Cryptocurrency
Trump Promises Retaliation Against Iran as Oil Prices Surge
Brent crude surged nearly 8% and Wall Street indices tumbled after Iran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. military installations in Jordan. President Donald Trump responded to the escalation by vowing to hit Tehran "very hard," signaling a volatile shift in Middle Eastern security that has rattled global financial markets.
Tether Brings USAT Stablecoin to Celo Network
Tether has expanded its US-focused USAT stablecoin to the Celo blockchain, enabling native minting and burning directly on the network. This deployment marks the token’s second mainnet integration after Ethereum, positioning the asset for broader adoption within Celo’s established ecosystem for digital-dollar payments and payroll services.
Freehand Secures $75 Million to Automate Enterprise Supply Chains
By deploying autonomous AI agents to manage invoices, negotiations, and payments, Freehand has closed a $75 million funding round. The startup, which emerged from stealth only in February, aims to replace traditional back-office outsourcing with software capable of running supply-chain operations for global giants like Meta and Unilever.
Patrick Witt Challenges Banking Coalition Over Stalled CLARITY Act
White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt has publicly challenged a coalition of 134 banking executives, accusing them of obstructionism as the CLARITY Act faces a record-low 27% probability of passing the Senate. The dispute centers on whether current legislative language is sufficient to prevent stablecoins from functioning as savings products.
Aviva Investors debuts tokenized fund share class on XRP Ledger
Aviva Investors has moved its partnership with Ripple into production, launching a tokenized share class for its US Dollar Liquidity Fund on the XRP Ledger. The Ireland-domiciled money market fund, which targets low-risk returns through short-term debt, now allows eligible investors to manage holdings via digital wallets.
OSL Opens XRP Trading to Retail Investors in Hong Kong
Hong Kong retail investors gained direct spot access to XRP on July 29, as OSL Digital Securities became the city’s first platform licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission to offer the asset. The rollout establishes a regulated fiat on-ramp, bypassing the need for offshore exchanges previously relied upon by local traders.
CLARITY Act passage odds drop to record 27% as Senate stalls
Traders on Polymarket have slashed the probability of the CLARITY Act becoming law by 2026 to a record-low 27%. The shift follows a decision by Senate leadership to prioritize a Russia sanctions package and federal nominations, leaving the crypto market structure bill sidelined ahead of the August recess.
XRP Ledger Enforces Mandatory Node Upgrade to Version 3.2.0
With 85.71% validator support, the XRP Ledger has officially activated the fixCleanup3_2_0 amendment, rendering any node operating on version 3.1.0 or older obsolete. Infrastructure providers must now migrate to version 3.2.0 to maintain network compatibility and prevent service interruptions across the mainnet.
Cathie Wood Seizes Market Rout to Bulk Up on Tesla and Nvidia
As a global tech sell-off rattled markets on July 28, Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest deployed $40.2 million to scoop up shares in Tesla, SpaceX, and Nvidia. The aggressive buying spree suggests the firm is doubling down on its conviction in autonomous technology and computing infrastructure despite mounting investor anxiety.
BNY Moves Institutional Fund Records to Blockchain
BNY has launched a digital transfer agency platform that shifts fund ownership records onto a shared blockchain ledger. By modernizing the infrastructure that tracks 7.6 million investor accounts, the New York-based custodian aims to eliminate the need for fragmented, multi-party reconciliation in the $8.6 trillion fund administration business.
Binance App Vanishes From Google Play in Parts of Europe
Users in Spain and Latvia report the Binance application has disappeared from the Google Play store, sparking fresh uncertainty over the exchange's compliance with the European Union’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework as the company scrambles to address localized access restrictions.
Long DeFi Touts AI-Driven Mining Amid Recent Crypto Market Volatility
As major cryptocurrencies like BTC and XRP face significant market turbulence, London-based Long DeFi is promoting its AI-powered cloud mining platform as a stabilizer. The company claims its automated analytics helped users navigate recent price swings by providing real-time hedging advice to protect their assets from further devaluation.
Russia Sets Regulatory Framework for Cryptocurrency Market Launch
The Bank of Russia has unveiled draft operating rules for crypto exchanges and digital depositories, marking a definitive shift toward a regulated market by September 1. The framework centralizes oversight under the regulator, establishing capital requirements for custodial institutions while granting trading platforms autonomy over specific operational procedures.
Hungary Repeals Crypto Validator Rules to Align With EU Standards
Hungary’s Parliament has voted to scrap a controversial mandatory validator requirement for cryptocurrency transactions, ending a regulatory hurdle that had forced multiple firms to suspend operations. The move signals a pivot toward the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, effectively reopening the country to digital asset service providers.
44 States Challenge CFTC Authority Over Prediction Markets
A coalition of 44 state attorneys general has demanded the Commodity Futures Trading Commission withdraw its proposed rule on event contracts, asserting the agency is overstepping its constitutional bounds. The filing claims that regulating sports betting remains a traditional state responsibility, directly challenging federal efforts to exert exclusive control over the sector.
Evernorth’s Nasdaq entry faces a high-stakes redemption test
Evernorth, a digital asset treasury company built to hold XRP, is heading toward a Nasdaq listing while carrying an unrealized deficit exceeding 50%. With the token trading near $1.10 against an average acquisition cost of $2.54, the company’s success depends entirely on whether SPAC shareholders choose equity over cash.
Senate Confirms Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton as Intelligence Chief
The U.S. Senate confirmed former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence on July 28, approving his nomination in a narrow 51-47 party-line vote. Clayton now moves to oversee the country’s 18 intelligence agencies, replacing acting Director William Pulte following a contentious confirmation process.
White House teleprompter operator exits after prediction market scandal
Gabriel Perez, a long-time White House teleprompter operator, has departed the federal government following allegations that he exploited advance access to Donald Trump’s speeches to profit from prediction market bets. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission continues to investigate whether Perez improperly leveraged confidential data for financial gain.
Coinbase Elevates Rob Witoff to CTO Amid AI-Driven Workforce Shift
Rob Witoff, an early engineer who helped architect the exchange’s foundational systems, has been named chief technology officer at Coinbase. The appointment arrives as the company aggressively pivots toward AI-assisted workflows, a transition that saw the exchange reduce its headcount by 14% earlier this year to streamline operations.
Uzbekistan Launches Beshkala Mining Valley to Spur Regional Growth
Under a presidential resolution effective April 20, Uzbekistan has designated the entire Republic of Karakalpakstan as the Beshkala Mining Valley. The initiative creates a regulated environment for cryptocurrency mining, pairing significant tax incentives with a push to integrate digital asset revenue into the national banking system.
UK regulator sees limited retail role for stablecoins
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has concluded that stablecoins offer little appeal for domestic retail payments, identifying cross-border transfers as their only robust practical application. While consumers remain satisfied with existing payment methods, merchants may find value in the technology’s potential for lower transaction costs and faster settlement.
Russia issues international arrest warrant for Pavel Durov
Russian authorities have placed Telegram founder Pavel Durov on an international wanted list, accusing him of facilitating terrorist activity. This move intensifies a global legal struggle for the executive, who remains under criminal investigation in France for failing to curb illegal content and criminal abuse on his messaging platform.
Gate US Integrates BitGo Off-Exchange Settlement Network
Institutional clients at Gate US can now trade while keeping their assets in segregated custody at BitGo Bank & Trust, following the exchange's integration into BitGo’s Go Network on July 28. This move separates trade execution from asset storage, aiming to mitigate counterparty risk for U.S. market participants.
Emirates Integrates Crypto.com Pay for UAE Flight Bookings
Passengers residing in the UAE can now settle Emirates flight bookings using digital assets through the Crypto.com Pay platform. The launch, which took effect July 28, marks a shift toward broader digital payment adoption within the aviation sector, aligning with Dubai’s ambitious push to transition toward a cashless economy by late 2026.
Jump Capital Closes $350 Million Fund With Focus on Crypto Infrastructure
Jump Capital has finalized its seventh venture fund, securing $350 million to intensify its commitment to blockchain infrastructure, decentralized finance, and Web3. The firm, which has completed over 100 investments since 2012, intends to deploy this capital toward early-stage technology startups while expanding its footprint in digital asset markets.
Galaxy Digital Secures 500 Acres in Texas for AI Data Center
Galaxy Digital has acquired 500 acres in McGregor, Texas, marking the site of its second major high-performance computing campus. The company plans to launch an initial 74-megawatt phase by 2028, positioning the project just below the state’s regulatory threshold for large-load electricity customers.
Zcash Activates Ironwood Upgrade to Replace Vulnerable Orchard Pool
Zcash has officially activated its Ironwood network upgrade at block height 3,428,143, effectively replacing the Orchard shielded pool with a formally verified alternative. This transition aims to permanently resolve concerns regarding supply integrity following the discovery of a theoretical vulnerability that could have enabled undetectable counterfeiting.
Visa expands crypto strategy as quarterly revenue climbs 14%
Reporting $11.63 billion in quarterly revenue, Visa is pivoting toward a comprehensive blockchain infrastructure model. The payments giant is integrating stablecoin settlement, AI-powered commerce, and tokenized bank deposits into its core operations, aiming to serve as the primary bridge between traditional finance and decentralized networks.
Myanmar Parliament Approves Anti-Online Scam Legislation
Myanmar’s Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has finalized the Anti-Online Scam Bill, imposing severe penalties ranging from ten years imprisonment to life sentences for those involved in digital currency fraud. The legislation targets the sprawling network of scam centers, forced labor, and financial infrastructures that have proliferated across the country.
Ten European Banks Launch Cooperative to Govern Tokenized Markets
Ten major financial institutions have established Regulated Layer One, a Luxembourg-based cooperative designed to oversee a private, permissioned distributed-ledger network. By shifting ownership of the existing SWIAT infrastructure to this collective, the founding members aim to standardize tokenized bond, collateral, and digital money settlements across the European market.