Cryptocurrency
SEC Sues Mining Automatic Over $22 Million Crypto Fraud
Promising guaranteed monthly returns, Mining Automatic allegedly funneled $22 million from over 380 investors into a shell game rather than the crypto mining operations it advertised. The SEC now seeks to permanently bar the Florida-based firm and its owner, Zan Shaikh, following a two-year investigation into the scheme.
Bitcoin Miners Pivot to AI as Hut 8 and IREN Ink Billions in Deals
Former Bitcoin miners are rapidly transforming into AI infrastructure giants, with Hut 8 securing a second $9.8 billion lease at its Texas data center and IREN adding $2.8 billion in new contracts. The announcements highlight a strategic shift as power-rich mining firms pivot to accommodate surging global demand for computing capacity.
The GENIUS Act’s First Anniversary Is a Broken Promise
The GENIUS Act, signed into law on July 18, 2025, promised a clear regulatory future for the $300 billion stablecoin industry. Yet, as the one-year deadline for federal agencies to finalize rules passed this Saturday, not a single regulation was complete, leaving issuers to navigate a landscape of uncertainty.
Andrew Cuomo joins OKX board to steer U.S. institutional push
Former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has joined the board of directors at cryptocurrency exchange OKX, formalizing a relationship that began with his advisory work in 2023. The appointment underscores the company’s strategic effort to bridge traditional financial infrastructure with the digital asset ecosystem.
Strategy Beefs Up Cash Reserves via $263.5M Stock Sale
Strategy bolstered its dollar reserves by $263.5 million this week, selling 2,732,318 shares of its common stock while leaving its massive Bitcoin hoard untouched. The move marks a second consecutive week of equity-driven fundraising as the company prioritizes liquidity for dividend and debt obligations.
BitMine Nears 5% Ethereum Supply Goal After Latest Treasury Buy
BitMine Immersion Technologies has added 7,430 ETH to its corporate coffers, bringing its total holdings to 5,777,468 tokens. The firm now controls approximately 4.8% of Ethereum’s total supply, moving within striking distance of its stated goal to secure 5% of all circulating tokens through its aggressive treasury strategy.
The accidental rescue: How crypto caught a bank bailout
When Silicon Valley Bank collapsed in March 2023, the US government triggered an obscure legal override to prevent a broader financial contagion. The move unintentionally saved the stablecoin USDC, which had $3.3 billion trapped in the failing institution, sparking a false belief that the state acts as crypto’s lender of last resort.
Zilliqa halts ZIL transfers following exchange cold wallet breach
A suspected cold wallet compromise at an unnamed exchange partner has triggered a network-wide suspension of ZIL deposits and withdrawals. Zilliqa developers confirmed the theft of tokens from the partner's storage, forcing trading platforms to restrict asset movement while investigators attempt to determine the scope of the breach.
Vietnam Imposes Fines on Unlicensed Crypto Trading
Investors in Vietnam face penalties of up to $1,900 for trading on unauthorized cryptocurrency platforms as the government enforces strict new regulations. Decree No. 284/2026/NĐ-CP, effective September 1, signals a shift toward a controlled domestic market, aiming to curb offshore activity and bolster local oversight of digital assets.
Crypto Institutions Pivot From Audits to Live Security Monitoring
Institutional investors are abandoning the traditional reliance on point-in-time smart contract audits, shifting their focus toward continuous monitoring and infrastructure resilience. This change follows data showing that compromised keys and signer infrastructure—not code flaws—accounted for 88.3% of the $764 million lost to exploits during the second quarter of 2026.
Capital B Sets September Date for 10-for-1 Reverse Stock Split
Capital B will consolidate its stock at a 10-for-1 ratio beginning September 8, a move the French company says is designed to attract a wider pool of institutional investors. The shift reduces total outstanding shares from over 300 million to approximately 30 million, while keeping the aggregate value of holdings intact.
State Duma readies final vote on sweeping Russian crypto legislation
With a pivotal vote scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, the Russian State Duma is poised to push its primary cryptocurrency bill through its second and third readings. The legislation, titled “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights,” aims to codify a regulatory framework for digital assets while maintaining strict domestic payment bans.
ADI Chain and Tangem Launch Hardware Wallet in UAE Virgin Megastores
Shoppers at Virgin Megastores across the UAE can now purchase a co-branded Tangem hardware wallet, marking a shift toward bringing offline cryptocurrency self-custody into mainstream retail environments. The partnership allows users to manage Bitcoin, Ethereum, and ADI Chain ecosystem tokens through a contactless card designed for secure, physical transaction authorization.
Grayscale to Launch Quarterly Cash Payouts for ETH and SOL ETFs
Investors in Grayscale’s Ethereum and Solana exchange-traded funds will soon see regular cash distributions derived from staking rewards. Under proposed trust amendments filed on July 17, the asset manager intends to convert earned rewards into cash and pay shareholders at least once per quarter, starting around August 7, 2026.
Tether faces critical compliance deadline for USDT under GENIUS Act
One year after the GENIUS Act became law, Tether remains the largest stablecoin issuer without a clear path to regulatory compliance in the United States. While the legislation provides a transition period until 2028, experts warn that foreign issuers face immediate obligations that could jeopardize USDT's future on American exchanges.
South Korea Eyes Legal Framework to Seize Private Crypto Wallets
South Korean tax authorities are pushing for a legislative overhaul of the Criminal Procedure Act to bypass the limitations of current seizure laws. The proposal seeks to grant investigators the power to forcibly transfer digital assets from self-custodied wallets, citing the risk of suspects moving funds during active investigations.
Circle President Heath Tarbert offloads $30.8M in company stock
Since June 2025, Circle President Heath Tarbert has liquidated approximately $30.8 million in CRCL shares across 10 separate transactions. While these sales coincide with a significant decline in the company’s market valuation, Tarbert retains a stake of over 500,000 shares, signaling his continued involvement with the firm.
South Korea Charts Path for Won-Backed Stablecoins and Forex Reform
South Korea is shifting its financial landscape by integrating won-backed stablecoins into the mainstream economy while dismantling long-standing barriers to international currency exchange. A new roadmap from the Financial Services Commission and Bank of Korea seeks to modernize cross-border capital flows and establish a unified digital asset infrastructure.
Standard Chartered-backed Anchorpoint nears HKDAP stablecoin launch
A coalition led by Standard Chartered and Anchorpoint is preparing to release the HKDAP stablecoin before the end of July. Following regulatory approval from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in April, the project is moving from technical trials to public issuance to compete in the growing digital asset market.
Hyperliquid Shifts to Permissionless Prediction Markets
Hyperliquid is moving to decentralize its outcome markets by allowing permissionless deployments, a shift designed to handle a scale of tradeable events that current validator-managed systems cannot accommodate. The protocol plans to test this framework on its testnet before moving to a broader mainnet release in the coming months.
AZ-COM Maruwa Pivots to Stablecoins for Contractor Settlements
Japan’s logistics landscape faces a shift as AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings prepares to utilize the JPYC stablecoin to settle invoices for 2,300 business partners. By bypassing traditional banking channels for transportation fees and contractor compensation, the firm aims to eliminate transfer costs while increasing the velocity of its routine payments.
South Korea cracks down on crypto manipulation under new oversight law
South Korean financial authorities have identified more than 40 instances of illicit crypto trading since the Virtual Asset User Protection Act took effect two years ago. With 25 suspects already named and over 30 cases referred to investigators, the Financial Services Commission is now shifting toward AI-driven surveillance to police the sector.
Cardano Shifts to Protocol Version 11 via Van Rossem Hard Fork
The Cardano mainnet has officially transitioned to Protocol Version 11 following the successful activation of the van Rossem hard fork on July 18. This deployment serves as a significant technical milestone, marking the first time the network has ratified a major upgrade entirely through its new onchain governance framework.
Allbridge Core Suspended Following $1.65 Million Solana Exploit
A sophisticated flash loan attack has forced the immediate suspension of the Allbridge Core cross-chain protocol. Security firm PeckShield estimates the exploit drained approximately $1.65 million from the platform, prompting developers to urge liquidity providers to withdraw their assets while the team investigates the movement of funds from Solana to Ethereum.
AZ-COM Maruwa to integrate JPYC stablecoin for logistics payments
By committing ¥1 billion to the JPYC issuer, Japanese logistics giant AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings is preparing to shift payment flows for 2,300 partner carriers and independent drivers onto a stablecoin platform, marking the first large-scale corporate implementation of the yen-backed asset in the country.
Zcash Schedules Ironwood Hard Fork to Seal Vulnerable Orchard Pool
Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox confirmed the network will execute its Ironwood hard fork on July 28, a move designed to mitigate lingering uncertainty regarding a critical flaw in the Orchard shielded pool. The upgrade effectively seals the legacy pool to prevent any potential excess supply from entering circulation.
Circle President Heath Tarbert Defends USDC Amid Stock Slide
Circle President Heath Tarbert is doubling down on the firm’s long-term infrastructure strategy as shares of the stablecoin issuer languish near $60. With the stock trading significantly below its post-IPO peak of $260, Tarbert insists that the company’s entrenched network effects provide a durable moat against emerging competitors.
South Korea launches sanctions probe against Upbit operator Dunamu
South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service has formally opened sanctions proceedings against Dunamu, the operator of the Upbit crypto exchange, following a major wallet breach last November. The investigation probes whether the firm met its obligations under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act after the loss of 44.5 billion won in assets.
How a Decade-Old Prediction Defined the Modern Payments Landscape
When Jason Oxman, then-CEO of the Electronic Transactions Association, suggested in 2014 that traditional payment giants would eventually embrace Bitcoin startups, the industry was still debating the basics of digital currency. Today, his vision of a technology-agnostic payments ecosystem has become the standard operating model for global finance.
Evaluating the Legitimacy of DeFi Platform Spreadefi
As the decentralized finance sector faces a wave of skepticism, users are increasingly scrutinizing new platforms for signs of fraud. Spreadefi, a project centered on liquidity pools and cross-chain infrastructure, has become a focus of this due diligence as investors weigh its operational transparency against the inherent risks of crypto markets.