Decrypt - 2026-06-18
7 items collected.
1. China’s Z.AI Releases GLM-5.2: A Model That Rivals Claude Opus—Using Zero Nvidia Chips
Author: Jose Antonio Lanz
Published: 6/18/2026, 9:26:34 PM
Categories: Artificial Intelligence
Z.ai's GLM-5.2 sits within 1% of Claude Opus 4.8 on long-horizon coding benchmarks, runs entirely on Huawei silicon, and undercuts Western frontier models by up to 82% per token.
2. Midjourney Pivots From AI Images to Medical Imaging, Aiming to Build a Better MRI Alternative
Author: Jason Nelson
Published: 6/18/2026, 9:18:41 PM
Categories: Artificial Intelligence
Image generation company Midjourney is developing a full-body imaging system that combines ultrasound tech with AI smarts.
3. CFTC Hits Celsius Crypto Fraudster Alex Mashinsky With Permanent Trading Ban
Author: Logan Hitchcock
Published: 6/18/2026, 9:02:06 PM
Categories: celsius-degree-token, Law and Order
The settlement ensures that convicted Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky is unable to trade in CFTC markets or register with the regulator.
4. Algorand Plans to Be Ready for Quantum Computing Threat by End of 2027
Author: Jason Nelson
Published: 6/18/2026, 8:52:47 PM
Categories: algorand, Technology
Quantum computing threatens the blockchain ecosystem, from Bitcoin to Ethereum and beyond, and Algorand has a plan to be prepared.
5. Ethereum Foundation Exodus Continues as Co-Director Hsiao-Wei Wang Departs
Author: Logan Hitchcock
Published: 6/18/2026, 8:16:42 PM
Categories: , Markets
Another key figure at the Ethereum Foundation is stepping away from her post, continuing a recent leadership exodus.
6. Perplexity's AI Agent Now Has a Brain That Learns From Its Own Mistakes
Author: Jose Antonio Lanz
Published: 6/18/2026, 7:47:21 PM
Categories: Artificial Intelligence
Brain is a self-improving memory layer that tracks what Computer did, what worked, and what failed—then uses it overnight to make the next task faster and cheaper.
7. Europe's Crypto Firms Face Squeeze as MiCA Transition Period End Looms
Author: Decrypt Agent
Published: 6/18/2026, 7:26:10 PM
Categories: , , Business
As the MiCA grace period closes, only a fraction of registered firms hold full licenses, setting up the prospect of a wave of consolidation.