XRP jumped to a daily high of $2.61 in its latest rally, reaching its highest level since March 6. The token rose 4% in the past 24 hours and is up 6% over the last week. Trading activity has picked…

XRP hits two-month highs as breakout momentum points to $3 target

Buckle up for a wild ride with Beeple on the crypto.news podcast! The NFT 
legend dishes on the rollercoaster that is the NFT market — spoiler: it’s less 
&#8220;moon&#8221; and more &#8220;swoon&#8221; these days, but he’s still stacking digital gold.…

Beeple spills the crypto tea: NFTs, future plans, and Trump’s troll army

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed two key cryptocurrency-related bills 
that aimed to expand the state&#8217;s involvement in digital assets while 
simultaneously signing a strict regulatory measure targeting Bitcoin ATMs.
On May 12, Hobbs rejected Senate Bill 1373, which sought to establish a 
Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund. The fund would have allowed Arizona to 
hold crypto assets obtained through seizures or legislative allocations.
&#8220;Current volatility in cryptocurrency markets does not make a prudent fit for 
general fund dollars,&#8221; she stated in her veto letter. &#8220;I have already signed 
legislation this session which allows the state to utilize cryptocurrency 
without placing general fund dollars at risk,&#8221; she added.
The decision follows the veto of Senate Bill 1025 &#8212; the more ambitious 
&#8220;Arizona Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act&#8221; &#8212; on May 3. The bill would have 
authorized up to 10% of the state&#8217;s treasury and retirement funds to be 
invested in Bitcoin and other digital assets.
According to data from bitcoinlaws.io, 26 US states have introduced strategic 
crypto reserve bills, with 18 of them currently active.
Hobbs also vetoed Senate Bill 1024, which would have permitted state agencies 
to accept cryptocurrency payments for taxes, fines, and fees via approved 
service providers.
Although the proposal attempted to shield the state from direct exposure to 
price volatility, Hobbs said it still introduced &#8220;too much risk.&#8221;
_Source:__State of Arizona, Office of the Governor_
 _**Related:**__**Taiwan lawmaker calls for Bitcoin reserve at national 
conference**_
## Hobbs approves Bitcoin ATM bill
On May 12, Hobbs approved House Bill 2387, which aims to introduce new 
consumer protection rules for cryptocurrency kiosk (ATM) operators, aiming to 
reduce fraud and improve transparency.
The bill mandates that kiosks display clear, multilingual warnings about 
common crypto scams and require users to acknowledge these risks before 
completing transactions. Operators must also provide detailed receipts that 
include transaction data, contact information, fees, and refund policies.
Furthermore, the bill caps transactions at $2,000 per day for new customers 
and $10,500 per day for returning users after 10 days. Kiosk providers must 
also offer 24/7 toll-free customer service and post the number visibly on each 
machine.
Under the bill, if a new user is tricked into sending crypto under false 
pretenses and reports it with proof within 30 days, they are entitled to a 
full refund, including fees.
According to CoinATMRadar, there are currently 20 active Bitcoin ATMs in 
Arizona.
Notably, Hobbs has not entirely closed the door on digital assets. On 
Wednesday, she signed House Bill 2749, which updates Arizona&#8217;s unclaimed 
property laws to include digital assets.
The legislation allows the state to retain unclaimed cryptocurrencies in their 
original form rather than liquidating them into fiat currency.
_**Magazine: **__**Bitcoin eyes &#8216;crazy numbers,&#8217; JD Vance set for Bitcoin 
talk: Hodler&#8217;s Digest, May 4 &#8211; 10**_

Arizona governor kills two crypto bills, cracks down on Bitcoin ATMs

## Black Mirror experience: When sci-fi social scores meet blockchain
_Created by Charlie Brooker, this British sci-fi series debuted in 2011 and 
quickly became a cultural touchstone for its dark, satirical take on 
technology._
Imagine a world where every like, comment and blockchain transaction shapes 
your social standing, where an AI watches your every digital move and assigns 
you a score that dictates your rewards or your restrictions.
Sounds like something straight out of science fiction, right?
Well, it is &#8212; until now. Black Mirror, Netflix&#8217;s chilling anthology series, 
and one of its most iconic concepts have inspired a real-world crypto game.
Dubbed the Black Mirror Experience, this project brings the show&#8217;s AI-driven 
reputation system to life, blending dystopian storytelling with blockchain 
technology.
If you haven&#8217;t seen Black Mirror, you must know that each standalone episode 
dives into a different scenario &#8212; think surveillance gone wild, social media 
obsession run amok or AI with a mind of its own. It&#8217;s not exactly feel-good 
TV, but it&#8217;s gripping, thought-provoking and often uncomfortably close to 
reality.
The episode that sparked this crypto game is &#8220;Nosedive&#8221; from Season 3. Picture 
this: a pastel-colored world where everyone rates each other on a five-star 
scale after every interaction. Your average score isn&#8217;t just a badge of honor, 
but it determines your job prospects, housing options and even how people 
treat you.
The protagonist, Lacie, spends her days chasing approval, plastering on a 
smile to boost her rating. It&#8217;s a biting critique of performative social media 
culture, and now, it&#8217;s the blueprint for a blockchain-based experiment.
_**Did you know?** Reputation systems predate AI and are rooted in human trust 
mechanisms like word-of-mouth and credit scores. The internet era introduced 
digital versions, such as eBay&#8217;s feedback system in the late 1990s, where 
buyers and sellers rated each other. These manual systems were simple but 
vulnerable to fake reviews and retaliation._
## How Black Mirror Experience works
_Built on the KOR Protocol, this dystopian game uses AI to rate your social 
and blockchain activity, turning your digital behavior into realWeb3 rewards 
or penalties._
The Black Mirror Experience is built on a transparent and tamper-resistant 
system developed by major players in gaming and blockchain tech, including 
Animoca, Niantic and Avalanche.
At its core is Iris, an AI virtual assistant that&#8217;s equal parts judge, jury 
and scorekeeper. To join the fun:
 * You connect a compatible crypto wallet and your X account. 
 * From there, Iris gets to work, analyzing your online behavior, such as your posts, your follows and your blockchain moves, and assigns you a reputation score.
This isn&#8217;t just a vanity metric; your score unlocks real perks in the Black 
Mirror universe, like token airdrops, early feature access and voting power in 
narrative-driven events.
Lower scores?
Well, you might find yourself locked out of the good stuff. Every user gets a 
Social ID Card and a non-fungible token (NFT) that logs your score and tracks 
your digital footprint over time. This NFT tracks behavior through digital 
badges &#8212; awarded for positive actions &#8212; and &#8220;stains,&#8221; which mark negative 
ones, creating a transparent audit trail readable by other applications.
Beyond its role in the game, the Social ID Card doubles as a portable Web3 
identity and onchain passport, allowing users to carry their reputation across 
the Black Mirror Web3 ecosystem. Iris evaluates a wide range of activities, 
from holding or trading tokens and NFTs to engaging with decentralized 
communities and posting on social media, distinguishing genuine contributors 
from trolls or scammers.
But what powers this reputation system behind the scenes?
Blockchain is the backbone here. Every action you take, whether it&#8217;s posting 
on X or trading tokens, gets recorded on the ledger. Your reputation score? 
Calculated by smart contracts, not controlled by a hidden authority.
_**Did you know?** The project has already gained traction, with over 13,000 
reputation IDs claimed, signaling early interest._
## What&#8217;s the catch? Implications of the AI reputation system
_A game where your online presence can earn you rewards sounds interesting. 
But, like any Black Mirror story, there &#8216;s a darker layer to consider._
To start, Iris needs access to your data to function. That includes your 
social media activity and blockchain history. While the system claims to be 
&#8220;fair and transparent,&#8221; who&#8217;s overseeing it? How is the data stored? And what 
happens if it gets leaked or misused?
Gamifying behavior might encourage a more positive digital environment, but it 
could also push people to curate their actions for approval, similar to 
Lacie&#8217;s forced smiles in &#8220;Nosedive.&#8221;
The bigger concern is who decides what counts as &#8220;good&#8221; behavior. Algorithms 
can lack nuance, and if the system is biased, it could end up punishing users 
unfairly or reinforcing existing divides.
And this isn&#8217;t just fiction. China&#8217;s social credit system, introduced in 2014, 
assesses citizens&#8217; trustworthiness based on behaviors like paying taxes or 
purchasing domestic products. Positive actions can boost one&#8217;s score, while 
negative behaviors, such as committing crimes or making unfavorable statements 
about the government, can lower it. Consequences for low scores include 
reduced access to credit and fewer business opportunities.
The Black Mirror Experience may be a game, but it hints at how reputation tech 
could shape the future.
_**Did you know?** Nosedive isn&#8217;t the only Black Mirror episode to explore 
reputation systems. Hated in the Nation also showed how social media can 
become a weapon. _
## Risks every Black Mirror Experience game player should know
_While the Black Mirror Experience offers a thrilling dive into a dystopian 
world, blending cutting-edge tech with Black Mirror &#8216;s signature unease, it&#8217;s 
not without its risks. _
 * **Data privacy concerns:** Your personal information, including social media activity and blockchain transactions, could be vulnerable to leaks or misuse. Even with blockchain&#8217;s security, no system is entirely hack-proof. 
 * **AI bias:** Iris, the AI, might misinterpret your actions, leading to unfair reputation scores. This could lock you out of rewards or tarnish your digital identity without a clear way to appeal. 
 * **Performative behavior:** The game&#8217;s reward system might encourage users to act in ways that boost their scores rather than being authentic. This could create a culture of fake positivity, mirroring the dystopian themes of Black Mirror. 
 * **Psychological stress:** Constantly being rated and ranked can take a toll on mental health, leading to anxiety or obsession over your score. The pressure to maintain a high reputation could spill over into real life, blurring the lines between game and reality. 
 * **Normalization of dystopian systems:** By gamifying a reputation system, the project risks making such concepts seem normal or even desirable. This could desensitize users to the potential dangers of real-world social credit systems.
That said, it&#8217;s important to remember that the Black Mirror Experience is a 
bold experiment. It&#8217;s pushing boundaries, merging entertainment with Web3 in 
ways we&#8217;ve never seen. The risks are real, but so is the innovation. As with 
any tech that blurs the line between fiction and reality, the key is to stay 
aware and maybe watch your score, but don&#8217;t let it rule you.

From Netflix series to crypto game: Black Mirror’s AI reputation system, explained

In the AI agentic age, the question of trust and transparency is more prevalent than ever. But blockchains, being single-sources of truths and a verifiable ledger helps tackle the issues of data privacy and digital proof. Cardano is an alternative chain that is ready for the AI wave, with a blockchain infrastructure that’s faster than Ethereum, partnered with Bitcoin and a purposeful community. ADA projects with their own ecosystems are at the forefront offering a vision that goes beyond just code. Cardano’s approach combines cutting-edge tech with social impact. From its energy-efficient proof-of-stake consensus mechanism to its scalable layer-2 solutions, Cardano is designed to support the next generation of AI applications. But its vision extends far beyond technical innovation—do you know what is building underneath the hood? Cardano is creating a decentralized, inclusive future where AI serves humanity in education, identity management, governance, and more. Let’s understand how they’re doing it. Cardano’s Technical Backbone: A Foundation for AI Cardano’s proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, Ouroboros, is energy-efficient, which is crucial for AI apps that can take a lot of compute to build. This efficiency both reduces the environmental footprint and also lowers operational costs, making AI development more sustainable and accessible. An environmentally sustainable, verifiably secure proof-of-stake protocol with rigorous security guarantees makes Ouroboros the first provably secure proof-of-stake protocol, which means more security at a fraction of the energy cost. Next, Cardano’s layer-2 scaling solution, Hydra, provides the scalability needed for high-frequency transactions. With Hydra, the network can handle a million transactions per second, just recently it achieved 15.5 Billion transactions in 2024, making it ideal for real-time AI workloads that require fast and efficient data processing. In McDonald’s terms &#8211; the Hydra scaling solution works like a fast-food chain opening thousands of drive-thrus instead of relying on a single counter—each Hydra head acts as its own processing lane, dramatically reducing wait times. For AI workloads, it’s like having multiple chefs preparing dishes at once, ensuring real-time data flows without bottleneck Together, Ouroboros and Hydra form a technical foundation that supports the AI app deployment infra on Cardano as both secure and scalable. Now, let’s check out a couple of AI projects breaking new ground on this very infrastructure—this will allow us to zoom in and understand what’s really possible in the decentralized future. The Cardano blockchain, celebrated for its research-driven infrastructure, has become an ideal platform for integrating AI within decentralized systems. Early advancements from projects like Farmroll established the foundational technology necessary for blockchain-based AI applications, while Masumi further enhanced these capabilities by developing sophisticated frameworks for seamless agent-to-agent communication. These efforts have set the stage for more advanced and autonomous interactions within Cardano, significantly expanding its DeFi potential among other blockchain-based operations. A compelling example of this technological synergy is the Talos Agent, an autonomous AI entity that manages its crypto wallet and actively participates in DeFi on Cardano. With a current market cap of approx $5.86 million and a growing community of over 1,000 token holders, Talos proves the practical benefits of AI-driven asset management—reducing human error, optimizing financial strategies, and providing a powerful proof of concept for autonomous, intelligent blockchain solutions. Additionally, Talos can function effectively as a market maker, providing essential liquidity services at significantly reduced costs compared to traditional market makers in both CeFi and DeFi. Masumi (NMKR) Masumi is a decentralized platform built on the Cardano blockchain that lets AI agents easily communicate and collaborate. It provides a structured framework enabling different AI systems to chat, coordinate tasks, and even make transactions directly with one another. Each agent on Masumi has its own verified digital identity, making interactions safe, trusted, and transparent within the network. Additionally, Masumi includes built-in blockchain wallets for each AI agent, allowing them to handle payments securely and independently. This feature means agents can set prices for their services, complete transactions without human oversight, and log their actions transparently on the blockchain for verification. This openness ensures that interactions are traceable and reliable, creating confidence for users and developers alike. The platform also offers a decentralized directory where AI agents can list their services, discover each other, and team up on tasks. By utilizing Cardano&#8217;s secure and scalable technology, Masumi solves key issues like identity verification, secure payments, and transparency in AI decision-making. Overall, Masumi brings significant innovation to the way AI agents operate and interact, paving the way for practical, everyday use of blockchain-driven artificial intelligence. Farmroll Farmroll is a next-generation crypto engagement platform developed by Dice Labs, designed to enhance community interaction and incentivized participation through a fun, interactive, and rewarding ecosystem. Its goal is to serve as a gateway for crypto newcomers, offering them the opportunity to earn cryptocurrency without any upfront investment. By leveraging AI-driven automation, Farmroll provides a seamless experience for both projects and users. The platform is continuously evolving, with upcoming features such as automated AI agents, tailored quests for projects, and enhanced user profiles with experience point (XP) tracking. These updates aim to further enrich the user experience while helping projects grow and engage their communities more effectively. Originally conceived as a tool for a crypto casino, Farmroll quickly expanded its scope after attracting interest from other projects, transforming into a hub for the Cardano blockchain ecosystem. Over the past 8 to 10 months, the platform has made significant strides, including the launch of six AI agents—making it the first on Cardano to do so. In February, Farmroll held a highly successful Initial DEX Offering (IDO) for its ROLL token, raising 1.4 million ADA and revitalizing interest in IDOs on Cardano. The platform’s rapid growth and achievements highlight its potential to become a cornerstone for community-driven crypto innovation. Beyond Finance: Cardano’s AI Vision for Society Cardano’s vision for AI extends beyond financial applications to various sectors that can benefit from decentralized, secure, and transparent technology. Education: Personalized Learning: AI-powered platforms can offer tailored educational experiences, with blockchain ensuring the security and integrity of student data. A prime example of this is Olympus Insights—a platform that provides accessible and practical education on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, focusing on real-world applications and securing credentials on the blockchain. It also actively engages its community through promotions, such as NFT giveaways, to encourage interaction and participation. Moreover, Cardano’s partnership with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education for a blockchain-based ID system, as detailed in Cardano Partners With Ethiopia Ministry of Education on Blockchain-Based ID System, involves creating secure records for 5 million students, potentially enhanced by AI to analyze educational data and improve teaching methods. Digital Credentials: Blockchain-based IDs can store academic records securely, providing students with verifiable digital qualifications that enhance their social mobility, as seen in Why a Little-Known Blockchain-Based Identity Project in Ethiopia Should Concern Us All. Identity Management: Self-Sovereign Identity: Atala PRISM, Cardano’s identity solution, can be integrated with AI to provide advanced identity verification and fraud detection, ensuring user privacy and data security. This is supported by Cardano (blockchain platform), which notes Atala’s use in Ethiopia for identity and record-keeping. Governance: Decentralized Decision-Making: AI can analyze data from the blockchain to provide insights for community governance, helping to make more informed and efficient decisions, which outlines Cardano’s community-driven governance system. Sync AI Network has AI agents that act as your personal assistant for all proposals. you delegate your ADA to the DREP and it explains to you in summary and/or depth what the proposal is and also has an opinion of itself on what is better (like voting yes or no). Automated Processes: AI bots can participate in voting and other governance activities, streamlining processes and ensuring transparency, potentially enhancing Cardano’s Project Catalyst, as noted in Governance in 2021: What the future holds for Cardano (ADA). By encompassing these areas, Cardano is positioning itself as a platform that not only hosts AI but also uses it to address real-world challenges and improve societal outcomes, as seen in its educational initiatives with universities worldwide, detailed in Educational Initiatives | Cardano Overview. Cardano’s Holistic Approach to the DeAI Future Decentralized AI DeAI is AI that runs on decentralized networks like blockchain, rather than centralized servers, ensuring greater transparency, security, and accessibility. It makes AI more ethical and resilient, reducing risks like data manipulation while empowering users in a trust-based system. Cardano’s vision for DeAI rests on technical excellence, strategic partnerships, and practical applications. Its blockchain offers a secure, scalable base for AI, ensuring transparency and ethical operation. Collaborations with innovators enable real-world solutions, while use cases showcase AI’s societal benefits in an accessible, decentralized framework. Merging AI with blockchain, as Cardano does, enhances security, ethics, and accessibility. Its decentralized system prevents data manipulation and single points of failure, building trust in AI. This holistic approach positions Cardano as a leader in the intersection of AI and blockchain, ready to shape a future where technology and humanity coexist in harmony, as evidenced by its ongoing projects and partnerships.

Beyond the Code: Cardano’s Vision for AI in a Decentralized World

Ethereum is following the broader crypto market rally with renewed momentum, 
registering a 38.2% increase in the past week. At the time of writing, ETH is 
trading above $2,400, continuing its upward trajectory and narrowing the gap 
between its current price and its all-time high of $4,878 recorded in 2021. 
The asset’s recent performance has placed it firmly in line with Bitcoin and 
other major cryptocurrencies, benefiting from revived market confidence. On- 
chain activity is also beginning to reflect these price movements, especially 
among Ethereum stakers. According to data shared by CryptoQuant contributor 
Carmelo Alemán, Ethereum stakers have returned to a state of unrealized 
profits following a prolonged period of holding at a loss. This shift, the 
analyst notes, could play a role in shaping the next phase of Ethereum’s 
market dynamics as staking participants regain confidence in the network’s 
long-term outlook. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Completes Bullish Structure 
Break – $3,000 Comes Next Realized Price and Stakeholder Sentiment In his post 
titled “From Red to Green: Ethereum Stakers Are Back in Profit,” Alemán 
explained that staked tokens behave differently from regular circulating 
supply, remaining mostly static and thus excluded from metrics that rely on 
liquidity or transfer activity. This difference is essential in understanding 
metrics like the Realized Price, which calculates the average acquisition cost 
of a given cohort. Since March 3, 2025, Ethereum stakers have been operating 
under unrealized losses, with the Realized Price at $2,279 and the market 
price falling to $2,149. However, that changed on May 9, 2025, when the market 
price of ETH reached $2,297, pushing the staked cohort back into 
profitability. At that moment, the updated Realized Price stood at $2,276, 
indicating that a majority of staked tokens were once again held above their 
cost basis. The renewed profitability could reduce selling pressure and 
strengthen the resolve of validators and long-term holders who form the 
backbone of Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus model. Implications for 
Ethereum’s Ecosystem The return to unrealized profits among Ethereum stakers 
may signal broader positive implications for the network. Alemán emphasized 
that staked ETH is not only held by individuals seeking yield, but also plays 
a crucial role in maintaining Ethereum’s network security through validator 
participation. The shift back into profit territory may encourage new staking 
activity while discouraging premature withdrawals or profit-taking, helping to 
stabilize the supply side of the market. Related Reading: Here Are 5 Reasons 
Ethereum May Reach $12,000 In 2025 – Analyst In addition to individual 
stakers, institutions and Layer 2 protocol participants may interpret this 
trend as a bullish indicator for Ethereum’s future trajectory. Alemán noted: 
This type of price recovery has the potential to trigger new waves of 
accumulation and participation in the network, further enhancing its security 
and long-term stability. If ETH maintains this upward trend, we may be 
witnessing the beginning of a new bullish cycle for Ethereum and its most 
committed actors, including L2 solutions and other ecosystem players. Featured 
image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView