The columnist writes that new technologies often meet resistance from established interests, citing examples from ride-hailing, home-sharing and historical innovations from printing to railways. He describes the “Sputnik moment” as a shock from a rival that triggers major investment and rapid technological progress, citing the U.S. response to the Soviet Sputnik launch and China’s push after AlphaGo-era defeats. He says AI’s resurgence also marked such a moment and hopes Korea can create its own.

Stripe has temporarily suspended a stablecoin payment card program offered through Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure startup it acquired for $1.1 billion, after the product was exposed to fraud, The Information reported. Stripe had launched Bridge stablecoin card features, including a public version in January in cooperation with crypto company Fuse. Stripe later found many suspicious customers entering the new Fuse card program and paused it. Expansion plans focused on Latin America and Africa also faced sanctions risks and banking-partner constraints.