The European Parliament has prohibited Huawei lobbyists from entering its premises following the arrest of multiple individuals in a corruption probe linked to the Chinese telecom giant, marking another major scandal within the bloc’s legislature. Belgian prosecutors suspect Huawei of bribing EU lawmakers. On Friday, the European Parliament announced that it had suspended the access of Huawei lobbyists as a precautionary measure in accordance with its security regulations. The decision takes effect immediately. The arrests on Thursday followed an investigation by Le Soir and other media outlets, which reported that lobbyists for Huawei were allegedly bribing current and former European Parliament members to advance the company’s business interests in the region. Approximately 100 federal police officers conducted 21 searches across Brussels, as well as in the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and in Portugal. The investigating magistrate overseeing the case also ordered that offices allocated to two parliamentary assistants allegedly involved in the scheme be sealed within the EU Parliament. Huawei stated on Thursday that it is taking the allegations seriously and intends to “urgently communicate” with investigators. The Chinese company, a leading manufacturer of mobile phones and the largest supplier of networking equipment for telecommunications carriers, has been at the center of geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China over technology and trade. Some European nations have joined the U.S. in banning Huawei’s equipment from next-generation mobile networks due to concerns that it could be used for Chinese espionage. Huawei has consistently denied these allegations. According to the prosecutor’s office, the suspected corruption dates back to 2021. This marks the second major corruption case involving the European Parliament in under three years. In December 2022, a separate scandal erupted when Qatari officials were accused of bribing EU representatives to downplay labor rights concerns ahead of the FIFA World Cup. The incident damaged the reputation of the EU’s only directly elected institution, which represents citizens from all 27 member states.    

The Federal Trade Commission has reversed its request to delay a trial against Amazon, stating that it has adequate resources to proceed with litigation. FTC attorney Jonathan Cohen initially told a federal judge on Wednesday that staffing shortages and budgetary constraints were hampering the agency’s ability to prepare for the case. He requested a postponement of the trial, which focuses on allegations that Amazon enrolled customers in its Prime program without their consent and made cancellation difficult. However, later that day, Cohen retracted his statement in a letter to U.S. District Judge John Chun, admitting his remarks were incorrect. “I want to clarify comments I made today: I was wrong,” Cohen wrote. “The commission does not have resource constraints and we are fully prepared to litigate this case.” FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson echoed this in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday, emphasizing that the agency remains committed to taking on major technology firms. “The attorney was wrong,” Ferguson stated. “I have made it clear since Day 1 that we will commit the resources necessary for this case. The FTC will never back down from taking on Big Tech.” Amazon declined to comment on the agency’s reversal. Amazon workers in North Carolina vote against joining union Cohen’s initial request came amid broader federal budget cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. During the hearing, Judge Chun inquired whether reductions in funding and staffing at federal agencies had impacted the FTC’s ability to proceed with the case. Cohen originally cited employee departures following a January email from the administration titled "Fork in the Road," as well as hiring freezes and restrictions on purchasing court documents and travel. However, with the FTC’s clarification, the case is expected to move forward as scheduled. Source: With input from agency

As the first light of day touched Taishan Mountain in eastern China's Shandong Province, a metallic quadruped robot scaled the treacherous "Eighteen Bends," a 1,460-meter path, with a storage box strapped to its back. While hikers labored to catch their breath, the agile robot skillfully navigated around crowds, balancing itself and effortlessly hauling a 120 kg load up the 45-degree slope. A video of the scene quickly went viral on Chinese social media. Deployed by a logistics company under the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group, this AI-powered robotic dog assists in cleaning up tourist waste and transporting goods, cutting down on logistics costs in the Taishan scenic area. With 8 million visitors generating 24,000 tonnes of waste each year, manual cleanup proves costly and hazardous. "The robotic dog can scale mountains, traverse water, and overcome obstacles while carrying heavy loads, greatly enhancing efficiency," said a company representative. This technological breakthrough at Taishan Mountain highlights China’s rapidly growing consumer robotics market. From the quick sell-out of humanoid robots to the rising popularity of companion robots, AI machines are transitioning from novelties to necessities. Industry experts predict explosive growth, with China’s humanoid robot market expected to reach 5.3 billion yuan (approximately 739 million U.S. dollars) by 2025, potentially growing to 75 billion yuan by 2029, accounting for 32.7% of global sales, according to a 2024 humanoid robot industry conference report. Government policies are accelerating the development of AI robots. A guideline from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued in November 2023 aims for breakthroughs in core robotics technology by 2025. Cities such as Chongqing and Shenzhen are investing in projects to enhance embodied intelligence systems, enabling AI to physically interact with the world. AI robots are also addressing societal needs. In Chongqing, for instance, 70-year-old stroke survivor Zhang Li regained mobility through the use of a wearable exoskeleton. "These devices analyze joint movements to predict intentions and adjust motor support, transforming rehabilitation for the elderly and disabled," explained Ge Chengjun, a marketing executive at a Chongqing-based medical technology company. In addition to their practical applications, AI robots are revolutionizing the concept of toys and pets. One popular example is Sirius, a palm-sized robot dog that dances, responds to commands, and even wiggles its hips, capturing the hearts of users with its interactive features. "It is a small, highly integrated, intelligent, four-legged robot capable of understanding and responding to human commands," said Kang Xiaohu, co-founder of Hengbot Innovation Ltd., the company behind the robot. From mountain-climbing waste collectors to family companions, eldercare aides to interactive pets, AI robots are steadily becoming a staple of China’s consumer landscape. "This shift is not just a technological advancement, but also a response to fundamental human needs," said Kang.

Struggling chipmaker Intel has hired former board member and semiconductor industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as the latest in a succession of CEOs to attempt to turn around a once-dominant company that helped define Silicon Valley. Tan, 65, will take over the daunting job next Tuesday, more than three months after Intel's previous CEO, Pat Gelsinger, abruptly retired amid a deepening downturn that triggered massive layoffs and raised questions about the chipmaker's ability to survive as an independent company. This won't be Tan's first time running a semiconductor company, nor his first association with Intel. He spent more than a decade as CEO of Cadence Design Systems, which makes software that helps designs processors, and joined Intel's board of directors in 2022 before stepping down last August. Tan will rejoin Intel's board in addition to becoming CEO. “Lip-Bu is an exceptional leader whose technology industry expertise, deep relationships across the product and foundry ecosystems, and proven track record of creating shareholder value is exactly what Intel needs in its next CEO,” Intel's interim Executive Chairman Frank Yeary said. Intel has been led by interim co-CEOs, David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus, since Gelsinger walked away from a job that he undertook in February 2021. Although Gelsinger arrived at Intel amid high hopes, his tenure was a major letdown as Intel's stock price plunged 60%, wiping out $160 billion in shareholder wealth. Leading up to his departure last year, Intel laid of 17,500 of its employees — about 15% of its workforce — and suspended its dividend to save money on its way to an annual loss of $19 billion. More recently, Intel delayed the opening of two new chip factories i n Ohio to ensure the projects are completed in a “financially responsible manner.” The project is supposed to draw upon the $7.8 billion in funding earmarked for Intel in the CHIPS Incentives Program created during the administration of President Joe Biden. SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA's stuck astronauts after launch pad problem It was the latest sign of distress for Intel, a Santa Clara, California, company that helped launch Silicon Valley by developing the microprocessors that enabled the personal computer revolution under the leadership of its CEO at that time, Andy Grove. But as its leadership changed Intel missed the technological shift to mobile computing triggered by Apple's 2007 release of the iPhone, and it's lagged more nimble chipmakers. Intel's troubles have been magnified since the advent of artificial intelligence — a booming field where the chips made by once-smaller rival Nvidia have become tech's hottest commodity. Nvida now boasts a market value of $2.8 trillion compared to Intel's $90 billion. Intel's stock price rose more than 10% in Wednesday's extended trading after Tan's hiring was announced, indicating investors believe he will revive the company's fortunes. While Tan was Cadence Design's CEO from January 2009 to May 2021, the company's stock price increased by 44-fold. Tan's past accomplishments resulted him being named winner of the Semiconductor Industry Association's 2022 Robert Noyce Award — an honor named after one of Intel's co-founders.

A launch pad problem prompted SpaceX to delay a flight to the International Space Station on Wednesday to replace NASA's two stuck astronauts. The new crew needs to get to the International Space Station before Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams can head home after nine months in orbit. Concerns over a critical hydraulic system arose less than four hours before the Falcon rocket's planned evening liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. As the countdown clocks ticked down, engineers evaluated the hydraulics used to release one of the two arms clamping the rocket to its support structure. This structure needs to tilt back right before liftoff. Musk’s Starlink aims to expand internet access in remote India Already strapped into their capsule, the four astronauts awaited a final decision, which came down with less than an hour remaining in the countdown. SpaceX canceled for the day. Officials later said the launch was off until at least Friday. Once at the space station, the US, Japanese and Russian crew will replace Wilmore and Williams, who have been up there since June. The two test pilots had to move into the space station for an extended stay after Boeing's new Starliner capsule encountered major breakdowns in transit. Starliner's debut crew flight was supposed to last just a week, but NASA ordered the capsule to return empty and transferred Wilmore and Williams to SpaceX for the return leg.

Skype offers video and voice calling features. These calls can be one-to-one or connect a group. This free software has some paid features too. Millions of people around the world use Skype for personal, professiona and business uses. However, as Skype is shutting down in May 2025, users are looking for reliable communication alternatives. Here are the 10 best Skype replacements, offering high-quality calls, messaging, and collaboration features to suit different needs. Exploring Top 10 Skype Alternatives to Use After May 2025  . Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform developed by Microsoft, designed to support video conferencing, chat, and file sharing for businesses and organizations. It is available for free with limited features or as part of the Microsoft 365 suite with paid plans starting from $4/user/month.  The download size varies but typically is around 300 MB. Teams integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 apps, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, enabling real-time collaboration. Key features include HD video calls, live transcription, file storage, and virtual whiteboards.  It supports up to 100 participants on the free plan. The app's pros include its security, collaboration tools, and integration with Microsoft products. However, its cons include a steep learning curve for new users and the necessity of a Microsoft account. Read more: Elon Musk reacts to 'Bengali' Signboard at London Station Zoom Zoom is a video conferencing software developed by Zoom Video Communications, primarily used for remote meetings, webinars, and online events. The app is available for free, with a 40-minute limit on group meetings, and paid plans start at $14.99/user/month.  The download size is around 20-300 MB, depending on the platform. Zoom offers high-quality video and audio, virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and cloud recording. It supports up to 1,000 participants with paid plans.  Pros include its ease of use, reliable performance, and third-party integrations. However, security settings are not maximized by default, and free users face meeting time limits. Despite occasional connectivity issues, Zoom remains one of the most popular video conferencing platforms. Slack Slack, developed by Salesforce, is a communication and collaboration platform designed for teams and businesses. It offers free and paid plans starting at $7.25/user/month. The download size is approximately 300 MB.  Read more: Understanding Zero-Click Hacks: The Growing Cyber Threat to WhatsApp Users Slack is known for its organized channels, real-time messaging, voice, and video calls. It also integrates with over 2,600 apps, including Google Drive, Zoom, and Microsoft 365. Key features include screen sharing, file sharing, and advanced search capabilities.  The app’s pros are its team-centric features and integrations, while its cons include a limited message history on the free plan and expensive pricing for large teams. Slack is best suited for team communication and project management in collaborative environments. WhatsApp WhatsApp, developed by Meta (formerly Facebook), is a free messaging platform that allows users to send text messages, voice notes, and make voice and video calls. Available for Android, iOS, and desktop (via web or app), it supports group chats and media sharing, offering end-to-end encryption for secure communication.  The app is lightweight, with a download size of approximately 60-200 MB. WhatsApp is popular for both personal and business use, offering WhatsApp Business for small businesses to engage with customers. While it is free for personal use, WhatsApp Business and its API come with additional features for enterprise-level communication, available at custom pricing.  Read more: YouTube Video Script Writing: Some Effective Tips and Tricks Pros include free calls, group video chats with up to 32 participants, and its cross-platform availability. Cons include the need for a phone number, limited desktop functionality, and a 32-participant group call limit. Google Meet Google Meet, a product of Google, is a video conferencing tool that offers both free and paid plans. Free accounts allow meetings of up to 100 participants with a 60-minute duration limit. The app integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace apps such as Gmail, Calendar, and Drive, enhancing productivity.  Available for Android, iOS, and web browsers, Google Meet’s download size is around 30MB. The service includes HD video conferencing, real-time captions, smart screen sharing, and live AI transcription. Paid plans start at $6 per user/month and offer additional features like longer meeting durations, more participants, and cloud storage.  Pros include strong security, ease of use, and integration with Google services. Cons include a meeting limit on free plans, fewer features compared to Zoom or Microsoft Teams, and occasional browser freezing. Read more: How to Protect Your YouTube Channel from Getting Hacked Viber Viber, developed by Rakuten, is a free messaging app offering voice, video calls, and messaging services. Available on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, it is a great alternative to Skype for international communication. Viber’s download size is approximately 120MB.  It allows free app-to-app communication and provides low-cost international calls via Viber Out. The app offers group chats, file sharing, stickers, and end-to-end encryption, ensuring secure communication.  Pros include its free voice and video calls, cross-platform support, and privacy features like self-destructing messages. However, Viber is not as widely used as WhatsApp or Skype, and calls to non-Viber numbers require credits. The free version also includes ads, and a phone number is required for registration. Jami Jami, an open-source and decentralized communication platform, provides free voice, video calls, and messaging. It is available for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and macOS, with a download size of around 50-150 MB.  Read more: Best Free Online Scriptwriting Courses Developed by Savoir-faire Linux, Jami allows direct calls between users via peer-to-peer networking, which enhances privacy. It supports HD video calling, instant messaging, file sharing, and group chats.  One of Jami’s key features is its focus on privacy, with no need for personal information, and all communication is end-to-end encrypted. While Jami is free, it is not as fully-featured as some Skype alternatives. The lack of server-based calls may affect call quality in some cases, and it lacks some collaborative tools. FaceTime FaceTime, developed by Apple Inc., is a free video and audio calling app exclusive to Apple devices. It integrates seamlessly with iPhone, iPad, and Mac, allowing users to make high-quality calls using only a phone number or email address.  FaceTime supports group video calls with up to 32 participants and provides features like SharePlay for collaborative experiences, spatial audio for natural-sounding conversations, and Portrait Mode with video effects. Read more: How to Increase YouTube subscribers for free? The app is free for Apple users, and FaceTime links allow cross-platform access for Android and Windows users via a browser. However, FaceTime is limited to Apple users, lacks built-in chat or collaboration features, and requires a strong internet connection for optimal performance. Jitsi Jitsi, an open-source platform, offers free and secure video conferencing without the need for account creation. Developed by Jitsi, it is available for web, mobile, and desktop platforms, allowing for unlimited participants and no time limits.  The download size varies depending on the platform, but it is lightweight and runs directly in a web browser. Jitsi supports end-to-end encryption, screen sharing, and remote desktop control, making it ideal for secure business and personal meetings.  While Jitsi is free and highly flexible, it lacks built-in scheduling or meeting management features and may depend on third-party integrations for cloud recording. It also requires self-hosting for full customization, which may limit some users. Read more: How To Be A Popular Instagram Influencer Signal Signal is a free, privacy-focused messaging and calling app developed by the Signal Foundation. It offers end-to-end encrypted voice, video, and text communication, ensuring complete privacy for users. Unlike Skype, Signal does not track or collect user data and is funded by donations.  The app is available on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a download size varying by platform (around 100-200MB). Key features include encrypted messaging, high-quality voice and video calls, self-destructing messages, and secure group chats.  Pros include strong encryption, no ads or tracking, and open-source transparency. However, it requires a phone number to sign up, has limited cloud backup options, and lacks business or API features. Despite a smaller user base, it remains a top choice for privacy-conscious users. Webex Webex, developed by Cisco, is a cloud-based communication platform designed for professional use, offering messaging, voice, and video services. It provides a free basic plan for individuals, with paid plans starting at $13 per month for businesses.  Read more: 7 Top AI Writing Tools, Software to Generate Human-Like Text Webex includes features like meeting transcripts, hand gesture recognition, background noise cancellation, and screen sharing. It is well-suited for enterprises, offering advanced collaboration tools and AI-powered features. The platform's seamless integration with other Cisco products makes it ideal for large-scale teams.  However, Webex's pricing is higher than some competitors, and occasional lag or freezing can occur. While the free plan supports basic meetings, businesses will need a paid plan for more comprehensive features.  Wrapping Up Transitioning from Skype is essential as it nears retirement, and there are plenty of alternatives to explore. Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet are ideal for professional use, while platforms like Signal and WhatsApp offer more secure and accessible options for personal communication. Choose the one that best suits your needs. Read more: Best Free Websites to Improve English Writing Skill

Elon Musk’s Starlink has struck agreements with India’s leading telecom providers to introduce its satellite internet services across the country, marking a significant step toward connecting millions of people, especially in remote areas. The deals with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which control over 70% of India’s telecom market, come just a day after Starlink announced a similar partnership with Airtel. However, the agreements are contingent on Starlink receiving government approval to operate in India. The announcements follow a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Musk in Washington. Starlink Devices to Be Available in Stores Nationwide Under the agreement with Jio, Starlink will sell its satellite equipment in Jio’s extensive retail network across India, making the service more accessible. Additionally, Starlink will leverage Jio’s infrastructure to enhance coverage in areas where internet access remains limited. Jio’s statement highlighted that Starlink will complement its existing broadband services by providing fast internet to challenging locations quickly and affordably. Jio will also assist with installation and activation of Starlink’s devices. Regulatory Hurdles and Pricing Challenges for Starlink Despite these agreements, Starlink’s entry into the Indian market is not guaranteed, as it still requires regulatory approval. Local reports suggest that the company’s application is close to receiving initial approval, though concerns over security compliance remain. Indian telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia previously stated that Starlink’s license would only be issued once it meets all security norms. Another challenge for Starlink could be pricing, as mobile data in India is among the cheapest globally, and Starlink’s service may face difficulties competing with local providers. Musk says X targeted in ‘massive cyberattack,’ causing outage Expanding Internet Access to Remote Areas Around 40% of India’s population, over 1.4 billion people, currently lacks internet access. With its constellation of over 6,900 satellites, Starlink could play a key role in connecting rural and hard-to-reach regions, offering low-latency broadband to areas previously without internet.

Twenty years before the Titanic changed maritime history, another ship touted as the next great technological feat set sail on the Great Lakes. The Western Reserve was one of the first all-steel cargo ships to traverse the lakes. Built to break speed records, the 300-foot (91-meter) freighter dubbed “the inland greyhound” by newspapers was supposed to be one of the safest ships afloat. Owner Peter Minch was so proud of her that he brought his wife and young children aboard for a summer joyride in August 1892. As the ship entered Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay between Michigan and Canada on Aug. 30, a gale came up. With no cargo, the ship was floating high in the water. The storm battered it until it cracked in half. Twenty-seven people perished, including the Minch family. The only survivor was wheelsman Harry W. Stewart, who swam a mile (1.6 kilometers) to shore after his lifeboat capsized. For almost 132 years, the lake hid the wreckage. In July, explorers from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society pinpointed the Western Reserve off Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The society announced the discovery Saturday at the annual Ghost Ships Festival in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. “There's a number of concurrent stories that make this important,” the society's executive director, Bruce Lynn, said in a telephone interview. “Most ships were still wooden. It was a technologically advanced ship. They were kind of a famous family at the time. You have this new ship, considered one of the safest on the lake, new tech, a big, big ship. (The discovery) is another way for us to keep this history alive.” Search lasted more than two years Darryl Ertel, the society's marine operations director, and his brother, Dan Ertel, spent more than two years looking for the Western Reserve. On July 22, they set out on the David Boyd, the society's research vessel. Heavy ship traffic that day forced them to alter their course, though, and search an area adjacent to their original search grid, Lynn said. Nearly 70 migrants dead after boat sinks en route to Spain, says Malian minister The brothers towed a side-scanning sonar array behind their ship. Side sonar scans starboard and port, providing a more expansive picture of the bottom than sonar mounted beneath a ship. About 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Whitefish Point on the Upper Peninsula, they picked up a line with a shadow behind it in 600 feet (182 meters) of water. They dialed up the resolution and spotted a large ship broken in two with the bow resting on the stern. Confirmation day Eight days later, the brothers returned to the site along with Lynn and other researchers. They deployed a submersible drone that returned clear images of a portside running light that matched a Western Reserve’s starboard running light that had washed ashore in Canada after the ship went down. That light was the only artifact recovered from the ship. “That was confirmation day,” said Lynn, the society's executive director. Darryl Ertel said that discovery gave him chills — and not in a good way. “Knowing how the 300-foot Western Reserve was caught in a storm this far from shore made a uneasy feeling in the back of my neck," he said in a society news release. "A squall can come up unexpectedly…anywhere, and anytime.” Lynn said that the ship was “pretty torn up” but the wreckage appeared well-preserved in the frigid fresh water. The Great Lakes can be more dangerous than the oceans The Great Lakes have claimed thousands of ships since the 1700s. Perhaps the most famous is the Edmund Fitzgerald, an ore carrier that got caught in a storm in November 1975 and went down off Whitefish Point within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the Western Reserve. All hands were killed. The incident was immortalized in the Gordon Lightfoot song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Assistant Wisconsin State Climatologist Ed Hopkins said that storm season on the lakes begins in November, when warm water meets cold air and winds blow unimpeded across open water, generating waves as high as 30 feet (9 meters). The lakes at that time can be more dangerous than the oceans because they're smaller, making it harder for ships to out-maneuver the storms, he said. Russian cargo ship sinks in the Mediterranean, 2 crew missing Brittle steel may have played a role in sinking But it's rare to see such gales form in August, Hopkins said. A National Weather Service report called the storm that sank the Western Reserve a “relatively minor gale," he noted. A Wisconsin Marine Historical Society summary of the Western Reserve sinking noted that the maritime steel age had just begun and the Western Reserve's hull might have been weak and couldn't handle the bending and twisting in the storm. The steel also becomes brittle in low temperatures like those of Great Lakes waters. The average water temperature in Lake Superior in late August is about 60 degrees (16 degrees Celsius), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The summary notes the Titanic used the same type of steel as the Western Reserve and that it may have played a role in speeding up the luxury liner's sinking.

Musk asserted on X that Ukraine’s entire frontline would collapse without Starlink. Sikorski countered, stating that Poland funds the service in Ukraine and warned that any threat to shut it down would prompt a search for an alternative provider. Rubio dismissed Sikorski’s remarks, urging him to be grateful. Musk went further, calling Sikorski a “small man.” The argument ended after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged allies to treat weaker partners with respect rather than arrogance. Starlink, a SpaceX initiative, has been crucial for Ukraine’s military communications since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The system, used extensively by Ukrainian forces, includes tens of thousands of terminals, with up to 500 purchased by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2023. The exchange began when Musk described Starlink as the "backbone of the Ukrainian army," claiming that without it, Ukraine’s frontline would collapse. Sikorski responded that Poland’s Ministry of Digitization funds the service at an annual cost of approximately $50 million. He also criticized the ethics of threatening a country under attack and warned that Poland would seek alternative providers if SpaceX proved unreliable. Elon Musk and Marco Rubio fight in White House cabinet meeting Rubio refuted Sikorski’s claims, insisting no one had threatened to cut Ukraine off from Starlink. He added that Ukraine would have already lost the war without the system, with Russian forces potentially reaching Poland’s border. Musk then directly insulted Sikorski, stating, “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.” Source: BBC

President Donald Trump said Friday he’s committed to making the US a world leader in cryptocurrencies as industry leaders heaped praise on him for reversing what they said had been unfair attacks on digital assets by the previous administration. “I thought it was very important that we stay in the front of this one,” Trump said at the first-ever White House “Crypto Summit.” A former crypto-skeptic, Trump has warmly embraced an industry that’s shown him significant love in return and spent heavily to help him win last year’s election. “It’s truly wonderful to see how things have changed and how the pendulum has swung back,” Cameron Winklevoss, the co-founder of the crypto exchange Gemini, told Trump. The summit included crypto company executives, cabinet officials and lawmakers, many of whom took turns raving about Trump’s leadership on digital assets. The emboldened industry said it was unfairly treated by the Biden administration and helped Trump and other Republicans score wins in the last election. Trump reiterated his eagerness to help the crypto industry with friendly legislation and light-touch regulations. Google leans further into AI-generated overviews for its search engine Friday’s summit was the latest in a series of actions the new Trump administration has taken to try and boost the crypto industry. Notably, that’s included the Securities and Exchange Commission dropping several enforcement actions against large crypto companies, including those whose leaders were at Friday’s summit. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order establishing a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,” which essentially bars the US government from selling bitcoin – currently valued at about $17 billion – it has acquired through criminal and civil asset forfeiture.   The order also allows the Treasury and Commerce Departments to come up with “budget-neutral” plans for the government to acquire additional bitcoin, though no details of what those plans might look like have been released. The order is a significant boost for bitcoin’s credibility and legitimacy. The oldest and most popular cryptocurrency, bitcoin has gone from an experiment by libertarian cryptography enthusiasts to an asset worth $1.7 trillion in less than two decades. “Bitcoin is special,” said David Sacks, the Trump administration’s “crypto czar,” told reporters Friday. Trump’s order also creates a “Digital Asset Stockpile,” where the government will hold seized cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin. On Sunday, Trump sent crypto prices on a short-lived surge after a surprise announcement that he wanted the government to hold lesser-known cryptocurrencies XRP, solana and cardano. It’s unclear why Trump named those specific cryptocurrencies and not others. His announcement caused a stir in the crypto community about whether the government would pick winners and losers among various types of cryptocurrencies. Yesha Yadav, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School, said it’s clear the Trump administration wanted to avoid getting dragged into that kind of fight with the way the executive order was worded. “It’s unsurprising that the Trump EO from yesterday has been quite neutral,” she said. Trump’s foray into crypto has included backing a personal meme coin and other ventures to enrich himself and his family. Those moves have drawn swift criticism from Democrats and even some crypto enthusiasts who support Trump. Sacks told reporters Friday that Trump’s personal crypto-related projects were “irrelevant” to the administration’s work related to the industry. That work, Sacks said, was focused on making the US the world capital in crypto through fair and clear regulations that promote innovation while still protecting investors. Sacks added his role was not to try and convince Americans to buy crypto. “You should do your homework because this is a very volatile industry,” Sacks said. “It’s not for everyone.”