برچسب: App

  • Kraken Unveils Borderless P2P Payments App with Yield Options

    Kraken Unveils Borderless P2P Payments App with Yield Options


    • Kraken launches Krak, a borderless P2P app to send fiat and crypto worldwide.
    • Krak app lets users earn rewards on 20+ digital assets while spending and saving.
    • Kraken aims to challenge traditional banking and make money flow as freely as information.

    Kraken, a leading crypto exchange, has launched a new peer-to-peer (P2P) payments app called Krak. This app allows people to send both fiat money and cryptocurrency across borders. The launch reflects the intention of Kraken to expand its services beyond crypto trading.

    Krak App Taps Into $8B Cross-Border Payments Market

    Kraken noted that Krak app will enable people to spend, save and earn effortlessly. Rewards will be achieved on over 20 digital assets that users can access. This is significant since the United States alone will exceed the amount of $8 billion dollars in the cross-border payments industry.

    Krak app is designed in the digital-first world. It partially takes the liberties of cryptocurrency combined with characteristics understood by people in traditional finance. Users can handle more than 300 varieties of crypto and fiat assets using a single location. This renders Krak app equivalent to a digital wallet and bank account in one package.

    Co-CEO Arjun Sethi of Kraken mentioned that they developed the Krak app since the existing financial system is outdated and sluggish. According to him, the time has come to transform the way people distribute their money, the amount they spend, and how they save. He thinks that the app will be able to restore a significant stratum of the world economy.

    Krak app is an application based on crypto innovation, but enjoys close relationships with payment partners and banks. This simplifies and secure the trust of people in the app. Individuals are able to remit funds to relatives abroad, deposit their finances or consume them on consumer goods.

    The Krak app will possess some significant features upon launching. To begin with, there will be P2P payments. This implies that individuals are able to transfer money to fellow users of Krak app in 110 countries. People do not have to know the details of their bank accounts or their crypto wallets. It is quite easy to send money or request it.

    Krak Set to Challenge Traditional Banking Models

    Meanwhile, Krak will have special spend and earn accounts. People will be able to pay and get rewarded simultaneously. No hidden fees, no minimum deposits, no subscription cost. Initially, individuals will be able to receive interest on the stablecoin balance such as USDG to the tune of 4.1%. They also get an opportunity to earn up to 10 percent on more than 20 other digital assets.

    Kraken has more plans for Krak in the future. The firm will introduce Krak cards. These cards, paper and online, will enable the individuals to use their cash at millions of stores all over the globe. Customers have an option of spending online or in brick-and-mortar stores in crypto or fiat cash.

    In addition, other service offerings to be offered by Kraken are lending, loans, and credit card programs. People will be able to have more choices in how they handle their money since all these services will be available in one place.

    Sethi said that everyone should enjoy the basic financial services. He feels that money must flow freely like information. Further, he added that the app is the first stage in a larger strategy to enable people to manage their money, wherever in the world they happen to be.

    Krak, in turn, is going to offer Kraken an opportunity to question traditional approaches to banking and open the door to financial freedom to everyone.



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  • US DOJ Says “AI” Shopping App Was Run by Humans in the Philippines

    US DOJ Says “AI” Shopping App Was Run by Humans in the Philippines


    A 35-year-old chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of an online shopping application has been charged with fraud by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) after making false claims that the shopping app was powered by artificial intelligence (AI) agents.

    But in reality, the agents were not AI but call center workers from the Philippines.

    The Scheme

    As early as 2018, Albert Saniger introduced his AI-powered shopping app, “Nate.”

    He promised a “universal” checkout experience and claimed the app could transact online without human intervention. This meant Nate users could buy from any e-commerce site.

    Because of this, the startup raised more than $50 million from investors such as Coatue and Forerunner Ventures, with the most recent funding being a $38 million Series A in 2021 led by Renegade Partners.

    The Revelations

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    However, in 2022, technology-and-business-focused publication The Information published an exposé alleging that Nate heavily relied on human contractors.

    The scenario was investigated by the DOJ, which found that Nate had acquired AI tools and hired data scientists.

    But the investigation also revealed that there was no actual automation in the so-called AI shopping app, and the automation rate was “effectively 0%.” Instead, Saniger hired call center agents from the Philippines to manually complete purchases on Nate.

    Moreover, DOJ wrote that Nate went bankrupt in January 2023, and the CEO was forced to sell its assets, leading investors to suffer “near total losses.” Saniger also resigned as Nate’s CEO that year, according to his LinkedIn profile

    Saniger’s case centers on defrauding investors and prospective investors by making false and misleading statements about Nate’s use of proprietary AI technology and its operational capabilities.

    “As alleged, Albert Saniger misled investors by exploiting the promise and allure of AI technology to build a false narrative about innovation that never existed. This type of deception not only victimizes innocent investors, it diverts capital from legitimate startups, makes investors skeptical of real breakthroughs, and ultimately impedes the progress of AI development. This Office and our partners at the FBI will continue to pursue those who seek to harm investors by touting false innovation.”

    Matthew Podolsky, Acting U.S. Attorney

    If found guilty, Saniger faces one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of wire fraud, which also carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

    AI in Startups

    This is not the first time a startup has claimed to fully utilize AI technology but failed to do so.

    In 2023, technology-focused publication The Verge reported that Presto Automation, an AI-powered drive-thru company claiming to be “one of the largest labor automation technology providers in the industry,” was notified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    According to a company filing, Presto Automation hired off-site human workers to complete more than 70% of orders—tasks that were supposed to be handled by AI agents.

    Also similar to Nate, the human workers for Presto Automation were based in the Philippines.

    As reported by The Verge, a pattern is emerging in which startups claim to use AI solutions but instead rely on contractors in countries with lower labor costs.

    This article is published on BitPinas: US DOJ Says “AI” Shopping App Was Run by Humans in the Philippines

    What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond?



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  • Scoop: Is Crypto Finally Coming to the UnionBank App?

    Scoop: Is Crypto Finally Coming to the UnionBank App?


    Some users now see a “Buy/Sell Crypto” option — but access is limited and gated by a strict assessment.

    UnionBank of the Philippines appears to have quietly begun rolling out a crypto trading onboarding process within its mobile banking app.

    • The new feature, labeled “Buy/Sell Crypto,” has appeared for select users.
    • The feature is integrated into the bank’s primary interface and marks one of the most significant moves by a Philippine universal bank into the virtual asset space:
    Photo for the Article - Scoop: Is Crypto Finally Coming to the UnionBank App?

    Labeled “Buy/Sell Crypto,” the feature appears alongside standard banking services such as bills payment and foreign exchange.

    • Users who attempt to access it are required to complete a Client Suitability Assessment — a multi-step questionnaire that evaluates their financial goals, investment experience, and risk appetite.
    Photo for the Article - Scoop: Is Crypto Finally Coming to the UnionBank App?

    Screenshots of the onboarding process show that users must answer questions related to their knowledge of virtual assets, trading volume expectations, and potential legal or regulatory constraints.

    Photo for the Article - Scoop: Is Crypto Finally Coming to the UnionBank App?

    If a user’s responses do not meet the platform’s internal suitability criteria, they are informed that crypto trading is not currently available to them. The app allows for a reassessment after a six-month period:

    Photo for the Article - Scoop: Is Crypto Finally Coming to the UnionBank App?

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    The app allows for a reassessment after a six-month period.

    The initiative follows UnionBank’s approval in September 2023 as a fully licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). This license allows the bank to operate as a virtual asset exchange and offer custodial services for cryptocurrencies. (Read more: List of Licensed Virtual Currency Exchanges in the Philippines)

    The crypto trading interface promises a “safe and worry-free experience,” with the bank stating that the platform operates with no added fees and full regulatory oversight. However, access remains limited, and as of this writing, UnionBank has not issued a formal announcement regarding the broader availability of the service.

    UnionBank has previously led several blockchain initiatives in the country.

    • In 2019, it launched the Philippines’ first crypto ATM and piloted its own stablecoin, PHX, to streamline remittances and interbank transfers.
    • The bank also partnered with Swiss firm METACO to test crypto custody and trading functionality for a limited group of users.

    This article is published on BitPinas: Is Crypto Finally Coming to the UnionBank App?

    What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond?



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