Black Mirror-style scoring comes to crypto

Black Mirror token rates user behavior

A cryptocurrency project called the Black Mirror Experience has launched a token system that tracks user behavior and assigns social reputation scores. Inspired by dystopian tech themes, the project uses the KOR Protocol to monitor digital interactions and generate what it calls “social capital metrics.”

Users can earn tokens by maintaining high scores based on community engagement, content sharing, and online activity. The system is run by a virtual assistant named Iris, which offers personalized suggestions to help users boost their scores.

Privacy advocates are alarmed. “This is the most explicit example yet of surveillance capitalism being baked directly into a crypto project,” said one digital rights group. While participation is voluntary and users retain control over their data, the optics have sparked debate about whether such systems normalize invasive data collection.

Developers claim the project offers an alternative to opaque centralized credit scores, with blockchain transparency providing accountability. They plan to expand its reach in the coming months by allowing reputation scores to carry over across various apps and platforms.

Kraken thwarts spy attempt

What started as a job interview quickly became a cybersecurity sting. Staff at Kraken, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, suspected a candidate was not who he claimed to be – and may have been working on behalf of the North Korean regime.

According to reports, the applicant used advanced deception tactics, including a fake identity, fabricated background, and digital manipulation techniques. His online persona passed early screening, but red flags during the interview process prompted deeper investigation.

Kraken’s internal security protocols allowed the company to gather intelligence while avoiding damage, turning the situation into a case study in proactive digital defense. Experts say it reflects the growing sophistication of state-sponsored actors targeting the crypto sector for both intelligence and funding. North Korea has been linked to billions of dollars in crypto thefts, often routed to support its weapons programs.

Security firms are now urging exchanges to apply enhanced scrutiny to hiring processes, especially for remote roles, and conduct deeper background checks to mitigate similar threats.

Crypto ATMs in US buildings?

In a move blending crypto adoption with political messaging, Texas Representative Lance Gooden has proposed installing cryptocurrency ATMs in federal buildings across the United States.

Gooden framed the initiative as part of a broader push to keep America competitive in blockchain innovation, aligning it with President Trump’s pro-crypto stance. “This initiative would place America at the forefront of cryptocurrency adoption globally,” a spokesperson from Gooden’s office said.

Supporters argue the move could help normalize crypto usage and educate the public by providing convenient access points in high-traffic government buildings. Critics, however, question the practicality and potential security risks, warning that crypto ATMs could be vulnerable to money laundering or fraud.

Gooden is expected to introduce formal legislation soon that would establish security requirements and compliance standards for any rollout.

Trump family hit by account closures

Eric Trump said his growing interest in cryptocurrency stems from politically motivated “cancel culture” that led traditional banks to sever ties with his family’s businesses.

Speaking at TOKEN2049 in Dubai yesterday, the president’s son said longstanding financial partners abruptly dropped them after Donald Trump left office. “We had banks that we'd been doing business with for decades suddenly say, ‘We don’t want your business any more,’” he said.

These experiences pushed Trump to explore alternative systems outside traditional finance. He praised the autonomy offered by crypto and described blockchain as a potential defense against politically driven discrimination.

Eric Trump didn’t reveal which tokens he holds or whether Trump businesses have started accepting crypto payments, but his comments align with a broader trend: several prominent conservative figures are embracing digital assets, citing personal freedom and institutional distrust.

Bitcoin nears $100K milestone

Bitcoin surged past $97,000 today, buoyed by strong earnings from Microsoft and Meta. The world’s largest cryptocurrency is currently trading at around $96,830, up 1.87% in the past 24 hours.

Analysts say the rally reflects rising institutional interest and renewed confidence in tech-linked assets. Trading volumes have climbed roughly 15% above weekly averages, with a noticeable uptick in call options targeting the $100,000 mark.

Bitcoin’s performance continues to correlate closely with the tech sector. As it inches toward the psychologically significant six-figure milestone, investors are watching for macroeconomic headwinds that could stall the rally – including renewed inflation fears and global trade tensions.

Major institutions have continued to increase their exposure to Bitcoin, reinforcing its status as a financial asset that now behaves more like a high-beta tech stock.

Freedom vs surveillance in crypto

From North Korean cyberattacks to tokenized reputation systems, today’s stories reflect crypto’s increasingly contradictory role. While some – like Eric Trump – see crypto as a path to financial independence, others are embedding it into systems that could enable real-time behavioral monitoring.

That tension may define the industry’s trajectory in the years ahead: will blockchain preserve individual freedom or be co-opted for control?

As Bitcoin approaches $100,000, these deeper questions about crypto’s place in society are just as important as the price.