All news
Hong Kong Regulator Freezes HK$125M in Futu Client Account
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has frozen HK$125.247 million in a single client account at Futu Securities International, citing an ongoing probe into suspected IPO share manipulation. The regulator emphasized that the brokerage itself is not under investigation and its broader operations remain unaffected by the order.
Bitget Wallet pivots to tokenized rewards for cardholders
Starting August 1, Bitget Wallet card users will see their purchase rewards automatically converted into Bitcoin, tokenized stocks, or gold. The new "Assetback" program replaces the platform's traditional cash-back model, pushing users toward a recurring investment strategy as they spend across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa.
Mark Zuckerberg stakes Meta’s claim on personal superintelligence
Mark Zuckerberg has declared that the future of artificial intelligence must prioritize individual empowerment over institutional control. In a recent manifesto, the Meta CEO argued that concentrating superintelligence within a handful of organizations creates a dangerous power imbalance, advocating instead for the widespread distribution of these tools to the general public.
Bank of Korea Advances Digital Currency with Project Agora Trials
The Bank of Korea has successfully processed live cross-border transactions using tokenized central bank reserves, marking a pivotal step in the BIS-led Project Agora. By validating payment workflows across six major currencies, the central bank is testing the viability of wholesale digital assets to replace traditional, fragmented settlement systems.
Integrating AI into Linux VPS Security
Legacy rule-based security systems are increasingly struggling to keep pace with the sophisticated, unpredictable nature of modern cyber threats. For small and mid-sized businesses relying on Linux VPS environments, shifting toward AI-driven monitoring offers a critical advantage: the ability to detect anomalous behavior rather than just matching known attack patterns.
Samsung SDS pivots to stablecoin infrastructure with Dunamu partnership
South Korea’s Samsung SDS is moving beyond passive investment, leveraging its recent stake in Dunamu to build the backbone for next-generation digital finance. President Lee Joon-hee confirmed the company is actively developing stablecoin infrastructure and AI-powered payment systems, marking a shift toward deep integration with the operator of the Upbit exchange.
Aave Plans Withdrawal From Six Networks in $98 Million Cleanup
The Aave lending protocol is preparing a sweeping reduction of its footprint, targeting the closure of six blockchain deployments and the removal of 50 low-adoption asset reserves. Founder Stani Kulechov confirmed the plan on July 30, citing a need to streamline operations and phase out underperforming liquidity pools.
Senate Judiciary Committee Stalls Todd Blanche Nomination
Conflict emerged within the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as a scheduled vote to advance Todd Blanche for U.S. attorney general was abruptly postponed. The delay follows a standoff over Blanche's refusal to provide written commitments regarding a controversial $10 billion IRS settlement involving President Donald Trump.
OpenSea CMO Adam Hollander Steps Down After 18-Month Tenure
Adam Hollander is departing his role as chief marketing officer at OpenSea after an 18-month run, citing a need to prioritize his health and family. The executive confirmed his exit in a public post this week, clarifying that he is not transitioning to another firm or seeking new employment.
China Business Journal warns of Bitcoin extortion scheme
Executives are being targeted by an impersonation campaign where scammers pose as China Business Journal reporters to solicit Bitcoin. Using Proton Mail, the perpetrators threaten to publish damaging investigative reports unless companies pay to suppress the findings, a tactic that leverages the publication’s reputation to intimidate business leaders.
Ostium Identifies Off-Chain Breach as Source of $23.75M Exploit
A $23.75 million drain from Ostium’s liquidity vault was not caused by code flaws, but by an intruder infiltrating the protocol’s off-chain infrastructure. The attacker manipulated BTC-USD price reports to fabricate trading profits, bypassing security checks while leaving the protocol’s core smart contracts entirely intact.
SEC Prepares Regulatory Pivot as CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins has signaled that the agency is prepared to establish its own crypto market framework should the CLARITY Act fail to secure a Senate vote. While Atkins continues to support the legislative path, he maintains that the SEC remains ready to act unilaterally.
Australia Sues Telegram Over Failure to Remove Extremist Content
The Australian eSafety Commissioner has launched Federal Court proceedings against Telegram, alleging the platform repeatedly ignored notices to remove videos of mass shootings. If found in violation of national safety standards, the company faces civil penalties reaching A$54.6 million for failing to curb extremist material.
Schroders Pre-Tax Profit Doubles Amid Nuveen Acquisition
UK asset manager Schroders reported a statutory pre-tax profit of £396.8 million for the first half of 2026, more than double the £196.9 million recorded a year prior. The surge comes as the firm nears its acquisition by the US-based Nuveen, reflecting a broader trend of transatlantic consolidation in wealth management.
BitGo Deploys Quantum-Risk Controls for Institutional Bitcoin Wallets
Institutional custodian BitGo has introduced four new risk management controls designed to measure and mitigate public-key exposure in Bitcoin wallets. While current quantum computing power remains insufficient to threaten the network, these tools allow institutions to proactively manage data visibility before future cryptographic vulnerabilities materialize.
Binance.US Pivots to Prediction Markets with CFTC License Bid
Binance.US intends to apply for a Commodity Futures Trading Commission license this August to launch a regulated prediction market platform. CEO Stephen Gregory confirmed the move at the Rare Evo conference in Las Vegas, marking a aggressive effort to move beyond spot crypto trading and regain lost U.S. market share.
PIMCO Brings StocksPLUS Strategy to UCITS ETF Market
PIMCO is expanding its European fund lineup by converting its long-standing StocksPLUS strategy into a UCITS ETF format. The new PIMCO Advantage StocksPLUS US Large Cap UCITS ETF aims to marry US equity exposure with active fixed income management, marking a significant shift in how the firm distributes its flagship investment products.
Societe Generale Private Banking Profits Jump 18 Percent
Societe Generale’s private banking division posted a robust €363 million in net income for the second quarter of 2026, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase. This growth reflects a broader trend of rising performance across the French lender's business units as the group pivots toward higher profitability targets.
Visa Keeps Stablecoin Strategy Open as Open USD Launch Looms
As the Open USD stablecoin prepares for its debut, Visa CEO Ryan McInerney has signaled that the payments giant will not abandon its agnostic approach to digital assets. Despite joining a consortium of 140 companies backing the new token, Visa maintains that its infrastructure remains focused on neutral multi-chain support.
St James's Place Profit Dips Amid Fee Restructuring and Refunds
St James's Place reported a decline in adjusted pre-tax profits to £278.4 million for the first half of 2026, down from £307.0 million a year prior. While assets under management climbed to a record £240.8 billion, the wealth manager faces ongoing pressure from charging controversies and a shift in its fee model.
South Korea Considers Interim Rules for Stablecoins
South Korean policymakers are facing pressure to introduce interim stablecoin licensing guidance, potentially decoupling the sector from the slower legislative progress of the broader Digital Asset Basic Act. A recent policy report argues that waiting for comprehensive legislation leaves local businesses without the clarity needed to operate won-backed payment services.
U.S. Targets Iranian Maritime Insurers Over Bitcoin Payment Allegations
The U.S. Treasury Department has blacklisted two Iranian maritime insurance firms, accusing them of operating an extortion scheme that accepts Bitcoin to bypass international sanctions. While officials claim the platform supports Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps revenue, the government provided no on-chain evidence to verify specific cryptocurrency transactions or volumes.
Nominations Open for 2027 WealthBriefing WealthTech Americas Awards
The Sixth WealthBriefing WealthTech Americas Awards have officially opened for entries, inviting firms across North and Latin America to showcase their latest innovations. The program highlights leaders in the wealth technology ecosystem, spanning critical sectors from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to digital client onboarding and regulatory compliance.
Luno Joins Wave of Crypto Layoffs With 20% Workforce Cut
Crypto exchange Luno is cutting 20% of its global workforce, a restructuring move confirmed by CEO James Lanigan to pivot resources toward institutional and business-to-business services. The decision follows a broader industry trend that saw at least 12 crypto-related companies announce staff reductions throughout July.
Gumi and SBI Launch ¥3 Billion Crypto Fund
Starting August 1, Japanese developer Gumi and SBI Financial Services are pooling ¥3 billion to bet on Bitcoin and major altcoins. The move signals a deepening corporate commitment to digital assets, even as the partners keep specific custody details and individual investment allocations under wraps.
Ethereum Foundation Expands Board With Security Specialist
The Ethereum Foundation has appointed Pascal Caversaccio, co-founder of the emergency response service SEAL 911, to its four-member governing board. This voluntary one-year term signals a strategic shift for the organization, which is increasingly prioritizing privacy, censorship resistance, and hardened security protocols within its governance framework.
American Arbitration Association Opens Specialized Web3 Dispute Panel
When blockchain protocols, smart contracts, and autonomous transactions collide with traditional legal expectations, the American Arbitration Association is stepping in to mediate. The organization launched a dedicated Web3 panel on July 29, assembling a roster of experts to untangle the complexities of decentralized finance and digital asset ownership.
Robinhood Revenue Hits $1.31B as Prediction Markets Outpace Crypto
Robinhood Markets posted record second-quarter revenue of $1.31 billion, a 32% year-over-year surge driven by explosive growth in event contracts. While the platform’s new prediction-market offerings eclipsed its crypto transaction business, the company faces ongoing regulatory uncertainty as it pivots its revenue mix toward high-frequency trading and subscription services.
BitRiver Founder Igor Runets Jailed in Billion-Ruble Fraud Probe
A Moscow court has ordered BitRiver founder Igor Runets into pretrial detention for two months, escalating a high-stakes fraud investigation. Authorities allege that Runets’s firm, Fox Group, pocketed nearly 1 billion rubles in advance payments for cryptocurrency mining equipment that was never delivered to a subsidiary of the En+ Group.
Israeli Conscientious Objector Released After 130 Days in Military Prison
After serving five separate terms totaling 130 days in Neve Tzedek military prison, 18-year-old Yuval Peleg has been granted an exemption from service in the Israel Defense Forces. His release on January 6 follows a protracted legal and personal standoff over his refusal to participate in the military’s ongoing operations in Gaza.