🌙 Tekin Night | July 13, 2026: Sony Stablecoin, Free Claude 5 & Lorde's Anti-AI Protest

Lorde: "AI Glasses Are Not Sexy!"

Monday night kicks off with an explosive protest in the tech and music world. Lorde, the New Zealand singer behind hits like "Royals" and "Green Light," launched a fierce attack against AI smart glasses during her live performance at Real Cool Festival in Madrid (July 10, 2026), declaring: "These devices are absolutely not sexy and have no appeal."

According to The Verge's report published July 12, 2026, while Lorde didn't mention Ray-Ban or Meta by name, everyone knew her real target—because Ray-Ban was one of the festival's main sponsors, and promotional content for Ray-Ban Meta glasses appeared throughout the event venue.

Why Did Lorde Say This?

This wasn't just a stage joke. During her performance of "Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen It All)," Lorde suddenly stopped the music and addressed the crowd: "I'm asking you to please take off those stupid glasses when you're talking to other people. Direct eye contact, real physical touch, and complete mental presence—that's what keeps us human. Not a hidden camera recording everything."

Ray-Ban Meta glasses, on the market since September 2023, feature a 12-megapixel camera, internal microphone, and a small LED light (which critics say is barely noticeable). These glasses can take photos, record video, and even converse with Meta AI Assistant to get real-time information—all without alerting those around you.

Meta and Ray-Ban's Response

As of this writing (July 13, 2026, 10:30 PM Tehran time), neither Meta nor Ray-Ban has issued any official statement about Lorde's comments. However, on social media, fans have launched a support campaign with the hashtag #NotSexyGlasses, which has reached over 2.3 million tweets within 48 hours.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time celebrities have protested against covert technologies. In 2013, Google Glass faced similar concerns and failed. Restaurants, cinemas, and even some cities banned its use. Now, with Ray-Ban Meta glasses having a completely ordinary appearance, detecting who's filming you is nearly impossible.

Claude Fable 5 Goes Free Again—Until July 19!

Our second story tonight comes from the AI world, and it's great news for professional users. In an unexpected move, Anthropic has extended free access to its most powerful model, Claude Fable 5, for another week. According to reports from Bleeping Computer and Android Authority published July 12-13, 2026, this is the second time in a week that Anthropic has postponed the end of free access.

The original plan was for Fable 5 to move to a pay-per-use model starting July 12, with users paying $10 per million input tokens and $50 per million output tokens. But now that date has been pushed to July 19, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time.

Why Did Anthropic Back Down Again?

Anthropic's official reason is "we want to ensure users have sufficient time to test Fable 5's capabilities," but industry analysts say the real story is different. According to a Forbes report published July 13, Anthropic has been experiencing infrastructure problems alongside Fable 5's launch—meaning their servers aren't ready to handle the volume of demand.

When an AI company launches a powerful model but immediately imposes limitations, it usually means one of two things has happened: either inference costs (processing requests) are too high, or they lack sufficient infrastructure. Fable 5, with its one-million-token context window and 128,000 output tokens, is one of the heaviest models in history—even heavier than GPT-5.6 Sol or Gemini 3.5 Flash.

Who Can Use It?

This extension applies to all Anthropic paid plans: Claude Pro ($20/month), Claude Max ($200/month), Claude Team (for teams), and Premium Enterprise versions. Users can consume up to 50% of their weekly limits on Fable 5—and still pay no extra fees.

Additionally, Anthropic has increased Claude Code's (the coding version) weekly rate limits by 50%. This means programmers using Claude to write code now have the best possible window to complete their major projects—before tariffs kick in.

Bitcoin Holds $63,800—While the World Burns

Our third story tonight comes from the crypto world, and it's a bizarre economic phenomenon. Bitcoin on Monday, July 13, 2026, has remained near the $63,800 level—while gold, oil, stocks, and government bonds all plummeted due to the fourth round of US military strikes on Iran in one week.

According to a CoinDesk report published July 13, 2026, Bitcoin is down only 0.3% over the past 24 hours and up 2% for the week. This is while Brent crude surged 4.5%, gold dropped 2.1%, and the S&P 500 fell 1.8%.

What Happened in the Middle East?

To understand this economic phenomenon, we need to know what happened in the real world. On July 8, 2026, the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran that had held since April 2026 collapsed. The US government (under Trump's second term) launched four rounds of airstrikes against Iranian military installations. In response, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed "until further notice."

The Strait of Hormuz is a small but critical waterway through which approximately 30% of the world's oil flows. Closing this strait means cutting off one of the world's main energy arteries—and that's precisely why Brent crude jumped from $82 to $86 per barrel.

Why Didn't Bitcoin React?

Analysts have cited several reasons for Bitcoin's strange behavior. First, the liquidity cycle is changing. The Federal Reserve has announced it will likely cut interest rates in September 2026—meaning more money will flow into risky markets.

Second, many major financial institutions (like BlackRock, Fidelity, and ARK Invest) have launched Bitcoin ETFs in the past six months. These funds automatically buy and hold Bitcoin—regardless of geopolitical news. This "structural buying flow" has kept Bitcoin's price stable even in the worst conditions.

Third, Bitcoin as a digital asset is immune to international sanctions. While Iran cannot easily move gold or dollars, it can transfer Bitcoin anywhere in the world within minutes. For this reason, some analysts believe Iran itself may be purchasing Bitcoin behind the scenes to evade sanctions.

Sony Bank Building Stablecoin—Buy Games with Crypto in 2027

Our fourth story tonight is a bombshell in gaming and crypto. Sony Bank—yes, the bank owned by the company that makes PlayStation—has received conditional approval from the OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency) to launch a dollar-denominated stablecoin in 2027. According to a Destructoid report published July 12, 2026, this digital currency will likely be used to purchase PlayStation games and digital content.

According to Yahoo Finance, Sony Bank plans to launch a trust bank subsidiary called "Connectia Trust" that will handle stablecoin issuance and management. In a strategic partnership with Bastion Platforms (a blockchain infrastructure specialist), the bank will handle all issuance, redemption, reserve management, and custody processes.

Why Is Sony Embracing Crypto?

The reasons behind this decision are fascinating. First, transaction costs. Every time you buy a $70 game from PlayStation Store, Sony must pay 2.9% + 30 cents in commission to Visa or Mastercard. That means from each $70 game, roughly $2.30 goes to traditional payment networks. Now with stablecoins, this cost could drop to under $0.10.

Second, global access. In many countries (like Argentina, Turkey, Nigeria, and even Iran), purchasing digital content with international cards is either impossible or comes with heavy currency conversion fees. With stablecoins, users can buy directly with their crypto wallets—no need for local banks or currency exchange.

When Will It Launch?

According to Sony Bank's official announcement on July 9, 2026, Connectia Trust will be formed this month (July), but its commercial operations won't begin until 2027. The reason for this delay is that Sony must still obtain final approvals from the US OCC and Japanese regulators.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time a gaming giant has entered crypto. Ubisoft launched "Ubisoft Quartz" game NFTs in 2021 (which failed). Square Enix has also invested heavily in blockchain. But Sony is the biggest player in this field—with over 108 million active PlayStation Network users, if just 10% of them use Sony's stablecoin, this would be the largest crypto adoption in gaming history.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera Just $10—All-Time Low!

Our fifth story tonight is a golden opportunity for Nintendo gamers. The official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, normally priced at $40, has dropped to just $10 in a limited GameSpot deal. According to a Polygon report published July 12, 2026, this is the lowest price this accessory has ever had.

The Switch 2 Camera, launched in February 2026 alongside the console, is one of this generation's most intriguing features—but unfortunately also one of the least used. The reason is simple: Nintendo has only supported it with a few limited games, and many users preferred not to spend extra money on the camera.

Why Do You Need This Camera?

If you're a Star Fox fan, this camera is a must-have. Star Fox Command 2, released in March 2026, uses the camera to track your head movements—meaning when you turn your head left or right, the Arwing cockpit camera turns in the same direction. It's an incredibly immersive experience that makes flying a fighter jet feel more real.

Mario Kart 9 and Ring Fit Adventure 2 also support the camera. In Mario Kart 9, you can control item launches by tilting your head. In Ring Fit Adventure 2, the camera scans your body movements without needing the Ring-Con—which is much more useful for yoga and stretching exercises.

Does This Discount Signal Failure?

An interesting question critics raise is: why has Nintendo allowed the camera price to drop this low? Does this mean sales have been weak? According to an NPD Group report (a gaming market research firm), by the end of June 2026, only 18% of Switch 2 owners had purchased the camera—while Nintendo expected this number to be at least 40%.

The main reason for this failure is lack of third-party support. Major companies like Capcom, Square Enix, and Bandai Namco have not released any games with camera support. And when only a few Nintendo first-party games use a feature, users prefer to spend their money on more games—not accessories.

But the good news is that at this $10 price, there's no longer any excuse not to buy it. Even if you only use it to experience Star Fox Command 2, it's worth it.

Disc Death: Netherlands Says "We Were Right"

Our final story tonight comes from the consumer rights world, and it's a hot debate. The Dutch Consumer Group, currently suing PlayStation, has declared that the end of the physical disc era is exactly what they warned about: "Sony alone decides what a game costs and even how long you're allowed to use it."

According to a PC Gamer report published July 13, 2026, this statement was released in response to recent news about the end of physical disc production for PS5. On July 10, 2026, Best Buy—one of America's largest retailers—announced it would no longer sell physical game discs. Walmart has also reduced its physical disc shelves by 60%.

Why Does This Matter?

When you buy a digital game from PlayStation Store, you don't actually own it—you've only purchased a "license to use." This means Sony can at any time: 1. Increase the game's price (since it has no physical competitor) 2. Remove the game from your library (if the license expires) 3. Shut down online servers (making the game unplayable) 4. Suspend your account (and lose all games)

And exactly this happened in 2024 with Discovery+. Sony, without any prior warning, deleted users' entire libraries of purchased movies and shows—because the contract with Warner Bros. Discovery had ended. Thousands of users who had spent hundreds of dollars on content lost everything overnight.

Is There a Solution?

The Dutch Consumer Group has proposed three solutions: 1. Digital Ownership Law: Governments should pass legislation that "digital purchase = actual ownership"—not just a temporary license. 2. Digital Used Market: Users should be able to sell their digital games to others—just like physical discs. 3. Permanent Archiving: If Sony removes a game from the store, it must provide an offline downloadable version for users who previously purchased it. The European Union is reviewing these proposals and may pass comprehensive legislation by the end of 2026. But Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have all launched heavy lobbying against these laws—because their business models depend on complete control over digital distribution.

Conclusion: A Tense Night with Big Lessons

Monday night, July 13, 2026, was full of controversial, challenging, and future-shaping news. From Lorde's protest against AI glasses to Bitcoin's strange stability amid war, from Claude Fable 5's repeated extension to Sony's entry into crypto, from the Switch 2 camera discount to the legal battle over digital ownership—all these stories showed that the worlds of technology, gaming, and crypto are changing more than ever.

But beyond the news, this night reminded us that we as users, gamers, and digital citizens must stay vigilant. Technologies that seem "convenient" today can become control tools tomorrow. Assets we "purchase" today may be "rentals" tomorrow. And the future we build today could be a turning point for freedom or restriction.

Tekin will always be with you to monitor, analyze, and bring your voice to the powerful. Have a good night—and we'll be back tomorrow with more energy. 🌙