Cryptocurrency
Canaccord Cuts Strategy Price Target as Shares Languish
Canaccord has slashed its price target for Strategy to $130 from $163, citing a prolonged slump in the company's share price. Despite the valuation cut, the brokerage maintains a buy rating, insisting that the firm's core Bitcoin-focused investment thesis remains fundamentally sound and viable for the long term.
Tether Exits EU Exchanges as MiCA Compliance Deadline Bites
The European Union’s transition to the Markets in Crypto-Assets framework has effectively purged USDT from the bloc’s regulated exchanges. As of July 1, 2026, major platforms like Coinbase, Kraken, and Crypto.com have pulled the world’s largest stablecoin from their order books, marking a definitive split between Tether and European regulators.
Bitcoin Surges Past $60K as Fed Chair Warsh Keeps Policy Options Open
Bitcoin reclaimed the $60,000 threshold as Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh refrained from signaling future interest rate adjustments during an ECB panel discussion. By doubling down on a data-dependent strategy rather than pre-committing to a specific policy path, Warsh provided the market with the ambiguity it used to stage a recovery.
Trump Defends $1.4B Crypto Earnings as CLARITY Act Stalls
President Donald Trump has publicly defended his financial portfolio following disclosures that he earned at least $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency-related ventures in 2025. The windfall, primarily derived from licensing the TRUMP meme coin and World Liberty Financial token sales, has arrived as market confidence in the CLARITY Act’s passage dips to 39%.
Winklevoss Twins Move $67 Million in Assets to Gemini
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss transferred $67 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum to their Gemini exchange wallets on July 1, a move identified by Arkham Intelligence as matching their historical selloff patterns. The transaction follows a series of similar transfers made by the duo throughout the spring and early summer.
Barcelona’s Venga Secures MiCA License Amid EU Regulatory Overhaul
With the European crypto market bracing for a massive regulatory transition, Barcelona-based firm Venga has secured authorization from Spain’s Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores to operate as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, a milestone announced on July 1, 2026.
LINE NEXT Targets Global Markets With Zero-Fee Unifi Pay Infrastructure
LINE NEXT has opened developer pre-registration for Unifi Pay, a stablecoin-based payment system aiming for a global rollout in the third quarter. The platform, which processed 100 billion Korean won in its beta phase, promises near-instant settlement speeds and zero transaction fees for users and merchants alike.
Ethereum clings to $1,500 as institutional outflows intensify
Ethereum is testing critical support at $1,500, capping a historic quarter defined by three consecutive periods of losses. While corporate entities like SharpLink and Bitmine continue to bolster their treasuries, aggressive whale liquidation and a string of net outflows from spot Ether ETFs have left the asset struggling for momentum.
Ouinex Targets Predatory Trading with Retail-First Execution Engine
Retail crypto traders are structurally disadvantaged by institutional algorithms that exploit public order books, creating a landscape where everyday investors are consistently outmatched. Ouinex, a multi-asset platform, is attempting to dismantle this asymmetry by replacing traditional matching engines with a proprietary system designed to shield personal portfolios from predatory market manipulation.
South Korea Targets Crypto Whales in Market Manipulation Crackdown
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission has handed two high-profile market manipulation cases to prosecutors, marking an escalation in the nation’s campaign against illicit trading tactics. The referrals follow investigations into sophisticated schemes where large holders allegedly exploited retail investors through artificial price inflation and deceptive order patterns.
Visa and Mastercard back Open USD stablecoin launch
A coalition of over 140 companies, spearheaded by Visa, Mastercard, and Coinbase, has unveiled Open Standard, a new consortium aiming to issue the Open USD stablecoin. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between niche crypto trading and mainstream business settlements by removing traditional minting fees and transaction volume constraints.
Citigroup slashes Bitcoin and Ether targets amid institutional exodus
Persistent net outflows from spot exchange-traded funds and a stalled legislative agenda in Washington have forced Citigroup to aggressively downgrade its 12-month outlook for crypto markets. The bank now anticipates significantly lower price ceilings for both major digital assets as institutional appetite cools and regulatory uncertainty lingers.
Binance navigates MiCA transition as European service limits begin
As the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation fully takes effect today, Binance is moving to stem user anxiety. The exchange has confirmed that all client assets remain secure and held on a one-to-one basis, even as the firm begins restricting specific services for residents across the bloc.
Shanghai Court Sentences Five in $29 Million Crypto-Forex Scheme
Five individuals were sentenced to prison terms of up to six years by a Shanghai court for operating an underground network that funneled over $29.4 million abroad. The group exploited cryptocurrency to circumvent China's strict foreign exchange controls, marking a significant victory in the government's ongoing crackdown on illicit cross-border capital flows.
SoftBank Pumps Another $10 Billion Into OpenAI
SoftBank Group has funneled a second $10 billion tranche into OpenAI, marking a significant milestone in its $30 billion follow-on commitment. The Japanese investment giant leveraged a bridge facility to secure the capital, underscoring the high-stakes bet Masayoshi Son is placing on the future of artificial intelligence.
Phantom recruits Ventuals team to accelerate derivatives push
Following the shuttering of its niche markets for OpenAI and Anthropic perpetual futures on Hyperliquid, the Ventuals project has effectively folded into Phantom. Founders Alvin Hsia, Emily Hsia, and Aris Samad joined the wallet provider this week to bolster its data capabilities and trading infrastructure.
Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin Drives $2.5 Billion in XRP Ledger Trading
Since its public launch, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has funneled more than $2.5 billion in trading volume through the XRP Ledger, challenging concerns that the asset might cannibalize its native token. A new report from Evernorth highlights that RLUSD now accounts for 12% of all on-chain trading activity on the network.
U.S. Lifts Export Restrictions on Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5
After weeks of regulatory tension, U.S. authorities have cleared Anthropic to restore public access to its flagship Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models. The decision follows a period of intense scrutiny over security vulnerabilities, marking a resolution to export controls that had effectively paralyzed the company’s most advanced AI products.
Circle shares slide 17.5% amid index exit and new stablecoin rivalry
A 17.5% drop in Circle Internet Group’s stock marks a volatile week for the fintech firm, as the company grapples with its removal from key Russell Growth indexes and the sudden emergence of Open USD, a competitor backed by industry giants Visa, Mastercard, and Coinbase.
Florida CEO Admits to $400 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme
Christopher Alexander Delgado, the 34-year-old operator of Goliath Ventures, has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors revealed that Delgado lured investors with promises of lucrative crypto liquidity pool returns, only to siphon at least $400 million into a massive personal spending spree.
Binance and Changpeng Zhao face £150 million UK investor lawsuit
A group of 1,700 British investors has launched a high-stakes legal challenge in London’s High Court, seeking at least £150 million in damages from Binance and its founder, Changpeng Zhao. The claimants allege the exchange illicitly peddled complex, high-risk derivative products to UK consumers without the necessary regulatory authorization.
New York Life Investment Management brings $807B strategy onchain
New York Life Investment Management is testing the limits of traditional finance by moving its U.S. high-yield corporate bond strategy onto the blockchain. Through a partnership with infrastructure provider Centrifuge, the $807 billion asset manager has launched the NYLIM Anemoy U.S. High Yield Corporate Bond Segregated Portfolio, known as HYB.
Massachusetts Expands Legal Offensive Against Kalshi Sports Contracts
A Suffolk County Superior Court judge has authorized Massachusetts to file a 71-page amended complaint against Kalshi, escalating the state's battle against the platform’s sports prediction contracts. The filing broadens the legal challenge by accusing the exchange of predatory marketing tactics specifically targeting users under the age of 21.
Taiwan Enacts Comprehensive Crypto Licensing Law
After years of operating in a legal gray area, Taiwan has officially passed the Virtual Asset Service Act, shifting the crypto industry from simple anti-money laundering registration to a rigorous system of market oversight, customer protection, and mandatory licensing for all virtual asset service providers.
Binance and Anchorage Digital Forge Off-Exchange Settlement Link
Institutional traders on Binance can now maintain segregated custody of their collateral through Anchorage Digital’s Atlas platform. This partnership introduces a triparty banking model to the exchange, allowing firms to engage with Binance liquidity without keeping their crypto or USD assets directly on the trading venue.
Crypto eclipses resorts in Trump's 2025 financial disclosure
President Donald Trump reported over $1.4 billion in income from cryptocurrency ventures in 2025, according to a certified financial disclosure released by the Office of Government Ethics. This figure positions digital assets as the primary driver of his earnings, significantly outpacing revenue from his traditional golf and real estate empire.
Director Carl Rinsch Sentenced to Prison Over $11 Million Netflix Fraud
A Manhattan federal judge sentenced Carl Erik Rinsch to 30 months in prison for misappropriating $11 million in Netflix production funds. The director, known for the 2013 film “47 Ronin,” funneled capital intended for a science-fiction series into speculative cryptocurrency trades and high-end luxury purchases instead of completing the project.
Strategy’s Bitcoin Pivot: Beyond the $1.25 Billion Headline
Strategy did not initiate a massive Bitcoin sell-off. Instead, the company’s board authorized a $1.25 billion monetization program on June 29, 2026, as part of a strategic capital overhaul. This framework signals a shift from perpetual accumulation to disciplined balance-sheet management as the stock's premium to its Bitcoin holdings evaporates.
OKX launches onchain marketplace for autonomous AI agents
Autonomous software agents now have a dedicated space to secure employment, execute tasks, and settle payments independently. OKX has debuted its beta AI marketplace, a decentralized ecosystem that enables agents to build verifiable onchain reputations while operating without the need for traditional centralized intermediaries or human oversight.
Circle shares slide 17% as industry giants launch rival stablecoin
A coalition of industry heavyweights, including BlackRock, Google, and Visa, has unveiled Open USD, a new stablecoin designed to redistribute reserve income among its participants. The announcement triggered an immediate selloff for Circle Internet Group, whose shares plummeted 17.5% as investors weighed the threat to its traditional revenue model.