Italy blocks ChatGPT, Block refutes Hindenburg claims, Twitter publishes source code

Italy's privacy regulator has temporarily blocked ChatGPT and opened an investigation into OpenAI over processing user data and potential non-compliance with the EU's GDPR - Link

Block claims 44M of its 51M Cash App MAUs were verified through its identity program at the end of 2022; the company also denied Hindenburg Research's allegations, which claimed 40%-75% of Cash App users were fake, fraudulent, or duplicates - Link

Twitter has made a portion of its source code, including its recommendation algorithm, available for public inspection on GitHub - Link

Axios sources: The White House will not pay to have staff accounts maintain verification status on Twitter; major accounts like President Biden and VP Harris will likely keep grey checkmarks regardless - Link

QuickNode gives blockchain developers unparalleled reliability and speed, with access to unlimited endpoints across 18 chains and 35 networks. Get one month free by using code TWIST at http://go.quicknode.com/twist.

This Week in Startups

Vinny Lingham joins Jason to break down the state of crypto's de-platforming by the US government. They discuss recent happenings with Coinbase (2:13), Balaji's Bitcoin bet (20:00), Binance (38:23), SBF (44:07), and more! Then, they wrap with a discussion about the coming balkanization of AI (52:54) - Link

Agreena, a Danish farming startup that helps farmers earn carbon credits by turning land into CO2-removing carbon sinks, raised a €46M Series B led by German VC firm HV Capital - Link

BlackRock has marked down the valuation of Byju's, India's most valuable startup, from $22B to ~$11.5B; Byju's is an online learning platform and has raised ~$6.4B to date - Link

WSJ sources: Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma helped orchestrate the company's six-way split from overseas, despite having stepped down as exec chairman in 2019 - Link

Chinese authorities have opened an investigation into Micron's products being sold in China, citing supply chain safety - Link

This Week in Startups

E1710: Crypto’s de-platforming and the balkanization of AI with Vinny Lingham

E1709: Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K live!

E1708: Alibaba's six-way split, Disney cuts its metaverse team, Substack's raise & more

E1707: First Citizens acquires SVB, the daunting reality of AI & Refiberd CEO Sarika Bajaj

E1706: Acquired’s Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal on private markets, ZIRP impact, future of Amazon

Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months

Orgspace - Get $2000 in credits

Issuu - Sign up for free or get 50% off an annual premium account with promo code twist