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At the "Build and Scale in 2026" themed forum recently held by ChainCatcher in Hong Kong, Art Abal, Managing Director of the Vana Foundation, delivered a speech on the topic of "Why Data is Crucial for Building AI." He systematically elaborated on the core value of data as "context" in an AI-driven era, and how users can regain data sovereignty and unlock its potential economic value through decentralized technology.Art Abal pointed out that there is a serious data monopoly issue in the current AI ecosystem. The vast majority of consumers rely solely on a single general-purpose AI assistant and rarely use other major models, leading to the centralization of data and context. Meanwhile, large tech companies have been continuously restricting API access, terminating free services, and planning to charge fees in recent years, effectively depriving users of control over their own data and its contextual value.In response, Vana has proposed a comprehensive solution. First, by developing tools that enable users to truly own their data; second, by establishing protocols to achieve cross-platform portability of data; and finally, by building an ecosystem that encompasses applications, data DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), and services to unlock the deeper value of data.He concluded that in the AI era, data is context, and context is the key to differentiation. Vana's mission is to return the control of data, context, and its economic value to every user through decentralized protocols and ecosystems, in order to build a more open and fair data value internet.

Vitalik Buterin stated, "The relationship between 'institutions' (governments and corporations) and 'cypherpunks' is very complex, neither natural allies nor natural enemies."The optimal strategy for institutions in the game is to strengthen control within a manageable scope while resisting external intrusions, which also makes them often more concerned about data sovereignty and security issues than ordinary users. In the future, institutions will place greater emphasis on self-managed wallets and staking, which is beneficial for the decentralization of Ethereum; at the same time, KYC and privacy technologies will develop in parallel, and the game surrounding zero-knowledge proofs will exist for a long time. The core task of the Ethereum community is to build tools that protect individual self-sovereignty and freedom while maintaining its stance in cooperation with institutions.

Vitalik Buterin posted on the X platform that the original intention of Ethereum was not to enhance financial efficiency or application convenience, but to liberate users.Vitalik Buterin (vitalik.eth) pointed out that while efficiency and convenience have value, the core competitiveness of Ethereum lies in resilience. Resilience is not about pursuing higher returns, but about minimizing the risk of losing 100% of assets, ensuring that the network remains stable even in extreme situations such as developer disappearance, platform bans, or network wars.Vitalik Buterin emphasized that resilience is sovereignty, aimed at reducing vulnerability to external dependencies, making users equal participants rather than corporate vassals. The genes of Web2 technology are not suitable for building resilient systems, and the resilience of the financial industry is too one-sided. The primary task of Ethereum is to provide decentralized, permissionless, and resilient block space, and to achieve spatial sufficiency based on this.

According to Financefeeds, T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has made it clear that India will not adopt the U.S. "GENIUS Act" or any other G7 country's stablecoin regulatory framework. The RBI believes that dollar-pegged stablecoins pose a fundamental threat to India's monetary sovereignty, potentially leading to "dollarization" and undermining the effectiveness of domestic monetary policy.The Indian central bank emphasizes that there are already efficient digital payment systems in the country (UPI, RTGS, NEFT), and there is no need for private stablecoins. It will continue to advance its central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot project for the electronic rupee as the preferred direction for the application of blockchain technology. Although the Ministry of Finance has hinted at possibly considering a stablecoin framework, the RBI remains committed to prioritizing domestic considerations.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) latest report "Understanding Stablecoins" shows that dollar-dominated stablecoins are rapidly penetrating emerging markets and developing economies, potentially undermining central banks' control over domestic liquidity and interest rates.The report points out that stablecoins can quickly enter the market through mobile phones and the internet, especially in the presence of unhosted wallets, making it easier to cause "currency substitution," weakening the use of local currency and affecting the transmission of central bank monetary policy and seigniorage revenue. The IMF recommends that countries establish legal frameworks to prevent stablecoins from gaining "legal tender" or "official currency" status, thereby safeguarding financial sovereignty. Currently, 97% of the total market value of stablecoins is pegged to the dollar, with only a small proportion related to the euro or yen. The report also emphasizes that the usage of stablecoins in cross-border payments and in countries with high inflation has significantly increased, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

ChainCatcher news, according to Gelonghui reports, international credit rating agency Moody's recently warned that the crypto wave driven by stablecoins poses an increasingly severe challenge to monetary sovereignty and financial stability in emerging markets. The report points out that as cryptocurrencies like stablecoins accelerate their global adoption, emerging markets face the risk of weakened monetary sovereignty, with stablecoins pegged to fiat currencies like the US dollar widely penetrating the market, potentially eroding central banks' traditional ability to control interest rates and exchange rates. Moody's particularly emphasizes that if individuals shift their bank deposits to stablecoins or crypto wallets, the banking system may face deposit outflows, which would not only affect liquidity but could also undermine overall financial stability.Data shows that in 2024, the number of global digital asset holders has reached approximately 562 million, a year-on-year increase of 33%, with the fastest growth in emerging markets such as Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The main driving forces are the convenience of cross-border remittances, the demand for mobile payments, and the practical considerations of hedging against local currency inflation, contrasting sharply with the demand in developed economies driven by clear regulations and investment channels. Moody's warns that if regulatory gaps are not filled in a timely manner, the crypto wave may further amplify the monetary and financial security risks in emerging markets.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jin10 data reports, the Iranian Foreign Minister stated that this morning's incident is shocking and will have permanent consequences. The U.S. attack on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities is a serious violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Every country in the United Nations should pay attention to the dangerous actions of the United States. Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the European Parliament will vote in July on the technological sovereignty proposal submitted by the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) led by pro-Bitcoin member Sarah Knafo.The non-binding report was passed by ITRE on June 3, calling for the establishment of a European digital ecosystem policy, pointing out that Europe lags behind the United States and China in strategic areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and communication infrastructure. The proposal suggests removing barriers to private investment innovation, promoting energy-efficient computing and blockchain infrastructure, and ensuring digital financial privacy.Knafo stated, "If all right-wing parties vote in favor, we have a great chance of gaining majority support. But left-wing parties are pressuring center-right parties to block it." She emphasized that Europe has the engineers and scientists needed to catch up with the United States and China, requiring only the right political framework to allow them to work in Europe.Previously, Knafo publicly opposed the European Central Bank's digital euro plan and called for the establishment of a Bitcoin strategic reserve.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, European Stability Mechanism (ESM) President Pierre Gramegna stated at a press conference following the Eurogroup meeting on Monday that the support for cryptocurrencies by the U.S. government under President Trump could undermine Europe's monetary sovereignty.Gramegna said: "The U.S. government's supportive stance on cryptocurrencies, especially dollar-denominated stablecoins, may raise certain concerns in Europe. U.S. support could ultimately lead to American and foreign tech giants launching popular payment solutions based on dollar stablecoins—its success could undermine Europe's monetary sovereignty and financial stability. The ESM supports the European Central Bank's efforts to realize a digital euro to maintain Europe's strategic autonomy. Today, digitizing Europe is more necessary than ever."It is reported that the ESM is an intergovernmental institution that provides financial assistance to member countries facing financial crises, aiming to maintain the long-term financial stability of the eurozone.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA) was officially established today. This alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing emerging technologies, public policy, research, and education, including decentralized technologies, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3 innovations, and artificial intelligence.DSA Director Adrian Wall stated, "The purpose of establishing the DSA is to lead important bipartisan dialogue and advocate for policies that ensure emerging technologies benefit society as a whole. The rapid development in fields such as blockchain and artificial intelligence brings tremendous benefits to society, and therefore public policy must keep pace to address ethical and social impacts. We are committed to bringing together experts, policymakers, and the public to advocate for thoughtful, forward-looking policies."

ChainCatcher news, Bitcoin-listed mining company MARA stated that controlling key resources such as Bitcoin's block space and hash rate (the pillars of the network) could have profound implications for America's financial sovereignty and its ability to maintain global influence in the digital age. It called on the U.S. government to take decisive action to address the challenges posed by Bitcoin and seize opportunities, while implementing the following strategic measures:Create a U.S. Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. The U.S. should acquire Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. By holding Bitcoin, similar to the U.S. being a major holder of gold, America will ensure its transactional capability when confidence in the dollar weakens globally;Invest in domestic Bitcoin mining. The U.S. should prioritize expanding its domestic Bitcoin mining operations to increase its share of global hash power. By controlling a larger portion of global hash power, the U.S. can ensure secure access to block space and protect its economic sovereignty;Develop mining technology to promote self-sufficiency. Encourage domestic production of mining hardware (ASIC chips) to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. This will ensure that the U.S. does not depend on critical infrastructure from hostile nations, thereby enhancing technological self-sufficiency and strengthening national security;Implement supportive policy regulations. Establish clear and comprehensive regulations to provide legal clarity for Bitcoin miners and investors. Offering incentives, such as tax breaks for incorporating renewable energy into mining operations, will further stimulate industry growth, technological advancement, and job creation;Lead global Bitcoin standards. The U.S. should take a leadership role in establishing global standards for decentralized networks. By collaborating with allies and ensuring that Bitcoin remains a neutral, open, and secure platform, the U.S. can promote stability in global financial transactions and prevent the centralization of hash power by hostile nations;Protect national security through hash power control. As competition in Bitcoin mining intensifies, controlling a significant amount of domestic hash power will protect the U.S. from foreign interference. Ensuring a strong share of global hash power can prevent hostile nations from censoring or delaying U.S. transactions, which could have serious economic repercussions.

ChainCatcher news, MetaMask developer Consensys announced the launch of the on-chain personal sovereignty proof project sovs.xyz, which supports users in proving sovereignty types such as economic, data, technology, culture, legal, political, and environmental on the Linea blockchain.

ChainCatcher news, the blockchain carbon credit platform Flowcarbon, co-founded by WeWork founder Adam Neumann, is refunding investors after its much-anticipated Goddess Nature Token (GNT) failed to launch.Some refunds have been issued in recent weeks, after investors, including the tech-focused venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, waited over a year without seeing the token launch.Flowcarbon informed investors that market conditions and resistance from carbon registries were the main reasons for the refunds.Flowcarbon does not appear to have publicly disclosed its refund situation; a Flowcarbon spokesperson stated, "Since last year, we have been providing refunds to retail GNT purchasers in accordance with standard and customary terms, and we continue to develop Flowcarbon into a leader in the carbon finance space."

ChainCatcher news, Polygon's growth lead Texan shared some insights on "Layer 3" on the X platform:Some have proposed using L3 to solve the crypto scalability issue, but they have many drawbacks;Aggregated L2 has all the advantages without the disadvantages, truly achieving crypto scalability;Some L3 can achieve interoperability within a single L2 ecosystem, but this will still disperse liquidity and users by establishing moats;Many L3 models that rely on L2 for settlement include fee extraction;L3 sacrifices some sovereignty, relying on governance and fee extraction imposed by L2.

ChainCatcher news, Iceland's Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir vowed to concentrate more power on domestic food production while reducing energy expenditures for data centers and Bitcoin mining.In an interview with the Financial Times, Jakobsdóttir explained that the country's mission is to achieve carbon neutrality, and renewable energy should be redistributed to power Iceland's 375,000 citizens.Jakobsdóttir explained that the use of "large amounts of energy" for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies "is not part of this mission."