Криптовалютная ошибка, рост цен на телефоны и WeChat для ИИ

Today in the world of technology and finance was filled with events. From cryptocurrency errors to changes in the smartphone market and the integration of artificial intelligence into popular platforms – we'll break down the most significant news.

Let's start with a shocking error by South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb. Due to a typo during a promotional campaign, the exchange accidentally sent 620,000 bitcoins (worth more than $40 billion) to 695 clients. Fortunately, the error was discovered within 20 minutes, and the vast majority of funds – 99.7% – were returned. This situation highlights the risks associated with the human factor in cryptocurrency operations, even on large and regulated platforms.

The second important news concerns the smartphone market. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the average selling price of smartphones worldwide exceeded $400 for the first time (approximately 2,946 yuan). This is related to the trend of "premiumization" – consumers are buying fewer devices, but more expensive ones. Manufacturers, including Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and Honor, have already raised prices on their new models. This trend reflects a shift in the industry from "scaling up volume" to "scaling up value."

Another interesting event – WeChat, the popular Chinese messenger, restored the ability to copy access codes for AI bots Qianwen (from Alibaba) and Yuanbao (from Tencent). Previously, WeChat blocked this function, which limited the spread of promotions and opportunities related to these AI services. The restoration of functionality indicates a softening of WeChat's policy regarding competition with other platforms in the field of artificial intelligence.

Beyond these three main news items, it's worth noting the following events: annual sales volume of LABUBU toys exceeded 100 million units, several banks raised interest rates on deposits, Hainan Airlines apologized for a flight that returned due to mechanical failure, TikTok disputes EU accusations of "addictive" design, Elon Musk stated that without AI the US will go bankrupt, Apple launched its own store in the duty-free zone in Zhuhai, and OpenAI is negotiating with G42 to create a version of ChatGPT for the UAE.

All these events point to dynamic technological development and changes in consumer behavior. Cryptocurrencies continue to remain volatile and prone to errors, the smartphone market is shifting to more expensive models, artificial intelligence is penetrating deeper into our daily lives, and companies are seeking new ways to attract and retain customers.