The U.S. House has cancelled its late-September session, raising the likelihood that action on the Clarity Act, a crypto market structure bill, slips until after the midterm elections. House Republicans cancelled the final two weeks of the September session and plan to return on Sept. 14 for about one week. The Senate returns the same day and is set to hold an initial procedural vote on Sept. 15, but the bill would still require further steps including House approval and a presidential signature.

KakaoTalk's Gift Giving service is expanding beyond birthdays and anniversaries into a shopping space for users themselves. Self-purchases still account for about 20 percent of total Gift Giving transaction value, but their growth is far outpacing overall TalkBiz commerce growth, which includes Gift Giving and Talk Deal. Kakao has rolled out promotions, new tabs and ranking features, and strengthened benefits during shopping events. The push could lift advertising and tie into membership and AI features, but also raises competitive pressure against major shopping platforms.