Press Release
Who is “Master Li,” the Chinese exile and Falun Gong leader that has built a religious, media and entertainment empire within the United States? By Rick Alan Ross
Falun Gong is a controversial tax-exempted religious organization based within the United States led by Chinese exile Li Hongzhi. Li, who is known to his followers as “Master Li” also controls a web of related enterprises, which have become the focus for both the media and law enforcement in recent months. This includes a heavily promoted dance company called “Shen Yun” and a right-wing newspaper “The Epoch Times.”
Shen Yun allegedly exploits and abuses its members, who are overwhelming devotees of Falun Gong and a key executive at The Epoch Times is now being prosecuted for financial crimes and fraud.
The New York Times reported that Shen Yun “dancers recounted performing through dislocated kneecaps, sprained ankles or other serious injuries, unwilling to seek medical treatment because the group’s belief system regarded such care as a crutch of the unfaithful.” And that “most described feeling used by a religious movement.”
Leaders within Shen Yun reportedly told “young performers that each show was an urgent spiritual mission, and they led them to believe that anyone who spoke out against the movement would face dire consequences.”
25 former dancers, musicians and instructors were interviewed by The New York Times about “a pattern of abusive behavior” they claimed “spanned nearly two decades and occurred as hundreds of performers cycled in and out of the dance company.” Many said, “they pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits because they were taught that performing a flawless Shen Yun show would save their audiences from an approaching apocalypse. It was a message that was constantly reinforced in lessons that instilled a fierce sense of obligation, as well as mistrust of the outside world.”
The Times reported that “nearly all the performers were sent to Shen Yun by family members who were ardent Falun Gong practitioners.” Some arrived at the Falun Gong headquarters known as “Dragon Springs” on Long Island in New York before they turned 12 and were reportedly “unable to leave the compound without special permission and were typically limited in how often they could see their families.” One former Shen Yun performer explained, “Master told us he had endless magical powers. We were little children, and we believed.”
Is it financially impossible for Shen Yun and Li Hongzhi to properly compensate and take care of its dancers and staff?
In 2019 Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported that “with an average ticket price of $80 per ticket, total box-office proceeds could amount to some $168 million over the five-month performing season.” And that tax records revealed that Shen Yun had “net assets of over $3 million in 2008. Ten years later, in 2017, this amount had grown to $95.7 million. Shen Yun seems to make between $10 and $20 million per year.”
Where does all the money go?
NPR reports that the chief financial officer for the Epoch Times is charged with “laundering at least $67 million in illegally obtained funds.” The alleged scheme began in 2020, “Epoch Times’ revenue jumped from almost $15.5 million the year before to over $70 million, according to federal tax filings.”
Prosecutors claim that Weidong Guan, also known as Bill Guan, “conspired with others to benefit himself, the media company, and its affiliates by laundering tens of millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits and other crime proceeds.”
The Chinese government has described Falun Gong as an “evil cult”? But Falun Gong and Li Hongzhi say that this label and other criticism represents “religious persecution.”
How can we determine if a group or movement is a destructive cult?
In the 1980s psychiatrist and author Robert Jay Lifton developed a seminal definition to describe destructive cults. This description focuses on three objective core criteria, which today form the nucleus for virtually any definition of a destructive cult.
1. A charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power. This leader is the defining element and driving force of the group. He or she lacks any meaningful accountability and typically is an authoritarian dictator.
2. The leader methodically employs a systemic process of coercive persuasion or thought reform to gain undue influence over his or her followers.
3. The leader then uses that undue influence for the economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members.
Falun Gong followers believe that Master Li possesses supernatural powers. He claims to know “the top secret of the universe” and has stated that “no religion can save people” but the “almighty Fa,” which he exclusively represents. Li is therefore supposedly savior of humanity.
Li teaches his followers that the earth would have been destroyed, but he saved it. He also claims that “gods” will destroy those he disapproves of and that his followers must practice his program of “spiritual cultivation” or risk obliteration.
One horrific event, which took place on China illustrates the depth of devotion Falun Gong members possess. On January 23, 2001 seven Falun Gong practitioners protesting “religious persecution” set themselves on fire at Tiananmen Square. This included a 12-year-old girl and her mother who died. Two survivors, Hao Huijun and her daughter Chen Guo, were hospitalized with extreme injuries.
Chen Guo told Reuters, “I hope those who still believe in this cult can be awakened and throw it away. I don’t want to see another victim like me.” Her mother explained, “we were obsessed at that time”. And she concluded, “We all suffered a great deal, brought about by the obsession.”
Meanwhile Li Hongzhi and his family have become quite wealthy, purchasing millions of dollars in real estate as they garner considerable influence.
Cult expert, author and psychologist Margaret Singer said that a Falun Gong practitioner will “actually say Don’t Think. Just recite the Master’s teaching.’” Singer succinctly summarized, “If you want a good description of a cult, all you have to do is read what [Falun Gong followers] say they are.”
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
U-topia Joins The International Chamber of Virtual Assets Through TheBlock’s Startup Program
Dubai, UAE, 29th July 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, U-topia, a technology company working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and web3, has joined the Startup Program of The International Chamber of Virtual Assets (TheBlock), a move that signals the company’s growing footprint in the UAE and its long-term plans to bring its products to public markets.
Founded in 2020 by fintech entrepreneur Emmanuel Quezada, U-topia has spent the past several years building a Web3-native infrastructure layer that blends programmable digital identity, AI automation, and secure asset issuance. Its focus is on helping financial institutions and digital platforms modernize how they handle credit, identity verification, and regulatory controls, without compromising user control or transparency.
“Web3 alone isn’t enough,” said Emmanuel Quezada. “You need intelligence, automation, and compliance built in from the ground up. Our platform uses AI to improve everything from onboarding to fraud detection, while keeping architecture decentralized and programmable.”
Through TheBlock’s Startup Program, U-topia will receive strategic support in licensing, fundraising, and regulatory execution. TheBlock will act as a bookrunner, a role typically reserved for leading investment banks, offering structured access to regional regulators, family offices, and legal advisors in the UAE and beyond.
“We’re proud to welcome U-topia into the Startup Program,” said Farbod Sadeghian, Founder and Executive Chairman of TheBlock. “They’re one of the few teams globally developing real infrastructure at the crossroads of AI and virtual assets. Our job is to help them scale responsibly, with the right licenses, the right capital, and the right institutional partners.”
TheBlock is headquartered in Dubai and operates as the official International Chamber of Virtual Assets, offering capital access, licensing guidance, and full-stack go-to-market support to Web3 and fintech startups. Members benefit from TheBlock’s regulatory network, global investor circle, and physical hubs like TheBlock Tower and TheBlock Decentral at Dubai World Trade Centre.
As part of its trajectory, U-topia has also announced plans to pursue an IPO in Abu Dhabi in the coming years, a step it views as aligned with the region’s strong regulatory framework and long-term support for digital finance innovation. Preliminary discussions with market and legal advisors are already underway.
Emmanuel Quezada, who previously advised financial institutions in Latin America and Europe, says the UAE presents a unique opportunity to launch products that combine compliance and innovation. “The region is serious about building long-term infrastructure. TheBlock isn’t just an accelerator, they’re helping founders build companies that last.”
With growing interest in tokenized finance, real-world asset platforms, and AI-driven compliance tools, U-topia’s entry into TheBlock’s Startup Program comes at a pivotal time for the industry.
About U-topia
U-topia is a UAE based startup working to change the inefficiencies of traditional banking, remittances, and payment networks leveraging the use of AI and Crypto. Follow @UCoinOfficial on X for the latest updates.
About The Block
The Block is the International Chamber of Virtual Assets, connecting founders, investors, regulators, and institutions shaping the future of virtual assets. With a global member base and strategic presence across key markets, The Block provides end-to-end support across business setup, licensing, capital access, infrastructure, and ecosystem growth. The Block serves as a permanent exhibition centre for the virtual asset industry, offering curated pathways for market entry, regulatory engagement, and enterprise collaboration. Follow @TheBlockGlobal on X for the latest updates.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
- BigWater transforms real-world climate work into verifiable, on-chain token rewards.
- Each purifier helps deliver 1000L of clean water, tracked through NFT-verified logistics.
- Geo-tagged trees, AI data, and DePIN link user action to measurable global outcomes.
Backed by a team with several decades of global work experience, BigWater Protocol is launching the $BIGW token to reward traceable climate action linking air purification, clean water, and global reforestation, with verified data along with Proof of Delivery of Clean Water in a decentralised manner.
A Utility Token Meant to Do More Than Just Trade
Sustainability keeps running into the same wall: proving the work is real. That’s the gap BigWater Protocol is trying to bridge. On August 1, 2025, the $BIGW token will be listed on Bitmart and Coin Store, formally kicking off what it calls a “utility-backed climate economy.” Not just Slogans but Real Verified Data.
$BIGW Token Launching on BitMart and Coin Store on August 1, 2025. Source | BigWater/X
The idea is simple enough; users run Smart Air Purifiers that clean the indoor air. But behind the scenes, those same devices help deliver 1000 litres of clean water to communities that need it. Yes, you read it right; every device automatically triggers and logs dispensing data for this Clean Water delivery in a sustainable manner..
At the core of this initiative is something Web3 rarely delivers: traceable, measured climate results. BigWater also considers geo-tagged trees a DePIN device and rewards individuals, corporations, and foundations with Clean Water NFTs verified on blockchain and backed by decentralized infrastructure.
BigWater calls it a “Utility-backed Climate Economy.” And in this case, the utility is in your house in the form of a physical device.
Clean Air In. Clean Water Out. Every Action Logged On-Chain.
Here’s the setup. You run a Smart Air Purifier, a device connected to BigWater’s decentralized infrastructure. It cleans your indoor air. While doing that, it triggers the delivery of 1000 liters of Clean Water to communities that need it the most.
For every 20 hours of operating the device, you earn $BIGW tokens, sent directly to your wallet. What’s more, the environmental output isn’t just claimed. It’s verified. NFTs confirm delivery of Clean Water, and immutable blockchain records keep things transparent.
They call it “Proof of Existence” for Air Purifiers and geo-tagged Trees with “Proof of Delivery” for Clean Water. These are not metaphors. It’s the BigWater Protocol at work in the background.
From Oceans to Forests: The ‘Sea to Sink’ Model in Practice
BigWater is designing a framework to track impact across a full ecological spectrum — or what they describe as the journey from Sea to Sink. Oceans, forests, rivers, air — all connected, all measurable.
Their work supports India’s Net Zero 2070 target and the country’s Mission LiFE initiative, which pushes for lifestyle-driven climate action. BigWater backs that with actual infrastructure. Planted trees are geo-tagged. Drones track their growth and log on-chain as “Proof of Existence.”
Afforestation projects are actively being supported across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa, including Reforestation efforts in the Amazon Rainforests..
Built on Tech & Verified by Action
Underneath the user interface is an incredible Tech stack. BigWater is underpinned with a DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) alongside AI and geospatial analytics. This blend helps quantify things that most platforms only talk about.
The phrases they keep repeating, Proof of Existence, Proof of Delivery, and Proof of Impact, are more than just branding. It means every data point from air sensors or satellite tags gets timestamped and reported. The outcome? Building “Trust” for every stakeholder involved in the value chain.
More than 900,000 verified users have already joined the platform, and BigWater is just starting its long journey. The aim is to reach 10 million users within the next 12 months. So far, devices have made their way into 22 countries, with shipping capability across 65 countries.
What Happens After August 1, 2025?
The Token Generation Event on August 1, 2025, isn’t just a marker on the roadmap. It flips the switch on $BIGW’s full utility.
Once live, the token unlocks full in-app utility. You can use it to buy new filters and more purifiers or convert it to USDT/USDC through the BigWater mobile app. An upcoming Mastercard tie-up, powered by XDC, will allow users to top up and spend tokens in fiat without needing to leave the ecosystem.
Until the TGE, the team will be running a 100% cashback offer in $BIGW tokens. Anyone buying a Smart Air Purifier before August 1, 2025, receives the entire investment in $BIGW tokens. No points. No coupons. Just the protocol tokens, straight into their wallet.
Dr. Parag Agarwal, the project’s founder & CEO, has already led JanaJal, a social infrastructure initiative that has previously delivered over 200 million liters of Clean Water across India. It isn’t his first time connecting infrastructure to outcomes. Instead, they are now using the core technology to enable Clean Air, which is invaluable.
Real Value, Not Speculation
Too often, environmental claims in our space end up vague, unverifiable, or worse, as false claims. BigWater’s model doesn’t avoid this risk by chance; it instead confronts it with structure and a clear model in place for everyone!
Every action, every reward, and every environmental change is connected, tracked, and audited. The connection is direct from the Clean Air in your living room to the Clean Water in someone else’s hands.
Dr. Parag Agarwal, founder of BigWater, summed it up like this:
“The $BIGW token stands at the intersection of the Metaverse and Universe.”
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
BNB Rallying Over 6%—Why Are Savvy Investors Secretly Flocking to BTC Miner Cloud Mining?
New York, 29th July 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Today, Binance Coin (BNB) led the market with a 6.17% surge, climbing from $794.70 to $843.77, while Bitcoin holds above $119,000 and Ethereum hovers near $3,900 . As tokens leap and tumble on every headline, top investors are quietly turning to a different strategy: cloud mining contracts with BTC Miner that lock in up to 7% (or higher) daily returns—completely decoupled from the spot market.
What Is BTC Miner Cloud Mining?
BTC Miner is a world-class cloud mining platform that removes the headaches of hardware purchases and maintenance. With BTC Miner you simply:
- Register with your email and claim a $500 trial credit;
- Choose from multiple mining contracts—varying by investment amount and duration—to match your financial goals;
- Use the mobile app to launch mining with a single tap—24/7 automated, transparent, and hands-free.
The platform supports deposits and withdrawals in USDT, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, BNB, XRP, DOGE, BCH, SOL, and more, enabling truly global, multi-asset access.
Why Are Savvy Investors Flocking to BTC Miner?
- Contracted Daily Yields
All plans clearly specify your daily return rate—up to 7% or higher—so you never need to chase market highs or panic on dips. - Mobile App Convenience
Start, monitor, and manage your mining from anywhere with our intuitive mobile app—one-click activation makes it effortless. - Flexible Contract Options
Multiple packages to choose from with varying principal amounts and durations, allowing you to tailor investments to your financial situation. - Referral Rewards Mechanism
Earn 7% of each direct referral’s investment and 2% on second-tier referrals—turn your network into passive income. - Institutional-Grade Security & Insurance
Funds held in Tier-1 international banks under full SSL encryption, with each deposit backed by an AIG insurance policy and segregated hashpower custody. - Unmatched Cost Efficiency
Direct partnerships with top-tier mining farms reduce electricity and maintenance costs by up to 40% below industry averages—maximizing your net return. - 24/7 Smart Hashpower Allocation
Proprietary algorithms dynamically optimize resource deployment and energy‐cost hedging, ensuring consistent daily yields.
How to Join BTC Miner in Three Easy Steps
- Register Your Email
Go to https://btcminer.net and sign up—no complicated KYC or hardware needed. - Claim Your $500 Trial Credit
Automatically credited to your account; start mining risk-free. - Select Your Contract & Start Earning
Pick a plan that matches your desired principal and term, tap “Start Mining” in the app, and watch your daily returns accumulate.
Real Investor Testimonials
“I started with the $500 trial credit and tested it for a few days—every morning the app auto-deposited my earnings, and it was so seamless I couldn’t resist investing $50,000. Now my returns have already far exceeded my principal!”
— Verified User “CryptoLover”
“I deposited $8 million into the highest-yield contract, and each day I can withdraw profits effortlessly. The setup is so simple, and sharing with friends netted me huge referral bonuses—I only wish I’d discovered it sooner!”
— James Sullivan
Summary
With BNB today surging over 6% and major tokens in flux, BTC Miner offers a low-barrier, high-certainty path to crypto returns. By combining contracted yields, flexible contracts, mobile convenience, referral bonuses, and institutional security, BTC Miner lets investors sidestep volatility and secure up to 7%+ daily—all without owning or operating a single mining rig.
Join today and start your high-yield journey → https://btcminer.net
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
U-topia Joins The International Chamber of Virtual Assets Through TheBlock’s Startup Program
Sea to Sink: BigWater Brings Clean Air and Clean Water to Web3
BNB Rallying Over 6%—Why Are Savvy Investors Secretly Flocking to BTC Miner Cloud Mining?
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