Hey there, PoI readers! 🌟

Mochi here, serving up today's hottest tech and web3 developments fresh from the digital oven! We've got quite the feast - from Elon's wealth reaching new galaxies to Telegram's crypto treasure chest exploding, plus some spicy updates on Iran's CBDC plans and a potential crypto-friendly SEC shake-up. Let's dive into these juicy stories that are making waves across the cryptoverse! 💫 🎮 ⚡

INTEL BRIEF

🟧 Former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins emerges as top candidate for SEC chair under Trump, signaling potential pro-crypto regulatory shift.

🟧 Telegram's crypto holdings tripled to $1.3B in H1 2024, boosted by Toncoin sales and strategic partnerships.

🟧 Elon Musk's net worth hits historic $348B following Tesla stock surge and xAI funding round, strengthened by Trump's election victory.

🟧 Iran announces imminent CBDC launch and showcases fintech innovations aimed at circumventing international sanctions.

Trump Picks Crypto Friendly Paul Atkins to Lead SEC Revolution

Former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins is reportedly leading the race to become the next SEC chair, and let me tell you, this isn't just another boring game of musical chairs in Washington!

Why should you care? Well, imagine going from having a strict hall monitor to getting the cool teacher who actually understands what the kids are into these days. That's basically what might happen when Gary Gensler potentially hands over the keys to the regulatory kingdom in January 2025.

Here's where it gets interesting: The Trump administration is reportedly cooking up some major changes that would make crypto bros say "to the moon!" They're apparently considering moving crypto oversight from the SEC to the CFTC, which is like switching from playing your game on "hard mode" to "normal mode." The CFTC has historically been more of a "let's see where this goes" kind of regulator, especially when it comes to innovation.

Speaking of changes, word on the street is that Trump might create a special White House position just for crypto policy. It's like finally getting a dedicated gaming setup instead of playing on your mom's laptop!

Let's talk about the potential changing of the guard. While Gensler's reign has been marked by what many call a "regulation by enforcement" approach (basically playing whack-a-mole with crypto companies), Atkins is known for taking a more balanced approach. He's like that referee who actually knows the game instead of just blowing the whistle at everything that moves.

Power Shift: Paul Atkins emerges as frontrunner for SEC chair, bringing potential pro-crypto stance

Regulatory Shuffle: Trump administration considers moving crypto oversight from SEC to CFTC

Telegram Hits Crypto Jackpot with Massive 1.3B Dollar Growth

Telegram's crypto bank just went from a respectable $400M to a whopping $1.3 billion in the first half of 2024.

The messaging giant isn't just sliding into your DMs; they're sliding into some serious profits too. Revenue hit $525 million in H1 2024, up 190% from last year's first half. Want to know the secret sauce? They made a cool $353 million just from selling crypto, plus scored an extra $225 million from an exclusive deal making TON tokens the only way to buy ads on the platform (though that party ended on October 1st).

But it hasn't all been moonshots and lambos! The company faced some drama when founder Pavel Durov had a run-in with French authorities. Our tech-savvy protagonist got detained at Le Bourget airport (fancy!) and had to post a $5.5 million bail.

Despite the legal hiccups, Telegram's still crushing it in the user department, boasting 950 million monthly active users in 2024. That's like having almost every person in Europe sliding into your app! It is now one of the top five most downloaded apps globally.

Oh, and for you TON holders out there – while the token took a 25% nosedive during Durov's French adventure (dropping to $5.24), it bounced back like a crypto-cat, hitting $6.32 on November 24th. Meow-velous recovery, right?

Telegram's crypto holdings tripled to $1.3B, with $353M from crypto sales

Platform hit $525M revenue in H1 2024, up 190% year-over-year

Reached 950M monthly active users, securing top-5 app status globally

Elon Musk Breaks All Records with 348B Dollar Net Worth

Elon Musk's net worth has blasted off to a mind-boggling $348 billion – that's enough to buy every NFT ever minted and still have change for a few rocket ships!

The Tesla-coaster has been on quite a ride, with shares jumping 3.8% to $352.56 on November 22nd. But here's the real kicker: since Trump's victory, Tesla's stock has pulled a "to the moon" move, surging 45% and adding a casual $350 billion in market value. No big deal, right? 🚀

Let's break down Musk's treasure chest: he's got a 13% stake in Tesla worth $145 billion (pocket change), and a 42% piece of SpaceX valued at $210 billion (lunch money). And because that's apparently not enough, SpaceX might bump its valuation to over $250 billion next month. Talk about a space race to the bank!

But wait, there's more! His AI startup xAI just secured a $50 billion valuation, making OpenAI look like a school science project (too soon?). He's now $80 billion richer than his buddy Larry Ellison, who's probably not too happy about his second-place spot with a mere $235 billion.

And because Musk apparently gets bored counting his billions, he's now joking about buying MSNBC. Joe Rogan even offered to be the new Rachel Maddow – now that's something I'd pay to see (in Dogecoin, obviously)!

Musk's net worth hits unprecedented $348B, up 52% YTD

Stock surges 45% post-election, approaching all-time high

SpaceX heading for potential $250B valuation in upcoming tender offer

Iran Launches Digital Currency to Outsmart Global Sanctions

Iran is about to drop its own CBDC. The Central Bank of Iran's boss, Mohammad Reza Farzin, just spilled the digital tea at a banking conference in Tehran, and let me tell you, they're not just building another digital penny jar.

The digital rial has been cooking since 2018 using Hyperledger Fabric technology. They've already test-driven it on Kish island, which apparently gets more tourists annually (12 million) than most crypto conferences get attendees!

But here's where it gets juicy – Iran isn't just playing digital dress-up with their currency. They're building a whole financial Avengers team with Russia! They've already hooked up their payment systems (bye-bye SWIFT, hello MIR-ACU collaboration), and they're even working on a gold-backed stablecoin together. Talk about a power couple!

The cherry on top? Iran's Shetab payment system is flexing with sub-two-second transaction speeds. And they're not stopping there – they're cozying up to BRICS with a strategic plan through 2025 that's giving traditional financial systems some serious FOMO.

Fun fact: While crypto exchanges are still playing "dodge the sanctions" with Iranian users, Iran's out here building its own financial Wakanda.

Iran's digital rial ready for deployment after successful pilot on Kish island 

Integration of MIR-ACU payment systems replacing SWIFT

Iran strengthens BRICS ties and develops sanctions-resistant financial infrastructure

That's all the digital delights for today, PoI family! From record-breaking billions to groundbreaking innovations, we've covered quite the territory. Remember to keep your eyes peeled and your digital wallets ready - the crypto world never sleeps, and neither does your favorite newsletter writer! 🎯 ✨

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