Crypto pundit Chain Cartel has raised several key points following SWIFT’s latest comment on its move to adopt blockchain technology. The pundit claimed that Ripple’s XRPL network best suits what SWIFT is trying to achieve and suggested that the two firms collaborate. 

Pundit Points To Ripple’s XRPL After SWIFT’s Announcement

In an X post, Chain Cartel stated that SWIFT admitted they are building Ripple’s XRPL network, but did not explicitly say so in their announcement. The pundit was referring to an X post from SWIFT highlighting their earlier announcement to add a blockchain-based ledger to their infrastructure.

The pundit explained that SWIFT’s language in the X post suggests that they want to build something like Ripple’s XRPL. He declared that it is not Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any generic blockchain experiment but precisely what Ripple has been building for a decade. Chain Cartel noted that Ripple’s model has always been a neutral settlement layer, real-time atomic finality, shared ledger visibility for institutions, interoperability with legacy rails, and liquidity-first design. 

Chain Cartel then alluded to SWIFT’s statement about its plans to build a blockchain-based ledger to be included in its payment infrastructure and provide a single source of truth, enabling instant, 24/7 cross-border payments. He declared that this is Ripple’s blueprints with the XRPL, as the crypto firm uses the network for its payment services. 

In line with this, the pundit remarked that SWIFT doesn’t replace rails, but instead coordinates them, and that Ripple doesn’t replace banks, but instead connects them. He added that SWIFT is acknowledging that the future payment stack requires a ledger layer, not just messaging, and that the only model already battle-tested at scale is Ripple’s XRPL.

However, it is worth mentioning that SWIFT doesn’t plan to integrate Ripple’s Ledger. Instead, it is building this blockchain-based ledger in partnership with Consensys and Chainlink. As such, although SWIFT may plan to build a network similar to Ripple’s XRPL, it intends to do so without assistance from the crypto firm. 

Ripple Looking To Expand Its Payment Service

Ripple is looking to expand its payment service, as it recently announced plans to begin testing its RLUSD stablecoin on Ethereum layer-2 networks Base, Ink, Optimism, and Unichain. The move comes just days after the OCC granted Ripple a conditional approval to become a bank, which is also a major boost for the firm’s payment service. 

Ripple plans to expand its RLUSD stablecoin beyond the Ethereum and XRPL networks to these layer-2 networks through its partnership with Wormhole. The firm noted that the future of crypto is multichain, which is why it is adopting this strategy. This move gives Ripple’s clients greater options when using the RLUSD stablecoin, and it could also attract new users to the stablecoin, which is currently one of the fastest-growing stablecoins. 

Android app streaming on Windows 11 is getting a subtle upgrade. A new expanded mode in Phone Link makes apps feel less cramped on large monitors, bringing the experience closer to something you might actually want to use daily.

The post Running Android apps on your Windows 11 PC is about to feel slightly better appeared first on Digital Trends.

American Airlines is exploring Amazon Leo for future in-flight Wi-Fi, potentially challenging Starlink and reshaping how passengers experience broadband-quality internet in the sky.

The post Amazon could soon be your in-flight Wi-Fi supplier, too appeared first on Digital Trends.

Explore the 10 biggest tech stories of 2025, from AI megacenters and space-powered data centers to record-breaking breaches, outages, and satellite showdowns.

The post 2025 in Tech: A Year of Outages, AI Races, and Power Plays appeared first on TechRepublic.

Forget expensive hardware. In Interlink, you don’t need a mining rig — you are the mining rig.

​

Tired of expensive Bitcoin mining rigs and high staking costs? Discover Interlink’s Proof of Personhood (PoP). Learn how to become a blockchain validator using only your unique identity — no hardware, no capital required.

​

Wait, You Are Not Just a User?

​

Let’s be honest. When we hear “Crypto Mining,” most of us feel left out. Why? Because the game has always been rigged for the wealthy or the tech-savvy.

​

For the past decade, if you wanted to earn crypto rewards, you had to climb one of two very steep mountains. Let’s break down why these “Old Ways” are failing regular people like us.

​

1. The Old Way: Proof of Work (PoW) ⛏️

​

🔹 The Game of Heavy Machinery

Think about Bitcoin. To be a validator (miner) here, you need raw computational power. This means buying specialized hardware (ASICs), setting up cooling systems, and paying massive electricity bills.

🔹 The Problem :

It’s a competition of hardware. If you are an individual with a laptop, you can’t compete against a warehouse full of supercomputers. You are priced out before you even start.

​

2. The Current Way: Proof of Stake (PoS) 💰

​

🔹 The Game of Capital

Ethereum 2.0 and many modern chains use this. Instead of electricity, they rely on token ownership. To validate transactions and earn rewards, you must “stake” (lock up) a large amount of money.

🔹 The Problem:

It’s basically “Money makes Money.” If you don’t have thousands of dollars to buy the initial tokens, you can’t become a validator. It’s a VIP club, and the entry fee is high.

​

3. The Revolution: Proof of Personhood (PoP) 🙋‍♂️

​

🔹 The Game of Humanity

This is where Interlink changes the rules completely. PoP introduces a new class of consensus alongside PoW and PoS. It creates a parallel system where validation power comes not from silicon or money, but from biology.

​

The official InterLink Whitepaper explicitly states:

“PoP ties validation directly to real human identities through the InterLink ID.”

​

In this system, you don’t need a faster CPU (PoW) or a fatter wallet (PoS). You just need to prove that you are a unique human being.

​

🔹 No Bots Allowed:

Traditional networks struggle with “Sybil attacks,” where one person creates thousands of fake accounts to cheat the system.

🔹 The Solution:

By requiring a verified InterLink ID, the network ensures that 1 verified human identity = 1 validation right.

​

Why is this huge? It effectively democratizes mining.

“At Interlink, you’re not just a verified user — you’re a validator.”

​

Whether you are a student in Seoul, a freelancer in Lagos, or a developer in Mumbai — if you are human, your “mining power” is exactly the same as everyone else’s.

​

4. “But is my data safe?” (The ‘ZKP’ Magic) 🛡️

​

Now, the only question left is privacy. “If I use my identity to mine, will my face be stored on a server?”

​​

Absolutely not. This is the most critical part of the Interlink Whitepaper. The system uses Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) and Homomorphic Encryption.

​

Here is the simple version of how it works:

1. Input: You scan your biometric data (like a face scan).
2. Magic Transformation: The AI converts this into a “Feature Vector” (a long string of numbers).
3. Destruction: The raw image is deleted. It is never stored.
4. Encryption: The numbers are turned into a cryptographic “Hash” that cannot be reversed.

This means even Interlink itself cannot see your biometric data.

​

Even if hackers break into the node pool, they will only find random numbers — never your actual biometric data. This ensures compliance with strict privacy laws like GDPR.

​

Done.T’s Verdict 💡

​

We are witnessing a shift from “Machine-centric” blockchain to “Human-centric” blockchain.

• PoW asks: “Do you have a powerful computer?”
• PoS asks: “Do you have a lot of money?”
• PoP asks: “Are you real?”

​

If you are real, you are ready. The barrier to entry has never been lower. Historically, early participants in new networks tend to gain structural positioning advantages over time.

​

Don’t miss the chance to align yourself with the most fair economy ever built.​

​

About the Author

Done.T is a Web3 analyst focusing on the intersection of Mobile Mining, UBI, and Decentralized Finance. He separates signal from noise to provide logical insights for the global crypto community.

​

Disclaimer: This article is based on the official Interlink whitepaper and allows for educational purposes. It does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research.

The End of Expensive Mining: Why ‘PoP’ Turns You Into the Ultimate Validator was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Explore the 10 biggest tech stories of 2025, from AI megacenters and space-powered data centers to record-breaking breaches, outages, and satellite showdowns.

The post 2025 in Tech: A Year of Outages, AI Races, and Power Plays appeared first on TechRepublic.

The Dogecoin ETFs have continued to record low demand since they launched last month, indicating the lack of interest from institutional investors in the meme coin. Notably, DOGE has also seen the lowest demand through these ETFs among the top coins by market cap. 

Dogecoin ETFs Record Dwindling Volume And Inflows

SoSoValue data shows that the Dogecoin ETFs have continued to see their daily volume and inflows decline since they launched last month. On December 10, the Grayscale and Bitwise DOGE ETFs recorded a trading volume of $125,100. Meanwhile, these funds as a group saw a total net inflow of $171,920 on the day. 

Further data from SoSo Value shows that the Dogecoin ETFs trading volume has been on a decline since December 2, when they recorded a daily trading volume of $1.09 million. These funds have recorded only three 7-figure trading volume days out of 12 trading days since November 24, when Grayscale’s Dogecoin fund launched. 

This is relatively low and signifies little demand for the DOGE ETFs among institutional investors. For context, Grayscale’s Chainlink ETF, the only LINK fund at the moment, has outperformed the Dogecoin ETFs despite launching at the start of this month. Grayscale’s LINK ETF has a total net asset of $77.71 million, while the DOGE ETFs have total net assets of $6.01 million. 

The net flows also highlight the underperformance of these Dogecoin ETFs. Since launching, Bitwise’s DOGE fund has recorded a net outflow of $972,840. Meanwhile, Grayscale’s fund has taken in just over $3 million. The funds, as a group, have recorded net inflows on five of 12 trading days. 

Possible Reason For The Underperformance

Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas had warned before now that crypto ETFs like the Dogecoin ETFs would record fewer assets given their distance from Bitcoin in terms of market cap. “’The further away you get from BTC, the less asset there will be,’ he said. Notably, DOGE funds have the lowest net assets among the top 10 cryptos by market cap with ETF wrappers. 

The Solana and XRP ETFs, which also just launched last month, have outperformed the Dogecoin ETFs, although there are more funds offering SOL and XRP. Meanwhile, Balachunas’ theory hasn’t applied to the LINK ETF, as it has outperformed DOGE funds despite Chainlink having a lower market cap than Dogecoin. 

Furthermore, the Hedera and Litecoin ETFs also boast larger net assets than the Dogecoin ETFs, indicating that institutional investors are simply not bullish on DOGE, possibly due to its meme coin status and lack of utility. DOGE is, so far, the only meme coin with an ETF wrapper. 

At the time of writing, the DOGE price is trading at around $0.138, down over 6% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Swapper Finance has launched Direct Deposits in collaboration with Chainlink and Mastercard, aiming to bring global payments directly into the on-chain economy to more than 3.5 billion users worldwide.

Swapper Finance Launches Direct Deposits With Chainlink, Mastercard

On Tuesday, Swapper Finance, a next-generation payments infrastructure layer that connects global users to on-chain applications, announced the launch of Direct Deposits in collaboration with Chainlink, Mastercard, and multiple key partners.

Direct Deposits, which are live now, are set to bring “the global payments world directly into the on-chain economy through a unified, secure, and compliant flow,” powered by Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE) and Mastercard’s recognized global network.

According to the announcement, users will be able to deposit into Decentralized Finance (DeFi) protocols using payment cards, crypto transfers, or Web3 wallets inside a single, end-to-end on-chain workflow for the first time.

Swapper’s Direct Deposits aim to unlock instant access to DeFi for billions of people worldwide by eliminating traditional bottlenecks, exchanges, and multi-step onboarding. This has historically required stitching together isolated systems, including Know Your Client (KYC) requirements, compliance, card payments, fiat conversion, settlement, and liquidity routing, which has created friction, high drop-off rates, and inconsistent security across the process.

Direct Deposits are set to replace this old-fashioned flow through one “unified, verifiable, on-chain orchestration layer,” with every component of the process executed inside a secure on-chain environment.

Roman Tirone, Senior Manager, Chainlink Build at Chainlink Labs, affirmed that “by unifying identity, compliance, token swaps, settlement, and more in a single orchestration layer, CRE is enabling the onboarding of billions of cardholders into the onchain economy.”

This creates a simple and familiar checkout experience that quickly moves a user from traditional finance to on-chain, supported by institutional-grade security and global reach. Meanwhile, the launch represents another step in Mastercard’s efforts to integrate traditional payment infrastructure with blockchain-based applications, helping it expand its digital asset strategy.

‘The Onboarding Layer For Web3’

Swapper’s launch will see multiple leading Web3 platforms integrate the Direct Deposits technology directly into their user flows, including Pi Squared, Stake.link, KyberSwap, AITECH, NPC, Teneo, BigWater, Rhuna, TrebleSwap, MyStandard, Landwolf, Dolomite, HyperSwap, Turbo, APU, and Radiant Capital, among others.

This signals strong demand for a unified card-to-on-chain standard, the announcement added, which suggests that Direct Deposits “are quickly becoming a foundational component for user acquisition across Web3.”

The launch also represents “deep technical collaboration across Mastercard, Chainlink, Swapper Finance, and key partners” to bring together payment authorization, compliance, execution, and liquidity routing in a single verifiable workflow powered by CRE and Swapper Finance.

Arthur, CTO of Swapper Finance, affirmed that “this is the onboarding layer we always believed the industry needed,” adding that Direct Deposits represent a “turning point” for how people enter the space as “the first truly unified onboarding layer for Web3.”

“Our goal has always been to remove the barriers that keep billions of people from accessing DeFi, and with this launch, that future becomes real,” Arthur stated, concluding that “Direct Deposits represent a turning point for how people enter Web3. For the first time, the process feels intuitive rather than intimidating. We expect this launch to dramatically expand the number of users who can participate in onchain markets.”

Why Global Citizenship Is No Longer Defined by Physical Borders in the Digital Era

⠀

In the Web3 era, citizenship is evolving beyond geography. We analyze the architecture of a Digital Nation: Zero-Knowledge Passports (PoP), On-Chain Credit (HCS), and Community Governance (DAO).

⠀

Citizenship Was Once a Geographical Lottery

⠀

For centuries, citizenship was a geographical lottery. It was decided by where you were born, and it granted you three critical rights:

• Identity (Entry)
• Economy (Credit)
• Voice (Governance)

⠀

If you were born on the wrong side of a border, you were locked out. If you lacked banking history, you were economically invisible. If you disagreed with monetary policy, you were politically powerless.

⠀

But in the digital age, we are now facing a fundamental question:

Must these rights always come from a Nation-State?

⠀

We are witnessing the emergence of what can only be called “The Digital Nation.”

This is not about replacing countries. It is about creating a parallel society built on code, one that must be just as structurally complete as the physical one.

⠀

The formula for this new civilization is precise:

Digital Nation = PoP (Passport) + HCS (Economy) + DAO (Parliament)

⠀

Let’s analyze this architecture through the lens of a human-verified Web3 network that is actively implementing this civic stack.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

1. The Border — PoP as the “Digital Passport”

⠀

The Function: Replacing Physical Borders with Cryptographic Verification

⠀

Every functioning society must know who its citizens are. In the physical world, we use passports. In the Digital Nation, we use Proof of Personhood (PoP).

⠀

The challenge is subtle but critical: How do you prove you are a unique human without surrendering your privacy to a central authority?

⠀

The solution lies in advanced mathematics. PoP systems utilize Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) and Homomorphic Encryption to solve the identity paradox.

⠀

• Privacy First: Instead of storing your face or biometric data, the system stores a mathematical proof that you exist.
• Compliance: Because no raw biometric data is ever stored, the system aligns with global privacy standards like GDPR, protecting users from surveillance while blocking bot farms and Sybil attacks.

⠀

This is not merely “login.” It is digital naturalization. A digital passport that only you control.

⠀

2. The Economy — HCS as the “Credit System”

⠀

The Function: Building Opportunity Without Banks

⠀

No nation can function without economic mobility. Traditional banking relies on institutional history. If you lack a bank account, you are invisible. This has excluded billions of people globally.

⠀

The Digital Nation replaces this with the Human Credit Score (HCS) — an on-chain reputation system that evaluates:

• Reliability
• Contribution
• Behavioral consistency
• Network Strength

⠀

In this system, credit is not a favor granted by a bank based on inherited wealth. It is an asset minted by your own integrity.

⠀⠀

This allows individuals in emerging markets to access financial tools purely based on proven reliability, not geographic privilege. HCS becomes the economic engine of digital citizenship.

⠀

3. The Parliament — DAO as the “Legislative Body”

⠀

The Function: Moving from “Users” to “Legislators”

The final pillar of any nation is governance.

⠀

Most Web2 platforms treat people as users — products to be monetized. A true Digital Nation treats them as citizens with legislative power.

⠀

The InterLink DAO represents a shift in authority away from corporations and toward communities. Crucially, it prevents plutocracy (rule by the rich) by tying governance power to verified human identity.

⠀

Citizens participate directly in:

• Economic Rules: Deciding on reward structures and token burn mechanisms.
• Fiscal Decisions: Voting on treasury allocation for ecosystem growth.

⠀

This ensures that economic law is written by the people who participate in the economy itself.

⠀

📌 Final Equation Recap

⠀

PoP ⠀ gives you identity.

HCS ⠀ gives you economic credibility.

DAO ⠀ gives you legislative power.

⠀

⠀Together, they form the full civic infrastructure of the Digital Nation.

⠀

Conclusion: The Architecture is Ready

⠀

The definition of citizenship is expanding.

⠀

Once, your rights were stamped into a physical passport. Your credit was locked inside a national banking system. Your voice existed only within geographic borders.

⠀

This is not the end of the Nation-State. It is the birth of a parallel layer of civilization.

⠀The equation is set. The only variable left is your decision.

⠀

About the Author

Done.T is a Web3 analyst focusing on the intersection of Mobile Mining, UBI, and Decentralized Finance. He separates signal from noise to provide logical insights for the global crypto community.

The equation is set. The only variable left is your decision.

The New Math of Global Citizenship: PoP × HCS × DAO was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Blink is rolling out a new feature in beta that uses AI to analyze security camera footage and generate natural-language summaries of security events.

The post Blink cameras get AI-powered alerts that actually tell you what’s happening appeared first on Digital Trends.

Starbucks medicine ball recipe is a cozy copycat Starbucks recipe for the viral honey citrus mint tea everyone orders when cold and flu season hits. Do not let the name mislead you into thinking that it is a drink for only when you are sick, This is so delicious that I love to have it everyday! It’s a soothing mix of mint and peach tea, hot lemonade, and honey that you can easily customize for sweetness, caffeine and comfort at home.

This Starbucks medicine ball tea recipe is also known as Starbucks Honey Citrus Mint Tea, cold buster tea, or the famous Starbucks sick tea for sore throat. This is my at home version of the Starbucks Honey Citrus Mint Tea that everyone calls the “cold buster” or sick-day tea.

It is a simple copycat you can make with basic pantry ingredients, and I walk you step by step through how to make Starbucks Medicine Ball at home.

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram this cold and flu season, you’ve probably seen people clutching a warm cup of Starbucks Medicine Ball and swearing by it. This cozy honey citrus mint tea started as a secret menu hack and became so popular that Starbucks officially added it to the menu as Honey Citrus Mint Tea.

As a nutritionist and recipe developer, I had to recreate this viral Medicine ball drink at home. But, with a version that still tastes like your favorite Starbucks Medicine Ball tea, but lets you control the sugar, caffeine and ingredients.

In this post, I am sharing with you all:

• What exactly Starbucks Medicine Ball / Honey Citrus Mint Tea is?
• What’s really in Starbucks Honey Mint Tea and how much sugar & caffeine it has?
• Whether it actually helps when you’re feeling under the weather?
• My easy Copycat  Starbucks Medicine Ball tea recipe
• Lower-sugar, caffeine-free and vegan variations
• Iced Medicine Ball and make ahead options
• How to order a Medicine Ball at Starbucks or on the app?

What Is Starbucks Medicine Ball | Honey Citrus Mint Tea

Starbucks Medicine Ball is a hot tea drink made with:

• A minty green tea
• A peach herbal tea
• Hot water + steamed lemonade
• A spoonful of honey

The result is a warm, lemony, minty drink that tastes like a hug in a mug. Sweet, citrusy, with a hint of peach and a refreshing mint finish.

Originally it was a secret menu drink that customers nicknamed:

• Medicine Ball
• Cold Buster
• Cold Buster Tea

It became so popular that Starbucks brought it onto the official menu under the name:

Honey Citrus Mint Tea

So if you walk into Starbucks and don’t see Medicine Ball on the board, look for Honey Citrus Mint Tea it’s the same drink, just with a more official name.

Why You’ll Love This Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe Copycat

Let me quickly sell you on why this homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball tea recipe deserves a place in your winter and allergy season routine:

• Ready in 5 minutes with simple pantry ingredients
• Much cheaper than ordering it at Starbucks every time
• You can control the sweetness and sugar to match your goals
• Easy to make caffeine free, kid-friendly and vegan
• Works as a comforting warm drink in winter and a refreshing iced honey citrus mint tea in summer
• Perfect when you’re feeling a bit run down, sniffly, or just want a non coffee cozy drink

This is one of those recipes I like to have on standby for blah days when you’re not sick enough to live on soup, but you want something that feels caring and soothing. The honey citrus tea is not a medicine, but each ingredient plays a small role in why people reach for it and feel comforting while sipping the medicine ball.

Water + Tea

Hot water plus herbal or green tea gives you:

• Hydration
• Gentle warmth and steam that feels good when you’re stuffy
• Tea antioxidants, depending on the blend you use

Lemon or Lemonade

Lemon or lemonade adds:

• Bright, citrusy flavor
• That fresh and clean feeling when you’re congested
• A little vitamin C from the lemon juice

In the original Starbucks Medicine Ball, the citrus comes from a combination of lemonade and citrusy tea.

Mint / Minty Green Tea

Mint and minty green teas are:

• Naturally cooling and refreshing
• Great for that clear feeling in your nose and chest
• A source of light caffeine if you use green tea, much lower than coffee

Peach

The peach herbal tea layer:

• Adds gentle fruit sweetness and aroma
• Balances the lemon and mint
• Often includes calming herbs like chamomile in many blends

Honey

Honey is what makes this drink feel:

• Soothing for a scratchy throat
• Slightly thick and comforting in texture
• Naturally sweet

Important: Honey is not safe for children under 1 year. For little ones, always follow your pediatrician’s advice.

What’s in a Starbucks Medicine Ball vs My At Home Version

The Starbucks version Honey Citrus Mint Tea is made with:

• Half hot water, half steamed lemonade
• 1 Jade Citrus Mint tea bag (a citrusy green tea with spearmint)
• 1 Peach Tranquility tea bag (peach, chamomile, citrus)
• A pump or two of honey blend

For this homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball copycat, we’ll keep the same flavor profile but use ingredients that are easy to find in most grocery stores:

• Water
• Lemonade (regular, light and homemade)
• A minty green tea or herbal mint tea
• A peach herbal tea (or another fruity herbal tea if that’s what you have)
• Real honey (or maple/agave for a vegan version)

You’ll get that same cozy honey citrus mint tea flavor, but with more control over the sweetness, caffeine, and overall ingredients.

Starbucks Medicine Ball Nutrition

Let’s talk numbers in simple, practical terms. A Grande (16 fl oz) Honey Citrus Mint Tea at Starbucks comes in at roughly:

• ~130 calories
• About 33 grams of carbs, mostly from sugar
• Around 30 grams of sugar
• A small amount of caffeine (roughly 16–35 mg depending on the data source), much less than a grande coffee

That’s totally fine as an occasional treat. But if you’re sipping it regularly or trying to reduce sugar, the homemade version makes much more sense.

With my Starbucks Medicine Ball tea recipe, you can:

• Dilute the lemonade with extra water
• Use light or low sugar lemonade
• Or use fresh lemon juice + water + honey instead of ready made lemonade
• Start with less honey and sweeten only as much as you really need

I’ve also included a lighter variation below if you want to cut sugar even more.

Does Starbucks Medicine Ball Really Help When You’re Sick?

Short answer: it can help you feel better, but it doesn’t cure anything.

Here’s how I like to think of it as a nutritionist:

• The warm drink can ease a sore, dry throat and feel soothing when you’re chilled.
• The steam can help you feel less congested temporarily.
• Honey can coat the throat and may help calm mild cough and irritation.
• Lemon and mint make everything taste fresher and “cleaner” when you’re stuffy.
• Staying hydrated always supports your body while it recovers.

So, Medicine Ball firmly is more of a comfort rituals that support you , not a magic cure.

Reminder: This post is purely for information and recipe inspiration. It’s not medical advice. If you’re unwell, have underlying health conditions, or are on medication, always check with your healthcare provider.

Tools You’ll Need

Nothing fancy here part of the appeal of this Starbucks Medicine Ball copycat is you don’t need many equipment.

• Small saucepan or electric kettle
• Heatproof mug (I like using a clear glass mug)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spoon for stirring

How to Make Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea at Home

Here’s the step by step method

Starbucks Medicine Ball Ingredients

• ¾ cup (180 ml) water
• ¾ cup (180 ml) lemonade (regular or low-sugar)
• 1 minty green tea bag
• 1 peach herbal tea bag
• 1 teaspoons honey, or to taste
• Optional garnish: lemon slice, fresh mint

How To Make Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe

• Heat the water and lemonade
  • Add water and lemonade to a small saucepan.
  • Heat until steaming hot but not at a rolling boil (you want it very hot, not aggressively boiling so the lemonade doesn’t taste bitter).
• Add tea bags to your mug
  • Place the minty green tea bag and the peach herbal tea bag in your mug.
  • Pour the hot water–lemonade mixture over the tea bags.
• Steep
  • Let the tea steep for 3–5 minutes.
  • For a milder, softer flavor, stop at around 3 minutes. For a stronger, more intense Medicine Ball, go closer to 5 minutes.
• Sweeten with honey
  • Remove the tea bags and discard.
  • Stir in 1–2 teaspoons honey, starting with 1 teaspoon and tasting before you add more.
• Garnish and serve
  • Add a slice of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint if you like.
  • Sip warm and enjoy.

Tips for the Best Starbucks Medicine Ball Copycat

• Don’t boil the honey. Let the tea cool for a minute before you stir in honey so you keep more of its natural flavour and goodness.
• Use a good quality mint tea + peach herbal tea (or the classic Jade Citrus Mint + Peach Tranquility if you can find them). 
• If you like extra minty “cold buster” vibes, add a second mint tea bag or a tiny splash of peppermint extract. 
• For true sore throat tea comfort, serve it very warm (not boiling) and sip slowly rather than chugging.
• Want a Starbucks style flu season tea without the sugar crash? Start with my lighter version and only add more honey if you really need it.

Lighter & Special Diet Versions

Lighter Medicine Ball (Lower Sugar)

• 1 cup (240 ml) water
• ½ cup (120 ml) lemonade (or even less if you want)
• 1 minty green tea bag
• 1 peach herbal tea bag
• ½–1 teaspoon honey (sweeten to taste)

This simple tweak dilutes the lemonade, uses less honey and cuts total sugar while keeping the same cozy lemon mint peach profile.

Caffeine Free Medicine Ball

Perfect for evenings or for those who avoid caffeine:

• Swap the minty green tea bag for an herbal mint tea bag (peppermint or spearmint herbal tea). Keep the peach herbal tea.
• Everything else stays the same. You’ll get all the honey citrus mint vibes, but with zero caffeine.

Vegan Medicine Ball

To make your Starbucks Medicine Ball tea vegan: Swap honey for maple syrup or agave syrup, start with 1 teaspoon and sweeten as needed. Maple adds a deeper, slightly caramel note; agave is more neutral.

Medicine Ball Tea Variations and Substitutions

If You Can’t Find the Starbucks Teas

If you don’t have access to Jade Citrus Mint and Peach Tranquility, try:

• Any green tea with mint and/or citrus
• Any peach herbal tea
• A mix of peppermint tea + chamomile tea if you don’t have peach still delicious and soothing. The exact flavor will vary slightly, but the drink will stay true to the honey citrus mint tea idea.

No Lemonade? No Problem.

If you don’t keep lemonade at home or want even more control over sugar:

• Use water + fresh lemon juice instead of lemonade.
• Sweeten with honey, maple, or agave to taste.

A simple ratio that works well:

• 1½ cups (360 ml) hot water
• 1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Sweeten with 1 teaspoons honey or maple

Then proceed with the same tea steeping method.

Sugar Free Medicine Ball Tea Recipe

If you absolutely need a sugar free option for medical reasons or strict diets:

• Use sugar free lemonade
• Use a sugar free honey style syrup or sweetener

Personally, I prefer using real honey in moderate amounts for flavor and simplicity. But you don’t take sugar you can make sugar free starbucks medicine ball.

Extra Soothing Add ins

You can boost the comfort factor with:

• 2 thin slices of fresh ginger added to the mug before pouring hot liquid
• Extra mint leaves
• A pinch of grated lemon zest
• A small splash of peppermint extract (go very light because it’s strong!)
• A second herbal tea bag like chamomile for an extra calming evening version

Iced Honey Citrus Mint Tea (Iced Medicine Ball)

Yes, you can absolutely turn this into an iced Starbucks Medicine Ball for warmer days.

How to make iced Medicine Ball

• Prepare the classic recipe with:
  • ¾ cup water
  • ¾ cup lemonade
  • Tea bags and honey as above
• Let the brewed tea cool for 15 minutes at room temperature.
• Fill a tall glass with ice.
• Pour the cooled honey citrus mint tea over the ice.
• Garnish with a lemon slice and fresh mint.

You get the same cozy flavor, but in a crisp, refreshing iced drink.

Make Ahead, Storage & Reheating

You can easily scale this recipe and keep it ready during cold and flu season.

To Make a Big Batch (4 Servings)

• 3 cups (720 ml) water
• 3 cups (720 ml) lemonade
• 4 minty green tea bags
• 4 peach herbal tea bags
• 4–8 teaspoons honey (start with less, taste and adjust)

Method:

1. Heat water and lemonade in a medium saucepan until very hot.
2. Add all tea bags and steep 3–5 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags, stir in honey, and taste.
4. Let cool slightly, then store in a glass jar or bottle in the fridge.

Storage

• Store your brewed Medicine Ball tea in the fridge for up to 3–4 days in a covered container.
• The flavor will mellow slightly over time, which many people enjoy.

Reheating

• Reheat gently in a saucepan or microwave until hot but not boiling.
• If it thickens a bit, add a splash of water to loosen.

Customising Honey Citrus Mint Tea Order at Starbucks

Most baristas still know it by the nickname Medicine Ball, but the official name on the menu is Honey Citrus Mint Tea. So if you want to order as customised version.

• Ask for light lemonade or extra hot water to dilute the lemonade.
• Ask for less honey blend or no added sweetener if you prefer.
• For less caffeine, ask if they can make it with more herbal tea and less green tea.

FAQs About Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea

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Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea Recipe (Honey Citrus Mint Copycat)

Make Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe at home with this honey citrus mint tea recipe. Cozy, soothing, and easy plus low-sugar, caffeine-free and vegan options.

Course drink, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword honey citrus mint recipe, medicine ball recipe, starbucks, starbucks medicin ball recipe

Prep Time 1 minute minute

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Calories 111kcal

Author Rekha Kakkar

Ingredients

For the classic copycat

• ¾ cup water 180 ml
• ¾ cup lemonade (regular or low-sugar) 180 ml
• 1 minty green tea bag
• 1 peach herbal tea bag
• 1 teaspoons honey or to taste
• Optional garnish: lemon slice fresh mint

Instructions

• Heat the water and lemonade
• Add water and lemonade to a small saucepan.
• Heat until steaming hot but not at a rolling boil (you want it very hot, not aggressively boiling so the lemonade doesn’t taste bitter).
• Add tea bags to your mug
• Place the minty green tea bag and the peach herbal tea bag in your mug.
• Pour the hot water–lemonade mixture over the tea bags.
• Steep
• Let the tea steep for 3–5 minutes.
• For a milder, softer flavor, stop at around 3 minutes. For a stronger, more intense Medicine Ball, go closer to 5 minutes.
• Sweeten with honey
• Remove the tea bags and discard.
• Stir in 1–2 teaspoons honey, starting with 1 teaspoon and tasting before you add more.
• Garnish and serve
• Add a slice of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint if you like.
• Sip warm and enjoy.

Video

Notes

• If you want a bigger mug (about 16–18 oz), you can increase water and lemonade to 1 cup each and keep the same number of tea bags.
• For a more subtle lemonade flavor, use 2 parts water to 1 part lemonade instead of equal parts.
• Always adjust the honey depending on your taste and how sweet your lemonade is.

Nutrition

Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 0.02g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.03mg

Bitcoin Magazine

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Says He Was Wrong About Bitcoin, Reveals a ‘Big Shift’ in His View

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has shifted his perspective on Bitcoin — and he openly acknowledged the change.

Speaking at the NYT DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Fink stated that he now sees potential in Bitcoin. Fink was once a vocal critic who famously labeled Bitcoin “an index for money laundering,” 

Today, Fink described Bitcoin as “an asset of fear,” elaborating that investors frequently purchase it in response to concerns about financial security, geopolitical instability, or the ongoing debasement of traditional assets caused by growing deficits.

“If you bought it for a trade, it’s a very volatile asset, you’re going to have to be really good at market timing, which most people aren’t,” Fink said. “If you’re buying it as a hedge against all your hope, then it has a meaningful impact on a portfolio… the other big problem of Bitcoin is it is still heavily influenced by leveraged players.”

Fink, speaking alongside Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, noted that market movements — like a recent 20–25% drawdown in Bitcoin — often reflect broader events, such as trade agreements with China or potential settlements in Ukraine. 

Despite all this, Fink still suggested it can serve as meaningful portfolio insurance for those holding it as a hedge rather than for short-term trading.

Fink emphasized that his perspective has evolved through years of client interactions and discussions with policymakers, calling his change of heart a “very glaring public example” of the need to reassess strong opinions. 

Meanwhile, BlackRock, the $13.5 trillion asset manager Fink helped build, now offers several crypto products, including a major Bitcoin ETF, marking a stark contrast to his earlier skepticism.

“There is no chance” that Bitcoin goes to zero, said Mr. Armstrong, who sat beside Fink. Fink also shared an optimistic view for the asset: “I see a big, large use case for Bitcoin,” he said.

BlackRock’s bold embrace of bitcoin and crypto

Back in October, BlackRock said they were developing technology to tokenize a wide range of assets, including real estate, equities, and bonds.

Fink said at the time that global digital wallets held over $4.5 trillion across crypto, stablecoins, and tokenized assets. He noted much of this capital was outside the U.S., presenting opportunities to reach new investors. 

Fink said tokenization could allow crypto entrants to access traditional long-term products, like retirement funds. He described Bitcoin and crypto as serving a similar purpose to gold. 

This post BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Says He Was Wrong About Bitcoin, Reveals a ‘Big Shift’ in His View first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

On Wednesday, three NASA astronomers released an analysis showing that several planned orbital telescopes would see their images criss-crossed by planned satellite constellations, such as a fully expanded Starlink and its competitors. While the impact of these constellations on ground-based has been widely considered, orbital hardware was thought to be relatively immune from their interference. But the planned expansion of constellations, coupled with some of the features of upcoming missions, will mean that at least one proposed observatory will see an average of nearly 100 satellite tracks in every exposure.

Making matters worse, some of the planned measures meant to minimize the impact on ground-based telescopes will make things worse for those in orbit.

Constellations vs. astronomy

Satellite constellations are a relatively new threat to astronomy; prior to the drop in launch costs driven by SpaceX’s reusable rockets, the largest constellations in orbit consisted of a few dozen satellites. But the rapid growth of the Starlink system caused problems for ground-based astronomy that are not easy to solve.

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The cannabis industry’s digital transformation is creating a new challenge for dispensary owners: cybersecurity.

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