Cryptocurrency
Binance co-founder CZ lobbies for ASEAN crypto license passporting
A crypto firm licensed in one ASEAN nation should face fewer hurdles when entering neighboring markets, according to Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao. Speaking at the ASEAN Tech Summit in Manila, Zhao backed a proposal to streamline regional licensing, aiming to reduce the burden of repeated, fragmented regulatory applications.
Psalion Debuts $50 Million Fund for Blockchain Infrastructure
With $50 million in fresh capital, Singapore-based Psalion has launched its third venture fund, targeting seed-stage projects across decentralized finance, real-world assets, and stablecoin infrastructure. Managed by Conduit Asset Management, the vehicle arrives as investors increasingly prioritize projects that bridge traditional business models with on-chain functionality.
Judge Torres denies Kalshi emergency bid in state law clash
U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres has dealt a significant blow to KalshiEX, denying the prediction market’s request for an emergency injunction that would have shielded it from New York gambling laws pending an appeal. The ruling marks a continued standoff over whether federal registration preempts local regulation.
Upbit Adds Ripple USD to KRW, BTC and USDT Trading Markets
South Korean exchange Upbit launched trading for Ripple USD (RLUSD) on July 28, opening pairs against the Korean won, Bitcoin, and Tether. The move marks a significant expansion for Ripple's stablecoin in a region where XRP has historically maintained high retail interest and robust trading volumes.
Kraken Parent Payward Acquires Magic Labs Wallet Infrastructure
Infrastructure that has supported 60 million digital wallets is changing hands as Payward, the parent company of Kraken, moves to absorb the wallet-as-a-service business of Magic Labs. The deal, announced July 27, marks a significant expansion of Payward’s B2B services through an asset purchase of non-custodial technology.
Zimbabwe SEC Opens Regulatory Sandbox for Seven Fintech Ventures
Seven fintech companies have secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe to launch live trials within a controlled regulatory sandbox. With four of the selected projects focusing on asset tokenization, the initiative aims to stress-test blockchain-based fundraising, crowdfunding, and synthetic trading under strict commission oversight.
KOSPI halts trading as chip stocks trigger market-wide selloff
The Korea Exchange suspended trading on the KOSPI index for 20 minutes on July 28 after a sharp 8.02% plunge. The activation of a Level 1 circuit breaker at 10:13 a.m. local time marked the eighth such intervention in 2026, as investors scrambled to offload heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
Federal Judge Halts Minnesota’s Ban on Prediction Markets
Five days before a sweeping state ban on prediction markets was set to criminalize platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, a federal judge intervened. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez issued a preliminary injunction on July 27, effectively blocking Minnesota from enforcing its new statute against federally registered contract markets.
Stablecoin Markets Diverge as Record Velocity Masks Supply Contraction
The stablecoin ecosystem experienced a striking contradiction in June 2026: while market capitalization shrank by $7.7 billion—the largest monthly exit since the 2022 Terra-Luna collapse—on-chain transaction volume surged to an unprecedented $1.79 trillion, signaling a period of intense capital turnover rather than a uniform market retreat.
X Money Launches Financial Services for US Premium Subscribers
X has officially integrated banking tools into its social media platform, allowing US Premium and Premium+ subscribers to open interest-bearing accounts, utilize Visa debit cards, and execute instant peer-to-peer transfers. The move marks a significant step in Elon Musk’s long-standing ambition to transition the site into an all-encompassing financial hub.
New York AG warns CLARITY Act risks crippling state crypto fraud probes
New York Attorney General Letitia James is pushing Congress to overhaul the CLARITY Act, arguing that the proposed federal crypto framework would strip states of their power to prosecute fraud. James warns that preempting local enforcement could shield bad actors in a sector where states handle 98.8% of all arrests.
AMINA Bank eyes public markets with Cantor Fitzgerald advisory
Swiss digital asset lender AMINA Bank is exploring a potential public listing, enlisting Cantor Fitzgerald to guide the firm through the early stages of its market entry. While a definitive timeline and valuation remain under wraps, the move signals a shift toward bringing regulated crypto-banking services onto public exchanges.
Metaplanet Eyes Bitcoin-Backed Bonds via New Securities Arm
Metaplanet is preparing to issue Bitcoin-backed bonds offering annual yields between 4% and 6%, leveraging its recent acquisition of Siiibo Securities to establish a regulated platform for corporate debt. The move signals a shift for the firm from a passive Bitcoin holder to a provider of specialized financial products.
Ondo Finance Pivots to Execution Layer to Rival Centralized Exchanges
Ondo Finance has officially abandoned its planned Ondo Chain in favor of the Ondo Network, a new execution layer designed to bridge the gap between decentralized self-custody and the high-speed, private performance of centralized trading platforms.
Tether Gold secures Shariah certification for XAU₮
Tether Gold has officially secured Shariah compliance for its XAU₮ token, a move designed to integrate the gold-backed asset into Islamic financial markets. The certification, issued by Amanah Advisors, validates the token’s structure against principles prohibiting interest and speculative derivatives while ensuring direct ownership of physical bullion stored in Swiss vaults.
Senate Republicans Race Against Time for Clarity Act Vote
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing for a procedural vote on the Clarity Act before the August 7 recess, but the legislation faces a precarious path. With Republicans holding only 53 seats, the bill requires significant Democratic support to clear the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.
Tokenized stock market hits 752K users as retail demand surges
The number of tokenized equity holders spiked 92% over the last month, reaching 752,000 across five major platforms. While Robinhood dominates the retail user base with a 44% market share, institutional giants like Ondo and xStocks continue to command the vast majority of total asset value.
Securitize Gains SEC Adviser Status as Shares Slide
Securitize Capital has officially secured investment adviser status with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, a move that subjects the firm to rigorous federal oversight. While the company expands its regulatory footprint, investors reacted with caution as SECZ stock dropped nearly 10% during Monday’s trading session.
CFTC Pushes for Emergency Ruling to Halt Minnesota Prediction Market Ban
With Minnesota’s criminal ban on prediction markets set to take effect August 1, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has petitioned a federal court for an urgent ruling. The regulator fears the state law will turn federally overseen trading platforms into criminal operations if the court does not intervene immediately.
Binance Futures Adds Leveraged Exposure to Bitcoin and Treasury ETFs
Binance Futures has launched three new USDT-settled perpetual contracts tied to the ProShares Bitcoin ETF and two U.S. Treasury products, allowing traders to take leveraged positions on traditional financial assets around the clock without directly purchasing the underlying shares.
BitMine Shares Rally as Treasury Holdings Near 5% of Ethereum Supply
BitMine Immersion Technologies surged nearly 11% on Monday as Ethereum reclaimed the $1,900 mark, fueled by the company’s aggressive acquisition of 9,946 ETH last week. The move brings BitMine’s total treasury to 5.79 million ETH, pushing the firm closer to its stated goal of controlling 5% of the total supply.
Tesla Wins Supreme Court Appeal Over 5G Patent Licensing
The UK Supreme Court has handed Tesla a significant legal victory, overturning lower court decisions that previously barred the automaker from challenging 5G licensing terms. The ruling forces patent platform Avanci and patent holder InterDigital to face a judicial review regarding whether their $32-per-vehicle fee meets fair and non-discriminatory standards.
Crypto Treasury Firms Pivot to AI Amid Market Cooling
More than a dozen digital asset treasury companies are abandoning their core crypto-accumulation strategies in favor of artificial intelligence and data centers. As falling asset prices compress treasury premiums, these firms are attempting to reinvent themselves as operational businesses to win back skeptical investors, though early market results remain grim.
Circle Acquires IBM Blockchain Patent Portfolio
Circle Internet Group has secured over 680 IBM patent families, encompassing nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide. This acquisition grants the stablecoin issuer a broad intellectual property base spanning blockchain infrastructure, secure cloud operations, and enterprise banking, positioning the company to bolster its USDC ecosystem and emerging agentic finance tools.
Hyperliquid and Multicoin push for federal oversight of prediction markets
The Hyperliquid Policy Center and Multicoin Capital have formally backed the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s proposed framework for event contracts. By advocating for standardized federal oversight, the firms aim to replace current regulatory ambiguity with a predictable, transparent process for reviewing derivatives tied to sensitive real-world events.
BitMine Inches Toward 5% Ethereum Target With Fresh Buybacks
BitMine Immersion Technologies has pushed its Ethereum holdings to 5,787,414 tokens, capturing roughly 4.8% of the total circulating supply. Chairman Tom Lee continues to aggressivey execute the company's "Alchemy of 5%" strategy, pairing weekly asset accumulation with a significant $4 billion share repurchase program.
Strategy Beefs Up Cash Reserves, Halts Bitcoin Buying
Strategy has expanded its U.S. dollar reserve to $3.75 billion, a move that provides roughly 2.1 years of coverage for preferred stock dividends. While the company bolstered its liquidity through $544.5 million in common stock sales, it maintained its Bitcoin holdings at 843,775 BTC, continuing a multi-week pause in accumulation.
SparkKitty Malware Turns Smartphone Galleries into Security Liabilities
A persistent mobile malware campaign known as SparkKitty is back in the spotlight, reminding users that storing cryptocurrency recovery phrases in phone photo galleries invites immediate theft. While recent warnings have renewed alarm, security researchers confirm the threat traces back to a 2025 discovery rather than a fresh emergence.
Zcash Schedules Ironwood Upgrade to Resolve Orchard Supply Uncertainties
Following the discovery of a critical vulnerability in the Orchard shielded pool, Zcash will trigger its NU6.3 Ironwood upgrade on July 28 at block height 3,428,143. The network shift forces a transition to a new shielded pool, introducing a turnstile mechanism designed to verify the total circulating supply of ZEC.
Choosing a Prop Firm: Multi-Asset Platforms vs. Crypto-Native Specialists
With over 2,000 proprietary trading firms currently active, retail traders face a complex landscape when seeking external capital. Choosing between multi-asset platforms, which integrate crypto into broader financial markets, and crypto-native firms, which provide specialized digital asset liquidity, requires balancing specific payout structures, drawdown rules, and leverage limits.