Zeros

There is something deeply poetic about Metallica landing in Las Vegas with a full-scale installation. Not a tour stop. Not a quick residency. An installation. Like fine art. Like climate control is required. Like somewhere a museum curator is whispering, “Do not tap on the Lars.” For older pop music fans, this feels like watching your slightly dangerous high school boyfriend become a luxury brand. These were the men who gave us Master of Puppets , who scared parents, and melted faces. And now? They are part of the Vegas experience, somewhere between immersive art and high-end buffet. Honestly, it’s beautiful. Because if you’ve followed their career long enough, you know there is one ghost that hovers over every chord they play: Napster . Yes. That Napster. Back in 2000, when the internet was still in its infancy and we all thought downloading one song wouldn't collapse civilization, Metallica took a stand. A loud stand. A very litigated stand. They were furious that t...

When the Bots Ban Bitcoin and the Banks Go Rogue: Two Stories the Digital Currency World Can't Ignore The world of digital assets rarely sits still, and this week delivered two stories that, on the surface, couldn't look more different — one involves a tech developer silencing his own community, the other involves a nation quietly rebuilding its financial underground . Taken together, they paint a revealing picture of the pressures bearing down on decentralized finance from both above and below. OpenClaw Goes Silent on Digital Assets If you haven't heard of OpenClaw , here's the short version: it's a popular AI agent framework that went viral earlier this year , created by developer Peter Steinberger. After Steinberger joined OpenAI , the project transitioned to an independent open-source foundation — but not before it got dragged into the chaos that follows anything digital-asset-adjacent these days. In the brief window between releasing old social m...

He Held On Tight — And the World Held On With Him: The Heartwarming Story of Punch the Monkey If you haven't yet heard about Punch , the tiny Japanese macaque at Japan's Ichikawa City Zoo who captured the entire internet's heart, prepare yourself — because this story is going to absolutely make your day! Born on July 26, 2025, little Punch came into the world weighing just 500 grams — barely more than a pound. His first-time mother, unfortunately, had no interest in raising him, and within a day of his birth, Punch was on his own . Dedicated zookeepers Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi stepped in immediately, bottle-feeding the tiny baby and providing round-the-clock care. They named him Panchi-kun — Punch, in English — after a beloved Japanese manga artist , and they poured every bit of love into helping him thrive. But love from humans, as wonderful as it is, couldn't fully replace what Punch truly needed: a troop of his own . When Punch was finally ...

The Significance of a Rules-Based System for Bitcoin — and the Rationale Behind Wall Street's Recent Endorsement Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon made headlines this week at the World Liberty Forum in Mar-a-Lago , Florida , when he publicly called for a codified, rules-based framework for how digital assets operate in the United States. He also confirmed, for the first time, that he personally holds a small amount of Bitcoin — describing it as, "very little, but some." For Bitcoin enthusiasts and digital currency collectors who have watched institutional attitudes shift over the past few years, Solomon's remarks are worth paying attention to. Not because Wall Street suddenly controls the direction of Bitcoin , but because what happens in Washington and in the boardrooms of major banks directly shapes the environment in which all of us hold and trade digital assets. What Solomon Actually Said Speaking at the forum, Solomon was direct: "I believe tha...

The Girl Who Came Back — and Won Everything: Alysa Liu is the inspiring Olympic Champion we've all been cheering for! Let's just take a second, because Alysa Liu just did something that hadn't happened in 24 years. On February 19, 2026, the 20-year-old from Oakland, California skated out onto the ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena in a sequined gold dress — dark hair streaked with horizontal blonde highlights that honestly look like something out of a fashion editorial — and became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since Sarah Hughes in 2002. And she did it by coming in third after the short program. No big deal. But here's what you already know if you're a fan: nothing rattles Alysa Liu. She's been called figure skating's unbothered queen , and she lives up to it. She says she doesn't feel pressure — she invites it all in. "I was at peak happiness when I was out there on the ice," she said after ...

The Dream That Won't Come True: Bitcoin Dropping to Zero Let's be honest with each other for a moment. Somewhere in the back of every savvy digital currency enthusiast's mind lives a little fantasy. Not the moon-boy dream of Bitcoin hitting a million dollars. No, something far more delicious: the idea that Bitcoin could one day crater all the way down to absolute zero . Worth nothing. A digital ghost. The greatest financial cautionary tale ever told. And oh, what a day that would be. Picture it. You refresh your portfolio tracker, and instead of the usual stomach-lurching red percentages, you see it: $0.00. The forums erupt. The podcasters go silent. Somewhere, a man in a laser-eye profile picture quietly changes his avatar back to a family photo. The digital asset that was going to replace the global financial system is now worth precisely as much as a broken promise. For those of us who have watched blockchain growth with a mixture of fascination and weary ...

For the past couple of weeks, if you’ve glanced at the Billboard Hot 100 , you might have felt a little dizzy. The chart has been packed — and I mean packed — with multiple entries from J. Cole and entire waves of tracks from Bad Bunny at the same time. Album bombs, streaming surges, algorithm avalanches. It’s impressive. It’s modern. It’s how the game works now. But if you’re north of 35, you may also have found yourself scrolling and thinking: Where’s the record that feels familiar ? Enter T.I . with Let Em Know , now in its third week on the Hot 100. And suddenly — finally — there’s something on the chart that doesn’t feel like it was engineered in a lab for playlist dominance. It feels lived-in. Let Em Know is unapologetically Georgia . Not just Atlanta trap as a genre label, but Georgia as a mood . There’s heat in it. Patience. That slow-rolling confidence that doesn’t need to shout because it already knows. The production leans into that syrupy Southern rhythm...

Who's Holding Your Bitcoin? The Coinbase Custody Question and the Rise of Paper Bitcoin When the SEC began approving spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024, millions of digital currency enthusiasts cheered. Finally, mainstream investors could gain exposure to Bitcoin through familiar brokerage accounts . But buried in the fine print of many of these funds was a detail that has quietly unsettled a corner of the Bitcoin community: Coinbase , the publicly traded digital asset exchange, was named custodian for a significant portion of these ETFs. And with that appointment came a term worth unpacking — Paper Bitcoin . If you've spent any time in digital currency forums lately, you've probably seen the phrase tossed around with varying degrees of alarm. The concept is slippery, and depending on who's using it, Paper Bitcoin can mean slightly different things. At its most straightforward, it refers to Bitcoin that exists as a financial instrument — a claim, a share,...

For those of us who still remember saving up for vinyl, reading liner notes, and arguing about who really wrote that bridge, the latest debate between artificial intelligence companies and record labels can feel… exhausting. The so-called AI walled gardens compromise is being floated as a kind of legal test balloon between major tech firms and record companies. The basic idea? Instead of AI systems scraping the open internet freely for songs, they would operate inside licensed environments — controlled databases where music is provided by rights holders under negotiated terms. In theory, everyone wins: labels get paid, AI companies get clean data, and courts get fewer lawsuits. In reality, it’s more complicated. Major labels like Universal Music Group , Sony Music Entertainment , and Warner Music Group have already shown they’re willing to go to court to protect catalogs. Their argument is straightforward: if an AI model trains on copyrighted recordings withou...

When Digital Assets Meet Community: Lessons from Polymarket, Kalshi, and Dogecoin's Next Chapter A remarkable event recently occurred in the prediction markets space that should make the broader digital currency community pause and take note. Both Polymarket and Kalshi launched free grocery store pop-ups, offering essential goods to their communities at no cost. These weren't publicity stunts—they were genuine efforts to give back to the people who've supported these platforms. And here's where it gets interesting for those of us watching the digital asset landscape: these initiatives raise important questions about how platforms in this space generate and share value. The Revenue Revolution The traditional model for digital currency platforms has been straightforward: transaction fees, trading spreads, and service charges . But prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are exploring a different path. While both platforms do charge fees on certain tr...

For many older pop culture observers, Don Lemon will always be associated with late-night cable news , sharp suits, and the unmistakable rhythm of primetime television. His years at CNN placed him at the center of national conversations —sometimes steady, sometimes stormy. Now, in a new chapter as an independent YouTube commentator, he finds himself facing something far more personal than ratings: a court battle that could shape both his finances and his public legacy. While details continue to unfold, the broad outline is clear enough. Lemon is defending himself against legal claims tied to his professional conduct and contractual relationships . Cases like this can stretch on for months—or even years— moving through motions, depositions, and possible settlements before ever reaching a courtroom verdict . For someone whose career has been built on speaking with authority, the shift from anchor desk to defendant’s chair is jarring . There are several possible...

Prediction Markets Are Giving Away Free Groceries? What's Really Going On Here When you think of prediction markets, free groceries probably aren't the first thing that comes to mind . Yet here we are in 2026, and both Kalshi and Polymarket have launched pop-up stores where everything is completely free. As someone who spends time navigating digital asset platforms, I had to do a double-take when I first heard about this . These aren't your typical promotional stunts. Both platforms have set up legitimate, temporary grocery stores stocked with everyday essentials— produce, pantry items, household goods —and they're not charging a cent. The pop-ups are limited-time affairs, but while they're open, anyone can walk in and grab what they need. The timing is fascinating. Prediction markets have been having a moment lately, moving from niche corners of the digital currency world into mainstream consciousness . Polymarket, in particular, has seen...

If you’ve been orbiting cable news the way some of us orbit reunion tours and legacy pop acts, the coverage of the Nancy Guthrie missing person case in Tucson, Arizona has felt less like a local tragedy and more like a crossover event. And at the center of it? Two very different but strangely similar personalities: Brian Entin of NewsNation and Nancy Grace of CNN . Let’s start with the obvious: both made themselves part of the story. That’s not new in modern true-crime media. The reporter isn’t just reporting; they’re narrating, reacting, pressing, speculating . Entin, known for immersive field reporting, positioned himself physically close to the action in Tucson. On-the-ground shots, live updates, persistent questioning. He didn’t just relay developments — he chased them. For viewers used to traditional anchor desks, it felt almost reality-TV adjacent. You could sense the urgency in his pacing. Nancy Grace, however, operates in a different register. If Entin is k...

On February 11, 2026, Coinbase introduced Agentic Wallets — a purpose-built wallet infrastructure that enables autonomous AI agents to hold, manage, and transact digital assets with minimal human intervention. At its core, this isn’t about replacing traders or taking control out of your hands; it’s about giving software systems secure accounts that behave like lightweight custodians of value .  For many digital currency hobbyists, the idea of agents — programs that can think, decide, and act — has been theoretical until now. Until Agentic Wallets , AI systems could inform decisions, suggest trades, or generate analyses. Still, they couldn’t legitimately put funds to work or move value without explicit manual action by a human. With this new infrastructure, those limits begin to fall away. Agents can now hold funds, send payments, trade tokens, earn yield, rebalance positions, and interact with on-chain ecosystems — all within pre-approved security and spending limit...

The grandstand bursts in colors bright and bold,  A towering derby hat , a story to be told.    Feathers flutter high beneath the April sun,  Where stylish ladies show the race is nearly won.    From wide-brimmed elegance to towers reaching far,  Each sculpted bonnet aims to be the shining star.    Yet through the silks and ribbons we can glimpse a doubt,  Did Easter Lent begin before the crowds poured out?    Perhaps some pious souls forgot the solemn date,  Too busy planning looks that truly seal their fate.    The mint julep swirls, the horses take their place,  While wide millinery fills up all the space.    A silent prayer ascends above the joyous roar,  For penance missed, though fashion we adore.    So crowns of straw and velvet claim the Derby scene,  A festive, funny clash of what has always been.

PayPal vs. Coinbase: The Convergence You Didn't See Coming Wait, there's gambling on Coinbase now? If that headline made you do a double-take, you're not alone. But before we dive into what that means, let's talk about an even stranger development: Kalshi , the prediction market platform, now accepts direct payments from Venmo . Yes, that Venmo. The app you use to split brunch bills. And here's where things get interesting: Venmo is owned by PayPal , which has its own stablecoin (PYUSD) and cryptocurrency wallet functionality built right into both apps. Suddenly, the lines between traditional fintech and digital asset platforms aren't just blurring— they're practically invisible. The Coinbase Gambling Surprise Coinbase's recent move into prediction markets (which, let's be honest, is essentially gambling with a fancy name) caught many users off guard. The platform has always positioned itself as the accessible, regulated on-ramp to dig...

Green Day Sold Out at the Super Bowl—And We All Pretended Not to Notice So Green Day played the Super Bowl on Sunday. Let that sink in for a moment. The band that once screamed about being a basket case and hating authority just serenaded America's most corporate, militaristic, advertising-soaked spectacle with a neutered version of American Idiot . And everyone's acting like this is fine. Like this is normal. Like we didn't just watch punk rock die in real-time on artificial turf. Remember when Billie Joe Armstrong used to change the lyrics to rage against the MAGA agenda? Yeah, he conveniently forgot that part at Levi's Stadium . Can't we offend the sponsors? Can't risk alienating half the audience when you're performing for the NFL— an organization that practically embodies everything punk rock supposedly stands against . The performance was safe. Sanitized. Corporate-approved punk cosplay for the halftime crowd. But here's the thing: t...

The Coinbase Super Bowl Ad: A Marketing Moment That Captured Digital Currency's Mainstream Arrival Coinbase's Super Bowl commercial has become one of the most talked-about advertisements in recent memory, and for good reason. The exchange platform took a bold gamble that paid off spectacularly, creating a cultural moment that transcended traditional advertising. The ad itself was remarkably simple: a QR code bouncing around the screen like the classic DVD screensaver logo , accompanied by minimal sound. No celebrity endorsements, no elaborate storylines, no expensive production values. Just a floating QR code for sixty seconds . This minimalist approach stood in stark contrast to the typical Super Bowl commercial, which usually features high-budget productions with A-list talent. The genius of Coinbase's strategy lay in its understanding of internet culture and the digital currency community's sensibilities. The bouncing QR code evoked nostalgia for anyo...

The 2026 Winter Olympics: Your Necessary Guide to Milano Cortina! The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived! The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kicked off Friday with a spectacular opening ceremony in Milan, Italy, and will continue through February 22nd. If you've been hearing conflicting information online, let's set the record straight about everything you need to know! Where and When The XXV Winter Olympic Games are taking place across Lombardy and Northeast Italy, with Milan primarily hosting ice events while snow events happen in clusters around Cortina d'Ampezzo, Valtellina, and the Fiemme Valley. This is actually a historic Games— it's the first time two cities (Milan and Cortina) are officially co-hosting! The competition runs from February 6 to 22, 2026, although some events started as early as February 4. How to Watch For all our fellow ice skating enthusiasts in the U.S., NBC is the proud home for all coverage, with live compet...