Cryptocurrency
Russian lawmakers soften crypto disclosure rules in new draft
The State Duma Financial Market Committee has greenlit a revised cryptocurrency bill, ditching a controversial requirement for users to report individual wallet addresses. By shifting focus toward transaction volume and balance reporting, officials aim to mitigate security risks while integrating digital assets into the domestic financial system.
AngelList to End Crypto Funding Support by July 31
Investors on AngelList must transition to traditional banking methods by the end of July as the platform discontinues support for cryptocurrency payments. The shift, triggered by a third-party provider's service exit, impacts funding contributions made via USDC, USDT, DAI, and ETH for all new investment commitments.
Solana Foundation Taps Twitter Veteran Michael Coates as Security Chief
Michael Coates, the former head of security at Mozilla and Twitter’s inaugural CISO, has joined the Solana Foundation to oversee its cybersecurity operations. His appointment arrives as the network manages massive daily stablecoin volumes and seeks to bolster its defenses against increasingly sophisticated threats, including AI-driven attacks.
Judge Torres Deals Blow to Kalshi in New York Sports Betting Case
A federal judge has denied Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction, allowing New York to proceed with its legal challenge against the exchange’s sports prediction markets. The decision rejects the platform’s argument that federal oversight should automatically override state gambling laws, forcing the company to face state-level scrutiny in the financial hub.
Gemini pivots to stocks with zero-commission trading rollout
Gemini is shedding its crypto-only identity by launching commission-free stock trading across most of the United States. By integrating thousands of exchange-listed securities directly into its mobile app, the company aims to transform from a niche digital asset exchange into a comprehensive financial hub for retail investors.
StarkWare CEO’s 4% inflation proposal ignites Bitcoin cap debate
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson has sparked a fierce backlash within the cryptocurrency community by suggesting that Bitcoin’s rigid 21-million supply cap is flawed. He argues that the inevitable loss of private keys over time necessitates a new monetary policy, proposing an annual issuance of up to 4% to maintain liquidity.
Strategy’s $135M Bitcoin Sale Bypasses Monetization Cap
MicroStrategy’s recent $135 million Bitcoin sale may not diminish its $1.25 billion monetization program as previously assumed by market observers. According to VanEck’s head of digital assets research, Matthew Sigel, the company’s latest regulatory filings indicate that dividend-related liquidations are categorized separately from the firm's primary cash reserve-funding initiative.
Strike Debuts Volatility-Proof Bitcoin Loans to Curb Forced Liquidations
Strike has introduced a Bitcoin-backed loan product designed to eliminate margin calls and price-triggered liquidations for borrowers. By decoupling debt security from market volatility, the firm allows users to access cash while maintaining their Bitcoin positions, provided they adhere to a strict repayment schedule.
EDX Markets Secures $76M from SBI to Scale Institutional Crypto
A $76 million Series C infusion led by Japan’s SBI Holdings marks a significant push by EDX Markets to dominate institutional crypto infrastructure. The firm plans to leverage this capital to bolster its spot trading, perpetual futures, and clearing services as it attempts to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.
Secret Network Proposes Migration to Arbitrum Over Security Fears
A $4.7 million bridge exploit has prompted Secret Network to weigh an exit from the Cosmos ecosystem. Citing vulnerability to AI-assisted code analysis and shrinking liquidity, developers are proposing a migration to Arbitrum, a move that would see the creation of a new ERC-20 token and a hard snapshot of holdings.
Vanguard pivots to digital assets with search for new leadership
After years of maintaining a rigid distance from the cryptocurrency market, Vanguard is officially seeking a head of digital assets. The firm’s search for a high-level executive signals a strategic pivot toward blockchain infrastructure, tokenization, and stablecoins, marking a departure from its previously staunch resistance to digital asset products.
CFTC Charges North Carolina Operator in $14.8 Million Crypto Fraud
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has launched a civil enforcement action against Trevor Vernon and his firm, Argent Capital Management, alleging a multi-year scheme that defrauded at least 60 investors out of nearly $15 million through fabricated performance reports and the misuse of client capital.
New Hampshire to Review $100M Bitcoin-Backed Bond Proposal
State officials will convene on July 8 to evaluate a proposed $100 million Bitcoin-backed bond, a move that tests the intersection of traditional municipal finance and digital assets. The Business Finance Authority structure aims to facilitate investment without exposing taxpayers to the inherent volatility of cryptocurrency markets.
Polymarket integrates Lightning Network for instant Bitcoin deposits
Traders on Polymarket can now bypass traditional blockchain confirmation delays by using the Lightning Network. Through a new integration with the payment protocol Spark, the prediction platform enables near-instant, self-custodial Bitcoin deposits, allowing users to capitalize on fast-moving market shifts without waiting for standard on-chain processing.
Nigel Farage resigns Clacton seat amid scrutiny over crypto donations
Nigel Farage has resigned as the MP for Clacton, triggering a snap by-election to seek a fresh mandate from voters. The Reform UK leader faces intensifying parliamentary scrutiny over millions of dollars in gifts received from figures linked to the cryptocurrency industry, including donors Christopher Harborne and George Cottrell.
Kraken Wins $22M Arbitration Award Against Former Auditor Mazars
Kraken has secured a $22 million arbitration award against Mazars USA after the firm abruptly withdrew from a near-complete 2022 audit. Co-CEO Arjun Sethi described the move as part of a broader, politically motivated campaign to isolate digital asset firms from essential financial services, often dubbed Operation Chokepoint 2.0.
Bitcoin Suisse Secures Abu Dhabi License for UAE Expansion
With the receipt of full Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi Global Market, Swiss crypto firm Bitcoin Suisse is positioning itself to capture the UAE's institutional market. The move follows a rigorous multi-stage review, granting the company authorization to provide spot trading, custody services, and derivatives to eligible regional clients.
SEC Unveils 2026 Roadmap for Crypto Market Oversight
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is sharpening its regulatory focus on digital assets, adding three major rule proposals to its 2026 agenda. These measures aim to codify how crypto assets are issued, traded, and managed by financial firms, even as legislative efforts on Capitol Hill remain in a state of flux.
Mizuho Maintains Outperform Rating on Strategy Despite Price Target Cut
Mizuho has adjusted its price target for Strategy to $213 from $265, yet the firm continues to maintain an outperform rating on the stock. This revision follows the company’s recent sale of 3,588 Bitcoin, a move analysts suggest may ultimately bolster the firm's financial stability and S&P 500 inclusion prospects.
Ripple Secures Full MiCA Approval in Europe as XRP ETF Inflows Hold
With $1.49 billion in cumulative net inflows over eight consecutive weeks, institutional appetite for XRP remains robust even as the token navigates a minor price correction. This financial momentum now aligns with a significant regulatory milestone that grants the company broad access to the European Economic Area.
XRP Ledger Nears Upgrade Threshold as Validator Adoption Hits 55%
With over 55% of trusted validators now running the xrpld v3.2.0 software, the XRP Ledger is edging toward a significant network upgrade. While the transition marks a major infrastructure shift, including the official rebranding of the core server software, the protocol must still secure broader consensus to finalize its latest security-focused amendment.
Wall Street Banks Set High Targets for SpaceX Ahead of Nasdaq Debut
As SpaceX prepares to join the Nasdaq-100 Index, major financial institutions are betting on the aerospace firm's long-term growth. Morgan Stanley has issued a $300 base-case price target, headlining a wave of bullish coverage from Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and UBS that emphasizes the company's dominance in space infrastructure and AI.
Grayscale: Strategy’s Bitcoin Sell-off Strengthens Balance Sheet
The recent $216 million Bitcoin sale by Strategy has drawn sharp criticism, but Grayscale Research argues the move is a strategic fortification rather than a sign of distress. By bolstering cash reserves, the company is insulating its balance sheet against volatility and securing its long-term dividend obligations.
BlackRock ETF Inflows Signal Institutional Bitcoin Resurgence
A sharp $209.4 million influx into BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust on July 7 has broken a weeks-long trend of stagnant institutional activity. This surge, part of a broader $265.7 million daily total for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, provides critical support for the cryptocurrency as it climbs toward $65,000.
Tether injects $20 million into Brazil's Mercado Bitcoin
Tether is funneling $20 million into Mercado Bitcoin, a key maneuver aimed at accelerating the adoption of tokenized assets and blockchain-based lending throughout Latin America. The investment signals a strategic shift for the stablecoin issuer as it seeks to integrate its technology into regulated financial infrastructure across the region.
EU Parliament signals expansion of crypto oversight beyond MiCA
European lawmakers have formally requested a regulatory review of decentralized finance, staking, and non-fungible tokens, signaling that the bloc’s current crypto framework may soon face significant expansion. The move aims to close gaps in the existing Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation as the industry adjusts to newly enforced licensing requirements.
Ctrl Wallet to Cease Operations Following Security Breach
Ctrl Wallet will permanently shutter its services on August 3, leaving users with less than a month to migrate their digital assets. The decision follows a recent exploit targeting Cardano-based wallets and comes as the broader cryptocurrency sector grapples with an ongoing surge in security incidents and bridge vulnerabilities.
The High Cost of Crypto's Invisible Plumbing
Cross-chain bridges serve as the essential, yet perilous, connective tissue of the blockchain ecosystem. By enabling value to flow between otherwise isolated networks, these protocols manage tens of billions in assets—and have become the primary target for the industry’s most catastrophic, multi-billion dollar hacks.
AEREDIUM Joins $5.4B Alba Bay Project to Stress-Test RWA Settlement
AEREDIUM has entered the Lava Tokenization Sandbox, a collaborative effort with the Lava Foundation and Bretagne Holding Limited, to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets. By using the $5.4 billion Alba Bay development as a testing ground, the partners aim to solve the persistent challenge of seamless, multi-asset payment settlement.
Bitcoin Struggles at $64K Barrier Amid Geopolitical and Macro Uncertainty
Conflict lead: Bitcoin faces a critical test at $64,000, caught in a tug-of-war between renewed institutional ETF inflows and mounting fears over rising oil prices. While traders anticipate Federal Reserve guidance, a bearish divergence on shorter timeframes suggests the recent 10% recovery may be losing its underlying momentum.