The Desk — Edition 69
Welcome to the 69th issue of The Desk — my weekly roundup of newly published content, project updates, and recommendations. Whether you're following along for tutorials, blog posts, GitHub projects, or curated reads, there’s something for everyone building or exploring in tech, content, and open-source spaces.
New Tutorials
This week’s tutorial content focused on cryptocurrency guides:
Crypto Wallets Explained: Hot vs Cold
Learn the key differences between hot and cold crypto wallets, their pros and cons, ideal use cases, and essential security tips to protect your digital assets. This guide helps you choose the right wallet for your crypto needs with clear, beginner-friendly explanations.
Brandon Himpfen
What Is Web3? An Introduction
Web3 is the next evolution of the internet, focused on decentralization, user ownership, and blockchain technology. This guide explains what Web3 is, how it works, key technologies, real-world use cases, and what it means for the future of the web.
Brandon Himpfen
New Blog Posts
This week’s posts content focused on solo travelers:
Expert Solo Travel Tips from 15+ Years of Traveling Solo
Discover expert solo travel tips from 15+ years of experience. Learn how to stay safe, pack light, immerse in new cultures, and embrace the freedom that comes with solo adventures. Prepare for a rewarding journey with practical advice and lessons learned on the road.
Brandon Himpfen
Tips for Navigating Public Transport as a Solo Traveler
Learn how to confidently use public transport as a solo traveler with tips on safety, planning, apps, payment, and local customs—perfect for navigating buses, trains, and subways worldwide.
Brandon Himpfen
Stay tuned as I continue publishing more posts each week across Bold Outlook, Solo Traveler, Brandon on Crypto, Travel Bloggers Network and Digital Nomads.
Published Newsletters
I have published three LinkedIn newsletter issues for Digital Nomads Weekly, Digital Marketing Weekly and Blogging Superstars this past week:
Digital Nomads Weekly Issue 4
Your weekly curated guide to digital nomad insights, tips, and inspiration. Issue #4 – July 07, 2025 Welcome Note Hello Digital Nomads, Welcome to the fourth edition of Digital Nomads Weekly! In this issue, we’re excited to bring you top articles, practical tips, and inspiring stories from the digit
Brandon H.
Blogging Superstar Issue 2
Curating the Best for Bloggers Monday, July 07, 2025 Welcome Note Hello, Blogging Superstars! Welcome to the second edition of Blogging Superstar—your go-to weekly dose of curated articles, resources, and tips designed to inspire and empower bloggers. I’m excited to kick off this journey with you al
Brandon H.
Digital Marketing Issue 1
Curating the Best for Digital Marketers Monday, July 07, 2025 Hello, Digital Marketers! Welcome to the very first edition of Digital Marketing Weekly! This newsletter is designed to bring you the latest insights, strategies, and tools to help you stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of
Brandon H.
I have also launched two new LinkedIn newsletters: AI Weekly and Crypto & FinTech Weekly. The first issue of these newsletters will be published today!
New GitHub Repos
I launched new GitHub repositories as part of ongoing open-source initiatives:
GitHub - brandontravel/datasets: A collection of travel-related datasets for a variety of topics from accommodations to finance to logistics.
A collection of travel-related datasets for a variety of topics from accommodations to finance to logistics. - brandontravel/datasets
brandontravel
These are all part of my broader GitHub ecosystem (e.g., BrandonTravel, BrandonLearn, AwesomeListsIO). Contributions welcome!
Updated GitHub Repos
Here are notable updates to existing GitHub repositories:
GitHub - travelbloggersnetwork/directory
Contribute to travelbloggersnetwork/directory development by creating an account on GitHub.
travelbloggersnetwork
The list of travel bloggers has been updated and solo traveler's trips has been redesigned for a better end user experience.
GitHub - solotravelerorg/trips
Contribute to solotravelerorg/trips development by creating an account on GitHub.
solotravelerorg
I’m constantly improving my GitHub repositories to make them more useful for both contributors and end users.
New Web Pages
New pages went live this week across my network of websites:
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws by Country
Explore cryptocurrency regulations and laws by country. Learn how different nations approach crypto trading, taxation, mining, and compliance. Stay informed with our global guide to crypto legality.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Nigeria
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations and laws in Nigeria. Discover the legal status of crypto trading, taxation policies, banking restrictions, and how the Central Bank and SEC regulate digital assets in Africa’s largest crypto market.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in South Africa
Discover cryptocurrency regulations in South Africa. Learn how crypto is classified as a financial product, how exchanges are regulated, and what tax obligations exist for trading, mining, and investing in digital assets.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Kenya
Explore Kenya’s cryptocurrency regulations and legal status. Learn about warnings from the Central Bank, tax uncertainty, and how peer-to-peer trading thrives despite the lack of a formal legal framework.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in China
Learn about China’s cryptocurrency regulations. Discover why crypto trading and mining are banned, how the government promotes the digital yuan, and what the legal implications are for individuals and businesses in China.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in India
Learn about India’s cryptocurrency regulations, taxes, and legal status. Discover how trading is taxed at 30%, how exchanges must follow AML laws, and what future crypto legislation may look like.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Japan
Discover Japan’s cryptocurrency regulations, taxes, and licensing laws. Learn how crypto is recognized as legal property, how exchanges are regulated under the Payment Services Act, and what taxes apply to trading and mining.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Singapore
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in Singapore, including licensing under the Payment Services Act, crypto taxation, advertising restrictions, and how MAS regulates exchanges and digital token providers.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Vietnam
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in Vietnam. Discover why crypto is banned as a payment method, yet legal to own and trade, and stay informed on the country’s evolving approach to digital assets.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Germany
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in Germany. Discover how crypto is classified, taxed, and regulated by BaFin, and why long-term holders benefit from tax exemptions on capital gains.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in France
Discover cryptocurrency regulations in France. Learn how crypto is classified and taxed, what registration is required for exchanges, and how the AMF oversees France’s crypto service providers under the PACTE law.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in the United Kingdom
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in the UK. Discover how the FCA regulates exchanges, how crypto is taxed by HMRC, and what legal restrictions exist on derivatives, stablecoins, and other digital assets.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Switzerland
Explore cryptocurrency regulations in Switzerland. Learn how crypto is taxed, how FINMA regulates exchanges and ICOs, and why Switzerland is a global leader in blockchain adoption and legal innovation.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Estonia
Learn about Estonia’s cryptocurrency regulations, licensing rules, and tax treatment. Discover how the country moved from early crypto adoption to strict AML compliance for exchanges and service providers.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Canada
Discover cryptocurrency regulations in Canada. Learn how crypto is taxed, how platforms are regulated by securities and AML authorities, and what obligations apply to trading, mining, and holding digital assets.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in the United States
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in the United States. Understand how federal and state agencies regulate crypto, how it’s taxed by the IRS, and what laws apply to exchanges, ICOs, NFTs, and crypto income.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Mexico
Discover cryptocurrency regulations in Mexico. Learn how virtual assets are regulated under the Fintech Law, how exchanges are registered, and how crypto activities like trading and mining are taxed and reported.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Argentina
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in Argentina. Discover how crypto is taxed, how exchanges comply with AML laws, and the country’s evolving approach to VASP legislation amid high adoption rates.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Brazil
Discover Brazil’s cryptocurrency laws. Learn about the Virtual Assets Act, required VASP licensing, the new flat 17.5 % crypto tax, AML standards, and ongoing stablecoin regulation under the Central Bank.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Chile
Learn about Chile’s cryptocurrency regulations under the Fintech Law, including registration of crypto service providers, taxation of gains and mining, AML/KYC rules, and upcoming Travel Rule enforcement.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Australia
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in Australia. Discover how crypto is taxed, how exchanges are regulated by AUSTRAC and ASIC, and what upcoming laws may govern digital asset platforms and stablecoins.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in New Zealand
Learn about New Zealand’s crypto regulations. Crypto is legal, treated as property, and taxed as income. Exchanges are regulated under existing financial and AML laws. IRD enforces crypto compliance without a standalone capital gains tax.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in the United Arab Emirates
Learn about cryptocurrency regulations in the UAE, including licensing requirements from VARA and ADGM, zero tax on individual gains, and how federal and free-zone authorities regulate exchanges, stablecoins, and virtual asset service providers.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Israel
Discover Israel’s cryptocurrency regulations, including asset classification, 25% capital gains tax, ISA’s licensing for security tokens and stablecoins, and evolving crypto custody frameworks.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws in Turkey
Learn about Turkey’s crypto regulations: legal to trade but banned for payments, CASP licensing under CMB, strict AML/KYC with travel rule, no individual tax yet but planned transaction levy.
Brandon Himpfen
Updated Web Pages
The following pages have been significantly updated:
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws
Explore the essential cryptocurrency regulations and laws that govern digital currencies globally. Learn about tax obligations, AML/KYC requirements, ICO securities laws, and upcoming regulatory changes. Stay informed and compliant as you navigate the evolving crypto landscape.
Brandon Himpfen
I aim to keep evergreen content accurate and relevant. If something feels out of date, let me know — I welcome feedback!
Recommended Reading
Here are a few standout articles and blog posts I recommend checking out this week:
AWS is launching an AI agent marketplace next week with Anthropic as a partner | TechCrunch
Amazon Web Services is launching an AI agent marketplace and Anthropic is one of its partners.
Jagmeet Singh
Why Is BTC Up: Bitcoin Hits All-Time High as Analyst Sets $140K Target
The new all-time high on Thursday follows multiple attempts to break above the $112,000 level.
Krisztian Sandor
YouTube wants creators to share data with brands and potential advertisers - Tubefilter
YouTube is entering into a new era of influencer marketing, and data sharing between creators and brands is one step forward.
Sam Gutelle
Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year
Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple’s first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea’s ETNews…
Hartley Charlton
Revolut lets customers send money to China via Alipay
Revolut is targeting the $48 billion Chinese remittance market through a partnership with Ant International.
Editorial Team
Robinhood CEO’s AI Math Startup Valued at Nearly $900 Million
Harmonic AI, an artificial intelligence startup co-founded by Robinhood Markets Inc. Chief Executive Officer Vlad Tenev, has raised $100 million in funding to tackle a problem that has sometimes confounded AI models: math.
Kate Clark
Virginia county says April ransomware attack exposed employee SSNs
Carol Steele, the county’s administrator, said they hired cybersecurity experts to help with the recovery and notified the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Division as well as the Cyber Fusion Center of the Virginia State Police.
Jonathan Greig
Apple just patented a trackball Apple Pencil - 9to5Mac
The new patent suggests that Apple is thinking well beyond the iPad when it comes to the future of the Apple Pencil.
Marcus Mendes
Figma announced new grid updates
Figma has launched new grid features in beta, enhancing layout control and flexibility.
Valeriia Yerchenko
Apple design team to start reporting directly to Tim Cook later this year - 9to5Mac
Apple today announced that COO Jeff Williams will retire later this year, with Sabih Khan set to assume the COO…
Chance Miller
Mistral is reportedly in talks to raise $1B | TechCrunch
French AI startup Mistral is in talks to raise up to $1 billion in equity from investors including Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund, reports Bloomberg.
Rebecca Bellan
Browser hijacking campaign infects 2.3M Chrome, Edge users
updated: These extensions weren’t malware-laced from the start, researcher says
Jessica Lyons
Samsung’s event spoiled by massive last-minute leak
When it rains, it pours.
Emma Roth
Columbia data stolen in cyberattack that caused dayslong IT outage, University says
<i>Updated July 1 at 9:39 p.m.</i>
Spencer Davis
EU border system has thousands of critical vulnerabilities — Bloomberg
A 2024 audit found thousands of vulnerabilities in the Schengen Information System II. Excessive administrator access and slow bug fixes threaten security.
Yevgeny Demkivskyi
AI-Generated Content Does Not Hurt Your Google Rankings (600,000 Pages Analyzed)
Does Google punish AI-generated content? We analyzed 600,000 pages to find out.
Si Quan Ong, Xibeijia Guan
These are curated for developers, creators, travelers, and digital professionals — with an eye on quality and depth.
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