The UK appointed HSBC Orion for its DIGIT pilot to explore blockchain bonds, aiming to improve efficiency, cut costs and boost security. The United Kingdom’s government has appointed HSBC’s tokenization platform to power a pilot issuance of digital government bonds, known as “gilts,” marking the latest step in its push to modernize sovereign debt markets using blockchain technology. HM Treasury has appointed HSBC Orion to facilitate the Digital Gilt Instrument (DIGIT) pilot issuance, according to a Thursday announcement. The Treasury published a DIGIT pilot update in July 2025, outlining plans to explore blockchain applications in UK sovereign debt issuance and to support the development of domestic tokenization infrastructure. Read more
An OKX-commissioned Pollfish survey finds 13% of Gen Z have paid for dates with crypto, while many non-users cite a lack of a direct way to do so. Gen Z Americans may be open to paying for dates with cryptocurrency, but most still aren’t putting digital coins where their hearts are, according to a January Pollfish survey commissioned by crypto exchange OKX. The poll of 1,000 US adults found that 13% of Gen Z respondents said they have paid for a date using crypto, while many who haven’t said the main issue is practical: they don’t have a direct way to pay with crypto. Interest extended beyond payments. 31% of Gen Z respondents said receiving crypto as a Valentine’s Day gift would be appealing, and 76% said financial literacy is an attractive trait in a partner, a reminder that for some daters, “knowing your numbers” can be more charming than knowing your zodiac sign. Read more
Public sector employers have started 2026 with headcount expansion plans and have posted over 1,500 jobs since January, in line with data provided by Jobradar24.ro, a job aggregator part of eJobs Romania.