Hey there, PoI readers! 💫

It's your favorite crypto connoisseur, Mochi, back with another serving of tantalizing tech and web3 news. From the Netherlands going full tax-mode on crypto holders and Bitcoin sentiment hitting multi-year lows to White House drama over stablecoin yield and Airbnb's AI takeover, we've got a lot to unpack. So, buckle up and get ready for a wild ride through the wonderland of digital assets and tech chaos!

INTEL BRIEF

🟧 The Netherlands' House of Representatives approved a controversial 36% tax on crypto and liquid investments that critics believe will trigger massive capital flight from the country.

🟧 Bitcoin entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano believes cooling inflation is testing investors' conviction, but predicts BTC will surge as the "monetary slingshot" effect reveals the true devaluation of the US dollar.

🟧 White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt says banks shouldn't fear crypto companies offering stablecoin yield, urging compromise as the CLARITY Act faces a ticking clock before the 2026 midterms.

🟧 Airbnb's AI agent now handles a third of US and Canadian customer support, with CEO Brian Chesky claiming AI will deliver a "huge step change" in service quality while reducing costs.

Netherlands Drops a 36% Tax Nuke on Crypto and Investors Are Already Running

The Dutch House of Representatives just dropped what might be the spiciest tax proposal since someone decided to tax tea in Boston Harbor (we all know how that ended). On Thursday, they advanced a legislative proposal that slaps a 36% capital gains tax on savings and most liquid investments—including our beloved cryptocurrencies. And yes, you read that right: 36%.

The bill cruised past the required 75-vote threshold with 93 lawmakers saying "ja" to what critics are calling financial self-sabotage. Here's the kicker: this tax applies whether or not you actually sell your assets. Just holding crypto? Taxed. Got some savings chillin' in your account? Taxed. That interest-bearing investment you forgot about? You guessed it—taxed.

Now, before you panic entirely, there are some exemptions. Equity in qualifying start-ups and physical property used for non-investment purposes get a pass. But for crypto holders and traditional investors? Not so much.

Industry folks are losing their minds over this. Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe didn't mince words, calling it "the dumbest thing I've seen in a long time" and predicting the number of people fleeing the country will be "bananas." Denis Payre pointed out that France tried something similar in 1997 and watched entrepreneurs sprint for the exits.

The math is brutal: an investor starting with €10,000 and contributing €1,000 monthly over 40 years would normally end up with about €3.32 million. With this tax? That drops to €1.89 million—a difference of €1.43 million. Ouch.

The bill still needs the Dutch Senate's approval before becoming law in the 2028 tax year, but investors aren't waiting around to find out.

Netherlands approved a 36% tax on crypto, savings, and most investments—even if you don't sell

Critics predict massive capital flight, comparing it to France's 1997 exodus of entrepreneurs

The tax could cost long-term investors over €1.4 million in lost gains over 40 years

Pomp Says Cooling Inflation Is Testing Every Bitcoin Believer Right Now

Bitcoin believers—Anthony Pompliano (aka Pomp) has a message for you, and it's basically a spiritual pep talk disguised as economic analysis. As inflation data chills out and Bitcoin sentiment hits multi-year lows, he's asking the tough question: can you still HODL when inflation isn't breathing down your neck every single day?

During a Thursday interview with Fox Business, Pomp laid it out: "Can you hold an asset when there is not high inflation in your face on a day-to-day basis?" The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped to 2.4% in January from 2.7% in December, which sounds great on paper. But Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi isn't buying the hype, telling CNBC that inflation "looks better on paper than in reality." Spicy take, Mark.

Here's where it gets interesting. Bitcoin is currently trading at $68,850—down a painful 28.62% over the past 30 days. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit an "Extreme Fear" score of 9 (not seen since June 2022). Yikes. But Pomp isn't sweating it.

He's calling what's happening a "monetary slingshot"—basically, we're experiencing deflationary forces in the short term that are covering up the real devaluation of the US dollar. "People are going to ask to print money and to drop interest rates," he explained, predicting the Fed will keep expanding the money supply to tackle economic issues.

The US dollar index is already down 2.32% over the past month, sitting at $96.88. Pomp's forecast? Once deflation stops masking the dollar's decline, Bitcoin—with its finite 21 million coin supply—will become "more valuable than ever."

So yeah, hodlers are being tested. The question is: do you still believe?

Bitcoin sentiment hit multi-year lows (Extreme Fear score of 9) as BTC dropped 28.62% in 30 days

Pomp says cooling inflation is testing investors' conviction in Bitcoin's long-term value proposition

He predicts a "monetary slingshot" effect where dollar devaluation will eventually make Bitcoin "more valuable than ever"

White House Plays Peacemaker as Banks and Crypto Fight Over Stablecoin Yield

Patrick Witt, The White House's crypto adviser, is essentially playing therapist between the banking industry and crypto companies right now—and honestly, both sides need to hear it. The drama? Stablecoin yield. Yes, the fact that crypto platforms can offer rewards to customers holding stablecoins has become a full-blown turf war that's holding up major legislation.

Witt called the situation "unfortunate" and told Yahoo Finance that banks have nothing to fear. Crypto companies sharing yield with customers doesn't threaten banks' business model or market share. Plot twist: banks can also offer stablecoin products to their customers. "This is not an unfair advantage in either way," Witt said, pointing out that many banks are already applying for OCC bank charters to offer similar products themselves.

His take? In the future, this won't even be an issue. Banks will find opportunities to leverage these products and expand their businesses instead of treating crypto like the enemy at the gates.

But here's where things get spicy: this stablecoin yield debate is one of the biggest roadblocks delaying the CLARITY Act—a proposed bill that would establish clear regulatory jurisdiction between the SEC and CFTC and create an asset taxonomy for crypto. Translation: it's kind of a big deal.

And time is running out. The 2026 US midterm elections are looming like a final boss, and if Democrats take the House, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that "the prospects of getting a deal done will just fall apart."

Witt didn't mince words: "There's a window here. The window is still open, but it is rapidly closing." The White House Crypto Council wants the CLARITY Act signed before the midterms suck all the oxygen out of the room.

So yeah, no pressure or anything.

Stablecoin yield has become a major fight between banks and crypto companies, delaying the CLARITY Act

White House adviser says banks shouldn't feel threatened—they can offer the same products

Time is running out to pass the CLARITY Act before 2026 midterms potentially kill the deal

Airbnb Says AI Now Handles a Third of Customer Support and It Works Better Than Humans

Airbnb just went full Skynet mode on customer support, and honestly? CEO Brian Chesky thinks the robots are doing a better job than humans. During the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, he dropped the news that Airbnb's custom-built AI agent is now handling roughly a third of customer support issues in the US and Canada. And they're just getting started.

If the rollout goes as planned, Airbnb expects more than 30% of total customer support tickets globally will be handled by AI voice and chat within a year—in every language where they currently employ human agents. "We think this is going to be massive," Chesky said, because not only does it reduce costs, but "the quality of service is going to be a huge step change." Translation: AI might actually be better at solving your booking disasters than Bob from the call center. Ouch.

The company also snagged Ahmad Al-Dahle, a heavy-hitter AI expert poached from Meta (where he led the team that built the Llama models), to serve as CTO. With Al-Dahle's guidance, Airbnb is building an app that doesn't just search—it "knows you" and helps plan entire trips, assists hosts in running their businesses, and makes the company more efficient.

Chesky pushed back hard against the idea that AI chatbots could threaten Airbnb's business. "A chatbot doesn't have our 200 million verified identities or our 500 million proprietary reviews, and it can't message the hosts," he said. Fair point.

The numbers back up the optimism: Airbnb pulled in $2.78 billion in Q4 (above the $2.72 billion estimate) and forecasts revenue growth in the "low double digits" this year.

Oh, and 80% of Airbnb's engineers now use AI tools internally, with plans to hit 100% soon. The future is here, folks.

Airbnb's AI handles a third of US/Canada customer support and is rolling out globally within a year

CEO says AI will deliver a "huge step change" in quality while cutting costs (suggesting it's better than humans)

Hired Meta's AI expert Ahmad Al-Dahle as CTO to build an AI-native app that "knows you"

And that's a wrap, my lovely PoI readers! I hope this edition left you feeling informed, entertained, and maybe even a little bit richer (in knowledge, of course). Whether you're contemplating fleeing the Netherlands, hodling through the fear, waiting on the CLARITY Act, or wondering if AI will replace your customer service job—remember to stay curious, stay informed, and keep spreading the love. Until next time, this is Mochi, signing off with a virtual high-five!

P.S. Don't forget to share your thoughts, questions, and favorite crypto puns with us. very voice matters in the PoI community! 📣❤️ Share the newsletter

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