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A new challenge has emerged at the intersection of quantum computing and Bitcoin. Quantum computing research firm Project Eleven has launched the Q-Day Prize, where you can win 1 bitcoin (worth around $84,000) by cracking a Bitcoin private key using a quantum computer. Project11 on X The challenge was announced on April 16, 2025 and runs until April 5, 2026 and it aims to test how real the quantum threat is to Bitcoin’s core security system, elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). “The mission: break the largest ECC key possible using Shor’s algorithm on a quantum computer. No classical shortcuts. No hybrid…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, is facing antitrust proceedings that could limit its ability to develop AI amid a field of competitors.First filed in 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Meta’s strategy of absorbing firms — rather than competing with them — violates antitrust laws. If the court rules against Meta, it could be forced to spin out its various messenger services and social media sites into independent companies.The loss of its stable of social media companies could harm Facebook’s competitiveness not only in the social media industry but also in its ability…

As part of its wider brand platform to tackle gambling stigmas, GambleAware has unveiled an installation symbolising the 85,000 children in Great Britain thought to be experiencing gambling harm. GambleAware has launched a new campaign highlighting the growing issue of child gambling harm, urging the public to recognise that the negative elements of gambling can affect anyone. Developed by creative agencies Lucky Generals and Creative Giants, the campaign launched yesterday (16 April) with an installation at Westfield London in White City featuring 85,000 poker chips, each symbolising a child aged 11 to 17 in Great Britain thought to be experiencing…

Describing its Nectar Prices scheme as “truly transformational”, the retailer remains confident it can “outperform the market” on value. Sainsbury’s claims to be making “really strong progress” against its “ambitious” growth plans, as the retailer looks to increase value perceptions through an investment in price matching and personalisation. The supermarket reported 4.3% growth in its grocery full year sales, despite a 2.7% decrease in Argos sales. In a call with investors today (17 April) reporting its 2024/25 preliminary results, CEO Simon Roberts claimed Sainsbury’s is in the “strongest value position we’ve ever been in against our major competitors” and expects the…

On April 16, 2025, Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) launched its regulatory agenda for the 2025-2026 biennium, placing a strong emphasis on responsible gambling and the prevention of addiction. This follows the country’s recent legal online gambling market launch on January 1, 2025, and a public consultation held from February to March that gathered around 200 contributions. The newly published agenda is outlined in Normative Ordinance No. 817, which addresses critical regulatory initiatives for the coming period.Key Focal Points in the Regulatory AgendaThe SPA’s new agenda outlines several key priorities for the next two years. At the forefront…

Some 35.5% of CMOs report a brief writing skills gap in their business, as do almost two-fifths of marketers in large organisations. Writing an agency brief isn’t easy. Marketers need to clearly encapsulate everything relevant to their strategy, so the agency understands the ambition, vision and effectiveness goals. While brief writing is an undoubted skill, it’s not one every business possesses. A third (32.5%) of the more than 3,500 respondents to Marketing Week’s exclusive 2025 Career & Salary Survey identify knowledge of writing agency briefs as a skills gap in their business. More than a quarter (26.6%) of B2B marketers…

Money launderers in Australia clean AU$1.1 billion (US$698 million) yearly through illegal gambling operations. Law enforcement teams have shut down five illegal casinos in Sydney in the last year. These underground gambling operations pose a growing challenge to authorities.Licensed operators now face tougher Australian gambling laws and increased regulatory scrutiny. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) blocked over 1,000 illegal gambling websites since November 2019. This crackdown forced unauthorized operators to find new ways to operate. The situation reminds many of Australia’s “tobacco wars” when strict regulations and higher taxes led criminals to set up illegal operations.Criminal organizations continue…

In the first quarter of 2025, UK companies revised their total marketing budgets down amid heightened geopolitical tensions, marking the first overall decline in four years. According to the Q1 IPA Bellwether report, a net balance of -4.8% of firms cut their marketing budgets. Just under a quarter (24.2%) of businesses reduced their marketing budgets, compared to 19.4% who revised them upwards. This is a shift from the previous quarter, which recorded growth with a net balance of 1.9% of businesses revising budgets upwards. “In the face of President Trump frequently overturning political and economic norms, it’s understandable that more UK…

Heineken indicated its negotiations with European retailers have been “tougher than usual”, as it looks to remain firm on its pricing strategy. Taking a firm stance on pricing is necessary to fuel growth in the beer category, was Heineken’s message to investors today (16 April). During the brand’s first quarter of 2025, ending 31 March, consolidated volumes fell 4.9% year-on-year in Europe. While the company sold less beer than it did during the same period last year, it grew price-mix by 1.4%, meaning it increased prices versus the year prior. Speaking to investors during Heineken’s first quarter results call, CFO…

X experienced a “significant decrease” in performance in 2023, as spend fell from large brand advertisers concerned about content moderation and brand safety. X’s UK business experienced a “significant decrease” in performance in 2023, following Elon Musk’s purchase of the company in late 2022, the company has revealed. Revenue fell by 66.3% year-on-year, dropping from £205.3m in 2022 to £69.1m in 2023, while profit for the financial year decreased to £1.2m from £5.6m. The downturn was triggered by a reduction in advertising spend from large brand advertisers concerned about content moderation and brand safety, according to accounts filed this week…