Cryptocurrency
Coinbase Ventures Maintains Lead in Stagnant Crypto VC Market
While broader crypto fundraising suffers from a sharp contraction, Coinbase Ventures has aggressively sustained its pace, finalizing 30 startup investments during the first half of 2026. This performance secures its position as the industry’s most active backer, outpacing rivals like Animoca Brands and a16z despite a cooling capital environment.
Aave standardizes cross-chain operations using Chainlink CCIP
Aave has designated Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol as its primary infrastructure for cross-chain activity, consolidating tasks ranging from governance to asset management under a single standard. This shift replaces fragmented systems, allowing for seamless token transfers and vault rebalancing across the protocol’s supported blockchain networks.
Bolivia Moves to Integrate USDT Into National Payment Infrastructure
With foreign currency reserves dwindling after years of declining energy exports, Bolivian officials are weighing a proposal to grant Tether’s USDT official status as a payment instrument. This shift would position the country as the first in Latin America to formally integrate a stablecoin alongside the boliviano and the dollar.
Hyundai tests Tether stablecoin for cross-border treasury payments
Seven minutes is all it took for Hyundai Motor to move $20,000 between its U.S. and Mexican divisions using Tether’s USDT. This pilot, executed over the Avalanche blockchain, signals a shift in corporate treasury operations seeking to bypass the multi-hour delays typical of conventional banking systems for international settlements.
SpaceX shares slump toward IPO price despite FAA green light
SpaceX stock has dipped below the $140 threshold, shedding 12% over the last five trading days even as the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the company to proceed with the Starship Flight 13 mission following a successful review of the previous launch mishap.
Trump ties CLARITY Act passage to late Senator Graham’s legacy
President Donald Trump is pressing the Senate to pass the CLARITY Act as a tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, framing the legislation as a vital safeguard for American dominance in digital assets and artificial intelligence against international rivals like China.
Bitmine accumulates 5.77 million ETH as Robinhood Chain gains traction
Bitmine has bolstered its Ethereum reserves with a fresh purchase of 27,801 ETH, pushing total holdings to 5.77 million coins. Chairman Tom Lee maintains that the firm’s aggressive accumulation strategy remains on track, identifying the Robinhood Chain as a pivotal engine for driving real-world utility and demand for the asset.
Dormant Bitcoin Whale Shifts $188 Million After Seven-Year Hiatus
A long-dormant Bitcoin wallet, silent for seven years, moved 2,931 BTC to a new address on Sunday. The transfer, valued at approximately $188 million, marks the first significant onchain activity for an account that last transacted when the cryptocurrency was trading at roughly $6,500 per coin.
Three Years After the Ripple Ruling: XRP Victory Day
The XRP community is observing July 13 as “XRP Victory Day,” marking the third anniversary of Judge Analisa Torres’s pivotal summary judgment. That 2023 decision fundamentally reshaped the legal landscape for digital assets by distinguishing between programmatic exchange sales and institutional transactions, providing a rare moment of clarity in crypto litigation.
Webull Gains MiCAR Approval for European Crypto Expansion
Securing authorization from the Netherlands’ Autoriteit Financiële Markten, Webull EU is set to launch regulated crypto custody services under the bloc's comprehensive digital asset rulebook. The firm joins a wave of financial entities leveraging the MiCA framework to streamline operations across the European Economic Area.
OKX to Pause Solana USDC Transfers for Wallet Maintenance
Starting July 14 at 14:30 UTC+8, OKX will temporarily halt all deposits and withdrawals of USDC via the Solana network. The exchange is conducting scheduled wallet maintenance to ensure infrastructure reliability, though internal trading services for the stablecoin will remain active throughout the duration of the work.
Metaplanet pivots to Bitcoin banking with Siiibo acquisition
With the 2.1 billion JPY acquisition of Siiibo Securities now finalized, Metaplanet has launched a regulated subsidiary to transform its Bitcoin treasury into a financial engine. Metaplanet Securities will operate under a Type I Financial Instruments Business Operator license, signaling a shift from simple asset holding to complex credit engineering.
SBI Holdings partners with Solana to build Japanese onchain market
Japan’s financial powerhouse SBI Holdings and the Solana Foundation have unveiled a strategic alliance to integrate regulated institutional finance with decentralized blockchain infrastructure. The collaboration, announced July 13, aims to position Japan as a regional hub for stablecoin issuance, tokenized securities, and cross-border payment systems.
Thai Regulators Target USDT Transfers in Shadow Economy Crackdown
Thai financial authorities have launched an investigation into high-volume stablecoin transactions, citing concerns that users are actively bypassing mandatory reporting channels. The Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission are now employing data analytics to trace suspicious activity linked to Tether’s USDT and potential illicit finance.
Ripple joins UK push for £33 billion tokenization overhaul
A newly formed UK taskforce is moving to shift wholesale financial markets toward tokenized infrastructure, with Ripple among the key industry participants. The strategy aims to integrate digital assets into the nation's capital markets, targeting a live repo transaction test by the spring of 2027.
Circle targets South Korean financial sector with exclusive Seoul event
Circle is deepening its footprint in South Korea, preparing an invitation-only industry summit in Seoul on July 23. The event at Josun Palace, titled “Korea at a Crypto Inflection,” aims to bridge the gap between global stablecoin infrastructure and the local ecosystem of banks, crypto exchanges, and payments firms.
Bitcoin Faces Volatility as Economic Data and Geopolitical Risks Converge
Bitcoin hovers near $62,800 this week as markets brace for a barrage of inflation reports, bank earnings, and escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. With the asset struggling to break through $65,000, these upcoming catalysts threaten to either solidify its current support or spark a deeper correction.
SBI targets 3% yield for JPYSC stablecoin lending
A 3% annual yield is set to debut for holders of JPYSC, Japan’s first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin. According to reports from Nikkei, the financial giant SBI Holdings plans to roll out this fixed-term lending service through its crypto exchange, SBI VC Trade, as early as this month.
Turkey charges 504 in billion-dollar crypto laundering scheme
Turkish prosecutors have leveled charges against 504 individuals for operating an expansive money laundering network that funneled nearly 40 billion liras through shell companies, jewelry stores, and cryptocurrency exchanges. The operation, allegedly fueled by illicit betting proceeds, used a proprietary digital platform to mask the movement of funds abroad.
Tom Lee highlights ETH/BTC ratio as potential crypto market signal
Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee is directing investor attention toward the Ethereum-to-Bitcoin ratio, framing the metric as a primary indicator for a broader market recovery. Speaking ahead of his appearance at the WebX 2026 conference in Tokyo, Lee identified the pair’s performance as a potential catalyst for renewed digital asset momentum.
China Proposes Legislative Overhaul to Combat Crypto Money Laundering
Prosecutors and legal scholars in China are pushing for a sweeping reform of the nation's judicial framework to better track, seize, and liquidate virtual assets. The proposal targets deep-seated loopholes that currently hinder the prosecution of complex money laundering schemes involving anonymous wallets and cross-border blockchain transactions.
Senate Democrats Demand Probe Into Trump’s $1.4 Billion Crypto Ties
A coalition of senior Democratic senators is demanding formal hearings into President Trump’s cryptocurrency holdings, citing $1.4 billion in earnings from ventures like World Liberty Financial. The push comes as lawmakers prepare for a critical vote on the CLARITY Act, heightening concerns over potential conflicts of interest in digital asset regulation.
Bitcoin Holds $62K Support as ETF Flows Break Eight-Week Slump
Bitcoin maintains a precarious hold above $62,000, defying broader market volatility triggered by renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities. While traditional assets like Asian equities and gold faced sharp corrections amid rising oil prices, the leading cryptocurrency found a rare lifeline through a reversal in institutional sentiment.
Ross Gerber Challenges Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin Treasury Strategy
Ross Gerber, chief executive of Gerber Kawasaki, has intensified his critique of Michael Saylor, accusing the MicroStrategy founder of undermining Bitcoin through a leveraged financing model. Gerber claims the company’s reliance on debt to fund Bitcoin acquisitions and dividend payments creates unnecessary selling pressure rather than sustainable value.
How 75,000 XRP Holders Backed Ripple Through SEC Litigation
John Deaton credits 75,000 XRP holders with providing the critical support necessary for Ripple executives to mount a defense against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This grassroots involvement helped the company avoid an early settlement, ultimately preserving hundreds of jobs despite the intense regulatory pressure faced by leadership.
Evernorth Establishes Japanese Presence Amid $1B Treasury Push
Evernorth has launched a Japanese-language communications channel, signaling a strategic focus on a market long defined by its early adoption of XRP. While the move deepens ties to an ecosystem dominated by SBI Holdings, the firm maintains that its current footprint remains centered on information rather than an operational office.
Progmat Migrates ¥452 Billion in Tokenized Assets to Avalanche
Japan’s leading security-token platform, Progmat, has finalized the migration of its entire portfolio to a dedicated Avalanche Layer 1 network. The transition moves over ¥452 billion in underlying assets and issued securities from Corda 5 to an EVM-compatible architecture, aiming to boost operational efficiency for regulated financial products.
Japan Doubles Down on Web3 as PM Takaichi Targets Startup Growth
Ten trillion yen in annual startup investment by 2027 remains the core objective for Japan, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaled a continued commitment to regulatory reform and capital access during a video address to 15,000 attendees at the WebX 2026 conference in Tokyo.
American Bitcoin Shares Crater 95%, Wiping $600M from Eric Trump’s Stake
A relentless slide in American Bitcoin stock has erased more than 95% of its peak value, stripping roughly $600 million from the stake held by Eric Trump. Despite the firm aggressively expanding its treasury to over 8,000 BTC, persistent selling pressure continues to dismantle investor confidence in the Nasdaq-listed miner.
Lawson to Pilot POS-Integrated Stablecoin Payments in Tokyo
Beginning in early August, Japanese convenience store chain Lawson will initiate the nation’s first point-of-sale integrated trial for the yen-denominated JPYC stablecoin. The test, hosted at the Takanawa Gateway City location in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, seeks to bridge digital asset payments with standard retail infrastructure.