OpenAI partners with Trail of Bits and others to launch 'Patch the Planet', discovering hundreds of vulnerabilities in critical projects like cURL and Python within the first week, submitting 64 PRs and 51 issues to address open source security scaling challenges.

South Korea’s album exports climbed to a record high in the first half of 2026 even as streaming remained the dominant way people listen to music. Customs data showed exports reached $257.478 million, or about KRW 382.3 billion, up 125% from a year earlier. The U.S. overtook Japan for the first time to become the largest export market for Korean albums, with China ranking second and Japan third. The rebound coincided with major releases from top-tier acts. BTS returned in March with its fifth full-length album "ARIRANG," while BLACKPINK released its third mini album "DEADLINE" in February, with cumulative sales nearing 2 million copies by June. Luminate said BTS helped lift total U.S. CD sales by 16% in the first half, with "ARIRANG" alone selling 567,000 CDs and 331,000 vinyl records in the U.S. The article argues that K-pop’s physical sales model is built less on CDs themselves than on collectibles, fan identity and event access. It also reviews how blockchain has been tested in that economy, from HYBE and Dunamu’s digital collectibles platform Momentica to tripleS and Modhaus using on-chain voting, and to Bang Si-hyuk’s investment connection to Story Protocol. At the same time, it notes the limits of NFT-style speculation and the weak traction Story Protocol has seen despite backing from a16z and other investors.

JUP token soared 99.5% this week, leading altcoin gains. WIF rose 42% and SOL increased 37%. Bitcoin fell 6% and Ethereum dropped 12%. FLOKI and BSV were top losers. The altcoin season index stands at 59, not yet triggered.

Led by Chairman Patrick McHenry, Republican lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee have launched an investigation into the SEC and FINRA regarding the approval of Prometheum as the only special purpose broker-dealer for digital assets, citing no customers, no track record, and ties to the Chinese government.

Republican lawmakers are demanding records from the SEC and FINRA over Prometheum’s approval as the first digital asset special purpose broker-dealer, citing timing, lack of operating history, and national security concerns.

Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee, led by Chairman Patrick McHenry, have demanded documents from the SEC and FINRA regarding the approval of Prometheum as the first special purpose broker-dealer for digital assets. They cite lack of customers, operating history, and alleged ties to the Chinese government.

House Financial Services Committee Republicans, led by Chairman Patrick McHenry, are investigating the SEC and FINRA over the approval of Prometheum as the first special purpose broker-dealer for digital assets, citing lack of customers, Chinese government ties, and questionable timing.

Republican lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee are investigating the SEC and FINRA for approving Prometheum as the first and only special purpose broker-dealer for digital assets, citing no customers, no operational history, ties to the Chinese government, and suspicious timing that may undermine new legislation.