Wyoming Launches the First State-Issued Stablecoin
The Wyoming Stable Token Commission, created in 2023, announced on Tuesday the launch of the mainnet blockchain network for its new Frontier Stable Token (FRNT). The commission says FRNT will make digital payments faster and more secure for individuals, businesses, and institutions around the world. How that's different from any other stablecoin's promises is anyone's guess.
'For years, Wyoming has been the leading state on blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital asset regulation, passing over 45 pieces of legislation since 2016,' Governor Mark Gordon said in a press release. 'Today, Wyoming reaffirms its commitment to financial innovation and consumer protection.'
This is the latest in the state's efforts to become a crypto hub. The launch of the stablecoin—a cryptocurrency meant to maintain a stable value by being tied to a fiat currency or commodity—coincides with the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium conference in Jackson Hole.
The move also comes just a month after President Donald Trump signed the Genius Act into law, introducing federal rules for stablecoins. The law requires issuers to fully back their coins with liquid assets like U.S. dollars or short-term Treasury bills and to publish monthly disclosures of their reserves.
However, FRNT isn't covered by the Genius Act, which applies to businesses, not government-issued tokens.
Still, the token will be fully backed by U.S. dollars and short-duration Treasuries, held in trust for token holders. Wyoming law also requires FRNT to maintain 2% overcollateralization to strengthen its stability. Interest generated by the reserves will be sent to Wyoming's School Foundation Fund.
The commission is working with LayerZero to issue FRNT, which will be available across multiple blockchains, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Ethereum, Optimism, Polygon, and Solana. The token will be available initially in the coming days on Solana via Wyoming-domiciled digital asset exchange Kraken and through Rain's Visa-integrated card platform on Avalanche.
'Through Rain's stablecoin infrastructure, FRNT will be usable anywhere Visa is accepted—including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and physical cards—marking a historic first for a U.S. state-issued digital asset,' Rain said in a press release.
In a blog post, Avalanche said that the stablecoin could someday enable instant tax refunds, real-time disaster relief, and payroll systems that settle in seconds.
It remains to be seen whether these big promises will actually be fulfilled. Meanwhile, other states like Texas and Nebraska are also looking to get into the stablecoin game.
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Forbes
2 minutes ago
- Forbes
Best Laptops For College 2025
If you're heading into a higher ed classroom this fall, having a lightweight and reliable laptop is a must. In addition to portability, the best laptops for college should also offer all-day battery life, a powerful processor to handle the heaviest student software and have seamless AI integrations to streamline your studies. After researching over two dozen models and testing some of the most promising options, I found the Asus Zenbook S 14 Touch Copilot+ PC Laptop is the best laptop for college overall. During my research and testing, I considered portability, processing power and battery life. I also considered software features—like Microsoft Copilot—to streamline workflows and enhance student study sessions. That said, some students may require more processing power, and for those working with the heaviest of applications, take a look at the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Copilot+ PC. For those with more modest needs, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is great for taking notes and light schoolwork. No matter your needs, here are the best laptops for college students that you can get today. Our Top Recommendations Best Laptop For College Overall Memory: 32GB | Storage: 1TB | Screen size: 13.4 inches | Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 processor Series 2 | Graphics: Intel Arc | Weight: 2.6 pounds Pros: Cons: For the best overall blend of performance, portability and features, the Asus Zenbook S 14 Touch Copilot+ PC laptop should be your top consideration. The laptop weighs only 2.6 pounds, making it easy to pack into a backpack or a messenger bag and move around campus. The Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor is good enough for most tasks, and combined with 32GB RAM, you'll be able to run most applications with ease. However, its keynote feature is the 14-inch, 3K OLED touchscreen, which can help you find a workflow that suits your needs, whether you tap the display or opt to use the responsive mousepad. Or, if you're not working, you can watch your favorite shows with deep, inky blacks, though keep in mind that 400 nits may not be bright enough for sunny afternoons in your dorm room. Its storage capacity is large at 1TB, and it can last for hours away from a socket. Graphics-inclined students will want to look for something else, preferably with a Nvidia graphics card—the Intel Arc graphics chip won't suffice for editing projects. One key feature: Microsoft Copilot is built-in, and there's a dedicated key on the keyboard that launches the AI tool quickly. You can also opt to use facial recognition technology to lock your computer if you stand Plus, the white ceraluminum finish, which is a sturdy blend of ceramic and aluminum, meets MIL-STD 810H military standards for durability, is scratch resistant and offers a tactile keyboard feel for when you toss everything into a bag. There is also the matter of bloatware; Asus laptops come pre-installed with potentially unwanted apps like McAfee and others. But based on our testing, it's easy to uninstall that stuff for a smooth working experience. Best Value Laptop For College Memory: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Screen size: 14 inches | Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Graphics: Intel Arc | Weight: 3.4 pounds Pros: Cons: If you absolutely need to keep the cost under $1,000, the Dell 14 Plus is a device that costs exactly that and comes with plenty of useful features for your studies. While it's a little heavier than my top pick at 3.4 pounds, it still comes with the must-have basics: 1TB of storage, 16GB RAM, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor. Again, graphics students should look elsewhere, as the Intel Arc graphics won't be enough to tackle editing projects. That said, for very light editing and image work, the laptop offers Cocreator to help generate AI images for projects, and the QHD+ resolution looks lovely. And, of course, there's a built-in Microsoft Copilot button. Dell claims the battery life lasts up to 22 hours, but that's only if you configure the laptop with fairly conservative settings. Still, you should expect to get a full day of use and then some if you forget your charger in the dorm room. The display has a lower brightness, clocking in at 300 nits. On the other hand, it offers a 100% sRGB and Dolby Vision to enhance the display's visual details and showcase color accuracy. You can also expect to connect plenty of peripherals thanks to its generous port selection, which includes an HDMI and a Thunderbolt 4 port. Best MacBook For College Memory: 24GB | Storage: 1TB | Screen size: 14.2 inches | Processor: 12-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores | Graphics: 16-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing | Weight: 3.5 pounds Pros: Cons: The MacBook Pro M4 Pro 14-Inch is one of the best options—not just for Apple users who crave raw processing power, but also for graphics-minded students who need to use features like Final Cut Pro for editing work. The MacBook Pro has a vivid Liquid Retina XDR display with a gorgeous 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and Apple's Wide color (P3) and True Tone technology. In short, that winning combination means that you'll get super accurate colors with deep contrast on the 14.2-inch display. It also offers refresh rates of up to 120Hz for editing action sequences, and the brightness is pretty impressive, too—it can reach 1,600 nits for HDR content. If you're using your MacBook for the heaviest of applications like CAD work and multitasking, you may want to opt for two things: the M4 Max chip with more processing cores; and 32GB of RAM to keep your memory running smoothly. Apple claims that the battery life can last up to 22 hours video streaming and up to 14 hours of wireless web use, and while I opted for 1TB of storage, you can also configure the laptop to house up to 8TB, depending on your preferences—just keep in mind that it'll cost you significantly more if you opt for either feature. For most, the M4 Pro and 24GB will be enough for most editing projects. Because Apple offers a seamless experience within its frameworks, you can use your iPhone, AirPods and more with the laptop. You can also connect it to a display to work on, and if you plan to buy one for your dorm room, make sure you check out my recommendations on the best monitors for your MacBook Pro to get the most of out your laptop's and display's features. Just keep in mind that this MacBook weighs 3.5 pounds, which is a little on the heavier side. That said, for those who aren't fully accustomed to the Apple ecosystem, many college software systems operate with Windows—not Mac. As such, you may have to run Windows emulators, according to students who use MacBooks. If you're not used to or familiar with these, then it may be best to opt for a Windows laptop. Also, if you opt for the MacBook Pro and want a larger screen, you can get it in a 16-inch model, too. Best Value MacBook For College Memory: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Screen size: 13.6 inches | Processor: 10‑core CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores | Graphics: 10‑core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing | Weight: 2.7 pounds Pros: Cons: For most students, the Apple MacBook Air is my value option because it punches well above its weight, especially compared with other laptops in the $1,200 price range. The device weighs 2.7 pounds, so you can easily carry it around campus, and its seamless integration with other Apple software makes it easy to optimize your workflow with your iPhone, iPad and more. The M4 chipset is suitable for most projects, especially if you're using your laptop for hammering out last-minute papers or light editing work. While the Liquid Retina display isn't as detailed as the Liquid Retina XDR display, nor does it get as bright, it's still impressive with support for one billion colors, Wide color P(3) and True Tone technology. The configuration I chose offers 16GB of RAM and a 512GB. It's not as much space, but if you're storing most of your documents on iCloud, the lower storage capacity won't matter. If you absolutely need more storage, it will substantially increase the price tag. Again, because it's MacOS, you should expect to run a couple of Windows emulators, according to students who use this laptop as their main device. Because it doesn't have a Pro chipset under the hood, engineering students and graphics students will want to consider a stronger laptop. Best Chromebook For College Memory: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Screen size: 14 inches | Processor: Intel 13th Gen Core i3 | Graphics: Intel UHD graphics | Weight: 3.5 pounds Pros: Cons: To be fully transparent, I don't recommend a Chromebook for college. With universities increasing their digital footprint with online assignments and projects, a Chromebook is generally only good for document creation and web surfing—and in many classes, a Chromebook will simply not get the job done. If you know for sure that your curriculum won't require a full Windows or Mac laptop though, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus offers a good set of features for under $600, and it's good for note-taking during class. While the Intel i3 chipset is not as powerful as the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor that's used in many laptops on my list of recommendations, it's plenty suitable for streaming Netflix and YouTube videos as well as document and spreadsheet work. One of the major perks to this Chromebook is its Google Gemini integrations. Because it's a Chromebook, you'll get access to Gemini and you can opt for the Adobe Photoshop Express software, which gives you some light editing features. This Chromebook is also around the same weight as my top MacBook pick, the MacBook Pro. It also has a durable hinge so you can use the touchscreen as a tablet or unfold it to use the device as a laptop. There's also the storage to consider, and the Lenovo Flex 5i offers 128GB of storage. Its 8GB RAM is good enough to do some light multitasking, and while the 14-inch display only hits 300 nits brightness, based on my testing, it looks sufficiently bright. The Intel UHD graphics is nothing special, but again, it's good enough for using Adobe Photoshop Express. Best Laptop For College And Gaming Memory: 32GB | Storage: 1TB | Screen size: 14 inches | Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 300 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | Weight: 3.4 pounds Pros: Cons: If you're a gamer, you want four features: A powerful processor to play AAA titles; an equally powerful graphics card to showcase your game's visual details; enough RAM to help process these heavy applications; and a good display to feel immersed in the game. For college students, adding that gaming element can feel tricky, because now you need to add portability into that mix—and oftentimes, you have to sacrifice one or two features to get a good blend for work and play. That's what makes the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Copilot+ PC laptop so enticing. It manages to pack everything in without these sacrifices, and it's not just for gamers. The powerful combination of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the 32GB RAM, which can handle heavy application work with ease, makes it ideal for engineering and graphics students. While the gold standard is 16GB, increasingly, laptops have leaned toward 32GB for AI features and other intensive applications. With new technologies in mind, this laptop should last you the entirety of your college career. And of course, after your last class, the Nvidia chip is the latest-gen chip and allows you to play those aforementioned AAA titles. The AMD Ryzen AI 300 chipset also helps with these powerful applications, but it's two-fold. That's because this gaming laptop also offers Microsoft Copilot via a dedicated button, which is great if you use AI to complement your schoolwork. In short, yes, it's good for gamers, but it's also a great choice for students who need a powerful graphics chip that runs on Windows. The 3K OLED display hits 500 nits and offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It makes photo and video edits and games look simply gorgeous, with impressive contrast and deep, inky blacks, according to real students who use this device for classwork and gaming. That said, if you're not a gamer, unless you're using this for heavy schoolwork applications, this laptop may be overkill. I also named this laptop the best ultraportable laptop for gaming, too. Why Trust Forbes Vetted The Forbes Vetted team has published hundreds of tech and electronic guides, including home office essentials like the best home printers and Wi-Fi extenders. How We Chose The Best Laptops For College To determine the best laptops for college, we drew on our own expertise and researched both various laptop features and extensive consumer feedback. Here's how we chose the best laptops for college. What To Consider When Choosing The Best Laptop for College A college laptop should make it easier to handle coursework not just in your dorm room, but in lecture halls, the library and more. However, depending on your major, you may want to prioritize different features to find the best laptop for college for your needs. Here's what you should consider when choosing the best laptop for college. One of the first decisions is your preferred operating system: macOS or Windows. Many universities support both, but specialized software—like CAD software, Adobe Photoshop and more—may run more smoothly on Windows. Conversely, creative apps such as Apple's Final Cut Pro are exclusive to macOS software. Consider which ecosystem you're already invested in (iCloud, OneDrive, Google Workspace) and whether you'll need Windows emulators like Boot Camp, Nvidia GeForce Now cloud streaming (if you're a gamer) and more. A laptop's performance truly hinges on its processor, or the 'brain' of a laptop. Whether you choose an Intel Core, AMD Ryzen series, or Apple's M series chips, newer generations deliver faster response times, quicker AI simulations and can easily handle seamless multitasking. 'As a former engineering student, I didn't make much use of my computer beyond basic essay writing and spreadsheets for the first year or so of my degree,' shares Turner, who said as you continue through your college career, your processing needs will significantly increase. 'As I delved more into my major-specific courses though, I found myself needing to run code editors, computer-aided design (CAD) software, and more that needed plenty of processing and graphics power.' If you're looking at an Intel Core, the Intel Core 7 tops our list for its balance of performance and price, while AMD 300 AI Series is equally powerful. Keep in mind that you can go higher, too, and hit up to an Intel Core 9 series for intensive applications. For Apple, look for the minimum of an M4 chip, and plan to spend more if you plan to use more powerful applications. For many majors, a graphics chip may feel secondary, but your major involves 3D modeling, video editing or gaming, a powerful chip is a necessity. Integrated Intel Arc or Apple's unified GPU handles everyday tasks and light photo work, while dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon GPUs truly shine for rendering and engineering simulations. 'GPUs accelerate most of the top tools used in STEM and digital media programs, and they also enhance performance in AI applications, which are becoming increasingly common for research and study aids across many majors,' shares Jesse Clayton, director of product for PC AI and STEM at Nvidia. 'When these students come to school with a laptop that includes a powerful GPU, they'll be able to accelerate key applications used in their classes on their own devices,' he adds. Plus, if you're a college student who plans to game, they are also a must-have for AAA gaming titles. Match your graphics choice to your workload: Choose integrated for casual research browsing and note-taking, and choose a dedicated graphics card for creative or STEM-intensive applications. Since you'll be staring at your screen for hours of lectures and late-night study sessions, display quality matters. OLED panels offer deep contrast and vibrant colors—which is very important for media majors for graphics and engineering students—whereas LCDs are suitable for most other majors. A 14-inch or larger display helps reduce eye strain and provides room for split-screen multitasking, but many of the picks on our list offer 16-inch display options should you need more working space. Whether you're catching the campus bus or walking to the library or class, odds are you'll be constantly on the move around school grounds—so keeping your laptop lightweight is important. Most of my picks weigh under four pounds, with 13- to 14-inch models hitting the sweet spot of screen real estate, and some are as lightweight as 2.5 pounds. Additionally, that 13- to 14-inch model tucks nicely into a backpack along with your books. While you can opt for a 15-inch laptop with a dedicated GPU, it might weigh more, so just be mindful to balance power with back comfort. A reliable battery can last through back-to-back lectures, study sessions and group meetings without worrying about the dreaded 'low battery' notification. 'Powerful specs are great, but they tend to also drain battery life faster,' shares Turner, who recommends a balance of raw power and battery life. 'The last thing a student needs is to be searching around a classroom for a wall outlet to keep their device powered on while listening to a lecture. Consider looking for devices with 'all-day' battery life or a battery life that will otherwise go beyond the amount of time you may be away from a power source,' Turner adds. While eight to ten hours may cover a typical day, aim for 12+ hours to accommodate long library marathons or all-nighter write-ups. Chromebooks and MacBook Airs are often the best in battery life, whereas high-powered gaming laptops may dip below the eight-hour mark under load. That said, my top pick, the Asus Zenbook S 14 Touch Copilot+ PC Laptop, can last hours from a socket, too. You'll likely have to connect projectors, external monitors, USB drives and much more in your labs or classrooms. Look for a mix of USB-C, USB-A and HDMI ports as well as a headphone jack. Some models can also include SD card readers, which is geared toward photography or media majors. If you choose a slim MacBook or ultraportable without enough ports, plan on adding a compact docking station or dongle to connect all your peripherals. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What Is The Best Laptop For A School? Based on my testing and research, I found the Asus Zenbook S 14 Touch Copilot+ PC Laptop is the best laptop for college overall. It has a well-balanced blend of performance, portability, battery life and more. Is Dell Or HP Better For College Students? It depends on your needs. While the Dell 14 Plus is our best value pick, I tested plenty of HP devices that are worth your consideration, including the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip Copilot+ PC laptop. It boils down to are your brand preferences, as both companies offer powerful processors, plenty of RAM and storage and long battery life. How Powerful Of A Laptop Do I Need For College? It depends on your major. English majors can easily spend four years with lighter processing power and smaller storage capacities. Engineering students, on the other hand, will need a more powerful processor. 'If you need to prioritize specifications, do so for three things: CPU, RAM, and battery life,' shares Turner. 'These are the three things that are going to make or break your experience with the device over years of use.'
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
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Sidero Labs Achieves SOC 2 Type II Certification, Reinforcing Enterprise-Grade Security and Operational Integrity
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