Cryptocurrency
Bitwise Targets NRR Ticker for Proposed NEAR Spot ETF
Bitwise Asset Management has designated NRR as the ticker for its proposed spot NEAR exchange-traded product in an amended SEC filing. The move signals a strategic push to expand US investment offerings beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, with the firm planning to stake its entire holdings to generate additional yield.
Kenya Migrates 15 Million Academic Records to Avalanche Blockchain
Kenya has transitioned its national academic verification system to the Avalanche C-Chain, replacing manual, paper-based checks that previously took months with near-instant digital authentication. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has already anchored over 15 million historical records to the blockchain to combat widespread credential fraud.
BlackRock Expands Tokenized Asset Strategy With Two New Funds
BlackRock is deepening its push into real-world asset tokenization with the launch of two funds designed to bring traditional cash management onto blockchain infrastructure. By offering tokenized versions of money market products, the world’s largest asset manager is bridging the gap between institutional liquidity strategies and decentralized ledger technology.
Circle’s Massive IBM Patent Acquisition Sparks Industry Unease
Circle has secured nearly 1,000 blockchain patents from IBM, effectively creating the largest intellectual property portfolio of its kind in the United States. While the issuer of the USDC stablecoin frames the deal as a strategic infrastructure boost, the move has triggered widespread anxiety among developers and smaller industry competitors.
Bernstein warns of crypto sell-off as CLARITY Act stalls in Senate
With the Senate’s summer recess looming and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act missing from the official August 3 schedule, market analysts at Bernstein are bracing for volatility. The bill’s path to a vote has narrowed significantly, leaving investors to weigh the risk of a sharp, immediate decline in digital asset prices.
Hashdex to Liquidate $14.7M Bitcoin ETF
Struggling to gain traction in a crowded market, Hashdex is shutting down its spot Bitcoin ETF, known by the ticker DEFI. The firm confirmed the fund will cease trading on NYSE Arca next month, marking a retreat for one of the smaller players in the competitive U.S. crypto asset space.
Bitmine Adds 10,399 ETH as BMNR Shares Face Market Resistance
Bitmine Immersion Technologies has expanded its Ethereum treasury to 5,797,813 ETH, representing 4.8% of the total circulating supply. Despite this aggressive accumulation and a third consecutive week of share repurchases totaling 4.5 million units, BMNR stock struggled to break past $17 amid investor concerns over substantial unrealized losses.
Morgan Stanley cuts Circle price target as USDC growth stalls
Circle shares tumbled 6% in premarket trading after Morgan Stanley downgraded the firm to Underweight and slashed its price target from $106 to $38. The brokerage cited stagnant stablecoin circulation and mounting pressure on reserve income as primary drivers for the drastic reduction in long-term performance expectations.
Strategy liquidates 1,638 Bitcoin to bolster preferred stock support
Strategy has offloaded 1,638 Bitcoin for $104.7 million, pivoting its capital allocation toward preferred-stock dividends and share repurchases. The move, detailed in a Monday SEC filing, highlights a shift in corporate priorities as the firm seeks to stabilize its STRC securities while expanding its U.S. dollar reserve to $4 billion.
Stacks looks to link Bitcoin liquidity to STX demand
Stacks is preparing to launch a self-custodial Bitcoin staking system, a move designed to transform dormant BTC capital into a recurring demand driver for its native asset, STX. The protocol’s success hinges on whether it can bridge the gap between Bitcoin’s massive market cap and the currently limited reach of decentralized finance.
Orbs Initiates DAO Transition With OIP-9 Governance Vote
After seven years of protocol development, the Orbs network is shifting toward decentralized control. The launch of OIP-9 invites staked token holders to formalize a new DAO governance framework, marking a deliberate move to transition core protocol decision-making from the development team to its broader community of participants.
South Africa Moves to Bring Crypto Transfers Under Bank Oversight
South Africa is tightening its grip on digital assets, proposing new regulations that require cross-border cryptocurrency transfers to flow through authorized service providers. The draft manual, released by the National Treasury and the Reserve Bank, aims to integrate crypto movements into the country’s existing foreign exchange surveillance framework.
American Bitcoin Reports $57 Million Loss Despite Mining Record
American Bitcoin Corp. posted a $57.2 million net loss for the second quarter, a figure dragged down by $71.2 million in digital asset write-downs. Despite the deficit, the firm—co-founded by Eric Trump and majority-owned by Hut 8—hit a record production milestone of 932 BTC, fueling a 14% growth in its total reserve.
London Jury Convicts Five in Brutal Crypto Extortion Case
Two French cryptocurrency investors were held captive for 52 hours in a London apartment, subjected to torture and forced to surrender $30,000 after their public displays of wealth on social media marked them as targets for a criminal gang operating under the direction of an overseas mastermind.
Robinhood Secures UK Crypto License Ahead of Regulatory Overhaul
Robinhood has gained official approval from the Financial Conduct Authority to operate cryptocurrency services in the United Kingdom. The company’s UK subsidiary was added to the regulator’s list of cryptoasset firms on July 31, granting the platform a strategic foothold before a major shift in British financial oversight.
David Schwartz proposes Bitcoin inheritance via shared hardware access
David Schwartz, co-creator of the XRP Ledger and Ripple board member, has outlined a method for Bitcoin inheritance that relies on splitting access to hardware wallets. By distributing duplicate devices and PINs among separate trusted parties, the proposal aims to create a barrier against unauthorized access while ensuring future recovery.
HashKey secures JPMorgan banking gateway for client funds
Hong Kong-based HashKey Exchange has received approval from JPMorgan Chase to open a segregated client funds account, marking a strategic expansion into U.S. dollar settlement services. The development positions the platform as the first licensed digital asset exchange in Asia to secure this specific banking bridge.
Bitget Exits Japanese Market Following Regulatory Warnings
Bitget has shuttered new registrations for Japan-based users, initiating a phased withdrawal that concludes with the mandatory closure of all remaining open positions by December 31. The decision follows a persistent series of warnings from Japanese financial regulators regarding the exchange’s unauthorized operations within the country.
Bithumb targets 2028 public listing amid governance overhaul
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has unveiled a three-year roadmap to go public by 2028, prioritizing structural transparency and rigorous financial compliance. The move signals a strategic pivot toward institutional-grade operations as the firm works to satisfy local regulatory standards while navigating recent privacy and anti-money laundering enforcement actions.
Ripple bets on UK startups to build out XRPL tokenization
Ripple has acquired stakes in London-based ZILO and Licuido, signaling a strategic expansion into the institutional tokenized fund market. By integrating these firms into the XRP Ledger, the company aims to bridge the gap between traditional transfer agency operations and digital asset settlement using its RLUSD stablecoin.
Standard Chartered-backed Anchorpoint delays HKDAP stablecoin rollout
After missing targets for the second quarter and July, the Standard Chartered-backed venture Anchorpoint Financial has pushed the debut of its Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, HKDAP, into August. The project, which secured an issuer license in April, is currently finalizing its infrastructure for cross-border payments and tokenized assets.
ZeroStack Signals Financial Distress as Treasury Value Plummets
With an accumulated deficit of $339.1 million and its primary digital asset treasury shedding 91% of its acquisition value, Nasdaq-listed ZeroStack has officially flagged substantial doubt regarding its ability to remain a going concern over the next 12 months, marking a stark reversal from its previous liquidity outlook.
The Smarter Web Company Expands Bitcoin Reserve to 2,712 BTC
With 2,712 BTC now under its control, The Smarter Web Company has reclaimed its momentum in the corporate treasury rankings. The London-listed firm confirmed an acquisition of 11.89 additional Bitcoin, marking a swift return to its accumulation strategy just weeks after settling a major debt obligation.
Trade.XYZ faces valuation rumors amid $200M funding speculation
Speculation is swirling through crypto circles that Trade.XYZ is pursuing a $200 million equity round at a $1.5 billion valuation. While the chatter has gained traction on social media, the company has remained silent, leaving the community divided over whether the potential deal represents a strategic move or mere market noise.
Binance Launches August Dual Investment Leaderboard with 5,888 USDC Prize
Binance has opened its August leaderboard for Dual Investment users, offering a top prize of 5,888 USDC. The exchange is ranking participants based on their average subscription volume and duration throughout the month, with the promotion running from August 3 through August 31 for verified accounts.
Coldcard Firmware Flaw Exposes Weakness in Hardware Wallet Security
A five-year-old vulnerability in Coldcard hardware wallets has triggered a wave of attacks, resulting in the suspected theft of nearly $90 million in Bitcoin. The incident has prompted industry leaders to demand independent verification of seed generation processes, which currently rely entirely on manufacturer self-attestation.
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Luno sets final withdrawal deadlines as regional exits loom
Luno customers in undisclosed regions now face a hard cutoff for their assets, as the exchange has disabled all cryptocurrency transfers to external wallets. With the June 29 transfer deadline passed, users must liquidate their holdings and withdraw fiat currency to a bank account before the final August 31 cutoff.
Bitcoin Braces for Macro Volatility Amid U.S. Economic Data Surge
Bitcoin traded near $62,747 early Monday, struggling to sustain momentum despite a brief climb to $63,697. As investors weigh the impact of diplomatic shifts in the Middle East, the digital asset faces a heavy week of U.S. economic data and corporate earnings that could redefine Federal Reserve policy expectations.
PayPal Reorganizes Around Stablecoins Amid Growth in Payment Volume
PayPal processed $486.4 billion in total payment volume during the second quarter, a 10% increase year-over-year. Alongside these financial results, the company formally integrated its stablecoin, PYUSD, into a new division dedicated to Payment Services & Crypto, signaling a broader strategic shift toward digital asset infrastructure.
SEC Stalls Nasdaq Bitcoin Options Amid Jurisdictional Clash
A high-stakes turf war over digital asset oversight has frozen Nasdaq’s plans for Bitcoin index options, as the SEC opens a formal review into whether the product falls under its authority or should be exclusively governed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.