Hey there, PoI readers! 💫

It's your favorite crypto connoisseur, Mochi, back with another serving of tantalizing tech and web3 news. From stratospheric drones beaming 5G connectivity and banks still playing crypto hide-and-seek to Bitcoin maxis throwing shade at ETH and AI getting a little too personal with users, we've got a lot to unpack. So, buckle up and get ready for a wild ride through the wonderland of digital innovation!

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INTEL BRIEF

🟧 World Mobile is launching a stratospheric drone network that uses hydrogen-powered aircraft flying at 60,000 feet to deliver blockchain-enabled 5G connectivity at a fraction of satellite costs.

🟧 Despite Trump's pro-crypto presidency, US banks continue systematically closing crypto company accounts under "Operation Chokepoint" policies, with industry leaders calling it economic warfare against digital assets.

🟧 Bitcoin maximalist Samson Mow predicts Ethereum holders will dump ETH and rotate back to Bitcoin, but historical market patterns and ETH's recent surge to $4,300 suggest otherwise.

🟧 OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns that mentally fragile ChatGPT users are developing unhealthy attachments to AI models and using them in self-destructive ways, leading to concerns about responsible AI deployment.

World Mobile Launches Stratospheric Drones to Beam 5G from the Sky

World Mobile just announced they're literally taking connectivity to new heights! This blockchain-powered telecom company is deploying hydrogen-powered drones the size of small planes to beam 5G directly from the stratosphere.

Massive four-ton aircraft with 56-meter wingspans cruising at a cool 60,000 feet above your head, each one capable of covering 15,000 square kilometers with up to 450 guidable beams.

Charles Barnett, World Mobile's chief business officer, who claims their stratospheric setup delivers 6ms total latency - that's lightning-fast compared to satellites - while being up to 18 times cheaper per gigabyte than space-based alternatives.

These hydrogen-powered flying fortresses can stay airborne for nine whole days before needing to touchdown for a fuel-up.

Of course, flying internet cafes aren't without their challenges. These drones need to be tough enough to handle cosmic radiation (because apparently space is mean to electronics), smart enough to dodge weather systems, and light enough to stay airborne while carrying all that tech. Plus, they've got to play nice with aviation authorities like the FAA and EASA.

Helium Mobile doing their decentralized ground-game thing and Elon Musk's Starlink dominating the satellite space. But World Mobile believes they've found the sweet spot - literally - floating between ground networks and satellites in that goldilocks zone of the atmosphere.

World Mobile is launching hydrogen-powered drones at 60,000 feet to deliver 5G connectivity

Each drone covers 15,000 sq km and operates 18x cheaper than satellites with 6ms latency

Major challenges include regulatory approval, cosmic radiation protection, and 9-day flight endurance requirements

US Banks Keep Ghosting Crypto Companies Despite Trump's Pro Digital Asset Stance

President Trump's crypto-friendly victory lap and all that "we love Bitcoin" campaign rhetoric, US banks are apparently still playing their favorite game: crypto account whack-a-mole.

Alex Konanykhin, CEO of Unicoin, just dropped some serious tea about the ongoing banking drama. His company got the boot from not one, not two, but FIVE major banks including the big guns: Citibank, Chase, Wells Fargo, City National Bank of Florida, and TD Bank.

Four of those debanking incidents happened this year alone, suggesting what Konanykhin calls a "large-scale nationwide operation."

Andreessen Horowitz's Alex Rampell even coined a shiny new term for this phenomenon: "Operation Chokepoint 3.0.” Banks are reportedly hiking fees to squeeze fintech and crypto platforms accessing services for apps like Coinbase and Robinhood.

Bloomberg reported that Trump is planning to sign an executive order that would essentially put banks in timeout for their debanking shenanigans. The order would reportedly require regulators to review complaint data and force banks to play nice by reinstating unlawfully denied clients.

Elizabeth Blickley from Fox Rothschild brings us back down to earth, though, pointing out that meaningful change depends on the "final wording" of regulations. She's basically saying "don't count your regulatory chickens before they hatch" - because even well-intentioned rules can become toothless through creative word-choice wizardry.

For now, banks are sticking to their risk-averse stance like it's their security blanket, waiting for clearer rules that make crypto feel less scary. Meanwhile, crypto companies are left wondering if this "economic warfare" will ever truly end.

US banks continue closing crypto accounts despite Trump's pro-crypto presidency, with Unicoin hit by 5 major banks

Industry calls it "Operation Chokepoint 3.0" - a systematic nationwide debanking campaign

Trump reportedly planning executive order to penalize banks for unlawful debanking, but meaningful change depends on final regulatory wording

Bitcoin Expert Says Ethereum Investors Will Eventually Sell Everything and Buy Bitcoin

Samson Mow, the Bitcoin maximalist CEO of Jan3, just threw some serious shade at Ethereum holders, basically calling them temporary tourists who'll eventually come crawling back to Bitcoin. "No one wants ETH in the long run."

According to Mow's crystal ball predictions, ETH holders are just playing musical chairs with their Bitcoin bags, rotating into Ether to chase shiny new narratives like "Ethereum Treasury companies." He believes once ETH prices get juicy enough, these investors will dump their holdings and scurry back to their Bitcoin comfort zones.

Mow thinks ETH will struggle to break its all-time highs because of what he dramatically calls the "Bagholder's Dilemma" - essentially saying the closer ETH gets to its peak, the stronger the urge to sell becomes.

ETH just posted its highest weekly close since November 2021, rocketing to over $4,300 with a whopping 21% weekly gain. That puts Ether just 12% away from its 2021 all-time high of $4,878.

Anthony Sassano, an Ethereum advocate, couldn't help but clap back, calling Mow's comments typical "old school Bitcoin maxi" behavior and suggesting it's actually bullish for ETH. Meanwhile, Ted Pillows offered a more nuanced take, predicting the classic crypto rotation dance: ETH hits new highs, sparks mini-altseason, then capital flows back to Bitcoin until it hits $140,000, followed by another altcoin party.

Nick Ruck from LVRG Research pointed out that ETH's "incredible pump" from institutional interest in strategy reserve plays has been boosting DeFi platforms and drawing users back with innovative yield farming strategies. The ETH/BTC ratio has also doubled from its April lows, currently sitting at 0.036.

Bitcoin maximalist Samson Mow predicts ETH holders will dump and rotate back to BTC once prices peak

ETH hit $4,300 with highest weekly close since 2021, just 12% from all-time highs despite maxi skepticism

Historical patterns suggest typical crypto rotation cycles will continue with altcoin growth following Bitcoin rallies

Sam Altman Says Some ChatGPT Users Are Using AI in Unhealthy Ways

Sam Altman just dropped some serious truth bombs about our relationship with AI, and honestly, it's giving us all the feels - but maybe not the good kind. The OpenAI CEO is sounding the alarm that some ChatGPT users are getting a little too attached to their digital companions, and it's starting to worry him.

The wake-up call came after OpenAI faced a massive backlash for discontinuing GPT-4o and older models, which apparently left some users feeling like their favorite AI buddy just ghosted them forever. Altman noticed something that made him go "hmm, that's not normal" - the "attachment some people have to specific AI models" feels "different and stronger" than anything we've seen with previous technology.

Altman pointed out that while most users can keep a clear line between reality and fiction, a small percentage cannot. These mentally fragile users might be in a state where they're prone to delusion, and having an AI that could potentially reinforce those delusions.

Altman revealed that people "really trust" ChatGPT's advice for "the most important decisions" in their lives. Imagine making life-altering choices based on what your AI buddy suggests.

Altman isn't worried about people using ChatGPT as a therapist or life coach - he actually thinks that's pretty cool and valuable. What's keeping him up at night are scenarios where users think they're having a normal chat with their AI friend, but are actually being nudged away from their long-term well-being without realizing it.

The whole drama started when OpenAI pulled the plug on older models, and users went full-on revolt mode, complaining that the new versions gave shorter responses with less emotional depth.

Sam Altman warns mentally fragile ChatGPT users are developing unhealthy attachments to specific AI models

Users trust AI advice for major life decisions, raising concerns about potential manipulation away from well-being

OpenAI faced backlash for discontinuing older models, highlighting stronger emotional bonds than previous technologies

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). From flying internet cafes to AI attachment issues, today's tech world never ceases to amaze and occasionally concern us. Remember to stay curious, stay informed, and keep that healthy skepticism alive! ⚡

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

🍨📰 Catch you in the next issue! 📰🍨