💰Divine Research Issues Unbacked USDC Loans via Sam Altman’s World ID

San Francisco-based fintech startup Divine Research has issued around 30,000 small $ loans since December, targeting people in developing countries who often lack access to traditional financial services.

What makes this effort unique? Divine uses Sam Altman’s World ID—the same iris-scanning technology behind the controversial Worldcoin project—to verify borrowers and prevent fraud. Each person can only apply once, reducing the risk of multiple defaults.

  1. Loan Amounts: Under $1,000 in USDC

  2. Interest Rates: 20%—$30%

  3. Default Rate: Around 40% for first-time borrowers

Target Users: Teachers, vendors, and other everyday internet users

“This is microfinance on steroids, said Diego Estevez, Divine’s founder. Borrowers also receive World tokens, which can be partially reclaimed if they default.

Bitwise: Forget Bitcoin’s 4-Year Cycle—2026 Could Be the Real Bull Run

Matt Hougan, CIO at Bitwise, believes that Bitcoin’s traditional 4-year cycle may be dead. In a recent video, he predicted 2026 could be a big year for $BTC , regardless of halving cycles.

Why the change?

  1. Halving impact is fading: Each halving is “half as important,”Hougan claims.

  2. Macroeconomic trends: Lower interest rates could drive more money into crypto.

  3. Political pressure: Donald Trump has reportedly pushed for lower rates, which could benefit Bitcoin by making traditional investments less attractive.

I bet 2026 is an up year,—Hougan stated confidently.

Solo Bitcoin Miner Strikes Gold, Mines Full Block

In a rare event, a solo Bitcoin miner successfully mined a block on Saturday, earning 3.125 BTC, worth over $370,000 at current prices.

  1. Block Mined: #907283

  2. Block Reward: 3.125 BTC + $3,436 in fees

  3. Pool Used: Solo CK, which controls ~6.3 EH/s

  4. Chance of Success: Like hitting the lottery

While large mining companies dominate the industry, this proves solo miners still have a chance to strike it big, even in today’s—highly competitive environment.

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