Opinion: With the penny dead, NYC can’t forget about those who rely on cash
The other day at a bodega off West Fourth Street, I watched the cashier point to a handwritten sign that read, “NO PENNIES. CASH TOTALS ROUNDED.” My friend tapped her phone to pay and moved on wit
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Success Story: Sohail Ghafoor’s Learning Journey with 101 Blockchains
About Sohail Ghafoor Name: Sohail Ghafoor Designation: Senior Blockchain Architect Company: Finstreet Country: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sohail’s Learning Journey That Inspires Which 101 Block
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How to Become a Successful Crypto Project Manager?
The blockchain and crypto space is back in the limelight again, not as if they had ever faded out since their arrival. Bitcoin reached its all-time highs in 2025 and the larger crypto asset market fol
Blockchain News
Opinion: With the penny dead, NYC can’t forget about those who rely on cash
The other day at a bodega off West Fourth Street, I watched the cashier point to a handwritten sign that read, “NO PENNIES. CASH TOTALS ROUNDED.” My friend tapped her phone to pay and moved on wit
Economy
The other day at a bodega off West Fourth Street, I watched the cashier point to a handwritten sign that read, “NO PENNIES. CASH TOTALS ROUNDED.” My friend tapped her phone to pay and moved on without thinking twice. The woman in front of us, however, counting crumpled singles and quarters, hesitated before handing over her last dollar. It was a small moment, but it revealed exactly who would feel the absence of the penny most.
Last month, the U.S. Mint officially stopped producing pennies after 232 years, citing cost production issues — it costs about 3.8 cents for the bureau to make just one. Now, Congress is reviewing the aptly named Common Cents Act, which would require all purchases nationwide to be rounded to the nearest nickel.
Keeping the penny never made economic sense. For the past decade, the U.S. Mint has lost tens of millions of dollars annually producing a coin that only around 31% of people actually use. On top of that, a convenience store trade group found that pennies add around 2.5 seconds to every cash transaction. For New Yorkers who live in an urban environment that thrives on convenience, wasted time is an unacceptable caveat.
While the government sees rounding as an easy fix to this new change, the switch isn’t as simple for individual Americans — especially for the less fortunate, for whom every cent counts. About 8% of New York households are unbanked, meaning residents do not have their own checking or savings accounts, which is almost double the 2023 national average of 4.2%. Those unbanked are disproportionately low-income, Black, Hispanic and disabled — and because of access issues, cash is often their default. A few cents on each purchase may sound trivial to students on a $3,000 meal plan, but it adds up for those who depend on paying for groceries, laundry and MetroCards in cash every week.
Economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond warn that rounding up can function like a small rounding tax if stores systematically round up more than they round down. While one cent isn’t a lot at face value, if that pattern holds in New York, the cost of a missing penny won’t show up as just a small fee, but will quietly drain a few dollars every month from the bank accounts of those who can least afford it. This is no measly change for those who count on every singular dollar to make it through each month.
At NYU, the penny — and in many ways, cash as a whole — has been dead for years. Dining halls and other on-campus food establishments employ tap-to-pay methods. None of us are digging through our wallets for coins at Upstein, but when taking a look at local businesses near campus, the city tells a different story: Many laundromats operate on a cash-only basis, and do local halal carts and even some restaurants.
So while students might see the death of the penny as something to shrug off, groups focused on mutual aid and financial literacy should advocate for those who frequently use cash. Petition for the university to expand access to low-fee bank accounts and financial counseling — because the people who will feel the penny’s absence most aren’t the ones whose Venmo handles are printed on student club flyers.
Retiring the penny was the right call. But if New York City lets rounding policies develop through a patchwork of register signs and corporate memos, people will begin to feel it. We can treat the end of the penny as an opportunity instead: to design fair, transparent rules for cash transactions and to finally take seriously the financial lives of the New Yorkers for whom every cent still counts.
New York City can take steps to proactively address this issue in support of its most vulnerable residents. Bodega owners shouldn’t have to accept accountability for decisions made by the government that inadvertently affect the less fortunate. Instead, the New York City Council must implement transparent rounding rules and require straightforward, multilingual signage across businesses as a uniform response to the change. For many New Yorkers, the change might be the difference between having enough to buy a bodega sandwich for lunch or a pack of diapers for their children.
WSN’s Opinion desk strives to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented in the Opinion desk are solely the views of the writer.
Contact Sania Mehta at opinion@nyunews.com.
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Success Story: Sohail Ghafoor’s Learning Journey with 101 Blockchains
About Sohail Ghafoor Name: Sohail Ghafoor Designation: Senior Blockchain Architect Company: Finstreet Country: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sohail’s Learning Journey That Inspires Which 101 Block
Blockchain NewsAbout Sohail Ghafoor
Name: Sohail Ghafoor
Designation: Senior Blockchain Architect
Company: Finstreet
Country: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Sohail’s Learning Journey That Inspires
Which 101 Blockchains courses or certifications have you completed?
I achieved 101 Blockchains’ Certified Enterprise Blockchain Architect (CEBA)
certification.
Why did you choose 101 Blockchains, and how was your Overall Learning Experience with the Platform?
I selected this certification because I was looking for an enterprise-centric, structured approach to understand blockchain architecture that links technical design with practical business use cases.
Learning with 101 Blockchains has been one of the most productive experiences in my life. The CEBA certification program offered practical training at par with latest industry standards with a well-structured design. I also figured out how to accommodate regulatory compliance, tokenization frameworks, and custody solutions in architectural design to support blockchain adoption in finance.
At 101 Blockchains, you don’t just earn certifications — you gain real-world skills that shape you into a confident blockchain professional.
How has this program contributed to your professional growth?
The certification significantly improved my capability to build secure blockchain infrastructures, especially in areas like asset tokenization, institutional compliance and MPC wallet custody.
Which Skills or Knowledge Do you think have helped you the most?
It also helped me better understand blockchain governance models, interoperability and how to align technical frameworks with legal requirements. These abilities are now crucial elements that direct my work in designing the architecture of blockchain custody solutions and exchanges.
My confidence and credibility to lead blockchain projects and collaborate with fintech partners and regulatory bodies have increased significantly, thanks to the CEBA certification program.
From learners to leaders — explore the success stories of 100,000+ professionals with 101 Blockchains.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in blockchain?
Anyone thinking about a career in blockchain must acquire technical skills in blockchain along with strategic thinking abilities. You should learn how blockchain works and the different ways in which it can transform industries. What really distinguishes blockchain professionals is the fusion of architecture, regulation and business value.
Would you recommend 101 Blockchains to others? Why?
I would unquestionably recommend 101 Blockchains to others. Their courses empower you to design, lead, and innovate in the rapidly evolving web3 space in addition to teaching blockchain.
The post Success Story: Sohail Ghafoor’s Learning Journey with 101 Blockchains appeared first on 101 Blockchains.
How to Become a Successful Crypto Project Manager?
The blockchain and crypto space is back in the limelight again, not as if they had ever faded out since their arrival. Bitcoin reached its all-time highs in 2025 and the larger crypto asset market fol
Blockchain NewsThe blockchain and crypto space is back in the limelight again, not as if they had ever faded out since their arrival. Bitcoin reached its all-time highs in 2025 and the larger crypto asset market followed suit and rallied behind the biggest cryptocurrency. With crypto ETFs bringing cryptocurrencies closer to institutions and retail investors, the decision to become a crypto project manager might be the best career move. The world has already witnessed a steady rise in the number of cryptocurrency projects, including DeFi solutions and NFTs.
As more companies try to dip their hands in blockchain and crypto projects, they find themselves at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. This is where a crypto or blockchain project manager can serve as the bridge between project management and technology of the future. Becoming a successful crypto project manager requires awareness of job responsibilities, career progression, and essential skills required for the job.
Build the skills to manage blockchain and Web3 projects from concept to launch with the Certified Blockchain Product Manager (CBPM)
Who is a Crypto Project Manager?
The first thing a beginner needs to become a successful crypto or blockchain project manager is the awareness of responsibilities involved in the role. You can find the right answer to “How to become a blockchain project manager?” only by understanding what the role entails. Blockchain or crypto project management is an innovative field that blends the traditional elements of product management and the power of blockchain technology.
As a crypto project manager, you will be expected to guide the development, launch, and scalability of cryptocurrency products or services. In the broader sense, crypto or blockchain project managers can define the ideal roadmap for success of projects that leverage blockchain technology. Diving deeper into the responsibilities of crypto project managers can help you identify the skills required to achieve professional excellence.
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Using Market Research to Discover Opportunities
The secret to successful crypto product development revolves around identifying the ideal use cases. Project managers must learn about new market trends, what the competitors are offering and the requirements of their target audience. Comprehensive market and user research helps project managers identify use cases that will address the pain points of customers. It establishes the ideal foundation to create a crypto product that is relevant to your target audience.
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Defining the Product Vision and Roadmap
The next crucial responsibility in crypto project manager jobs is about using insights from market research to come up with a product vision. Crypto project managers must evaluate the customer’s requirements and the goals of the business to define the product vision. The project manager also communicates the product vision to the teams and crafts a product roadmap. Crypto project managers have to define the key features of the product and timeline for the project in their roadmap.
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Identifying Product Specifications
Crypto project managers should also work in collaboration with all stakeholders in the project to define product specifications. The essential highlights in crypto product specifications include the features, desired functionality and user experience offered by the product. Project managers can leverage their blockchain expertise to determine the ideal blockchain platform for the product. In addition, crypto project managers also identify the relevant consensus mechanisms and cryptographic techniques required for their project.
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Managing the Product Development Lifecycle
The actual work of a crypto project manager begins with initiation of the product development process. Professionals with a blockchain project manager certification would know the importance of monitoring the work of cross-functional teams involved in the project. The crucial responsibilities of crypto project managers at this stage also involve prioritizing features and improvements on the basis of feedback and resource availability. At every stage of product development lifecycle, the project manager checks alignment with the defined roadmap.
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Analyzing the Product Performance and Future Growth
The final addition among responsibilities of crypto project managers revolves around evaluating how the product performs. Crypto and blockchain project managers must also implement strategies to grow the product through community engagement and increasing awareness. With the help of effective governance systems and incentives, crypto project managers ensure that crypto products reach a broader base of customers.
Build your identity as a certified blockchain expert with 101 Blockchains’ Blockchain Certifications designed to provide enhanced career prospects.
Unraveling the Essential Skills Required for Crypto Project Managers
You would not get any special prizes for guessing that crypto project managers need a mix of project management and technical skills. As a crypto project manager, you will be expected to know about traditional project management methodologies. Project managers should know how to incorporate blockchain and crypto development in popular project management methodologies.
In terms of technical skills, you don’t have to be a blockchain developer to become project managers. Crypto project managers must know about the use cases of smart contracts, best practices of dApp development and cryptographic security. Furthermore, awareness of different types of governance models and token standards can elevate your skills for crypto project manager roles.
The list of skills required to become a crypto project manager also includes soft skills that differentiate you from other candidates. You will need communication skills to maintain coordination with all teams involved in the project and stakeholders. At the same time, crypto project managers must have leadership qualities that empower them to help team members, achieve consensus among people and solve problems.
Start learning about cryptocurrencies with World’s first Cryptocurrency Skill Path with quality resources tailored by industry experts Now!
Path of Career Growth as a Crypto Project Manager
What are the opportunities one can explore for their career in crypto project management? You can begin as an entry-level or junior crypto project manager to get a taste of the role. The responsibilities of junior crypto project managers revolve around planning, assisting with task scheduling, and maintaining communication between cross-functional teams.
Upon moving one step ahead, you will become a senior project manager who oversees teams, manages resources, and monitors deadlines. Senior crypto project managers can also grow as their responsibilities shift towards bigger, and in some cases, multiple projects.
The crypto project manager salary depends significantly on their experience and their ability to achieve success. You can earn between $18,000 and $280,000 as a project manager in blockchain or crypto startups. Large tech companies like Microsoft and IBM and financial giants like JP Morgan also hire crypto project managers with attractive benefits.
Starting Your Crypto Project Management Journey from Scratch
Many beginners in the domain of crypto and blockchain may have multiple doubts regarding the ideal steps for professional development. You can begin by developing in-depth knowledge of blockchain technology and acquiring project management skills. Comprehensive training courses by reliable platforms and certification programs can establish strong foundations for your career in crypto project management. On top of it, you should gain hands-on experience through internship opportunities in crypto startups to hone your skills. You must also understand the value of professional networking and continuous learning to achieve long-term growth in your career.
Final Thoughts
Your dream of becoming a successful crypto project manager can finally come true. The availability of multiple listings for crypto or blockchain project manager roles is a proof of the growing demand for project managers in the crypto space. On top of it, crypto project manager jobs have become a must-have for companies experimenting with crypto assets. Comprehensive training and the right guidance can help you become a crypto or blockchain project manager with the relevant skills. Find out the ideal learning resources that can help you start your career in crypto project management right now.
*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!
The post How to Become a Successful Crypto Project Manager? appeared first on 101 Blockchains.
Off Topic: Sports can’t stay fair when betting drives the game
On Oct. 23, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups were arrested as part of a large-scale gambling investigation tied to insider sports betting and mafia-r
Economy
On Oct. 23, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups were arrested as part of a large-scale gambling investigation tied to insider sports betting and mafia-run poker schemes. Authorities claim more than 30 defendants are involved, with “mind-boggling” sums of money at stake. This scandal reignites the debate over how sports gambling continues to blur ethical lines and threaten the integrity of the game.
Over the past few years, sports betting has skyrocketed in popularity. In 2024 alone, Americans bet $148 billion through apps like Underdog or DraftKings, which provide platforms where users can place wagers on games. This rise in instant betting has also created new opportunities for misuse, as seen in the Rozier case, where private information on his playing status was used to place bets on his performance. The line between fair play and manipulation has become blurred as users can now bet on nearly every in-game action, exploiting even the smallest shifts in player performance. As a result, the explosion of sports betting apps is slowly ruining the integrity of the games they profit from.
Not too long ago, sports betting was seen as taboo — at the beginning of 2018 it was only legal in four states. Prior to this, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act blocked sports betting in an attempt to protect the overall integrity of sports, a law later challenged in Murphy vs. NCAA, which argued that it violated the 10th Amendment. The decision ultimately struck down PASPA, giving states the authority to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. Leagues from the NFL to the NBA took part in suing New Jersey, saying that the law was a “clear violation” of the federal ban on state-sponsored sports betting. It’s strikingly ironic that leagues that were once opponents of legalized sports betting now profit from the very industry they fought to ban, forming partnerships with sportsbooks like FanDuel — a hypocritical move that enabled recent scandals to occur.
The ease of placing bets via apps for the chances of extreme financial gain makes it even more tempting for players and officials to manipulate or rig games. Since the repeal of PASPA, multiple professional athletes and coaches have been either suspended or fired for gambling-related reasons. Furthermore, the ability to place prop bets and microbets makes scheming easier, since altering a small event is harder to detect. Each new scandal exposes just how fragile sports integrity has become.
Moreover, sports betting has been linked to multiple psychological and financial risks. In a Huff Post article, psychotherapist Renèe Zavislak shared that the dangers of sports betting apps is that they combine “the highly addictive nature of smartphone use” with “the highly addictive nature of sports gambling.” Essentially, these sports betting apps are designed to keep users constantly engaged, similar to social media. A study from the National Library of Medicine also found that “young adults with greater problem sports betting severity had significantly higher scores on each index of mental health symptomology and had poorer indices of well-being.” In recent years, the NCAA has also been very vocal about the negative mental health impacts of sports betting, specifically involving abusive threats.
Alongside psychological impacts, sports betting has also been linked to financial risks. A 2025 U.S. News Report found that one out of four sports bettors say they have been unable to pay a bill because of wagers they made and almost a third of sports betters say they have debts they attribute to gambling. Ultimately, the promise of quick cash seems to be giving way to mental and financial instability for many.
What began as a form of getting fans engaged has transformed into an industry that is profiting from addiction and financial loss. It is critical that these apps, alongside the leagues, take responsibility for the culture they have helped to create. Stronger regulations and responsible gaming education are crucial steps that should be taken to restore integrity for both athletes and users. If the business of sports continues to prioritize profit over people, we risk not just losing the integrity of sports, but also the trust that makes fans fall in love with the game in the first place.
WSN’s Opinion section strives to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented in the Opinion section are solely the views of the writer.
Contact Leila Abarca at opinion@nyunews.com.
This story Off Topic: Sports can’t stay fair when betting drives the game appeared first on Washington Square News.
Blockchain and AI for Healthcare & Bioinformatics
Advanced technologies such as AI or Artificial Intelligence and blockchain are rapidly reshaping the healthcare as well as bioinformatics landscape. Blockchain and AI in healthcare have become a cruci
Blockchain NewsAdvanced technologies such as AI or Artificial Intelligence and blockchain are rapidly reshaping the healthcare as well as bioinformatics landscape. Blockchain and AI in healthcare have become a crucial part in solving some major challenges, like diagnostic accuracy, data security, personalized healthcare, and interoperability.
Besides, they are also revolutionizing the process of drug development. This combination marks the beginning of a truly digital health revolution, establishing a system that is highly intelligent, secure, and transparent.
In this blog, we will discuss more about this in detail and understand how will blockchain and AI affect healthcare? Let’s explore.
Blockchain and AI in Healthcare: Understanding the Synergy
Blockchain technology, which is a decentralized ledger, brings security, immutability, and transparency to healthcare operations and data. On the other hand, AI can help in extracting and analyzing patterns, insights, and predicting outcomes from huge datasets.
AI and blockchain in healthcare set a foundation to create a modern healthcare system developed on automation, trust, and intelligence. Together, these technologies can solve some key challenges:
- Trustworthy and real-time drug histories and patient data.
- Secure exchange for sensitive data without worrying about data leaks.
- Data auditability and integrity for insurance claims, research, and clinical trials.
- Autonomous decision-making for healthcare, management, treatment, and diagnostics.
Blockchain and AI in healthcare are empowering a safer and smarter healthcare system, creating opportunities for medical innovation and patient care.
From patients to producers—discover Health 3.0 with tokens, NFTs, and DAOs in the Blockchain in Healthcare Masterclass.
Blockchain and AI in Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is a process of analyzing biological data, such as metabolomics, proteomics, and genomics. It is privacy-sensitive as well as complex. Traditional analysis methods take a lot of time. However, blockchain and AI in bioinformatics offer traceable and decentralized frameworks to manage and share data sets, ensuring integrity in biological research.
Blockchain records every transaction securely, including access, consent, sharing, and analysis, through cryptographic protection. Artificial intelligence projects disease pathways, extracts patterns, and builds predictive models for clinical data sets. This can foster reproducibility and collaborative research in various complex medical studies.
Furthermore, smart contracts and zero-knowledge proofs support secure data sharing in research between involved parties. All these things empower startups and scientists to innovate quickly and confidently, while keeping sensitive data secure.
Remarkable AI Blockchain Projects in Healthcare
A growing ecosystem of blockchain and medical AI startups is supporting this transformation. Some popular AI blockchain projects and startups to consider are:
Popular AI Blockchain Projects
| Platform/Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Nebula Genomics | Well-known blockchain-powered genomic data platform with AI-driven insights. |
| Medicalchain | Offers blockchain-enabled electronic medical records. |
| ClinTex CTi | Supports pharma clinical trials through smart contracts and prediction analytics. |
| MediBloc | Offers blockchain-enabled and AI-powered electronic health records. |
| Aimedis AIMX | Comprehensive healthcare ecosystem powered by AI, medical data, Web3 technologies, and the metaverse. |
All these platforms play a major role in creating new business models, focusing on decentralized governance, peer-to-peer transactions, and crypto tokens. The introduction of blockchain and AI promises highly scalable and transparent digital solutions for the most common healthcare challenges.
Unlock your potential in Artificial Intelligence with the Certified AI Professional (CAIP)
Certification. Elevate your career with expert-led training and gain the skills needed to thrive in today’s AI-driven world.
How Will Blockchain and AI Affect Healthcare?
The combined effect of blockchain and AI is redefining healthcare, setting a solid foundation for a more transparent and smarter medical ecosystem. These technologies have multiple applications in this sector and address long-standing pain points.
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Security, Ownership, and Data Privacy
Healthcare systems are dealing with various issues like interoperability issues, data breaches, and fragmented data. Blockchain helps create tamper-proof and secure electronic health records. Patients get complete control of their personal and medical data. They can use smart contracts to grant consent to researchers and service providers.
Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, accelerates data analysis, enhancing decision-making for doctors while maintaining privacy.
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Predictive Analytics and Personalized Medicine
AI-powered tools can easily process massive amounts of data to identify patterns, customize treatment, and predict possible risk, lowering chronic health issue burdens and emergency room visits.
Blockchain-powered data aggregation makes sure that those models are developed on diverse, robust, and verified sources, reducing error and bias. Together, they facilitate individualized medicine and accurate health analytics.
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Administrative Efficiency
With the help of blockchain, it is possible to remove those centralized and expensive intermediaries while simplifying verification and compliance processes. Artificial intelligence can automate various administrative tasks such as patient triage, insurance processing, resource allotment, and more.
This level of administrative efficiency can save hospitals billions of dollars every year, allowing them to use more resources in patient care.
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An Efficient Research Engine
AI systems combined with blockchain can collect data from millions of sources securely. They can easily access and process datasets without any errors. This, in turn, accelerates the process of rare disease discovery. Furthermore, it helps ensure that new medical treatments are created and deployed properly.
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Fraud Prevention
Blockchain facilitates transparent tracking, and this helps combat fraudulent claims and counterfeit drugs in global supply chains. Artificial intelligence analyzes market signals and supply data to forecast shortages and makes sure that genuine pharmaceutical products reach patients.
Some projects, such as FarmaTrust and MediLedger, are demonstrating the impact by varying drug expiry date, origin, and can even process compliance reports automatically.
Enroll now in the Blockchain Scalability and Interoperability Mastery Course to learn the skills needed to develop faster, scalable, robust, and interoperable dApps.
Major Challenges and The Future
While the blockchain and AI in healthcare promise a decentralized healthcare system, several challenges need to be addressed properly in order to unlock its maximum potential. Some key challenges that may slow down the adoption rate are:
- Patient consent management and data privacy laws in a borderless healthcare ecosystem.
- Scalability of blockchain networks for properly processing huge clinical and multi-omics datasets.
- Integration of blockchain and AI in healthcare systems requires standardized APIs, data formats, and ontologies.
- Some blockchain protocols consume a lot of energy, raising concerns about sustainability.
- Navigating multiple health data laws like GDPR, HIPAA, or the DPDP Act while using decentralized AI models can be challenging.
- Some modern healthcare systems may not be compatible with legacy systems.
Addressing such challenges requires sophisticated governance frameworks, cross-sector collaboration, and more innovations.
Future of Bioinformatics and Healthcare
- AI models trained on decentralized datasets would be able to support multi-institutional medical research and facilitate privacy-preserving, accurate diagnostics.
- More AI blockchain projects will come up, driving innovation in remote diagnostics, wearable tech, and telemedicine.
- Programmable blockchain logic will play a crucial role in automating insurance workflows and patient consents.
- AI models are expected to offer proactive care by analyzing data from biosensors, smartwatches, and other wearable or IoT devices.
- The industry will witness the wide adoption of consensus mechanisms to support sustainability in medical AI crypto ecosystems.
As these technologies evolve, they will reshape the healthcare landscape, offering people a more inclusive, resilient, intelligent, and personalized healthcare ecosystem.
A New Era of Secure and Intelligent Medicine
Well, the future of healthcare and medicine is programmable and also decentralized. Blockchain and AI in healthcare clearly represent a significant shift from an expensive, reactive, and fragmented system to an economical, predictive, and transparent system. In the future, AI and blockchain in healthcare would expand from pilot programs to government-supported and enterprise-grade platforms.
These technologies are opening doors to an era of trusted data sharing, decentralized medicine, and rapid discovery. However, to ensure a smooth and quick transformation, it is crucial for entrepreneurs, healthcare experts, policymakers, and researchers to collaborate and address the present challenges. To explore these opportunities and innovations in depth, consider joining the Blockchain in Healthcare Masterclass.
The post Blockchain and AI for Healthcare & Bioinformatics appeared first on 101 Blockchains.
Success Story: Edward Manoukian’s Learning Journey with 101 Blockchains
About Edward Manoukian Name: Edward Manoukian, MSc Designation: Blockchain Strategy Specialist & Blockchain Analyst Company: CryptoGnosis Country: Kansas City, Missouri, United States Edward’s L
Blockchain NewsAbout Edward Manoukian
Name: Edward Manoukian, MSc
Designation: Blockchain Strategy Specialist & Blockchain Analyst
Company: CryptoGnosis
Country: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Edward’s Learning Journey That Inspires
Which 101 Blockchains course(s)/certification(s) did you complete?
I achieved 101 Blockchains’ Certified Blockchain Security Expert (CBSE) certification.
Why did you choose this program, and how was your overall learning experience with 101 Blockchains?
As someone who regularly researches and works with blockchain smart contracts as well as advises on risk, I needed the most up-to-date, practitioner-level security curriculum available. The CBSE stood out for its depth on reentrancy, oracle manipulation, access-control patterns, formal verification topics I would deal with in the future. The learning experience was wonderful: crystal-clear explanations, real exploit case studies.
What skills or knowledge did you gain that helped you most?
The advanced audit frameworks, on-chain attack modeling, and bridge/oracle security checklists have become core to my workflow. As well as following ongoing regulatory updated per NIST, CSS, and CCSS. I now systematically integrate Slither + other blockchain cybersecurity tools for formal verification into every contract suite to catch edge cases that external auditors may previously miss.
At 101 Blockchains, you don’t just earn certifications — you gain real-world skills that shape you into a confident blockchain professional.
How has this program contributed to your professional growth?
The CBSE certification gives me credibility when advising DAOs and enterprises on any treasury safety and RWA tokenization security. It directly contributes to following proper procedures for step by step battle-tested security expertise.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in blockchain?
Be a translator, it is key these days to be able to translate the internal requirements for business stakeholders but also communicate them effectively when they are technical, as security is the foundation of sustainable adoption. Mastering how protocols actually might break before you build anything that holds value. One overlooked vulnerability can erase years of progress so investing early in defensive thinking is critical.
From learners to leaders — explore the success stories of 100,000+ professionals with 101 Blockchains.
Would you recommend 101 Blockchains to others? Why?
Without hesitation. The CBSE is the start of the gold standard for anyone serious about smart-contract security. It’s practical, continuously updated, and taught by people who have found real exploits in the wild. In an industry where mistakes cost millions, this certification pays for itself on day one.
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Ask the Readers: Are You Ready for Tax Season?
We’re already a few weeks into tax season! For many people with complicated returns, tax prep started well before January. But even if your si
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We’re already a few weeks into tax season! For many people with complicated returns, tax prep started well before January. But even if your situation is fairly simple, you would still need to gather documents, review your finances, and account for any big changes that may have happened over the past year.
Are you ready for tax season? What documents do you still need, if any? Are you filing your own taxes or hiring someone to do it?
Tell us whether you’re ready for tax season and we’ll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards
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Environmental Services Association appoints SUEZ CEO as new Chair
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has announced John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, as its new Chair. Scanlon replaces Michael Topham, who steps down
Energy and EnvironmentThe Environmental Services Association (ESA) has announced John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, as its new Chair.
Scanlon replaces Michael Topham, who steps down at the end of a two-year term. The appointment was recorded at the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in London.
The ESA is the trade association for the recycling and waste treatment industry in the United Kingdom. It represents nearly 70 of the country’s largest waste management companies that collectively employ 50,000 people.
Reacting to his appointment, John Scanlon said: “I’m proud to follow in Michael’s footsteps as ESA Chair as the sector enters a period of adaptation and delivery that will see the government’s trio of recycling reforms coming into effect.”
“Whilst this creates opportunities for our sector and for progress towards a thriving UK circular economy, to make the most of these opportunities we must also overcome challenges.”
“Overall, I am cautiously optimistic, and with the creation of a sector roadmap, the publication of the government’s circular economy growth plan and preparations for the introduction of ETS in 2028 all in the wings, 2026 is already shaping up to be a productive year.”
Biffa CEO, Michael Topham, became ESA Chair in December 2023. His tenure saw the Association inform policy related to the inclusion of waste in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while navigating the Collection and Packaging Reforms.
Topham also oversaw an update to the ESA’s strategy and its four strategic priorities (Sustainable Resource Use; Zero-Carbon; Higher Standards and Effective Regulation) in 2024.
Michael Topham, CEO of Biffa, said it has been an honour to serve as ESA Chair during what he described as a ‘pivotal time’ for the industry.
Topham continued: “The past two years have brought intense political and economic uncertainty, yet our Association has worked hard with government and stakeholders to shape vital policy and drive progress.”
Executive Director of the ESA, Jacob Hayler, commented: “I would like to thank Michael for his leadership and input throughout an important two years for the sector, which has seen the ESA and its members navigate the policy landscape associated with the inclusion of waste in the Emissions Trading Scheme, and the implementation phase of the long-awaited Collection and Packaging Reforms.”
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Off Topic: The teenage gambling epidemic needs an intervention
In a 2024 survey performed in the United States, 60 to 80% of respondents reported that they had gambled in the past year. That’s around two-thirds of this demographic that has willingly put their h
Economy
In a 2024 survey performed in the United States, 60 to 80% of respondents reported that they had gambled in the past year. That’s around two-thirds of this demographic that has willingly put their hard-earned money on the line for a chance, just a sliver of a chance, to win it big. Even more disturbing, this survey wasn’t performed on adults — it was done on high schoolers.
The teenage gambling epidemic is quietly becoming one of the most serious issues facing kids and parents alike. Major betting, streaming and gaming companies employ various tactics to exploit their youngest and most impressionable audiences — these companies turn cognitive vulnerability into profit, and eventually, addiction. We cannot allow corporations to profit from children’s vulnerability; lawmakers and the public must step in now before gambling companies turn the current generation of teens into gambling addicts.
For many young adults, their introduction to gamified chance-based rewards was not gambling in the way we know it: Loot boxes are the new gateway drug for young adults to get into gambling. Most modern games include some type of loot box system, where players convert real money into proprietary digital currencies, like V-Bucks or Robux, to buy randomized packs of items. These services are essentially digital slot machines that game developers can artificially manipulate to keep players from getting what they want, thus encouraging them to come back when they have more money.
These gaming companies have copied the casino model and used those same tactics to turn a profit from impressionable children: Players exchange real money for in-game tokens for the chance of winning a prize, get hooked on the dopamine of luck-based gaming and the possibility that spending more will lead them to victory, and eventually end up adopting addictive habits while the corporations reap in mass profits.
This can have serious repercussions for these children, as loot box purchases that simulate gambling behavior amongst teens have a high possibility of leading to gambling problems later. While countries like Australia have implemented regulations on loot boxes — and the European Union has indicated their intent to fully ban them — for the most part, there’s no strong regulations on games with loot box systems to protect their underage population from being exposed to addictive gambling practices.
While digital gambling for kids starts with loot boxes, it certainly doesn’t end with them. Stemming from the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. NCAA, which essentially legalized betting on sports, sports gambling has become one of the most direct pipelines leading teens into gambling addictions. These ad campaigns — which are regularly shown during ad breaks of sports matches — create feelings of excitement, belonging and fear of missing out, making teens even more susceptible. With marketing that blurs the line between fandom and gambling, and countless ways to bypass age restrictions, young people are increasingly likely to start betting, develop addictions, fall into debt and suffer serious mental health consequences.
Research shows that early exposure to sports betting can increase the risk of gambling addiction. From there, the slew of compulsive gambling behaviors compound into problems that can follow teens into adulthood, devastating their finances and relationships alike. Nearly 30% of adult sports bettors admit to going into debt because of gambling; so what does that mean for adolescents whose prefrontal cortices are still developing?
In a generation raised on streamers, YouTubers and social media influencers, gambling companies have found a new way to reach young audiences. Cryptocurrency gambling websites paid Twitch streamers like Adin Ross millions of dollars to play their games on stream as a sponsorship, fully aware that many of their viewers are underage. Knowing that a large percentage of these viewers were influenceable, they exploited fans’ trust and admiration for these creators to turn entertainment into profit — a profit made at the expense of children’s well-being and familial finances.
Following an outcry from streamers and viewers alike about the predation of these streams, Twitch banned unlicensed gambling streams from its site to protect its underage audience from being exposed to these campaigns, to curb this predatory marketing. Yet that victory was only one battle in a much larger war: Influencer ads are only one vessel of many that these gambling apps are using to reach kids, and many sites like Kick still allow gambling streams on their platform.
Every day, underage users scroll through social media, play games and watch livestreams that normalize addictive spending and reward-chasing behavior. We need to spread awareness of the addictive dangers of online gambling just as we do with alcohol or drugs, demand transparency from gambling and gaming companies about how they will actively keep minors off their platform, and support petitions, legislators and advocacy groups fighting to keep kids safe.
We must keep minors at a healthy distance from engaging in betting until their brains are developed, or risk jeopardizing their attention span and mental capacity. Working to keep children away from addictive habits until their brains are more developed is the best way to prevent early-onset addiction.
WSN’s Opinion section strives to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented in the Opinion section are solely the views of the writer.
Contact Fay Hong at opinion@nyunews.com.
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CIWM offers cautious optimism on COP30 outcomes
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has expressed cautious optimism about the outcomes of COP30.
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The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has expressed cautious optimism about the outcomes of COP30.
At one point, the negotiations between over 190 countries were close to collapsing when petrostates and countries demanding a more ambitious text threatened to block any deal.
It appears a compromise was reached at the final hour in the form of two voluntary agreements, one on a transition away from fossil fuels and another on ending deforestation.
However, the final text that emerged from the conference in Belém, Brazil, did not include a single reference to fossil fuels.
CIWM Director of Policy Comms & External Affairs, Dan Cooke, said even the voluntary agreement was ‘vital’ for the sector as much of the upcoming legislation and regulation affecting resource and waste management stems from the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero.
Cooke said: “As we flagged in our early coverage of COP30 in Brazil, the fact that, for the first time, there was a focus on the circular economy and the launch of the Global Circularity Protocol for business, with new key corporate metrics to measure circular performance, is a positive takeaway for our members.”
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development and One Planet Network also announced the official launch of the Global Circularity Protocol for business at COP30.
Developed in partnership with over 150 experts from over 80 organisations, the GCP is the ‘world’s first’ voluntary framework designed to help companies manage their circular performance and impacts across value chains.
COP30 also saw parties approve a ‘just transition mechanism’ aiming to enhance international cooperation.
Cooke welcomed the funding for climate adaptation in developing countries, along with the just transition mechanism.
“This includes plans to increase recycling and renewable power, to reduce fossil fuel packaging and to decarbonise the residual waste stream,” he said.
Commenting on COP30, Diane Crowe, Group Sustainability Director at Reconomy, said: “While this year’s COP ended in contention with non-binding agreements exposing divisions over how to tackle climate change, the launch of the world’s first voluntary, science-based and globally harmonised framework for measuring circular performance is a genuinely positive step.”
“This framework will give businesses a clear and credible way to measure their progress on their journeys to becoming more circular, which remains both an economic and environmental imperative.”
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