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Best cheap robot vacuum deals June 2025

Best cheap robot vacuum deals June 2025

We’re in an age where you can realistically delegate tasks to smart hunks of metal, whether it’s a self-driving car or a robot that can clean on your behalf. Most of us probably won’t be able to afford the helpful sentient humanoids being developed in our lifetimes, but robot vacuums are an affordable way to experience that promised utopia right now.

Today’s floor cleaners are also more advanced than ever. In addition to vacuuming, many of the best models can now mop, allowing you to tackle both carpet and hardwood flooring. Some can automatically dispense of their trash and dirty water, too, and clean their own components without intervention. We now even have models that can pick up dirty laundry and purify the air in your home, preventing you from having to lift a finger.

But if you need something relatively affordable for daily cleaning, you’d be surprised how little you have to pay for premium features. Below, we’ve listed the best deals currently available on a slate of Verge-approved robot vacuums, whether you prefer a budget entry-level model from Yeedi or a top-of-the-line offering from iRobot, Dreame, and more.

Roborock’s S8 MaxV Ultra — our pick for the best robot vacuum overall — is available from Best Buy, Roborock, and Amazon for $1,299.99 ($500 off), which is $200 shy of its best price to date. The combination of a 10,000Pa suction power and dual rubber roller brushes makes it a terrific vacuum, one that can easily pick up pet hair and other debris. It can also mop with great efficiency thanks to a sonic mopping system that vibrates the mop pad 4,000 times a minute, allowing it to clean sticky juices, thick condiments, and other common spills. The mop arm can extend to cover corners and baseboard edges, too.

The S8 MaxV Ultra’s camera-equipped AI obstacle avoidance makes it the best navigator in Roborock’s lineup and one of the top models overall, though it’s not quite as strong as Roomba’s. The mobile app offers ample options to customize cleaning zones and schedules, and you can use its dedicated voice assistant to start and stop routines. It’s also a Matter-ready robot that’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.

The front of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra as it rests on hardwood floor.

$1000

With top-notch vacuuming performance, an easy-to-use app, and built-in voice control, the S8 MaxV Ultra is a superb vacuum and good mop. It features Roborock’s best obstacle detection, innovative features like dirt detection, and a hands-free dock that makes it an expensive but excellent choice.

The Roborock Q8 Max Plus is a cheaper option you can buy for $399.99 ($419 off) at Amazon and Roborock, which is its best price to date. It isn’t as powerful or feature-packed as the S8 MaxV Ultra, but it still delivers a solid 5,500Pa of suction power, rendering it good enough for most cleaning tasks. It also handles mopping well, with 30 adjustable water flow levels and a sizable 350ml water tank that allows it to cover larger areas without frequent refills. Thanks to built-in Lidar navigation, the robovac also maps your home efficiently and avoids most obstacles, though it lacks a built-in camera for advanced object recognition.

$400

The Roborock Q8 Max Plus offers strong 5,500Pa suction, solid mopping features, and reliable obstacle avoidance.

The new Roborock Saros Z70 is on sale for $1,999 ($600 off) at Amazon and Roborock, which is its best price to date. What sets it apart is a built-in robotic arm that can pick up items such as socks, tissues, towels, and even small sandals. While the arm isn’t entirely reliable, the Z70 is still a highly capable robovac with 22,000Pa suction power. It features a dual anti-tangle system, along with dual spinning mop pads that lift to avoid carpets and can detach automatically. Roborock’s StarSight navigation system allows you to even teach the robovac to recognize specific objects, while the AdaptLift chassis lets it climb over thick carpets. Plus, the Matter-compatible vacuum also integrates with Roborock’s Multifunctional Dock 4.0, which handles auto-emptying, charging, and both refilling and draining its water tanks. Read our review.

$1999

The Roborock Saros Z70 offers built-in robotic arm that can pick up light items like socks. It’s also a powerful robovac / mop hybrid, with with 22,000Pa suction and dual spinning mop pads that lift and detach automatically.

The Dreame X40 Ultra is another mopping robot, and while it’s on the more expensive side, you can currently pick it up for $999.99 ($500 off) from Dreame and Amazon (if you’re a Prime member), which is $100 shy of its all-time low. You’re paying a premium for 12,000Pa of suction power and a pair of removable, self-retracting mop pads, which it can automatically clean and dry on its own using the included base. It can also empty its own bin and refill its own water tank.

The Dreame X40 Ultra features an extendable side brush and mop pads, too, offering better coverage for baseboards, corners, and the underside of your furniture. It uses a combination of AI-powered cameras and “3D-structured light” (presumably based on lidar technology) to map and navigate rooms, with customizable keep-out zones and more functions available in the app. There’s also a dirt detection system that can identify messier spills and adjust its cleaning routine accordingly.

$1000

With a unique ability to remove and reattach its mop pads, the Dreame X40 solves the problem of vacuuming carpets (with 12,000Pa suction power) while also mopping hard floors. Its mops can also swing out and under low furniture, getting where most bots can’t reach.

The Dreame L20 Ultra is currently available for $539.99 ($440 off) from Amazon, which remains its best price to date. The L20 Ultra is an excellent alternative to Dreame’s newer flagship robots, including the X40. It lacks a bit of power in comparison, though its 7,000Pa of suction power is still enough for most cleaning jobs. It also doesn’t have the L40’s tri-cut brush, which makes the step-up model more efficient at picking up pet hair. The only other real advantage the X40 holds over the L20 is its self-extending arms for vacuuming (though the dual mop pads can extend a bit for baseboard and corner coverage), nor does it have dirt detection.

The L20 Ultra’s base station is rather large, but it can take care of the entire cleaning process, including emptying the dustbin, emptying and refilling the water tanks, and washing and drying the mop pads. It doesn’t have a heated cleaning function for the mop pads, however. It uses a lidar-based AI-powered navigation system, and you can prompt it to start cleaning by voice using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

$540

The L20 Ultra is a great all-around bot that can remove its mop pads to vacuum carpet and do the splits with its mops to better clean your baseboards. It has 7,000Pa suction, a bigger base station, and fewer advanced cleaning features than the newer X30 and X40 Ultra models, but it’s still an excellent robot vacuum.

The SwitchBot S10 is available directly from SwitchBot for $600 ($600 off) when you use coupon code LMTK50, which is one of its best prices to date. The S10 is one of the most affordable robot vacuum / mop hybrids you can buy, one that can refill its own tank so long as you hook the battery-powered base station into your home’s plumbing. It can also dry its own mop pads and empty its own bin at a separate docking bay, and offers enough capacity to run for up to 90 days without intervention.

The S10’s self-cleaning roller mop is more effective than the typical pads we see in most other units, but it’s also limited to a smaller coverage area. It only has a single roller brush for vacuuming, but its respectable 6,500Pa suction can make up for it. And while it has lidar mapping and AI-powered obstacle avoidance, we found it still has a tendency to get stuck on laundry, bath mats, and other obstacles. The S10 is also one of the few robovacs with Matter support, however, which effectively enables native control through Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa (though said platforms don’t yet fully support robot vacuums).

Read our SwitchBot S10 review.

$600

The S10 is a great mopping robot with a battery-powered water refill dock that makes it the most hands-free robovac we’ve tested. A separate auto-empty dock takes care of the dust. It’s big and loud and lacks some features found on high-end robots, but it does a great job of keeping your floors clean.

The SwitchBot K10 Plus is available for $240 ($260 off) from SwitchBot (with promo code LMTK40), which is an all-time low. At 3.6 inches high and 9.8 inches wide, it’s a more petite option if you want something that can maneuver tighter spaces, which it does to decent success with a lidar-based mapping system that supports digital keep-out zones. It only has 2,500Pa suction, but that should be powerful enough to lift dirt in all but the deepest carpeting. You can also attach disposable mopping pads, though their mopping function doesn’t work well. The K10 Plus comes with a self-emptying dock that can hold a respectable four liters of dirt before it needs emptying.

$240

The smallest robot vac on the block, the K10 Plus, doesn’t compare to the other bots here in terms of performance, but if you have a small space where other vacs can’t get to, it’s better than nothing. It’s also very quiet, making it ideal for small spaces like home offices and bedrooms or a very small studio apartment.

The Eufy X10 Pro Omni, our current pick for the best midrange robot vacuum / mop, is down to an all-time low of $549.99 ($250 off) at Eufy’s online storefront with promo code WS24T2351121. Amazon is also matching said deal price when you apply code EUFYX10PRO at checkout.

The X10 Pro Omni is a bit of a novelty, at least in comparison to other robovacs in its price range, in that it offers AI-powered obstacle detection, which allows it to deftly navigate cables and other clutter. It also features a slew of functions you’d expect from top-of-the-line models, including 8,000Pa of suction power, speedy lidar-powered mapping, and oscillating dual spinning brushes for mopping.

Mind you, none of these features are as effective as they are on more premium models, though the result is an all-in-one bot that punches above its weight. Plus, it has heated mop drying and onboard water reservoir, the latter of which prevents it from having to return to its multifunction auto-empty / wash / fill dock too frequently.

$550

The X10 is a great robovac with excellent AI-powered obstacle detection, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app, and good mapping capabilities.

If you’re looking for a bump-and-roll model that’s relatively budget-friendly, the discontinued Eufy 11S Max is on sale at Amazon for just $139.99 ($140 off). The 11S Max stands out from other robovacs because it doesn’t use Wi-Fi, meaning it doesn’t require you to fiddle with a mobile app on your phone. Instead, you can control it using an on-board button or with the included remote, which also allows you to create cleaning schedules. It’s relatively quiet and reliable, too, with 2,000Pa of suction power and replaceable parts, making it a great long-term investment for those who want something basic.

$140

The Eufy 11S Max is a super slim, repairable bump-and-roll bot with a large 600ml bin and three cleaning levels. Its biggest selling point, however, is that it lacks Wi-Fi, meaning you don’t have to fiddle with an app.

The Yeedi Cube is currently down to an all-time low of $246.99 ($243 off) at Amazon at checkout. It’s not easy to find a self-emptying / self-cleaning vacuum at this price, as those features are typically only available on robots that cost upward of $600 or more.

With 5,100Pa of suction power, the Cube can tackle most common vacuuming scenarios, though its single hybrid rubber / bristle brush can get easily tangled with pet hair. It mops better than most models in its range, however, namely because its vibrating microfiber pads can actually scrub your floors. The Cube uses lasers for object avoidance, too, though it’s not as effective for navigation as those with lidar and AI smarts. It can avoid large furniture and other objects, but it might need your help rerouting around cables, toys, and laundry. Still, we found it navigates better than most other robots under $300.

Photo of Yeedi Cube robot vacuum sitting in dockPhoto of Yeedi Cube robot vacuum sitting in dock

$247

One of the first robots that can vacuum, mop, self-empty, self-wash, and self-dry with hot air for under $1,000, the Yeedi Cube is an older model that currently retails for under $500. It’s a good vacuum and mop for hands-free cleaning on a budget.

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is a great robot vacuum / mop hybrid that’s now on sale for $399.99 ($320 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is $20 shy of its all-time low price. Before the Eufy X10 Pro Omni took its place, the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 was our runner-up pick for those seeking a midrange robot vacuum that mops and automatically empties its own bin. Its vibrating, sonic mopping feature does an excellent job of scrubbing hardwood floors; however, keep in mind that you’ll have to fill and attach the mop reservoir manually.

$400

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop mops very well — doing a swingy, scrubbing movement with its rear end when in “Matrix mode.” However, you have to manually fill and attach the mop reservoir and empty the bin when it mops, as it only self-empties in vacuum mode and can only avoid larger objects.

You can get iRobot’s Roomba Combo 10 Max from Amazon, Best Buy, and iRobot for $799.99 ($600 off), which is its second-best price to date. We think it’s the best robot vacuum for pet hair, one that combines high suction power with rotating dual rubber brushes that pick up without getting tangled. What’s even more impressive is that it comes with a new multifunction charging dock that allows it to empty its bin, wash its own mop, and even refill its mopping tank. Add in Matter support, excellent AI-powered obstacle detection, and a retractable mop arm, and you’ve got a robovac that makes cleaning almost entirely hands-free.

$800

iRobot’s first mopping bot that can refill its water tank and wash and dry its mop, the Combo 10 Max, features a retractable mop arm and superior suction power. It’s also iRobot’s first robot to support Matter.

If you’re working with a tight budget, the Combo i5 is also a good vacuum / mop — one you can pick up on sale at Amazon right now for $199.99, down from $349.99. It’s not as powerful as the aforementioned Combo 10 Max and can’t refill its water tank or wash and dry its own mop; however, it still features Roomba’s wide, dual rubber brushes, which do an excellent job of picking up dirt and debris. It doesn’t support virtual keep-out zones or Matter, either, though you can schedule it to clean specific rooms at set times. It’s also compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and like all Roombas, it’s relatively easy to repair.

iRobot Roomba Combo i5iRobot Roomba Combo i5

$200

The Roomba Combo i5 Plus is the company’s budget vacuum and mop robot with room mapping features but no virtual keep-out zones.

$1100

The Deebot X8 Pro Omni remains our favorite robot vacuum / mop. It represents a welcome return to form for Ecovacs’ flagship line, with great obstacle avoidance, a small dock, and a convenient self-cleaning brush system.

A black robot vacuum on a hardwood floorA black robot vacuum on a hardwood floor

$230

A budget robot vacuum and mop with high-end features, including room-specific cleaning, carpet boost, and smart navigation, it also features an auto-empty dock for just $80 more.

Narwal’s Freo X Ultra against the wall.Narwal’s Freo X Ultra against the wall.

$550

A superior mopping bot with a superior price tag, the Narwal is smart enough to know when it needs to go back and mop more. Its vacuuming is good, and its unique onboard compression bin means no loud auto-emptying.

Update, June 10th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and a deal for Roborock’s Q8 Max Plus.

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Congressman Al Green, the incumbent representative for the 18th Congressional District in Texas, lost to fellow House Representative Christian Menefee in a runoff election in the Democratic primary for a seat in Congress on Tuesday, and one crypto-focused political action committee (PAC) announced that the loss should be taken as a warning shot to future candidates. Fairshake and other crypto-related PACs dumped millions of dollars into the primary election to oust Green, who has held a seat in Congress for twenty years.

The contest played out across multiple stages following Republican-led redistricting that effectively merged elements of two Houston-area congressional districts into one. The redraw consolidated portions of both incumbents’ districts into a newly drawn 18th, forcing the two Democratic incumbents to compete against each other. In the March primary, both Menefee and Green advanced as the top two finishers but fell short of a majority, forcing the runoff, which Menefee won with nearly 70% of the vote. The victory in the safely Democratic district means Menefee is heavily favored in the November general election.

Fairshake and its affiliated group Protect Progress poured millions into backing Menefee, with The Texas Tribune reporting more than $4 million in outside spending from one crypto super PAC alone, the Fairshake-affiliated Protect Progress. According to The Block, Green earned an F rating from the industry-aligned Stand with Crypto group after voting against both the GENIUS stablecoin legislation and the Clarity Act. Green had also publicly warned that digital assets could undermine the dollar’s global dominance and pose risks to national security. In contrast, Menefee received an A rating from the same group and has spoken positively about blockchain’s potential to improve trust, transparency, and efficiency in finance and supply chains.

Once the results became clear, Fairshake released a confrontational statement: “Rep. Green’s defeat proves that anti-crypto hostility carries real electoral consequences, making him the first Democratic incumbent this cycle to lose his seat. Fairshake was the difference-maker in this race, and we will continue to aggressively back leaders like Rep. Menefee across the country.”

The crypto lobby has been credited with giving a massive boost to Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election following a speech he gave at the 2024 Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where he made several positive statements regarding bitcoin and crypto, including a stated desire to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve. Industry-backed super PACs, including Fairshake, Protect Progress, and Defend American Jobs, spent more than $133 million across federal races that cycle, according to OpenSecrets. Major donors included Coinbase, Ripple, Jump Crypto, and Andreessen Horowitz.

A recent New York Times report has pointed to similar concerns around the money involved in the CFTC’s strong stance regarding federal authority over the emerging prediction markets and crypto industries. Among the claims, the report alleges that senior CFTC officials under then-acting chair Caroline Pham helped clear regulatory hurdles for several firms tied to Trump family business interests.

The Trump family’s involvement in the crypto industry more generally has also been heavily criticized for “unprecedented corruption.” Duke University lecturing fellow Lee Reiners recently indicated that the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial stands to benefit tremendously from the Clarity Act, which is currently making its way through the Senate. Reiners, a former bank examiner, analyzed World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token and concluded it functions as an unregistered security under the Howey test due to its structure, profit expectations, and centralized control. If passed as written, the legislation would likely reclassify those tokens as network commodities, moving them outside much of the securities-law framework for disclosures and antifraud enforcement. Critics say that would benefit the Trump family’s crypto interests and deepen concerns about self-dealing and conflicts of interest during the president’s second term.

The Clarity Act is intended to clarify how the crypto industry will be regulated in the United States. The specifics of the legislation are still being worked out after intense debate between crypto and banking interests in the U.S. Notably, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong threw his weight around back in March by indicating a previous draft of the bill would be worse than having no bill at all. He cited provisions that would amount to a de facto ban on tokenized equities and impose overly broad restrictions on decentralized finance. Coinbase is a massive contributor to the aforementioned crypto PACs, having given more than $75 million to Fairshake and its affiliates during the 2024 cycle and committing an additional $25 million for the 2026 midterms, according to CNBC.

Although the crypto industry has spent massively on political campaigns over the past few years and they were successful in this most recent runoff election in Texas, the Clarity Act is still not a slam dunk, as Democrats (and some Republicans) are pushing for ethics language to prevent the sort of corrupt profiteering by lawmakers that Trump has been alleged to have conducted. 

#Cryptos #Powerful #PAC #Sends #Warning #Politicians #Resistance #FutileBitcoin,CLARITY Act,Donald Trump,Fairshake,Marc Andreessen">Crypto’s Most Powerful PAC Sends a Warning to Politicians: Resistance Is Futile
                Congressman Al Green, the incumbent representative for the 18th Congressional District in Texas, lost to fellow House Representative Christian Menefee in a runoff election in the Democratic primary for a seat in Congress on Tuesday, and one crypto-focused political action committee (PAC) announced that the loss should be taken as a warning shot to future candidates. Fairshake and other crypto-related PACs dumped millions of dollars into the primary election to oust Green, who has held a seat in Congress for twenty years. The contest played out across multiple stages following Republican-led redistricting that effectively merged elements of two Houston-area congressional districts into one. The redraw consolidated portions of both incumbents’ districts into a newly drawn 18th, forcing the two Democratic incumbents to compete against each other. In the March primary, both Menefee and Green advanced as the top two finishers but fell short of a majority, forcing the runoff, which Menefee won with nearly 70% of the vote. The victory in the safely Democratic district means Menefee is heavily favored in the November general election. Fairshake and its affiliated group Protect Progress poured millions into backing Menefee, with The Texas Tribune reporting more than  million in outside spending from one crypto super PAC alone, the Fairshake-affiliated Protect Progress. According to The Block, Green earned an F rating from the industry-aligned Stand with Crypto group after voting against both the GENIUS stablecoin legislation and the Clarity Act. Green had also publicly warned that digital assets could undermine the dollar’s global dominance and pose risks to national security. In contrast, Menefee received an A rating from the same group and has spoken positively about blockchain’s potential to improve trust, transparency, and efficiency in finance and supply chains.

 Once the results became clear, Fairshake released a confrontational statement: “Rep. Green’s defeat proves that anti-crypto hostility carries real electoral consequences, making him the first Democratic incumbent this cycle to lose his seat. Fairshake was the difference-maker in this race, and we will continue to aggressively back leaders like Rep. Menefee across the country.”

 The crypto lobby has been credited with giving a massive boost to Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election following a speech he gave at the 2024 Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where he made several positive statements regarding bitcoin and crypto, including a stated desire to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve. Industry-backed super PACs, including Fairshake, Protect Progress, and Defend American Jobs, spent more than 3 million across federal races that cycle, according to OpenSecrets. Major donors included Coinbase, Ripple, Jump Crypto, and Andreessen Horowitz. A recent New York Times report has pointed to similar concerns around the money involved in the CFTC’s strong stance regarding federal authority over the emerging prediction markets and crypto industries. Among the claims, the report alleges that senior CFTC officials under then-acting chair Caroline Pham helped clear regulatory hurdles for several firms tied to Trump family business interests.

 The Trump family’s involvement in the crypto industry more generally has also been heavily criticized for “unprecedented corruption.” Duke University lecturing fellow Lee Reiners recently indicated that the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial stands to benefit tremendously from the Clarity Act, which is currently making its way through the Senate. Reiners, a former bank examiner, analyzed World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token and concluded it functions as an unregistered security under the Howey test due to its structure, profit expectations, and centralized control. If passed as written, the legislation would likely reclassify those tokens as network commodities, moving them outside much of the securities-law framework for disclosures and antifraud enforcement. Critics say that would benefit the Trump family’s crypto interests and deepen concerns about self-dealing and conflicts of interest during the president’s second term. The Clarity Act is intended to clarify how the crypto industry will be regulated in the United States. The specifics of the legislation are still being worked out after intense debate between crypto and banking interests in the U.S. Notably, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong threw his weight around back in March by indicating a previous draft of the bill would be worse than having no bill at all. He cited provisions that would amount to a de facto ban on tokenized equities and impose overly broad restrictions on decentralized finance. Coinbase is a massive contributor to the aforementioned crypto PACs, having given more than  million to Fairshake and its affiliates during the 2024 cycle and committing an additional  million for the 2026 midterms, according to CNBC. Although the crypto industry has spent massively on political campaigns over the past few years and they were successful in this most recent runoff election in Texas, the Clarity Act is still not a slam dunk, as Democrats (and some Republicans) are pushing for ethics language to prevent the sort of corrupt profiteering by lawmakers that Trump has been alleged to have conducted.       #Cryptos #Powerful #PAC #Sends #Warning #Politicians #Resistance #FutileBitcoin,CLARITY Act,Donald Trump,Fairshake,Marc Andreessen

with nearly 70% of the vote. The victory in the safely Democratic district means Menefee is heavily favored in the November general election.

Fairshake and its affiliated group Protect Progress poured millions into backing Menefee, with The Texas Tribune reporting more than $4 million in outside spending from one crypto super PAC alone, the Fairshake-affiliated Protect Progress. According to The Block, Green earned an F rating from the industry-aligned Stand with Crypto group after voting against both the GENIUS stablecoin legislation and the Clarity Act. Green had also publicly warned that digital assets could undermine the dollar’s global dominance and pose risks to national security. In contrast, Menefee received an A rating from the same group and has spoken positively about blockchain’s potential to improve trust, transparency, and efficiency in finance and supply chains.

Once the results became clear, Fairshake released a confrontational statement: “Rep. Green’s defeat proves that anti-crypto hostility carries real electoral consequences, making him the first Democratic incumbent this cycle to lose his seat. Fairshake was the difference-maker in this race, and we will continue to aggressively back leaders like Rep. Menefee across the country.”

The crypto lobby has been credited with giving a massive boost to Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election following a speech he gave at the 2024 Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where he made several positive statements regarding bitcoin and crypto, including a stated desire to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve. Industry-backed super PACs, including Fairshake, Protect Progress, and Defend American Jobs, spent more than $133 million across federal races that cycle, according to OpenSecrets. Major donors included Coinbase, Ripple, Jump Crypto, and Andreessen Horowitz.

A recent New York Times report has pointed to similar concerns around the money involved in the CFTC’s strong stance regarding federal authority over the emerging prediction markets and crypto industries. Among the claims, the report alleges that senior CFTC officials under then-acting chair Caroline Pham helped clear regulatory hurdles for several firms tied to Trump family business interests.

The Trump family’s involvement in the crypto industry more generally has also been heavily criticized for “unprecedented corruption.” Duke University lecturing fellow Lee Reiners recently indicated that the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial stands to benefit tremendously from the Clarity Act, which is currently making its way through the Senate. Reiners, a former bank examiner, analyzed World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token and concluded it functions as an unregistered security under the Howey test due to its structure, profit expectations, and centralized control. If passed as written, the legislation would likely reclassify those tokens as network commodities, moving them outside much of the securities-law framework for disclosures and antifraud enforcement. Critics say that would benefit the Trump family’s crypto interests and deepen concerns about self-dealing and conflicts of interest during the president’s second term.

The Clarity Act is intended to clarify how the crypto industry will be regulated in the United States. The specifics of the legislation are still being worked out after intense debate between crypto and banking interests in the U.S. Notably, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong threw his weight around back in March by indicating a previous draft of the bill would be worse than having no bill at all. He cited provisions that would amount to a de facto ban on tokenized equities and impose overly broad restrictions on decentralized finance. Coinbase is a massive contributor to the aforementioned crypto PACs, having given more than $75 million to Fairshake and its affiliates during the 2024 cycle and committing an additional $25 million for the 2026 midterms, according to CNBC.

Although the crypto industry has spent massively on political campaigns over the past few years and they were successful in this most recent runoff election in Texas, the Clarity Act is still not a slam dunk, as Democrats (and some Republicans) are pushing for ethics language to prevent the sort of corrupt profiteering by lawmakers that Trump has been alleged to have conducted. 

#Cryptos #Powerful #PAC #Sends #Warning #Politicians #Resistance #FutileBitcoin,CLARITY Act,Donald Trump,Fairshake,Marc Andreessen">Crypto’s Most Powerful PAC Sends a Warning to Politicians: Resistance Is FutileCrypto’s Most Powerful PAC Sends a Warning to Politicians: Resistance Is Futile
                Congressman Al Green, the incumbent representative for the 18th Congressional District in Texas, lost to fellow House Representative Christian Menefee in a runoff election in the Democratic primary for a seat in Congress on Tuesday, and one crypto-focused political action committee (PAC) announced that the loss should be taken as a warning shot to future candidates. Fairshake and other crypto-related PACs dumped millions of dollars into the primary election to oust Green, who has held a seat in Congress for twenty years. The contest played out across multiple stages following Republican-led redistricting that effectively merged elements of two Houston-area congressional districts into one. The redraw consolidated portions of both incumbents’ districts into a newly drawn 18th, forcing the two Democratic incumbents to compete against each other. In the March primary, both Menefee and Green advanced as the top two finishers but fell short of a majority, forcing the runoff, which Menefee won with nearly 70% of the vote. The victory in the safely Democratic district means Menefee is heavily favored in the November general election. Fairshake and its affiliated group Protect Progress poured millions into backing Menefee, with The Texas Tribune reporting more than $4 million in outside spending from one crypto super PAC alone, the Fairshake-affiliated Protect Progress. According to The Block, Green earned an F rating from the industry-aligned Stand with Crypto group after voting against both the GENIUS stablecoin legislation and the Clarity Act. Green had also publicly warned that digital assets could undermine the dollar’s global dominance and pose risks to national security. In contrast, Menefee received an A rating from the same group and has spoken positively about blockchain’s potential to improve trust, transparency, and efficiency in finance and supply chains.

 Once the results became clear, Fairshake released a confrontational statement: “Rep. Green’s defeat proves that anti-crypto hostility carries real electoral consequences, making him the first Democratic incumbent this cycle to lose his seat. Fairshake was the difference-maker in this race, and we will continue to aggressively back leaders like Rep. Menefee across the country.”

 The crypto lobby has been credited with giving a massive boost to Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election following a speech he gave at the 2024 Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where he made several positive statements regarding bitcoin and crypto, including a stated desire to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve. Industry-backed super PACs, including Fairshake, Protect Progress, and Defend American Jobs, spent more than $133 million across federal races that cycle, according to OpenSecrets. Major donors included Coinbase, Ripple, Jump Crypto, and Andreessen Horowitz. A recent New York Times report has pointed to similar concerns around the money involved in the CFTC’s strong stance regarding federal authority over the emerging prediction markets and crypto industries. Among the claims, the report alleges that senior CFTC officials under then-acting chair Caroline Pham helped clear regulatory hurdles for several firms tied to Trump family business interests.

 The Trump family’s involvement in the crypto industry more generally has also been heavily criticized for “unprecedented corruption.” Duke University lecturing fellow Lee Reiners recently indicated that the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial stands to benefit tremendously from the Clarity Act, which is currently making its way through the Senate. Reiners, a former bank examiner, analyzed World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token and concluded it functions as an unregistered security under the Howey test due to its structure, profit expectations, and centralized control. If passed as written, the legislation would likely reclassify those tokens as network commodities, moving them outside much of the securities-law framework for disclosures and antifraud enforcement. Critics say that would benefit the Trump family’s crypto interests and deepen concerns about self-dealing and conflicts of interest during the president’s second term. The Clarity Act is intended to clarify how the crypto industry will be regulated in the United States. The specifics of the legislation are still being worked out after intense debate between crypto and banking interests in the U.S. Notably, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong threw his weight around back in March by indicating a previous draft of the bill would be worse than having no bill at all. He cited provisions that would amount to a de facto ban on tokenized equities and impose overly broad restrictions on decentralized finance. Coinbase is a massive contributor to the aforementioned crypto PACs, having given more than $75 million to Fairshake and its affiliates during the 2024 cycle and committing an additional $25 million for the 2026 midterms, according to CNBC. Although the crypto industry has spent massively on political campaigns over the past few years and they were successful in this most recent runoff election in Texas, the Clarity Act is still not a slam dunk, as Democrats (and some Republicans) are pushing for ethics language to prevent the sort of corrupt profiteering by lawmakers that Trump has been alleged to have conducted.       #Cryptos #Powerful #PAC #Sends #Warning #Politicians #Resistance #FutileBitcoin,CLARITY Act,Donald Trump,Fairshake,Marc Andreessen

Congressman Al Green, the incumbent representative for the 18th Congressional District in Texas, lost to fellow House Representative Christian Menefee in a runoff election in the Democratic primary for a seat in Congress on Tuesday, and one crypto-focused political action committee (PAC) announced that the loss should be taken as a warning shot to future candidates. Fairshake and other crypto-related PACs dumped millions of dollars into the primary election to oust Green, who has held a seat in Congress for twenty years.

The contest played out across multiple stages following Republican-led redistricting that effectively merged elements of two Houston-area congressional districts into one. The redraw consolidated portions of both incumbents’ districts into a newly drawn 18th, forcing the two Democratic incumbents to compete against each other. In the March primary, both Menefee and Green advanced as the top two finishers but fell short of a majority, forcing the runoff, which Menefee won with nearly 70% of the vote. The victory in the safely Democratic district means Menefee is heavily favored in the November general election.

Fairshake and its affiliated group Protect Progress poured millions into backing Menefee, with The Texas Tribune reporting more than $4 million in outside spending from one crypto super PAC alone, the Fairshake-affiliated Protect Progress. According to The Block, Green earned an F rating from the industry-aligned Stand with Crypto group after voting against both the GENIUS stablecoin legislation and the Clarity Act. Green had also publicly warned that digital assets could undermine the dollar’s global dominance and pose risks to national security. In contrast, Menefee received an A rating from the same group and has spoken positively about blockchain’s potential to improve trust, transparency, and efficiency in finance and supply chains.

Once the results became clear, Fairshake released a confrontational statement: “Rep. Green’s defeat proves that anti-crypto hostility carries real electoral consequences, making him the first Democratic incumbent this cycle to lose his seat. Fairshake was the difference-maker in this race, and we will continue to aggressively back leaders like Rep. Menefee across the country.”

The crypto lobby has been credited with giving a massive boost to Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election following a speech he gave at the 2024 Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where he made several positive statements regarding bitcoin and crypto, including a stated desire to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve. Industry-backed super PACs, including Fairshake, Protect Progress, and Defend American Jobs, spent more than $133 million across federal races that cycle, according to OpenSecrets. Major donors included Coinbase, Ripple, Jump Crypto, and Andreessen Horowitz.

A recent New York Times report has pointed to similar concerns around the money involved in the CFTC’s strong stance regarding federal authority over the emerging prediction markets and crypto industries. Among the claims, the report alleges that senior CFTC officials under then-acting chair Caroline Pham helped clear regulatory hurdles for several firms tied to Trump family business interests.

The Trump family’s involvement in the crypto industry more generally has also been heavily criticized for “unprecedented corruption.” Duke University lecturing fellow Lee Reiners recently indicated that the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial stands to benefit tremendously from the Clarity Act, which is currently making its way through the Senate. Reiners, a former bank examiner, analyzed World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token and concluded it functions as an unregistered security under the Howey test due to its structure, profit expectations, and centralized control. If passed as written, the legislation would likely reclassify those tokens as network commodities, moving them outside much of the securities-law framework for disclosures and antifraud enforcement. Critics say that would benefit the Trump family’s crypto interests and deepen concerns about self-dealing and conflicts of interest during the president’s second term.

The Clarity Act is intended to clarify how the crypto industry will be regulated in the United States. The specifics of the legislation are still being worked out after intense debate between crypto and banking interests in the U.S. Notably, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong threw his weight around back in March by indicating a previous draft of the bill would be worse than having no bill at all. He cited provisions that would amount to a de facto ban on tokenized equities and impose overly broad restrictions on decentralized finance. Coinbase is a massive contributor to the aforementioned crypto PACs, having given more than $75 million to Fairshake and its affiliates during the 2024 cycle and committing an additional $25 million for the 2026 midterms, according to CNBC.

Although the crypto industry has spent massively on political campaigns over the past few years and they were successful in this most recent runoff election in Texas, the Clarity Act is still not a slam dunk, as Democrats (and some Republicans) are pushing for ethics language to prevent the sort of corrupt profiteering by lawmakers that Trump has been alleged to have conducted. 

#Cryptos #Powerful #PAC #Sends #Warning #Politicians #Resistance #FutileBitcoin,CLARITY Act,Donald Trump,Fairshake,Marc Andreessen

Vertu is a company known for making extraordinarily gaudy smartphones with outdated technology, luxe materials, and eye-watering prices. Now the brand is here to meet the AI moment with its first-ever book-like folding phone, complete with an AI agent on board.

The company announced the AlphaFold smartphone on Thursday—targeting business executives—which comes outfitted with the Hermes Agent. This agent can purportedly handle schedules and tasks on a user’s behalf and “connect to enterprise systems.” Agents are big in the smartphone world right now, with companies like Google and Samsung offering ways for Gemini on Android smartphones to perform tasks such as booking an Uber or ordering DoorDash. Vertu is cashing in on that trend.

But the company has a checkered past. Originally, Vertu was a Nokia subsidiary that made handcrafted luxury Nokia phones (in the UK!) in the early 2000s. Each phone came with access to a live concierge service. The company faced headwinds with the smartphone revolution and fell behind the times. Vertu then changed hands over several years, with various acquisitions, eventually shuttering its UK factory and laying off staff.

Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Accessories Baby and Person

Courtesy of Vertu

In the last few years, the company has been churning out luxury Android smartphones again—it debuted a folding flip phone last year that starts at $4,300 (with a calfskin backplate, naturally). In late 2025, it unveiled the Agent Q, which it calls the “world’s first AI agent phone for entrepreneurs.”

While the company still claims a British heritage, its phones are no longer made in the UK, and according to its website, its head office is in Hong Kong. Vertu spokesperson Viki You tells WIRED that the phones are “still handcrafted,” but they’re assembled in China. “We have different factories,” You says, noting that the company sources its high-end materials from other countries, like the full-grain calfskin from Italy.

The AlphaFold has all the markings of a high-end Android smartphone. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from 2025 and is 11.8 millimeters thick when folded, 5.4 mm when unfolded. Not quite as svelte as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, but not far off from competitors like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Vertu says the hinge and screen architecture were tested to withstand 650,000 folds, which is more than Samsung’s claim of 500,000 folds.

Inside is a 6,500-mAh silicon-anode battery, an up-and-coming battery technology that’s been making waves in Chinese smartphones and has only recently made its way into Western smartphones from the likes of Motorola. There’s 65-watt fast charging, a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for the inner 8.05-inch screen, and a 6.53-inch outer screen. There’s a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 5-megapixel telephoto.

#Vertu #Folding #Phone #Powered #bySurprisean #Agentphones,smartphones,android,shopping,luxury,design">Vertu Is Back With a Folding Phone Powered by—Surprise—an AI AgentVertu is a company known for making extraordinarily gaudy smartphones with outdated technology, luxe materials, and eye-watering prices. Now the brand is here to meet the AI moment with its first-ever book-like folding phone, complete with an AI agent on board.The company announced the AlphaFold smartphone on Thursday—targeting business executives—which comes outfitted with the Hermes Agent. This agent can purportedly handle schedules and tasks on a user’s behalf and “connect to enterprise systems.” Agents are big in the smartphone world right now, with companies like Google and Samsung offering ways for Gemini on Android smartphones to perform tasks such as booking an Uber or ordering DoorDash. Vertu is cashing in on that trend.But the company has a checkered past. Originally, Vertu was a Nokia subsidiary that made handcrafted luxury Nokia phones (in the UK!) in the early 2000s. Each phone came with access to a live concierge service. The company faced headwinds with the smartphone revolution and fell behind the times. Vertu then changed hands over several years, with various acquisitions, eventually shuttering its UK factory and laying off staff.Courtesy of VertuIn the last few years, the company has been churning out luxury Android smartphones again—it debuted a folding flip phone last year that starts at ,300 (with a calfskin backplate, naturally). In late 2025, it unveiled the Agent Q, which it calls the “world’s first AI agent phone for entrepreneurs.”While the company still claims a British heritage, its phones are no longer made in the UK, and according to its website, its head office is in Hong Kong. Vertu spokesperson Viki You tells WIRED that the phones are “still handcrafted,” but they’re assembled in China. “We have different factories,” You says, noting that the company sources its high-end materials from other countries, like the full-grain calfskin from Italy.The AlphaFold has all the markings of a high-end Android smartphone. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from 2025 and is 11.8 millimeters thick when folded, 5.4 mm when unfolded. Not quite as svelte as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, but not far off from competitors like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Vertu says the hinge and screen architecture were tested to withstand 650,000 folds, which is more than Samsung’s claim of 500,000 folds.Inside is a 6,500-mAh silicon-anode battery, an up-and-coming battery technology that’s been making waves in Chinese smartphones and has only recently made its way into Western smartphones from the likes of Motorola. There’s 65-watt fast charging, a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for the inner 8.05-inch screen, and a 6.53-inch outer screen. There’s a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 5-megapixel telephoto.#Vertu #Folding #Phone #Powered #bySurprisean #Agentphones,smartphones,android,shopping,luxury,design

gaudy smartphones with outdated technology, luxe materials, and eye-watering prices. Now the brand is here to meet the AI moment with its first-ever book-like folding phone, complete with an AI agent on board.

The company announced the AlphaFold smartphone on Thursday—targeting business executives—which comes outfitted with the Hermes Agent. This agent can purportedly handle schedules and tasks on a user’s behalf and “connect to enterprise systems.” Agents are big in the smartphone world right now, with companies like Google and Samsung offering ways for Gemini on Android smartphones to perform tasks such as booking an Uber or ordering DoorDash. Vertu is cashing in on that trend.

But the company has a checkered past. Originally, Vertu was a Nokia subsidiary that made handcrafted luxury Nokia phones (in the UK!) in the early 2000s. Each phone came with access to a live concierge service. The company faced headwinds with the smartphone revolution and fell behind the times. Vertu then changed hands over several years, with various acquisitions, eventually shuttering its UK factory and laying off staff.

Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Accessories Baby and Person

Courtesy of Vertu

In the last few years, the company has been churning out luxury Android smartphones again—it debuted a folding flip phone last year that starts at $4,300 (with a calfskin backplate, naturally). In late 2025, it unveiled the Agent Q, which it calls the “world’s first AI agent phone for entrepreneurs.”

While the company still claims a British heritage, its phones are no longer made in the UK, and according to its website, its head office is in Hong Kong. Vertu spokesperson Viki You tells WIRED that the phones are “still handcrafted,” but they’re assembled in China. “We have different factories,” You says, noting that the company sources its high-end materials from other countries, like the full-grain calfskin from Italy.

The AlphaFold has all the markings of a high-end Android smartphone. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from 2025 and is 11.8 millimeters thick when folded, 5.4 mm when unfolded. Not quite as svelte as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, but not far off from competitors like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Vertu says the hinge and screen architecture were tested to withstand 650,000 folds, which is more than Samsung’s claim of 500,000 folds.

Inside is a 6,500-mAh silicon-anode battery, an up-and-coming battery technology that’s been making waves in Chinese smartphones and has only recently made its way into Western smartphones from the likes of Motorola. There’s 65-watt fast charging, a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for the inner 8.05-inch screen, and a 6.53-inch outer screen. There’s a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 5-megapixel telephoto.

#Vertu #Folding #Phone #Powered #bySurprisean #Agentphones,smartphones,android,shopping,luxury,design">Vertu Is Back With a Folding Phone Powered by—Surprise—an AI Agent

Vertu is a company known for making extraordinarily gaudy smartphones with outdated technology, luxe materials, and eye-watering prices. Now the brand is here to meet the AI moment with its first-ever book-like folding phone, complete with an AI agent on board.

The company announced the AlphaFold smartphone on Thursday—targeting business executives—which comes outfitted with the Hermes Agent. This agent can purportedly handle schedules and tasks on a user’s behalf and “connect to enterprise systems.” Agents are big in the smartphone world right now, with companies like Google and Samsung offering ways for Gemini on Android smartphones to perform tasks such as booking an Uber or ordering DoorDash. Vertu is cashing in on that trend.

But the company has a checkered past. Originally, Vertu was a Nokia subsidiary that made handcrafted luxury Nokia phones (in the UK!) in the early 2000s. Each phone came with access to a live concierge service. The company faced headwinds with the smartphone revolution and fell behind the times. Vertu then changed hands over several years, with various acquisitions, eventually shuttering its UK factory and laying off staff.

Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Accessories Baby and Person

Courtesy of Vertu

In the last few years, the company has been churning out luxury Android smartphones again—it debuted a folding flip phone last year that starts at $4,300 (with a calfskin backplate, naturally). In late 2025, it unveiled the Agent Q, which it calls the “world’s first AI agent phone for entrepreneurs.”

While the company still claims a British heritage, its phones are no longer made in the UK, and according to its website, its head office is in Hong Kong. Vertu spokesperson Viki You tells WIRED that the phones are “still handcrafted,” but they’re assembled in China. “We have different factories,” You says, noting that the company sources its high-end materials from other countries, like the full-grain calfskin from Italy.

The AlphaFold has all the markings of a high-end Android smartphone. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from 2025 and is 11.8 millimeters thick when folded, 5.4 mm when unfolded. Not quite as svelte as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, but not far off from competitors like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Vertu says the hinge and screen architecture were tested to withstand 650,000 folds, which is more than Samsung’s claim of 500,000 folds.

Inside is a 6,500-mAh silicon-anode battery, an up-and-coming battery technology that’s been making waves in Chinese smartphones and has only recently made its way into Western smartphones from the likes of Motorola. There’s 65-watt fast charging, a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for the inner 8.05-inch screen, and a 6.53-inch outer screen. There’s a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 5-megapixel telephoto.

#Vertu #Folding #Phone #Powered #bySurprisean #Agentphones,smartphones,android,shopping,luxury,design

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