El Salvador is embracing artificial intelligence as a key pillar in its national development strategy, announcing plans to leverage high-performance computing infrastructure powered by NVIDIA technology.

The country revealed it is establishing the “National Center for Artificial Intelligence,” a government-led initiative aimed at promoting AI integration across sectors including education, healthcare, and public services. The center will be built around NVIDIA’s DGX SuperPOD—an advanced AI system designed to support large-scale machine learning workloads.

President Nayib Bukele’s administration emphasized that the move aligns with the country’s broader vision of technological modernization. The AI center will be housed within El Salvador’s National Library and is expected to become operational by the end of 2024. According to officials, the facility will enable the government to train AI models locally, process massive datasets, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.

El Salvador’s adoption of NVIDIA’s platform follows a trend of emerging markets turning to AI and blockchain innovation to leapfrog traditional development paths. The country’s partnership with NVIDIA underscores its commitment to building a high-tech economy and cultivating digital talent.

The initiative will also include educational and research programs to equip Salvadorans with skills in AI and data science. Government officials noted that students, academics, and startups will be given access to the infrastructure, creating a public-private ecosystem around innovation.

As one of the first Latin American countries to formally integrate AI at a national scale—with infrastructure supported by a global tech leader—El Salvador is positioning itself as a pioneer in regional digital transformation.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has issued a strong warning to the crypto community about the proliferation of fraudulent tokens exploiting the names of high-profile individuals and AI ventures—specifically, a fake “Grok” token falsely claiming ties to Elon Musk.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), CZ cautioned users to avoid any coin marketed as connected to Musk’s artificial intelligence project, xAI’s Grok chatbot. He emphasized that Musk has not launched any such token and labeled all “Grok” coins as scams. “There is no Grok token,” CZ wrote. “All of them are scams.”

CZ’s statement echoes similar alerts made in the past, including direct posts from Musk, who has repeatedly distanced himself from crypto projects using his name or companies as bait to attract investors. Despite these warnings, scam tokens continue to appear, often taking advantage of trends involving meme coins, AI hype, or celebrity branding.

The rise of fake tokens has become increasingly problematic, particularly on decentralized exchanges where listings are not subject to the same scrutiny as centralized platforms. Many of these coins gain rapid popularity due to viral marketing or misleading claims, only to end in rug pulls or liquidity drains.

CZ’s warning adds to growing calls from industry leaders and regulators for better investor protection and education amid the booming—but often unregulated—crypto landscape. As fraudulent activity rises, users are urged to conduct thorough due diligence and remain skeptical of tokens tied to celebrities or trending tech with no verified backing.

Circle and BitGo are reportedly preparing to apply for U.S. bank charters, marking a significant step toward deeper integration between the cryptocurrency industry and traditional banking infrastructure.

The two digital asset firms are said to be in advanced stages of seeking banking licenses, a move that would allow them to operate as fully regulated financial institutions within the United States. If approved, this would grant the companies the ability to offer services like custody, payments, and stablecoin issuance under federal oversight.

Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has long signaled its intention to operate with a higher level of regulatory compliance. A bank charter would enable Circle to strengthen the legitimacy of USDC and ensure tighter control over its reserves, appealing to both institutional partners and regulators.

BitGo, which specializes in digital asset custody and security solutions, is also reportedly exploring a charter to bolster its position in the regulated financial space. A banking license would potentially allow BitGo to expand its offerings and serve clients with more comprehensive financial products.

This trend of crypto firms seeking banking charters reflects a broader shift in the industry, where regulatory clarity is becoming a competitive advantage. Industry observers suggest that other firms may follow suit as the line between crypto and traditional finance continues to blur.

The potential entry of Circle and BitGo into the federally chartered banking system signals a maturing market that is increasingly leaning into regulation to foster trust, expand services, and attract institutional capital. If successful, these moves could reshape the crypto banking landscape and set new standards for operational transparency and regulatory compliance in the digital asset sector.