Pirates suspected in a Gulf of Aden vessel boarding. Bab el-Mandeb Strait effectively closed by September 30 at 21.5% YES.

The post Pirates suspected in Gulf of Aden vessel boarding, maritime alert heightened appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

IBM stock crashes 25% after warning Q2 revenue will miss estimates by $660M. The sell-off highlights a growing AI divide in tech with ripple effects across

The post IBM warns of massive sales shortfall as AI spending reshapes the tech landscape appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

A merchant vessel incident near Duqm raises concerns amid U.S.-Iran tensions. Houthi attacks on shipping by August 31, 2026 priced at 59.5% YES.

The post Merchant vessel incident near Duqm amid US-Iran tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

ON Semiconductor announced a $7 billion all-stock acquisition of Synaptics to expand into edge AI, but shares dropped as investors weighed dilution risks.

The post ON Semiconductor makes $7B acquisition to boost AI capabilities appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

UK designates Iran's IRGC as a national security threat. US-Iran final nuclear deal by August 13, 2026 at 1.6% YES.

The post UK designates Iran’s IRGC as national security threat under new law appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Crypto.com Secures $400M Investment From Citadel Securities at $20B Valuation

Global market maker Citadel Securities has invested $400 million in crypto exchange Crypto.com, giving the platform a $20 billion valuation, according to a Thursday announcement. 

Crypto.com, which has a number of digital asset products, said the cash would help the Singapore-based company expand its services to assets such as blockchain-based securities and derivatives. 

The cash will help bridge the gap “between digital asset and traditional markets to create a more efficient 24/7 financial ecosystem,” a Thursday announcement read. 

“The size of the opportunity in front of us is staggering, as crypto increasingly becomes the rails for finance,” Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek said in a statement. 

“Having built the right regulatory and tech infrastructure over the last decade, Crypto.com is now perfectly positioned to capture this new wave of growth across all asset classes.”

“The convergence of traditional financial markets and digital asset infrastructure is an exciting evolution with the potential to further improve market efficiency,” added Jim Esposito, President of Citadel Securities.

Wall Street’s interest in tokenization

Esposito’s comment comes as Wall Street interest in blockchain technology piques — despite a market slump.  

Back in February, BlackRock, the world’s biggest asset manager, announced that it was working with decentralised exchange Uniswap to bring one of its funds on-chain.

Before that, in January, the New York Stock Exchange said it was building a platform allowing traders to buy and sell tokenised versions of US-listed equities and exchange-traded funds. 

And most recently, the S&P 500 gave crypto platform Trade[XYZ] the green light to debut a new derivative contract on decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, allowing traders to gain leveraged exposure to the top index.

Citadel’s crypto interest 

Miami, Florida-based Citadel, has for some time been interested in digital assets: Back in 2023, the company helped debut EDX Markets, a “first-of-its-kind exchange” giving investors “safer, faster and more efficient cryptocurrency trading.”

The exchange this year applied for a national trust bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, marking a step toward deeper integration between digital asset firms and the US banking system.

Citadel last year also pumped $200 million into crypto exchange Kraken to help accelerate the company’s strategy of bringing traditional financial products on-chain. 

This post Crypto.com Secures $400M Investment From Citadel Securities at $20B Valuation first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin Magazine

T. Rowe Price Debuts New ETF With Bitcoin and Crypto Exposure

Asset manager T. Rowe Price on Thursday debuted its first crypto exchange-traded fund, giving investors exposure to Bitcoin and other digital coins. 

T. Rowe Price, which with $1.89 trillion in assets is one of the largest U.S. asset managers, said that its Active Crypto ETF is the first actively managed multi-token spot ETF on the market. 

The ETF, which trades on the NYSE Arca under the ticker TKNZ, mainly gives investors exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum, weighed 40.75% and 18.42%, respectively, but includes other assets like Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, Dogecoin, and BNB. 

T. Rowe Price applied to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the product last October. 

“Through the launch of the T. Rowe Price Active Crypto ETF, investors can gain access to a thoughtfully curated, professionally managed multi-coin portfolio that helps eliminate the guesswork of building a crypto allocation on their own,” Blue Macellari, who works as head of digital assets at the firm, said in an announcement.  

The announcement added that the product was the “first of the firm’s lineup” for the digital asset space, hinting that more ETFs could soon follow. 

Writing on X Thursday, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior research analyst, James Seyffart, said: “Launching during a bear market and I know for a fact this product was years in the making. Legacy asset managers continue to build in the crypto space despite the pullback in prices.”

Explosion in crypto and Bitcoin ETFs 

In January 2024, the SEC approved Bitcoin ETFs by BlackRock, Fidelity, Grayscale and other asset managers after years of denying applications. 

The funds had the most successful debut in the ETF industry’s history, and now manage billions in dollars in assets. 

Ethereum funds followed the same year and a number of altcoin products are now on the market for U.S. and European investors. 

More traditional investors and Wall Street institutions can now buy crypto via shares that trade on traditional stock exchanges. 

Investors were previously put off by some of the harder aspects of crypto management, such as keeping private keys safe and digital coin storage. 

The Bitcoin ETFs in particular have helped integrate the asset into traditional finance, making it easier to borrow against or use as collateral. 

Under President Trump’s crypto-friendly administration, regulators have become more relaxed towards regulating the digital asset space; many SEC lawsuits and investigations targeting crypto firms have been scrapped since the Republican took office. 

This post T. Rowe Price Debuts New ETF With Bitcoin and Crypto Exposure first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin Magazine

Fed Chair Warsh: No Bailout for Crypto Industry in Crisis

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh told the House Financial Services Committee on July 14 that the central bank will decline to rescue the cryptocurrency industry in a crisis, a message he delivered during his first semiannual monetary policy testimony as chair.

The exchange came from Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), a longtime crypto skeptic, who asked whether the Fed would backstop failing digital-asset firms the way it supported money market funds in 2008. Warsh rejected the premise. “We do not want to be in the bailout business, full stop,” he said. He added, “We want to be in a position where we’re not bailing out anybody, including crypto.”

Warsh, who took office May 15 and presided over his first FOMC meeting in June, framed the stance through his own history. 

As a Fed governor under Chairman Ben Bernanke, he helped design the 2008 rescue effort. “I still have the scars from the 2008 financial crisis,” he said. “That is not something we want to repeat.” He argued that the post-crisis bailouts bred moral hazard, and he wants to spare digital assets the same fate.

For a market that spent years seeking legitimacy alongside traditional finance, the comments draw a hard line. Warsh, described as the first crypto-native Fed chair, has treated Bitcoin as a gauge rather than a ward of the state. During his nomination hearing he called Bitcoin “not a substitute for the U.S. dollar,” and he has used its price as a thermometer for whether monetary policy sits in the right place.

Warsh chimes in on the GENIUS Act rules deadline

The warning lands days before a pivotal deadline. Rules to implement the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin law enacted in 2025, are due Saturday, and Warsh confirmed the Fed is “racing” to publish its proposals on time.

The statute pays stablecoin holders ahead of other creditors when an issuer fails and requires full reserves behind each coin. With the stablecoin market near $310 billion, Sherman pressed the point that a run on one issuer could spread across the sector.

Warsh declined to offer an absolute pledge. He told lawmakers the Fed would act to limit “extraordinary” risks over the next four years, language that leaves room for intervention in a systemic event. American Banker noted that he declined to rule out any future step-in.

At the Senate Banking Committee the following day, Warsh urged banking regulators to coordinate on GENIUS Act rulemaking to prevent regulatory arbitrage, a race that lets firms hunt for the lightest oversight. 

He paired that call with a defense of Fed independence on monetary policy and a pledge to shrink a balance sheet that sits near $6.7 trillion.

The takeaway for crypto is a market-discipline era: the Fed will set the rules of the road, yet firms that overreach will bear the cost of their own failures. For an industry that courted federal backing, Warsh’s message asks it to stand on its own.

This post Fed Chair Warsh: No Bailout for Crypto Industry in Crisis first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin VC Veterans Launch $40 Million Holding Company Targeting Small Business Acquisitions

Another day, another Bitcoin treasury. 

But this time, with a twist: Earlier this week, macroeconomist and all-round Bitcoin legend Lyn Alden announced Orange Juice — an investment firm that aims to buy, improve and get businesses on a Bitcoin standard. 

The idea is that Orange Juice will buy small and mid-sized businesses at low prices, improve their operations, and hold them indefinitely rather than reselling them. 

A portion of the businesses’ profits will get converted into Bitcoin, which serves as the company’s treasury asset. 

“Pure-play Bitcoin holding companies exist, but their cash-flowing operations tend to be small or non-existent,” Alden wrote in a blog post. 

She added: “Orange Juice instead will emphasize building a strong and diversified base of cash flows, with a portion of the retained earnings of its businesses accumulating into a Bitcoin treasury.”

Ego Death Capital partners Jeff Booth, Lyn Alden, Nico Lechuga, Andi Pitt founded the company along with Adrian Steckel and Ruben Zweiban, while Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas participated as the anchor investor, a Wednesday announcement read. 

Salinas — one of Mexico’s richest men — has long-praised Bitcoin and last month admitted he had increased his allocation in the asset from 10% to 70% of his portfolio. 

It added that the company had already raised $40 million and intends to pursue a public listing in the future.

“Over the coming decades, a significant wave of business successions will take place,” the announcement said. “Unlike traditional private equity, Orange Juice is not constrained by fund cycles or the pressure to resell, allowing it to focus on the long-term health of its businesses.”

Bitcoin treasury craze

The announcement comes at a time when Bitcoin treasuries have taken a hit: the business model — of buying and holding Bitcoin and other digital assets with spare cash — suffered last year with a plunge in crypto prices. 

Strategy, the biggest and oldest Bitcoin treasury, has seen its Nasdaq-listed stock nosedive by nearly 80% over the past year. 

Little known publicly traded companies in 2025 rushed to announce they were buying digital assets in a hope to boost their stock prices. The strategy worked but since the market downturn, a number of firms in the space have had to sell a portion of their holdings. 

There are currently over 360 digital asset treasuries, according to BitcoinTreasuires.net, made up of private and public entities holding a variety of digital assets. 

This post Bitcoin VC Veterans Launch $40 Million Holding Company Targeting Small Business Acquisitions first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin Magazine

Breez Partners With Turnkey to Bring Non-Custodial Bitcoin to Backend-Run Apps

Breez has partnered with Turnkey to let developers add non-custodial bitcoin to applications that run wallets from their own servers, the companies announced.

The partnership addresses a structural problem. Many mainstream apps operate from the backend, with a single service handling millions of users. Adding bitcoin under that design has meant holding user keys on company servers. 

Holding keys makes a company a custodian, a status that carries licensing requirements, legal liability, and the security burden of a large store of user funds. The alternative has been to build a separate device-based wallet, a change that breaks the architecture these apps use to reach scale.

Under the new model, each user receives a wallet whose keys are created and stored inside Turnkey’s secure enclaves. According to the companies, those keys stay out of reach of the app’s servers, Breez, and Turnkey. The company’s backend holds a credential that defines what actions it can take, while authority to move funds rests with the user.

In other words, this partnership positions some of the world’s largest consumer apps to add non-custodial bitcoin without rebuilding their backend architecture or taking custody of user funds.

Turnkey supports Spark, the network the Breez SDK is built on. Paired with Breez’s server mode, a single backend can manage wallets for millions of users without storing keys.

Registered passkeys enable bitcoin self-custody apps

The approval flow works as follows. The user holds a credential, such as a passkey registered with Turnkey at signup. The server prepares a transaction and displays the amount, the fee, and the destination. 

The user approves the transaction, and it completes. The server cannot spend funds without that approval. For the user, the app’s existing flow does not change, and there is no seed phrase to record.

Turnkey provides embedded wallet infrastructure used by a range of consumer apps and holds a SOC 2 audit. In a note to Bitcoin Magazine, Breez positioned the release as a way for exchanges, fintechs, and neobanks to offer bitcoin and stablecoin services to large user bases without taking custody of funds. 

Exchanges can automate payouts under rules their security teams define, and fintechs can add a non-custodial bitcoin service inside their existing interface.

The partnership extends a series of Breez SDK features aimed at lowering barriers to bitcoin integration. Passkey Login replaced the seed phrase, Stable Balance addressed price volatility, and a separate feature added support for sending the stablecoins USDT and USDC. The companies say the combined tools let backend-run products offer bitcoin and stablecoins to users while custody of the assets stays with those users.

This post Breez Partners With Turnkey to Bring Non-Custodial Bitcoin to Backend-Run Apps first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

SpaceX's record-setting market debut has completed a sharp reversal just over a month after the rocket and satellite company raised $85.7 billion in the largest initial public offering in history.

Data from Yahoo Finance shows that SPCX shares fell to a post-listing low of $132.28 Wednesday, slipping below their $135 offering price for the first time before recovering to close at $135.27. The stock has lost about 40% since reaching $225.64 during its first week of trading, cutting SpaceX's market value from more than $2.8 trillion at its peak to roughly $1.8 trillion.

The downturn has erased hundreds of billions of dollars from founder Elon Musk’s fortune. The value of his roughly 42% SpaceX stake has fallen from about $1.2 trillion at the stock’s peak to around $760 billion, while the Bloomberg Billionaires Index valued his overall wealth at about $856 billion Thursday, down from $1.32 trillion in June.

Investors who chased the shares after their $150 opening price are sitting on about a 10% loss, while those who bought near the June peak are down about 40%. Retail investors received an unusually large allocation in the IPO, accounting for about 20% of the offering, and bought hundreds of millions of dollars more in the stock’s first days of trading.

Traders betting against SpaceX have moved in the opposite direction. Short sellers accumulated an estimated $8.7 billion in paper profits as the shares fell below their offering price, according to data from Ortex Technologies.

The losses mark a rapid turn from the excitement that followed SpaceX's June listing, when a limited supply of publicly available shares, heavy retail participation and demand from index-tracking funds propelled the company above $2 trillion.

Yet the speculation surrounding that rally has not entirely disappeared. Hundreds of millions of dollars remain tied to SpaceX through leveraged cryptocurrency contracts, while tokenized versions of the stock continue circulating on blockchain networks.

Crypto traders retain leverage after the stock frenzy fades

The selloff has reduced activity on crypto exchanges without clearing out the large pool of SpaceX positions accumulated during the stock's opening surge.

SpaceX-linked perpetual futures held about $615 million in open interest early Thursday, CoinGlass data showed. Traders generated roughly $1.6 billion in volume over the preceding 24 hours, down from more than $10 billion near the height of the post-IPO rally.

Meanwhile, SPCX Open interest has declined more gradually. Outstanding positions peaked at about $860 million in late June and have remained mostly above $600 million as the shares fell toward their listing price.

These figures show that a large amount of exposure remains even as the number of contracts changing hands has dropped by more than 80%.

Crypto exchanges introduced the perpetual contracts to allow customers to trade synthetic exposure to SpaceX around the clock. The products track movements in the Nasdaq-listed shares but do not give traders ownership in the company. They also commonly allow leverage, enabling investors to control positions worth several times the collateral they deposit.

Open interest does not indicate whether traders broadly expect a rebound or a deeper decline. Every contract has parties on opposing sides, and the total includes long positions, short positions, market-maker hedges, and arbitrage trades.

However, it does show that SpaceX's decline has yet to force a broad retreat from the crypto derivatives market. The remaining positions could become more vulnerable to liquidations if the stock moves sharply after earnings or as more shares become eligible for sale.

Meanwhile, crypto demand has also spread beyond perpetual futures. The SpaceX xStock, a tokenized instrument designed to track the company's shares, held nearly $25 million in assets across more than 7,800 holders, according to RWA.xyz data. The token generated about $313 million in transfer volume over the past month.

The tokenized product provides investors with exposure to SpaceX via blockchain infrastructure, though token ownership differs from directly holding the underlying Nasdaq shares. Its asset value remains small relative to SpaceX's market capitalization, but the transfer volume shows how the IPO extended into crypto markets operating outside conventional trading hours.

Those markets amplified the initial enthusiasm around SpaceX. They could also accelerate the next move, particularly if leveraged positions are forced to close while activity remains well below its June peak.

The immediate test will come from SpaceX's first quarterly report as a listed company and the release of a block of insider shares worth more than the stock currently available for public trading.

SpaceX's upcoming $123 billion share unlock sharpens the divide between bulls and bears

The remaining leverage now sits ahead of a supply increase that could weaken the scarcity that helped propel SpaceX above $225.

Employees and some early investors will become eligible to sell 911.5 million shares on the second trading day after the company releases its first quarterly results, expected in early August. At Wednesday's closing price, those shares would be worth about $123 billion, compared with roughly $86 billion of stock currently available for trading on the Nasdaq.

The release does not mean all eligible shareholders will sell. Employees may hold their stakes, early investors may gradually dispose of shares, and institutions could absorb some of the additional supply. The unlock will nonetheless give a much larger group of shareholders the ability to take profits or diversify their wealth.

Another 455.8 million shares could be released early if SpaceX closes above $175.50 in at least 5 of the 10 trading sessions leading up to the earnings report. The stock would need to rally more than 29% from Wednesday's close to return to that level.

Meanwhile, additional restrictions will expire over the following months. By Dec. 8, as much as 40% of SpaceX could be eligible for public trading, while the remaining shares, including Musk's stake, are expected to remain restricted until mid-2027.

The schedule supports the central argument made by SpaceX skeptics that the unusually small IPO float created a temporary imbalance between limited supply and intense demand.

In view of this, George Noble, a former Fidelity fund manager, estimates SpaceX is worth about $30 a share. He argues that the initial float of less than 5%, followed by expedited entry into major indexes, helped push the stock far above levels justified by the company's financial performance.

Noble's bearish case rests on the view that increasing supply of SPCX shares will expose how much of the June rally depended on scarcity. If employees and early investors sell into weaker demand, the expanded float could keep pressure on the shares even after the stock's 40% decline.

Jamie Gull, founder of Wave Function Ventures, expects the upcoming unlock to create selling pressure as employees and investors diversify their holdings. He also argues that the larger float could generate offsetting demand because index funds will need to adjust their positions as more SpaceX shares become publicly available.

However, Gull sees the company's launch operations and Starlink network as foundations for longer-term businesses involving Starship, lunar infrastructure and computing systems in orbit. In his view, the decline could continue toward $100 before the stock resumes a slower recovery toward $200 or higher.

Notably, most Wall Street analysts remain bullish. Twenty-seven of the 32 analysts tracked by LSEG recommend buying SpaceX, four have neutral ratings and one recommends selling. Supporters point to Starlink's profitability, the company's dominant position in commercial launches and the possibility that Starship could lower the cost of reaching orbit.

The earnings report will provide the first public test of those assumptions. Investors will be looking for revenue growth, spending levels, and evidence that SpaceX can fund its expansion without allowing losses and new share issuance to overwhelm its operating progress.

The post SpaceX hype collapses with $600 million still carrying leveraged bets before a massive share unlock appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin’s recent price rebound faltered as the advance gave long-term holders and recent buyers an opportunity to sell before the cryptocurrency reached its next major resistance zone.

Data from CryptoSlate shows that the largest digital asset crossed $65,000 on Wednesday for the first time in about a month, then retreated under $63,000 as of press time. The move followed softer US inflation data and marked Bitcoin's strongest response to favorable economic news in weeks.

The retreat came even as several market indicators turned more constructive, setting up a test of whether recovering demand can absorb the supply emerging during rallies and carry Bitcoin above $70,000.

Long- and short-term holders constrain Bitcoin's recovery

Bitcoin’s failure to hold above $65,000 showed how quickly the rebound was drawing supply from investors on both sides of the recent downturn.

Bitcoin has traded below the realized price of the 18-month-to-two-year UTXO cohort since early June, according to CryptoQuant data. The measure estimates the average price at which coins in the group last moved and serves as a proxy for their break-even level.

That moving cost basis has since risen to about $80,800 as coins enter and leave the cohort, leaving many of its holders with substantial unrealized losses at current prices.

Long-term holder realized-loss volume increased as Bitcoin approached $66,000, Glassnode data showed. This rebound allowed underwater investors to sell at smaller losses than they faced when the cryptocurrency traded below $60,000.

Glassnode stated:

“Currently, more than 65% of exchange inflows are attributable to long-term holders realizing losses, a reading consistent with prior bear market phases where this cohort dominated the sell side.”

The data suggest that some holders used the rebound to reduce exposure rather than wait for Bitcoin to return to their estimated break-even price, adding supply to a market already struggling to extend its response to softer inflation data.

At the same time, short-term holders were selling into the same recovery for the opposite reason. Investors who accumulated Bitcoin near the June lows began taking profits at volumes last seen around the market's May peak.

The two groups entered at different prices and are recording different outcomes. Long-term holders are reducing losses, while recent buyers are protecting gains, but both are supplying Bitcoin as it attempts to move higher.

Their combined selling has added pressure while Bitcoin remains below the short-term holder cost basis near $69,000, where another group of recent buyers would return to break even. That level sits near a large concentration of options exposure between $70,000 and $80,000, creating overlapping sources of potential resistance.

ETF inflows return as Bitcoin's market regime improves

The selling pressure has not erased signs of improving demand, with US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds attracting money for three consecutive sessions after the week began with a sharp withdrawal.

The funds recorded $181.1 million of net inflows Tuesday, $107.7 million Wednesday and another $79 million Thursday. The combined $367.8 million recovered almost 87% of Monday’s $424 million outflow, leaving the week with a net withdrawal of about $56 million.

The improvement has coincided with a bullish turn in CryptoQuant analyst Axel Adler’s Bitcoin Regime Score, which combines taker flows, open interest pressure, funding rates, ETF activity, exchange flows and the price trend.

The indicator has risen to 34.7 on a scale from -100 to +100. It fell to -42.9 on June 26, when Bitcoin traded near $58,300, but has rarely remained below zero since July 2.

The score spent roughly four-fifths of the past week in positive territory, compared with about three-fifths of the full month. It reached 65.3 on July 10 before retreating toward neutral four days later, but the pullback did not develop into a sustained negative reading.

Agreement among the model's components has also strengthened. Regime Confidence rose from 54.9% to 79.4% over the past 24 hours, placing it just below the model's 80% high-confidence threshold.

Its seven-day average has increased to 64.3%, compared with 57.3% for the full month. The rise in both the score and confidence suggests that the improvement is supported by several market inputs rather than by a single unusually strong component.

The indicators have yet to produce a decisive price breakout, however. A return in the Regime Score above 50, accompanied by confidence near 80%, would provide stronger confirmation that the recovery had regained momentum.

Options exposure stacks up above $70,000

The improving regime now faces its first major test in a region where short-term holder supply overlaps with a heavy concentration of call open interest.

Deribit data show about $1.6 billion of Bitcoin call open interest at the $70,000 strike, $1 billion at $72,000 and $686 million at $75,000. A further $1.2 billion is concentrated at $80,000.

Those four strikes account for nearly $4.5 billion in open interest, creating a broad options corridor above the current market price.

The short-term holder cost basis near $69,000 lies near that corridor. Bitcoin could therefore encounter selling from recent buyers returning to break even at the same time that options traders and market makers begin adjusting positions around the largest call strikes.

Open interest alone does not reveal whether the positioning reflects outright bullish trades, covered call sales, volatility strategies, or portfolio hedges. Every options contract also has both a buyer and a seller, making the totals an incomplete measure of directional conviction.

The concentrations nevertheless identify levels where hedging activity could increase as Bitcoin approaches the strikes, particularly around large expirations. Those adjustments can amplify price movements in either direction.

Bitcoin needs stronger demand to clear $70,000

Clearing the options corridor will depend on whether the recent improvement in demand translates into a broader, more sustained recovery.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded three consecutive sessions of inflows, but the reversal remains limited compared with the withdrawals recorded across the two largest funds over the past month.

Combined flows for BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC have averaged more than 1,250 BTC of net outflows per day over the past 30 days, Glassnode data showed. Trading activity across the ETF market has also declined, suggesting that participation remains subdued despite the recent inflow streak.

Bitcoin would therefore need continued spot and ETF buying to absorb sales from recent buyers returning to break even and older holders using rallies to reduce losses.

There are early signs that pressure from long-term holders may be easing. The cohort's 30-day average realized-loss volume has begun to retreat from its recent high.

Previous bear markets established firmer footing after that measure peaked and entered a sustained decline. However, the current rollover remains too brief to confirm that the heaviest distribution has ended.

Until demand strengthens and selling by holders eases more decisively, Bitcoin remains caught between improving market signals and supply that emerges during recoveries.

Failure to clear the overlapping resistance between $70,000 and $80,000 would return attention to the downside. Open interest in puts totals about $1 billion at $60,000 and $840 million at $50,000, creating another large options concentration below the current market.

The $60,000 level would become the first major test after another rejection, combining a large put concentration with an area where buyers previously defended the market.

The post Bitcoin buyers and bagholders are both selling into the rebound below $70,000 appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Steak' n Shake says US same-store sales jumped about 16% in July and wants Bitcoin to share the credit. However, one figure remains conspicuously absent: how many customers actually used it.

So, is the PR attached to Bitcoin now worth more than the chain itself?

In a July 10 post, the burger chain said its month-to-date increase came on top of about 16% growth in the comparable period a year earlier. It thanked loyal patrons and Bitcoiners, said Bitcoin payments save money compared with credit cards, and said those savings were being reinvested in healthier ingredients.

The 16% growth figure comes from Steak' n Shake. Yet the company has not revealed how many customers paid with Bitcoin, how much they spent, or what share of orders used BTC.

Without those numbers, there is no way to separate Bitcoin's effect from the pull of the campaign itself, price changes, promotions, menu updates, or shifts in the restaurant mix.

The company posted,

Anyone who doubts the power of Bitcoin is making a BIG mistake.

The company's fee claim stops at the transaction level

Steak ’n Shake began accepting Bitcoin at U.S. locations in May 2025. It later said it was adding the Bitcoin it received to a strategic reserve. Those moves made Bitcoin part of the brand and a checkout option.

Bitcoin can draw customers through the door even when few pay with it, while every Bitcoin order may cost less to process. The missing number is the amount of business that actually moves through it.

As of July 16, Steak' n Shake still has not revealed any Bitcoin info on order numbers, how much those orders were worth, or how much it actually saved on fees. It also offered no store-level data showing whether customers returned to pay with Bitcoin or how promotions shaped adoption. That gap prevents measurement of the size of any payment-driven effect.

At the Bitcoin 2026 conference, Steak' n Shake executive Michael Boes said Bitcoin transactions cost the chain roughly 50% less to process than traditional card transactions. He also said the company would save about $6 million a year if every credit-card customer switched to Bitcoin.

Boes also said Steak' n Shake's total customer count had increased by roughly 2 million year over year after the Bitcoin rollout. The presentation did not identify those customers as Bitcoin payers or disclose a method for attributing their visits to the payment option.

The company's Bitcoin payment terms do add useful detail. Menu prices remain denominated in U.S. dollars, checkout uses a third-party Bitcoin payment provider, and Steak' n Shake says it adds no Bitcoin payment fee. Customers may still face wallet, network, conversion, or exchange-rate costs.

So, the evidence supports a potential merchant cost advantage for orders paid in Bitcoin, but does not indicate whether enough orders use the rail to produce material savings.

Related Reading

Bitcoin all the things — Square payments offer 0% bitcoin transaction fee

Block turned on BTC payments across its merchant network. Here’s how that could ripple through spreads, Lightning, and on-ramp demand.

Nov 12, 2025 · Gino Matos

Sales were already rising amid a wider overhaul

Biglari Holdings, Steak' n Shake's parent company, reported growth before the July claim. Its first-quarter filing showed 10% domestic same-store sales growth and about 13% growth at franchise-partner restaurants for the period ended March 31.

Those earlier figures establish that the company's sales recovery was already underway.

First-quarter restaurant marketing expense rose to $5.427 million from $3.232 million a year earlier, an increase of about 67.9%. Company-store food cost rose to 31.4% of net sales from 30.0%, primarily because of the switch to 100% beef tallow.

The restaurant base changed, too. On March 31, Steak' n Shake had 128 company-operated units, down from 146 a year earlier. Franchise-partner units increased to 182 from 172, while traditional franchise units fell to 96 from 104.

Biglari's 2025 shareholder letter reported 10.2% annual same-store sales growth and credited product quality, an earlier point-of-sale and kiosk overhaul, productivity improvements, and the owner-operator model. It did not mention Bitcoin.

Promotions surrounded the July reporting period. Steak' n Shake advertised two Liberty Meals for $17.76 throughout July and free Tesla Tallow Tots. It announced free fries without purchase for July 10 only hours before publishing the sales claim, although the company did not specify the precise data cutoff behind that claim.

That uncertainty is why the Bitcoin claim needs guardrails. Marketing, value positioning, menu publicity, promotions, operating changes, and the franchise mix can interact with Bitcoin branding and payment acceptance.

Related Reading

US Bitcoin payments are getting real: Retail rails could push $2M a day on-chain

New merchant and wallet integrations show how checkout apps may quietly route millions in daily Bitcoin and Ethereum flows beyond ETF channels.

Oct 21, 2025 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

During an r/Bitcoin discussion, a customer said that Bitcoin acceptance prompted their first visit. Commenters there and in a skeptical r/Buttcoin thread also pointed to affordability, menu appeal, store closures, consumer trade-down, and potentially low Bitcoin usage. The comments are anecdotes, but they illustrate how Bitcoin can attract a customer and strengthen a brand without showing how many purchases used Bitcoin.

The disclosure test for the next merchant

If Steak' n Shake wants other Main Street merchants to treat its strategy as a growth model, the next disclosure needs to connect adoption to outcomes.

The essential figures are Bitcoin order count and share, Bitcoin sales value, and actual aggregate fee savings. Store and cohort comparisons would show whether locations with more Bitcoin activity performed differently. Repeat behavior would distinguish one-time curiosity from durable use. Promotion and discount data would help separate payment adoption from incentives.

Related Reading

Bitcoin may finally feel instant at checkout, if merchants trust the miner behind it

GoBTC Pay gives merchants and wallets a live way to test instant BTC payments, but adoption depends on whether they trust the miner-run route.

Jun 22, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

The numbers should reveal whether Bitcoin is bringing customers through the door, cutting payment costs, or doing both. Comparing them with marketing spend, prices, traffic, margins, menu changes, and franchise performance would show how much of the growth Bitcoin can actually explain.

For now, Steak' n Shake has reported strong same-store sales growth and described a per-transaction cost advantage for Bitcoin. If Bitcoin transactions materially helped July growth, then sharing those numbers would be the next logical step for the company, which is clearly bullish on Bitcoin.

The post Steak ‘n Shake credits Bitcoin for company growth – But is PR value now worth more than people actually using BTC? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Japan's House of Councilors approved Cabinet Bill 57 by majority vote on July 15, completing Diet passage of legislation that will move regulated crypto activity into the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

The legal framework is now in place, but traders may still wait until 2027 or 2028 for the new market rules and 20% tax rate to take effect.

The official upper-house record says the core crypto provisions take effect on a date set by Cabinet order within one year of promulgation. Enforcement during 2026 would start the tax rules on Jan. 1, 2027; enforcement during 2027 would move that start to Jan. 1, 2028. The Cabinet's timing will decide which calendar applies.

Implementation comes before the benefit

The reform shifts crypto transaction regulation out of the Payment Services Act and into FIEA. Crypto remains legally distinct from securities, but covered activity gains a securities-market-style compliance framework.

The Financial Services Agency's explanatory materials add disclosure and registration coverage for crypto sales, issuer-controlled token offerings and borrowing, as well as asset screening, custody, customer safeguards, and insider-trading controls.

Exchanges and intermediaries can prepare for that framework now; its duties apply after commencement. Detailed operating requirements remain to be set by Cabinet orders and FSA ordinances.

Related Reading

XRP currently dominates Japan’s cash inflows, and a new 20% tax rate is about to lock that advantage in

Japan's 55% to 20% tax cut and crypto reclassification create institutional pathways where XRP already dominates $21.7 billion in JPY on-ramp volume and SBI's remittance infrastructure.

Jan 7, 2026 · Gino Matos

Parliament has already enacted the tax side, but its crypto provisions remain dormant until the FIEA trigger is satisfied. Japan passed and promulgated the fiscal 2026 tax amendments as Law No. 12 on March 31. Once active, qualifying gains will be subject to a combined 20% rate, split between 15% national income tax and 5% local inhabitant tax.

The 20% rate applies only when investors sell eligible tokens through registered crypto businesses and the assets appear on Japan's official register.

Unused losses within the same tax-defined crypto category can be carried forward for three years, subject to conditions. Tokens, venues and transactions outside that defined channel keep their existing treatment.

Reporting arrives a year after the tax-and-loss rules. Under the Ministry of Finance framework, businesses must provide tax authorities with customer identities, Japan's My Number identifier, and transaction details by Jan. 31 after the trade year. If the 20% regime starts in 2028, reporting would cover transactions from 2029 and the first reports would be due Jan. 31, 2030.

Related Reading

Japan’s 20% crypto tax sets a new bar in Asia, pressuring Singapore and Hong Kong as retail costs fall

Japan’s sweeping crypto reclassification could redefine Asia’s regulatory power balance.

Nov 23, 2025 · Andjela Radmilac

The reform package also outlines a possible route for crypto investment products. It brings crypto investment management and advice within FIEA and anticipates certain investment trusts holding tax-qualifying, registered crypto assets. That treatment still requires a separate amendment to the Investment Trusts Act enforcement order.

The text names no spot Bitcoin ETF and grants no product approval. The FSA said in October 2025 that the formation and sale of domestic crypto ETFs were barred under the previous framework. Sponsors must still clear the applicable product and listing reviews after implementing rules define the new route.

Related Reading

Japan Bitcoin ETF plan ready to open route into household savings

SBI’s Bitcoin ETF Japan roadmap could move crypto exposure from exchanges into brokerage accounts, tax wrappers, and one of the world’s largest household savings markets.

May 19, 2026 · Gino Matos

The key dates now depend on when the law is formally enacted, when the Cabinet brings the FIEA changes into force, and when the FSA finishes the detailed rules. The 20% tax rate would then apply from the following tax year.

The post Japan passes the crypto law traders wanted but its 20% tax could still wait until 2028 appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Ostium, an on-chain perpetuals trading platform, said a five-minute security incident caused losses from its public liquidity vault. Security firms estimated the exploit at up to $24 million.

Co-founder Kaledora Kiernan-Linn confirmed that the issue ran from 14:18 to 14:23 UTC on July 15 and affected the public Ostium Liquidity Provider (OLP) vault. She said the team identified it within minutes and coordinated a trading pause within the hour. The statement did not give a definitive loss total, identify the root cause, or provide a final postmortem.

Security firms said authorized data, rather than a missing signature, sat at the center of the incident. Blockaid and Cyvers said a registered PriceUpKeep forwarder submitted future-dated, authorized oracle reports that created artificial trading profits.

SlowMist said an authorized signer supplied validly signed manipulated data used for repeated profitable trades. Those descriptions remain third-party findings pending Ostium's postmortem.

Cryptographic authentication can establish that a permitted key signed a report. Price plausibility, timestamp freshness, and settlement safety require separate controls.

The OstiumVerifier code linked from Ostium's security documentation recovers an ECDSA signer and checks whether the signer is authorized, but that verifier function does not enforce a price-plausibility test or timestamp bound.

The code does not appear to identify which implementation was active during the incident or whether separate contracts applied those checks. Any timestamp, replay, price-deviation, or multi-source safeguards would have to operate elsewhere in the execution path.

Related Reading

How tokenized stocks fail as collateral even when the stock price does not move

Edel’s exploit was small, but it hit the next frontier for tokenized equities: credit markets, where 1:1 backing is not enough if wrappers, vaults and exchange rates can be gamed.

Jul 2, 2026 · Gino Matos

Ostium's protocol documentation states that the OLP vault holds traders' collateral and pays out winning trades immediately on-chain. If artificial profits were accepted for settlement, vault liquidity funded the payouts.

Published estimates rose as tracing continued. Blockaid put the payout near $18 million, Cyvers estimated $23.7 million, and PeckShield later described roughly $24 million drained.

SlowMist's lower $11.86 million figure appears to track one 11,862,444.782 USDC vault outflow visible in its cited transaction.

Related Reading

New SummerFi DeFi exploit shows AI automation now sits above smart contract risk

Blockaid estimated about $6 million drained as Summer.fi paused Lazy Summer vaults and investigated the cause.

Jul 7, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

PeckShield said the extracted USDC was swapped into 12,080 ETH and that 10,540 ETH had reached Tornado Cash by its update. Kiernan-Linn said Ostium was working with law enforcement, SEAL 911, and third-party security specialists.

The mechanics distinguish Ostium from a similar issue with Bonzo Lend, a Hedera lender hit four days earlier. Bonzo's incident report said its verifier accepted a proof carrying no valid signature. In Ostium's case, security firms allege the reports came through an authorized signer path: authentication succeeded, but the data was allegedly unsafe.

Related Reading

How a zeroed oracle signature unlocked $9M from Hedera DeFi lender Bonzo Lend

The verifier accepted identity inputs as proof, letting 250 SAUCE support $9.05 million in principal borrowing.

Jul 13, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

Ostium still has to establish whether a signer key was compromised, an authorized operator acted maliciously, or another privileged path was abused.

Its remediation will be judged by whether signer isolation, tight timestamp bounds, independent price checks, rate limits, and circuit breakers can prevent one trusted path from turning minutes of bad data into another vault payout.

The post Prices from the future fooled this crypto oracle into sending millions to wrong wallet appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Every bull run mints a hundred "Ethereum killers" and a thousand DeFi protocols promising 40,000% APY. Every bear market buries most of them. So the real question in 2026 isn't "what's the hottest new farm?" — it's "which platforms actually survived the exploits, the depegs, the regulatory squeeze, and the liquidity flight, and are still here holding real money?"

The answer is surprisingly short. A handful of protocols now anchor the entire ecosystem, and DefiLlama tracks DeFi TVL in the hundreds of billions across thousands of protocols — but the top ten capture the overwhelming majority of that capital. Below are the five that best combine size, staying power, and a business model that still works when the incentives dry up.

Why did most DeFi platforms die — and these didn't?

Before the list, it's worth understanding the filter. Surviving in DeFi means clearing four hurdles that killed everyone else. First, security: DeFi hacks have drained billions, and one bad oracle design or unaudited contract ends a protocol overnight. Second, sticky TVL: plenty of projects juiced their numbers with token emissions, then watched liquidity evaporate the moment rewards fell. Third, real revenue: a protocol that doesn't earn fees is just a subsidy program with a countdown timer. Fourth, regulatory endurance: with MiCA now shaping how Europeans access crypto, protocols that couldn't adapt got squeezed out of major markets.

The five below cleared all four. Here's who they are.

1. Lido — the liquid staking giant that refuses to shrink

Lido is the closest thing DeFi has to infrastructure. As a liquid staking protocol, it lets you stake ETH (and assets on several other chains) while handing you a liquid token — stETH — that you can then deploy across the rest of DeFi. Stake, stay liquid, keep earning. It's the killer feature that solved one of crypto's oldest problems: locked capital.

That utility has kept Lido perennially at or near the top of the TVL rankings, with the protocol still commanding well into the double-digit billions in 2026. The trade-off is concentration risk — Lido controls a large slice of all staked ETH, which raises legitimate governance and decentralization concerns. But its audits are battle-tested (with a public bug bounty running into the millions), and its 10% fee on staking rewards gives it one of the most durable revenue streams in the space. Lido didn't survive by hype. It survived by being useful every single day.

2. Aave — the lending blue-chip that keeps compounding

If Lido is DeFi's savings account, Aave is its bank. It pioneered the modern lending market: deposit assets to earn interest, or post collateral to borrow against it, all through smart contracts with no middleman. Aave also invented "flash loans" — uncollateralized loans that must be borrowed and repaid inside a single transaction — which became an industry-standard primitive.

In 2026, Aave remains the undisputed leader of DeFi lending, holding well over ten billion in TVL and consistently ranking as the single largest lending protocol, capturing a dominant share of the entire category. Crucially, it earns real money: borrow interest, liquidation fees, and flash-loan fees all feed the treasury, and since 2025 Aave has been buying back its own token with that revenue. Deep liquidity, wide multi-chain support (Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, Avalanche and more), and the ongoing V4 upgrade keep it firmly in the "too important to fail" category.

3. Uniswap — the DEX that outlasted every "Uniswap killer"

Countless projects launched to dethrone Uniswap. None did. What began as a simple automated market maker is now a multi-chain trading powerhouse that routinely processes more volume than many centralized exchanges. Its V3 concentrated-liquidity model gave liquidity providers dramatically better capital efficiency, and UniswapX brought intent-based, MEV-protected, cross-chain swaps.

Uniswap's TVL — in the low-single-digit billions — looks modest next to the lending and staking giants, but that misreads how a DEX works. The right yardstick is volume and fees, and on that measure Uniswap sits at the very top of the DEX stack with meaningful annualized revenue. It launched V4 only after nine separate audits and a multi-million-dollar bug bounty. When people say "just swap it on-chain," they almost always mean Uniswap. That default-choice status is exactly why it's still here.

💡 Trading beyond DeFi? If you also want regulated access to stocks, ETFs, and crypto in one place, XTB is a solid multi-asset broker to have alongside your on-chain wallet. And if you're choosing where to on-ramp, compare the MiCA-regulated exchanges here to stay compliant in the EU.

4. Morpho — the efficiency layer that became a lending powerhouse

Morpho is the newest name on this list, and its survival story is different: it out-engineered the incumbents. It started as an optimization layer sitting on top of Aave and Compound to squeeze better rates out of them, then evolved into Morpho Blue — a minimal, flexible base layer where anyone can spin up an isolated lending market with its own risk parameters.

That architecture has propelled Morpho into the multi-billion-dollar TVL tier and made it one of the top lending venues in all of DeFi. It functions less like a fee-hungry treasury and more like neutral lending "rails," with curator-managed markets (run by risk specialists like Gauntlet) tuning parameters per market. It's audited, formally verified, contest-tested, and runs a live bug bounty. Morpho proves that in 2026 you can still break into the top tier — but only by being genuinely better infrastructure, not by paying people to show up.

5. Sky (formerly MakerDAO) — the original stablecoin machine

The protocol once known as MakerDAO — now rebranded as Sky — is the grandfather of decentralized stablecoins, and it's arguably the best pure business on this entire list. It issues a crypto-backed stablecoin against overcollateralized deposits, and its Sky Savings Rate gives holders a native yield that ripples across the ecosystem (its lending arm, Spark, tracks that rate directly).

Sky sits above six billion in TVL, but the headline number undersells it: its annualized revenue is far higher than most names here, making it a genuine cash machine rather than an incentive-fueled mirage. It runs one of the largest public bug-bounty programs in DeFi. More than a decade after its launch, Sky is still doing the same fundamental thing — turning volatile collateral into a stable, yield-bearing dollar — and still doing it profitably. That's what survival looks like.

Which DeFi platform is right for you in 2026?

There's a clear logic to these five. Want yield on ETH without locking it up? Lido. Want to lend, borrow, or leverage? Aave for depth and safety, Morpho for efficiency and higher rates. Want to trade or provide liquidity? Uniswap. Want a stablecoin backbone with real savings yield? Sky. Between them they cover staking, lending, trading, and stablecoins — the four load-bearing pillars of the entire on-chain economy.

A word of caution, though: TVL rankings move daily, and even blue-chips carry smart-contract, oracle, liquidation, and governance risk. Always verify live figures on DefiLlama before deploying capital, size your positions for the possibility of an exploit, and never chase a headline APY you can't explain. DeFi in 2026 is more mature than ever — but "mature" is not the same as "risk-free."

Trump Backs a Transatlantic Stablecoin Deal — Why Now?

The biggest crypto story of the last 24 hours isn't a price candle — it's a political one. President Trump has strengthened support for a new UK-US stablecoin framework as the Senate races to advance the CLARITY Act despite growing opposition from banking groups over its stablecoin provisions.

The framework itself came out of a body called the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future. Created in September 2025, the taskforce described stablecoins as "an important vehicle for innovation in digital money," and both governments agree that properly regulated stablecoins can improve cross-border payments, financial market infrastructure, and competition while giving businesses more consistent regulatory treatment across both jurisdictions.

The technical bar the two sides set is the important part. Regulated stablecoins should be backed one-to-one with clearly defined, high-quality liquid reserve assets under each country's legal framework. And crucially for anyone holding these tokens: during insolvency or restructuring, stablecoin holders should have legally protected claims over reserve assets ahead of other creditors, subject to domestic insolvency laws.

Trump's motive isn't subtle. He has repeatedly linked crypto legislation to his goal of making the United States the "crypto capital of the world" and has continued pushing the Senate to pass the CLARITY Act before the August recess. 

What Is the CLARITY Act — and Why Is It Stuck?

If you've lost track of this bill, you're not alone — it's been grinding through Washington for over a year. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act is a federal market-structure bill that would divide digital-asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC, set intermediary rules, address self-custody and BSA coverage, and add anti-CBDC provisions. It cleared the House with bipartisan support back in July 2025.

Since then it's been trapped in the Senate over one issue above all others. The bill has been bogged down over a highly contentious provision regarding stablecoins and whether digital asset firms can offer yield to customers.

Why Are US Banks Revolting Against It?

This is where the fight gets real. Banks don't hate crypto abstractly here — they're worried about their own deposit base. Banking groups have argued that several provisions remain too unclear and could encourage consumers and businesses to move money from traditional bank accounts into stablecoins. They've warned that sustained deposit outflows could place additional pressure on community and regional banks that depend heavily on customer deposits for lending, and have called on lawmakers to tighten the bill's wording before it moves forward. 

The numbers behind that fear are eye-watering. Standard Chartered analysts previously estimated that a yield provision, if enacted, could redirect up to $1 trillion in deposits away from traditional banks toward stablecoin products by 2028. That's the entire ballgame for why the American Bankers Association has fought this line by line.

Interestingly, even parts of the crypto industry aren't fully on board with the current draft. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew support for the CLARITY Act shortly before a Senate Banking Committee review, calling the draft "materially worse than the current status quo" — a reminder that "bad crypto law" worries both sides for very different reasons. 

How Does This Tie Into Europe and MiCA?

For EU readers, the transatlantic angle matters. Europe already has its rulebook — MiCA — live and enforced, with fully-backed reserve and redemption requirements that look a lot like what the US and UK just agreed to in principle. The direction of travel globally is now clearly toward one-to-one backed, legally ring-fenced stablecoins. If you're choosing where to hold or trade them, using a MiCA-regulated exchange is the safest bet as these frameworks harden.

Want a MiCA-compliant home for your crypto? We've compared the leading MiCA-regulated exchanges on fees, supported stablecoins and security. [ See the full comparison → ]

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Cooling Inflation Meets Political Tailwinds

While the regulatory drama plays out, the market got its own jolt from macro data. $Bitcoin hit a three-week high above $65K after US inflation data showed the Consumer Price Index fell 0.4% in June — the largest monthly drop since April 2020, with annual inflation slowing to 3.5%, below analyst forecasts. Core inflation, stripping out food and energy, eased to 2.6% from 2.9%.

That reset rate-hike expectations almost instantly. Odds of a Fed rate hike this month fell from 43% to just 13% right after the data came out. Not everyone is convinced it lasts, though. The inflation drop was largely driven by lower oil prices in June amid a US-Iran ceasefire — but with fighting resumed, Brent crude has climbed back toward $80, which could show up in July's CPI data.

As of writing, momentum has cooled slightly. Bitcoin is still around 3% higher over 24 hours but slipped about 0.5% since midnight, with Ether up 4.7% in 24 hours before a similar pullback. The levels to watch: traders are eyeing $64,800 resistance closely, with some warning of a possible lower high, while a sell wall sits at $65,000. A clean break above there opens the door toward the June high near $67,250. Sentiment is still fragile, though — the Crypto Fear and Greed Index rose to 25 but remains in "extreme fear" territory.

Upcoming Events to Watch

• CLARITY Act Senate action — Trump wants it passed before the August recess; watch for a floor vote and any last-minute yield-provision compromise.
• US PPI & PCE data — Producer prices are due imminently, with PCE near month-end; both feed the Fed's next read on inflation.
• July FOMC meeting (July 28–29) — the rate decision that all the CPI positioning is really about.
• Oil / Strait of Hormuz — the wildcard that could reignite inflation and drag on risk assets.

Japan has taken one of its most significant steps toward integrating cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system.

The Japanese parliament has passed an amendment formally designating cryptocurrencies as “financial assets.” Until now, crypto assets in Japan were primarily regulated under the country’s Payment Services Act. The new classification brings them closer to financial products such as stocks, bonds and investment funds.

The decision could eventually lead to lower taxes, stronger investor protections and the introduction of regulated cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds in Japan.

However, the reform does not mean that Japanese Bitcoin ETFs are already trading or that every crypto investor will immediately benefit from a 20% tax rate. Further regulatory and tax implementation measures will still be required.

What changes under Japan’s new crypto law?

By bringing crypto assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, Japan is shifting its regulatory focus from payments toward investment and market oversight.

Crypto exchanges and other financial institutions could face rules similar to those applied to traditional securities companies. These may include stricter disclosure obligations, enhanced consumer protections and controls against insider trading and market manipulation.

Earlier proposals from Japan’s Financial Services Agency suggested applying the new framework to more than 100 cryptocurrencies available through approved Japanese exchanges, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The legislation could therefore make Japan’s crypto market more regulated, but also more accessible to traditional financial institutions.

Will Japan reduce crypto taxes to 20%?

Japan currently treats many cryptocurrency profits as miscellaneous income. Depending on an investor’s total income, the combined tax rate can reach approximately 55%.

This has long been criticized by Japanese crypto companies and investors. Traditional stock gains, by comparison, are generally taxed separately at around 20%.

The new financial-asset classification establishes the legal foundation for Japan to move eligible crypto gains toward a similar separate taxation system. Reports indicate that lawmakers are targeting an effective rate of approximately 20%, although the tax reduction is expected to require separate implementation and may not take effect until 2028.

Reducing the rate from as much as 55% to around 20% could encourage Japanese investors to keep their trading activity inside regulated domestic platforms rather than moving funds abroad.

It could also make Bitcoin and Ethereum more attractive as long-term investment assets.

Does the law approve Bitcoin ETFs?

The law does not appear to provide immediate approval for a Japanese spot Bitcoin ETF.

Instead, classifying cryptocurrencies as financial products removes one of the most important legal barriers preventing crypto assets from being included in conventional investment products.

Japan’s regulators could now develop rules allowing investment trusts and exchange-traded funds to hold Bitcoin, Ethereum or other approved crypto assets.

Previous reports said the reform was designed partly to open the door to products such as crypto ETFs. The timing will depend on detailed regulations, product applications and approval from Japanese financial authorities.

Therefore, the most accurate interpretation is that Japan has created a potential pathway for Bitcoin ETFs—not that such funds have already been approved.

Could Japanese Bitcoin ETFs move the crypto market?

Japan is one of the world’s largest economies and has a substantial household savings market.

Japanese investors held more than 5 trillion yen in crypto assets in mid-2025, equivalent to roughly $33 billion at the time. The amount had increased by approximately 25% within one month, demonstrating growing domestic interest in digital assets.

A regulated Bitcoin ETF could give pension funds, asset managers, banks and cautious retail investors a more familiar way to gain crypto exposure.

The immediate market impact would depend on the size of the products and the amount of capital they attract. Japan’s decision alone does not guarantee large Bitcoin purchases.

Nevertheless, the combination of lower taxation and regulated ETFs could gradually unlock a new source of demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Why Japan’s decision matters globally

Japan was among the first major countries to establish a formal licensing system for cryptocurrency exchanges following several high-profile industry failures.

The new legislation represents the next stage of that approach. Instead of treating crypto mainly as a speculative payment technology, Japan is recognizing it as part of the broader investment market.

The shift also reflects a wider international trend. Governments are increasingly moving from debating whether crypto should exist toward deciding how it should be regulated, taxed and integrated into financial markets.

Japan’s decision could place additional pressure on other Asian economies to create competitive tax and investment frameworks.

What happens next?

Investors should now watch for three major developments:

First, Japan must publish detailed regulations explaining which crypto assets and companies will fall under the new financial framework.

Second, lawmakers must finalize the proposed tax changes, including the eligibility requirements and implementation date for the approximately 20% rate.

Third, Japanese asset managers may begin preparing applications for Bitcoin or Ethereum investment products once regulators establish an ETF framework.

The law is therefore an important milestone, but it is the beginning of Japan’s next crypto phase rather than the final step.

Japan crypto outlook

Recognizing cryptocurrencies as financial assets could fundamentally reshape Japan’s digital-asset market.

Lower taxes may encourage more domestic participation, while regulated ETFs could provide access to investors who currently avoid cryptocurrency exchanges. Stronger market rules could also improve institutional confidence.

For Bitcoin, the long-term impact may be more important than the immediate price reaction.

Japan has not simply announced support for crypto. It has started building the legal infrastructure required to place digital assets alongside traditional investments—and that could eventually bring a new wave of capital into the market.

Bitcoin has finally punched through the $65,000 wall that capped every rally for the past month. After grinding sideways for weeks, BTC exploded off its early-July lows and reclaimed the level that bulls have been staring at since mid-June. The move is fast, it's clean, and it's got a real macro story behind it — which is exactly why traders are suddenly paying attention again.

Let's break down what happened, why it happened, and where the charts say we're going next.

Why did Bitcoin break above $65,000?

The short answer: inflation cooled and the Fed rate-hike fear evaporated. Bitcoin pushed toward $65,000 as a sharper-than-expected slowdown in US inflation weakened the case for another near-term Federal Reserve rate move. June CPI came in soft, and that single data point flipped market psychology from defensive to risk-on almost overnight.

But this isn't a one-catalyst story. Several things stacked up at the same time:

• Relief bounce. The stream of bad news that dragged BTC under $58,000 on July 1 — including chatter around Michael Saylor trimming part of his stack — has dried up. When the bad news stops, price tends to snap back.
• Regulatory tailwinds. There's growing buzz around a fresh version of the Crypto Clarity Act, plus Circle securing approval to set up a national trust bank. Regulatory clarity is rocket fuel for institutional confidence.
• ETF inflows. Weekly Bitcoin ETF inflows have been running north of $1.3 billion, a strong signal that big money is accumulating, not fleeing.
• Seasonality. July has historically been a reliably green month for Bitcoin. The calendar was quietly on the bulls' side the whole time.

From a low near $58,000 at the start of the month to above $65,000 now, that's a move of roughly 15% in two weeks. Not bad for a coin everyone had written off as "boring" ten days ago.

Bitcoin price analysis: what the chart says

On the 2-hour chart, the structure is textbook. BTC spent the back half of June and early July carving out a base, put in a clear higher low around the $58,000 zone (the level marked as major support), and has now driven straight into the $65,000 resistance that rejected price back in late June.

The key levels to watch:

• $65,000 — the line in the sand. This capped the June rally and is the level BTC is now testing. A clean 2-hour or daily close above $65,000 turns old resistance into new support and opens the door higher.
• $67,300 — the next real obstacle. This was the lower high printed on June 15. To convince anyone that a real trend change is underway, bulls need to take this out. Until they do, this remains "just a bounce" for the skeptics.
• $58,000 — the floor. As long as BTC holds above this, the broader structure stays constructive.

Momentum backs the move: RSI on the lower timeframe has surged toward 67 and is pointing up, showing real buying pressure rather than a limp drift higher. It's not yet screaming "overbought," which leaves room for continuation.

Prediction: If Bitcoin holds $65,000 as support on a retest, the path of least resistance points to $67,300 first, then a run at $70,000, which analysts have flagged as the natural upside target if the $58,000 base holds. The bullish scenario needs that June high taken out to confirm. The bearish scenario is simple: rejection at $65,000, a slip back below, and a re-test of $62,000–$58,000. Watch the reaction at the line — that's where this gets decided.

One honest caveat: some analysts warn the inflation-relief pop may already be fading, and geopolitical risk in the Middle East hasn't gone anywhere. This is a real breakout attempt, not a guaranteed one.

How are ETH, XRP, SOL and DOGE reacting?

Altcoins are riding Bitcoin's coattails — and in several cases outperforming it on the day:

• Ethereum ($ETH): trading around $1,875, up roughly 5–6% on the day. ETH is leading the majors, helped by news that Morgan Stanley pushed forward updated S-1 filings for spot ETH and SOL ETFs. Staking demand keeps grinding higher in the background.
• $XRP: around $1.10, up close to 4%. Social sentiment on XRP has turned notably bullish — though it's worth noting that historically, loud XRP optimism has sometimes preceded pullbacks, so keep expectations measured.
• Solana ($SOL): near $77–78, up around 3–3.7%. SOL is a direct beneficiary of the Morgan Stanley ETF filing story and remains one of the higher-beta plays when risk appetite returns.
• Dogecoin ($DOGE): around $0.074, up roughly 3%. Classic DOGE behavior — it wakes up when Bitcoin runs and the mood turns risk-on.

The broad tape is green: total crypto market cap climbed back toward $2.3 trillion, up nearly 3% on the day, with Bitcoin dominance holding around 56%. When BTC leads and alts follow without dominance collapsing, it usually signals a healthy, BTC-led leg rather than a frothy alt blow-off.

Trading the majors and want regulated access? If you're in Europe, make sure your exchange is MiCA-compliant. Compare the top MiCA-regulated exchanges here to trade $BTC, $ETH, $XRP, $SOL and $DOGE with proper regulatory coverage.

Bottom line

Bitcoin breaking $65,000 is the most convincing move BTC has made in weeks, and it's backed by a genuine macro shift: cooling inflation, fading Fed-hike fears, strong ETF inflows and improving regulatory optics. The technicals agree, with a clean higher-low base and momentum turning up.

The catch is confirmation. Bulls must hold $65,000 and then clear the $67,300 June high to prove this is a trend change and not just the best relief bounce of the summer. Reclaim those levels and $70,000 is squarely in play. Lose $65,000 and we're right back to chopping between $62,000 and $58,000.

Bitcoin Price Breaks $64,000 After Cooling CPI Inflation

The trigger was a single data point: US Consumer Price Index inflation came in at 3.5%, well below the 3.8% markets expected. Cooler inflation is exactly what risk-on traders had been waiting for, and Bitcoin responded instantly, punching through $64,000. Ethereum followed, climbing toward $1,900 as the broader crypto market caught the bid.

$135M in Short Liquidations Fuel the Crypto Market Surge

Rallies this sharp are rarely just spot buying. As Bitcoin ripped higher, traders betting on lower prices got caught on the wrong side — and in a 60-minute window, $135 million in short positions were liquidated. Each forced liquidation buys back the asset to close the position, adding fuel to the move that triggered it. That short squeeze cascade is why the candle went vertical rather than grinding up slowly.

Why Cooling CPI Inflation Boosts Rate Cut Odds

This is the real story beneath the price action. Inflation cooling to 3.5% strengthens the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates sooner. Lower rates are broadly bullish for crypto: cheaper money pushes investors out of safe yield and into higher-risk assets like Bitcoin, and rate cuts typically weaken the dollar, historically a tailwind for crypto. Markets are now repricing the odds of a cut, and that repricing is showing up directly on the charts.

Bitcoin Price and Ethereum Price Outlook

The immediate direction hinges on whether the move holds above key levels — $64,000 for $Bitcoin and the approach to $1,900 for $Ethereum. Holding confirms the breakout; failing could signal the rally was driven more by liquidations than conviction. The bigger swing factor is the Fed: if more data confirms the cooling trend, rate cut expectations firm up. If the next print runs hot, today's optimism could reverse just as fast.

Some two-thirds of the coins moving onto exchanges are long-term holders taking losses, as a macro risk-off drags on Bitcoin’s price.

The market maker's stake marks Crypto.com's first institutional funding round, as Wall Street deepens its push into crypto.

Source code leaked reveals how substantial portions of Suno’s training library were assembled.

Eligible customers can now buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana with Morgan Stanley via Zero Hash.

Project Eleven says a new post-quantum cryptographic proof could help Bitcoin users recover wallets after Q-Day by verifying ownership.

Dogecoin contributor reaffirms its decentralized roots with a timely reminder.

Japan’s consideration of Bitcoin ETFs could mark a major shift toward deeper institutional participation in its cryptocurrency market.

As the S&P 500 breaks records, Coinbase CEO says tokenized stocks will crush Wall Street’s closed club.

XRP rally prophet DonAlt says Bitcoin is at a turning point, making $61,000 the main line in the sand.

Stellar's golden cross is not pushing the price higher as volumes never moved with moving averages.

Key Takeaways

• First-quarter comparable retail sales increased 5% to £455 million, falling short of market expectations despite meeting company forecasts
• The Americas region delivered the strongest performance with 12% growth; Greater China climbed 9%
• EMEIA sales contracted 3%, pressured by Middle East geopolitical tensions impacting tourist expenditure
• Shares declined nearly 6% during London trading hours in response to the announcement
• Company maintained full-year targets while upgrading wholesale H1 FY27 outlook to high-single-digit expansion

On Friday, Burberry unveiled first-quarter retail sales growth of 5%, translating to revenue of £455 million. While this aligned with internal projections, investors reacted negatively—the luxury retailer’s shares tumbled nearly 6% during London trading.

The 5% comparable sales growth figure disappointed market watchers who had anticipated stronger results. This shortfall triggered a selloff that pushed BRBY shares down to approximately 1,052p at their lowest point.

Regional performance showed significant variation. The Americas emerged as the clear winner with 12% advancement, fueled by robust domestic consumer demand and successful efforts to expand the customer base. Greater China contributed a 9% increase, supported by particularly strong engagement from Generation Z shoppers.

Burberry Group plc, BURBY

The Asia Pacific region posted 3% growth overall, though results were mixed—South Korea surged 11%, while Japan slipped 2% due to diminished Chinese tourist arrivals.

Regional Challenges

The EMEIA territory presented challenges. The region recorded a 3% contraction, which company leadership attributed to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East dampening tourist spending patterns. Even excluding Middle Eastern markets, the region showed a 1% decline.

Chief Executive Joshua Schulman emphasized a meaningful milestone: all four product categories—Womenswear, Menswear, Accessories, and Childrenswear—achieved positive growth simultaneously for the first time in three years. Outerwear merchandise was particularly strong, posting double-digit percentage gains.

Morgan Stanley characterized the results as “a further solid step in the right direction,” acknowledging the achievement came against more challenging year-over-year comparisons and intensifying Middle East headwinds.

The British fashion house upgraded its wholesale revenue guidance for the first half of FY27 to high-single-digit percentage growth, referencing encouraging feedback from wholesale partners.

Financial Guidance and Efficiency Measures

Burberry confirmed its full-year financial objectives, which include revenue advancement and operating margin improvement. The organization expects to realize £100 million in annualized cost reductions by FY27, having already captured £80 million during FY26.

The company projects capital expenditure of approximately £120 million for the period. Foreign exchange movements are anticipated to provide roughly £20 million in revenue uplift, while adjusted operating profit should see minimal currency impact.

Executives acknowledged the “uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic environment” and its possible influence on consumer sentiment going forward.

From a technical perspective, BRBY has retreated from its January peak of 1,377p to the current level near 1,063p, trading beneath both its 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages. The share price has developed a descending triangle formation, with critical support positioned at the 1,025p level.

Management pointed to the “Portraits of an Icon” marketing initiative as contributing to brand strength, while the company has preserved market share in its core outerwear and scarf categories.

The post Burberry (BRBY) Shares Plunge 6% Despite Q1 Revenue Reaching £455M appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:

• Hyperliquid price falls about 12% toward $59 as suspected a16z-linked wallets move nearly $59 million in HYPE across several exchanges.
• Long liquidations reach roughly $14.61 million, while open interest drops on Binance and Bybit as leveraged traders reduce exposure.
• HYPE breaks below a symmetrical triangle and its major four-hour moving averages, placing the $57 to $59 demand zone under pressure.
• A loss of $57 could expose $55.55, $52.65, and the deeper $42.74 to $43.30 zone, while any rebound first faces resistance near $63.

Hyperliquid price prediction signals turn cautious after HYPE drops about 12% within 24 hours. The token trades near $59 after falling from a daily high above $66. Trading volume also rises as sellers move large positions across several exchanges.

The decline follows major transfers from wallets reportedly linked to venture capital firm a16z. One address deposits about 437,000 HYPE, worth approximately $28.38 million, across Hyperliquid, OKX, Bybit, and Gate. A second suspected wallet adds further pressure, taking the combined transfers close to $59 million.

Hyperliquid Price Prediction Weakens After Whale Sales

On-chain trackers identify the first wallet as an address that previously accumulated a large HYPE position. The wallet reportedly withdraws 471,500 tokens before routing most of them toward exchange deposit addresses.

The second wallet receives HYPE from several connected addresses and sends portions to OKX and Bybit. It also transfers stablecoins to Kraken. Distributing funds across several venues may reduce the effect on one order book, although exchange deposits do not confirm that every token has sold.

The timing places the transfers at the centre of the latest Hyperliquid price prediction. HYPE falls as the deposits reach exchanges, while higher spot volume reflects heavier market participation. CoinGecko data also shows a sharp weekly decline during the broader market pullback.

Derivative activity adds pressure. Most reported HYPE liquidations come from long positions, showing that leveraged buyers carry the largest losses. Open interest also falls as traders close positions and reduce exposure.

That combination often creates unstable conditions. Forced liquidations can accelerate a decline, while lower leverage may later reduce additional selling. The current data does not confirm that the liquidation cycle has ended.

Hyperliquid also recently joined discussions with the SEC Crypto Task Force. The July 14 meeting covers the protocol, its markets, and possible routes for compliant access to on-chain trading. 

HYPE Tests Demand as Bearish Chart Pressure Builds

The four-hour chart places HYPE near a demand area between $57 and $59. This zone supported the early July rally and now acts as the main level within the Hyperliquid price prediction.

Price trades below the 20, 50, 100, and 200-period exponential moving averages. Those averages are turning lower, while the latest rebound forms a lower high near $68.93. The structure shows sellers gaining control after the earlier rejection around $72.

Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index drops near 27, placing HYPE in oversold territory. That reading may support a relief rebound, but it does not confirm a lasting reversal.

Holding the demand zone could allow price to retest the moving-average cluster between $63 and $66. A stronger recovery would then place $68.93 and the $71.85 to $72.93 supply area in focus.

A confirmed break below $57 would weaken the Hyperliquid price prediction further. The next support levels sit near $55.55 and $52.65. A deeper decline could expose the wider $42.74 to $43.30 area if exchange inflows and derivatives selling persist.

Competition for decentralized trading volume also draws attention. Robinhood Chain recently surpassed Hyperliquid during individual 24-hour periods, helped by heavy memecoin trading and new network activity. 

The post Hyperliquid Price Faces $55 Risk After $59M Whale Transfers appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• The Eurozone recorded 2.8% annual inflation in June 2026, a decrease from May’s 3.2%
• Economists had predicted 3.0%, making this a positive surprise
• Core inflation retreated to 2.4%, returning to February’s level
• Both energy and food categories showed moderation in price growth
• Interest rates were increased by the ECB last month due to Middle Eastern instability

The Eurozone experienced a notable deceleration in price growth during June, providing welcome respite following an extended period of heightened inflation. Eurostat released final figures on Friday showing annual inflation declined to 2.8%, marking a significant drop from the previous month’s 3.2% reading.

This outcome represented a pleasant surprise for market watchers. The consensus among economic forecasters had pointed toward inflation remaining at 3.0% year-over-year through June.

When examining month-to-month changes, consumer prices across the 21-nation monetary union declined by 0.1%. This figure aligned with the initial estimate released previously.

Second Quarter CPI Comes in at 3.0%

Looking at the entire April-to-June period, the consumer price index averaged 3.0%. This undershot the European Central Bank’s projection of 3.2% for Q2.

Experts at Capital Economics highlighted declining petrol and diesel prices as a significant factor behind the improvement. Reduced costs at the pump helped drag down the overall energy component.

The food category also demonstrated continued easing. This deceleration has been gradually developing across recent months and played a meaningful role in bringing down the overall inflation rate.

Core CPI Shows Improvement

Core inflation, which excludes volatile components like energy and fresh food, fell to 2.4% in June. This represents a return to the level observed in February and marks a reversal from May’s uptick.

The May elevation in core inflation had resulted from a sharp increase in travel and tourism service prices. During June, airline carriers appeared to have absorbed a substantial portion of rising aviation fuel expenses, helping to moderate this component.

Aviation fuel prices had climbed due to petroleum supply interruptions connected to the escalating military situation involving Iran.

When both energy and fresh food are excluded from calculations, consumer price increases measured 2.1% on an annual basis and 0.2% from the previous month throughout the Eurozone.

Across individual EU nations, inflation rates showed considerable variation. Sweden registered the most modest rate at 1.0%, with Czechia following at 1.1% and Denmark at 1.8%. At the opposite end, Romania exhibited the steepest rate at 9.2%, while Lithuania recorded 5.4% and Bulgaria 5.2%.

Relative to May’s figures, annual inflation decreased in twenty-two countries, remained unchanged in three nations, and increased in two.

The services sector proved to be the primary driver of overall inflation, contributing 1.51 percentage points to the total. Energy prices added 0.77 percentage points, with food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco accounting for 0.29 percentage points.

A temporary truce between Washington and Tehran contributed to lower energy costs during June. Nevertheless, renewed hostilities in recent days have created fresh upward momentum for crude oil quotations.

The ECB implemented a rate increase last month. The central bank specifically pointed to inflationary dangers emerging from Middle Eastern military developments as a principal justification for the policy adjustment.

The post Eurozone Inflation Drops to 2.8% in June as Energy Costs Decline appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• HSBC elevated BMW’s rating to “buy” from “hold,” maintaining a EUR 71 price target that suggests approximately 21% potential upside from Thursday’s closing price.
• BMW shares advanced 0.9% to EUR 58.84 on Friday, bucking the trend as the DAX index declined 0.4%.
• According to HSBC, BMW’s steep 37% drop this year has effectively incorporated concerns about Chinese market weakness and diminishing profitability.
• Dorothea von Boxberg was named BMW’s new human resources board member, set to begin September 1.
• This leadership change comes after BMW issued a profit warning last month, with margin forecasts potentially dropping to just 1% for the year.

BMW received an encouraging endorsement from HSBC on Friday as the financial institution elevated its stance on the German luxury carmaker to “buy” from “hold.”

Shares gained 0.9% to reach EUR 58.84, demonstrating resilience while the wider DAX index slipped 0.4% during trading.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, BMWYY

HSBC maintained its EUR 71 price objective unchanged — representing roughly 21% growth potential from Thursday’s market close.

The investment bank’s rationale is clear: BMW has already endured significant punishment. With shares declining 37% since the beginning of the year, HSBC contends this downturn has effectively priced in negative developments from China alongside weakening earnings trends.

BMW’s revised outlook, according to HSBC, now provides a more realistic picture of the Chinese market situation — and minimizes the risk of additional unexpected profit warnings catching investors off guard.

The firm also noted promising early consumer interest in the newly launched iX3 as evidence that BMW’s product approach remains sound despite challenging market conditions.

Neue Klasse Platform and Efficiency Initiatives Take Center Stage

HSBC identified two key factors expected to fuel a progressive recovery: upcoming efficiency initiatives and the introduction of the Neue Klasse vehicle architecture.

This new architecture represents BMW’s strategic push into the premium electric vehicle segment, and HSBC anticipates it will strengthen the automaker’s competitive stance in the coming years.

BMW’s strong automotive net cash balance was also noted as providing flexibility for enhanced shareholder returns in the future.

Leadership Addition on Human Resources Front

Regarding organizational changes, BMW announced Thursday that Dorothea von Boxberg will assume the role of human resources board member effective September 1.

Von Boxberg currently serves as CEO of Brussels Airlines and has extensive experience in senior positions at Lufthansa. She will succeed departing HR executive Ilka Horstmeier.

Supervisory board chairman Nicolas Peter noted she delivers “an outside-in perspective” on the sector — phrasing that indicates BMW seeks innovative approaches to workforce transformation.

CEO Milan Nedeljkovic stated the organization confronts “new challenges that require consistent adjustment of our structures and ways of working.”

This appointment follows BMW’s profit warning issued last month — the first under Nedeljkovic’s leadership — along with commitments to intensify cost-reduction efforts.

BMW’s profit margins are projected to decline to as low as 1% this year, a dramatic reduction that unsettled investors and triggered the management reorganization.

While Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have unveiled comprehensive workforce reductions, BMW has not announced comparable large-scale cuts. However, selecting an HR leader with transformation expertise clearly signals the company’s strategic direction.

BMW and employee representatives were preparing to begin discussions aimed at expediting efficiency improvements following the profit warning.

The post BMW Stock Gets HSBC Upgrade: Is Now the Time to Buy? appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• SBI Holdings completes Coinhako purchase following MAS regulatory clearance.

• Transaction transforms Coinhako into majority-owned SBI Holdings entity.

• Strategic move strengthens SBI Holdings’ regulated digital currency presence throughout Asia.

• Transaction enables enhanced stablecoin and international digital finance initiatives.

• Singapore transaction reinforces SBI Holdings’ Asia-Pacific cryptocurrency ambitions.

On July 16, SBI Holdings finalized its acquisition of controlling interest in Coinhako, a cryptocurrency platform headquartered in Singapore. The purchase received official authorization from Singapore’s Monetary Authority through SBI’s regional arm. This strategic transaction incorporated Coinhako as a consolidated entity under SBI Holdings, enhancing the company’s digital currency capabilities throughout the Asian market.

MAS Authorization Facilitates SBI Holdings’ Singapore Market Entry

SBI Holdings obtained necessary clearance from Singapore’s Monetary Authority before finalizing the deal via SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd. The arrangement included fresh capital infusion alongside share purchases from current stakeholders. Neither party revealed specific financial terms associated with the transaction.

The Coinhako platform functions under Holdbuild Pte. Ltd., with Hako Technology overseeing its licensed exchange operations within Singapore. Hako Technology maintains Major Payment Institution authorization granted by Singapore’s Monetary Authority. Additionally, Alpha Hako Ltd. functions as an officially registered digital currency service provider regulated by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission.

Prior to this purchase, SBI Holdings had designated Singapore as a crucial hub for its territorial digital currency initiatives. The transaction reinforced the company’s standing within one of Asia’s most developed cryptocurrency jurisdictions. This acquisition simultaneously broadened SBI Holdings’ compliant business infrastructure throughout Southeast Asian territories.

Coinhako Integration Advances SBI Holdings’ Territorial Cryptocurrency Blueprint

With over ten years of experience operating within Singapore’s cryptocurrency landscape, Coinhako has established a fully regulated digital currency exchange. The platform developed its offerings within Singapore’s comprehensive digital asset compliance structure. The company further diversified through licensed subsidiaries operating across multiple legal frameworks.

SBI Holdings intends to merge Coinhako’s established user community with its comprehensive financial offerings, technological capabilities, and worldwide connections. This integration complements the corporation’s wider expansion initiatives spanning Japan and Southeast Asian markets. SBI Holdings anticipates improved territorial coordination for cryptocurrency service delivery.

The corporation maintains active development of its cryptocurrency infrastructure through collaborative ventures and foundational initiatives. Its collaboration with Startale focuses on establishing blockchain-based financial solutions throughout Asia-Pacific territories. This work encompasses JPYSC, representing Japan’s inaugural trust-structured yen-backed stablecoin.

Strategic Purchase Enables International Digital Finance Objectives

According to SBI Holdings, this purchase facilitates forthcoming solutions linking Japanese and Southeast Asian markets through compliant digital finance frameworks. The organization aims to launch offerings encompassing stablecoins, asset tokenization, blockchain-based finance, and international cryptocurrency exchange services. These solutions will maintain compliance with regulatory requirements across all operational jurisdictions.

This transaction notably aligns with the 60th anniversary commemorating diplomatic ties between Japan and Singapore. Throughout the summer months, the corporation will convene its inaugural international branch managers’ conference in Singapore. This gathering will consolidate regional business operations and enhance partnerships with territorial institutions.

Through Coinhako’s incorporation, SBI Holdings gains an operational foundation within Singapore’s regulated cryptocurrency environment. The organization now merges territorial market accessibility with its evolving digital finance roadmap. Consequently, SBI Holdings has progressed toward its strategic goal of constructing an extensive cryptocurrency infrastructure spanning the Asia-Pacific territory.

The post SBI Holdings Secures Coinhako Majority Stake After Singapore Regulatory Green Light appeared first on Blockonomi.

Cardano’s ADA has been struggling to remain in crypto’s top 20, and its recent performance has been quite concerning (to say the least). Even so, analysts continue to float optimistic price targets for it.

Solana’s native token has flashed signs of an uptrend, while Ethereum (ETH) might be heading toward the biggest crash in its history.

ADA’s Latest Forecasts

The asset’s price has slipped well below $0.20 and is among the most severely affected by the prolonged bear market. X user The Boss noted the downward structure but reminded that the strongest reversals begin during such a negative environment when “almost nobody is paying attention.”

CryptoJack and Celal Kucuker also chipped in. The former spotted the formation of an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern on ADA’s chart, which has historically been a precursor of a rally, while the latter envisioned a parabolic increase to a new all-time high of $5.

The whale activity supports the bullish perspective. Investors holding between 100,000 and 100 million ADA have boosted their total possessions to more than 25.6 million coins, while those owning fewer than 100 units have reduced their exposure. This combination represents a healthy setup for the token, yet it can’t 100% guarantee a short-term pump.

Of course, not everyone is so optimistic. X user Alexander Legolas believes that Bitcoin (BTC) may soon tumble to $48,000, dragging ADA to around $0.10 along the way.

SOL’s Targets

Solana’s native cryptocurrency currently trades at around $75 (per CoinGecko), but some market observers think it may soon head north to much higher levels.

Ali Martinez recently argued that the Average True Range (ATR) stop has flipped below price, marking the first SuperTrend buy signal on the asset since October 10. That said, he projected a possible rise to $96 and even $121.

Michael van de Poppe suggested that SOL could stage a decisive comeback should it stay above $73, while the rising fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) around the project may also be considered good news. After all, this means that most weak-hand investors have already exited, potentially setting the stage for a meaningful recovery.

ETH Crash Incoming?

Earlier this week, the second-largest cryptocurrency tried to reclaim the $2,000 psychological mark, but failed and now trades at approximately $1,830. And while many investors eagerly await a substantial rebound, certain analysts warned that a major collapse could be on the way. Crypto Rover told his 1.6 million followers on X that ETH might repeat previous cycles that ended in “devastating sell-offs.”

“The worst may still be ahead,” he added.

Ash Crypto is in the completely opposite corner. They reminded that every time the Russell 2000 hits a new all-time high, ETH has followed with a parabolic move in the next 12-18 months.

The post Bullish ADA Predictions, SOL Shows Rally Potential, and More: Bits Recap July 17 appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Prediction markets have stopped being a niche crypto experiment for some time now, and they’ve ventured well into the mainstream. They’re even cited in political debates, news channels, and just about everywhere on social media.

Even regulated exchanges are competing with on-chain protocols for the same traders, and the biggest sportsbooks and brokerages have piled into the race.

In this guide, I’ll break down the five platforms that matter most right now: what each one is, how the trading actually works, what you pay in fees, and what makes each one special.

Best Prediction Markets in 2026: A Quick Rundown

We ranked the platforms on liquidity, market breadth, fees, access, regulation and custody, and the actual trading experience. Keep in mind every figure in this guide was checked against primary data in July 2026, including CFTC’s registries of designated exchanges, analytics dashboards, official fee schedules, company announcements, etc.

In a nutshell:

1. Polymarket: best prediction market overall, with a record June and a regulated US arm
2. Kalshi: best regulated US prediction exchange and the sector’s volume leader
3. Limitless: best up-and-coming on-chain market, built on Base
4. Myriad Markets: best media-native prediction market
5. Azuro: best on-chain prediction infrastructure, powering over 50 apps

Name	Features	Rating
Polymarket Best Overall	Deepest market liquidity Self-custodial (USDC/Polygon) CFTC-regulated US arm Fee-free geopolitics markets	4.9/5 Visit Website
Kalshi Best Regulated US	Massive $31.5B June volume Fully CFTC-regulated exchange Free ACH deposits & withdrawals Available on Robinhood	4.8/5 Visit Website
Limitless Best Up-and-Coming	Rapid-fire short-term markets No KYC, wallet onboarding Zero maker fees across Base Active regulatory ambition	4.6/5 Visit Website
Myriad Markets Best Media-Native	Embedded inside media apps Fully non-custodial setup Standard Chainlink oracles Ultra-low transaction fees	4.4/5 Visit Website
Azuro Best Infrastructure	Unified pooled liquidity layer KYC-free at protocol level Supports 50+ decentralized apps Over $414M lifetime volume	4.5/5 Visit Website

Polymarket: Best Prediction Market Overall

Polymarket

Rating: 4.9/5

• Over $10B traded in June 2026
• Non-custodial wallet custody
• Backed by ICE & X partnership
• No maker fees for liquidity

• Oracle resolution dispute risks
• Thinner market selection in US
• Wallet setup can confuse beginners

Visit Website

As a surprise to no one, Polymarket is the biggest prediction market in the world and the one that turned event trading into a spectator sport.

NYSE parent Intercontinental Exchange has committed up to $2 billion to the company at a valuation around $9 billion, X made Polymarket its official prediction market partner with odds piped into the feed alongside Grok analysis, and the company told CNBC in late June that annualized revenue had passed $1 billion.

Executives have confirmed a POLY token and an airdrop are coming, though nothing had launched as of July 2026.

The platform runs on Polygon and settles in USDC, with funds held in your own wallet. Since December 2025, it also operates a separate, CFTC-regulated US exchange, the product of its $112 million acquisition of licensed operator QCEX.

Trading works on a central order book. You basically buy Yes or No shares priced from 0.1 cent to 99.9 cents, with winning shares redeemable at $1, and you can exit any position before resolution. On the international venue, outcomes are decided by UMA’s optimistic oracle, where token holders confirm or dispute proposed results.

The US exchange requires full identity verification and resolves under its regulated rulebook.

Polymarket Fees

Fees are modest and skewed against takers:

• International venue: takers pay a formula-based fee across 10 market categories, with the highest at 50/50 odds. Sports peak at 0.75% and crypto markets at 1.80%, while geopolitics markets remain fee-free. Makers pay nothing and earn a daily share of taker fees.
• US venue: takers pay at most $1.50 per 100 contracts at 50 cents, and resting orders earn a small rebate.
• No deposit or withdrawal fees on either venue beyond network gas.

Pros and Cons of Polymarket

Pros:

• Deepest liquidity and market breadth of any prediction platform. Over $10B traded on the international venue in June 2026 alone
• Self-custody: funds stay in your wallet (USDC on Polygon), no counterparty holding your balance
• Now has a CFTC-regulated US arm after the QCEX acquisition, so US users have a legal on-ramp
• Low fees: makers pay nothing, takers pay only on some categories, geopolitics markets are free
• Institutional credibility, with ICE (NYSE’s parent) backing, official X partnership, $1B+ reported annualized revenue

Cons:

• Oracle resolution risk: UMA disputes have flipped outcomes that looked settled (the $160M Zelensky suit market), and the fact that disputes still happen post-overhaul
• The regulated US venue has a much thinner market list than the global one, and the global one blocks US users
• Wallet-based onboarding still confuses newcomers used to normal fintech apps
• Trustpilot reviewers cite account disablements without explanation and slow support

Kalshi: Best Regulated US Prediction Market

Kalshi

Rating: 4.8/5

• Segregated US customer funds
• Direct USD fiat on-ramps
• Deep regulated US market menu
• Supports institutional APIs

• Mandatory KYC requirements
• No crypto/self-custody support
• Ongoing state-level sports lawsuits

Visit Website

Kalshi has been a CFTC-designated contract market since 2020.

In June alone, the platform was valued at $2B after its latest funding round. Its World Cup winner market alone attracted more than $1.4 billion.

It works quite similarly to Polymarket. You just deposit dollars, pass full KYC, and trade Yes/No contracts on an order book, from Fed decisions and inflation prints to sports and award shows.

Kalshi contracts are also reachable through brokers, which is how Robinhood users trade them. Once US-only, the exchange now accepts customers from around 143 countries, though it remains restricted in about 54 jurisdictions, including the UK, Canada and Australia.

Kalshi’s specialty could be the fact it offers the deepest regulated market menu in the US, institutional-grade APIs, and the confidence of trading on a federally supervised venue.

The drawbacks? Depends on how you see it, but the design obviously carries KYC on everything, no self-custody (and the fact there’s an ongoing legal war over its sports contracts, with several states and tribal groups challenging them in court, but it’s the same with Polymarket).

Kalshi Fees

Fees are taker-only on most markets and depend on price: roughly 7 cents to $1.75 per 100 contracts, most expensive at 50/50 odds and cheapest at the extremes. Most resting orders pay nothing, there are no settlement or membership fees, and ACH deposits and withdrawals are free.

Pros and Cons of Kalshi

Pros:

• Sector volume leader: $31.5B in June 2026, roughly triple Polymarket’s international venue
• Full federal oversight as a CFTC-designated exchange since 2020; customer funds in segregated accounts
• Fiat-native: free ACH deposits and withdrawals, no crypto knowledge needed, clean purpose-built app
• Reachable through brokers like Robinhood, and now open to users in roughly 143 countries

Cons:

• Depending on how much you value your privacy, there’s basically KYC on everything and no self-custody
• The ongoing legal war over sports contracts: blocked or contested in several states (Nevada injunction in force, losses in Maryland, Ohio, New York), as we mentioned.
• Fees peak at 50/50 odds, which is exactly where most action is

Limitless: Best Up-and-Coming On-Chain Market

Limitless

Rating: 4.6/5

• 15-min crypto price contracts
• Smooth Base network settlement
• Features LMTS token utility
• AMM & order-book hybrid

• Strictly prohibits US users
• Airdrop points inflate activity
• Thinner liquidity outside crypto

Visit Website

Limitless is one of the fastest-growing crypto-native prediction markets, and it looks nothing like Polymarket.

Built on Base, it leans into rapid-fire trading: hourly and 15-minute crypto price markets alongside daily and longer-dated questions.

Trading is wallet-based with no default KYC, settled in USDC on Base. Most markets run on a central order book, with an AMM handling some of the rest. Getting started takes a wallet and a deposit, and there is no account approval process.

Limitless Fees

The fee model rewards liquidity providers:

• Makers pay nothing across the board.
• AMM markets charge a flat 0.40%.
• Order-book buys cost 0.40% to 3.00% depending on price, and sells 0.42% to 1.50%, peaking at 50/50 odds.
• Taker fees on the short-duration crypto markets are currently rebated 100% to makers.

Its LMTS token went live in October 2025, and in May 2026 the team filed an application with the CFTC to launch a regulated US exchange offering five-minute Bitcoin event contracts, which is still pending.

Pros and Cons of Limitless

Pros:

• Fastest-growing on-chain venue: 61,808 monthly active traders in June, from double digits in early 2024
• Rapid-fire markets nobody else offers at scale: hourly and 15-minute crypto price contracts on Base
• No KYC, wallet-in-and-trade onboarding; makers pay zero fees and short-duration taker fees are currently rebated to makers
• Serious regulatory ambition: CFTC application filed May 2026 for regulated 5-minute BTC contracts; LMTS token already live

Cons:

• US users are just outright prohibited by its terms of service
• Activity metrics are flattered by airdrop-points seasons. Team-reported volume ($3.4B) runs well above independent measurement ($1.7B), something to keep in mind
• Unsurprisingly, liquidity can be thin next to Polymarket and Kalshi, especially outside crypto markets
• Order-book trading on short timeframes has a real learning curve for casual users

Myriad Markets: Best Media-Native Prediction Market

Myriad Markets

Rating: 4.4/5

• Predict while reading articles
• Backed by Hack VC & Jump
• No identity checks needed
• Easy casual user onboarding

• Thin overall exit liquidity
• Lacks advanced trading tools
• Fragmented across three chains

Visit Website

Myriad is a bit of an outlier here, and we could even say it takes the opposite approach to everyone else on this list. So, instead of building a destination exchange, it just embeds prediction markets where audiences already are.

The platform was built by DASTAN, the company formed by the merger of crypto publisher Decrypt and Rug Radio, and its markets appear inside articles, apps and games rather than on a standalone trading screen.

It’s essentially a non-custodial AMM where outcome prices always sum to $1. Markets live on Abstract, BNB Chain and Linea, funds stay in your own wallet, no KYC is required, and Chainlink serves as the official oracle, including for its World Cup markets.

Myriad Fees

Fees are light and simple:

• Buys carry a 0% to 2% fee depending on the market, plus a flat $0.0085 per transaction that covers gas.
• Fees are shared between liquidity providers, the protocol and the builders who integrate it.

Pros and Cons of Myriad Markets

Pros:

• Unique distribution: markets embedded directly in content and apps (built by DASTAN, Decrypt’s parent), so you predict where you already read
• Non-custodial and KYC-free, with cheap, simple fees (0 to 2% plus a flat $0.0085 per transaction)
• Chainlink as the official oracle, a more standardized resolution setup than most small venues
• Credible backing: $20M pre-Series A in Feb 2026 from Hack VC and Jump Crypto; 430K+ users within two months of mainnet

Cons:

• Small on-chain footprint; many markets feel thin and exit liquidity can be poor
• More an engagement product than a trading venue (serious traders will outgrow it)
• Spread across three chains (Abstract, BNB Chain, Linea), which fragments the experience
• Relatively a young platform with limited track record on contested resolutions

Azuro: Best On-Chain Prediction Infrastructure

Azuro

Rating: 4.5/5

• No liquidity fragmentation
• Multiple frontends like DexWin
• Earn shares of pool revenue
• Polygon, Base & Arbitrum support

• No primary destination app
• Indirect fees via odds spreads
• Highly skewed to sports betting

Visit Website

Azuro is technically not a prediction market, but more like a liquidity layer that prediction and betting frontends build on. In other words, the protocol hosts markets and pooled liquidity in smart contracts, and every app plugged into it shares that same pool: a bet placed on one frontend draws from the same liquidity as a bet on another.

In practice you use Azuro through those frontends. bookmaker.XYZ was the first independent one, DexWin offers a gasless sportsbook experience, PinWin extends Azuro liquidity to Solana users, etc.

Builders earn a share of pool profits generated by their own users, which is why new frontends keep appearing.

Azuro fees

There is no maker/taker fee schedule to compare. Costs sit inside the odds spread, the way a bookmaker builds margin into its prices, so the practical move is to compare quoted odds across frontends rather than hunt for a fee page.

Note that your experience depends on whichever frontend you choose and on the protocol’s scale, while real, is modest compared to the consumer giants above.

Pros and Cons of Azuro

Pros:

• It has quite a robust infrastructure, reaching well above $414M in all-time volume, $5.1M protocol revenue, and at least 54 apps built on its shared liquidity layer so far
• One pooled liquidity base across every frontend, so even new apps launch with usable depth
• Permissionless and KYC-free at the protocol level, live across Polygon, Gnosis, Base and Arbitrum
• Choice of experiences: sportsbook-style (bookmaker.XYZ, DexWin) or Solana-friendly (PinWin) without fragmenting liquidity

Cons:

• Not a destination app; quality of your experience depends entirely on the frontend you pick
• No transparent fee schedule; costs hide in the odds spread, so comparing value takes effort
• Sports-heavy in practice, with less breadth in politics and culture markets
• Modest scale overall next to the consumer giants, and the protocol’s TVL has been drifting down

What Are Prediction Markets?

Prediction markets let you trade contracts on the outcome of real-world events: elections, sports, interest rates, crypto prices, even award shows.

Each market has Yes and No shares priced between 1 cent and 99 cents, and the price doubles as a probability. So, if Yes trades at 60 cents, the market collectively thinks the event has about a 60% chance of happening. The idea is pretty simple: correct shares redeem at $1 when the market resolves and wrong ones expire worthless.

You can also sell at any time before resolution and lock in a profit or cut a loss.

And how different is it from sports betting? Well, you trade against other people rather than a bookmaker, prices move like any market, and you can exit early instead of riding a bet to the end.

Risks to Know Before You Trade

In July 2025, a Polymarket market asking whether Ukraine’s president would wear a suit before July drew roughly $160 million in wagers and resolved No after nine days of oracle disputes, despite plenty of media outlets describing his NATO summit outfit as exactly that.

UMA overhauled how Polymarket resolutions are proposed afterward, but disputed markets have surfaced again since, including a $16 million market that spent weeks in dispute limbo in April 2026. On any oracle-resolved platform, read the resolution rules before you size a position.

CryptoPotato once covered a report from the WSJ that claimed Polymarket paid college-age creators to stage up to $1.9 million in fake bets, and that the majority of the winning bets, and the reason for the platform’s viral growth, had to do with copycat versions of its website.

Regulation is another front, particularly for Kalshi’s sports contracts. They have won in some courts, including a federal appeals ruling in its favor, and lost in others, with courts in Maryland, Ohio, Nevada and New York siding against it as of early July 2026.

Why Trust CryptoPotato

As we always say, CryptoPotato is a veteran cryptocurrency-focused media outlet, and we cover the industry since 2016.

Every figure in this guide was verified against primary sources, including registry of designated

exchanges, official fee documentation, and raw data from sources and company statements.

We carefully examine each narrative and its triggers (as well as effects) to bring you the full picture.

FAQ

Are prediction markets legal in the US?

Trading on CFTC-designated exchanges such as Kalshi, Polymarket US, and Crypto.com’s derivatives venue is federally regulated and legal.

Keep in mind that sports event contracts remain contested, with several states and tribal groups challenging them in court, so availability can vary by state. Moreover, offshore and on-chain platforms generally block US users (or fall into a gray zone).

What is the difference between a prediction market and sports betting?

At a sportsbook, you bet against the house at fixed odds, whereas on a prediction market you trade against other people, prices float with the crowd’s information, and you can sell your position early.

The margin you pay is a visible fee or spread rather than odds shaded against you.

Which prediction market is best for crypto users?

Polymarket’s international venue offers the deepest on-chain liquidity and self-custody in USDC. Limitless is the pick for fast crypto price markets on Base, and Myriad is the easiest way to dip in casually without visiting an exchange at all.

How do prediction market odds work?

Prices and probabilities are the same thing, so a “Yes” share trading at 25 cents implies a 25% chance, and if the event happens, it pays out $1, quadrupling your money.

That also means the market updates in real time: when news breaks, the price moves before most headlines do, which is why traders treat these markets as a live probability feed as much as a way to bet.

Conclusion: Best Prediction Markets in 2026

Prediction markets have managed to evolve far beyond a crypto niche – as we established in this guide. They offer a sophisticated way to trade on everything from politics to macroeconomics and sports. Whether you prioritize deep liquidity, regulatory oversight, self-custody, or fast-moving crypto markets, there’s definitely a platform that’s tailored to your trading style.

Just remember that regardless of the platform you choose, you have to understand the rules that govern market resolution, the fee structure, as well as any possible jurisdiction restrictions – this is just as important as identifying opportunities.

As our industry continues to mature, informed users will be better positioned to take advantage of this rapidly expanding market.

The post Best Prediction Markets in 2026: The Complete Guide appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Remember last year? I mean, you should; it wasn’t all that long ago. From a crypto perspective, it brought some massive gains, crashes, records, intensity, adoption, and everything in between.

Numerous digital assets managed to break their previous all-time highs, including Ripple’s XRP. In fact, it took the token over seven years to do what many considered impossible just months prior.

Nevertheless, XRP pushed through, rocketed past $3.40, which was widely considered the all-time high at the time, and charted a new one at $3.65. Oh, and it did so precisely a year ago on this date, according to CoinGecko (some exchanges will show that it was on July 18, but it’s a matter of time difference).

The Next 12 Months

The rally that began after the 2024 US presidential elections gave the Ripple bulls wings to make some major predictions. XRP’s ability to spike above $3.50 only strengthened their thesis, and massive forecasts began to drop left and right. The more modest ones set $5 as the next target, but the majority envisioned a mind-blowing surge into the low-double-digit price range.

If you have even remotely followed what took place in the following 12 months, you would know the reality was painfully different. XRP was almost immediately rejected. By early August, it had already dropped below $3, and even though it challenged the old ATH at $3.40 in the following weeks, it was evident that the momentum had faded.

The token managed to remain at around $3 until the notorious October crash, when it slumped to $1.60 on some exchanges and even to $1.10 on a few others. Although it quickly rebounded to $2.60, the chart below will clearly demonstrate its downfall in the following months, which included permanently losing the $2 support and even challenging the next major one at $1.

It still remains above that coveted line, but current data shows a 70% crash in exactly a year: from $3.65 to $1.08 as of press time. The question is: did something go wrong for XRP and Ripple, or is it just a classic bear-market correction?

Ripple’s Moves

Despite the XRP price nosedive, the company behind the asset has not stood still in the past year. Perhaps its biggest move was the acquisition of Hidden Road for $1.25 billion. Technically, it was announced prior to XRP’s ATH, but it was completed later that year, and Ripple Prime launched afterward.

The company also received initial approval to establish Ripple National Trust Bank and, most recently, full authorization in Europe by securing a MiCA license. The former allows it to build federally regulated banking infrastructure, while the latter enables it to offer regulated crypto payments, custody, liquidity, and XRP services across the EEA.

The firm has also initiated expansions in several other regions, including Australia, Singapore, Japan, and Brazil.

Last but definitely not least, the first XRP ETFs were greenlit in the US in November 2025, quickly becoming a fan favorite among investors.

Consequently, the past year could be described as one of the most successful fundamentally for Ripple. Yet, its native token has fallen by 70%, which begs the question of whether the market has yet to fully price in these developments.

The post Ripple (XRP) Peaked at $3.65 Exactly a Year Ago: What Went Wrong? appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Amid all the controversial feedback and token price moves as of late, Pi Network’s Core Team continues with outlining new initiatives aimed at improving the overall user experience.

The latest focused on the Pi mining app and the app profile page, and here’s what users have to know about the new changes.

Redesign Updates

The blog post published by the team stated that the changes reflect the first step of a broader mining app design refresh, as they make “important Pioneer info and ecosystem features easier to find, understand, and navigate.” Users, also referred to as Pioneers within the broader Pi Network ecosystem, can click on the hamburger icon on the top left to review them.

The new side menu presents key information and ecosystem components in a clearer, more organized format, including better UI style and visual hierarchy throughout. Users can easily view features like the Mainnet Checklist, mining information, featured Pi Apps, and “other important parts of the Pi experience in one place.” The app also contains a dark mode now.

The post further explained that the refresh comes after an intense feedback process from all users. Pioneers have reportedly shared that the mining app has been operating well, but it was time for a new look and improved experience. The team promised that this redesign is just the first step of a more profound Pi Network response.

Because the mining app is used by over 60 million ‘engaged’ Pioneers, “changes to its design and user experience must be introduced thoughtfully and iteratively, not all at once.”

“The goal is to improve clarity, style, and usability while maintaining the core functionalities that have been working and continuing to learn from Pioneers’ feedback.”

PI Price Update

No matter what sorts of features or new updates the team behind the project announces, the native token continues to underperform. It recently lost the key $0.10 support level, and the bears drove it south hard, plummeting to a new all-time low of just over $0.07 (on CoinGecko).

PI rebounded swiftly and challenged $0.085, but that was another dead-cat bounce. It was rejected yesterday and plunged to $0.073 once again. Nevertheless, it has found some support there and now trades at $0.078 after a minor daily increase.

PiScan data continues to show a rather worrying trend as almost 130 million coins are scheduled to be unlocked in the next month, which could, at least in theory, increase the immediate selling pressure from investors who have been waiting for their tokens for a while.

The post Pi Network Team Surprises Pioneers With Major Redesign: Here’s What’s New appeared first on CryptoPotato.

[PRESS RELEASE – Willemstad, Curaçao, July 17th, 2026]

Cryptocurrency has become one of the fastest-growing categories within prediction markets, as traders and investors increasingly look beyond price charts to speculate on major industry milestones.

Reflecting this trend, international betting brand 1win has expanded its Markets product with a series of new cryptocurrency prediction markets covering some of the sector’s most closely watched digital assets.

The new crypto-themed forecasts on 1win Markets allow users to speculate on topics, including

• What price will HYPE reach by the end of 2026?
• Will HYPE surpass Solana (SOL) in market capitalization before December 31, 2026?
• What price will XRP reach in 2026?
• What price will Dogecoin (DOGE) reach by the end of the year?

“Crypto-related forecasts are becoming a natural extension of prediction markets, giving users another way to engage with some of the biggest narratives in the crypto industry. Though on 1win Markets, we have made it an interactive and easy-to-understand format,” says Mike Danshin, CMO 1win Crypto.

1win Markets uses a simple binary format. Instead of selecting from complex betting lines, users answer straightforward “Yes” or “No” questions or choose between clearly defined outcomes. It is a fun and interactive way to think about life events, even for those unfamiliar with classic betting.

This crypto-focused expansion on 1win Markets reflects the growing convergence between crypto communities and binary predictions. Users are increasingly interested in predicting not only sports or political outcomes but also changes across the digital asset industry.

By adding cryptocurrency-focused markets alongside existing categories – sports, politics, technology, entertainment, and global events – 1win continues to broaden the scope of its crypto-driven ecosystem.

About 1win

Founded in 2016, 1win is a crypto entertainment platform in the global gaming industry. Operating across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, 1win offers a wide range of entertainment products adapted to regional audiences. The brand has active collaborations with international public figures, including football legend Luis Suarez, martial artist Jon Jones, and Olympic champion and UFC fighter Gable Steveson. In 2026, 1win welcomed rapper Tyga and UFC legend Ilia Topuria as new members of the 1win VIP community. Football legend Luis Suarez will be the official 1win football expert throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The post 1win Expands Its Prediction Markets with Crypto Forecasts appeared first on CryptoPotato.