🛰️ Qualcomm Faces China Probe | ✈️ Qantas Data Leaked in Cyberattack | 🛡️ US Retailers Purge Chinese Devices

Crypto’s Most Influential Event

This May, Consensus will welcome 20,000 to Miami for America’s largest conference for crypto, Web3, & AI.

Celebrated as ‘The Super Bowl of Blockchain’, Consensus is your best bet to market-moving intel, get deals done, & party with purpose.

Ready to invest in your future?
Secure your spot today.

Register & Save 20% with BEEHIIV

Qualcomm’s Autotalks Deal Sparks Antitrust Probe in China

What Happened: Qualcomm quietly acquired Israeli V2X chipmaker Autotalks in June without notifying Chinese regulators, despite having previously informed Beijing that it wouldn’t pursue the deal. China’s market watchdog confirmed Qualcomm admitted the oversight, triggering an antitrust investigation under its Anti-Monopoly Law. The probe could result in fines or broader restrictions, especially as tensions rise between the US and China over semiconductor dominance.

Why It Matters: This isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about control. Autotalks’ vehicle-to-everything tech is key to future smart transportation systems, and China’s push to standardize V2X by 2026 means any foreign acquisition is now a strategic flashpoint. Qualcomm’s misstep could delay its automotive ambitions and signal tighter scrutiny for all US tech mergers and acquisitions in China.

Qantas Confirms Customer Data Leaked After July Cyberattack

What Happened: Australia’s flagship carrier Qantas confirmed that hackers have released customer data stolen in a July breach via a third-party customer service platform. The attack compromised 5.7 million records, including names, emails, and frequent flyer details, with over a million customers losing sensitive data like phone numbers and home addresses. The hacker group Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters claimed responsibility after a ransom deadline passed.

Why It Matters: This is one of Australia’s largest breaches since the 2022 Optus and Medibank attacks, reigniting debates over third-party vendor risk and data minimization. Qantas has secured a court injunction to block further dissemination, but the damage is done—especially for travelers whose data could be used in targeted phishing or identity theft

US Retailers Pull Millions of Chinese Electronics Over FCC Ban

What Happened: Major US online retailers have removed millions of listings for Chinese electronics deemed national security risks, including surveillance cameras and smartwatches from Huawei, Hikvision, ZTE, and Dahua. The FCC cited its “Covered List” of banned vendors and warned these devices could enable espionage or network disruption. The crackdown follows a broader push to block unapproved equipment from entering the US market.

Why It Matters: This isn’t just about tariffs—it’s about trust. The FCC’s actions signal a hardening stance on supply chain integrity, especially in consumer IoT. With a vote scheduled for October 28 to further restrict devices with banned components, companies will need to audit their hardware like never before.

👾 My Software Stack

The concept of Manychat is easy: get rid of manual work on Instagram and use automations to make money. Use the link to get one month of the pro subscription for free.

*This is an affiliate link, so I would get a small commission if you use the tool.

Big Tech Barometer: Qualcomm (QCOM) dropped over 5% Friday after President Trump threatened new China tariffs and Beijing launched its antitrust probe. The broader Nasdaq dipped slightly, but AI and cloud stocks held steady.

Startup Thermometer: Cybersecurity startups are seeing renewed investor interest post-Qantas breach, with early-stage funding inquiries up 30% week-over-week. Infrastructure Watch: Semiconductor stocks remain volatile amid US-China tensions, but automotive chip demand is rising as V2X adoption accelerates globally.

Wild Card: The FCC’s crackdown could reshape the $50B US consumer electronics resale market, where unverified imports are common.

Bitcoin Plunges Below $110K Amid Trump Tariff Fears

What Happened: Bitcoin crashed from over $126K to below $110K on October 10, wiping out $250B in market value and triggering $7B in liquidations. The selloff followed President Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, sparking macro panic and a flight to safety. Ethereum and altcoins followed, with SOL and XRP down 15–30%.

 Why It Matters: Crypto’s “risk-on” status is back with a vengeance. Despite Trump’s pro-crypto stance, his trade war rhetoric spooked markets, proving that Bitcoin isn’t immune to geopolitical shocks. The dip also exposed leverage fragility in derivatives markets.

Ten Major Banks Explore G7-Backed Stablecoins

What Happened: A consortium of ten global banks—including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and UBS—is exploring a stablecoin system pegged 1:1 to G7 currencies. The project, still in early stages, aims to streamline cross-border payments using public blockchains while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Why It Matters: This could be the long-awaited bridge between TradFi and DeFi. If successful, it would challenge Tether’s dominance and bring institutional-grade stability to digital finance. But coordination across seven central banks? That’s the real moonshot.

✅ meku.dev — AI Web App and Site Builder

✅ opensaas.sh — Open-source & 100% free React & Node.js SaaS starter!

✅ undoomed — Stop doomscrolling. A mute button for Reels, Shorts & feeds

✅ getillustrations.com — Getillustrations royalty-free vector packs

✅ thumblifyai.com — Create Thumbnails That Make People Click

Got a killer link we missed? Hit reply and share the goods. 💌