During the recent Southern Florida Digital Government Summit, local government and industry experts discussed some of the latest trends in cybersecurity and how local government organizations can cultivate strong and resilient cyber frameworks.

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This compares to core net income of $9.1 million, or $1.00 diluted core earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2024, and core net income of $9.6 million, or $1.06 diluted core earnings per share, for the third quarter of 2023 (see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures”).

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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) cybersecurity associate degree program ranks among the best in the United States for 2025, according to Intelligent.com. The college ranked at number 10 of the 34 top programs in the country with a score of 89.71 out of 100 points.

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THE WASHINGTON FOREIGN PRESS CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C. MODERATOR: Hello, and welcome to the Washington Foreign Press Center’s briefing on the University of Southern California Election Cybersecurity Initiative. My name is Elise Crane, and I am the moderator for today’s briefing.

University of Southern California Election Cybersecurity Initiative - United States Department of State

The Morning Brief team examines the morning's stock moves of the top trending tickers, including Kroger’s (KR) earnings-fueled gains and Moderna’s (MRNA) tumble. Other top trending stocks on the Yahoo Finance platform include Norfolk Southern (NSC) and 7-Eleven parent company Seven & I ...

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To come to this finding, the researchers looked at five factors, including “an individual’s spending on groceries, healthcare, housing, utilities, and transportation,” according to the report. The team then calculated the annual retirement income ...

This Southern State Is the Most Affordable Place to Retire in the U.S.

Southern

southern

Perhaps best known globally for sunny vacations, folkloric Flamenco, and savory Paella, Spain is also home to one of the fastest-growing technology ecosystems in Europe. According to data from Dealroom, last year, Spanish startups were collectively worth around €100 billion (USD 111 billion), outpacing countries like Norway and Denmark, but still well behind more established ecosystems like the United Kingdom, Germany, and The Netherlands. The country ranked seventh in Europe in terms of attracting venture capital and had the fourth-highest number of funding rounds, according to the report which was made in collaboration with BBVA. While cities like Madrid and Barcelona lead the country for development on Startup Genome’s Global Ecosystems report, other cities like Valencia are also playing a big role in transforming Spain into an innovation hub on the continent. Valencia, a startup hub Valencia, Europe’s fifth busiest port city, is located in Eastern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s the third most populated municipality in the country and in addition to being one of Spain’s most important cities for export and logistics, it also houses a strong manufacturing sector and is a tourism hotspot. The city’s blend of old-world architecture (it was believed to be founded in 138 B.C.) with the futuristic buildings of one of its most famous children, renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, make for an aesthetic ripe for technological innovation. And founders are taking note. According to Startup Genome data, the city’s estimated startup ecosystem value – which measures exits and startup valuations – is over USD 5 billion, and the city saw 12 exits in 2022 and five in 2023. Particularly strong are startups innovating in AI. According to data from Startup Valencia, a non-profit dedicated to promoting startups in the city, over 20% of Valencian startups are powered by AI. What’s more, nearly 35% of startup companies in the city count at least one female co-founder, and 81% of startups surveyed say they align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Overall, the non-profit reported that the city’s startup sector is growing at a rate of 16%. One big initiative from Startup Valencia that is helping to fuel that growth is their annual technology conference, VDS (formerly Valencia Digital Summit). The two-day gathering, which will host its seventh edition on October 23 and 24 under the theme “Embracing Evolution: Invest in the Leaders of Tomorrow,” convenes some of the world’s leading technology thought leaders to southern Europe. According to a company statement, the event is expected to bring together over 2,500 startups, and over 12,000 attendees from more than 100 countries. Also in attendance will be 700 investors, including representatives from global funds like Softbank and Techstars. Startups will also have a chance to pitch to investors on the demo stage, and featured speakers include Steve Chen, co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of YouTube, Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media and HUG, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, among many others. Other initiatives too are driving the startup ecosystem forward in Valencia. Recently, Startup Valencia announced a partnership with the German research institute The Center for Digital Technology and Management, which aims to help the center scale in Spain and help foment local entrepreneurship. Also, Invest in Valencia, which promotes foreign investment into the city, is creating initiatives to promote Valencia’s 5G, cybersecurity and innovation sectors. Spain’s nation-wide support of startups On a national level, Spain has been taking steps in recent years to help foster startups and the tech sector. In December of 2022, the country passed its Startups Law, which aimed to cut some bureaucratic processes for starting companies, as well as tax incentives for startups and investors, as well as lower barriers for foreigners to enter the country to start a business or work with a startup. Earlier this year, the government announced the creation of a National Entrepreneurship Office (ONE), which focuses principally on prompting startups. The platform offers information for founders who want to recruit international talent, provides spaces for networking and startup events, information on grants and accelerators, and other information relevant to entrepreneurs. And in May, the government approved its AI strategy, which will deploy a total of €2.1 billion to help shore up the country’s AI sector. The strategy includes more funding for homegrown supercomputing, a structure for building a sustainable network of data centers to power AI, as well as investments and loan opportunities for companies innovating in AI. Taken together, the push from Spain as a whole, but also from Valencia as a startup hub, aims to help propel the country to be a leader in tech in southern Europe in the years to come. At least, that is the hope. The Sociable Perhaps best known globally for sunny vacations, folkloric Flamenco, and savory Paella, Spain is also home to one of the fastest-growing technology ecosystems in Europe. According to data from Dealroom, last year, Spanish startups were collectively worth around €100 billion (USD 111 billion), outpacing countries like Norway and Denmark, but still well behind more established ecosystems like the United Kingdom, Germany, and The Netherlands. data The country ranked seventh in Europe in terms of attracting venture capital and had the fourth-highest number of funding rounds, according to the report which was made in collaboration with BBVA. according While cities like Madrid and Barcelona lead the country for development on Startup Genome’s Global Ecosystems report , other cities like Valencia are also playing a big role in transforming Spain into an innovation hub on the continent. report Valencia, a startup hub Valencia, a startup hub Valencia, Europe’s fifth busiest port city, is located in Eastern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s the third most populated municipality in the country and in addition to being one of Spain’s most important cities for export and logistics, it also houses a strong manufacturing sector and is a tourism hotspot. The city’s blend of old-world architecture (it was believed to be founded in 138 B.C.) with the futuristic buildings of one of its most famous children, renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, make for an aesthetic ripe for technological innovation. And founders are taking note. According to Startup Genome data , the city’s estimated startup ecosystem value – which measures exits and startup valuations – is over USD 5 billion, and the city saw 12 exits in 2022 and five in 2023. data Particularly strong are startups innovating in AI. According to data from Startup Valencia, a non-profit dedicated to promoting startups in the city, over 20% of Valencian startups are powered by AI. data What’s more, nearly 35% of startup companies in the city count at least one female co-founder, and 81% of startups surveyed say they align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Overall, the non-profit reported that the city’s startup sector is growing at a rate of 16%. One big initiative from Startup Valencia that is helping to fuel that growth is their annual technology conference, VDS (formerly Valencia Digital Summit). The two-day gathering, which will host its seventh edition on October 23 and 24 under the theme “Embracing Evolution: Invest in the Leaders of Tomorrow,” convenes some of the world’s leading technology thought leaders to southern Europe. VDS According to a company statement, the event is expected to bring together over 2,500 startups, and over 12,000 attendees from more than 100 countries. Also in attendance will be 700 investors, including representatives from global funds like Softbank and Techstars. Startups will also have a chance to pitch to investors on the demo stage, and featured speakers include Steve Chen , co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of YouTube, Randi Zuckerberg , founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media and HUG, Juan Antonio Samaranch , Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, among many others. Steve Chen Randi Zuckerberg Juan Antonio Samaranch Other initiatives too are driving the startup ecosystem forward in Valencia. Recently, Startup Valencia announced a partnership with the German research institute The Center for Digital Technology and Management, which aims to help the center scale in Spain and help foment local entrepreneurship. Also, Invest in Valencia , which promotes foreign investment into the city, is creating initiatives to promote Valencia’s 5G, cybersecurity and innovation sectors. announced Invest in Valencia Spain’s nation-wide support of startups Spain’s nation-wide support of startups On a national level, Spain has been taking steps in recent years to help foster startups and the tech sector. In December of 2022, the country passed its Startups Law, which aimed to cut some bureaucratic processes for starting companies, as well as tax incentives for startups and investors, as well as lower barriers for foreigners to enter the country to start a business or work with a startup. passed Earlier this year, the government announced the creation of a National Entrepreneurship Office (ONE), which focuses principally on prompting startups. The platform offers information for founders who want to recruit international talent, provides spaces for networking and startup events, information on grants and accelerators, and other information relevant to entrepreneurs. announced And in May, the government approved its AI strategy, which will deploy a total of €2.1 billion to help shore up the country’s AI sector. The strategy includes more funding for homegrown supercomputing, a structure for building a sustainable network of data centers to power AI, as well as investments and loan opportunities for companies innovating in AI. Taken together, the push from Spain as a whole, but also from Valencia as a startup hub, aims to help propel the country to be a leader in tech in southern Europe in the years to come. At least, that is the hope. The Sociable The Sociable The Sociable

Valencia’s Ambitious Plans to Become Southern Europe’s Next Startup Hub

A Floating City and The Blockade Runners by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . A southern general here A SOUTHERN GENERAL. The “Dolphin” on arriving at the Charleston quay, had been saluted by the cheers of a large crowd. The inhabitants of this town, strictly blockaded by sea, were not accustomed to visits from European ships. They asked each other, not without astonishment, what this great steamer, proudly bearing the English flag, had come to do in their waters; but when they learned the object of her voyage, and why she had just forced the passage Sullivan, when the report spread that she carried a cargo of smuggled ammunition, the cheers and joyful cries were redoubled. James Playfair, without losing a moment, entered into negotiation with General Beauregard, the military commander of the town. The latter eagerly received the young Captain of the “Dolphin,” who had arrived in time to provide the soldiers with the clothes and ammunition they were so much in want of. It was agreed that the unloading of the ship should take place immediately, and numerous hands came to help the English sailors. Before quitting his ship James Playfair had received from Miss Halliburtt the most pressing injunctions with regard to her father, and the Captain had placed himself entirely at the young girl’s service. “Miss Jenny,” he had said, “you may rely on me; I will do the utmost in my power to save your father, but I hope this business will not present many difficulties; I shall go and see General Beauregard to-day, and without asking him at once for Mr. Halliburtt’s liberty, I shall learn in what situation he is, whether he is on bail, or a prisoner.” “My poor father!” replied Jenny, sighing; “he little thinks his daughter is so near him. Oh that I could fly into his arms!” “A little patience, Miss Jenny, you will soon embrace your father. Rely upon my acting with the most entire devotion, but also with prudence and consideration.” This is why James Playfair, after having delivered the cargo of the “Dolphin” up to the General, and bargained for an immense stock of cotton, faithful to his promise, turned the conversation to the events of the day. “So,” said he, “you believe in the triumph of the slave-holders?” “I do not for a moment doubt of our final success, and as regards Charleston, Lee’s army will soon relieve it: besides, what do you expect from the Abolitionists? admitting that which will never be, that the commercial towns of Virginia, the two Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, fall under their power, what then? Will they be masters of a country they can never occupy? No, certainly not; and for my part if they are ever victorious they shall pay dearly for it.” “And you are quite sure of your soldiers?” asked the Captain; “you are not afraid that Charleston will grow weary of a siege which is ruining her?” “No, I do not fear treason; besides, the traitors would be punished remorselessly, and I would destroy the town itself by sword or fire if I discovered the least Unionist movement. Jefferson Davis confided Charleston to me, and you may be sure that Charleston is in safe hands.” “Have you any Federal prisoners?” asked James Playfair, coming to the interesting object of the conversation. “Yes, Captain,” replied the General, “it was at Charleston that the first shot of separation was fired. The Abolitionists who were here attempted to resist, and after being defeated they have been kept as prisoners of war.” “And have you many?” “About a hundred.” “Free in the town?” “They were until I discovered a plot formed by them: their chief succeeded in establishing a communication with the besiegers, who were thus informed of the situation of affairs in the town. I was then obliged to lock up these dangerous guests, and several of them will only leave their prison to ascend the slope of the citadel, where ten confederate balls will reward them for their federalism.” “What! to be shot!” cried the young man, shuddering involuntarily. “Yes, and their chief first of all. He is a very dangerous man to have in a besieged town. I have sent his letters to the President at Richmond, and before a week is passed his sentence will be irrevocably passed.” “Who is this man you speak of,” asked James Playfair, with an assumed carelessness. “A journalist from Boston, a violent Abolitionist with the confounded spirit of Lincoln.” “And his name?” “Jonathan Halliburtt.” “Poor wretch!” exclaimed James, suppressing his emotion; “whatever he may have done one cannot help pitying him. And you think that he will be shot?” “I am sure of it,” replied Beauregard. “What can you expect? War is war, one must defend oneself as best one can.” “Well, it is nothing to me,” said the Captain; “I shall be far enough away when this execution takes place.” “What! you are thinking of going away already.” “Yes, General, business must be attended to; as soon as my cargo of cotton is on board I shall be out to sea again. I was fortunate enough to enter the bay, but the difficulty is in getting out again. The ‘Dolphin’ is a good ship; she can beat any of the Federal ships for speed, but she does not pretend to distance cannon-balls, and a shell in her hull or engine would seriously affect my enterprise.” “As you please, Captain,” replied Beauregard; “I have no advice to give you under such circumstances. You are doing your business, and you are right. I should act in the same manner were I in your place; besides a stay at Charleston is not very pleasant, and a harbour where shells are falling three days out of four is not a safe shelter for your ship; so you will set sail when you please; but can you tell me what is the number and the force of the Federal ships cruising before Charleston?” James Playfair did his best to answer the General, and took leave of him on the best of terms; then he returned to the “Dolphin” very thoughtful and very depressed from what he had just heard. “What shall I say to Miss Jenny? ought I to tell her of Mr. Halliburtt’s terrible situation? or would it be better to keep her in ignorance of the trial which is awaiting her? Poor child!” He had not gone fifty steps from the governor’s house when he ran against Crockston: the worthy American had been watching for him since his departure. “Well, Captain?” James Playfair looked steadily at Crockston, and the latter soon understood he had no favourable news to give him. “Have you seen Beauregard?” he asked. “Yes,” replied James Playfair. “And have you spoken to him about Mr. Halliburtt?” “No! it was he who spoke to me about him.” “Well, Captain?” “Well! I may as well tell you everything, Crockston.” “Everything, Captain.” “General Beauregard has told me that your master will be shot within a week.” At this news any one else but Crockston would have grown furious or given way to bursts of grief, but the American, who feared nothing, only said, with almost a smile on his lips,— “Pooh! what does it matter?” “How! what does it matter?” cried James Playfair; “I tell you that Mr. Halliburtt will be shot within a week, and you answer, what does it matter?” “And I mean it—if in six days he is on board the ‘Dolphin,’ and if in seven days the ‘Dolphin’ is on the open sea.” “Right!” exclaimed the Captain, pressing Crockston’s hand. “I understand, my good fellow, you have got some pluck; and for myself, in spite of Uncle Vincent, I would throw myself overboard for Miss Jenny.” “No one need be thrown overboard,” replied the American, “only the fish would gain by that: the most important business now is to deliver Mr. Halliburtt.” “But you must know that it will be difficult to do so.” “Pooh!” exclaimed Crockston. “It is a question of communicating with a prisoner strictly guarded.” “Certainly.” “And to bring about an almost miraculous escape.” “Nonsense,” exclaimed Crockston; “a prisoner thinks more of escaping than his guardian thinks of keeping him; that’s why, thanks to our help, Mr. Halliburtt will be saved.” “You are right, Crockston.” “Always right.” “But now what will you do? there must be some plan; and there are precautions to be taken.” “I will think about it.” “But when Miss Jenny learns that her father is condemned to death, and that the order for his execution may come any day—” “She will know nothing about it, that is all.” “Yes, it will be better for her and for us to tell her nothing.” “Where is Mr. Halliburtt imprisoned?” asked Crockston. “In the citadel,” replied James Playfair. “Just so!—On board now?” “On board, Crockston!” About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (2022). A Floating City and The Blockade Runners. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/67829/67829-h/67829-h.htm This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

A southern general.

STRAIT OF MAGELLAN.—CLIMATE OF THE SOUTHERN COASTS

How Ava Labs is Reshaping Global Web3 Adoption

Jak Ava Labs přetváří globální přijetí Web3

Cómo Ava Labs está transformando la adopción global de la Web3

Comment Ava Labs révolutionne l'adoption du Web3 à l'échelle mondiale

Ava Labs が Web3 の世界的な導入をどのように変えているのか

როგორ ცვლის Ava Labs გლობალური Web3-ის მიღებას

Ava Labs Global Web3 кабыл алууну кантип өзгөртүп жатат

Kaip „Ava Labs“ keičia pasaulinį Web3 pritaikymą

Cum Ava Labs remodelează adoptarea globală Web3

Ako Ava Labs pretvára globálne prijatie Web3

Hur Ava Labs omformar Global Web3 Adoption

Paano Binabago ng Ava Labs ang Global Web3 Adoption

Ava Labs global Web3 qabul qilishni qanday o'zgartirmoqda

Blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have become the backbone of technological innovation. The AI market is expected to reach around $184 billion in 2024 and continue to rapidly expand. Similarly, the global blockchain market, valued at $17.57 billion in 2023, is projected to see substantial growth by the end of the decade. Both technologies are transforming industries and driving future advancements. Still, for all their potential, these technologies are hindered by complexity and lack of perceived benefits. Many see the blockchain as nothing more than a vehicle for cryptocurrency speculation, with few use cases outside the financial industry. AI adoption faces similar challenges, with claims that many initiatives fail to achieve meaningful business impact. Julie Shi, a 24-year-old computer scientist, Base Chain Builder, and Consumer App Expert, is working to bridge this gap. As a member of Gen Z, the first true digital natives, Shi brings a fresh perspective to the tech world, fueled by a desire to make complex technologies accessible to all. Shi's work intersects with the blockchain and AI domains, and she’s trying to make these technologies more accessible to the average user. Her innovations will reshape how we interact with emerging technology, from creating transparent gaming systems to streamlining legal processes with AI. Shi was responsible for the world's first poker game using Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a breakthrough that redefined the foundation of trust in online gaming. Redefining Trust in the Digital Age Although online poker has existed for decades, it has always been dogged by suspicions of cheating and rigged games. Some players have claimed they cannot verify that the digital deck is random or that other players aren't colluding, and the resulting lack of trust has kept many potential players away and stunted the growth of online poker. Blockchain technology presents a potential solution as it offers a decentralized and transparent ledger. However, early blockchain-based games were the same. While all transactions were visible on the blockchain, players' hands could be seen by others, which ruined the game. Shi attempts to solve these challenges through the Fully Homomorphic Encryption approach. By design, FHE allows computations on encrypted data without first decrypting it. In online poker, the game can shuffle and deal cards, and players can make decisions, all while the underlying data remains encrypted. In other words, FHE helps prove the game is fair without revealing private information. This way, players can verify that the deck is shuffled correctly and that no one is cheating, but they can't see other players' decks or card orders. While new, this approach could solve online poker's transparency and privacy concerns, paving the way for other secure, verifiable online games. Shi's Journey From USC to the Top of Blockchain Gaming Shi's journey to the top of blockchain gaming began at the University of Southern California, where she studied computer science. At 19, she became the first female hire on the algorithm team at Pony.ai, an autonomous driving company. This experience motivated her to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in computer science. She was also inspired by her mother, who is a tech entrepreneur back in China, and her achievements, further fueling her respect for innovation and entrepreneurship. After brief stints at several significant tech giants, Shi found her true calling in blockchain tech. Initially attracted by the technology's promise of improved financial services and cybersecurity to create a more transparent world, Shi soon discovered that many projects were more hype than substance. This prompted her to explore ways of building something with real-world potential, and that's how she landed in gaming. Beyond Gaming to Reshaping the Digital Infrastructure While Shi's poker game is her most high-profile project, it is just one of her significant contributions to the blockchain space. Shi has also developed tools for managing subdomains on the blockchain, work that has influenced major players like Coinbase and Uniswap. Subdomains make blockchain addresses more user-friendly and accessible to users, further democratizing this nascent technology. This focus on accessibility and user experience is a common theme in Shi's work. Whether it's making online games more trustworthy or blockchain addresses more readable, she's consistently working to bring blockchain to a broader audience. "Blockchain provides everyone fair access to the economy, and that's how we can benefit all human beings and break down the barriers for people to access resources from anywhere," Shi explains. She aims to lead this revolution by developing innovations that fast-track progress. Overcoming Challenges in A Male-Dominated Field Shi's rise to the top of her industry hasn’t always been smooth sailing. As a young woman in predominantly male spaces, it's not uncommon for her to be the only female voice in the room. Despite being a builder & leader of multiple projects, she has encountered people who assumed she was just another assistant, but that hasn't fazed her. Shi lets her work speak for itself, proving that when you're building something truly remarkable, gender becomes irrelevant. Shi's work ethic and perseverance have paid off. Over the years, she has won multiple hackathons, garnered recognition from her peers, and earned prizes at prestigious events such as ETHDenver and ETHGlobal San Francisco. She was also the Winner of the MIT Ignite GENAI Competition and a speaker at the FHE Summit at ETHCC 2024 in Brussels, where she discussed using cutting-edge cryptography to build card games. She's also one of only five people in the world to receive an ENS DAO Fellowship in recognition of her contributions to the Ethereum Name Service ecosystem. Shi's Vision for the Future of Blockchain and AI As the blockchain and AI frontiers continue to grow and evolve, Shi sees enormous potential in combining the two technologies to advance real-life utility. She believes that the blockchain provides the trust layer, while AI can handle the heavy lifting of document processing. Together, the two technologies can make processes faster, cheaper, and more accessible to everyone. As for the gaming world, Shi believes we're just scratching the surface of what's possible with blockchain and FHE. With new features debuting all the time, Shi predicts that these developments will open up a new world of possibilities. To other female engineers and aspiring entrepreneurs in this space, Shi encourages "doing it scared." "There is no time that I'm ready for anything. Especially for women, it's always scary, but at the end of the day, that's all about proving we can do it just as well.” Shi is particularly interested in bridging the gap between complex systems and everyday users, and is pursuing her passion projects in fraud-proof systems, streaming, metaverse, social apps with game theory, and AI agents in consumer apps. Armed with technical expertise and user-centric design, Julie Shi is leading the tech revolution, one innovation at a time. Blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have become the backbone of technological innovation. The AI market is expected to reach around $184 billion in 2024 and continue to rapidly expand. Similarly, the global blockchain market, valued at $17.57 billion in 2023 , is projected to see substantial growth by the end of the decade. Both technologies are transforming industries and driving future advancements. $184 billion in 2024 $184 billion in 2024 $17.57 billion in 2023 $17.57 billion in 2023 Still, for all their potential, these technologies are hindered by complexity and lack of perceived benefits . Many see the blockchain as nothing more than a vehicle for cryptocurrency speculation, with few use cases outside the financial industry. AI adoption faces similar challenges, with claims that many initiatives fail to achieve meaningful business impact. lack of perceived benefits lack of perceived benefits meaningful business impact. meaningful business impact. Julie Shi , a 24-year-old computer scientist, Base Chain Builder, and Consumer App Expert, is working to bridge this gap. As a member of Gen Z, the first true digital natives, Shi brings a fresh perspective to the tech world, fueled by a desire to make complex technologies accessible to all. Julie Shi Julie Shi Shi's work intersects with the blockchain and AI domains, and she’s trying to make these technologies more accessible to the average user. Her innovations will reshape how we interact with emerging technology, from creating transparent gaming systems to streamlining legal processes with AI. Shi was responsible for the world's first poker game using Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a breakthrough that redefined the foundation of trust in online gaming. Redefining Trust in the Digital Age Although online poker has existed for decades, it has always been dogged by suspicions of cheating and rigged games . Some players have claimed they cannot verify that the digital deck is random or that other players aren't colluding, and the resulting lack of trust has kept many potential players away and stunted the growth of online poker. suspicions of cheating and rigged games suspicions of cheating and rigged games Blockchain technology presents a potential solution as it offers a decentralized and transparent ledger. However, early blockchain-based games were the same. While all transactions were visible on the blockchain, players' hands could be seen by others, which ruined the game. Shi attempts to solve these challenges through the Fully Homomorphic Encryption approach. By design, FHE allows computations on encrypted data without first decrypting it. In online poker, the game can shuffle and deal cards, and players can make decisions, all while the underlying data remains encrypted. Fully Homomorphic Encryption Fully Homomorphic Encryption In other words, FHE helps prove the game is fair without revealing private information. This way, players can verify that the deck is shuffled correctly and that no one is cheating, but they can't see other players' decks or card orders. While new, this approach could solve online poker's transparency and privacy concerns, paving the way for other secure, verifiable online games. Shi's Journey From USC to the Top of Blockchain Gaming Shi's journey to the top of blockchain gaming began at the University of Southern California, where she studied computer science. At 19, she became the first female hire on the algorithm team at Pony.ai, an autonomous driving company. This experience motivated her to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in computer science. She was also inspired by her mother, who is a tech entrepreneur back in China, and her achievements, further fueling her respect for innovation and entrepreneurship. After brief stints at several significant tech giants, Shi found her true calling in blockchain tech. Initially attracted by the technology's promise of improved financial services and cybersecurity to create a more transparent world, Shi soon discovered that many projects were more hype than substance. This prompted her to explore ways of building something with real-world potential, and that's how she landed in gaming. Beyond Gaming to Reshaping the Digital Infrastructure While Shi's poker game is her most high-profile project, it is just one of her significant contributions to the blockchain space. Shi has also developed tools for managing subdomains on the blockchain, work that has influenced major players like Coinbase and Uniswap. Subdomains make blockchain addresses more user-friendly and accessible to users, further democratizing this nascent technology. This focus on accessibility and user experience is a common theme in Shi's work. Whether it's making online games more trustworthy or blockchain addresses more readable, she's consistently working to bring blockchain to a broader audience. "Blockchain provides everyone fair access to the economy, and that's how we can benefit all human beings and break down the barriers for people to access resources from anywhere," Shi explains. She aims to lead this revolution by developing innovations that fast-track progress. Overcoming Challenges in A Male-Dominated Field Shi's rise to the top of her industry hasn’t always been smooth sailing. As a young woman in predominantly male spaces, it's not uncommon for her to be the only female voice in the room. Despite being a builder & leader of multiple projects, she has encountered people who assumed she was just another assistant, but that hasn't fazed her. Shi lets her work speak for itself, proving that when you're building something truly remarkable, gender becomes irrelevant. Shi's work ethic and perseverance have paid off. Over the years, she has won multiple hackathons, garnered recognition from her peers, and earned prizes at prestigious events such as ETHDenver and ETHGlobal San Francisco. She was also the Winner of the MIT Ignite GENAI Competition and a speaker at the FHE Summit at ETHCC 2024 in Brussels, where she discussed using cutting-edge cryptography to build card games. She's also one of only five people in the world to receive an ENS DAO Fellowship in recognition of her contributions to the Ethereum Name Service ecosystem. MIT Ignite GENAI Competition MIT Ignite GENAI Competition FHE Summit FHE Summit Shi's Vision for the Future of Blockchain and AI As the blockchain and AI frontiers continue to grow and evolve, Shi sees enormous potential in combining the two technologies to advance real-life utility. She believes that the blockchain provides the trust layer, while AI can handle the heavy lifting of document processing. Together, the two technologies can make processes faster, cheaper, and more accessible to everyone. As for the gaming world, Shi believes we're just scratching the surface of what's possible with blockchain and FHE. With new features debuting all the time, Shi predicts that these developments will open up a new world of possibilities. To other female engineers and aspiring entrepreneurs in this space, Shi encourages "doing it scared." "There is no time that I'm ready for anything. Especially for women, it's always scary, but at the end of the day, that's all about proving we can do it just as well.” Shi is particularly interested in bridging the gap between complex systems and everyday users, and is pursuing her passion projects in fraud-proof systems, streaming, metaverse, social apps with game theory, and AI agents in consumer apps. Armed with technical expertise and user-centric design, Julie Shi is leading the tech revolution, one innovation at a time.

Unbound: Pioneering the Future of Blockchain and AI as a Gen Z Innovator

Sin límites: pioneros del futuro de la cadena de bloques y la inteligencia artificial como innovadores de la generación Z

بدون محدودیت: پیشگام در آینده بلاک چین و هوش مصنوعی به عنوان یک مبتکر Gen Z

Unbound : pionnier de l'avenir de la blockchain et de l'IA en tant qu'innovateur de la génération Z

Unbound: pioneiro no futuro da Blockchain e a IA como innovador da xeración Z

無限の可能性：Z世代のイノベーターとしてブロックチェーンとAIの未来を切り拓く

Apribojimų nėra: „Blockchain“ ir dirbtinio intelekto ateities pradininkas kaip Z kartos novatorius

अनबाउन्ड: एक जेन जेड इनोभेटरको रूपमा ब्लकचेन र एआईको भविष्यको अग्रगामी

Unbound: Pioneirismo no futuro do blockchain e da IA como um inovador da Geração Z

Unbound: Hormarinta Mustaqbalka Blockchain iyo AI oo ah Hal-abuure Gen Z

I palidhur: Pionierimi i së ardhmes së Blockchain dhe AI si një Novator i Gjeneral Z

Unbound: Пешравӣ дар ояндаи Blockchain ва AI ҳамчун навовари Gen Z

Unbound: Ku sungula Vumundzuku bya Blockchain na AI tanihi Musunguri wa Gen Z

"Every day, cyberattacks change and become even more complex,” Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala, a leader in cybersecurity, says. "We must keep ahead, predict the erratic, and guard the digital frontiers." With over nine years of experience and a history of providing strong security information and event management (SIEM) solutions, Nunnaguppala's observations speak to an industry under continual attack. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies were adopted significantly in 2023 as the cybersecurity environment kept growing. Gartner estimates cybersecurity expenditures reached $150 billion worldwide, with most changes driven by AI and ML. Nunnaguppala's inventive work is built up by this background of fast technological development. Bridging Innovation and Security Technical knowledge and creative thinking define Nunnaguppala's path in cybersecurity. His work at Equifax, a worldwide leader in information solutions, has greatly aided his development of innovative security architecture. Focusing on SIEM technology, Nunnaguppala has implemented systems that guard and foretell any risks. His most noteworthy accomplishment is creating a custom application for a banking client. This AI-driven tool monitors the health of security data logs, distinguishing between regular peak traffic periods and unusual activities that could indicate security breaches. The application uses Machine Learning to minimize false positives and improve threat detection accuracy, advancing cybersecurity operations. This yielded impressive results with reduced false positive alert fatigue by over 55% and significantly improved the signal-to-noise ratio for security analysts. "Security is about foresight and invention rather than only protection. We aim to create systems that can learn and adapt, much like the threats they are designed to combat, " Nunnaguppala says. The Growing Role of AI and ML in Cybersecurity As cyber threats become more complicated, incorporating AI and ML into cybersecurity becomes increasingly vital. A report by Cybersecurity Ventures projects that cybercrime will cost the planet $10.5 trillion yearly by 2025 and $265 billion annually by 2031 in ransomware damages alone. This tremendous rise emphasizes the immediate requirement of sophisticated security policies. Nunnaguppala's AI-based solutions find anomalies and forecast possible weaknesses, enabling companies to strengthen their defenses early on. This proactive approach is especially important in industries like banking, finance, healthcare, and gaming. His clientele includes industry leaders like Horizon BCBS, NASDAQ, Rockstar Games, Pine Bridge Investments, DTCC, DOMO, AAA, Churchill Downs, Brown-Forman, KFB, Fidelity, Ingram Inc, Meridian Health, Baystate Health, Southern Company, Equifax, Erie Insurance, and TIAA. "By integrating AI and ML, we're not just reacting to threats but anticipating them. This shift from a reactive to a proactive security stance is where the industry needs to move," he asserts. Balancing Innovation With Compliance Although innovation will shape cybersecurity in the future, compliance is still important. Nunnaguppala's work is firmly anchored in guaranteeing compliance with industry standards, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the General Data Protection Regulation and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. His knowledge of implementing and preserving compliance systems has been critically important for many of his established clients. His pioneering work in cybersecurity is evident in his two patents. His 'A Cybersecurity-Enhanced Transaction Authentication System' addresses the critical need for secure transactions through advanced SIEM integration. His 'A Quantifiable Cyber Security Compliance Measurement System' provides a groundbreaking solution for effectively measuring and managing cybersecurity compliance. These patents solidify his position as a leading authority in the field. "We can't afford to overlook compliance. It's the foundation upon which we build our security architectures. Ensuring that our solutions meet and exceed regulatory standards shows our commitment to excel," Nunnaguppala states. Well-Deserved Recognitions Nunnaguppala, who has a Master’s degree in Engineering from Lamar University and graduated in 2015 with a foundation in network communications and security, made absolute use of his exemplary educational background based on his professional recognition. He has been recognized for his exceptional achievements with several international awards and has lent his expertise to the judging panel of renowned business awards. Apart from that, he has also won the Equifax Quarterly awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024. His published studies on SIEM, AI, and ML cloud security have strengthened his position as a thought leader. Published in esteemed journals, including the International Journal for Innovative Engineering and Management Research, his pieces examine important subjects such as automating threat detection and creating safe AI/ML pipelines for vulnerability management. Looking ahead, Nunnaguppala sees AI and ML infiltrating all aspects of cybersecurity. His dedication to creativity and intense compliance awareness help set him apart in the business. He has also made substantial contributions by serving on the editorial boards of six international journals. This commitment to advancing the field extends beyond mere oversight, as the individual has personally conducted close to 30 peer reviews for various research journals. "In the end, it's about creating a safer digital world. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the drive to make it happen. The key is to stay ahead of the curve, continuously learning and evolving," he reflects. Experts like Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala will be vital in determining the course of cybersecurity as the digital environment changes. Using creativity and a never-ending quest for perfection, he guarantees the foundations of an increasingly digital society. This piece was published as part of HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. For more details, please click here. "Every day, cyberattacks change and become even more complex,” Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala , a leader in cybersecurity, says. "We must keep ahead, predict the erratic, and guard the digital frontiers." With over nine years of experience and a history of providing strong security information and event management (SIEM) solutions, Nunnaguppala's observations speak to an industry under continual attack. "Every day, cyberattacks change and become even more complex,” Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies were adopted significantly in 2023 as the cybersecurity environment kept growing. Gartner estimates cybersecurity expenditures reached $150 billion worldwide, with most changes driven by AI and ML. Nunnaguppala's inventive work is built up by this background of fast technological development. Bridging Innovation and Security Bridging Innovation and Security Technical knowledge and creative thinking define Nunnaguppala's path in cybersecurity. His work at Equifax, a worldwide leader in information solutions, has greatly aided his development of innovative security architecture. Focusing on SIEM technology, Nunnaguppala has implemented systems that guard and foretell any risks. His most noteworthy accomplishment is creating a custom application for a banking client. This AI-driven tool monitors the health of security data logs, distinguishing between regular peak traffic periods and unusual activities that could indicate security breaches. The application uses Machine Learning to minimize false positives and improve threat detection accuracy, advancing cybersecurity operations. This yielded impressive results with reduced false positive alert fatigue by over 55% and significantly improved the signal-to-noise ratio for security analysts. "Security is about foresight and invention rather than only protection. We aim to create systems that can learn and adapt, much like the threats they are designed to combat, " Nunnaguppala says. "Security is about foresight and invention rather than only protection. We aim to create systems that can learn and adapt, much like the threats they are designed to combat, " The Growing Role of AI and ML in Cybersecurity As cyber threats become more complicated, incorporating AI and ML into cybersecurity becomes increasingly vital. A report by Cybersecurity Ventures projects that cybercrime will cost the planet $10.5 trillion yearly by 2025 and $265 billion annually by 2031 in ransomware damages alone. This tremendous rise emphasizes the immediate requirement of sophisticated security policies. Nunnaguppala's AI-based solutions find anomalies and forecast possible weaknesses, enabling companies to strengthen their defenses early on. This proactive approach is especially important in industries like banking, finance, healthcare, and gaming. His clientele includes industry leaders like Horizon BCBS, NASDAQ, Rockstar Games, Pine Bridge Investments, DTCC, DOMO, AAA, Churchill Downs, Brown-Forman, KFB, Fidelity, Ingram Inc, Meridian Health, Baystate Health, Southern Company, Equifax, Erie Insurance, and TIAA. " By integrating AI and ML, we're not just reacting to threats but anticipating them. This shift from a reactive to a proactive security stance is where the industry needs to move," he asserts. By integrating AI and ML, we're not just reacting to threats but anticipating them. This shift from a reactive to a proactive security stance is where the industry needs to move," Balancing Innovation With Compliance Balancing Innovation With Compliance Although innovation will shape cybersecurity in the future, compliance is still important. Nunnaguppala's work is firmly anchored in guaranteeing compliance with industry standards, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the General Data Protection Regulation and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. His knowledge of implementing and preserving compliance systems has been critically important for many of his established clients. General Data Protection Regulation His pioneering work in cybersecurity is evident in his two patents. His ' A Cybersecurity-Enhanced Transaction Authentication System ' addresses the critical need for secure transactions through advanced SIEM integration. His ' A Quantifiable Cyber Security Compliance Measurement System ' provides a groundbreaking solution for effectively measuring and managing cybersecurity compliance. These patents solidify his position as a leading authority in the field. A Cybersecurity-Enhanced Transaction Authentication System A Cybersecurity-Enhanced Transaction Authentication System A Quantifiable Cyber Security Compliance Measurement System A Quantifiable Cyber Security Compliance Measurement System "We can't afford to overlook compliance. It's the foundation upon which we build our security architectures. Ensuring that our solutions meet and exceed regulatory standards shows our commitment to excel," Nunnaguppala states. "We can't afford to overlook compliance. It's the foundation upon which we build our security architectures. Ensuring that our solutions meet and exceed regulatory standards shows our commitment to excel," Well-Deserved Recognitions Well-Deserved Recognitions Nunnaguppala, who has a Master’s degree in Engineering from Lamar University and graduated in 2015 with a foundation in network communications and security, made absolute use of his exemplary educational background based on his professional recognition. He has been recognized for his exceptional achievements with several international awards and has lent his expertise to the judging panel of renowned business awards. Apart from that, he has also won the Equifax Quarterly awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024. His published studies on SIEM, AI, and ML cloud security have strengthened his position as a thought leader. Published in esteemed journals , including the International Journal for Innovative Engineering and Management Research, his pieces examine important subjects such as automating threat detection and creating safe AI/ML pipelines for vulnerability management. Published in esteemed journals Published in esteemed journals Looking ahead, Nunnaguppala sees AI and ML infiltrating all aspects of cybersecurity. His dedication to creativity and intense compliance awareness help set him apart in the business. He has also made substantial contributions by serving on the editorial boards of six international journals. This commitment to advancing the field extends beyond mere oversight, as the individual has personally conducted close to 30 peer reviews for various research journals. "In the end, it's about creating a safer digital world. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the drive to make it happen. The key is to stay ahead of the curve, continuously learning and evolving," he reflects. "In the end, it's about creating a safer digital world. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the drive to make it happen. The key is to stay ahead of the curve, continuously learning and evolving," Experts like Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala will be vital in determining the course of cybersecurity as the digital environment changes. Using creativity and a never-ending quest for perfection, he guarantees the foundations of an increasingly digital society. This piece was published as part of HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. For more details, please click here. This piece was published as part of HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. For more details, please click here . here

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala Advances Cybersecurity With AI and Machine Learning Solutions

লক্ষ্মী শরৎ চন্দ্র নুন্নাগুপ্পালা এআই এবং মেশিন লার্নিং সলিউশনের সাথে সাইবার সিকিউরিটি অগ্রসর করেছেন

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala verbessert Cybersicherheit mit KI- und Machine-Learning-Lösungen

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala promueve la ciberseguridad con soluciones de inteligencia artificial y aprendizaje automático

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala edistää kyberturvallisuutta tekoäly- ja koneoppimisratkaisuilla

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala-ն զարգացնում է կիբերանվտանգությունը AI-ի և մեքենայական ուսուցման լուծումների միջոցով

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala promuove la sicurezza informatica con soluzioni di intelligenza artificiale e apprendimento automatico

ラクシュミ・サラト・チャンドラ・ヌンナグパラ、AIと機械学習ソリューションでサイバーセキュリティを強化

Лаксми Сарат Чандра Нуннагуппала AI және машиналық оқыту шешімдерімен киберқауіпсіздікті жақсартады

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala ជំរុញសុវត្ថិភាពអ៊ីនធឺណិតជាមួយនឹងដំណោះស្រាយ AI និង Machine Learning

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala tobulina kibernetinį saugumą naudodama AI ir mašininio mokymosi sprendimus

Laxmi Sarat Chandra Nunnaguppala rozwija cyberbezpieczeństwo dzięki rozwiązaniom opartym na sztucznej inteligencji i uczeniu maszynowym

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On July 30th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Nader Al-Naji has been charged with defrauding investors after raising over $250 million from the unregistered sales of BitClout's native token, BTCLT. According to the SEC complaint, Al-Naji misled these investors by claiming he did not control the token proceeds and would not use the funds as compensation for himself nor other BitClout employees. Despite those explicit claims, the SEC alleges Al-Naji used investor funds to personally enrich himself, his relatives, his companies, and others close to him. A former junior world champion rower and Princeton University graduate, Nader Al-Naji also worked as a software engineer at Google before entering the world of crypto. In 2018, Al-Naji raised over $133 million for his venture, Intangible Labs, which aimed to develop a stable cryptocurrency called "Basis". After failing to deliver Basis due to regulatory concerns, Al-Naji earned himself a positive reputation in the industry when he returned all $133 million that was originally raised for the project. Al-Naji went on to found BitClout in 2021. BitClout, described as “The First Crypto Social Network", was essentially a blockchain-based social media platform where users could buy and sell tokens related to people's social profiles. In early 2022, BitClout was rebranded to DeSo (which stands for Decentralized Social). The goal of the rebrand was to add a decentralized layer that allowed for applications to be built on top of the DeSo blockchain. “As alleged in our complaint, Al-Naji attempted to evade the federal securities laws and defraud the investing public, mistakenly believing that ‘being "fake" decentralized generally confuses regulators and deters them from going after you’.
He is obviously wrong: as we have shown time and again, and as reflected in the SEC’s detailed allegations here, we are guided by economic realities, not cosmetic labels. The dedicated staff of the SEC uncovered Al-Naji’s lies and will now hold him accountable for misleading investors.”-- Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement Since late 2020, Nader Al-Naji has allegedly raised approximately $257 million through the sale of BTCLT. Throughout this period, Al-Naji has advertised BitClout as a decentralized project that has “no company behind it…just coins and code". The SEC alleges that the "decentralized" aspect of BitClout/DeSo is nothing more than a deception put on to avoid scrutiny from regulatory agencies, The SEC asserts that Al-Naji actually controlled the issuance of the tokens, including which investors could acquire them and at what price, as well as the proceeds from token sales; from which he used for his personal benefit. According to the SEC, Al-Naji never registered the sales of BitClout’s native token, BTCLT, with a regulator despite the token being offered and sold as a security. The SEC also alleges Al-Naji bought lavish gifts (worth at least $2.9 million) for family members, including his wife and his mother, and rented a six-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills, California. Al-Naji's wife and mother were also named in the SEC complaint. Here is a direct link to the SEC's Complaint against Nader Al-Naji: https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2024/comp-pr2024-91.pdf “BitClout may have been a new token, but Nader Al-Naji’s alleged fraud was nothing new.  He allegedly lied to get access to millions of dollars, then gave the money away to family and friends.  Today’s arrest signifies this Office’s commitment to holding to account people who use deception to enrich themselves.”

Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Nader Al-Naji was arrested on July 27th and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, in California, on the 29th. The BitClout founder is being charged by the DOJ with defrauding an investor out of $3 million by "making false and misleading representations disclaiming control over the use of the investment funds". Al-Naji is also being charged with one count of wire fraud. Here is a direct link to the U.S. Department of Justice's Complaint against Nader Al-Naji: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/media/1361786/dl After a week, Nader Al-Naji finally released a public statement regarding the recent news surrounding himself and his projects. The majority of viewers deemed his response to the allegations raised against him to be unclear, which prompted Al-Naji to reply to his original tweet to clear the air. He went on to say: "I thought this was clear from the video but after reading the comments I just wanted to clarify: I believe I have abided by both the letter and spirit of the law and, what's more, have generally acted cautiously, with sound counsel, and, most importantly, in good faith."

Nader Al-Naji, Founder of BitClout and DeSo A couple of days ago, Coffeezilla, a YouTuber famous for his investigative journalism, posted a video pertaining to the Nader Al-Naji and BitClout/DeSo situation. A buddy of mine sent the video over to me and while watching I was shocked to learn that Nader Al-Naji and Coffeezilla have a history and Coffeezilla has investigated BitClout before. https://youtu.be/JAQo7J48DbU?si=x7Ghrui-J_7FP-kY&embedable=true Interestingly, I was a part of the DeSo community as a user on the Diamond application, so it is quite shocking to see the allegations levied against the founder of a platform I personally use. I wish I had known about Coffeezilla's investigations into Nader Al-Naji and BitClout before getting involved with the DeSo blockchain. Thankfully, I didn't have much money tied up in DeSo, so I didn't take that bad of a hit despite the falling price of the DESO token; which was hovering around $15 before the SEC announcement was made. Are/Were you a DeSo or BitClout user? If so, how do you feel about the situation? What do you think the future holds for DeSo and its founder, Nader Al-Naji? What are your thoughts on this news? Join the conversation below! On July 30th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Nader Al-Naji has been charged with defrauding investors after raising over $250 million from the unregistered sales of BitClout's native token, BTCLT. announced According to the SEC complaint, Al-Naji misled these investors by claiming he did not control the token proceeds and would not use the funds as compensation for himself nor other BitClout employees. Despite those explicit claims, the SEC alleges Al-Naji used investor funds to personally enrich himself, his relatives, his companies, and others close to him. A former junior world champion rower and Princeton University graduate, Nader Al-Naji also worked as a software engineer at Google before entering the world of crypto. In 2018, Al-Naji raised over $133 million for his venture, Intangible Labs, which aimed to develop a stable cryptocurrency called "Basis". After failing to deliver Basis due to regulatory concerns, Al-Naji earned himself a positive reputation in the industry when he returned all $133 million that was originally raised for the project. Al-Naji went on to found BitClout in 2021. BitClout, described as “The First Crypto Social Network", was essentially a blockchain-based social media platform where users could buy and sell tokens related to people's social profiles. In early 2022, BitClout was rebranded to DeSo (which stands for Decentralized Social). The goal of the rebrand was to add a decentralized layer that allowed for applications to be built on top of the DeSo blockchain. “As alleged in our complaint, Al-Naji attempted to evade the federal securities laws and defraud the investing public, mistakenly believing that ‘being "fake" decentralized generally confuses regulators and deters them from going after you’. He is obviously wrong: as we have shown time and again, and as reflected in the SEC’s detailed allegations here, we are guided by economic realities, not cosmetic labels. The dedicated staff of the SEC uncovered Al-Naji’s lies and will now hold him accountable for misleading investors.” -- Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement “As alleged in our complaint, Al-Naji attempted to evade the federal securities laws and defraud the investing public, mistakenly believing that ‘being "fake" decentralized generally confuses regulators and deters them from going after you’. He is obviously wrong: as we have shown time and again, and as reflected in the SEC’s detailed allegations here, we are guided by economic realities, not cosmetic labels. The dedicated staff of the SEC uncovered Al-Naji’s lies and will now hold him accountable for misleading investors.” -- Gurbir S. Grewal , Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement Gurbir S. Grewal Since late 2020, Nader Al-Naji has allegedly raised approximately $257 million through the sale of BTCLT. Throughout this period, Al-Naji has advertised BitClout as a decentralized project that has “no company behind it…just coins and code". The SEC alleges that the "decentralized" aspect of BitClout/DeSo is nothing more than a deception put on to avoid scrutiny from regulatory agencies, The SEC asserts that Al-Naji actually controlled the issuance of the tokens, including which investors could acquire them and at what price, as well as the proceeds from token sales; from which he used for his personal benefit. According to the SEC, Al-Naji never registered the sales of BitClout’s native token, BTCLT, with a regulator despite the token being offered and sold as a security. The SEC also alleges Al-Naji bought lavish gifts (worth at least $2.9 million) for family members, including his wife and his mother, and rented a six-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills, California. Al-Naji's wife and mother were also named in the SEC complaint. Here is a direct link to the SEC's Complaint against Nader Al-Naji: https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2024/comp-pr2024-91.pdf https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2024/comp-pr2024-91.pdf “BitClout may have been a new token, but Nader Al-Naji’s alleged fraud was nothing new.  He allegedly lied to get access to millions of dollars, then gave the money away to family and friends.  Today’s arrest signifies this Office’s commitment to holding to account people who use deception to enrich themselves.” Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York “BitClout may have been a new token, but Nader Al-Naji’s alleged fraud was nothing new.  He allegedly lied to get access to millions of dollars, then gave the money away to family and friends.  Today’s arrest signifies this Office’s commitment to holding to account people who use deception to enrich themselves.” Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams , U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Nader Al-Naji was arrested on July 27th and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, in California, on the 29th. The BitClout founder is being charged by the DOJ with defrauding an investor out of $3 million by "making false and misleading representations disclaiming control over the use of the investment funds". charged Al-Naji is also being charged with one count of wire fraud. Here is a direct link to the U.S. Department of Justice's Complaint against Nader Al-Naji: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/media/1361786/dl https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/media/1361786/dl After a week, Nader Al-Naji finally released a public statement regarding the recent news surrounding himself and his projects. public statement The majority of viewers deemed his response to the allegations raised against him to be unclear, which prompted Al-Naji to reply to his original tweet to clear the air. He went on to say: "I thought this was clear from the video but after reading the comments I just wanted to clarify: I believe I have abided by both the letter and spirit of the law and, what's more, have generally acted cautiously, with sound counsel, and, most importantly, in good faith." Nader Al-Naji, Founder of BitClout and DeSo "I thought this was clear from the video but after reading the comments I just wanted to clarify: I believe I have abided by both the letter and spirit of the law and, what's more, have generally acted cautiously, with sound counsel, and, most importantly, in good faith." Nader Al-Naji, Founder of BitClout and DeSo Nader Al-Naji , Founder of BitClout and DeSo Nader Al-Naji A couple of days ago, Coffeezilla, a YouTuber famous for his investigative journalism, posted a video pertaining to the Nader Al-Naji and BitClout/DeSo situation. video A buddy of mine sent the video over to me and while watching I was shocked to learn that Nader Al-Naji and Coffeezilla have a history and Coffeezilla has investigated BitClout before. https://youtu.be/JAQo7J48DbU?si=x7Ghrui-J_7FP-kY&embedable=true https://youtu.be/JAQo7J48DbU?si=x7Ghrui-J_7FP-kY&embedable=true Interestingly, I was a part of the DeSo community as a user on the Diamond application, so it is quite shocking to see the allegations levied against the founder of a platform I personally use. I wish I had known about Coffeezilla's investigations into Nader Al-Naji and BitClout before getting involved with the DeSo blockchain. Thankfully, I didn't have much money tied up in DeSo, so I didn't take that bad of a hit despite the falling price of the DESO token; which was hovering around $15 before the SEC announcement was made. Are/Were you a DeSo or BitClout user? If so, how do you feel about the situation? Are/Were you a DeSo or BitClout user? If so, how do you feel about the situation? What do you think the future holds for DeSo and its founder, Nader Al-Naji? What do you think the future holds for DeSo and its founder, Nader Al-Naji? What are your thoughts on this news? Join the conversation below! What are your thoughts on this news? Join the conversation below!

BitClout Founder Nader Al-Naji Charged with Fraud: SEC and DOJ Unveil $250M Scandal

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