The European Union’s Digital Product Passport, or DPP, is moving from legislation to implementation under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The framework treats a product, component, or material as having a digital identity that stores sustainability and circularity-related data. That includes information such as material composition, origin and supply chain records, carbon footprint and environmental impact, repairability, and recycling instructions, which can be accessed through a QR code or another data carrier. The ESPR took effect on July 18, 2024, replacing the older ecodesign directive and covering nearly all physical goods. Its broader application is set for July 19, 2026, when the EU’s central DPP registry system is also scheduled to go live. Batteries will be the first category subject to mandatory implementation. Under the Batteries Regulation (EU 2023/1542), electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries, and batteries above 2kWh will require a digital battery passport from February 2027, followed by small portable batteries in August 2027. Textiles, aluminum, and tires are also expected to be added from 2027 through delegated acts. The report also stresses that blockchain is not required by law. The DPP framework is technology-neutral, meaning companies may use blockchain or conventional databases as long as the data remains secure, traceable, and accessible.

A discussion sparked by TeraFab-related information and a reply from Elon Musk has revived attention on free-electron laser, or FEL, technology as a possible alternative to conventional extreme ultraviolet, or EUV, lithography light sources. The source article stresses that the claim remains speculative and does not confirm Musk’s actual plans, but argues the technical route is worth examining on its own terms. It lays out how FEL systems work, starting with high-energy electron beams from particle accelerators, then using periodic magnetic structures known as undulators to generate tunable, coherent, high-intensity light across a range that can theoretically extend from soft X-rays through EUV and beyond. The piece also points to U.S. startup xLight as a notable supporter of this direction and notes that former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger is now xLight’s executive chairman. According to the article, xLight says its FEL source can deliver up to four times the EUV power of current LPP systems, lower wafer costs by about 50%, support as many as 20 ASML systems, and operate for up to 30 years. At the same time, the article makes clear that stronger source physics does not automatically translate into better manufacturing readiness. FEL systems still face major hurdles in size, cost, stability, uptime, and integration with lithography optics, leaving today’s engineered EUV sources more suitable for high-volume fabs at this stage.

The Taiwan Association for Blockchain Ecosystem Innovation, or TABEI, will host the Trustworthy AI Hackathon in Taipei from Aug. 29 to 31, with total prize money starting at $12,000 and applications open until Aug. 5. The event will take place at N24 Taipei Ark in Nangang and will accept up to 20 teams. This year, individual applications are allowed for the first time, and selected participants without a team will be matched before the competition into groups of three to five. The written screening stage does not require a prototype. Instead, applicants will be evaluated on a problem statement and a proposed solution, each capped at 300 words. According to ABMedia, the event is built around the theme “Building the trust layer for the AI-Agent economy,” focusing on questions of identity, authorization, revocation, and auditability as AI agents begin to query systems, place orders, submit documents, and sign on behalf of people and organizations. Organizers said the technical foundation for these issues overlaps with areas long developed by blockchain and privacy communities, including decentralized identifiers, verifiable credentials, selective disclosure, zero-knowledge proofs, federated learning, and differential privacy. Two prior discussion sessions, held on June 5 and July 16, produced six challenge tracks covering manufacturing and trade, digital payments and finance, medical insurance, government services, inclusive finance, and supply-chain compliance.

Crypto markets saw a dense mix of policy, market structure, and on-chain developments over the past 24 hours. Michael Saylor and Blockstream co-founder Adam Back publicly pushed back against Bitcoin proposal BIP 110, arguing that the measure would undermine Bitcoin’s decentralization and neutrality. At the same time, Forbes released a list of 10 cryptocurrencies it considers worth investing in, including BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, SOL, TRX, HYPE, RAIN, LEO, and ZEC, using utility, store-of-value characteristics, seven-day performance, and 24-hour trading volume as screening criteria. On the regulatory side, Coinbase chief policy officer Faryar Shirzad said the CLARITY Act would place digital asset platforms under stronger oversight rather than weaken national security, responding to criticism from Senator Elizabeth Warren. Separately, The Hill reported that U.S. Senate leaders are targeting the week of July 20 for floor consideration of the bill, though bipartisan disagreements remain. Market data also remained in focus. CryptoQuant analyst Axel Adler said short-term Bitcoin holders still show stronger buy-side pressure than sell-side pressure, even as both cool slightly, while recent ETF inflows are still too small to confirm a reversal in institutional demand. Coinglass data showed $76.96 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours, with short liquidations outpacing longs. Other notable developments included new claims in the Qian Zhimin 60,000 BTC case, renewed accusations from ZachXBT over LAB token selling, and a rare full Bitcoin block mined by a single-chip Bitaxe ASIC machine.

A three-day hearing in the Qian Zhimin 60,000 BTC case was held from July 7 to July 9, 2026, according to Caixin, with Bluetegaorui joining the dispute through a litigation receiver. The case has now shifted from a two-sided fight to a three-way contest over the bitcoin. The UK prosecution, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), argues the assets should be confiscated by the state. Chinese victims claim they hold proprietary interests in bitcoin that can be traced to assets that have risen sharply in value. The litigation receiver for Bluetegaorui argues the bitcoin represents substitute property created after company funds were misappropriated. Caixin said the bitcoin involved was valued at about RMB 427,000 per coin in July this year, compared with Qian Zhimin’s 2014 purchase cost of RMB 2,815 per coin, a 152-fold increase. If applicants succeed in establishing proprietary rights over the bitcoin, recoveries may extend beyond the original investment losses to include the appreciation in value. The lead law firm for individual victims also presented four complementary legal arguments, covering the application of English law, rescission of fraudulent investment contracts, tracing under Sections 305 and 306 of POCA, and a mixed framework that avoids a strict choice between Chinese and English law.

VTHO, VeChain's gas token, saw supply halved and 100% burn after Hayabusa upgrade. This article analyzes its dual-token model, enterprise demand (EU DPP), and price predictions for 2026-2030, assessing the potential to break ATH.

VeChain's gas token VTHO saw supply halved and 100% burn after the Hayabusa upgrade, yet prices remain low. This analysis covers 2026-2030 price predictions, examining demand catalysts like EU Digital Product Passports and whether VTHO can surpass its all-time high.

VeChain’s Hayabusa upgrade reshaped VTHO’s tokenomics by cutting generation and increasing burn efficiency. The token’s long-term outlook now depends on enterprise adoption, VeBetter growth, and EU digital product passport demand.