Bitcoin's Bonnie And Clyde | Clearview AI In The Crosshairs | Enigma’s Astronomical Sale

Plus: Tracking Trump: A Rundown Of All The Investigations And Cases Involving The Former President

Good morning.

Bonnie and Clyde are so 20th century. In the age of crypto, criminal couples may look more like Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, who were charged with laundering thousands of bitcoin stolen in a cyber attack six years ago. We’re also covering the concerns three U.S. senators have voiced against Peter Theil’s facial recognition technology company Clearview AI, and the sale of a rare, possibly extraterrestrial diamond for a suitably astronomical price. Finally, check out this tracker to stay updated on all the cases against former President Donald Trump.

In The News Today

The first case in the nationwide “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal to go to trial concluded with the sentencing of former MGM Resorts executive Gamal Abdelaziz to one year and one day in federal prison. 

Some of the world’s largest automakers shut down production at their factories due to disruptions from truck-riding, anti-pandemic restrictions protests, which blocked the busiest route linking Canada to the U.S., and are now spreading to other countries. 

Top Take-Aways

Married couple Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan presented themselves as investors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Their arrest on laundering charges of attempting to launder 119,754 bitcoins—currently worth about $5 billion—hacked from the Bitfinex exchange six years ago highlights the darker side of their seemingly successful life.

The Fed is preparing to raise interest rates three times this year, beginning the 13th cycle of credit tightening since World War II. Credit tightening cycles almost never end in a “soft landing” for the economy. If history is any guide, it’s a matter of when a recession will hit, not if one is on the horizon.

Three senators called on federal agencies to stop using facial recognition technology built by Clearview AI, a Peter Thiel-backed surveillance business valued at $130 million, warning that these kinds of tools pose a serious threat to the public’s civil liberties and privacy rights.

Billionaire-owned South Korean telecommunications giant SK Telecom has made a move into electric mobility through a partnership with U.S. electric aircraft startup Joby Aviation to develop electric air taxis.

Chloe Kim won a second gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. One of the most recognizable faces of Team USA, the 21-year-old has already secured an estimated $3 million in guaranteed payments from her sponsors in the year leading to these Games, with bonuses likely to follow her medal-winning performance.

A 555.55-carat black diamond known as the Enigma and believed to have come from outer space, sold for a supermassive $4.28 million at Sotheby’s auction.

Today's Must Read

In Case You Missed It

Criminal gangs are still using Facebook to organize, intimidate, and brag. For law enforcement agencies, this is good news, as it makes it easier to identify crew members and gather evidence for their investigations.

Tips You Can Trust

There's a renewed focus on empathy as a key leadership skill—but do not fall for these five misconceptions about the term.

When the going gets tough, the best thing a business owner can do is remember what motivates them. Here are four ways to remember your values when the grind wears on you.

Today's Must Watch

Recommendations
From Beyond The Newsroom