On December 18th, days before Christmas, Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of the Bitcoin Samourai Wallet, will have to surrender to prison. His crime? Creating a software tool that gave Bitcoin users comparable privacy to that which banks are expected to provide. Samourai Wallet, the brand and technology stack built by Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, was shut down…
BetaKit is ending the year with a look back at the biggest tech stories of 2025. With more to come throughout December, you can read the full series here. The repeated (and ongoing) military and economic threats foisted on Canada by US President Donald Trump in 2025 forced Ottawa to dramatically shift its spending priorities….
We’re being hit with the “Super Flu” (allegedly), and that means everyone wants us to wear masks again. We went over this (a lot) in 2020. Then we went over it again in 2023. Masks don’t work, they never worked, and – prior to 2020 – the academic literature was very clear on this. In a 2016 literature review, infection…
After years of microtrends and virality-driven beauty buys, 2026 feels like a collective exhale. The beauty trends of 2026 signal a meaningful shift away from novelty for novelty’s sake—and toward intention. It’s a return to ritual, to products and practices that feel grounded, personal, and genuinely supportive of our well-being. Across makeup, hair, and skincare,…
BetaKit is ending the year with a look back at the biggest tech stories of 2025. With more to come throughout December, you can read the full series here. Sovereignty entered the Canadian lexicon this year on the wave of a perfect storm: existential threats to the country from US President Donald Trump, and a…
Is it a craft, or is it a doorway to somewhere else? What if some UFOs aren’t objects at all? A UFO with no surface. A daylight sighting that didn’t move like an object. Some researchers say these rare cases challenge what “UFO” even means. A growing subset of UAP reports describes something far stranger…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The global fashion industry is gearing up for a new level of transparency. One that might soon be sewn into the very labels of your clothes. By 2027, garments entering the European Union could be required to carry digital product passports (DPPs), offering consumers an unprecedented look into the…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM New Year’s resolutions often come with high hopes and, let’s face it, high failure rates. For many, they’ve become synonymous with frustration and unmet expectations. But what if the problem isn’t you, but the concept itself? According to change coach Niamh Ennis, there’s a better way to approach self-improvement:…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve ever tried to become more disciplined by sheer force of will, you already know it’s exhausting. All of the habit trackers, early alarms, and self-help podcasts can be overwhelming. And, honestly, kind of joyless. But what if there were a sneakier, more satisfying way to become that…
Comedian Dave Chappelle came out guns blazing against critics of his appearance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, in late September and early October, explicitly calling out Bill Maher and taking a shot at Israel. The strongly worded set was featured during his Netflix comedy special, “The Unstoppable,” which premiered on December 19. Maher had criticized…
