ACI Worldwide partners with Circle to integrate USDC settlement into Latin America’s existing payment infrastructure.

According to data from the BIT Stock Platform, pre-market U.S. crypto-related stocks rose broadly, with individual tickers posting gains as follows: CRCL up 0.65%, MSTR up 0.7%, HOOD up 2.33%, BMNR up 0.91%, COIN up 1.37%, BNC up 2.63%, and ABTC up 2.87%.

eToro founder Yoni Assia said Bitcoin may face another "setback" before its next bull run, and he forecasts the new upward rally will start next year.

According to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)’s official WeChat account, the HKMA has received a large number of public inquiries regarding a fake digital Hong Kong dollar (e-HKD) lending project that falsely claims ties to the authority. The project lures members of the public into signing agreements, falsely stating that loans will be converted into e-HKD assets. The HKMA clarifies that the relevant agreements and lending projects have no connection with it, will never contact the public regarding personal financial matters or request fund transfers. Additionally, participating institutions in the e-HKD pilot program and other sandbox programs will not raise funds from the public or promote related financial management or investment products. The HKMA has filed a report to the Hong Kong Police Force in relation to the incident.

According to data from the BIT stock platform, Artiva Biotherapeutics is down 30% in pre-market trading. The company halted its cell therapy and cut 94% of its workforce following the deaths of two patients.

According to market sources, Intel (INTC.O) will acquire quantum startup Classiq for approximately $2.3 billion.

Esports club Ninjas in Pyjamas’ parent company NIP Group has acquired another batch of Bitcoin mining rigs, paying more than 247 million Class A common shares as consideration. Upon completion of the transaction, the company’s Bitcoin mining hash rate will reach approximately 13.85 EH/s, with an estimated monthly Bitcoin output of around 195 BTC, worth about $2.8 million at current prices. NIP Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer Hicham Chahine stated that the company opted to scale up Bitcoin mining operations during a period of cooling market momentum and relatively eased competition, adding that the newly acquired mining rigs require a short deployment time. Previously, NIP Group had expanded its Bitcoin mining business with an original monthly output target of 160 BTC; this acquisition will raise that target to 195 BTC. Chahine noted that the company conducted a comprehensive evaluation of all its businesses this year, focusing on improving profit margins and defining clear profitable paths, and the Bitcoin mining business passed this assessment. He also added that if future returns from artificial intelligence (AI) computing operations exceed those from Bitcoin mining, the company may redirect some of its computing power infrastructure to AI computing. NIP Group is a digital entertainment company that owns esports operations including Ninjas in Pyjamas.