Cryptocurrency
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Upbit and Bithumb Place SAND Under Caution Following Bridge Exploit
South Korean crypto exchanges Upbit and Bithumb have officially flagged The Sandbox’s SAND token as an investment caution asset, citing unresolved security concerns stemming from a recent cross-chain bridge incident that allowed for the unauthorized minting of unbacked tokens on the Base and BNB Smart Chain networks.
Bank of Russia expands qualified investor path ahead of crypto rollout
Starting August 31, the Bank of Russia will allow individuals to achieve qualified investor status by passing a domestic financial knowledge test. This shift moves beyond traditional wealth-based thresholds, providing a new pathway for retail participants to access higher investment limits within the country’s burgeoning regulated cryptocurrency market.
Global Financial Consortium Begins Quantum-Resistant Blockchain Pilot
Financial institutions and regulators from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia launched a joint pilot on Aug. 24 to test post-quantum security for digital assets. The initiative evaluates how banks can adopt new cryptographic standards to secure blockchain wallets and transfers against future quantum computing capabilities.
Pakistan launches mandatory crypto licensing regime
Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has officially opened its licensing portal, forcing all existing crypto service providers to apply for preliminary approval by September 5. Firms failing to meet this deadline face an immediate shutdown, as the country transitions to a formal, regulated framework for digital asset operations.
Stablecoin Neobank Fasset Hits $1 Billion Valuation
Fasset secured a $68 million Series C funding round led by Japan’s SBI Group, pushing the stablecoin neobank to a $1 billion private valuation. The capital injection brings the firm's total 2026 fundraising to $119 million as it scales payment and settlement services across 125 countries in emerging markets.
Strive CEO Matt Cole sees Bitcoin entering its strongest cycle yet
Bitcoin added a record $14,264 to its value last week, closing at $77,387 as institutional appetite surged. Following a week of aggressive inflows into U.S. spot ETFs, Strive CEO Matt Cole is betting that a unique confluence of macroeconomic conditions will propel the cryptocurrency into its most potent cycle to date.
Trump Weighs Expanding U.S. Bitcoin Reserves
President Donald Trump confirmed on August 19 that his administration is exploring the potential for additional Bitcoin accumulation, though he stopped short of announcing a formal purchase strategy. The president indicated he would look to SEC Chair Paul Atkins and his policy team for guidance on any future government acquisitions.
Ledger Disputes Disclosure Timeline After Ethereum App Vulnerability
A standoff has emerged between Ledger and security firm TestMachine over a flaw in the Ethereum application’s clear signing process. While TestMachine claims its AI-driven tool identified a risk to transaction integrity, Ledger’s CTO Charles Guillemet asserts the vulnerability was patched two weeks before the public disclosure.
Fed research links Bitcoin price history to retail investor behavior
When American households see evidence of Bitcoin’s recent gains, their appetite for digital assets grows. A Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland working paper suggests that exposure to historical price performance not only shifts desired portfolio allocations but directly influences the likelihood of subsequent cryptocurrency purchases among retail investors.
Tether Gains Ground as Digital Dollar in Volatile Economies
In Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Turkey, the USDT stablecoin is increasingly functioning as a primary tool for domestic commerce and savings. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino points to rising inflation and restricted access to traditional banking as the catalysts driving citizens toward digital dollar alternatives to protect their purchasing power.
Upbit Adds LIT to South Korean Won Market
South Korean exchange Upbit is opening a won-denominated trading pair for Lighter’s LIT token starting at 1:00 pm KST on August 24. The move grants local investors direct fiat access to the token, which was previously limited to trading against Bitcoin on the platform.
Phantom to Drop Sui Network Support in September
Phantom will discontinue support for the Sui network on September 24, 2026, effectively removing the ability to view, swap, or manage Sui-based assets through its interface. While the wallet provider has not specified a reason for the shift, the decision reverses an expansion that began less than two years ago.
Michael Saylor Reaffirms Bitcoin as Digital Energy for Corporate Treasuries
Michael Saylor recently characterized Bitcoin as a mechanism for converting economic value into a digital form that entities can securely control. This metaphor frames his broader investment thesis, positioning the cryptocurrency as durable, transferable energy, even as his company, Strategy, navigates the complexities of maintaining its massive treasury.
BitMart shifts course toward restructuring and potential restart
Less than four weeks after announcing a total wind-down, BitMart has signaled a potential pivot toward a phased operational restart and creditor distributions. The exchange has appointed White & Case as restructuring counsel, though it has yet to provide concrete details on payout eligibility or the legal framework governing these recoveries.
Kalshi Blocks Washington Users Amid Court Battle Over Event Contracts
Kalshi has restricted access for Washington customers, complying with a preliminary injunction that bars the platform from offering seven categories of event contracts. The exchange is now challenging the state’s mandate, arguing that Washington’s decision to grant a temporary enforcement delay to a direct competitor, OG, creates an unfair regulatory double standard.
Crypto Groups Launch Legal Challenge Against Illinois Digital Asset Tax
A 0.2% tax on digital asset transfers and storage, slated for implementation in Illinois on January 1, 2027, faces a new legal hurdle. The Blockchain Association and the Crypto Council for Innovation filed suit in Sangamon County, seeking to block the levy before it forces industry-wide compliance.
Brian Armstrong pushes Senate support for CLARITY Act
With a critical cloture motion scheduled for September 15, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is intensifying his campaign to secure federal crypto legislation. He argues that codifying digital asset rules into law is the only way to shield consumers from market volatility and insulate the industry against shifting regulatory policies.
Onchain Investigator ZachXBT Plans Regional Restrictions for Support
Prominent onchain investigator ZachXBT has signaled that he may soon automatically reject assistance requests from victims in seven specific countries, citing negative personal experiences. The proposed policy would filter incoming cases through a forthcoming website, though the investigator has yet to finalize the rules or an official launch date.
Term Labs Suffers $8.5 Million Governance Exploit
A governance exploit has compromised Term Labs’ lending vaults, resulting in an estimated $8.5 million drain in digital assets. While the protocol confirmed the breach on August 23, it has yet to disclose the full scope of the incident, leaving users without clarity on affected contracts or potential recovery timelines.
Robert Kiyosaki pivots to Bitcoin as Treasury adjusts debt strategy
Robert Kiyosaki renewed his call to accumulate Bitcoin, gold, and silver on Aug. 22, framing the U.S. Treasury’s recent decision to expand long-dated bond buybacks as a fresh cycle of currency debasement. The author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad" urged investors to abandon cash, warning that a weakening dollar threatens purchasing power.
Bitcoin’s Recovery Proves Brandt’s Price Target Correct
Veteran trader Peter Brandt faced skepticism after Bitcoin climbed toward $76,600, with critics arguing his earlier $58,000 to $62,000 forecast had failed. Yet, data confirms the price reached that specific zone in July 2026, validating the target despite the inaccuracies in Brandt’s original two-week timeline for the move.
Anonymous Bitcoin user hides private key puzzle in Genesis Block data
An unidentified user embedded a 255-byte message into block 963,629 on August 22, claiming to have derived a private key from the data within Satoshi Nakamoto’s original Genesis Block. The transaction, identified by Galaxy Research, invites the public to solve a security puzzle based on notoriously low-entropy inputs.
Upbit Trading Volume Spikes to 1.15 Trillion Won Amid Flash Crash
A volatile hour of trading on August 22 saw South Korea’s Upbit exchange process 1.15 trillion won, roughly $830 million, as a market-wide liquidation event sent prices tumbling. The surge in activity underscored a frantic period of repositioning for retail investors across the region’s largest cryptocurrency platform.
Ripple CEO Claims Regulatory Breakthrough Amid Washington Policy Push
Following a series of high-level meetings in Washington, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse declared the United States closer than ever to establishing definitive cryptocurrency regulations. While the industry pushes for legislative certainty, the path to a durable federal framework remains tethered to a high-stakes Senate vote scheduled for mid-September.
Zondacrypto Collapse Sparks Fraud Probe as Leadership Remains Absent
Polish prosecutors are investigating the collapse of the Zondacrypto exchange, where thousands of users remain locked out of accounts following a sudden website shutdown in April 2026. With losses exceeding 350 million zlotys, the case hinges on the whereabouts of two key figures: a founder missing for years and a successor currently abroad.
XRP ETF Inflows Surge Past $1.55 Billion Amid Market Rebound
Institutional appetite for XRP is heating up, with US spot ETFs logging $1.552 billion in cumulative inflows as of August 21. A single-day injection of $18.38 million—led largely by Bitwise—has bolstered market confidence, pushing the asset to a recent high of $1.70 and fueling speculation of a climb toward $2.00.
South Korea Overhauls Digital Finance for Institutional Crypto Access
South Korea is shifting its digital-finance landscape by launching a pilot program for corporate crypto accounts, formalizing tokenized securities, and expanding central bank trials for deposit tokens. This three-pronged effort signals a move toward institutional adoption, effectively ending years of restricted access for domestic firms.
Strategy’s preferred stock remains trapped below par despite Bitcoin rally
Strategy’s STRC preferred shares are struggling to regain their $100 stated value, lingering at $95.31 even as Bitcoin climbs above $77,000. This persistent discount has drawn sharp criticism from Multicoin Capital co-founder Tushar Jain, who argues the current 12% dividend fails to offset the security's significant drawdown risks.
MANTRA Chain Restarts After 30-Hour Security Halt
MANTRA Chain resumed block production at 5:30 a.m. UTC on Aug. 22, ending a 30-hour suspension triggered by a vulnerability in its Cosmos-EVM module. Developers deployed a patch via version 8.4.0 to secure the network, confirming that user balances remained untouched throughout the incident.
The Sandbox Contains Bridge Exploit After Unauthorized Token Minting
The Sandbox has secured its cross-chain bridge following a vulnerability that allowed an attacker to mint unbacked SAND tokens on the Base and BNB Smart Chain networks. While early reports of massive minting caused alarm, the project confirmed the actual financial impact remains below 0.01% of the total token supply.