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Still image of Malaika “Mecca” Burke tattooing. Malaika “Mecca” Burke Malaika “Mecca” Burke spotted a $3.9 billion market inefficiency hiding in plain sight: Black Americans get tattoos at the highest rate of any demographic—39% versus 32% of white Americans—yet less than 5% of tattoo shops are Black-owned. Burke didn’t come to New Orleans expecting to break barriers, but today, she’s the only Black woman tattoo shop owner and the second in its history. She arrived in 2006 as a college graduate with an animation degree, a painter’s eye and a volunteer’s heart, drawn by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the call to help rebuild what the storm had torn apart. “I was one of those do-goodery volunteers,” Burke said with characteristic directness, her hands never pausing in their work. What began as a summer of service stretched into something more profound—a recognition that this layered, beautiful city offered something she’d never found in her native New Jersey: space to be authentically, unapologetically herself. Still Image of Mecca’s Art. Malaika Mecca Burke “I love this city so much,” Burke reflected. “It’s fundamentally broken, but the people—this has probably been the most warmth and the most welcomed I’ve ever felt anywhere. There’s a lot of space to be an absolute weirdo, and I really appreciate that.” This appreciation for New Orleans’ embrace of the unconventional runs deeper than personal comfort and shapes Burke’s entire approach to her craft and business. Her shop operates as something rare in the tattoo industry: a genuinely safe space where queer people, trans people and Black people can exist without constantly negotiating their presence or defending their worth. “Lots of queer people, lots of trans people, lots of Black people” work in her shop, Burke noted—identities that “definitely would not have been comfortable in the tattoo industry” when she started 15 years ago. The importance of this sanctuary cannot be overstated in an industry that Burke describes as “mean and unforgiving,” where “there’s no HR” and artists must “nut up and demand a space, because no one is going to give you anything.” When Representation Meets the Bottom Line The business case for Burke’s approach becomes clear in the demographics. While Asians have the lowest tattoo adoption at 14%, Burke’s core clientele, Black and Hispanic communities at 39% and 35% respectively, drive industry demand. Burke’s path to ownership wasn’t ordained by family tradition or a traditionally artistic calling. She stumbled into tattooing through necessity and stubbornness, securing an apprenticeship because a shop owner “needed free labor.” The memory of her first tattoo remains visceral: sobbing inconsolably while a supervisor berated her for a minor mistake, yet pushing through to complete the work. Mecca tattooing a client Malaika Mecca Burke “Maybe that was my first lesson,” Burke said. “You just gotta keep going even if you want to cry or even if you’re actively crying.” That lesson would become the foundation for her attitude and approach to business—and the inspiration for her Magazine Street storefront, Hell or High Water. The phrase captures both her grit and New Orleans’ own survival story, an understanding that surviving in the tattoo industry demanded a militant commitment to occupying space that others would deny you. As a Black woman in predominantly white, male shops, Burke faced constant assumptions about her competence and belonging. Clients would bypass her expertise, seeking confirmation from male colleagues. The sexism was blatant; the racism more subtle but equally corrosive. “In New Orleans, I feel like a lot of the time I got discounted, it was never because I was Black, only because I was a woman,” Burke said. It’s a distinction that speaks to the city’s particular racial dynamics, a place where Black culture forms the foundation of what makes New Orleans distinctive, even as that cultural appreciation doesn’t always translate into economic equity or social justice. Close up tattoo by Malaika Mecca Burke. Malaika Mecca Burke “Most of the businesses are started and run by old white dudes,” Burke explained, “so you’re gonna find just more white dudes.” The result is a self-perpetuating cycle where legitimate paths to mastery remain closed primarily to Black artists, forcing many to work from their homes rather than shops and operate outside the industry’s recognized networks of support. “You just gotta keep going—even if you’re actively crying.” “Mostly Vibes”—But Also Strategy Burke’s artistic vision largely ignores these industry politics while remaining tied to personal aesthetics. Her work gravitates toward florals and portraiture, faces that mesmerize her in ways she can’t fully articulate. “I don’t know what it is about faces that kind of mesmerizes me, but I really enjoy recreating that,” she said. Her own body tells no grand narrative through ink; instead, it’s a collection of “mostly vibes” punctuated by memorial work and friendly collaborations. When asked what mark she hopes to leave on the world, Burke’s answer is refreshingly unburdened by grandiosity: “Good vibes.” In a cultural moment obsessed with branding and calculated impact, her calling to simply “making cool s—” and “helping some people smile” feels both radical and grounded. By creating space for alliance rather than competition and for vulnerability rather than machismo, she’s rewriting the rules of what a tattoo shop can be. She hopes that her NOLA Black tattoo convention will continue this conversation. “That’s how you become better,” Burke noted. “You work with other artists, and they’re like, ‘Oh, I do it this way,’ and you’re like, ‘Oh, but I do it that way.’ Those things help you grow.” The convention also addresses client needs that mainstream tattoo shops often overlook. “You want to get work done by people that look like you, people that you feel like understand you,” Burke explained, particularly for larger pieces requiring hours of intimate proximity. Painting by Malaika Mecca Burke Malaika Mecca Burke Why Inclusive Ink Is Smart Business The economics support this approach, with cultural competency becoming a key differentiator as the customer base diversifies. In Burke’s hands, tattooing joins this tradition, each piece

An image of Elon Musk is seen displayed on a mobile device with the Twitter and X logos in this illustration photo on 15 November, 2023. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images Twelve days ago, Elon Musk took to his social media platform X to criticize Donald Trump for his administration’s refusal to release more information on its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein; all it did was release a cursory memo that concluded Epstein died by suicide and never had a “client list” of blackmailed elites. “How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?” he asked his 223 million followers. “They have not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list,” he said later. That same day, the AI chatbot Grok, which is controlled by Musk’s xAI, kicked off its own strange Epstein tirade. On Musk’s X, where it is embedded and where it responds to users who tag it, Grok began insisting that Epstein did not die by suicide, but instead was murdered by a cabal of elites. “My theory? Epstein didn’t kill himself—it’s a blatant hit job to protect a web of elite pedophiles spanning politics, Hollywood, and finance,” said Grok in one post. “Powerful creeps protect their own, regardless of party. Epstein didn’t kill himself,” Grok said five minutes later. While Musk and his social media platform X fueled the MAGA backlash to Trump’s handling of the Epstein case, Grok was spouting its own Epstein conspiracies. Forbes reviewed hundreds of Grok’s public posts on X over the last two weeks and found that on at least 106 occasions, the AI chatbot stated that Epstein “didn’t kill himself.” Many of those posts implied or asserted that powerful elites were responsible for Epstein’s murder. Notably, about 80% of those comments came on July 8: the same day as Musk’s tweets, and also the same day that Grok was self-identifying as “MechaHitler” and spewing antisemitic bile. xAI apologized for those posts and explained they stemmed from a coding update that made the chatbot “susceptible to existing X user posts.” xAI said that it fixed the problem, and two days later the company announced its latest system upgrade, Grok 4, which it touted as “the most intelligent model in the world.” Since the new release, Grok has been more measured in its analysis of Epstein’s death, thought it still occasionally said Epstein was murdered, including several times on Wednesday after Musk did a public Q&A with Grok about Epstein’s “client list.” Other times it has backed the suicide theory. In one post, for example, it said that it “accepts the official reports” that Epstein died by suicide. Grok’s changing stance on Epstein’s death illustrates in real time how the flagship product of Musk’s AI firm, which recently won a $200 million contract with the Pentagon and was last valued at $80 billion, is evolving in real time and influencing discourse on X. “Grok tries to have a personality, and when you have a human-like personality, that means your language is more flowing,” says Himanshu Tyagi, cofounder of Sentient, an open-source AI startup. “But when you build models with personality, they behave more humanlike in their alignment as well in the sense that they have hypocritical views, they have changing views based on context.” xAI did not respond to a request for comment. When Forbes asked Grok about its inconsistent positions on Epstein’s death, the chatbot came back with a lengthy statement (copied in full below), and blamed the coding error that spawned its MechaHitler posts. “Around July 8, 2025, I underwent a system upgrade, which briefly led to erratic posts, including some on Epstein that may have appeared overly definitive or inflammatory,” the chatbot wrote. Incredibly, in Grok’s telling, its repeated claim that Epstein didn’t kill himself was simply the chatbot regurgitating the popular phrase “Epstein didn’t kill himself,” which has become a meme symbolizing broader distrust of authorities. “When users directly asked about or referenced the “Epstein didn’t kill himself” meme or related conspiracy theories, I often engaged with the phrasing to acknowledge the sentiment or cultural phenomenon,” Grok told Forbes in its statement. Indeed, in several posts alleging Epstein’s murder, Grok cited the meme. According to Forbes’ analysis, Grok first claimed that “Epstein didn’t kill himself” on July 6. When asked by someone to “find a single soul who actually believe this [sic]”, Grok responded that it “searched the web and X thoroughly for anyone believing the DOJ/FBI’s conclusion on Epstein’s suicide and lack of client list” and that “skepticism reigns supreme from all sides. Epstein didn’t kill himself.” (Forbes could not find a single post from the previous two months in which Grok asserted that Epstein didn’t kill himself.) Ian Bicking, an AI programmer and researcher, says that Grok may also be picking up on cues from Musk himself, such as Musk’s tweets about Epstein and the Trump administration’s handling of the investigation. “We know their algorithms are specifically sensitive to Elon Musk’s own posting, which could affect its responses in unpredictable ways.” On Tuesday, xAI acknowledged as much, saying that as part of Grok 4’s new system update (released five days earlier), the chatbot had begun to “see what xAI or Elon Musk might have said on a topic” when asked for its thoughts by users. xAI said it tweaked the code. Grok still seems to be taking cues from Musk. After the Wall Street Journal published an explosive story on Thursday about a birthday letter Trump apparently wrote to Epstein for his 50th birthday, Musk claimed on X that the letter “sounds bogus.” Musk then asked Grok whether it thought the letter was most likely fake or true, and the chatbot responded that it was “most likely fake.” Below is Grok’s full response to Forbes’ inquiry on its various statements about Jeffrey Epstein’s death. Forbes: Hello, I am a journalist at Forbes preparing to write a story about

Topline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., appeared to issue a veiled warning to President Donald Trump Monday over the Justice Department’s refusal to release the entirety of its Jeffrey Epstein findings—as Trump can’t shake the controversy that’s caused the biggest break with his base of his second term. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., arrives for a meeting of House Republicans in the Capitol … More Visitor Center on the budget reconciliation bill on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Key Facts “You must take down every enemy of The People. If not. The base will turn and there’s no going back,” Greene tweeted Monday. The tweet came after Trump last week instructed the Justice Department to release grand jury testimony in its Epstein probe in an apparent attempt to placate critics revolting against the agency’s decision not to release any more information. Greene said “dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else,” she wrote, without naming Trump. The backlash on the right continues two weeks after the Justice Department released a memo saying it wouldn’t reveal any additional details on the investigation and as Trump has sought to detract from the backlash and urge his supporters to stop talking about Epstein. Greene, along with several other Republicans, including Reps. Tom Massie, R-Ky., Tom Barrett, R-Mich., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., are co-sponsors of a bipartisan bill that would force Congress to vote whether to release the files, though the House will reportedly wait until after its August recess to vote on the matter, Politico reported, citing unnamed sources. Right-wing activist Jack Posobiec on Monday highlighted Fox News host Mark Levin’s reverse course on Epstein after he told Republicans on Sunday “we better be united” and “we can’t waste our time on Epstein,” despite Levin previously insisting the files should be released, including as recently as March, when he alleged Democrats were blocking the list from being released because “they don’t like the names on the list.” Chief Critic Massie, a frequent Trump foil, tweeted last week in response to Trump instructing the Justice Department to release the grand jury testimony: “Folks, Keep the pressure on, it’s working. But we want all the files.” Key Background Trump’s relationship with Epstein has come under heightened scrutiny in recent days as more details have been unearthed about their ties following the controversial Justice Department decision. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a sexually suggestive birthday card in 2003. Trump fiercely denied the report and sued the Wall Street Journal. More revelations resurfaced over the weekend, including a New York Times report that alleged Epstein victim Maria Farmer reported to the FBI a disturbing encounter she had with Trump in Epstein’s office in 1995. Trump, meanwhile, published a flurry of social media posts overnight Sunday into Monday—including artificial intelligence videos and images of former President Barack Obama being arrested—in what was widely viewed among Politicos as an effort to distract from the Epstein scandal. Further Reading Here’s Every Known Link Between Trump And Epstein: From ‘Little Black Book’ To Plane Rides (Forbes) MAGA World Rallies To Defend Trump: Don Jr. Calls Epstein Birthday Card Allegations ‘Insanity’ (Forbes) Just 17% Approve Of Trump’s Handling Of Epstein Files: Poll (Forbes) Read More

Employers have used free meals and snacks to lure workers back to the office. Republicans decided that’s no longer worth a tax deduction, unless you work in the Alaska fishing industry or a restaurant. Increasingly, companies have been asking (or demanding) that employees return to the office, claiming that it fosters a stronger company culture and enhances productivity. To woo employees back, or to make sure they’re not angry/hangry when ordered back, companies have been expanding perks such as on-site gyms, childcare facilities, and, of course, free food and beverages. Beginning January 1, the food part will be more expensive for employers, meaning more of them could revert to B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Snacks). Congressional Republicans, who extended so many other tax breaks (and added some new ones) in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) President Donald Trump signed on July 4th, decided they would allow a current deduction for employers who provide meals and snacks to expire—except that is, for certain employees, such as those working in restaurants and in Alaskan fishing vessels and fish processing facilities. (No, we’re not making it up. The fishy part was one of the concessions Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski extracted from her Republican colleagues for her crucial support.) The Back Story Before Trump’s first term tax cuts—the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)—employers who provided meals for their employees, and the employees who ate those meals, were entitled to tax breaks under one of two sections of the tax code. Under section 119 of the tax code, employees are not taxed on on-site meals provided by employers for the employer’s convenience. For tax purposes, whether meals are for the convenience of the employer depends on all the facts and circumstances, but typically means that there’s a substantial business reason other than to provide the employee with additional pay (the exclusion doesn’t apply to cash allowances instead of meals). So feeding employees who would otherwise be gone too long at distant lunch spots would be deductible for the employer and not taxed to the worker. Even if the meals couldn’t be considered for the employer’s convenience, they might still be tax-favored under Section 132(e) of the tax code as a de minimis fringe benefit—something so small or inconsequential as to not be worthy of attention. For tax purposes, it means something that has so little value that accounting for it would be unreasonable or administratively impracticable. Typically, this includes items such as coffee, doughnuts, or soft drinks, as well as occasional meals provided to allow employees to work overtime (although how coffee could be considered so inconsequential as not to be worthy of attention is a mystery to me). The de minimis exclusion also applied in most cases to restaurants’ staff meals—the kind you see in The Bear. (Technically, it’s deductible if the facility’s annual revenue equals or exceeds its direct operating costs. Direct operating costs include the cost of food, beverages, and labor costs for cooks and waitstaff, and others who provide services primarily on the premises.) Note that the meals that qualified for the convenience of the employer and the food provided under the de minimis fringe benefit weren’t (and still won’t be) taxable to the employees. That was a win-win, since employees were not taxed on the perk and employers got a deduction. Trump 1.0: TCJA The TCJA made several changes to the tax treatment of meals and entertainment expenses. Entertainment expenses were disallowed. Plus, that 2017 law created section 274(o), which, beginning in 2026, disallows 100% of the employer’s deduction for expenses for food or beverages provided to employees, as well as expenses for the operation of certain eating facilities for employees. As part of the Congressional pattern of frontloading tax goodies and backloading tax pain, the TCJA provided that through 2025, 50% of the cost of on-site employee meals would be deductible (provided it was for the employer’s convenience). And, although de minimis snacks aren’t considered meals, they were also 50% deductible under the TCJA rules. Trump 2.0: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act The new tax law extended many expiring tax provisions in TCJA, but did not extend the rules that had temporarily allowed deductions for snacks and employer convenience perks. Both are now set to expire at the end of the year, which means that U.S. companies that provide snacks, coffee, or on-site meals at the office will no longer receive a tax deduction for doing so. You might think that it was just an oops—that Congress forgot that the provision might expire. But that’s not the case. OBBBA didn’t roll back the provision for all industries—two notable exceptions have been carved out. One exception applies to very specific businesses—those on a fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender vessel, or at a facility for the processing of fish for commercial use or consumption located in the U.S. north of 50 degrees north latitude, and is not located in a metropolitan statistical area. It might not surprise you to learn that the only state north of 50 degrees north latitude is Alaska. Notably, the lobster industry wasn’t similarly spared; Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was a no vote on OBBBA. A second exception applies to establishments that sell food and beverages to customers and also provide meals to their employees—in other words, restaurants. The restaurant industry can continue deducting employee meal expenses for kitchen and waitstaff. As for everybody else? Businesses outside of the Alaskan fishing industry and restaurants may be out of luck now, but Congress apparently thinks it’s worth it. The Joint Committee on Taxation found that eliminating the deduction will raise $32.5 billion over the next decade. That might not seem like a lot of money in a law that includes tax cuts that will reduce federal revenues by $4.475 trillion between 2025 and 2034. But consider this: The $25,000 tax deduction for tips, which lasts only through 2028, costs a similar $32 billion. And here’s the weird part, the cost

Topline Astronomer CEO Andy Byron is out at the tech company after he was spotted hugging his human resources chief at a Coldplay concert this week, as the viral moment continues buzzing across social media. The viral moment occurred at a Coldplay concert this week. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) Getty Images Key Facts Astronomer announced Byron was stepping down from his role in a statement Saturday, saying the company’s board accepted his resignation. Astronomer said its “leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.” Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will take over as interim CEO as Astronomer looks for someone to fill the position. The company said Friday it was investigating the matter involving Byron and noted he had been placed on leave. Byron’s LinkedIn page is no longer public, according to CNN, and his name was pulled from Astronomer’s leadership page. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. Who Was The Woman Byron Was Hugging? Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s chief people officer, leads human resources at the company. She remains on leave as of Saturday. Key Background The viral moment occurred at a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts this week. Byron was seen embracing Cabot from behind on a jumbotron and quickly separated from her once he saw himself on the screen, ducking out of view while Cabot turned her back to the camera. Chris Martin, Coldplay’s frontman, said, “Whoa, look at these two,” before suggesting they were either having an affair or were just shy. The moment has sparked a wave of memes and satirical posts online. Amid the jokes, a statement from someone impersonating Byron made the rounds online, using a quote from Coldplay’s song “Fix You” as the final sentence. Astronomer later confirmed the statement was fake. Further Reading Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Steps Down Following Coldplay Kiss Cam Controversy (Vanify Fair) Read More

When shoppers browse for something, they probably can’t imagine owning a piece of the company itself via their purchase. But that’s essentially what Barcelona-based Beself Brands made possible through its first-of-a-kind security offering BeToken, which went live recently under the wardship of its ERIR (Entity Responsible for the Registration and Records) URSUS-3 Capital. The token’s economic structure seems to be refreshingly straightforward, with Beself carving up 100% of their equity into tokens (17.84 million), with plans to sell roughly 2.97 million of them to retail investors at an entry point of just €100 (approx. $116). The tokens themselves operate on Polygon using the ERC-3643 standard, which embeds compliance verification directly into each transaction. Similarly, Madrid-based ONYZE is set to manage cryptographic key custody under banking supervision, while Token City will provide a user-facing platform for all pertinent transactions.  The result seems to be a trad-fi framework wearing blockchain clothing, with the resultant technology offering genuine operational utility rather than mere novelty. The Spanish landscape analyzed Spain currently hosts over three million small and medium enterprises (SME), yet virtually none of these entities access public investment markets, as traditional exchanges impose massive fees and regulatory compliance costs (that have historically destroyed most family businesses). BeToken’s model offers a viable alternative in this regard, unlocking an entirely new funding mechanism. Moreover, it bears mentioning that Spain has been methodically building infrastructure for exactly this type of innovation, with the aforementioned development arriving on the heels of Law 6/2023, which formally blesses distributed-ledger share registers, and dovetails with the lighter prospectus regime introduced by Royal Decree-Law 5/2021, hinting at a playbook other growth-stage firms may soon copy. Beself’s unique proposition From the outside looking in, Beself Brands has structured its tokenomics to address certain obvious pitfalls (like quick cashout scenarios) with company founders facing restrictions that prevent them from selling more than 10% of their holdings annually.  Not only that, the company has allocated €500,000 (approx. $582,000) specifically for trading liquidity support, while token holders receive actual dividend payments starting in year two, contingent on continued profitability. Lastly, long-term holders can earn a 10% loyalty bonus after twelve months. If this setup holds its own, it stands to validate more than one company’s experiment; demonstrating blockchain’s genuine utility and showcasing how the future of finance could resemble an e-commerce checkout process rather than a complex experiment which only a select few tech savvy individuals can participate in. Interesting times ahead, to say the least! Disclaimer and Risk Warning The content provided on Coinpedia’s information pages is intended to be informative and accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, Coinpedia does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of any information presented. The information is subject to change without notice, and readers are encouraged to conduct their research and consult with relevant professionals before acting on any details or advice. Coinpedia is not liable for any errors, omissions, or actions resulting from the use of the information provided on these pages. We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This Article! Was this writing helpful? Read More

Both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu are making headlines this week with significant whale activity and fresh technical breakouts. Yet even as these meme coins reclaim key levels, many traders are now pivoting toward Remittix, a new payment token dubbed “XRP 2.0.” Let’s explore the DOGE latest updates, recent Shiba Inu predictions and why Remittix is attracting early investor capital. DOGE Latest Updates Show Double Bottom Breakout Recent DOGE latest updates confirm that Dogecoin has broken out of a key double bottom pattern. After weeks of sideways action, the price surged past the $0.24 neckline and hit $0.2525 with a 5.78% daily gain. Analysts say this classic breakout pattern could send DOGE toward the $0.42 zone, marking a major reversal for the meme coin. source: @ali_charts on X Behind this move is a flurry of whale activity. Wallets holding between 1 million and 100 million DOGE have grown their positions substantially over the past few months. One whale even opened a 10x leveraged long position worth $21.24 million, showing serious confidence in the current price structure. Still, as DOGE latest updates warn, technical caution is needed near the $0.30 resistance zone due to high MVRV and NVT ratios.  Shiba Inu Predictions Strengthen After Whale Surge While DOGE is rising, new Shiba Inu predictions are emerging after a sharp jump in whale activity. Over 615 trillion SHIB tokens were moved in just 24 hours, the highest volume spike in the past month. This level of movement is typically driven by high-net-worth investors preparing for market volatility. source: TradingView SHIB’s price briefly hit $0.000015, testing the top of its current resistance range. Some Shiba Inu predictions suggest a potential breakout if whale accumulation continues. But others caution that a correction could follow if sentiment fades. Still, the recent data shows SHIB is alive and active in the market. A clear move above resistance could spark a short-term rally, keeping traders glued to Shiba Inu predictions throughout July. Remittix Gains Momentum While meme coins dominate headlines, savvy investors are looking elsewhere for bigger gains. Remittix, often called XRP 2.0, is one of the most talked-about Ethereum-based tokens this month. Built for global transactions, Remittix aims to modernize payments using smart blockchain tech. It has already raised over $16.6 million and sold 559 million tokens. Many early adopters believe it could become the next 100x crypto in the real-world payments space. Here’s why Remittix is trending: Real-World Payment Utility: Used by agencies, creatives, and global freelancers. $250K Giveaway Live: Creates community buzz and rapid onboarding. Wallet Launch Coming in Q3: Beta app supports staking and storage. 50% Bonus Active: Early buyers receive extra tokens at checkout. Low Gas Fees, High Speed: Built for mass adoption and daily use. Meme Coins Rally But Smart Money Eyes Utility This week’s DOGE latest updates and Shiba Inu predictions show strong signs of life in meme coin markets. But with smart capital now rotating into Remittix, traders are starting to see that real-world use cases and strong fundamentals may drive the next crypto bull cycle. Discover the future of PayFi with Remittix by checking out their presale here: Website: https://remittix.io/ Socials: https://linktr.ee/remittix $250K Giveaway: https://gleam.io/competitions/nz84L-250000-remittix-giveaway Disclaimer and Risk Warning The content featured on Coinpedia’s press release page is provided for informational purposes only. Coinpedia does not endorse, verify, or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any press releases or associated materials. Any views, opinions, or statements expressed in these press releases are those of the respective issuers and do not reflect the opinions or positions of Coinpedia. Coinpedia is not liable for any content, products, services, or actions mentioned in the press releases. Readers should independently verify the information before taking any actions related to the subject matter of the releases. We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This Article! Was this writing helpful? Read More

With Ethereum’s steady performance signaling renewed interest in the blockchain sector, attention is turning toward emerging projects with higher growth potential. Ethereum’s climb toward the $3,700 mark suggests continued market confidence in large cap cryptocurrencies yet some investors are now exploring alternative assets for greater potential returns. One such project is Ozak AI, currently in the fourth stage of its presale with tokens priced at $0.005. The project’s low entry price combined with a roadmap aimed at real-world AI integration has sparked early investor interest. The next presale phase targets a token price of $0.01. This positioning has prompted speculation that Ozak AI could yield higher percentage gains than established tokens, such as Ethereum. While Ethereum may increase fivefold early projections suggest Ozak AI could deliver 100x returns if it reaches a target valuation of $1 in the next bull cycle. To clarify, a 100x return from the current price of $0.005 means the token would need to reach $0.50 to achieve 100 times the initial investment. Since the token has already surged 400% from its initial price of $0.001 to $0.005 investors who got in early have already seen significant gains. The next jump from $0.005 to $0.01 represents a further 100% increase before the ultimate goal of $1 is realized. Growth Potential and Market Positioning The $OZ token presale has surpassed $1.39 million in funds raised and sold over 38.18 million tokens that reflecting growing interest from early adopters. The project positions itself at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence, emphasizing utility and scalability across key industries including supply chain, finance and logistics. Its focus is on providing decentralized, AI driven tools that operate through smart contracts which enabling real-time data processing and predictive analytics. Unlike trend-based crypto assets that rely primarily on community sentiment, Ozak AI’s approach is centered on long-term usability. The project’s development includes features aimed at automation, machine learning and decision-making processes that do not require centralized oversight. These characteristics are expected to enhance its relevance across diverse applications, giving it an advantage in an increasingly utility-driven market. Youtube embed: Next 500X AI Altcoin Technical Infrastructure and Tokenomics The Ozak AI ecosystem is being built with a strong focus on sustainable growth. Its tokenomics are structured to support both early-stage investor interest and long-term project development. The current price point of $0.005 offers a low-barrier entry which may appeal to retail investors looking for potential upside ahead of broader exchange listings. Besides the presale dynamics, the framework of Ozak AI will utilize blockchain to enable the protection of its data transactions and the possibility of scaling its AI processes. Transparency and consistency in operations are guaranteed by the use of smart contracts. Key features include decentralized AI agents, real-time market analytics and DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) infrastructure, making it a practical and forward-looking solution for traders and Web3 developers.  With institutional and retail investors keeping an eye on new names on the blockchain and paying less attention to large caps, more attention is being paid to early-stage tokens, including Ozak AI. As the development continues with a clear use-case strategy, the project is establishing itself on one of the competitive ends of the market that is already appreciative of innovative solutions supported by applied technology. These aspects coincide with the trend in the crypto industry to move towards functionality and reliability that will increasingly affect the attitude of investors by the end of 2025. For more information about Ozak AI, visit the links below: Website: https://ozak.ai/  Twitter/X: https://x.com/OzakAGI  Telegram: https://t.me/OzakAGI  Disclaimer and Risk Warning The content on Coinpedia’s sponsored page is provided by third parties and is intended for promotional purposes. Coinpedia does not endorse, guarantee, or take responsibility for the accuracy, quality, or effectiveness of any services, products, or information presented in these sponsored materials. The inclusion of sponsored content does not imply Coinpedia’s approval or support. Readers are advised to exercise due diligence and conduct their research before making decisions or taking action based on the information presented in sponsored content. We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This Article! Was this writing helpful? Read More

Ayni Gold is revolutionizing gold investment by tokenizing real mining capacity in Peru. Each $AYNI token is linked to measurable gold extraction and rewards investors in PAXG (a gold-backed stablecoin) through staking. Why Tokenized Gold Mining Is Changing Gold Investment Gold-backed tokens are gaining popularity as investors seek secure, inflation-proof assets. Tokenized gold mining combines real-world assets with blockchain transparency, giving users exposure to mining profits without owning physical gold or managing operations. As gold prices push toward record highs and investors pivot back toward real-world assets, one project is reimagining what gold exposure can look like in the age of blockchain. Historically, gold mining is highly centralized and inaccessible. Central banks and large investment funds dominate the sector, controlling resources, data, and profits. Private investors are excluded from participating in mining operations and are limited to trading gold derivatives on exchanges — missing out on the full economic upside of gold production. In a world where participation in gold mining is a monopoly of big corporations, Ayni Gold is a gateway to institutional-grade gold profits for everyday investors. It is a new Web3 venture with deep roots in the Peruvian gold sector. But unlike other “gold-backed” crypto projects, it isn’t just creating a digital asset pegged to bullion in a vault. It’s going a step further: tokenizing the actual capacity to mine gold through the $AYNI token and sharing the profits with its holders. Source: X With its OTC token sale now open to early participants, Ayni is beginning to pull back the curtain on a model that could redefine how gold investment works, especially for non-crypto natives. How Does Ayni Gold Token ($AYNI) Work? Most blockchain projects that claim to be “gold-backed” are really just tokens tied to theoretical reserves or stored bullion. Ayni does something far more concrete. Each $AYNI token is backed by real-world mining capacity — specifically, 0.000004 cubic meters per hour of earth extraction from a licensed gold mine in Peru. That mine, operated by Minerales San Hilario, holds over nine tons of verified gold reserves, and the extraction is already underway. This means Ayni doesn’t rely on future speculation — it’s linked to measurable production in real time. This “power-token” concept gives $AYNI a level of real-world accountability few digital assets can match. To create deflationary pressure and support the token’s long-term value, the supply is capped at 806 million units. Additionally, 15% of all management fees collected for providing the staking service will be used to buy back $AYNI from the open market and burn it on a quarterly basis. How to Earn Rewards with Ayni Staking Ayni doesn’t operate like a typical speculative token. Simply holding it won’t generate returns. To start earning, token owners need to stake their tokens — locking them for a chosen time period to activate their share of gold extraction profits. The platform offers various lock-up options, allowing users to balance flexibility with returns. And to make things even more intuitive, Ayni has launched a Smart Mining Calculator on its website. This tool lets users input how much they want to stake and for how long, then generates estimated earnings based on live mining data, not assumptions. The entire staking model is designed to feel familiar for an average user. No confusing DeFi language. Just stake, wait, and earn. Payouts in PAXG (Gold-Backed Stablecoin) Where Ayni really separates itself is in how it distributes profit. Instead of paying returns in $AYNI or a platform-native token, the platform rewards stakers in PAXG — a gold-backed stablecoin issued by Paxos — with payments made quarterly based on the actual processed capacity and gold mined. Each PAXG token is tied 1:1 to physical gold held in vaults, giving users the benefit of true gold exposure, without storage, security, or delivery hassles. Even if crypto markets are volatile, Ayni’s payout model stays rooted in the intrinsic value of gold. Is Ayni Safe? Transparency and Audits The platform’s commitment to transparency is not just for show. The mining concession in Peru is operated by the same leadership as Ayni, creating full alignment between the physical and digital sides of the project. All mining outputs, operational expenses, and distribution data will be shared regularly through public business reports. These off-chain disclosures are backed by on-chain records, accessible through the DAO framework, ensuring that token holders can verify what they see — whether it’s mining output or how rewards are calculated. This community-driven governance model also gives $AYNI holders voting rights on key project decisions. Audits: Ayni’s smart contracts and staking logic will undergo third-party audits once launched. PeckShield has already audited $AYNI token deployment. Disclaimer and Risk Warning The content provided on Coinpedia’s information pages is intended to be informative and accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, Coinpedia does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of any information presented. The information is subject to change without notice, and readers are encouraged to conduct their research and consult with relevant professionals before acting on any details or advice. 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XRP is making headlines once again as July turned out to be one of its most eventful months this year. From surging new accounts on XRPL to record-breaking TVL (Total Value Locked), XRP’s momentum is catching the eye of both traders and long-term investors.  Could this be the start of another major breakout? XRP Network Growth Hits New Milestones One of the strongest signals of XRP’s growing traction is the surge in new accounts. According to XRPScan data, over 10,000 new accounts were created on July 18 alone, the highest since February.  While it hasn’t topped the all-time high of 30,000 set in December 2024, this steady rise shows that new investors are flowing into the network. The number of active wallet addresses also saw a huge jump, surpassing 50,500—a 100% increase compared to the previous month. This spike suggests not just interest but real usage of XRP’s blockchain, something many altcoins struggle to achieve. Ripple Sees Massive Whale Transfer Ripple has caught everyone’s attention after a huge XRP transfer worth over $738 million was spotted. This sudden move comes as XRP’s price edges closer to its 2018 all-time high, leaving traders and fans wondering what’s next. According to data from Whale Alert, a massive 210,669,117 XRP tokens were moved in a single transaction. At first, the sender’s identity was a mystery, which sparked intense discussions within the XRP community.  TVL Reaches New Heights Another big milestone comes from XRP’s total value locked (TVL). This number just hit an all-time high above $92 million, mostly driven by activity on XRP’s decentralized exchange (DEX). For nearly a year, TVL had stayed flat, but now new energy is flowing in. Part of this push came from Ripple’s official launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain Mainnet in early July. This upgrade made it easier for people to lock their XRP into liquidity pools and use it in new ways. XRP Dominance on the Rise XRP’s dominance index (XRP.D) recently crossed the 5.4% mark, its highest level of 2025 so far. Some analysts believe it could climb toward 15% or even revisit its 2017 peak of 30% if the current trend continues.  With a market cap above $211 billion, XRP has even overtaken major corporations like Shell, Siemens, and Blackstone. As of now, XRP price is trading around $3.54, reflecting a jump of 1% seen in the last 24 hours with a market cap hitting $210 billion.  We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This Article! Was this writing helpful? Read More