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  • Cathie Wood’s ARK teams with Securitize to tokenize venture fund with OpenAI, Anthropic stakes

    Cathie Wood’s ARK teams with Securitize to tokenize venture fund with OpenAI, Anthropic stakes

    Cathie Wood’s $ARK Invest is putting its venture fund on blockchain rails, bringing a portfolio that includes stakes in OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks onto blockchain rails.

    The $ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX) will issue tokenized interests using infrastructure from Securitize (SECZ), with the tokenization firm handling onchain issuance and the investor experience.

    ARKVX will be first available on Ethereum

    ETH$2,648.01

    with other networks potentially following, the firms said.

    “Making the $ARK Venture Fund available onchain is a natural extension of our mission to democratize access to technologically enabled disruptive innovation,” Wood, $ARK‘s founder, CEO and chief investment officer, said in a statement.

    For Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo, one draw is giving investors diversified exposure to sought-after private technology companies.

    “If you don’t know whether OpenAI or Anthropic are gonna win the AI race, here you get both of them in a diversified pool,” Domingo told CoinDesk TV.

  • Solana Foundation hires Binance, Polygon veterans as it ramps up tokenized finance push

    Solana Foundation hires Binance, Polygon veterans as it ramps up tokenized finance push

    The Solana Foundation has appointed former Binance executive Rachel Conlan as its new chief strategy officer, adding a high-profile crypto industry veteran as the Solana (SOL) blockchain makes a bigger push into institutional finance and tokenized assets.

    Conlan will lead strategy across institutional partnerships, ecosystem growth and efforts to bring more companies onto Solana, the foundation said Thursday. She spent previously three years at Binance, most recently as global chief marketing officer, before leaving the crypto exchange in June.

    The foundation also hired Jamal Raees as general manager for payments. Raees joins from Polygon Labs, the development organization behind the Polygon network (POL), and previously worked at stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge (now part of Stripe) and crypto payments firm Wyre. He will focus on getting payments companies and other businesses to use Solana for moving money.

    The appointments come as Solana increasingly courts traditional financial firms and positions its network as infrastructure for more than crypto trading. Stablecoin payments, tokenized funds and equities have become a bigger part of that pitch as financial institutions experiment with moving assets and settlement onto public blockchains.

  • Solana Shows Extreme Growth: Tokenized Shareholders Exceed 1 Million

    Solana Shows Extreme Growth: Tokenized Shareholders Exceed 1 Million

    Solana has reached a significant milestone by surpassing the 1 million mark in the number of tokenized stock holders. This achievement is considered a science fiction feat just two years ago. Solana holds approximately 95% market share in on-chain tokenized stock trading and continues to outperform its competitors in this area.

    Solana’s Rise in Numbers

    The supply of tokenized shares on Solana reached a record high of $684 million in mid-September, representing a 47% increase in just three weeks. During the same period, the 30-day real-world asset trading volume reached $3.3 billion. Among Solana’s tokenized shares, NVDAx, a tokenized representation of NVIDIA shares, leads in holder numbers. New listings like Nike have accelerated this trend, moving beyond technology-heavy portfolios. Furthermore, integration with platforms like Pump.fun has attracted users who previously lacked access to tokenized shares.

    The Meaning of Tokenized Shares

    Tokenized shares, as blockchain-based tokens, represent ownership or exposure to traditional shares. These tokens are traded on-chain, exchanged almost instantly, and are accessible 24/7. On Solana, primary issuers like xStocks distribute them through networks like Backpack Securities.

    Points to Consider

    While the figure of 1 million seems impressive, this number measures wallet addresses, not verified unique individuals. A person may have multiple wallets, and incentive programs can inflate these numbers. As of the end of September, the verified number was recorded as 900,000. Furthermore, the composition of these wallets is also important.

    If the majority of growth is driven by users holding almost insignificant positions, the headline figure might appear more impressive than the underlying economic activity warrants. However, supply and volume figures tell a more solid story; a total supply of $684 million and a monthly volume of $3.3 billion reflect the true flows of capital.

  • Is ‘Trump Fuel’ station selling gas for nearly $20 per gallon?

    Is ‘Trump Fuel’ station selling gas for nearly $20 per gallon?

    Claim:

    In September 2026, a Trump-branded gas station opened in Branson, Missouri, selling gasoline for around $20 a gallon.

    Rating:

    Labeled Satire

    A claim that a new, Trump-branded gas station in Branson, Missouri, is selling gasoline at close to $20 a gallon spread online in September 2026. For example, a Sept. 19 Facebook post spreading the claim featured a headline reading “‘Trump Fuel’ Station Turns Heads With Eye-Popping Prices.”

    (Facebook user Thomas Jay Osadsky)

    The story spread amid an extended period of high gas prices across the world as a result of the U.S. war with Iran, and seemingly referenced the Freedom Fuel stations promoted by the Trump administration. Some users appeared to interpret the story about the gas station as true, and Snopes readers contacted us to investigate its legitimacy.

    We first used search engines such as DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo to see whether the claim was true. If the new gas station’s exorbitant prices were real, journalists with reputable news outlets in the local area would have reported on it, and those search inquiries would have uncovered such evidence. 

    That was not the case. We did not find any credible reporting about a Trump-branded gas station opening in Branson.

    We identified the rumor’s original source, however: the Branson Area Breaking News Facebook Page, which describes its content as satirical and humorous in nature. The page’s bio reads, “We are a world renowned satirical news organization & have received many awards for our breaking news stories!” 

    Branson Area Breaking News first shared the story about the “Trump Fuel” station on Sept. 18. We reached out to the page’s administrators for a comment on the fact that the post was being shared on Facebook by other users with no indication the story was satire. We will update this story if we receive a response.

    If there’s a relatively outlandish claim spreading online about Branson, Missouri, there’s a decent chance it started as a satirical rumor from the Branson Area Breaking News Facebook page. Snopes has covered several claims originating from the page in the past, like fake videos of a flooded street filled with alligators and of the city’s water tower falling down. 

    Since the effectiveness of satire is subjective, we use “originated as satire” or “labeled satire” ratings based on creators’ description of their work. It’s your call on whether you agree.

    Sources

    Christensen, Laerke. “Did Branson, Missouri, Water Tower Fall down? Rumor Doesn’t Hold Up.” Snopes, 26 Nov. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/branson-missouri-water-tower/.

    Geman,     Ben. “Iran War Causes Global Pain at the Pump.” Axios, 19 Sept. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/09/19/iran-war-global-pain-fuel-prices.

    Izzo, Jack. “Trump-Endorsed ‘Freedom Fuel’ Gas Stations Exist, despite AI Image He Shared.” Snopes, 8 July 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-freedom-fuel-gas-stations/.

    Winter, Emery. “Say ‘see Ya Later, Alligator’ to Facebook Post of Gators Flooding Missouri Town’s Streets.” Snopes, 27 Mar. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/branson-alligator-flood/.

  • Does footage show ‘overflow’ crowd at 2026 Minnesota Trump rally? Here’s the real story

    Does footage show ‘overflow’ crowd at 2026 Minnesota Trump rally? Here’s the real story

    Claim:

    A video and a screenshot from that footage authentically show the overflow crowd at a Minnesota rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in September 2026.

    Rating:

    Miscaptioned

    Context

    The footage and the screenshot are both from a pro-Trump rally held in Minnesota in July 2024, not September 2026.

    In September 2026, a video and screenshots from the same footage circulated online purportedly showing supporters at a Minnesota rally for U.S. President Donald Trump that same month.

    Examples of the clip were posted on X and Instagram, and the screengrabs appeared on X and Facebook. The captions were similar, in one instance reading, “This is literally just the OVERFLOW CROWD of people that couldn’t get in to the Minnesota Trump Rally Saturday night!”

    In short, the above footage does show a pro-Trump rally but it was not captured in September 2026. The rally took place in July 2024. As such, the video and screenshots are miscaptioned. 

    Closely analyzing one screengrab shows a sign in the background that reads, “Trump 2024.”

    (X user @DanScavino)

    Google’s reverse image search tool also shows the footage appeared online in 2024.

    Dan Scavino, a member of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, posted the video to X on July 27, 2024, writing: “The overflow crowd here in St. Cloud, Minnesota this evening at the MASSIVE #TrumpRally!”

    The clip appears to be authentic, meaning it shows no signs of being digitally edited or generated using an artificial intelligence tool.

    Photographs from picture archive Getty Images show the same, tall “Trump 2024” signs being used outside the St. Cloud, Minnesota, Trump rally on July 27, 2024.

    Right-wing news outlet The Gateway Pundit also covered the rally in 2024. One attendee reportedly claimed the overflow crowd numbered around 12,000 people. 

    In the 2024 election, Trump lost in Minnesota to Democratic presidential candidate and then-Vice President Kamala Harris, but won overall.

    Snopes has covered numerous stories of images and footage from campaign rallies, some of which are real, some miscaptioned and others that were intended as satire.

    Sources

    ‘Attendees Line up before a Rally Featuring U.S. Republican…’ Getty Images, 27 July 2024, https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/attendees-line-up-before-a-rally-featuring-u-s-republican-news-photo/2163248603.

    Emery, David, and Sean Eifert. “Real Pic of Crowd at Rally for Harris and Walz in Detroit?” Snopes, 12 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/real-pic-of-crowd-harris-walz-rally-in-detroit/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2026.

    Evon, Dan. “Does This Photo Show a Full Crowd at Trump’s Tulsa Rally?” Snopes, 24 June 2020, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-tulsa-rally-crowd/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2026.

    Liles, Jordan. “Was ‘Official Trump Rally Photo’ Photoshopped To Make Crowd Seem Bigger?” Snopes, 6 July 2022, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-rally-photo-quadruplets/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2026.

    “Massive Overflow Crowd for Trump-Vance Rally in St. Cloud, MN (Video) * The Gateway Pundit * by Kristinn Taylor.” The Gateway Pundit, 28 July 2024, https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/07/massive-overflow-crowd-trump-vance-rally-st-cloud/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2026.

    “Minnesota President Election 2024 Live Results: Harris Wins.” NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/minnesota-president-results. Accessed 23 Sept. 2026.

    “Vendors Sell Merchandise before a Rally Featuring U.S. Republican…” Getty Images, 27 July 2024, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/vendors-sell-merchandise-before-a-rally-featuring-u-s-news-photo/2163248723. Accessed 23 Sept. 2026.

    Wrona, Aleksandra. “Photo Doesn’t Show Massive Crowd at Trump Rally in Woodstock.” Snopes, 31 Oct. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-rally-woodstock/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2026.

  • Trump Ban Temporarily Blocked By Judge, Who Orders CNN, Politico & MS NOW Credentials Restored

    Trump Ban Temporarily Blocked By Judge, Who Orders CNN, Politico & MS NOW Credentials Restored

    The Trump administration must restore press credentials for staffers at CNN, Politico and MS NOW, a federal judge ruled early Thursday morning, delivering a rebuke to the president’s efforts to ban the outlets from the White House grounds.

    U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, granted a temporary restraining order to the media outlets, after they sued Trump and other top administration officials, claiming violations of the First and Fifth amendments. The temporary order is set for a duration of 14 days. Generally, such orders are given to allow the court to consider a case more thoroughly.

    “None of Defendants’ arguments convince the Court that Plaintiffs are not likely to succeed on their due process claim,” Kelly wrote in his order.

    Trump has previously sought to revoke the credentials of individual reporters, but his latest ban was a sweeping effort to punish the media for negative reporting on him. Although the government later claimed national security concerns, attorneys for the outlets said that was a post-ban rationalization, violating their due process rights.

    “Defendants offer little to back up their asserted national security interest to justify revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes,” the judge wrote. “So this interest does not tilt these factors in their favor, especially given that Plaintiffs have shown a likelihood of success on the merits.”

    In a hearing on Wednesday, the DOJ pointed to letters sent to the media outlets outlining the reasons for the revocations, and giving them until Friday to challenge the action. But the letters were sent on Tuesday, four days after correspondents were first denied access.

    The judge added that “nothing in the record that predates this suit suggests that the revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes was motivated by national security concerns. Certainly, that is not what President Trump said when he announced that he was ‘banning’ Plaintiffs from the White House—instead, he focused on the alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity of Plaintiffs’ reporting.”

    The judge wrote that “even the justifications provided to Plaintiffs after this case was filed are ambiguous about the true purpose of the revocations: while Defendants’ letters to Plaintiffs mention national security concerns, they purport to identify reporting that ‘threatened national security and/or spread falsehoods’ leaving open the possibility that all the stories fall into the later bucket, rather than the former.”

    Even after Wednesday’s hearing, and before the judge’s ruling, the DOJ filed an example of a story it claimed was a “violation of the standards of professionalism and decorum expected of those given access to the White House Complex.” It was an MS NOW report that Trump aides considered the possibility of renaming Ford’s Theatre for the president. Although Trump denied the story and lashed out over it, it had nothing to do with national security.

    Earlier today, a collection of more than four dozen media groups and news outlets urged the judge to rule to end Trump’s ban. They included Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the White House Correspondents’ Association and 49 other media organizations. Among those signing on to the brief were the Associated Press, Reuters, NPR, the National Press Club, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox News and the Dow Jones Co.

    After CNN was restricted from the network TV pool rotation at the White House earlier this week, four other networks — ABC News, CBS News, NBC News and Fox News — said that they would suspend their participation in an act of solidarity.

    Theodore Bourtrous Jr., lead attorney representing the networks, said in a statement, “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law. We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action.”
    Tom Tapp contributed to this report.

  • 12 claims about CNN we’ve investigated

    12 claims about CNN we’ve investigated

    Baio, Ariana. “Donald Trump Scolds CNN Anchor for Covering Him at the UN.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 22 Sept. 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/22/trump-scolds-cnn-anchor-kaitlan-collins-un. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

    Izzo, Jack. “Did Biden Revoke More Than 400 Press Passes? How Changes Compare to Trump’s Media Ban.” Snopes, Snopes.com, 21 Sept. 2026, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/biden-press-passes-trump-ban/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

    Noveck, Jocelyn. “CNN, MS NOW, Politico Sue Over Denied White House Access.” AP News, 21 Sept. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/trump-ban-ms-now-media-cnn-politico-72f9acf68244ca70e9078d9d3661c722. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

    Weissert, Will. “Trump Says He Is Banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico From the White House.” AP News, 18 Sept. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/trump-cnn-msnow-politico-media-bans-bb675679fb10738a51bef90bde6c525a. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

  • Israel-Gaza War Documentary ‘NAZA’ Sets Global Theatrical Release Plans

    Israel-Gaza War Documentary ‘NAZA’ Sets Global Theatrical Release Plans

    NAZA, the Israel–Gaza war documentary, has set plans for a global theatrical release from Sept. 28 after picking up the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.

    The film from No Other Land directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor will have a North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on Saturday, to be followed by a theatrical release starting Oct. 9 in the U.S. and now a global rollout.

    “We made this film out of a sense of obligation to use our position as Israelis to examine the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians for which our country is responsible. The threats from the Israeli government to revoke our citizenship and the death threats do not change that and will not stop the film. We thank our colleagues for the solidarity and look forward to sharing NAZA all over the world very soon,” Abraham and Szor said in a statement.

    For the film’s international release coming hot on the heels of the Venice premiere, The Guardian and partner mk2 Films have inked deals with theatrical distributors in 56 territories. Those markets include The Middle East, France, Canada, UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brazil and Central America.

    After the theatrical run globally, NAZA, executive produced by Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) and featuring testimony from 24 Israeli military officers outlining the systems and protocols they allege Israel uses to target and kill Palestinian civilians in Gaza, will stream on The Guardian website, for free.

    The film’s title, NAZA, comes from an acronym the Israeli military uses as a shorthand for civilian casualties. The film’s producers said the documentary has been offered to a number of distributors and cinemas in Israel, and The Guardian was looking for ways to allow the film to be seen in Gaza and the West Bank. NAZA is produced by The Guardian and JW Films.

    Harry Davies, a Guardian investigations correspondent and a NAZA producer, in his own statement said: “NAZA is grounded in rigorous journalism published over the past three years, but it is also a powerful piece of cinema that will soon be available on screens, large and small, around the world. The initial response from those who’ve seen it shows audiences are engaging deeply with the urgent questions the film raises. We’re working with MK2 and international partners to bring the film to global audiences as soon as possible.”

  • YouTube Bets That a Slew of AI-Powered Features Can Maintain Its Video Domination

    YouTube Bets That a Slew of AI-Powered Features Can Maintain Its Video Domination

    YouTube may be the most-watched video platform on planet earth, but it is not wrestling on its laurels.

    The Google-owned platform this week announced a barrage of AI-powered features and tools, for both viewers and creators, that it is betting can help people make more content faster, and help viewers more specifically find what they are looking for.

    The company announced the tools at its annual Made on YouTube event in New York City, with CEO Neal Mohan taking the stage in Google’s office in a former shipping pier on the Hudson River.

    “Since the start of the year, we’ve launched over 3,000 product updates and improvements, keeping up with evolving viewer tastes and increasing creator ambitions,” Mohan said. “This is what it looks like to innovate in the YouTube era, an era where entertainment is built from the ground up by creators and the communities that fuel them.”

    For YouTube viewers, the biggest change will be the introduction of Custom Feeds, which will let users type what they are interested in in (think “help me find new DIY creators” or “witty podcasts for my 30 minute commute”), with the platform creating new tabs that will refresh with options in those defined areas.

    The platform is also adding new functionality to Ask YouTube, enabling followup questions and more specific search capabilities.

    On the creator front, some of the announcements drew applause and buzz from many of the creators in attendance.

    YouTube Studio can now suggest pacing and structure for videos, and help creators automatically A/B test thumbnails. Soon it will allow for A/B testing of videos, enabling different versions of content for different audiences.

    It is also rolling out a conversational editing assistant, letting users lean on YouTube’s apps to help it edit content using natural language prompts. Opt-in AI-powered comment moderation is also in the works, as is a voice detection tool that will join its current likeness detection program.

    “Our approach has always been to use AI to empower human creativity, and to do it responsibly,” Mohan told the crowd.

  • Philo Sets Exclusive Streaming Date for Page Six ‘Virtual Reali-Tea Awards’

    Philo Sets Exclusive Streaming Date for Page Six ‘Virtual Reali-Tea Awards’

    If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

    Live TV streamer Philo has landed Page Six‘s “Virtual Reali-Tea Awards,” the New York Post Media Group’s fan-voted awards show that celebrates reality television.

    This year’s Virtual Reali-Tea Awards ceremony films on Oct. 6 at New York’s Edison Ballroom and will premiere exclusively on Philo beginning on Oct. 9. Worth noting: while Philo subscribers can currently enjoy 70+ live TV channels and thousands of on-demand shows and movies for a $25 monthly price point, this year’s awards show will stream free for everyone — no subscription required.

    Last year’s Virtual Reali-Tea Awards featured cast members from Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Miami, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Southern Hospitality and MTV’s Teen Mom, among others. According to a press release, this year’s show will feature appearances by reality stars like Real Housewives of New York’s Countess Luann de Lesseps, Kyle Cooke from Summer House, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Layla Taylor, and Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, among others.

    De Lesseps, of course, is now part of the cast for E!’s The Golden Life, which was pitched as a Real Housewives of New York reboot. She’ll be joined by her current castmates (and former RHONY stars) Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Dorinda Medley and Kelly Bensimon to accept the coveted Golden Kettle Lifetime Achievement Award.

    The Countess is also slated to perform at the event, with other musical acts that include Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darby and Vanderpump Rules alum Scheana Shay. All three are also nominated in the Musician of the Year category, alongside Atlanta housewife, Drew Sidora.

    Other categories include Quote of the Year, “Hot-Tea of the Year,” Best Reunion Performance and Best Return to Screen. Philo will sponsor the Best Cast category with the stars of Jersey Shore Family Reunion, Real Housewives of Rhode Island, Traitors and Love Thy Nader making up the nominees.

    The Virtual Reali-Tea awards show is a spin-off of Page Six’s popular pop culture and reality TV podcast of the same name, and this year’s ceremony will be hosted and executive produced by the podcast hosts, Danny Murphy and Evan Real.

    The awards are also Philo’s first exclusively licensed original show in the awards category, and continues the streamer’s push into original programming.

    “Philo is known for being a home for reality TV lovers,” says Mike Keyserling, CEO of Philo, in a release. “We’re proud to be the exclusive streaming home of the Virtual Reali-Tea Awards and to give reality TV fans on our platform even more of what they enjoy.”

    “Reality TV is a huge part of the Page Six universe, and the Virtual Reali-Tea Awards have quickly become a standout extension of the brand,” adds Sean Giancola, Publisher and CEO of New York Post Media Group. “Philo is a natural partner to help us take the VRT Awards to the next level, reach even more fans and celebrate the people and moments everyone is talking about.”

    Philo currently offers more than 70 live television channels that subscribers can stream online without cable, including shows and movies on AMC, ID and Lifetime, plus popular reality series on MTV, TLC, VH1 and We TV. Philo plans start at just $25/month.

    Philo also offers a free tier that gives viewers access to more than 150 free, ad-supported channels along with thousands of movies and shows on demand — no credit card or signup required.

    The Virtual Reali-Tea Awards will debut as part of Philo’s free channel lineup. Tune into the exclusive streaming premiere of the 2026 Virtual Reali-Tea Awards on October 9 and catch up on last year’s awards at Philo.com/VRTs.