Vietnam ranks second among the most popular travel destinations for South Korean tourists during the Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Chuseok in the Northeast Asian country.
A recent survey by the Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) revealed that an increasing number of South Koreans are planning to travel abroad during the Chuseok holiday.
The two most popular travel destinations are Japan and Vietnam. Factors affecting South Korean tourists’ destination choices include short flight distances, favorable exchange rates, and affordable costs.
Vietnam has been a popular destination for Korean tourists in recent years. Photo: Vietnam Insider
The survey, conducted from August 1 to 7, involved 1,270 people aged 18 and above who had traveled through Incheon Airport in the past five years.
According to the survey, 11.2% of respondents expressed plans to travel abroad during the holiday. This is the highest percentage recorded since the first survey was conducted in 2020. The figures for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 were 1.9%, 2%, 3.2%, and 9.3%, respectively.
IIAC estimates that an average of 201,000 passengers will pass through Incheon Airport each day during this year’s Chuseok holiday, which runs from September 13 to 18.
During a visit on September 10, Graham Cooke, Chairman and Founder of the World Travel Awards, presented top Asian awards to Vietnam.
At the 2024 World Travel Awards, Vietnam was honored in three national categories: “Asia’s Leading Destination 2024,” “Asia’s Leading Heritage Destination 2024,” and “Asia’s Leading Nature Destination 2024.” Notably, this marks the sixth time that Vietnam has received the award for “Asia’s Leading Destination” (from 2018 to 2024).
Moc Chau tea hills, Son La province. Photo by Hoang Duong
According to the National Tourism Administration’s Information Center, Graham Cooke noted that Vietnam is not only one of Asia’s top tourist destinations but also a potential global tourism representative. With a series of World Travel Awards won in recent years, Vietnam stands out on the global tourism map, showcasing strong development and transformation in its tourism brands and products.
On a local level, Hanoi was again recognized this year with awards for “Asia’s Leading City Break Destination” and “Asia’s Leading City Break Destination.” Ho Chi Minh City once again claimed the titles of “Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination” and “Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination.”
Additionally, at the 2024 World Travel Awards, Hoi An was honored for the fifth time as “Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination,” and Moc Chau received the “Asia’s Leading Local Nature Destination” award for the third consecutive year.
Several other localities were also recognized, such as Ha Giang province, which won “Asia’s Leading Regional Cultural Destination 2024,” and Ha Nam province, which was awarded “Asia’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination.”
The People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue province is coordinating with the People’s Committee of Da Nang City to discuss collaboration in managing, preserving, and promoting the value of the Hai Van Gate relic.
According to a report by Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, the Hai Van Gate relic has garnered significant attention from the public, gaining widespread coverage in the media and on social networks. The number of visitors has steadily increased, with 78,306 visitors recorded from August 1 to September 9, 2024. At times, the site faces overcrowding, leading to issues such as parking, public order, environmental sanitation, fire prevention, and the regulation of vendors. Hence, a close collaboration between Thua Thien Hue province and Da Nang City is necessary to find effective management solutions.
Hai Van Quan relic attracts a lot of tourists to visit.
In the near future, the two localities plan to establish a joint management board to oversee the site’s management and development. Additionally, QR codes will be implemented at various locations within the relic to provide visitors and locals with easy access to information. The local authorities also plan to organize exhibitions, displays, and activities related to Hai Van Gate to further promote this exceptional heritage site.
Leaders of two localities visit the exhibition space at Hai Van Quan relic site
According to the leadership of the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports, the cultural departments of both localities will continue working together to preserve, promote, and maximize the value of this relic. Moreover, the two regions will collaborate on infrastructure improvements, especially transportation, ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the creation of spaces for promoting local tourism products. These efforts aim to enhance the site’s appeal and attract more visitors.
In two neighboring markets that opened sales earlier than Vietnam, the most expensive iPhone model quickly sold out.
iPhone 16 Pro Max new Desert Titan color. Photo: ZDNet.
Apple’s first-tier markets officially began taking pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series on the evening of September 13. Vietnam’s neighboring countries, Thailand and Singapore, are among these markets and will officially begin sales a week later. Many Vietnamese buyers have chosen these locations to purchase iPhones early, either for personal use or resale for profit.
According to Apple’s recent policies, pre-orders through their website are prioritized, with delivery depending on availability. Lining up outside Apple Stores has little impact, as the number of devices available for immediate purchase is typically minimal.
However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max model quickly sold out on Singapore’s Apple Store just minutes after pre-orders opened online. Customers now have to wait until September 25-30 for their devices to be delivered. Moreover, the option for in-store pickup is no longer available for any of the iPhone 16 Pro Max colors or storage options. A similar situation is occurring in the Thai market.
The largest iPhone 16 model is sold out in Singapore and Thailand, and will not be delivered until October. Photo: Apple.
Notably, Desert Titanium and Natural Titanium models have had their delivery dates pushed back to mid-October, showing that these new options remain highly attractive to Southeast Asian consumers.
In addition to the Apple Store, Apple Authorized Resellers (AAR) in Thailand and Singapore, such as Switch, iStudio, Studio7, and True Shop, have also run out of iPhone 16 Pro Max stock. Those placing orders now must wait until at least October 4 to receive their devices.
This situation is unique to the iPhone 16 Pro Max model, as other versions in the series have not seen the same level of demand. As of now, customers who pre-order other models can still receive their devices on the official launch date of September 20. Speaking to Tri Thuc – Znews, Phuc Buu from Vung Tau City shared that he successfully ordered four iPhone 16 Pro Max units through two accounts after logging onto Apple’s website early. “Two devices are scheduled for delivery at 8:00 AM on September 20 at the Orchard Apple Store. The other two will be ready two hours later,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tuan Thanh, the owner of a retail store specializing in imported iPhones in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, mentioned that it has become difficult to place bulk orders due to the limited stock. “I don’t dare to take deposits from customers for the Desert Titanium version because the supply isn’t guaranteed,” Thanh noted.
Compared to the pre-COVID-19 era, the business of importing iPhones from Singapore has become more challenging. Apple’s requirement for pre-ordering and pre-payment means buyers can no longer claim tax refunds at the airport. Additionally, the number of available units is limited and evenly distributed, rather than being concentrated on the first day of sales.
Moreover, Vietnam’s official launch date for the product is only seven days later than these markets. As a result, if imported iPhones aren’t sold quickly, they may need to be discounted to compete with the official versions.
This year, the activity of promoting and taking deposits for imported iPhone 16s to bring them to Vietnam early has not been as lively as in previous years. The number of posts and discussions in online forums and groups on this topic has also decreased significantly.
“Theo tôi được biết, ở Trung Quốc, vẽ lông mày cho nhau là ước mong được ở bên nhau mãi mãi.”
Một bài phổ cập kiến thức khoa học được upload trên các nền tảng mạng xã hội, nó bắt nguồn từ cốt truyện trò chơi “Ashes of the kingdom”, sau đó được lan tỏa với tốc độ chóng mặt. “Vẽ lông mày”, một hình tượng tượng trưng cho tình yêu lãng mạn độc đáo kiểu Trung Quốc, đang được lan truyền rộng rãi trên mạng, đã mê hoặc cư dân mạng Việt Nam.
“Nếu phải dùng một thành ngữ nào đó để mô tả tình yêu của họ, thì đó chính là nâng khay ngang mày; vợ chồng tôn trọng nhau.”
Trong phần bình luận của bài phổ cập kiến thức khoa học nổi tiếng với hơn 10000 lượt thích này, một dân mạng Việt Nam cho biết: Nhờ đọc bài phổ cập khoa học liên quan đến cốt truyện “Ashes of the kingdom” trên mạng, cô mới biết “Vẽ lông mày” là một phương thức thể hiện tình yêu trong văn hóa truyền thống Trung Quốc.
Có thể lý giải như sau, “Ashes of the kingdom” nổi tiếng trên mạng là một trò chơi dành cho nữ giới, lấy bối cảnh cuối thời kỳ nhà Hán, game kết hợp trang phục truyền thống người Hán, những câu chuyện lịch sử, âm luật và hình ảnh cổ xưa, tất cả đều chứa đựng các yếu tố văn hóa truyền thống đa dạng của Trung Quốc, nên game thu hút sự chú ý của đông đảo người dùng Việt Nam.
Dù từ chính bản thân game “Ashes of the kingdom”, hay từ làn sóng văn hóa truyền thống Trung Quốc do “Ashes of the kingdom” khởi xướng, chúng đều đang lan rộng khắp Việt Nam.
Sự nổi tiếng của “Ashes of the Kingdom” cũng kéo theo nhiều video liên quan đến nội dung game xuất hiện trên TikTok, ngoài ra cốt truyện, hình tượng nam chính, các yếu tố khác…tất cả làm dấy lên những cuộc thảo luận sôi nổi giữa cư dân mạng bản địa. Thậm chí còn có các blogger chuyên làm nội dung liên quan đến “Ashes of the Kingdom”, họ dịch thuật và đăng tải những video cos Trung Quốc chất lượng cao, thu hút hàng trăm nghìn người dùng follow và tương tác.
Sau khi phim điện ảnh, phim truyền hình Trung Quốc được khán giả Việt yêu thích trong nhiều năm. “Ashes of the Kingdom”, đại diện cho làng game Trung Quốc, cũng chiếm được nhiều cảm tình của người Việt.
Trên thực tế, Việt Nam luôn là một trong những thị trường chính mà ngành game Trung Quốc muốn đầu tư mạnh mẽ.
Một mặt là do Việt Nam và Trung Quốc đều thuộc vùng văn hóa Đông Á, có nhiều điểm tương đồng về văn hóa và thẩm mỹ, các sản phẩm giải trí Hoa ngữ ngày càng phù hợp với “Khẩu vị của người Việt”. Mặt khác, Việt Nam cũng là thị trường phim truyền hình nước ngoài lớn nhất của Trung Quốc, cũng chịu ảnh hưởng sâu sắc từ chính những bộ phim truyền hình về thần tượng và phim cổ trang Trung Quốc trong nhiều năm gần đây, người Việt đặc biệt yêu thích các sản phẩm giải trí mang đậm bản sắc văn hóa Trung Hoa.
Một thực tế đã được chứng minh, người Việt dễ tiếp thu, đặc biệt quan tâm tới những trò chơi mang đậm văn hóa truyền thống Trung Quốc, thể hiện tính thẩm mỹ của Trung Quốc. Việt Nam cũng trở thành quốc gia nước ngoài thích hợp để phát triển game Trung Quốc, thu hút nhiều nhà sản xuất game Trung Quốc đến đầu tư phát triển, “Ashes of the kingdom” chính là game đầu tiên đi đầu “trong lĩnh vực này”.
Sự quan tâm đặc biệt của người dùng Việt đã truyền cảm hứng vào ngành công nghiệp game Trung Quốc thông qua game “Ashes of the kingdom”, Ngược lại, ngành game Trung Quốc cũng đã mở cửa thị trường Việt Nam bằng game “Ashes of the kingdom”. Có lẽ trong tương lai, càng có nhiều game mang đậm nét văn hóa Trung Hoa xâm nhập vào thị trường Việt Nam, người Việt có thể hiểu biết nhiều hơn về nền văn hóa độc đáo và lãng mạn của Trung Hoa, không chỉ qua phim ảnh, phim truyền hình mà còn qua trò chơi.
The new mechanism on Starknet means that anyone holding more than 20,000 STRK will be able to stake on the network, from the fourth quarter of this year.
Starknet token holders voted on Friday to implement staking on the layer-2 network, a proposal that’s been in the works since July, in a landmark governance election on Snapshot’s new decentralized Snapshot X platform.
The vote, which went live on Tuesday, passed with overwhelming support, but only 0.08% of eligible voters holding Starknet’s native token, STRK, participated. 98.94% voted in favor of implementing staking, while 0.45% abstained, and 0.61% voted against it.
The new mechanism on Starknet means that anyone holding more than 20,000 STRK will be able to stake on the network, from the fourth quarter of this year.
“A minting mechanism that strikes a balance between rewarding stakers and setting inflation expectations was also approved in the vote,” StarkWare, the main developer firm behind the Starknet blockchain, wrote in a press release shared with CoinDesk.
To power the governance process, Starknet is making use of Snapshot X, the governance protocol that the team behind Snapshot released Tuesday and its first on-chain feature.
“Snapshot X determines voting power based on the voters’ STRK holdings,” StarkWare wrote. “The goal is to ensure votes are coming from genuine community members, and to prevent people outside of the community from buying STRK today, voting, and then selling the day after. To achieve this, Snapshot X takes a snapshot of STRK holdings at predetermined time.”
On September 12, the Korean Embassy in Vietnam announced that the South Korean government would provide this aid to help Vietnam recover from the devastating storm and heavy rains that have impacted many areas.
“The Korean government hopes this aid will support the restoration of affected regions and enable people to return to their normal lives as soon as possible,” the Korean Embassy stated.
Meanwhile, on September 11, ASEAN foreign ministers expressed their deep condolences for the destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi across several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and China. In a joint statement, the ministers emphasized solidarity with the affected nations and reiterated their readiness to cooperate through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).
In addition to ASEAN’s support, UNICEF is actively aiding relief efforts in Vietnam. The organization has urgently delivered 80,000 water purification tablets to the Thai Nguyen Provincial Center for Disease Control and 4,000 liters of drinking water to Lao Cai Provincial Hospital, helping to meet the needs of 800 people.
UNICEF also plans to supply more essential items, including water tanks, ceramic filters, hand sanitizer, and soap, to families, schools, and healthcare facilities in Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces.
“UNICEF is committed to ensuring that children and families have access to clean water and critical services during this challenging time,” said Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam.
With efforts from South Korea, ASEAN, and UNICEF, Vietnam is receiving vital support as it works to recover from the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi.
Bargain hunters are active on Kraken and Coinbase, snapping up coins at perceived discounts as selling pressure from other exchanges keeps prices under pressure.
Bitcoin (BTC) bargain hunters are active on Kraken and Coinbase (COIN), snapping up coins at perceived discounts as selling pressure from other exchanges the leading cryptocurrency under pressure.
Data tracked by London-based CCData show the buy-sell ratio, which compares the volume of buy-to-sell orders on Kraken and Coinbase, has averaged 250% and 123%, respectively, this month. A ratio above 100% indicates more buys than sells, suggesting net bullish pressure.
Bitcoin’s price began the month on a negative note, falling from $60,000 to nearly $52,500 before recovering to $58,000 this week, CoinDesk data shows. Still, prices are down over 7% for the third quarter.
“The average buy-sell ratio suggests stronger buying pressure on Kraken and Coinbase, with ratios of 250% and 123%, respectively, compared to near-parity on Bybit and Binance, which have ratios of 99% and 97%,” Hosam Mahmoud, research analyst at CCData told CoinDesk in an interview.
“Although these observations don’t lead to a definitive conclusion, they imply that Kraken and Coinbase have recently been the preferred venues for accumulation,” Mahmoud added.
Instant or day traders over Bybit and Binance are likely retail investors, while bargain hunting over Kraken and Coinbase likely stems from large investors.
That’s because this month’s average trade size for bitcoin-tether (BTC/USDT) spot pairs is $898 on Bybit and $747 on Binance. That’s notably lower than the average size of $2,148 and $1,321 on Kraken and Coinbase, according to CCData.
“This indicates that in this timeframe, Kraken and Coinbase tend to attract larger trades, likely from institutional or long-term investors, while Bybit and Binance appear to cater more to smaller, frequent trades,” Mahmoud said.
SUI outperformed the market, rising over 16%, possibly due to Grayscale’s new Sui Trust announcement.
Bitcoin (BTC) rose above $58,000 during the Asian morning hours on Thursday on the back of a rally in U.S. technology stocks and gains in the Asian equity market.
However, spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. slipped back to outflows on Wednesday, after a two-day inflow streak – losing $43 million led by a $54 million outflow from Ark Invest’s ARKB product.
U.S. inflation data for August supported bets for a Federal Reserve rate cut in coming weeks as core inflation rose faster than expected to more than 0.3%.
Chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA) ended the day up 8.2%, while major stocks Microsoft (MSFT), Google (GOOGL) and Apple (APPL) jumped as high as 2.13%.
Gains spread to Asia on Thursday as stock indices in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan surged. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index broke out of a seven-day losing streak as the yen slightly retreated after a record high on Tuesday against U.S. dollars.
Meanwhile, layer-1 blockchain Sui (SUI) made waves on Thursday as the token beat the market, up over 16% according to CoinDesk Indices data, versus a 1.67% rise in the broader CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index.
SUI is likely outperforming the market because of Grayscale’s recent announcement about opening the Grayscale Sui Trust.
According to a public information page from Grayscale, the NAV per share of the Trust is $13.50, while each share has 14.95 SUI tokens in it, putting the value of each Sui token in the trust at 90 cents. Considering Sui’s current value of just over $1, the market seems to be setting up for a Grayscale discount.
Elsewhere, AI tokens posted modest gains as Bloomberg reported that OpenAI is planning to raise $6.5 billion at a valuation of $150 billion. NEAR Protocol’s (NEAR) token is up 6%, while the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance’s FET token is up 9% and trading above $1.40.
On September 11, the Management Board of the Lao Cai Economic Zone announced the resumption of entry and exit activities through the Lao Cai – Hekou international border gate.
Customs clearance and immigration activities reopened at 11am on September 11. Photo: T.L.
Based on the current flood situation along the cross-border river, and after discussions with the authorities at the Hekou border gate (China), the Lao Cai Economic Zone Management Board announced the restoration of entry and exit activities through the Lao Cai International Road Border Gate and Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate II.
According to Mr. Vuong Trinh Quoc, Head of the Lao Cai Economic Zone Management Board, as of 11 a.m. on September 11, customs clearance for goods, as well as entry and exit for individuals and vehicles at the international border gate, has resumed normal operations.
Previously, due to the impact of Typhoon Yagi, heavy rains caused water levels to rise significantly in rivers and streams in Lao Cai province. As a result, the board issued a notice to temporarily suspend entry and exit through the Lao Cai Border Gate starting from September 9.
The decision was based on a request from the Hekou authorities (China) to temporarily close the Lao Cai – Hekou international border gate due to heavy rains, which led to rising water levels in the Red River and Nam Thi River.
“The notice urges individuals and organizations involved in cross-border trade and travel to stay informed and adjust their plans for transporting goods through the border gate accordingly, in line with agreements between the two sides,” the document stated.
Airlines have officially begun offering free transport of relief goods to northern Vietnam following the impact of Typhoon Yagi (Storm No. 3).
Goods are being transported by Vietnam Airlines to provide relief to provinces and cities affected by storms and floods. Photo: VNA.
To promptly share the burden and support people in heavily affected areas suffering from floods after Typhoon Yagi, Bamboo Airways announced that it will provide free transportation of relief goods to the northern region from September 11 to September 26.
Essential goods (including necessities and essential items) intended to support flood victims will be given priority for free transport on Bamboo Airways flights as soon as possible.
This policy applies to all Bamboo Airways flights departing from Ho Chi Minh City/Da Nang/Cam Ranh/Quy Nhon/Da Lat to Hanoi.
Similarly, since September 10, the Vietnam Airlines Group (which includes Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vasco) has been offering free shipping for relief goods, fuel surcharges, and related fees. These goods will be given priority for cargo space on flights departing from airports nationwide to Noi Bai (Hanoi), Cat Bi (Hai Phong), Vinh (Nghe An), Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa), Van Don (Quang Ninh), and Dien Bien airports.
To ensure the swift and smooth transport of relief goods, the items must be securely packaged. Each package must not exceed 40 kg, and each shipment must not exceed 500 kg. Each flight will carry a maximum of 500 kg of relief goods.
Organizations, companies, and groups wishing to send relief goods for free to the northern region can coordinate through the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels, local People’s Committees, the Red Cross of Vietnam, and registered charitable organizations (licensed by the government).
“Bamboo Airways’ leadership and staff are prioritizing the transport of relief goods on our flights. We sincerely hope to join hands with the people across the country to provide timely and effective support to the northern residents suffering from this historic storm,” said Bamboo Airways CEO Luong Hoai Nam.
On the afternoon of September 10, during the “Support for Storm No. 3 Victims” ceremony, the Vietnam Airlines Group also announced an initial donation of 300 million VND from its employees to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.
Similarly, Vietjet Air has announced that it will provide free shipping for relief goods from organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally to the storm-affected areas until September 20.
In addition, Vietjet Air will donate 5,000 VND from every ticket sold from now until the end of September 30 to help people recover after the storm. Including donations from its employees, Vietjet estimates the total amount from ticket sales will be around 5 billion VND.
On September 10, Vietjet also contributed 2 billion VND to purchase food, clean water, medicine, and essential supplies to help those in need quickly overcome difficulties and recover from the disaster.
Starting October 1, 2024, Da Lat Railway Station (Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province) will officially increase entrance ticket prices tenfold compared to the current rates.
The Saigon Railway Exploitation Branch, which manages and operates Da Lat Station, has officially announced the increase to organizations, individuals, and tourists regarding the new entrance fees to Da Lat – Trai Mat Station.
Da Lat train station seen from above
From midnight on October 1, Da Lat Station will raise the entrance fee to 50,000 VND per person per visit for adults (aged 6 and above), a tenfold increase from the current price of 5,000 VND. Entrance will be free for children under 6 years old (with a height below 1.32 meters) and for individuals with severe disabilities, as per government regulations.
Notably, the ticket price only covers entry for sightseeing, entertainment, and the use of some free services within the Da Lat Station architectural heritage site. It does not include the tourist train service between Da Lat and Trai Mat.
From October 1, Da Lat station increased entrance ticket price by 10 times.
According to the Saigon Railway Exploitation Branch, the price increase is aimed at mobilizing resources and supplementing the budget to maintain, repair, and restore the station to align with its status as a national architectural heritage site, improving the image of the tourism station, and adding more amenities for visitors. The unit has registered and declared the new entrance fees with the Lam Dong Provincial Department of Finance, which approved the price hike starting October 1, 2024.
Da Lat Railway Station is one of Da Lat City’s unique historical architectural landmarks, built in the 1930s and recognized as a national historical site in 2001. It has become a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists visiting Da Lat.
On June 21, 2024, the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1061/QD-UBND recognizing Da Lat Railway Station as a tourist attraction. The station currently operates a round-trip train route from Da Lat to Trai Mat Station, a 7-kilometer journey serving tourists.
Old steam locomotive
This significant price increase has surprised and upset many tourism businesses, as they believe the station has not invested in any new attractions, despite its long-standing status as a national heritage site.
Dinh Van Don, Director of Happy Day – Happy Day Travel (Da Lat City), openly expressed his astonishment: “It’s the first time I’ve seen a tourist attraction raise entrance fees tenfold with less than a month’s notice. This sudden change will increase the costs for tour groups, not only for entrance tickets but also for the newly launched night train tours.”
Tuong Huu Loc, Vice President of the Lam Dong Tourism Association, added: “The tenfold increase at Da Lat Station is highly problematic, as there was no prior planning, leading to negative reactions from many tourists and partners. Travel agencies typically sell tours well in advance, at least 2 to 3 months or even a year ahead. Now, with the added costs, they cannot charge more from the customers. Such a sharp increase makes visitors feel overwhelmed, especially when Da Lat Station has yet to explain how they plan to improve services, maintenance, etc.”
On September 11, Lam Dong’s Department of Finance stated in an interview with Thanh Nien that, according to regulations, businesses have the autonomy to set prices and must declare and inform financial authorities. The department cannot interfere with how much or how little prices are raised. Da Lat Station had already filed a declaration regarding the price increase.
The iPhone maker’s “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday focused on bringing AI capabilities to the smartphone.
Native cryptocurrencies of blockchain endeavors supposedly involved with artificial intelligence (AI) outshone the broader market after iPhone maker Apple (AAPL) showcased its efforts to bring the technology to its smartphones.
AI-focused decentralized blockchain platform Internet Computer Protocol’s ICP token is about 10% higher on a 24-hour basis, the best-performing token among the 100 biggest cryptocurrencies by market value, according to data source Coingecko. Artificial Superintelligence Alliance’s (formerly Fetch.AI) FET ranked fifth, adding 5%. Smaller tokens posted double-digit gains, with ChartAI’s EYE leading the pack with a 50% surge.
Meanwhile, market leaders bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) and other prominent cryptocurrencies nursed losses after pro-crypto U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump’s poor showing during a debate with rival Kamala Harris. The CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), a measure of the broader crypto market, lost 0.7% in the same period.
Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday focused on bringing AI capabilities to the smartphone. The Nasdaq-listed company said it would introduce AI features including writing tools, smarter Siri responses and advanced photo and video editing facilities under the banner of Apple Intelligence. The features will be available in the iOS 18.1 update and beyond.
The key feature of Apple Intelligence is that it will be a software development kit (SDK), allowing developers to build apps using on-device generative models while enjoying security and privacy features in Private Cloud Compute.
The event did not mention crypto or blockchain. Still, market participants are confident Apple Intelligence will have a positive effect on all things AI, including blockchain projects.
“Just like everyone’s buzzing about Apple Intelligence in phones now, soon it’ll be all about crypto,” Pranav Maheshwari, an engineer at the Graph Protocol, said on X. “People will want blockchain and crypto payments baked into their phones. Watch the shift happen. Slowly, then suddenly.”
September could be another difficult month for the miners as bitcoin remains under $60K and the network hashrate continues to rise, the report said.
Bitcoin (BTC) mining was much less profitable in August than July as the average bitcoin price fell over 4% and the average network hashrate rose about 2.7%, investment bank Jefferies said in a research report on Wednesday.
Miner’s average daily revenue per exahash fell by 11.8% from the month previous as a result, the report said.
“September is shaping up to be another difficult month as BTC remains below $60K and the network hashrate continues to climb,” analysts Jonathan Petersen and Joe Dickstein wrote. The Bitcoin hashrate is a proxy for competition in the industry and mining difficulty.
Jefferies notes that there were less days of extreme heat this summer, which meant better uptime for the largest miners. The bitcoin mined by Marathon Digital (MARA) last month implies roughly 88% uptime, compared to 75% in August last year.
For the ten largest bitcoin miners that the bank tracks, implied uptime last month was around 83% versus 76% a year ago and 79% in August 2022.
“While mining economics may be moving in the wrong direction, operational efficiency is improving,” the authors wrote.
U.S.-listed mining companies mined a lower share of new bitcoin in August than the month prior, the bank said, and were 19.9% of the total network as the “public players brought on new capacity faster than the network hashrate increased.”
Marathon mined the most tokens last month, with 673 bitcoin, the report noted. CleanSpark (CLSK) was second with 478 BTC.
Marathon’s installed hashrate remains the largest of the group, followed by Riot Platforms (RIOT), the report added.
Wall Street giant JPMorgan said mining profitability fell to all time lows in the first two weeks of August, the bank noted in a report last month.
From the night of September 10 to the morning of September 11, parts of the Northern Delta region, including Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, and sections of Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces, experienced continuous rainfall. Some areas saw accumulations ranging from 50 mm to 120 mm, with isolated locations receiving over 200 mm.
While heavy rains are expected to ease by the afternoon of September 11, localized downpours may still occur in certain areas across the Northern region.
Heavy rain causes many streets in Hanoi to be flooded.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, rising water levels today (September 11) pose significant flood risks. Flooding could affect low-lying regions along rivers, alluvial plains, and areas outside the main dykes. This may lead to dyke overflows, landslides, and severe impacts on vulnerable dyke systems, embankments, and riverside infrastructure in provinces such as Hanoi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, and Ninh Binh.
Water in Thao river in Yen Bai have exceeded historical levels and are causing flooding in many places.
Areas with the highest flood risk include low-lying regions in Lang Son, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, and Hoa Binh. Flash floods and landslides are also a major concern for the mountainous northern provinces.
Floods in rivers and streams are causing deep inundation in riverbank areas, including alluvial islands, impacting waterway traffic, aquaculture, agriculture, and economic activities—particularly in the lower reaches of the Red River and Thai Binh River systems.
