White House AI Policy Advisor Sriram Krishnan Leaving the Post

Sriram Krishnan, Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence, has announced he will step down at the end of June 2026 after an 18‑month tenure shaping President Donald Trump’s AI agenda. He plans to take a short break before working on major AI challenges outside government.

Krishnan later confirmed his decision in a post on X. Krishnan is planning to start a policy institute that will support the administration’s AI plans, according to people familiar with the matter.

It was in December 2024 when Krishnan was appointed as Senior Policy Advisor for AI by President-elect Donald Trump.

Krishnan, who is an alumnus of Chennai's Anna University, has had an important role in shaping U.S. AI policy highlight the growing influence of Indian-origin executives in global technology governance. His departure comes as Washington intensifies AI policy efforts, including cybersecurity frameworks and potential public‑private partnerships.

Key Facts About His Departure

• Announcement Date: June 6–7, 2026, via social media posts.
• End of Tenure: Scheduled for end of June 2026.
• Reason Given: No specific reason cited; he emphasized continuing to tackle “large challenges facing America on AI” after a break.
• Role in Policy: Architect of the American AI Action Plan and contributor to the National AI Policy Framework.
• Political Context: His exit comes amid Trump administration discussions about potential government stakes in AI companies.

Contributions During Tenure

• AI Action Plan: Reduced regulatory barriers, accelerated data center expansion, and limited state-level AI regulations.
• National AI Policy Framework: Helped unify federal approaches to AI governance.
• International Engagements: Represented the U.S. at AI summits in Europe, India, and the Middle East.
• Executive Orders: Supported Trump’s orders curbing state AI regulation and promoting voluntary cybersecurity testing of advanced AI models.

Reactions & Next Steps

• Praise from Colleagues: David Sacks lauded Krishnan’s “unique combination of technical fluency and policy instincts.”
• Industry Support: Elon Musk publicly backed Krishnan’s role and thanked him for his service.
• Future Plans: Krishnan intends to build institutions to address AI challenges for the U.S. and its allies.

Adani Ports Anchors Argentina’s First LNG Export to India

Adani Ports and SEZ (APSEZ) has secured a landmark 10‑year marine services contract for Argentina’s first LNG export project to India, marking its entry into South America and reinforcing India‑Argentina energy trade ties. The Southern Energy FLNG project will begin operations in 2027, with Argentina expected to export up to 10 million tonnes of LNG annually to India.

The contract marks India's largest integrated transport utility’s entry into South America and strengthens its global marine services portfolio.

The Adani Group–Meridian consortium will deliver marine services for the Southern Energy FLNG project, supported by an estimated investment commitment of $70 million. The project strengthens APSEZ’s role in an emerging LNG export corridor while reinforcing growing energy linkages between India and Argentina.

Key Highlights of the Deal

• APSEZ entry into South America: First major marine services contract in the region.
• Consortium with Meridian Group: Joint venture (51:49) between Adani Harbour International FZCO and Argentina’s Meridian Transportes Marítimos S.A.
• Southern Energy FLNG project: Developed by Southern Energy S.A., a JV of Golar LNG and Pan American Energy.
• Investment commitment: Estimated at $70 million for marine assets and operations.
• Marine services scope: Tugboat operations, offshore logistics, supply support, and crew transfer. Supported by 4 tugboats, 1 anchor handling tug supply vessel, and 1 crew boat.

Strategic Importance

• Energy Corridor Creation: Argentina’s LNG exports will diversify India’s energy sources, reducing reliance on Middle Eastern suppliers.
• Supply Resilience: APSEZ’s expertise in 12 countries ensures operational reliability in complex maritime environments.
• Production Capacity: Phase 1 will produce 2.45 million tonnes annually (~28 cargoes), scaling up to 10 million tonnes per year for India from 2027.

India–Argentina Energy Linkages

• Argentina’s LNG role: Emerging as a new global supplier, leveraging the General San Martin pipeline and FLNG vessel Hilli Episeyo.
• India’s demand outlook: Rising LNG imports to support industrial growth, power generation, and clean energy transition.
• Geopolitical impact: Strengthens Indo‑Latin American energy cooperation, diversifying India’s strategic energy partnerships.

APSEZ’s Global Marine Footprint

Region	Key Projects	Strategic Value
Middle East	LNG terminal support, offshore logistics	Energy hub connectivity
Africa	Port operations, oil & gas logistics	Expanding trade corridors
South America (Argentina)	Southern Energy FLNG marine services	First LNG export link to India
India	Ports, LNG terminals, refineries	Domestic energy resilience

Risks & Challenges

• Operational Timeline: Commercial operations only from September 2027, requiring long‑term planning.
• Global LNG Market Volatility: Prices and demand may fluctuate with geopolitical tensions.
• Infrastructure Dependence: Success hinges on Argentina’s pipeline and FLNG vessel reliability.

Bitget Recovers Over $32 Million in User Funds Amid Global Anti-Scam Drive

Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched Anti-Scam Month 2026 under the theme "More Assets, Stronger Shield. Stay Safe in the Multi-Asset Era." The annual initiative focuses on helping users navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape as digital asset platforms expand beyond crypto into broader multi-asset ecosystems.

The campaign is accompanied by the release of key security and fraud prevention results from 2025. During the year, Bitget intercepted more than 150 million malicious attack requests, identified over 13,000 high-risk malicious IP addresses, and handled 18,135 user protection cases. The platform's security team also helped users recover approximately $32.3 million linked to security incidents and fraudulent activity.

“The industry is entering a multi-asset era where users can access a wider range of products and markets through a single platform. As that access expands, security responsibilities increase too,” said Hon Ng, Chief Legal Officer at Bitget. “Protecting users requires continuous risk monitoring, rapid response mechanisms, security education, and close cooperation across the industry. Anti-Scam Month reflects the importance of building those protections alongside product innovation.”

Throughout 2025, Bitget continued to strengthen its security framework across account protection, asset custody, fraud prevention, and platform risk management. The platform expanded Passkey authentication capabilities based on FIDO2 and WebAuthn standards, enhanced multi-factor authentication coverage for high-risk account actions, strengthened anti-phishing protections, and improved device management controls that allow users to monitor and manage account access in real time.

Bitget also expanded its real-time threat detection and web security infrastructure in 2025. Security systems recorded more than 2.8 billion interceptions through custom protection rules and mitigated over 1.5 billion DDoS-related attack attempts. The platform's monitoring capabilities were further enhanced through machine learning-based behavioral analysis designed to identify suspicious activity and emerging threats across multiple layers of the ecosystem.

User education remained a major focus of Bitget's security strategy. Anti-Scam Month campaigns conducted across 2024 and 2025 reached approximately 1.38 billion users globally through security awareness content, educational resources, and community engagement initiatives. The company also expanded its Anti-Scam Hub, maintained its public bug bounty program, and introduced interactive initiatives such as the Smarter Eyes Challenge, which attracted close to 50,000 participants through simulated phishing and scam detection exercises.

Bitget continued to collaborate with leading blockchain security organizations, including SlowMist and Elliptic, to support threat intelligence sharing, anti-fraud research, and broader industry awareness efforts. Through a combination of platform security, user education, and industry cooperation, the company continues to invest in creating a safer environment for users navigating digital and tokenized financial markets.

All About Haryana's Space-to-Citizen Service HARSAC

HARSAC (Haryana Space Applications Centre) is Haryana’s state-level satellite and geospatial hub, established in 1986, that now powers agriculture, governance, and climate resilience by combining satellite imagery, GIS, UAV mapping, and AI analytics.

This year, it won the Geospatial Excellence Award in Amsterdam for helping over 15 lakh farmers detect crop and water stress early, saving the state nearly ₹300 crore annually.

Origins and Mandate

• Founded: 1986; operational since 1988
• Parent Department: Citizen Resources Information Department, Government of Haryana
• Mission: Embed GIS and remote sensing in all aspects of decision-making, planning, and management
• Vision: Reform governance through geo-enabled decision support systems for land acquisition, compensation, and urban services
• Affiliation: Collaborates with ISRO and national remote sensing agencies for data integration

🏆 Key Achievements

• Farmer Support: Over 15 lakh farmers across one crore fields use HARSAC’s satellite-powered system each season
• Award Recognition: Won the Geospatial Excellence Award (2026) at the Geospatial World Forum in Amsterdam. 
• Economic Impact: Saves Haryana ₹300 crore annually by preventing crop losses through early detection of water stress. 
• Operational Reach: Used daily by 4,000+ officials including patwaris, surveyors, and planners

Key Applications

Sector	Use Case	Impact
Agriculture	Crop health, yield estimation	Early stress detection for 15+ lakh farmers
Water Management	Canal mapping, irrigation planning	Efficient water use and drought resilience
Urban Planning	Land acquisition, property tax mapping	Transparent governance and compensation
Disaster Management	Flood and cyclone mapping	Rapid response and recovery
Crop Insurance	Satellite-based verification	Fair and transparent claims
Environmental Monitoring	Pollution, stubble burning, encroachments	Data-driven enforcement and sustainability

Research and Education

• Offers M.Tech in Geo-informatics with Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar (since 2009)
• Conducts training programs for students, scientists, and farmers in RS & GIS technologies
• Completed 200+ projects in mapping, monitoring, and natural resource management

Technological Backbone

• Remote Sensing (RS): Uses ISRO satellite data for land-use and crop analysis
• UAV Mapping: Drones monitor illegal constructions and encroachments
• Photogrammetry & LiDAR: Converts aerial photographs into digital maps for precision planning
• GIS Web Applications: Includes EODB Land GIS, Soil Health Maps, Property Tax Systems, and Crop Survey Layers for paddy, cotton, bajra, and sunflower

Achievements

• Recognized with the Geospatial Excellence Award (2026) for its farmer-centric satellite analytics
• Saved ₹300 crore annually by preventing crop losses through early detection of water stress
• Supports 4,000+ officials daily across departments for planning and monitoring

Challenges Ahead

• Data Integration: Continuous updates from ISRO and NRSC are vital for accuracy
• Digital Literacy: Farmers need training to fully utilize satellite insights
• Climate Variability: Demands faster satellite revisit cycles and adaptive analytics

Why It Matters

HARSAC exemplifies India’s “Space for Development” model, translating orbital data into citizen services. By merging space technology with governance, Haryana has built a resilient framework for agriculture, urban planning, and environmental protection — a blueprint for other states aiming to democratize space-based intelligence.

ZebPay Names Anuj Garg as CTO and Bala Pulavarthi as VP - Engineering to Drive Technology Growth

ZebPay, one of India’s pioneering Bitcoin exchanges, today announced the elevation of Anuj Kumar Garg as Chief Technology Officer and Bala Pulavarthi as Vice President – Engineering, further reinforcing its technology leadership, as the company enters its next phase of platform innovation, AI adoption, and engineering growth.

Both leaders will now spearhead the company’s long-term technology roadmap, scalability initiatives, and operational excellence efforts. Over the years, both Anuj and Bala have played instrumental roles in strengthening ZebPay’s engineering and blockchain infrastructure capabilities, contributing across platform scalability, digital asset security, wallet infrastructure, and innovation-led product development. Their elevations reflect ZebPay’s focus on building future-ready technology leadership, as the company accelerates innovation across blockchain, AI, Web3, and next-generation digital asset infrastructure.

Speaking on the announcement, Raj Karkara, Chief Operating Officer at ZebPay, said, “As the digital asset ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly, strong technology leadership remains critical to building secure, scalable, and future-ready platforms. Anuj and Bala have played key roles in strengthening ZebPay’s engineering and blockchain capabilities over the years. Their combined expertise across blockchain infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, distributed systems, and platform engineering will be crucial as we continue to scale our technology stack, enhance innovation, and support the company’s next phase of growth.”

A seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience spanning blockchain, artificial intelligence, automation, and enterprise transformation, Anuj assumes the role after serving as Vice President – Engineering at ZebPay, for more than four years. In his new role, he will be responsible for shaping and executing the company’s technology and product strategy in line with its long-term growth roadmap. He will oversee ZebPay’s engineering, architecture, infrastructure, security, DevOps, and data functions, while leading AI-driven initiatives across the company’s engineering and product teams. Furthermore, Anuj will drive platform modernization, cloud-native transformation, cybersecurity resilience, and innovation across blockchain, Web3, AI, and emerging technologies to further strengthen ZebPay’s secure and scalable digital asset infrastructure. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, he has made significant contributions to the blockchain ecosystem as a mentor, speaker, researcher, and academic advisor, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Blockchain & Robotics.

Commenting on his elevation, Anuj Kumar Garg, Chief Technology Officer, ZebPay, highlighted, “I am honoured to take on the role of CTO at ZebPay at such an exciting time, for both the company and the digital asset industry. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside exceptional teams, solving complex engineering challenges, and helping build one of the industry’s most trusted Bitcoin-centric platforms. As digital assets and Web3 technologies continue to mature globally, our focus will remain on delivering secure, scalable, and innovation-led solutions that enhance user trust, grow operational excellence, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the broader blockchain ecosystem.”

Alongside Anuj’s appointment, ZebPay has also elevated Bala Pulavarthi as Vice President – Engineering. A technology leader, architect, researcher, and mentor with over 13 years of industry experience, including more than a decade in the blockchain ecosystem, Bala has played an important role in strengthening ZebPay’s blockchain infrastructure, wallet architecture, digital asset operations, and platform security capabilities. He brings deep expertise across blockchain integrations, digital asset custody, distributed systems, wallet security, and scalable exchange infrastructure. Beyond his industry experience, he remains actively involved in research and mentorship and is currently pursuing a PhD in Blockchain & Robotics, at IIT Mandi, with a focus on the convergence of blockchain, AI, and autonomous systems.

“The digital asset ecosystem is entering a phase of accelerated evolution across innovation, infrastructure, and adoption, making this a pivotal time for the industry. Over the last six years at ZebPay, I have had the opportunity to contribute towards building secure and scalable blockchain systems alongside incredibly talented teams. As the industry continues to mature, our focus will remain on strengthening platform reliability, security, and engineering excellence while building resilient infrastructure that supports the future growth of Web3 and digital assets,” mentioned Bala Pulavarthi, Vice President – Engineering, ZebPay.

The announcement comes at a time when the global digital asset industry is witnessing increased institutional participation, growing adoption of blockchain-powered applications, and a heightened focus on compliance, security, and technological resilience. With the industry continuing to evolve, ZebPay remains committed to building a secure, trusted, and future-ready crypto ecosystem through innovation-driven, user-centric, and compliance-first initiatives.