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Brave browser’s non-tracking search engine is now in beta

Pro-privacy browser Brave, which has been testing its own brand search engine for several months — operating a waitlist where brave  early adopters could kick the tyres of an upstart alternative in Internet search — has now launched the tool, Brave Search, in global beta.

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Pro-privacy browser Brave, which has been testing its own brand search engine for several months — operating a waitlist where brave  early adopters could kick the tyres of an upstart alternative in Internet search — has now launched the tool, Brave Search, in global beta.

Users interested in checking out Brave’s nontracking search engine, which is built on top of an independent index and touted as a privacy-safe alternative to surveillance tech products like Google search, will find it via Brave’s desktop and mobile browsers. It can also be reached from other browsers via search.brave.com — so doesn’t require switching to Brave’s browser to use.

Brave Search is being offered as one of multiple search options that users of the company’s eponymous browser can pick from (including Google’s search engine). But Brave says it will make it the default search in its browser later this year.

The company recently passed 32M monthly active users (up from 25M back in March) for its wider suite of products — which, as well as its flagship pro-privacy browser, includes a news reader (Brave News), and a Firewall+VPN service.

Brave also offers privacy-preserving Brave Ads for businesses wanting to reach its community of privacy-preferring users.

“[Transparency] is a key principle at Brave, and there will also be a global independence metric for Brave Search across all searches, which we will make publicly available to show how we are progressing towards complete independence,” it adds.

Example of Brave’s ‘independence metric’ for search results (Image credits: Brave)

On the monetization side, Brave says it will “soon” be offering both a paid ad-free version of search in the future and an ad-supported free version — while still pledging “fully anonymous” search. Though it specifies that it won’t be flipping the ad switch during the early beta phase.

“We will offer options for both ad-free paid search and ad-supported free search later,” it notes. “When we are ready, we will explore bringing private ads with BAT revenue share to search, as we’ve done for Brave user ads.”

Users of the search engine who do not also use Brave’s own browser will be served contextual ads.

“In Brave Search via the browser, strong privacy guarantees for opt-in ads are a norm and a brand value that we uphold,” adds Pujol, confirming that users of its search and browser are likely to get the same type of ad targeting.

Asked about pricing of the forthcoming ad-free version of the search engine he says: “Although we have not finalized the launch date or the price yet, our ad-free paid search will be affordable because we believe search, and access to information, should be available on fair terms for everyone.”

Source Credits: Tech Crunch

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US lawmakers advance anti-CBDC bill

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U.S. lawmakers have voted to advance a bill aimed at blocking the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC), marking a major step in the political pushback against the development of a digital dollar.

The bill, which passed through the House Financial Services Committee, would prohibit the Fed from directly offering accounts or issuing a CBDC to individuals, citing concerns over surveillance, privacy, and government overreach.

Supporters of the legislation argue that a digital dollar could pose significant risks to civil liberties, enabling real-time tracking of consumer transactions and expanding federal control over personal finances. They view the bill as a safeguard against what they describe as a “surveillance-style” monetary system.

Opponents of the bill, however, argue that restricting CBDC development could hinder U.S. innovation and global competitiveness in the evolving digital financial landscape.

The legislation now moves closer to a potential floor vote in Congress. Its progress underscores growing ideological divisions over the future of money in the United States, with CBDCs emerging as a new front in the broader debate over digital governance, financial freedom, and the role of government in the digital age.

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Gemini to open Miami office after judge stays SEC case

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Crypto exchange Gemini has opened a new office in Miami, reinforcing its commitment to expanding operations despite pausing its plans for an initial public offering (IPO) amid a continuing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Miami office signals the company’s long-term vision for growth in key U.S. markets, even as regulatory uncertainty clouds the broader crypto landscape. The expansion comes at a time when Gemini is facing heightened scrutiny from the SEC over its Earn program, which the regulator alleges involved unregistered securities.

While the IPO remains on hold, Gemini continues to strengthen its infrastructure and team, focusing on user growth, compliance, and regional outreach. The Miami hub is expected to play a strategic role in those efforts, leveraging the city’s growing status as a U.S. crypto hotspot.

Co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss remain vocal about the need for clear regulatory frameworks and have emphasized that Gemini will continue to fight for fair treatment while building responsibly in the U.S. and abroad.

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Coinbase Institutional files for XRP futures trading with CFTC

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Coinbase Institutional has officially filed with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to offer XRP futures trading, marking a significant move toward expanding institutional access to Ripple’s native token.

The filing, submitted through Coinbase Derivatives, signals the exchange’s intent to list XRP futures contracts in a regulated environment. If approved, it would allow institutional investors to gain exposure to XRP through derivative products, a key step in broadening the token’s presence in traditional financial markets.

This development comes amid a gradually improving regulatory climate for XRP, following a partial legal victory for Ripple in its ongoing case with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The outcome gave XRP a degree of legal clarity, opening the door for exchanges and financial institutions to re-engage with the asset.

Coinbase’s push to expand its derivatives offerings also aligns with its strategy to build a more robust institutional platform. Approval from the CFTC would position the exchange to capitalize on growing demand for regulated crypto investment vehicles.

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