE/DONE launched the The Unexpected Muse collection featuring denim, shirting, knitwear, outerwear, and more.
Graham Dunne
SUGARED + BRONZED and Show Me Your Mumu hosted a dinner in Dallas, Texas to celebrate their curated collection of Show Me Your Mumu rompers and pajama sets designed for post-services at SUGARED + BRONZED.
Louis Vuitton hosted a Men’s Fall-Winter 2026 collection preview at Louis Vuitton in Beverly Hills, California.
Celebrity tan artist and founder of Sunnee BAEskin and Dolce Glow Isabel Alysa appeared on QVC.
Olivia Dayton partnered with Target’s Wild Fable brand to launch a collection featuring apparel, sleepwear, and accessories, available to shop online now and in stores on Aug. 2.
Celebrity makeup artist Donni Davy launched the Hald Magic Velvet Flik matte eyeliners that are waterproof, transfer-proof, and smudge-proof and lasts for 16-hours in 7 shades.
Sofie Pavitt launched the Sofie Pavitt Face Studio-Smooth Microdermabrasion Treatment, an exfoliating facial scrub that buffs away dead skin cells, debris, and buildup for smoother, softer, brighter looking skin, inspired by a treatment in the Sofie Pavitt Skincare Studio in New York City.
Fuze House Montauk partnered with Hard Tail to host special workout classes in Montauk, New York.
Noah celebrated the release of the Noah x Converse Louie Lopez Pro 2 sneaker at Noah’s Los Angeles, California flagship store.
COMFRT launched the Halo Airplane Mode Travel Hoodie and Sweats with the same functionality of the classic Airplane Mode Travel Hoodie, but in a lightweight fabric.
Katie Austin hosted a Strong as a Mother workout class in Santa Monica, California to celebrate the launch of her Pregnancy Collection on the KA App.
Katie Austin
McLaren Automotive hosted an overnight getaway in Sag Harbor, New York to celebrate the McLaren Artura.
G&B Digital Management partnered with dating app The League to launch The Candid Club: NYC, an original digital series produced through &Beyond Creators’ Studio.
Lee launched Lee LQD Denim, a new collection designed with an ultra-soft, fluid fabric that delivers the look of structured denim with all-day comfort and effortless movement, featuring wide-leg jeans, skirts, dresses, and jumpsuits.
Athleta teamed up with FOLM to host workout classes at FOLM in Los Angeles, California.
Pura teamed up with Calm to launch the Pura x Calm collection, an innovative feature within the Pura app that syncs fragrances including Sleep Story, Breathe Bubble, and Soundscape, with Calm’s audio content to pair scent with guided meditations, breathing exercises, and bedtime stories.
Papa Johns hosted a giveaway for 13 couples getting married in July, where the couples got free pizza for wedding guests, exclusive wedding gifts, and their big day featured across Papa Johns’ official social channels.
Self Glow by James Read launched the Golden Days Milky Tan Toner which works to repair the skin barrier, balance oil, calm redness, and deliver hydration, along with the Sun Drenched Express Tan Mousse, a biotech-powered express tanning treatment that develops quickly and lasts for up to 7 days..
Samii Ryan partnered with Universal Products & Experiences and Illumination to release a Minions & Monsters collection featuring vintage-inspired graphics, fleece sets, mixed-fabric button-downs, utility overalls, denim, sherpa outerwear, and custom embroidered details.
Andie teamed up with Flour Shop by Amirah Kassem to launch a limited-edition collection featuring 17 styles, including one-piece swimsuits, bikinis, mommy-and-me silhouettes, and coordinating boys’ swim trunks.
L’AGENCE celebrated the launch of the Les Petites collection, the brand’s first-ever petite jeans launch featuring best-selling silhouettes reimagined for women 5’4″ and under in Los Angeles, California.
L’AGENCE/Instagram
Clique Apps launched their customizable, all-in-one digital platform to bring exclusive content, direct messaging, memberships, commerce, and ticketing together.
Blvck Paris teamed up with UNO for their second Blvck x UNO® collection featuring a blacked-out collectible deck, a new Black Out gameplay twist, and a capsule of apparel and accessories.
Pizza Hut launched its Throwback Value Menu, where fans can build their Pizza Hut buffet with favorites starting at $3, including a $10 Medium 1-Topping Stuffed Crust Pizza, $3 Personal Pan Pizza, $4 Breadsticks and Cinnamon Sticks, and the debut of Triple Cheese Mac and S’mores Sticks, along with a limited-edition streetwear capsule collection with Dinner Service NY and a rewards-app experience.
MERIT partnered with The Ritz-Carlton for a limited-edition MERIT x The Ritz Carlton Getaway Set featuring Great Skin Serum, Great Skin Double Cleanse, Clean Volume Mascara, and Flush Balm, personalized beauty consultations at select properties, curated in-room beauty bundles available through room service, co-branded turndown amenities, and a Minimalist Martini served alongside a sample of MERIT’s Retrospect fragrance.
Out of the Woods launched its Coastal White Collection featuring a lineup of crisp white totes, coolers, and everyday carryalls made for beach weekends, boat days, picnics, and summer getaways.
Peach & Lily launched the Rebound BioGlow Zombie Cream powered by the world’s first Tri-Senolytic System™ to target senescent cell damage associated with deep wrinkles, sagging skin, and inflammation.
KFC brought back its Popcorn Chicken after first appearing on the menu in the early 1990s.
CAVA launched the Harissa BBQ pita chip flavor along with the Strawberry Ginger Juice, Strawberry Steak Salad, and Pomegranate Glazed Salmon Bowl.
Bellboy launched The Shell Earrings and The Heirloom Drops in gold.
Juicy Couture Fragrances launched the Just Moi Intense eau de parfum with an amber and vanilla scent.
The State of Michigan Retirement System, one of the largest public pension funds in the United States with assets under management exceeding $100 billion, has significantly increased its holdings in Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR), the company formerly known as MicroStrategy and a leading corporate holder of Bitcoin.
Michigan Retirement System raises Strategy Inc. stake by 141% in Q2 2026, expanding holdings to 14,000 shares
Filing on July 30, 2026, reveals increased position, valued at $1.22 million, amid Bitcoin price volatility
Decision to increase Strategy shares occurs during a quarter of notable market fluctuations, aligning with broader institutional interest
According to its latest Form 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the fund raised its position by 141% to 14,000 shares. The stake was valued at approximately $1.22 million in the filing, though market prices at the time of disclosure placed it near $1.34 million.
The filing, submitted on July 30, 2026, under Accession Number 0000762152-26-000012, lists the holding as Strategy Inc. Class A shares (CUSIP 594972408). This marks a clear expansion from the fund’s previous reported position of roughly 5,800 shares at the end of 2025.
While the absolute dollar amount remains modest relative to the pension system’s overall size—the equity portion reported in the 13F totaled about $22.6 billion—the percentage increase signals deliberate portfolio adjustment toward the Bitcoin treasury company.
Filing Details and Position Growth
The State of Michigan Retirement System, administered through the Michigan Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Investments and based in East Lansing, regularly discloses its equity holdings through quarterly 13F reports.
These filings cover only publicly traded securities and do not reflect the fund’s full asset allocation, which includes private equity, fixed income, real estate, and other alternative investments that push total assets well above $100 billion. Officials have previously noted that domestic equities form a core but not exclusive component of the portfolio.
Strategy Inc. has transformed itself into a pure-play Bitcoin vehicle under the leadership of Michael Saylor. The company holds hundreds of thousands of Bitcoin on its balance sheet, funded in large part through equity and convertible debt issuances.
As a result, movements in MSTR shares closely track Bitcoin’s price, offering institutional investors a regulated equity pathway to cryptocurrency exposure without the operational complexities of direct custody or spot Bitcoin ETFs in every allocation sleeve. Michigan’s decision to more than double its share count aligns with a pattern observed among other state pensions that have added or adjusted positions in the stock over recent quarters.
The 141% increase occurred during a period of notable volatility in both Bitcoin and Strategy shares. Market observers note that pension funds often rebalance gradually and may view temporary price weakness as an opportunity to build positions within long-term strategic frameworks.
The absolute size of Michigan’s holding—14,000 shares—remains small enough that it constitutes a negligible fraction of total assets, limiting risk while still providing measurable exposure to Bitcoin’s performance through the corporate treasury model.
Broader Institutional Interest in Bitcoin Proxies
Besides Michigan, multiple U.S. state retirement systems have disclosed Strategy positions in recent 13F cycles, including large funds in New York, California, Florida, New Jersey, and Louisiana. Collectively, these public pensions have allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to the stock as an indirect means of participating in Bitcoin’s long-term appreciation.
For pension trustees, the appeal lies in liquidity, regulatory familiarity, and the absence of direct digital-asset operational burdens. Buying shares of a publicly traded company sidesteps questions around cold storage, private keys, and evolving accounting standards that can complicate direct Bitcoin or ETF ownership for some plans.
At the same time, the strategy introduces equity-specific risks—dilution from capital raises, corporate governance considerations, and correlation to broader technology and crypto markets—that pure Bitcoin holdings would not carry in the same way.
The Michigan filing arrives amid continued debate over the appropriate role of cryptocurrency-linked assets in retirement portfolios. The state’s measured increase suggests a cautious but affirmative stance: the fund is willing to expand exposure through an established corporate vehicle while keeping the overall allocation tightly constrained.
Also Read: Strategy (MSTR) Reports $8.2B Q2 Loss as Bitcoin Drops Below Cost Basis
Disclaimer: The information researched and reported by The Crypto Times is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk due to market volatility. Always Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and consult with a qualified Financial Advisor before making any investment decisions.
New York State wants Kalshi shut down and stripped of three times its gains, with damages put at a minimum of $36 billion.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission sought a restraining order against New York’s enforcement a day earlier.
Kalshi has been restrained in Michigan and Washington and refused relief in New York, with Minnesota the lone exception.
New York State is seeking at least $36 billion from Kalshi, asking a state court to shut its prediction market down and strip it of three times whatever it has earned. Attorney General Letitia James filed the petition on Friday alongside a motion for a temporary restraining order, treating the platform as an unlicensed gambling business across eight counts. Filings put the damages figure at a minimum, pending a full accounting.
The counts run from the New York Constitution’s gambling ban to bookmaking, possession of gambling records, unlicensed mobile sports wagering and the federal Wire Act. The state also wants $100,000 for every offer of sports wagering, restitution and disgorgement.
“Kalshi has chosen to ignore New York’s gaming laws, which exist to protect consumers, prevent problematic gambling, deliver funding for critical public services, and ensure that every company plays by the same rules,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a statement, adding that the state was taking action to stop its “illegal behaviour” and bring the firm into compliance.
Investigators placed test bets, including four contracts on Connecticut to beat Michigan in April for $1.14 including fees. The petition says Kalshi lets 18-year-olds open accounts where New York sets the floor at 21, and offers markets on games involving New York college teams, which even licensed operators are barred from touching.
A federal-state collision
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission had moved first. It sued New York in April to establish that federal law gives it sole authority over event contracts, and on Thursday asked the court in that case for a restraining order barring the state from bringing criminal or civil enforcement against Kalshi or any other CFTC-registered platform. New York filed the next day regardless.
Kalshi has mostly been losing. It sued the New York State Gaming Commission in the Southern District last October, was denied a preliminary injunction on July 7 and refused protection pending appeal on July 27. A Michigan judge restrained it in June, and King County Superior Court granted Washington a preliminary injunction on July 20. Its two real wins are the Third Circuit, which upheld an injunction against New Jersey in April, and Minnesota, where a federal judge blocked the state’s ban on July 27.
The Minnesota ruling turned on whether event contracts count as swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act. Judge Katherine Menendez found many do, and singled out sports and pop-culture markets as the doubtful cases. New York’s petition is aimed almost entirely at sports.
Washington versus the states
New York is the latest front in a campaign the Trump administration has run for months. The CFTC has sued Illinois, Arizona and Connecticut over their attempts to police event contracts, added Wisconsin, and moved against Minnesota within hours of its ban becoming law. The president has backed the agency directly, calling state officials who oppose prediction markets “SCUM.”
Kalshi’s own figures, quoted back at it in the petition, put its valuation at $22 billion and annualized trading volume at $178 billion. James sued Coinbase and Gemini in April on a similar theory.
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Well this is incredible news ( As if we’ve not had enough already :p ), as indyjo is bringing the classic real-time strategy game Command & Conquer to the Atari ST home computer. This ambitious project is currently a work-in-progress port of Westwood Studios’ legendary 1995 title, adapting the complex strategic gameplay to a 16bit machine that first debuted in the 1980’s. The true marvel of this port lies in its technical adaptation. While the original MS-DOS version relied on 256-colour VGA displays, the Atari ST hardware restricts the visuals to just 16 colours. To bridge this gap, the developer has heavily focused on precision colour reduction, translating the detailed military units and terrains into a vibrant, limited-palette art style. For retro enthusiasts and fans of 16-colour pixel aesthetics, this port promises a unique way to experience a PC gaming masterpiece.
The upcoming release retains all the core gameplay elements that defined the RTS genre. Players will still build fortified bases, harvest valuable Tiberium resources, and engage in intense tactical combat to wipe out enemy strongholds. Both iconic factions are included, allowing players to launch campaigns as either the UN-backed Global Defense Initiative (GDI) or the shadowy Brotherhood of NOD.
AI was not used to generate any artwork, but it was used to port the software itself and to create tools for dealing with the game’s assets.This is a port of the DOS version of Command & Conquer and inherits hardware requirements that exceed what a typical 1990 Atari STe would provide. So currently, you need either somewhat exotic hardware (an Atari STe with an acceleration card or an Atari Falcon) or an emulator like Hatari. In future versions, these requirements will be reduced to make gameplay possible on, say, an Atari Mega STe with 4MB of RAM. However, we’re not there yet. Getting RAM requirements down is the hardest part.A new format for iconsets, ST16, contains terrain tiles in the ST’s native 16 color encoding.A new format for shapes, SHPX, separates meta-information of images from actual pixel data. Only the former stays in RAM while pixel data can be read from disk as needed, freeing almost 2MB RAM.Contribution to reduced memory consumption:A 256kB interpolation table was removed.The cache for terrain tiles was removed (thanks to ST16 iconsets).A new C library, libcmini, reduces overhead.
UPDATE : A new build has been released into the wild and here is what the developer had to say “This major release is closing the gaps towards feature-completeness: cutscenes and audio with full support for 4MB hardware. Intro, mission briefings and other movie sequences play back in beautiful 16 colors, even on 8MHz CPUs. Sound effects, speech and music work even on 4MB machines, no strings attached. Command & Conquer for Atari ST is, as far as I know, the first Atari ST game with full-motion video. The remix tool was updated for this pipeline — it converts VQA movies to STV (with quality and encoding-effort options) and prepares the new audio format.”
System Requirements :
Minimum: Any Atari ST-compatible computer with at least 4MB of RAM.Recommended: 68020+ @ 32MHz, 4MB+ RAM, DMA sound, Blitter.
Nolan Wells State Autopsy Results Ready For Release … But Still Under Wraps
Published
July 31, 2026
2:44 AM PDT
Nolan Wells’ state autopsy report is now officially completed, but the results are still under wraps, this according to NBC News.
The outlet says the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted the autopsy on July 7 and has now come to its conclusions, but the agency has not shared them publicly — not even with Nolan’s family or their attorney, Ben Crump.
The revelation comes on the heels of an independent autopsy commissioned by Nolan’s family, who tapped Dr. Roger J. Mitchell, to examine the 18-year-old’s body to determine how he died.
In his report, Mitchell said Nolan’s cause and manner of death was “undetermined” pending further investigation, and he did not rule out foul play.
The doctor noted his findings were hindered because he didn’t have immediate access to Nolan after his body was found washed up on the shoreline of Horn Island on July 6. Nolan disappeared on July 4 after going on a boat trip with a bunch of friends to Horn Island, off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Mitchell also said he was limited by the fact that he didn’t have full access to some of Nolan’s body parts currently with law enforcement. Furthermore, he said he didn’t have all the information on how Nolan may have drowned.
The Jackson County District Attorney convened a grand jury to review Nolan’s case to see if criminal charges are warranted, which is standard practice in the county for unnatural deaths.
When I first came across the footage of the new 1ROLLO security robot, my mind immediately jumped to those futuristic sci-fi movies I grew up watching. Honestly, I didn’t expect a single-wheel robot to look this functional and ready for the real world so soon. Estonia-based startup Rollo Robotics just dropped something that genuinely made me pause my scrolling: the world’s first fully balanced, single-wheel autonomous security robot.
I’ve looked at a lot of security drones and four-wheeled rovers on this blog, but this approach feels entirely fresh. Let’s dive into how this one-wheeled wonder actually works and why I think it might change the way we look at autonomous security.
How on Earth Does It Balance?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: how does a massive, single wheel not just tip over the second it powers on? For years, this has been a massive headache in robotics. But Rollo Robotics managed to crack the code with a brilliantly simple yet complex physics concept.
Inside the robot’s 60-centimeter main wheel sits a high-speed, vertically mounted flywheel. As this internal flywheel spins, it generates intense gyroscopic forces. This is what keeps the robot completely upright whether it’s cruising down a hallway, standing perfectly still, or navigating uneven outdoor terrain.
What really blew my mind while researching this was how it turns. When 1ROLLO needs to change direction, the internal flywheel actually tilts, forcing the entire robot to lean into corners exactly like a motorcycle rider would. It’s paired with high-frequency sensors and proprietary control software that instantly corrects its posture against heavy winds or sudden bumps.
The Specs That Caught My Attention
Beyond the balancing act, the raw specifications of this machine prove it isn’t just a prototype toy. Here is what makes it a serious piece of industrial hardware:
Impressive Speed: It hits top speeds of 30 km/h (about 18.6 mph). For a 45-kilogram (100 lbs) wheel, that is remarkably fast and means it can cover massive campuses or factory floors quickly.True Autonomy: It runs for up to 8 hours on a single charge. The best part? When the battery gets low, it automatically drives itself back to a wireless charging pad. No human intervention needed.Built Tough: With an IP65 certification, it easily survives heavy rain and dusty industrial environments. It also operates comfortably in extreme temperatures ranging from -20°C to 55°C.
AI Brain and Cloud Connectivity
A security robot is only as good as its senses, and 1ROLLO is packed with edge AI technology. It uses a 360-degree vision system and computer vision to constantly scan its environment. It doesn’t just record video; it actively understands what it’s looking at—detecting unauthorized people, unrecognized vehicles, doors left ajar, or any unusual movement.
For navigation, it relies on an RTK-GNSS precise positioning system, which allows it to follow patrol routes with pinpoint accuracy. If it detects something suspicious, it immediately fires off an alert via 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi to a cloud-based management platform.
If I were operating this system, I’d love the fact that I could instantly access a live feed, speak through the robot’s two-way microphone and speaker system, and guide human response teams exactly where they need to be.
Why a Single Wheel? My Take on the Design
You might be wondering, why go through all this trouble just to use one wheel?
In my opinion, traditional four-wheeled robots often feel incredibly clunky. They get stuck on weird angles and struggle in tight spaces. The single-wheel design is a massive advantage here. It allows 1ROLLO to smoothly slip through narrow corridors, tight doorways, and crowded server farms where a bulky rover would just get in the way.
Furthermore, the system is completely modular. You can easily strap on a thermal camera, a PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera, night vision systems, or even an RFID reader depending on the facility’s needs.
Instead of selling this expensive hardware outright, Rollo Robotics is planning to launch this in 2027 under a subscription model (Robotics as a Service). I think this is a incredibly smart move. You pay a monthly fee, and they handle the hardware, software updates, maintenance, and future upgrades. It removes the massive upfront risk for businesses wanting to try autonomous security.
I’m genuinely excited to see these rolling around industrial parks in a couple of years. But it does make me wonder about how we’ll interact with them in our daily lives.
I’d love to hear your thoughts: If you saw a one-wheeled, AI-powered robot rolling toward you while you were walking home at night, would you feel safer, or would it creep you out just a little bit? Let me know!
As per usual, I’m going on holiday with the family this August, and so for the next week Manish is taking over. I’m sure readers won’t be too sad about this, as there’s been a decided lack of Manish’s easy humour over the past few months.
Truth be told, he’s been beavering away on some long, in-depth features for the next issue of PS magazine, which are going to fantastic. It’s great to give space and time to some of these menswear topics, and they come across so well visually in the mag.
Manish has also been helping on a new product for PS, and that will launch next week – our final one of the summer. It’ll be out on Monday, and on the Wednesday and Friday he has some lovely style pieces.
In other shop news, there was a small re-stock of the chinos this week, most of which went to readers on the waiting list. But fear not, a full restock is booked in for October.
And the PS boat shoes will be restocked the week after next. The waiting list is pretty long on those too, but we ordered a fair few so they should stick around.
In the pictures above and below, Manish is wearing a jacket from Adret with a PS navy cotton crewneck and old Ralph Lauren chinos. The beads are also vintage (purchased from the Rose Bowl) and the glasses are from Lunetterie Générale.
Any other questions, please ask him in the comments. He’s already in the hot seat, and he’s feeling toasty.
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Disney’s roster of villains is just as beloved as its lineup of heroes, and for good reason: these characters add tension, excitement, and unforgettable style to every story. Female villains, in particular, have left their mark with their unique blend of charisma, cunning, and, of course, wickedness. From classic to modern films, Disney’s female villains are among the most complex, memorable, and even strangely charming characters. Here’s a look at the best animated female Disney villains, ranked from scheming sorceresses to misunderstood monsters.
17. Te Kā
Film: Moana (2016)
Te Kā is a fiery, fearsome villain created by Maui’s theft of Te Fiti’s heart in Moana. Te Kā’s lava-covered form is intimidating, embodying wrath and destruction. However, she’s ultimately revealed to be the wronged Te Fiti, cursed by the loss of her heart. This twist showcases how misunderstood even the most monstrous villains can be.
16. Yzma
Film: The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
Yzma’s combination of dark humor, bizarre plans, and memorable quotes make her a stand-out villain. Voiced by Eartha Kitt, Yzma is both wickedly entertaining and hilariously incompetent. Her unending efforts to overthrow Emperor Kuzco—and her exasperation with her lovable sidekick, Kronk—are truly memorable.
15. Madame Medusa
Film: The Rescuers (1977)
Madame Medusa may not be as well-known as some Disney villains, but her greed and cruelty make her a villain worth noting. Obsessed with finding the world’s largest diamond, Medusa is ruthless, even resorting to kidnapping a young girl to achieve her goals. Her outlandish appearance and obsession with wealth add a unique flair to her villainy.
14. Queen of Hearts
Film: Alice in Wonderland (1951)
The Queen of Hearts is a classic villain who brings a level of whimsy and madness to Disney’s villain lineup. Her quick temper and frequent shouts of “Off with their heads!” make her both intimidating and absurd. The Queen of Hearts captures the chaotic spirit of Wonderland, showing that some villains are dangerous simply due to their unpredictability.
13. Mother Gothel
Film: Tangled (2010)
Mother Gothel is one of Disney’s most cunning villains, relying on manipulation rather than brute force to achieve her goals. Her relationship with Rapunzel is complex—she raises her as a daughter but only to harness the healing powers of Rapunzel’s magical hair. Gothel’s narcissistic and possessive nature make her an all-too-real villain.
12. Cruella de Vil
Film: 101 Dalmatians (1961)
With her fur obsession and unmistakable style, Cruella de Vil is one of Disney’s most iconic villains. Her chilling plan to turn Dalmatian puppies into fur coats is as dark as it gets, and her eccentric personality makes her unforgettable. Cruella’s dramatic flair and unmistakable look have cemented her as a Disney classic.
11. Lady Tremaine
Film: Cinderella (1950)
Lady Tremaine, also known as the Evil Stepmother, is a master of psychological manipulation. Her mistreatment of Cinderella is grounded in jealousy and bitterness, making her a villain whose cruelty feels all too real. With her icy demeanor and subtle cruelty, Lady Tremaine shows that villains don’t need magic to be effective.
10. Maleficent
Film: Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Maleficent is perhaps Disney’s most iconic villain, and with good reason. Cursed by her lack of an invitation to Princess Aurora’s christening, she places a deadly curse on the infant princess. Her ability to transform into a dragon and her menacing elegance make her a powerful and timeless villain.
9. Ursula
Film: The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ursula is a cunning sea witch with a wicked sense of humor and a knack for striking deals that don’t end well for her clients. Her powerful voice, commanding presence, and clever manipulation make her a standout Disney villain. Ursula’s charm lies in her larger-than-life personality and unapologetic ambition.
8. Evil Queen
Film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
As Disney’s first villain, the Evil Queen set the standard for all those who followed. Her jealousy of Snow White’s beauty drives her to concoct a deadly plan, showing the dangers of vanity and envy. The Queen’s iconic poisoned apple and sinister mirror are timeless symbols of her villainy.
7. Drizella and Anastasia
Film: Cinderella (1950)
While Lady Tremaine’s cruelty is subtle, her daughters Drizella and Anastasia are overtly petty and cruel. Their rivalry with Cinderella is driven by envy and entitlement, making them effective villains in their own right. The sisters represent a more comedic, if still harmful, brand of villainy.
6. Queen Narissa
Film: Enchanted (2007)
Queen Narissa blends classic villain tropes with modern humor, making her a memorable antagonist in Enchanted. She’s a wicked sorceress determined to maintain her power, willing to eliminate any competition—including Giselle. Narissa’s combination of fantasy villainy and wit makes her a unique addition to Disney’s lineup.
5. Helga Sinclair
Film: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Helga Sinclair is a rare Disney villain who operates with ruthless efficiency. While she initially poses as an ally, her true allegiance lies with her own interests. Her tactical skills and cold demeanor make her a unique and formidable villain, proving that betrayal can be as powerful as any magic.
4. Zira
Film: The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998)
Zira’s loyalty to Scar and her desire for revenge against Simba set her apart. She’s fiercely determined to reclaim power for her family, even willing to put her own children in harm’s way. Zira’s intensity and determination make her one of Disney’s most tragic villains.
3. Madame Mim
Film: The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Madame Mim is a playful yet dangerous witch who challenges Merlin to a magical duel. Her ability to shape-shift and her mischievous personality make her a standout villain in The Sword in the Stone. Mim’s sense of humor and unpredictability add a lighter, yet still formidable, villainous energy.
2. Queen Elsa (Temporarily)
Film: Frozen (2013)
Although Elsa isn’t truly a villain, her powers initially set her up as an antagonist. Her struggle with control and fear creates tension and danger for those around her. Elsa’s complexity and eventual redemption make her one of Disney’s most nuanced characters, even if her villainous phase is short-lived.
1. Maleficent
Film: Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Maleficent takes the top spot as Disney’s ultimate female villain. With her iconic horns, green fire, and powerful sorcery, she embodies pure evil. Her ability to transform into a dragon and her chilling vendetta against Princess Aurora solidify her place as Disney’s most legendary female villain.
Disney’s female villains have given audiences chills and thrills for generations, each bringing something unique to their films. Whether driven by jealousy, power, revenge, or twisted ambition, these characters remind us that villains can be just as fascinating—and sometimes even more so—than the heroes themselves.
Axis Robotics, a startup developing data infrastructure for Physical AI, has raised $12 million in a seed round led by Hack VC, with participation from Nomad Capital, Pi Network Ventures, 10K Ventures, and several angel investors. Announced on July 27, the investment comes amid growing demand for robot training data as robotics companies expand deployments beyond testing environments.
Axis stated it will use the capital to expand its data engine for robot training, aiming to build a pipeline for continuous data generation and improvement for Physical AI systems.
We’re thrilled to announce a $12M Seed round, led by @hack_vc, with participation from @NomadCapital_io , @PiCoreTeam Ventures , @10kventure and top angel investors.
Physical AI has a data problem. Models need more than static datasets—they need diverse data that evolves with… pic.twitter.com/byx4JSC7fn
— Axis Robotics (@axisrobotics) July 27, 2026
A $12M Bet on Physical AI Data
The seed round places Axis among the startups building data infrastructure for Physical AI, rather than developing robots or foundation models. Led by Hack VC with participation from Nomad Capital, Pi Network Ventures, and 10K Ventures, the deal reflects a trend of investors beginning to view robot training data as an infrastructure layer capable of scaling alongside the robotics market.
This thesis stems from a common industry challenge: Physical AI systems cannot rely solely on datasets collected just once. As robots are deployed in real-world environments, models must continuously ingest additional data from new scenarios, detect errors, and update policies to improve performance over time.
Instead of competing on hardware or foundation models, Axis aims to build the infrastructure to generate, validate, and update data for the robot training process, targeting Physical AI development teams in need of data sources that can scale with their deployments.
Inside Axis’s Data Engine
Axis’s core product is a closed-loop data engine for robot training, combining large-scale simulation, real-world egocentric data, and a human-in-the-loop post-training process.
Axis’s data engine combines three layers of data. The first is large-scale simulation to generate robot trajectories across various environments, tasks, and robot embodiments. Next is egocentric data collected from the robot’s perspective in real-world environments. Finally, the company utilizes a human-in-the-loop process to review, correct errors, and improve policies during the post-training phase.
In its year-end roadmap, Axis plans to deploy human-gated DAgger — a variant of the imitation learning method that only requires human intervention when the robot makes incorrect decisions or needs correction. The company expects this approach to help reduce the cost of generating post-training data while maintaining the quality of data for training.
According to Axis, the company’s system has processed over 200,000 verified trajectories. Previous campaigns also recorded 10,000+ valid trajectories in 3 days and 100,000 trajectories in 5 days.
The Bottleneck Holding Back Robots
Unlike language foundation models, which are trained on massive amounts of internet data, Physical AI must learn from real-world interactions — where every action is tied to objects, spaces, physical forces, and various environmental conditions.
This makes robot training data significantly harder to scale. Data is often fragmented by robot type, task, hardware, and deployment environment, while a policy that works well on one robot may not necessarily transfer to another. The gap between simulation and real-world operating conditions also continues to be a major barrier to commercial-scale robot deployment.
Consequently, many robotics companies are shifting their attention to platforms capable of continuously generating and updating data, rather than merely scaling models or hardware.
What’s Next for Axis
Following the seed round, Axis will focus on expanding both its product capabilities and operational scale. In the coming months, the company expects to deploy an egocentric data pipeline in September, expand simulation to more robot embodiments and atomic capabilities in October, and launch a large-scale post-training dataset based on human-gated DAgger by the end of the year. According to Axis, the company has collected “tens of thousands of hours” of egocentric data and is co-developing product requirements with several frontier labs.
Alongside product expansion, Axis also aims to scale its contributor network. The company stated it currently has over 100,000 contributors and aims to expand into Latin America and Eastern Europe, while increasing daily active users to 10,000. Operationally, Axis aims to generate over 500 hours of egocentric data and 50 hours of simulation data daily, while also developing the capacity to generate corrective post-training data.
On the commercial front, Axis aims to complete two to three paid pilots before the end of the year and become a preferred vendor for foundation model development companies in Q1 of next year. In the long term, the company wants to integrate its data engine directly into the training and deployment workflows of robot developers, AI model developers, and industrial operators.
Although the roadmap is fairly well-defined, Axis still needs to prove that data generated from crowdsourcing combined with simulation can improve performance during real-world robot deployment, rather than just scaling the dataset. This outcome will determine whether the company’s data infrastructure model can become a critical infrastructure layer for Physical AI as the industry transitions from initial experiments to commercial-scale deployment.
![Command & Conquer – Westwood’s hit strategy game is coming to the Atari ST, and it’s impressive! [VIDEO UPDATE]](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTjt8OlP25J65HWFkNRtzXCApoiNN1SH2jjvU_yjhY8-ov3ICupTxVhbE_mN9Y6ntkqiV-oproLI97JhZLzTQdZjcVfPPZvNTJaMagK4lrtyC5XDHA1fC-RjSfGVGyb5BtuLW1LMUFC74Mut3q-sfKGSryvJDxbRicYXJ7jP3twCQ9w43vHpEXPQd5N8/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/command.jpg?w=640&resize=640,0&ssl=1 "Command & Conquer – Westwood’s hit strategy game is coming to the Atari ST, and it’s impressive! [VIDEO UPDATE]")
