
WhatsApp is testing new crypto feature for sending money
CBSN
The messaging service WhatsApp said this week it is piloting a new feature that allows U.S. users to send money without paying fees, using cryptocurrency. The new payment service marks yet another example of how digital currencies are becoming more accepted in the mainstream U.S. financial scene.
The crypto feature will be powered by Novi, a recently launched digital wallet owned by What'sApp parent company Meta (formerly Facebook) that people can use to send money internationally. The company began testing Novi six weeks ago among a select group of users in Guatemala and the U.S. In a joint tweet on Wednesday, WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart and Novi CEO Stephane Kasriel said Novi would be available to some WhatsApp users in the U.S. on a trial basis.
"People use WhatsApp to coordinate sending money to loved ones and now Novi will help them do that securely, instantly and with no fees," Cathcart tweeted.

As federal policies and staffing levels rapidly change in the name of government efficiency and energy independence, historical sites across the United States — sites that help the public understand the cultures that came before them and built their communities of today — are in jeopardy of losing out on important federal protections. "National Park Service employees are deeply committed to preserving our public lands and serving visitors. At times, team members may step into a range of responsibilities outside their usual scope to help ensure continued access, safety, and stewardship across the park system. This flexibility reflects the dedication and collaborative spirit of our workforce.

Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys' visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired "Good Vibrations," "California Girls" and other summertime anthems and made him one of the world's most influential recording artists, has died, his family said in a statement posted to his website and social media. He was 82.