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Category: News

  • U.S. Treasury Considers Trump $1 Coin for 250th Anniversary

    The U.S. Treasury Department is exploring the creation of a $1 commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, raising questions about long-standing currency design regulations.

    In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Treasury Department is considering minting a $1 commemorative coin that would feature President Donald Trump on both sides, marking the semiquincentennial anniversary of the United States’ founding.

    The draft coin design includes two distinctive features: one side shows Trump’s profile with the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and the dates 1776 and 2026, while the reverse side depicts Trump in a defiant pose following a 2024 campaign rally assassination attempt, with the words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT” along the edge.

    U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed the draft’s existence on social media, stating, “No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real.”

    However, the proposal faces potential legal challenges. A federal law signed by Trump himself in January 2021 appears to prohibit portraits of living persons on commemorative coins. Historically, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has noted that avoiding the appearance of a monarchy has been a long-standing tradition in U.S. currency design.

    A Treasury spokesperson remained diplomatic, saying the draft “reflects the enduring spirit of our country and democracy,” while emphasizing that a final design has not yet been selected.

    Commemorative coins, while legal tender, are not typically minted for general circulation. The proposed coin would be a unique collector’s item marking a significant milestone in U.S. history.

  • ECB Taps Portuguese AI Start-up Feedzai to Safeguard Digital Euro

    The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected Portuguese AI start-up Feedzai to develop sophisticated fraud protection systems for its upcoming digital euro project. The four-year framework agreement marks a significant milestone in the ECB’s strategy to create a secure digital currency infrastructure.

    In a strategic move to fortify the digital euro’s security, the European Central Bank (ECB) has chosen Feedzai, a Portuguese artificial intelligence company, to manage fraud and risk prevention. The four-year framework agreement, valued at an initial €79.1 million with a potential ceiling of €237.3 million, represents a critical step in developing the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP).

    Feedzai, based in Coimbra, Portugal, has established a strong reputation in financial crime prevention using machine learning and real-time analytics. The company currently handles approximately USD 8 trillion in payments annually, positioning it as a credible partner for the ECB’s ambitious digital currency project.

    The AI-powered system will provide payment service providers (PSPs) with a fraud risk score for each digital euro transaction. PSPs will then decide whether to approve, reject, or flag the transaction based on their internal rules. Feedzai will collaborate with PwC to ensure the solution meets European privacy, security, and regulatory compliance requirements.

    Nuno Sebastião, Feedzai’s CEO, emphasized the critical nature of their role: “With tens of billions of transactions expected across the Eurozone, success depends on an AI capable of adapting as fast as fraud evolves. Our job is to provide the intelligence needed to block even the most sophisticated fraud attempts.”

    Strategic Context and Future Outlook

    The ECB frames this investment as part of Europe’s quest for financial sovereignty, aiming to reduce dependence on non-European payment circuits and protect the Eurozone from external influences. However, the decision to outsource anti-fraud infrastructure to a private company raises questions about trust and governance.

    The ECB board member Piero Cipollone stressed that “not a penny will be paid until the project is actually started”, providing flexibility while maintaining cautious oversight.

    Next Steps

    • The ECB will begin planning and design phases with Feedzai and other providers
    • The Digital Euro Regulation is expected by mid-2026
    • The potential launch window remains 2029, subject to technical and political developments

    While the agreement is groundbreaking, the digital euro is not yet operational. Its implementation will depend on subsequent approval from the ECB’s Governing Council and the adoption of the Digital Euro Regulation.

  • KodakCoin Token Sale Delayed By ‘Several Weeks’

    KodakCoin Token Sale Delayed By ‘Several Weeks’

    The initial coin offering (ICO) for the Kodak-branded cryptocurrency, dubbed KodakCoin, has been delayed.

    KodakCoin Token

    The public sale was originally supposed to launch on Jan. 31, as previously reported by CoinDesk, following a pre-sale during which 8 million KodakCoins were sold.

    Per the statement, the delay is being attributed to an extended process of verifying that those trying to invest are actually accredited in the U.S., meaning that they have a net worth of more than $1 million or an income of at least $200,000.

    The statement continued:

    “Given the large interest in the KODAKCoin ICO and the steps that we need to take to verify the ‘accredited investor’ status of each interested investor, we expect this process to take several weeks.”

    The project is the result of a deal between Kodak and WENN Digital, and is intended to serve as the underlying token for a decentralized photo rights management platform (and as pointed out by Ars Techina, the project appears to be traced to an earlier, similarly-structured project called RYDE coin).

    Kodak’s pivot to blockchain led to rumors that the company was trying to take advantage of the current investor atmosphere around other firms, many of which have seen their stocks double or triple after announcing pivots related to the tech. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said last week that it plans to scrutinize such moves more closely.

    Market data shows that, in the wake of the delay announcement, Eastman Kodak Co. share prices have fallen. Per Google, the stock’s value is down more than 15% as of press time.

    The Jan. 31 statement also warned investors against fake KodakCoin ICO pages appearing on Facebook and other websites, and that investors would not be able to purchase tokens outside the company’s official platform.

    www.coindesk.com