Author: vitorcherulli

  • EA Sports Extends World Cup Prediction Streak to Five as Spain Wins 2026 Final

    EA Sports Extends World Cup Prediction Streak to Five as Spain Wins 2026 Final

    EA Sports has once again proven its predictive prowess by correctly forecasting Spain as the winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final, marking the fifth consecutive tournament where the gaming giant accurately named the champion before the first kick.

    Before the tournament, EA Sports FC posted on X: “We’ve predicted four in a row. Now we’ve run the sim again. The next champion? Spain.” What began as a promotional teaser turned into yet another spot-on forecast.

    A Five-Tournament Winning Streak

    EA Sports’ simulation correctly predicted Spain in 2010, Germany in 2014, France in 2018, and Argentina in 2022. With Spain’s victory in 2026, the streak now stands at five consecutive correct predictions. The annual simulation has become a staple of pre-World Cup discussions, sparking debate among fans and analysts alike.

    Spain Delivers on the Prediction

    Spain secured the title with a narrow 1-0 win. Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez set a World Cup final record with 11 saves to keep his team alive through 120 minutes of relentless pressure. Teenagers Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí impressed in their World Cup debuts, while Rodri earned the Golden Ball for his midfield leadership under head coach Luis de la Fuente.

    Also Read: EA Sports FC 26 Reveals the Ultimate FIFA World Cup Dream Team

    Celebrations After the Final

    Spain’s victory celebrations included appearances by members of the Spanish Royal Family and politicians. According to the Qazinform News Agency, US President Donald Trump also attended as a surprise guest of honor.

    While the simulation remains a lighthearted pre-tournament tradition rather than a guaranteed outcome, its consistent accuracy captures global attention. Spain’s 2026 triumph, powered by a blend of rising stars and experienced leaders, will be remembered for extending one of the most talked-about prediction streaks in sports.

  • Cardano’s Van Rossem Hard Fork Goes Live After Full On-Chain Governance Approval

    Cardano’s Van Rossem Hard Fork Goes Live After Full On-Chain Governance Approval

    Cardano activated its van Rossem hard fork on July 18, 2026, after final approval came through its decentralized on-chain governance system. The upgrade took effect at the boundary of epoch 644, moving the network to Protocol Version 11. It stayed within the Conway ledger era, making van Rossem an intra-era hard fork. This marked a significant milestone as one of the first major blockchain upgrades executed entirely through binding on-chain votes.

    Governance Bodies Back the Upgrade

    The hard fork received approval on July 13 from all three governance groups required under Cardano’s post-Chang framework. DReps backed the action with 77.63% support, clearing the 60% threshold. Stake pool operators also approved the upgrade, with their support reaching 52.7%, just above the 51% requirement. The Constitutional Committee completed the process with six approvals; the rule required five committee votes, and one member did not vote.

    Cardano’s Governance Model Enters a New Phase

    The activation marked a major test for Cardano’s governance structure. The system emerged through the Chang and Plomin upgrades, which gave ADA holders, stake pool operators, and the Constitutional Committee formal roles in protocol decisions. Earlier Cardano upgrades relied more heavily on founding entities or temporary governance structures. Van Rossem differed because the network authorized the change through its own on-chain process.

    Intersect, Cardano’s member-based ecosystem organization, coordinated the upgrade process. It convened a Hard Fork Working Group that included Input Output, the Cardano Foundation, EMURGO, Midnight, infrastructure providers, and other contributors.

    Testing, Technical Changes, and Market Tone

    The group focused on testing and readiness rather than final authority. Cardano ran checks across SanchoNet, Preview, and Preprod before activation. Preview moved to Protocol Version 11 on May 8. Preprod followed on June 10 after developers fixed compatibility issues affecting tools such as Ogmios and Kupo.

    Van Rossem introduces targeted changes to Plutus smart contracts, ledger consistency, and node security without changing transaction structure. It expands built-in functions across Plutus V1, V2, and V3. The upgrade also adds more efficient case expressions for basic types, arrays, optimized multi-asset value operations, modular exponentiation, and improved list handling. Additional changes cover BLS12-381 cryptographic operations and stronger uniqueness protections for stake pool verification keys. A separate Plutus cost-model update passed on June 18, which prepared pricing for the new functions before activation.

    ADA traded at $0.165 on Monday after a mild recovery in the previous week. Even so, the token remained below its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day exponential moving averages. Price action also stalled after the early-July rebound. Sellers continued to defend lower Fibonacci retracement levels from the April-to-June decline. The RSI stayed just under 50, while MACD held only slightly above zero. Funding rates turned positive on Friday and stood at 0.0061% on Monday. However, the long-to-short ratio remained at 0.90, showing bearish positioning in derivatives markets.

    Conclusion

    Cardano activated the van Rossem hard fork through its on-chain governance system after approval from DReps, stakeholder operators, and the Constitutional Committee. The upgrade moved the network to Protocol Version 11 and added Plutus and security improvements while ADA traded with mixed market signals.

  • FBI Arrests 21-Year-Old in Steam Malware Scheme That Stole $220,000 in Cryptocurrency

    FBI Arrests 21-Year-Old in Steam Malware Scheme That Stole $220,000 in Cryptocurrency

    A 21-year-old Florida man has been arrested for allegedly helping run a malware campaign that used malicious games on Steam to steal more than $220,000 in cryptocurrency from users. The arrest follows an FBI investigation that traced stolen funds through digital gift cards and food delivery orders.

    According to an FBI criminal complaint, the campaign operated between May 2024 and February 2026, infecting nearly 8,000 devices and compromising almost 80 cryptocurrency wallets. The malware was hidden in games uploaded to Steam, allowing attackers to gain access to victims’ systems and steal digital assets.

    The accused, Zyaire Wilkins of North Lauderdale, Florida, has been charged with conspiracy to obtain information by computer for private financial gain. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

    Eight Steam Games Named in Complaint

    Investigators allege the group distributed eight malware-infected games through Steam over nearly two years. Once installed, the games deployed malware capable of accessing cryptocurrency wallets on infected computers. The games named in the complaint include:

    • BlockBlasters
    • Chemia
    • Dashverse (DashFPS)
    • Lampy
    • Lunara
    • PirateFi
    • Tokenova

    Some of the titles were removed from Steam after security concerns were reported. The FBI says the games were promoted through Discord, Telegram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, targeting users known to own or trade cryptocurrency.

    FBI Followed Cryptocurrency Transactions

    The investigation advanced after agents traced stolen cryptocurrency used to purchase more than 150 digital gift cards through Bitrefill. According to court documents, many of those gift cards were redeemed for Uber Eats orders. Investigators used the associated phone numbers, delivery addresses, and transaction records to identify Wilkins as a suspect.

    The criminal complaint was filed in Washington state, where Valve, the company behind Steam, is based.

    Investigation Underway

    Federal agents claim that this was a team effort and that investigations are ongoing. They are trying to find more victims and establish the role played by other suspects. The FBI says this malware attack affected around 8,000 devices, accessed 80 crypto wallets, and stole at least $220,000 worth of cryptocurrency.

    Wilkins faces charges but has not been found guilty. The accusations made in the criminal complaint will be proved or refuted in court.

  • Netflix Acquires Ben Affleck’s AI Startup InterPositive for $587M

    Netflix Acquires Ben Affleck’s AI Startup InterPositive for $587M

    Netflix has disclosed a $587 million cash payment for a business acquired in March 2026, now confirmed to be InterPositive, the AI filmmaking startup co-founded by actor and director Ben Affleck. The streaming giant announced the purchase on March 5 but withheld the price until its latest quarterly filing revealed the $587 million figure.

    Netflix Brings InterPositive Team In-House

    InterPositive develops AI tools for film and television production, focusing on post-production tasks such as generating missing shots, background replacements, and lighting corrections. Netflix stated that the technology is designed to support filmmakers while keeping humans in control of creative decisions.

    The acquisition brings InterPositive’s full team into Netflix, with Affleck joining as a senior adviser. Netflix has not published the startup’s revenue, earlier valuation, or a detailed purchase-price breakdown.

    Affleck said he began developing the company after studying production AI systems in 2022, believing existing models did not meet filmmakers’ needs. His team recorded a private dataset on a controlled soundstage to train its first model, which studies visual logic, editing consistency, and real production conditions. InterPositive says its smaller datasets focus on filmmaking methods rather than performances. Affleck emphasized he wanted to “protect the power of human creativity and the people behind it.”

    AI Tools Address Post-Production Problems

    Film productions often discover missing material or visual errors after shooting ends. Fixing those problems can require reshoots, new sets, extra crew time, and more spending. InterPositive designed its tools to handle some corrections within the editing process.

    Its system can generate or adjust footage while following the style of existing material, matching lighting, camera movement, and scene structure. Netflix has not identified which InterPositive products are already active on its films or series, nor confirmed whether outside studios will receive the technology. In March, Affleck said he expected the broader creative community to access future work, though neither Netflix nor InterPositive provided a release schedule or licensing plan.

    Company executives said AI tools should expand creative choices without replacing writers, directors, actors, or crews. Netflix has not released employment figures, savings estimates, or production data tied directly to the startup’s technology.

    Netflix Expands Generative AI Use

    Netflix’s second-quarter shareholder letter shows wider generative AI use across its content pipeline. The company said AI workflows featured in roughly 300 titles during 2026, with most of that work taking place during post-production.

    Netflix named Glory from India, Brasil 70: A Saga do Tri, and The American Experiment as examples. Those projects used AI for enhanced crowds, historical battle scenes, and large establishing shots. Netflix said some shots may not have appeared without the technology.

    The streamer also uses AI for title discovery, natural-language search, and advertising services. Buying InterPositive adds filmmaker-focused production software to that wider technology plan. Netflix has not stated how quickly the acquisition could reduce costs.

    The $587 million disclosure gives investors a clearer figure for Netflix’s spending on production AI. Future filings may provide more information about integration expenses, accounting treatment, and the startup’s contribution to Netflix’s operations, as well as whether the tools reach outside productions.

  • Bengaluru Forest Officer Loses Rs 10 Lakh After Opening Fake WhatsApp Wedding Invite

    Bengaluru Forest Officer Loses Rs 10 Lakh After Opening Fake WhatsApp Wedding Invite

    A deputy range forest officer in Bengaluru lost nearly Rs 10 lakh after opening a fake wedding invitation sent via WhatsApp. According to police, the invitation arrived as an APK file that secretly installed malware on the officer’s mobile device.

    The malware allowed fraudsters to access the officer’s banking apps and other personal data. On July 14, they withdrew Rs 9,96,659 from the officer’s Bank of Baroda account through multiple unauthorized transactions.

    The officer, Ramesh Babu V, told investigators that he received the message from a friend’s WhatsApp number on the evening of July 13. He noticed it the next afternoon and, believing it genuine because it came from his friend and mentioned an engagement, clicked on the file.

    After discovering the fraud, the officer deleted the APK files and filed a police complaint. An investigation has been launched.

    Police suspect the APK file gave cybercriminals remote access to the phone and its banking information. Officials warned that such files often disguise themselves as trusted messages—wedding invitations, event notices, or other alerts—to trick recipients into installing malware. Once installed, the malware can steal banking app credentials, text messages, contacts, and more.

    Authorities stressed that APK scams have become a common cybercrime tactic in recent months. They advise people never to download APK files received through WhatsApp unless the sender and file are fully verified. Regularly monitoring bank alerts and immediately reporting any suspicious activity can also help limit financial losses.

  • Kraken Rolls Out USD-Settled Bitcoin and Ether Options on Kraken Pro

    Kraken Rolls Out USD-Settled Bitcoin and Ether Options on Kraken Pro

    Kraken has launched cash-settled Bitcoin and Ether options through its Kraken Pro platform, expanding its derivatives lineup. The exchange introduced European-style, USD-settled contracts via request-for-quote (RFQ) trading for eligible international clients. The rollout currently excludes Europe, North America, and Australia, though a European launch is planned for the future.

    Kraken Opens a New Options Channel

    Announced on Thursday, the new options settle in US dollars and follow European-style exercise terms. Kraken initially made them available through RFQ execution. The offering targets eligible international clients outside Europe, North America, and Australia. The exchange already holds the regulatory permissions needed to offer crypto derivatives in Europe and expects to roll out the product there later.

    The new contracts cover Bitcoin and Ether, two of the most actively traded digital assets. Kraken framed the launch as part of a broader effort to build a comprehensive financial platform around trading, payments, and digital asset services.

    Kraken Frames Options as an Underused Market

    Alexia Theodorou, Kraken’s director of derivatives, noted that crypto options still trail traditional markets by a wide margin. She said professional and institutional capital continues to move into digital assets, gradually closing that gap. Theodorou emphasized that the larger opportunity lies in expanding the market rather than chasing market share alone. She pointed out that the current crypto options market serves a narrow group of traders, leaving room for broader participation.

    She also attributed the slow growth of crypto options to product design rather than lack of demand. According to her, many traders have favored perpetual futures because those products feel simpler and more familiar.

    Simpler Contracts, Wider Access, and Margin Tools

    Kraken designed the contracts as linear, USD-settled products. This structure removes the need to manage crypto collateral or settlement. Premiums, profit and loss, and final settlement all use US dollars. The exchange placed the options inside the same unified account that clients already use for spot and futures trading. Portfolio margin is enabled by default, and offsetting positions can reduce collateral requirements across products.

    Users can also post collateral in more than 30 currencies. Kraken has added educational tools to its interface, explaining calls, puts, and multi-leg positions for traders using Kraken Pro.

    Theodorou said options matter because they let investors take positions on price, volatility, and time. Kraken plans further updates, including a public order book for better price discovery, broader geographic access, and support for more assets.

  • Wall Street Futures Gain Despite US-Iran Tensions as Nasdaq Leads Tech Rally

    Wall Street Futures Gain Despite US-Iran Tensions as Nasdaq Leads Tech Rally

    U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Monday, with investors setting aside renewed military tensions between the United States and Iran as optimism over diplomatic engagement and resilient corporate earnings buoyed market sentiment.

    Despite lingering geopolitical nervousness, futures on the technology-heavy Nasdaq outperformed their peers, signaling that traders continue to focus on fundamentals and earnings rather than reacting to events in the Middle East.

    Nasdaq Futures Outperform the Broader Market

    As of 4:47 AM GMT-5, E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures rose 183.25 points, or 0.64%, to 28,956.50. E-mini S&P 500 futures gained 24.50 points, or 0.33%, to 7,522.25, while E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 145 points, or 0.28%, to 52,520.00.

    The stronger showing in Nasdaq futures reflects ongoing investor interest in technology shares ahead of the start of the U.S. cash market.

    Markets Shift Focus from Conflict to Diplomacy

    Trading began cautiously following fresh U.S. military strikes against Iran, which kept geopolitical tensions elevated. During the session, oil prices were mixed and U.S. Treasuries rose, indicating initial concerns about the situation.

    However, market sentiment turned positive after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that communication channels remained open. According to Iranian news reports, Baghaei noted that messengers were continuing to send messages to Tehran despite the new U.S. strikes, adding that negotiations with the United States were possible as long as they aligned with Iran’s interests.

    Investors Remain Focused on Equities

    The United States has conducted its ninth consecutive strike on Iran overnight, keeping the geopolitical situation tense. Nevertheless, Monday’s gains suggest that traders are hopeful the crisis can be contained through diplomacy.

    Another key factor is that the upward movement in futures markets indicates optimism about U.S. equities. With the ongoing earnings season and strong interest in tech stocks, traders appear to be balancing geopolitical risks against stable corporate performance.

    As the U.S. cash market opens, all eyes will be on whether this positive momentum can be sustained amid ongoing geopolitical developments.

  • DADDY Meme Coin Tumbles 26% Following Andrew and Tristan Tate’s Arrest in the US

    DADDY Meme Coin Tumbles 26% Following Andrew and Tristan Tate’s Arrest in the US

    The meme coin DADDY, linked to controversial influencer Andrew Tate, experienced a sharp decline of over 26% in less than two days following the arrest of Andrew and his brother Tristan Tate in the United States on July 18. The token’s value fell from approximately $0.01475 to $0.01089 by July 20, marking a significant drop that extended a prolonged downtrend. DADDY is now trading 95.4% below its all-time high, despite a brief recovery earlier in July when it stabilized above $0.006 and approached $0.03.

    UK Prosecutors Expand Charges Against Tate Brothers

    Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that it has decided to bring additional charges against both brothers and plans to seek their extradition from the United States. Andrew Tate, 39, faces seven new rape counts, three counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation, three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, and 19 charges related to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography. Tristan Tate, 38, faces one sexual assault count, two rape counts, and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation. The alleged offenses occurred between 2010 and 2017. Both brothers have denied any wrongdoing in the British and Romanian cases.

    US Arrest Follows Romanian Extradition Delay

    Romanian authorities had previously stated they could not extradite the brothers to Britain until their domestic case concluded. However, British prosecutors later learned that the brothers planned to travel to America. The Tates flew to Florida on a private jet in February 2025 after Romania lifted restrictions that had prevented them from leaving the country. Romania’s foreign minister later mentioned that an official in the Trump administration had expressed interest in the brothers’ Romanian case, though President Donald Trump denied any knowledge of the matter. Attorney Joseph D. McBride described the US arrest as a political action, alleging that a Justice Department official acted without senior leadership approval and that a judge would likely release the brothers after reviewing the evidence.

    DADDY Extends Its Long-Term Market Decline

    DADDY has spent most of its existence in a downtrend, punctuated only by brief rallies. The July sell-off erased part of the token’s recent recovery and followed reports that Andrew Tate lost money through several market positions in 2026, including in oil and Bitcoin. Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer, has built an audience of over 10 million followers on X but was banned from YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram for violating hate speech policies. He continues to operate an online academy targeting young men, claiming to teach wealth-building and attracting women. Both brothers continue to deny all allegations against them.

    Conclusion

    DADDY coin’s 26% decline underscores the volatility and legal risks surrounding meme coins tied to controversial figures. Investors should closely monitor ongoing legal developments and market conditions before making decisions involving such assets.

  • EA Sports FC 27 Rumored for Late September 2026 Release: What Fans Can Expect

    EA Sports FC 27 Rumored for Late September 2026 Release: What Fans Can Expect

    EA Sports FC 27 is shaping up to launch in late September 2026, according to recent rumors and leaks. Following the long-standing tradition established with FIFA 06, the annual football simulation is expected to arrive on the last Friday of September — likely September 25, 2026. While EA has not yet made an official announcement, the pattern strongly supports this timeline.

    What the Rumors Say

    Leaks suggest that the game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the original Nintendo Switch. Special edition buyers may get early access a few days before the global launch.

    As for the cover stars, prominent leaker DetectiveFUT claims that Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) will appear on the Standard Edition cover for the third consecutive year, alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé. The Ultimate Edition is rumored to feature Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Gameplay Changes and Fan Expectations

    Reports point to improvements across multiple modes. Career Mode and Ultimate Team are expected to receive updates, and better player movement is a key demand from the community. Many fans feel that recent iterations have not evolved enough in Career Mode and that Ultimate Team has become repetitive. Players are also asking for improved servers, smarter AI, and smoother online matches.

    EA’s official reveal is overdue, but based on historical timing, an announcement could come in mid-July. For now, fans are waiting not just for a new release date but for substantive changes that make the game feel fresh and responsive.

  • SpaceX Stock Price Target Set at $300 by Morgan Stanley Amid AI and Starlink Growth Prospects

    SpaceX Stock Price Target Set at $300 by Morgan Stanley Amid AI and Starlink Growth Prospects

    Morgan Stanley has issued a $300 price target for SpaceX stock, marking one of Wall Street’s highest valuations for the newly public company. Analyst Adam Jonas initiated coverage with an ‘Overweight’ rating, describing $300 as the firm’s base case. As of July 20, SpaceX shares traded at $123.99, below the $135 IPO price set on June 12.

    The target implies approximately 142% upside from the current market price. However, Morgan Stanley employed an ‘intentionally wide’ valuation range, with a bear case of $75 and a bull case of $600. This wide spread reflects the numerous projects that must meet growth and cost targets over many years.

    AI Growth Drives Morgan Stanley’s Optimism

    Morgan Stanley projects SpaceX revenue will surge from $18.7 billion in 2025 to $319 billion by 2030—growth of about 17 times within five years. The bank forecasts revenue could reach $3.3 trillion by 2040, with AI services contributing a significant share.

    The forecast extends beyond rocket launches and Starlink internet services. Morgan Stanley’s model includes terrestrial data centers, enterprise AI services, satellite connectivity, and orbital computing. SpaceX’s acquisition of xAI in February integrated the Grok developer and its computing assets into the wider company.

    In its IPO filing, SpaceX presented a $28.5 trillion total addressable market, with approximately $26.5 trillion coming from AI-related markets and the remaining $2 trillion from space and connectivity. These figures represent the full market SpaceX could serve, not company revenue forecasts.

    Orbital Data Centers Underpin Long-Term Case

    SpaceX plans to leverage Starship and large satellite networks to support computing infrastructure in orbit. The company has discussed placing AI data centers above Earth, where satellites could use solar power and avoid land, power, and cooling constraints faced by ground facilities.

    However, this plan depends on Starship achieving regular and lower-cost operations. SpaceX postponed its 13th Starship test on July 16 after an engine issue triggered an automatic abort, causing shares to extend their decline and close below the IPO price for a second session.

    Starship also supports future Starlink launches. Larger satellites and higher launch capacity could expand broadband coverage and carry more computing equipment. Morgan Stanley treats launch reliability, satellite deployment, and AI demand as interconnected components of the $300 valuation.

    Valuation and Supply Risks Loom

    SpaceX reported a $4.9 billion net loss on $18.7 billion of revenue in 2025. The stock climbed as high as $225.64 after the IPO before losing more than 40% from that peak. The current market price values the company near $1.63 trillion.

    The stock faces potential selling pressure from share lockup expirations after the company reports second-quarter results. Reports indicate approximately 1.37 billion shares could become eligible for sale. While eligible shares do not always enter the market, a larger tradable supply can add volatility.

    Morgan Stanley’s $300 target rests on long-range estimates rather than current earnings. The $75 to $600 range illustrates how the valuation changes under different launch, AI, and cash-flow assumptions. SpaceX’s earnings reports, Starship tests, and AI contracts will provide fresh data for these forecasts. The stock remains sensitive to launch updates.