Cryptocurrency
MoonPay Adds Cash App Pay to U.S. Crypto Onramp
U.S. crypto users can now fund purchases directly via Cash App balances through MoonPay’s checkout system. The integration, which simplifies the process by removing the need for external transfers, extends to major partner platforms including MetaMask, Ledger, and Trust Wallet to reach millions of active Cash App customers.
Whitechain pivots to distribution-focused Ethereum Layer 2
Whitechain is relaunching as an Ethereum Layer 2 network, moving away from the industry's standard focus on scalability and transaction fees. Backed by W Group and exchange giant WhiteBIT, the platform aims to solve the persistent Web3 challenge of user acquisition by leveraging a massive existing ecosystem of 40 million users.
Blockchain Association pushes SEC to modernize 2005-era market rules
The Blockchain Association has formally urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to repeal two legacy market rules, arguing that outdated regulations from 2005 are obstructing the integration of tokenized securities into public blockchain networks and stifling technological innovation in equity trading.
Kraken Expands European Trading to Include U.S. Equities
Eligible customers across the European Economic Area can now trade over 7,000 U.S.-listed stocks directly through Kraken. This rollout integrates traditional equities into the same platform as the exchange’s existing catalog of 600 crypto assets and 700 tokenized xStocks, allowing users to move between asset classes without transferring capital.
BitBox Patches Severe Vulnerabilities in Hardware Wallets
BitBox has issued a critical firmware update to resolve two severe security flaws in its BitBox02 and BitBox02 Nova hardware wallets. While the vulnerabilities posed risks of unauthorized code execution and Bitcoin address manipulation, the company confirmed that no user funds have been lost and no exploits were detected.
HTX Probes Mystery Deposits Amid Address Poisoning Concerns
Cryptocurrency exchange HTX has launched an internal investigation into unsolicited USDT deposits appearing in user wallets, following community speculation that these transfers originated from official exchange addresses. The platform maintains that no internal testing or official activity initiated the transactions, casting doubt on the reported connection to its systems.
James Chanos revives debate over Strategy’s Bitcoin arbitrage
Short seller James Chanos recently labeled Strategy and its Bitcoin holdings an $80 billion actionable spread, reigniting scrutiny over the company’s valuation. While the claim suggests a massive market inefficiency, the math behind the assertion ignores the complex interplay of corporate debt, preferred stock, and evolving treasury management.
South Korea Orders Access Block to Polymarket Over Gambling Concerns
South Korean regulators have moved to restrict access to the crypto-based prediction platform Polymarket, citing its winner-takes-all structure as a violation of domestic gambling laws. The Broadcasting, Media and Communications Review Committee determined that the site functions as an illegal venue for speculative wagering, regardless of its underlying decentralized technology.
DOJ Investigates Andreessen Horowitz Over Potential AI Board Conflicts
The U.S. Justice Department is scrutinizing Andreessen Horowitz for potential violations of antitrust law, specifically investigating whether the venture capital firm’s partners hold conflicting board seats across competing artificial intelligence companies. The probe, active for nearly a year, highlights the delicate regulatory landscape surrounding interlocking directorates in the tech sector.
EU Authorizes Nationwide Crypto Bans to Curb Sanctions Evasion
The European Union has moved to tighten its financial net against Russia, granting itself the power to blacklist entire countries if their crypto sectors systematically facilitate sanctions evasion. This legislative pivot follows the adoption of the bloc's 21st sanctions package, which also immediately cuts ties with 14 specific foreign platforms.
Hyperliquid Policy Center and Douro Labs Push for Rule 611 Repeal
The Hyperliquid Policy Center and Douro Labs have formally backed the SEC’s proposal to repeal Regulation NMS Rule 611, arguing that the 2005-era mandate effectively blocks the integration of modern, onchain markets into the broader U.S. financial landscape.
Circle’s EURC Stablecoin Surpasses €400 Million in Circulation
The supply of Circle’s euro-backed stablecoin, EURC, has more than doubled over the past year to exceed €400 million. This growth marks a shift in the digital asset landscape, as institutional platforms and payment networks increasingly adopt the token for treasury operations and cross-border settlement within the European Union.
Ethereum's Glamsterdam Upgrade Risks Breaking Wallet Gas Estimators
The Ethereum Foundation is warning developers that the upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade will invalidate hardcoded gas assumptions, potentially causing wallets, indexers, and gas estimation tools to fail. With the fork set to activate on the Platåberget testnet on August 20, the shift necessitates an urgent review of how applications calculate transaction costs.
BitMine Adds 9,926 ETH, Inches Toward 5% Supply Target
BitMine Immersion Technologies expanded its Ethereum treasury by 9,926 tokens in the week ending August 16, bringing its total holdings to 5,815,164 ETH. This latest acquisition moves the company closer to its self-imposed objective of controlling 5% of the total Ethereum supply, a goal the firm labels the “Alchemy of 5%.”
CFTC Weighs Public Input on AI Compute Futures
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is moving to solicit public feedback on futures contracts tied to artificial intelligence computing capacity. This regulatory step, currently under review by the White House, arrives as CME Group targets an October 5 launch for products priced against Silicon Data’s GPU rental benchmarks.
Binance eyes UK return with planned FCA license application
Binance is preparing to seek authorization from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, aiming for a formal market re-entry as Britain prepares to implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets in October 2027.
Compound pivots to institutional credit with $52 million development push
The Compound Foundation is mounting a significant strategic pivot toward institutional finance, securing DAO approval for a $52 million development program designed to integrate real-world assets and bank-grade lending infrastructure. This initiative marks the largest capital allocation in the protocol's history as it seeks to reclaim lost market share.
Crypto Ponzi suspect deported from Fiji to face 25 federal charges
Edward Zimbardi returned to U.S. custody on August 14 after Fijian authorities deported him to answer for an alleged $165 million cryptocurrency fraud. The 59-year-old Georgia resident now faces 25 federal counts, including wire fraud and money laundering, stemming from his operation of the defunct investment platform, The Crypto Program.
Neynar seeks new operator for Farcaster seven months after acquisition
Less than seven months after taking control of the decentralized social protocol Farcaster, Neynar is searching for a new team to manage the platform. Cofounder Rish Maheshwari announced the search on August 17, initiating a transition that also includes the token launch platform Clanker and Neynar’s developer tools.
Jane Street Reports Over $1 Billion in Bitcoin ETF Holdings
Quantitative trading giant Jane Street disclosed more than $1 billion in U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF shares as of June 30, 2026. The firm’s quarterly regulatory filing reveals a significant rebound in its holdings, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust accounting for the vast majority of that position.
Blockchain Association pushes SEC to overhaul legacy trading rules
The Blockchain Association has formally urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to rescind two provisions of Regulation NMS, arguing that rules drafted in 2005 for traditional stock exchanges now stifle the growth of tokenized securities and prevent the adoption of more efficient, automated settlement processes.
Ripple Secures First South Korean Regional Banking Partnership
Jeonbuk Bank has become the first regional institution in South Korea to integrate Ripple Payments, signaling a shift in how smaller lenders handle cross-border remittances. The partnership aims to replace sluggish correspondent banking with near-instant settlement, though both parties remain silent on specific transaction corridors or asset utilization.
Payward Deploys Anthropic’s Claude Mythos 5 for Security Audits
Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, has joined Anthropic’s Project Glasswing to integrate the Claude Mythos 5 artificial intelligence model into its defensive cybersecurity operations. The initiative aims to automate the discovery of software vulnerabilities across the company’s infrastructure, shifting the balance from attackers to defenders.
World Liberty Financial Secures Conditional Federal Trust Charter
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has granted preliminary approval for World Liberty Trust Company to establish a national trust bank. The Florida-based entity intends to manage USD1 stablecoin reserves and provide digital asset custody, though it must meet significant preopening capital and regulatory requirements before launching operations.
Why seed-stage crypto startups shouldn't be measured by revenue
Varun Datta, CEO of Truth Ventures, is warning investors against applying traditional recurring revenue benchmarks to seed-stage crypto startups. As the industry grapples with a wave of project closures and bankruptcies, Datta argues that evaluating early-stage teams through the lens of established businesses ignores the fundamental realities of product development.
Cardano faces bearish pressure as Dijkstra roadmap fails to lift price
Cardano is struggling to maintain its footing near $0.17, with the token slipping 1% as traders weigh a new two-stage technical roadmap against a deteriorating chart structure. While the upcoming Dijkstra upgrade promises significant scaling improvements, the market remains focused on immediate support levels and heavy liquidation risks.
Fireblocks Hires Former SEC Chair Roisman to Lead Regulatory Strategy
Fireblocks has appointed former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission acting chairman Elad Roisman as its chief regulatory and policy officer. Operating from Washington, D.C., Roisman will manage the company’s legal affairs and serve as the primary liaison to global regulators as institutional adoption of blockchain-based financial infrastructure accelerates.
Token Launch Platform Printr Shuts Down Operations
Printr will shutter its token launch platform by August 31, ending a short-lived venture that failed to secure the capital required for long-term survival. The company confirmed it will not hold a token generation event or distribute an airdrop, leaving users to manage their remaining on-chain assets independently.
Ethereum researchers eye privacy-focused upgrades for 2027
Ethereum researchers are pushing to prioritize two specific technical upgrades for the 2027 Hegotá fork, aiming to grant privacy pools the ability to cover their own transaction fees. By decoupling fee payments from third-party intermediaries, the proposed changes seek to reduce network reliance on external relayers and enhance transaction censorship resistance.
NAVI Protocol targets institutional capital with new Sui lending framework
NAVI Protocol has unveiled NAVI Prime, a specialized lending framework built on the Sui blockchain. The product aims to bridge the gap between institutional fund requirements and decentralized finance by offering enhanced transparency and granular control over capital management for professional market participants seeking onchain exposure.