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China is proposing to bring its social credit system to the metaverse

China is looking to implement a system akin to its social credit system in the metaverse and other online virtual worlds.

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China is looking to implement a system akin to its social credit system in the metaverse and other online virtual worlds.

POLITICO reported on Aug. 20 that state-owned telco China Mobile has proposed a digital ID for all metaverse and online virtual world users that work with “natural characteristics” and “social characteristics.”

The proposals say “to keep the order and safety of the virtual world” the ID would harbor a slew of personal information and identifiable signs including a person’s job and suggested such data be permanently stored and shared with authorities.

An example of the benefits of the system was provided with a problem user that “spreads rumors and makes chaos in the metaverse” — with the digital ID allowing police to quickly find and punish the person.

The proposal mirrors China’s social credit system — an in-development infrastructure designed to improve behaviour that scores and ranks citizens across various metrics. It has also been an enforcement tool.

In 2019, the Associated Press reported that authorities blocked social offenders from purchasing plane tickets 17.5 million times in 2018. Other social offenders were punished by being barred from purchasing train tickets 5.5 million times.

On July 5, China Mobile put forward the proposals as part of discussions with a focus group on the Metaverse put together by the United Nations’ communications technology agency the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The metaverse focus group meets again in October, when the proposals could be voted on.

If passed, they could majorly influence telcos and tech firms, as the ITU’s metaverse group is aiming to develop new standards for metaverse services.

Chinese firms taking part in the focus group are purportedly firing off many more metaverse proposals compared to those from the United States and Europe, according to one group contributor that spoke to POLITICO.

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Tether USDT stablecoin seen on Bolivian store price tags

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Retailers across Bolivia are now quoting prices in Tether’s USDT stablecoin for everyday goods like chocolates, sunglasses, and snacks, according to Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino.

The shift reflects growing reliance on stable digital currency as Bolivians seek protection against volatility in the boliviano, with USDT providing a more predictable value for both consumers and merchants.

Ardoino highlighted that using digital dollars at the point of sale offers practical advantages for everyday shoppers, and analysts suggest this could serve as a model for other countries facing currency instability.

This development builds on earlier steps toward crypto integration in Bolivia—most notably, the launch of USDT custody services by Banco Bisa in October 2024, under the oversight of the country’s financial regulator.

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Metaplanet shares jump after $5.4B plan to buy Bitcoin

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Tokyo-based Metaplanet has unveiled plans to significantly boost its Bitcoin reserves, targeting the acquisition of 100,000 BTC by the end of 2026—up from its previous goal of 21,000 BTC. The announcement, shared via X on June 6, follows a recent purchase increasing its holdings to 8,888 BTC and signals a bold move to expand its crypto presence .

The firm intends to buy at least an additional 91,112 BTC over the next 18 months. CEO Simon Gerovich emphasized that this accelerated acquisition is a deliberate response to global financial shifts, including geopolitical tensions, excessive sovereign debt, and growing doubts over traditional safe-haven assets like bonds and gold.

To fund this plan, Metaplanet will issue up to 555 million new shares via stock acquisition rights, supplementing its existing 210 million-share program. The issuance is expected to raise around ¥770.3 billion (approximately $5.32 billion) at an initial strike price of ¥1,388 per share.

Looking ahead, the company aims to hold over 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027—roughly 1% of Bitcoin’s fixed supply cap. This ambitious growth trajectory cements Metaplanet’s status as Asia’s leading corporate Bitcoin holder—a strategy that echoes the approach taken by U.S. firm MicroStrategy.

As Metaplanet positions itself for further expansion, its aggressive accumulation strategy and large-scale capital raising mark a transformative shift in how non-financial firms are using corporate treasury to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies.

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Coinbase says it’s tackling frozen accounts in ‘major issue’

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Coinbase announced it has cut back on unnecessary account freezes by 82%, following extensive user complaints about prolonged access limitations. CEO Brian Armstrong acknowledged this issue on June 6 via a post on X, describing account freezes as “a major issue” that had been tolerated for “longer than is acceptable.” He confirmed the problem is now being prioritized and urged affected users to contact Coinbase Support.

The improvement follows sustained frustration among users who reported being locked out of their accounts—sometimes for weeks or months—without clear explanations or timely support. Armstrong credited the swift progress to the recent hiring of product expert Dor Levi, whose team revamped Coinbase’s machine learning systems to minimize false positives in fraud detection.

Despite reducing “false positives,” both Armstrong and Levi cautioned that certain freezes will still occur in cases involving legal requirements or fraud prevention. Levi admitted the current level of support still “doesn’t meet [his] own bar” and pledged to continue refining the process. Meanwhile, user sentiment remains divided, as many continue to report lingering issues and slow customer service.

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