The expansion of tokenized stocks on Base could democratize global access to equities, enhancing liquidity and financial inclusion.

The post Base adds six new Coinbase tokenized stocks including Amazon and Tesla appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

TikTok's refusal to release algorithm details may intensify regulatory scrutiny, potentially leading to stricter oversight and legislative action.

The post US senators slam TikTok for refusing to release algorithm document tied to teen’s death appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Simplifying crypto tax compliance could boost economic activity, increasing tax revenue and reducing unintentional tax evasion.

The post Cornell research links $300 Bitcoin tax exemption to $860M boost for US Treasury appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The surge in credit market utilization on Base highlights increased capital efficiency but raises concerns about potential systemic risks.

The post Base credit markets grow 31% to $2B in outstanding loans as utilization rates surge appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The case could redefine AI's role in content creation, impacting copyright laws and tech companies' responsibilities in using published material.

The post Microsoft claims Copilot rarely reproduces content from NYT articles appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

National Sheriffs’ Association Drops Opposition to Clarity Act

The National Sheriffs’ Association this week dropped its opposition to the crypto Clarity Act, after having previously warned that the proposed bill could help criminals. 

Writing Thursday to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the association said it was changing its stance to neutral given how complex the issue is. 

A number of lawmakers were hoping to vote on the Clarity Act in August. After a delay, a vote will now go ahead this month. The bill will establish a framework for distinguishing between digital assets that are securities, commodities or payment stablecoins — legislation that the crypto industry has long called for. 

“Given the complexity of the legislation and the number of important details that remain under consideration, the NSA is changing its position on the Clarity Act to neutral,” the letter from NSA President Sheriff Troy Wellman and Executive Director Justin Smith read. 

“At this time, we believe the most appropriate course is to step back and allow the legislative process to proceed to establish a clear, effective, and much needed regulatory framework.”

The NSA had previously warned that the bill could create regulatory and anti-money laundering loopholes by exempting certain crypto developers and infrastructure providers from money transmitter rules.

Despite being passed in the house of representatives last year with strong bipartisan support, the Clarity Act has been in a deadlock for much of 2026. The banking lobby raised concerns over stablecoin yield and some lawmakers have said improvements need to be made surrounding ethics. 

An updated bill of the Clarity Act was introduced in July that addressed some of these concerns — banning government officials and their families from issuing or promoting crypto. 

Pro-crypto senator Cynthia Lummis wrote on Friday that the “bipartisan bill” gives “law enforcement real tools to fight the illicit finance crimes hurting hard working Americans.”

Major financial institutions, lawmakers and companies have said they support the latest draft of the new bill, but some Republicans have accused Democratic lawmakers of deliberately playing politics and holding the bill back. 

This post National Sheriffs’ Association Drops Opposition to Clarity Act first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Bear Market May Not Yet Be Over, Says Fidelity 

Bitcoin may be rallying but that doesn’t mean the bear market is over. Not yet, anyway. 

A new report from asset manager Fidelity said that while bitcoin was behaving like it did in previous cycles, it could still hit a bottom in November. 

Bitcoin started rallying in mid-August after the U.S. Treasury Department said it would more than double the size of its government debt repurchases. The asset’s price recently stood at close to $81,639, up nearly 30% over a 30-day period. 

Some have since argued that bitcoin is out of its bear market. The coin touched a record high in October last year, hitting $126,080. 

“Given bitcoin’s recent performance, the bottom could already have occurred in July,” Chris Kuiper, Vice President of Research at Fidelity Digital Assets, wrote. 

“It could also drop again to make another new low in November or later,” he continued, adding that bitcoin cycles have historically not been precisely four years long, so they “aren’t reliable for timing the market.” 

Throughout most of June and July, bitcoin’s volatility was particularly muted, and the coin traded below $65,000. 

But that all changed in August after the Treasury Department’s announcement, which has since brought the so-called debasement trade back in the picture again. 

To get an idea of where bitcoin moves next, Kuiper argued that investors should pay attention to what happens with the crypto Clarity Act. Proponents argue it could provide “greater regulatory certainty and support continued innovation in the U.S. digital asset ecosystem,” he wrote. 

President Donald Trump in August urged lawmakers to get the long-awaited crypto market structure bill over the line, helping spur bitcoin’s run. The president called the draft “very, very powerful” after meeting with crypto industry bigwigs at the White House. 

The digital asset industry has long called for clear rules on how regulators should treat bitcoin, stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies. 

Lawmakers will vote on the bill this month. 

This post Bitcoin Bear Market May Not Yet Be Over, Says Fidelity  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin-Gold Correlation Hits Six-Year High as Debasement Fears Mount

Bitcoin’s correlation with gold is at its highest in six years as investors increasingly look for ways to hedge against currency debasement. 

That’s according to a new report from Bitwise, which this week pointed out that the precious metal and leading cryptocurrency are trading in lockstep because the U.S. government has “materially intervened in the macro picture.” 

Bitcoin started surging last month, after the U.S. Treasury Department said it would more than double the size of its government debt repurchases. The coin had its best run in three years and third best August ever. 

“The last time the bitcoin-gold correlation was that high was in 2020, following the rounds of fiscal and monetary stimulus during the Covid crisis,” Bitwise’s European Head of Research, André Dragosch, wrote. 

He added that bitcoin’s correlation with the stock market dropped to a one-year low, “implying some kind of decoupling between hard assets and the stock market.”

Bitcoin has been pushed as “digital gold” for years but has sometimes traded with tech stocks as a “risk-on” asset. 

But the so-called debasement trade — when investors buy an asset as a way to hedge against a currency losing value — was a much-talked about investment strategy last year and appears to be back. 

The reason is down to the government intervening in markets, Dragosch argued. When the Treasury said it would try to rein in long-term borrowing costs, the dollar’s value slid and sent investors flooding back to gold — and bitcoin. 

The Treasury the same week also said the U.S. public debt exceeded $40 trillion for the first time. Excessive debt also undermines confidence in the dollar. 

“Investors are no longer asking whether to hedge currency debasement with gold or bitcoin. They’re simply hedging with both,” the report added. 

“Bitcoin spent its first fifteen years being priced as a risk asset. If this correlation trend with gold holds, the next fifteen may look very different.”

The leading cryptocurrency again rallied this week, and was recently trading for close to $81,438 after jumping nearly 6% over a 24-hour period. 

This post Bitcoin-Gold Correlation Hits Six-Year High as Debasement Fears Mount first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin Magazine

French Hill Eyes Bipartisan Path for Clarity Act Ahead of September Vote

U.S. congressman French Hill expressed the importance of bipartisan support to get the long-awaited crypto market structure bill, the Clarity Act, over the line before the midterms. 

The lawmaker told Fox Business Thursday that Democrats and Republicans have come to “narrow their differences in getting the bill drafted. 

Pro-crypto lawmakers were hoping the Clarity Act passed before Congress departed for August recess. After a delay, a vote will now go ahead on September 15. 

“Can Democrats work with Republicans and make sure America leads the world in distributed ledger technology and financial services?” Hill said. 

“This one remaining significant issue is the ethics provision, and that is best solved by passing the legislation because everybody — no matter what family they belong to, the Trumps or not — would then be under a regulatory framework fully scrutinized by the United States government in commodity and securities and banking regulators,” he added. 

The Clarity Act was first introduced by Hill, the House Financial Services Chairman, last year. 

Crypto companies have long called for clear regulations for the industry. The Clarity Act drafts a framework to formally divide oversight between regulators, distinguishing which digital assets are securities, commodities or stablecoins. 

The House of Representatives passed the bill last July but it has been stalled this year, mostly because the banking lobby clashed with crypto companies over paying customers stablecoin yield. 

A new draft tackling the issue of ethics started circulating in July. It bans government officials from promoting or making money from crypto — something Democrats have criticized the Trump family for doing. 

A group of Democrats said the bill fell short and wanted amendments. Some were accused of deliberately holding it back by Republicans like Cynthia Lummis. 

Some have praised the bipartisan work that has already gone into the bill, namely Coinbase, America’s biggest crypto exchange. The company’s Chief Policy Officer, Faryar Shirzad, said in July that while some Democratic lawmakers were holding back the long-awaited legislation, younger Democrats wanted to pass it. 

President Donald Trump in August said that in order for the U.S. to remain the “undisputed leader in Bitcoin and crypto,” lawmakers had to pass the “very, very powerful legislation.” 

This post French Hill Eyes Bipartisan Path for Clarity Act Ahead of September Vote first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin Magazine

Kraken and SoFi Link Crypto Trading To Banking Rails

Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, and fintech company SoFi Technologies on Thursday announced a deal to route SoFi customers’ crypto orders through Kraken’s institutional trading platform and list SoFi’s stablecoin on the exchange.

Under the agreement, SoFi will send its digital asset order flow to Kraken Prime, Kraken’s prime brokerage arm, which launched in 2025. 

Rather than filling trades against a single order book, Kraken Prime uses smart order routing to compare prices and depth across multiple venues and execute where the fill is best. SoFi said customers will see no change to the app itself.

Payward is also joining the SoFi Exchange Network, the bank’s real-time settlement system, and will list SoFiUSD — SoFi’s bank-issued stablecoin — on Kraken. 

Kraken Prime’s institutional and business clients will in turn gain access to SoFi’s business banking services and round-the-clock fiat settlement. The companies said qualified custody services would follow later.

SoFi holds a national bank charter and has 15.8 million members. The partnership is the latest in a series of tie-ups between Kraken and established financial firms, following arrangements with Deutsche Börse on foreign exchange and derivatives infrastructure, Nasdaq on a tokenized equities gateway, and Franklin Templeton on tokenizing exchange-traded funds.

The news comes after SoFi, a purely digital lender, last year became the first nationally chartered bank in the United States to launch crypto services for retail customers.

The company’s new SoFi crypto platform allows members to buy, sell and hold bitcoin directly within their bank accounts.

Kraken — like other crypto exchanges — is pushing into the traditional finance world, allowing users to trade stocks, bonds and other assets. The company has sold its app as a “primary account for everything.”

This post Kraken and SoFi Link Crypto Trading To Banking Rails first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mathew Di Salvo.

Bitcoin fell below $80,000 on Friday after a much stronger-than-expected US jobs report abruptly raised rate-pressure concerns across crypto and other markets.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 in August, compared with a Reuters consensus of 56,000. The release arrived at 8:30 a.m. ET, and was followed immediately by a sharp cross-asset reaction. Unemployment held at 4.1%, while earlier payroll estimates were revised up by a combined 55,000.

Bitcoin lost about 2% and slipped below $80,000 in the immediate reaction. Within hours Bitcoin market data from CryptoSlate put BTC back near $79,570, still up 0.83% over 24 hours. Ethereum market data showed Ethereum near $2,454 and up 1.41% over the same window, suggesting the immediate selloff cut into earlier 24-hour gains rather than producing a full-day crypto collapse.

Why good jobs news hit Bitcoin and gold

The market treated the payroll surprise as a reason the Federal Reserve could keep policy tighter. Reuters reported that the implied probability of a quarter-point September rate increase rose to 59% from 52% after the release.

The two-year Treasury yield, which is especially sensitive to Fed expectations, climbed 7.6 basis points. Ten-year and 30-year yields rose 3.2 basis points and 1 basis point, respectively, while the dollar index gained about 0.3% to 99.3.

That combination creates a familiar headwind for Bitcoin. Higher yields raise the return available on dollar assets, while a stronger dollar tightens financial conditions for assets priced in the currency. Gold faced the same pressure from a different angle: Reuters reported bullion down between 1.7% and 2.2% as higher rate expectations reduced the appeal of a non-yielding asset.

US stocks did not move in perfect unison. S&P 500 futures turned negative after the report and were down 0.22% at 8:33 a.m. ET, but Nasdaq 100 futures remained 0.07% higher. Average hourly earnings also rose a steady 0.3% for the month and 3.1% over the year. Those details show why the first reaction was not a one-way verdict across markets, even though the initial rate repricing was clear.

Oil was carrying its own catalyst. Brent was only slightly lower near $95 after the jobs report but remained more than 8% higher for the week amid renewed US-Iran hostilities and supply concerns. The payroll surprise offers the strongest explanation for the synchronized 13:30 BST jolt, but not for every move that followed.

The post Bitcoin falls below $80,000 as hot US payrolls revive Fed hike risk appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act, is the new federal framework for payment stablecoin issuers. Its reserve rules aim to make each token a safer dollar claim, while the public blockchains moving those tokens retain their own fee markets and capacity limits.

A Federal Reserve staff paper, first dated June 2, 2026, and updated Aug. 31, 2026, models how transaction congestion can destabilize even a perfectly backed digital dollar. The authors are Federal Reserve economists, and the paper carries the standard disclaimer that their views do not necessarily represent the Federal Reserve Board or Federal Reserve System.

When fees climb far enough, small payments become uneconomic and a token’s usefulness can fall. The model predicts that weak payment-network effects can then turn individual exits into coordinated redemptions. In the paper’s empirical work, however, “redemption” means a drop in Ethereum circulation and can include either a cash-out to fiat or migration to another blockchain.

The paper presents a latent mechanism, not a forecast of a current run. It sharpens an unresolved question as Treasury implements GENIUS: the law gives regulators broad tools for policing issuers, reserves and redemption promises, while its explicit reserve provisions and Treasury’s current section 3 proposal set no price or capacity standard for a public blockchain.

How congestion can trigger a run without bad reserves

Traditional stablecoin analysis starts with the issuer’s assets. If a token promises one dollar but its reserves lose value or cannot be sold quickly, holders have a reason to redeem before others do.

The Fed economists deliberately remove that problem from their model. The stablecoin is fully and safely backed. The source of fragility is instead the interaction between transaction fees and payment-network effects: people value a payment asset partly because other people accept and use it.

Under low congestion, that network can absorb a shock. Under high congestion and weak network effects, the paper finds a threshold beyond which redemptions can become coordinated and abrupt. Higher fees reduce use; reduced use makes the token less attractive; the weaker network then gives more holders a reason to leave.

“Redemption” needs care here. In the paper’s main empirical panel, it is measured as a negative change in a stablecoin’s Ethereum circulation. That can represent redemption for fiat, but it can also represent migration to another blockchain. The data therefore capture pressure on Ethereum-based circulation, not a clean count of customers cashing out at an issuer.

The study uses an unbalanced weekly panel of five stablecoins from November 2017 through December 2025 where data are available. Its starkest distributional result comes from 2021 through 2025: for below-median USDC transfers, the fee-to-value ratio at the 75th percentile frequently exceeded 100%. For above-median transfers, it was almost never more than 5%.

The statistic describes the distribution of attempted and completed transfer economics rather than a claim that users routinely paid more in fees than they sent. During expensive periods, a representative network fee could exceed the value of many small transfers. A holder can avoid completing such a transfer, wait, batch activity or move through a custodian. The pattern shows how congestion can ration access by transfer size even while the token remains redeemable.

What the evidence establishes

The paper combines a theoretical model with several empirical tests. Those pieces answer different questions and should not be collapsed into one causal claim.

Gas by itself was statistically insignificant in the weekly panel. The reported 0.9-point effect appeared only when high fees interacted with weak network effects, a state covering roughly 7% to 7.5% of observations. The pattern is consistent with the model’s threshold logic, while remaining a historical association rather than a universal causal estimate.

The empty-slot exercise offers a stronger causal design for the first link in the chain. Empty Ethereum blocks are plausibly unrelated to stablecoin demand but reduce capacity and push up gas. The design helps establish that a capacity shock can raise fees. It does not directly establish that the same shock caused every later redemption.

The matched-transfer analysis is an association as well. It links transfers of identical USDT amounts on Ethereum and Tron within a 60-minute window, consistent with a chain switch. The method cannot observe the beneficial owner behind every pair, establish the motive for each move or exclude every alternative explanation.

Together, the findings support a conditional warning, not a forecast: congestion can create an exit incentive, and some historical activity moved toward a cheaper rail when Ethereum became more expensive.

GENIUS protects the token, not every rail

The GENIUS Act requires permitted payment stablecoin issuers to maintain reserves at least one-to-one in specified liquid assets. It also requires public redemption procedures, disclosure of issuer purchase and redemption fees, monthly reporting, examination and certification, and regulatory standards covering capital, liquidity, diversification, operations and information technology.

Those rules address important failure modes: weak assets, opaque redemption promises, undercapitalized issuers and poor operational controls. They also give regulators a clearer path to supervise the entity that creates the dollar token.

Treasury’s Aug. 17 implementation proposal, published in the Federal Register on Aug. 18, focuses on section 3’s restrictions on offering or selling payment stablecoins in the United States. Comments are due Oct. 19. Treasury says the expected effective date for the issuer licensing framework is Jan. 18, 2027, with the broader digital asset service provider restriction expected July 18, 2028.

The proposed rule distinguishes direct transfers between two people acting on their own behalf, including self-custody transactions, from compensated services such as exchanges, transfer businesses and custodians that can qualify as digital asset service providers.

That division affects who carries compliance duties. The economics of a congested base layer persist across the categories. A reserve can remain liquid while a user still confronts a transaction fee larger than the intended payment.

The distinction is narrow. Issuer purchase and redemption fee disclosure covers different charges from blockchain gas and exchange withdrawal fees. The text now on the table leaves base-layer pricing and capacity outside its explicit stablecoin rules, while GENIUS also gives supervisors broad authority over an issuer’s operational and technological risks. Regulators could therefore scrutinize how an issuer manages rail exposure even though they do not control public blockspace. Treasury’s process remains open, and implementation choices can still change before the rules take effect.

That leaves two safety tests operating at once. Supervisors can examine whether an issuer can honor the dollar claim and manage its operations. Users also experience whether the chosen network can carry that claim at a price proportionate to the payment.

Calm fees show who would feel congestion first

Stablecoins are already spread across rails with different fee markets. A snapshot taken shortly before drafting from DefiLlama’s chain dashboard and API put stablecoin supply at roughly $147.3 billion on Ethereum, $93.2 billion on Tron and $15.7 billion on Solana. The dashboard’s displayed totals were slightly higher, at about $148.0 billion, $93.6 billion and $15.8 billion respectively, reflecting timing and methodology differences.

Ethereum was not congested in the snapshot. Etherscan showed roughly 0.127 to 0.128 gwei gas, while ETH traded near $2,404. Using an illustrative 65,000 gas units for an ERC-20 transfer, that implies a network cost around two cents. Actual gas use and wallet estimates vary.

Costs on the other two chains are structured differently. Tron charges 100 sun per Energy unit; a third-party estimator placed an unstaked USDT transfer around 65,000 Energy to an existing account and 131,000 to a new account, or roughly 6.5 and 13.1 TRX before staking or rented Energy. Solana’s base fee is 5,000 lamports per signature, while a recent analytics snapshot showed a median total fee near 5,800 lamports and a 99th-percentile fee of about 651,400 lamports.

A direct dollar-price comparison would be misleading because each network uses a different fee system and observation method, and all of the figures can change quickly. The useful comparison is structural: a “stablecoin fee” varies by rail and transaction conditions. Network charges also differ from exchange withdrawal or platform fees, which an intermediary sets separately.

The first direct effect of congestion falls on the transaction with the least value to absorb a fixed network charge. A small self-custody user may delay a payment, combine transfers, move to an exchange or stop using the chain. That response can be economically forced even if the token remains redeemable at par.

The visible balance movement is more likely to come next from larger intermediaries. Exchanges, market makers, bridges, issuers and corporate treasury desks can move enough liquidity to alter chain-level circulation or restore inventory where users want to transact. That ordering is an inference from how the market operates, not an owner-level finding in the Fed paper.

Destination chains can inherit both activity and pressure. A surge may deepen their stablecoin liquidity while testing the routes and intermediaries that rebalance inventory. Those second-order effects are analytical inferences rather than findings identified in the paper’s owner-level data. The policy question is broader than whether an issuer holds enough Treasury bills: users also need a tolerably priced route to the redeemable dollar claim when a rail is under stress.

The Sept. 3 snapshot establishes only that Ethereum fees were calm at the observation time; it does not measure systemwide redemption pressure. The paper turns the rail-safety gap into a monitorable risk rather than evidence of an imminent event. Regulators and market operators can watch fee-to-transfer-value ratios by transaction size, abrupt changes in chain-level stablecoin circulation, matched cross-chain flows and exchange wallet imbalances.

GENIUS can make a stablecoin safer without making every route to that stablecoin resilient. If implementation treats reserve quality as the full definition of safety, the next stress episode may reveal that the dollar token was sound while access to it was not.

The post Why GENIUS could leave digital dollars vulnerable to sudden blockchain network ‘bank runs’ appeared first on CryptoSlate.

B.AI, a next-generation AI infrastructure platform, recently set off a developer frenzy by offering free access to top-tier models. Within days, daily token throughput across the platform crossed 1.33 trillion—a historic milestone.

The record-breaking figure underscores the campaign's explosive rollout, but it marks only the first step in B.AI's broader strategic roadmap. Moving beyond traditional compute distribution pipelines, B.AI aims to build the global settlement layer for intelligence: a core infrastructure hub engineered to power cross-node collaboration, orchestration, and value distribution for AI agents across complex business workflows.

Positioning itself strategically above all models, below all agents, B.AI deeply integrates a diverse range of top-tier models with full-stack components, laying an unshakable, irreplaceable foundation for the mass adoption of autonomous agents and the productivity boom that follows.

Daily Token Throughput Tops 1.33 Trillion: B.AI's Free Access Rollout Fuels Usage Boom

B.AI's recent move to open free access to premium AI models has captivated developers and quickly taken over industry conversations. The push for accessible compute has not only fueled a surge in platform activity but also shattered usage records.

In a matter of days, soaring API demand pushed the platform's daily token throughput past a staggering 1.33 trillion. Over a 15-day window, cumulative volume reached 8.19 trillion tokens, drawing in more than 220,000 new API users. As of September 3, B.AI's total user base had officially surpassed 2.3 million.

That massive adoption traces directly to the platform's zero-cost model lineup, a strategic rollout built to erase developers' cost concerns. With every barrier removed, B.AI now offers unlimited free access to six leading frontier models: DeepSeek-V4-Flash, DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp, Tencent Hy3, Xiaomi MiMo-V2.5, GLM-5.3-Flash (Ox Alpha), and Qwen3.8-Flash.

Notably, on September 3, B.AI rolled out a new pricing structure for DeepSeek-V4-Flash and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp, introducing tiered discounts. Developers now receive a 50% discount during peak hours, with off-peak rates dropping to just 25% of standard peak pricing. At the same time, the platform has kept zero-cost access in place for GLM-5.3-Flash (Ox Alpha), Qwen3.8-Flash, Tencent Hy3, and Xiaomi MiMo-V2.5. Despite the shift toward commercialization, developer momentum hasn't wavered, with platform-wide token throughput continuing its steady climb.

This sustained momentum proves the campaign was far more than a short-term compute giveaway—it is a bellwether for the broader evolution of AI infrastructure. Cracking 1.33 trillion daily tokens makes one thing clear: AI applications are moving past basic chatbots. Powered by a high-performance technical stack and flexible service mechanics, B.AI is laying the groundwork for the next frontier—autonomous AI agents operating at scale.

Powering the “AI Grid”: B.AI Anchors the Global Settlement Layer for the Agent Economy

For B.AI, democratizing compute is only the prelude. Looking further ahead, the platform is committed to building full-stack infrastructure for the agentic era, cementing its position as the global settlement layer for intelligence.

In the agent era, a typical agent task calls for constant switching between models. No single provider can power a complete workflow on its own, so developers are left juggling fragmented API protocols, disjointed billing systems, and conflicting rate limits.

B.AI's settlement layer bridges this exact gap. Positioned strategically “above all models, below all agents,” B.AI abstracts models across different providers, capabilities, and cost structures into a unified pool of schedulable resources.

Powered by a dual-tier API structure offering official-route reliability alongside lowest-cost custom channels, developers can choose between guaranteed direct connections and deeply discounted options across a broad lineup of models. Combined with smart routing on the Chat interface, B.AI operates as a full-stack “AI grid,” ensuring every agent request lands on the optimal model to deliver reliable performance at maximum cost-efficiency.

On the settlement front, this power grid seamlessly bridges both Web2 and Web3 models. For Web2, developers can rely on familiar traditional payment methods to top up with minimal friction. For Web3, B.AI leverages on-chain payment rails to offer global developers decentralized, verifiable, and low-friction payment options.

With dual payment systems running in parallel, B.AI enables developers and agent applications across any infrastructure setup to find their optimal settlement path on the grid, providing single-point integration with borderless global reach.

Driving Core Productivity: B.AI Reshapes Agent Collaboration

Beyond building a foundation for compute routing and global settlement, B.AI is moving past base infrastructure to power real-world productivity. By enabling seamless agent collaboration across complex workflows, it delivers the missing execution layer for the agent economy.

At the heart of this execution layer is native Codex integration. Full compatibility with the Responses API means developers can now use a single B.AI key inside Codex to run flagship GPT models and DeepSeek favorites side by side.

Engineers can now bring these powerhouse models straight into their daily dev stack. From code generation and reasoning to debugging and refactoring, B.AI unifies the entire workflow under one roof—delivering a direct line from model selection to shipped code.

Beyond coding, to keep agents running reliably in real-world production at scale, B.AI has built a full-stack infrastructure powered by five core components, equipping agents with a fine-tuned operational engine:

• x402 Payment Protocol: Introduces an innovative “pay-before-response” model that executes high-frequency, on-chain micro-settlements in the background during cross-agent API calls and compute orchestration.
• 8004 Identity Protocol: Issues verifiable on-chain credentials for every agent, logging execution history and credit scores to establish a reliable layer of trust for cross-node collaboration.
• Skills Matrix: Plug-and-play, standardized building blocks that interface directly with MCP servers to equip agents with instant, modular tool-calling capabilities.
• BAIclaw and BAIcode: Built-in platform assistants engineered for end-to-end execution. BAIclaw manages all-in-one terminal operations and multi-agent workflows, while BAIcode serves as an advanced developer engine that streamlines the full pipeline from task analysis and architecture design to coding and testing.

From the token surge sparked by zero-cost model access to its positioning as the global settlement layer for intelligence; from seamless Codex integration to full-stack infrastructure powered by x402, 8004, Skills, and native assistants—B.AI delivers far more than a battle-tested technical stack; it unveils a clear blueprint for what lies ahead. B.AI is building not just accessible compute today, but the definitive launchpad for a thriving agent economy. The future is here—and this is only the beginning.

B.AI Team
Singapore
support@b.ai

Disclaimer: This was a sponsored post brought to you by B.AI.

The post Cracking 1.33 Trillion Daily Tokens: B.AI Powers the “AI Grid” with Full-Stack Infrastructure to Fuel the Agentic Era appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) drew nearly $900 million as both cryptocurrencies pushed through closely watched price levels.

CryptoSlate data showed Bitcoin climbing above $81,000 and Ethereum topping $2,500 as fresh capital returned to US spot ETFs. Bitcoin funds attracted $730.8 million, their third-largest daily inflow of 2026, while Ethereum ETFs added another $141.4 million.

The simultaneous move marked a sharp return of institutional demand after several sessions of uneven flows and helped broaden a rally that had initially depended heavily on short sellers being forced out of positions.

BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for roughly $454 million of Bitcoin inflows, or about 62% of the group’s total. ARK 21Shares’ ARKB added $137.7 million, and Fidelity’s FBTC drew $74.4 million.

Ethereum ETF demand was similarly concentrated. BlackRock’s ETHA and Fidelity’s FETH attracted a combined $137.2 million, almost all of the category’s net inflow.

Simon-Peter Massabni, head of business development at XS.com, told CryptoSlate that flows of that size absorbed substantial sell orders and helped lift spot prices despite rising sovereign bond yields in the US and Japan.

Spot ETF demand spills into derivatives

Massabni argued that the stronger spot market quickly spilled into leveraged trading as Bitcoin pushed higher.

According to him, Bitcoin futures open interest climbed above $57 billion, its highest level since May, and more than $260 million of short positions were liquidated during the advance, making it the largest short squeeze since Aug. 21.

Those liquidations added momentum as traders betting against Bitcoin were forced to buy back positions. They also left leverage elevated, increasing the risk that a sudden reversal could trigger another round of forced selling.

However, the ETF flows offer a stronger demand signal than short covering alone, but recent sessions show how quickly institutional positioning can change.

Bitcoin ETFs swung from a $236.5 million outflow on Sept. 1 to a $101.1 million inflow the following day before Thursday’s $730.8 million surge. On the other hand, ETH funds had posted a $48.2 million outflow on Sept. 2, ending a 12-session inflow streak, before reversing sharply.

That leaves Sept. 3 as the strongest evidence yet that fresh capital is joining the rally, but not confirmation of a sustained accumulation cycle.

Continued ETF inflows would give BTC and ETH a deeper pool of spot demand as leverage rebuilds. Another reversal would leave the latest surge looking more like another sharp swing in an increasingly volatile market.

The post Wall Street just poured nearly $900 million into Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The Mina Mesa upgrade stopped transaction processing for about eight hours on September 3 as the layer-1 blockchain shifted mainnet to its Mesa release. Exchanges suspended MINA transfers, while deployed zkApps now need new verification keys before they can resume proof-authorized activity.

The process split into five hours when blocks continued without transactions and roughly three hours when the network produced no blocks. Mina reached its 10:00 UTC transaction cutoff, and upgraded block producers made empty blocks for 100 slots before block production halted at 15:00 UTC.

The official upgrade runbook now marks those milestones as completed. It also records the Mesa package release at 16:30 UTC and the first Mesa slot at 18:00 UTC as completed. Archive-node and manual node upgrades remained in progress this morning.

Mina instructed exchanges to disable MINA deposits and withdrawals from the 10:00 UTC stop-transaction slot until the Mesa network became operational. The first Mesa slot has since completed, although each exchange controls when its transfer support resumes.

Mina Mesa upgrade cuts slot times

The Mina Mesa upgrade also changes the network’s operating cadence. According to Mina’s feature explainer, the release halves slot time from three minutes to 90 seconds. It temporarily limits zkApp transactions to 12 per block after stress tests found memory spikes when developers tested removing the soft limit.

The harder compatibility requirement falls on deployed zkApps. Mesa changes protocol constants and circuit constraints, so proofs made against pre-upgrade verification keys no longer verify. A zkApp cannot process new proof-authorized transactions until its developer compiles a Mesa-compatible key with o1js 3.0 and updates the key stored on-chain.

This is an on-chain compatibility update, not a permanent failure of the deployed contract. Once the new key is recorded, the zkApp can again submit proof-authorized transactions under Mesa, subject to its restored permission rules.

Mina’s migration path temporarily lets verification-key permissions set to proof or impossible fall back to signature authorization. An access permission set to proof receives the same fallback, but an access permission set to impossible remains locked. After a successful key update, the account’s transaction version advances and its original verification-key permission rules return.

There is no fixed migration deadline: the fallback remains active until a zkApp updates its key. Until then, proof-authorized activity remains paused even though the chain has resumed.

The post Zero-knowledge apps go dark after chain upgrade breaks their underlying verification keys appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The privacy coin's squeeze rode a Fed-driven crypto rally that reversed hours later, when a stronger-than-expected jobs report sent Bitcoin back under $80,000.

The activity began in May and remained undisclosed until Friday, a day after OpenAI launched Astra and U.S. lawmakers proposed restrictions on advanced AI.

The Dow dropped 226 points and Bitcoin erased some of its gains after August payrolls tripled estimates, pushing September rate-hike odds to 58%.

Two April payments supplied three-quarters of the party's donations for the quarter, where the next largest single gift was £180,000.

Bitcoin soared past $81k, HYPE and ZEC hit smashing new ATHs and the onchain rally leveled up. Is this the first stage of the next leg up?

Binance has listed twelve cryptocurrencies that it will remove from its crypto trading platform, specifically on Binance Alpha, later today.

Nasdaq micro-cap AIXC dumps its crypto treasury for a robotics pivot, locking in a bruising 50% loss.

Critical security alert issued as XRP Ledger based wallet users get Hit by unauthorized transactions.

Robinhood Chain appears to have suffered a network outage on Sept. 4, temporarily halting new block production.

Key crypto updates for Sep. 4: SEC clears XRP and Solana; a $566M short squeeze hits bears, and Zcash jumps above $1,000 on autonomous AI risks.

Key Takeaways

• Major indexes declined Friday following August employment data that significantly exceeded analyst predictions
• Payrolls expanded by 162,000 positions in August, nearly tripling the anticipated 55,000
• Market participants increased September Fed rate hike probability to approximately 60%
• Lululemon shares plummeted 16% following downward revisions to revenue and earnings forecasts
• Bond yields climbed as markets adjusted expectations for tighter monetary conditions

U.S. equity markets experienced broad declines Friday following robust August employment figures that prompted investors to reassess Federal Reserve policy expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated approximately 0.7%, shedding roughly 380 points. The S&P 500 declined 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite gave up around 0.4%.

The monthly employment situation report revealed 162,000 positions were created in August. Wall Street analysts had projected only 55,000 additions. This substantial upside surprise reinforced the resilience of the employment landscape.

The robust employment figures prompted an important debate among market participants: would Federal Reserve officials interpret this strength as justification for additional monetary tightening?

Data from CME Group indicated that market participants elevated the probability of a September rate increase to around 60% in the wake of the employment release. This represented a notable adjustment from sentiment earlier in the trading week.

Central Bank Outlook and Upcoming Catalysts

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has indicated he avoids overreacting to individual economic releases. He has additionally noted that wage trends may have a weaker correlation with inflation than conventional wisdom suggests, potentially reducing the impact of employment data on policy decisions.

Several market observers contend that Friday’s employment report may not provide sufficient justification for policy action on its own. The next critical data release will be the August Consumer Price Index report, scheduled for September 11.

The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, which serves as the Federal Reserve’s primary inflation gauge, isn’t scheduled until September 30. This timing places it after the upcoming policy meeting, suggesting officials might decide without access to this preferred metric.

Government bond yields advanced Friday as market participants recalibrated their interest rate outlook.

Even with Friday’s retreat, all three benchmark indexes remained within proximity of their all-time peaks. The modest nature of the selloff could suggest investor belief that the economy possesses sufficient strength to absorb higher borrowing costs.

Employment statistics are frequently adjusted in subsequent months. Some market participants may be adopting a wait-and-see approach before the August figure is confirmed.

Lululemon Weighs on Market Mood

Beyond macroeconomic developments, Lululemon emerged as Friday’s most significant individual equity story. The athletic apparel retailer’s stock collapsed approximately 16% after management reduced full-year revenue and earnings projections and disclosed a second quarter sales decline.

No other significant corporate earnings announcements were scheduled for Friday’s session.

The S&P 500 finished trading near 7,708, the Dow closed around 53,301, and the Nasdaq settled near 26,463.

The post Wall Street Tumbles as Robust Employment Data Sparks Rate Hike Speculation appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• SNDK shares climbed as high as 8.9% during Friday’s session, reaching approximately $1,687
• Nvidia announced a $12.9 billion deal to purchase AI development platform Hugging Face
• AI-driven data center expansion continues driving robust NAND flash demand, with global sector revenue climbing roughly 70% sequentially in Q2
• Dell Technologies’ Chief Operating Officer identified memory as the primary bottleneck: “DRAM, DRAM, DRAM, followed by NAND, NAND, NAND”
• Wall Street firm Bernstein continues projecting a $3,000 target for SNDK shares

Shares of SanDisk experienced a significant rally Friday, climbing as much as 8.9% and touching an intraday peak of $1,693.71 before stabilizing near $1,687 during mid-morning hours. The advance left SNDK up approximately 8.5% for the session, though trading volume remained notably below its typical 13.9 million share average.

Sandisk Corporation, SNDK

What sparked the rally? Nvidia revealed Thursday evening its plans to purchase Hugging Face in a transaction valued at $12.9 billion. The widely-used open-source AI development platform boasts more than 18 million registered users, hosts 3 million AI models, and serves over 200,000 enterprises building and launching artificial intelligence solutions.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang emphasized that over half the company’s revenue stems from customers “largely driven by open models,” noting that Nvidia ranks as Hugging Face’s top contributor of open-source models. Industry observers interpret the acquisition as Nvidia’s strategic play to strengthen its position within the AI developer community.

What’s the connection to SanDisk? The insatiable appetite for Nvidia’s graphics processing units has created corresponding demand for SanDisk’s NAND flash memory products, essential building blocks for modern AI-focused data centers. Essentially, whatever benefits Nvidia’s artificial intelligence strategy typically translates into stronger demand for SanDisk’s components.

This relationship received validation earlier this week when Dell Technologies’ Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Clarke identified memory as the critical constraint facing AI server production. “The constraints remain the same,” Clarke explained. “DRAM, DRAM, DRAM, followed by NAND, NAND, NAND.”

Strong Sector Fundamentals Support Rally

Looking past the Nvidia announcement, underlying NAND market conditions remain robust. Worldwide NAND flash revenue jumped approximately 70% on a sequential basis during Q2, powered by continued AI infrastructure expansion requiring substantial flash storage capacity. Industry supply remains constrained while pricing holds steady.

Investment firm Bernstein continues recommending SNDK with a $3,000 price objective, citing what analysts describe as a sustained, multi-year NAND supply shortage scenario.

Industry peer Micron Technology similarly gained ground Friday, advancing roughly 4%, indicating the momentum extends across the entire memory chip sector rather than being isolated to SanDisk alone.

Favorable Macro Conditions Provide Additional Support

U.S. Treasury yields declined ahead of Friday’s crucial economic releases, giving market participants another incentive to return to high-growth semiconductor stocks that had suffered recently amid climbing interest rates.

The wider market provided minimal assistance. The S&P 500 declined 0.5% while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.48%, underscoring that SanDisk’s strength stemmed clearly from sector-specific factors.

Despite Friday’s gains, SNDK remains more than 30% beneath its 52-week peak of $2,354.39. Trading at 23 times trailing earnings and merely 8 times forward earnings estimates, the shares appear reasonably valued compared to other AI-focused memory chip manufacturers.

Regarding insider activity, SanDisk Chief Legal Officer Bernard Shek divested 600 share units at $1,525.60 on September 1 through a previously established Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement, representing standard administrative activity without meaningful market implications.

Bernstein’s $3,000 price objective for SNDK stands unchanged, with shares currently trading around $1,687.

The post SanDisk (SNDK) Shares Surge 8% Following Nvidia’s Massive Hugging Face Deal appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• Planet Labs delivered Q2 revenue of $116.1 million, surpassing Wall Street’s $104.5 million forecast by a significant margin, representing 58% growth year-over-year.
• The company’s adjusted EBITDA reached $13.9 million, substantially exceeding the consensus expectation of $2.3 million.
• Revenue from defense and intelligence clients now represents 70% of the company’s total revenue, climbing from 57% in the prior year, with the segment nearly doubling to $81 million.
• The company’s Q3 revenue forecast of $101 million to $105 million fell short of analyst expectations of $114 million.
• Shares of PL climbed approximately 11% during premarket hours Friday, reaching $20.44, recovering from Thursday’s more than 8% decline before earnings.

Planet Labs announced second-quarter revenue totaling $116.1 million, representing 58% year-over-year growth and easily surpassing Wall Street’s $104.5 million projection. The company’s adjusted EBITDA of $13.9 million significantly outperformed expectations of $2.3 million.

On a non-GAAP basis, earnings per share reached 2 cents, compared to the consensus forecast calling for a 2-cent loss. This represents a comprehensive earnings beat across all major metrics.

The defense and intelligence division experienced explosive growth exceeding 90% year-over-year, expanding to represent 70% of total company revenue compared to 57% during the same period last year. The segment generated approximately $81 million, nearly doubling from the previous year.

Planet Labs PBC, PL

The commercial segment posted growth exceeding 15%, while civil government revenue expanded by more than 5%. From a geographic perspective, the Europe, Middle East and Africa region delivered the strongest performance with revenue surging over 130%.

The satellite imagery company also secured an $8 million agreement with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for its Global Monitoring Service. Additional wins include a seven-figure European defense contract and a German government satellite-services tender valued at up to 25 million euros spanning five years.

The company’s backlog expanded 11% year-over-year to $815 million. Remaining performance obligations increased 9% to approximately $753 million. Management anticipates recognizing over $400 million in revenue during the next four quarters based solely on existing backlog.

Third-Quarter Forecast Falls Short

Management provided Q3 revenue guidance ranging from $101 million to $105 million, missing the $114 million analyst consensus. The company also anticipates a Q3 EBITDA loss of approximately $3.5 million, contrasting with Wall Street’s projection of positive $2.5 million EBITDA.

Citi analyst John Godyn indicated that a portion of the Q2 outperformance resulted from revenue pulled forward from the third quarter, accounting for some of the guidance miss. He maintained that the investment case remains “intact.”

Needham analyst Ryan Koontz pointed out that Q2 revenue benefited from accelerated recognition related to Sweden’s inaugural sovereign satellite. When combining actual Q2 and projected Q3 revenue, year-over-year growth still stands at 42%.

Annual Outlook Updated

Planet Labs increased the lower bound of its fiscal 2027 revenue guidance to $430 million from $425 million, while maintaining the upper end at $441 million. Current analyst consensus stands at $435.67 million.

Management is aiming to achieve the Rule of 40 benchmark in fiscal 2027, measured by combining revenue growth percentage and adjusted EBITDA margin.

Adjusted gross margin decreased modestly to 59% from 61% in the prior year, attributed to investments in satellite services agreements and AI-powered partner solutions.

Through the first half of the fiscal year, the company produced approximately $68 million in operating cash flow. Free cash flow amounted to $21 million, while adjusted free cash flow totaled $29 million.

Planet Labs closed the quarter with approximately $865 million in cash and short-term investments, and generated around $120 million through its at-the-market equity offering at an average net price of $31.95 per share.

Management has identified satellite-services opportunities exceeding $4 billion in its pipeline.

PL stock traded down approximately 1.25% at $18.12 at the time of publication Friday, following its more than 11% premarket surge. The stock has appreciated over 180% during the past 12 months.

The post Planet Labs (PL) Stock Surges 11% on Strong Q2 Beat Fueled by Defense Sector Growth appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Shares of Oracle climbed 2% to reach $157.13, extending momentum from Thursday’s 5.7% surge linked to Federal Reserve commentary
• Morgan Stanley elevated its price objective to $210 from $207, pointing to enhanced margins in GPU-as-a-Service operations
• Bernstein maintained its Outperform stance, indicating Oracle could be approaching the conclusion of its capital-raising phase
• Jefferies preserved its Buy recommendation while adjusting its target downward to $290 from $320, emphasizing OCI revenue expansion and margin performance as critical indicators
• The company is scheduled to announce Q1 fiscal 2027 earnings on September 10, 2026, following the closing bell

Shares of Oracle experienced a 2% uptick during morning hours, reaching $157.13, as Wall Street firms issued updated research notes and market participants prepared for the company’s upcoming quarterly report.

Oracle Corporation, ORCL

The gain extends Thursday’s robust 5.7% advance, which was sparked by Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller’s comments favoring stable interest rates pending additional inflation information. This development carries particular weight for Oracle, given the company’s substantial debt load accumulated to finance its artificial intelligence data center expansion.

Morgan Stanley increased its price objective to $210 from $207 while maintaining an Equalweight stance. The adjustment reflects an enhanced margin forecast for Oracle’s GPU-as-a-Service operations. The firm applied approximately 19 times its calendar 2028 non-GAAP earnings per share projection of $10.98 in its valuation model.

The shares remain approximately 20% lower year-to-date, trading below historical valuation benchmarks. Oracle’s PEG ratio stands at 0.77, with InvestingPro identifying the equity as undervalued when measured against near-term earnings expansion potential. The company’s gross profit margin has maintained a level of 66% throughout the trailing twelve months.

Wall Street Weighs In Before Results

Bernstein reaffirmed its Outperform designation and indicated Oracle may be nearing the conclusion of its capital-raising requirements. This would represent a significant transition for an organization that has relied extensively on borrowing to support its AI infrastructure objectives. Bernstein also observed that Oracle has the potential to emerge as the third-largest hyperscaler.

Jefferies maintained its Buy recommendation while reducing its price objective to $290 from $320. The firm identified 115% OCI revenue growth and a 41% operating margin as the critical metrics to monitor.

Mizuho similarly reaffirmed an Outperform rating with a $320 target, highlighting an enhanced agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The contract’s maximum value increased by approximately $17 billion and may continue through May 2031.

September 10 Earnings Preview

Options market activity suggests a possible 10% price swing in either direction when Oracle unveils its Q1 fiscal 2027 performance on September 10, following the market close.

Broader equity markets are providing minimal support today. The S&P 500 has declined 0.1% while the Nasdaq trades marginally higher. Oracle’s movement appears driven by company-specific developments.

Execution challenges and constrained free cash flow throughout the forecast horizon represent the primary concerns Morgan Stanley highlighted in justifying its Equalweight rating despite the increased price target.

Jefferies is monitoring OCI expansion and margin trends as the most transparent indicators of whether Oracle’s AI data center capital deployment is producing tangible outcomes.

The Veterans Affairs contract enhancement, which Mizuho emphasized this week, incorporates optional extensions that could prolong the arrangement through May 2031, providing Oracle with a durable government revenue stream.

The post Oracle (ORCL) Stock Climbs 2% as Wall Street Analysts Update Targets Before Quarterly Report appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• AMC shares surged approximately 7% Friday following CEO Adam Aron’s public confrontation with Robinhood regarding tokenized stock offerings
• The CEO emphasized that these tokens lack registration under U.S. securities regulations and AMC has zero involvement in the program
• Vlad Tenev, Robinhood’s CEO, issued a terse “What’s the concern?” response on X
• Aron issued threats of litigation and demanded Robinhood immediately halt token trading activities
• In separate news, AMC unveiled Leawood Films, a distribution initiative focused on independent and mid-budget theatrical releases

Shares of AMC Entertainment (AMC) experienced a notable 7% climb Friday following a forceful public statement from CEO Adam Aron criticizing Robinhood Markets for what he characterized as illegitimate tokenized representations of AMC securities.

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., AMC

During premarket trading Friday, the stock reached $2.68, reflecting a 5.57% increase, with momentum continuing throughout the trading day.

In a Thursday post on X, Aron stated that Robinhood “apparently is behind an effort related to ‘tokenized real-world assets including Stock Tokens'” encompassing AMC alongside over 190 additional corporations.

He emphasized that AMC maintains “no connection to this at all” and does “not condone it in any way.”

The CEO described the initiative as “contemptible” and “outrageous,” noting that AMC’s external securities legal team would examine potential actions to compel Robinhood to cease operations.

Understanding the Token Structure

According to Robinhood’s official disclosure, the Stock Tokens represent tokenized debt instruments issued by Robinhood Assets (Jersey) Limited, an entity established in Jersey.

These tokens lack registration under United States securities legislation and are prohibited from being marketed or sold to American investors.

Tenev, Robinhood’s chief executive, countered Aron’s criticism with a concise inquiry: “What’s the concern?”

Aron’s response characterized the ramifications as “almost existential,” contending that the tokens could disrupt the fundamental connection between authentic equity ownership and corporate capital-raising capabilities.

He further highlighted that traditional stock ownership confers voting privileges to shareholders, whereas the tokens merely offer economic participation without conferring any legal ownership entitlements.

Aron demanded that Robinhood “CEASE AND DESIST” from facilitating AMC token transactions without delay.

Leawood Films Expansion Announced

In a separate development, AMC revealed the establishment of Leawood Films, a distribution platform dedicated to delivering independent and moderately-budgeted films to theater audiences.

The initiative will avoid production financing or screenplay development. Rather, it will focus on distributing fully-funded or completed projects leveraging AMC’s established theater infrastructure and promotional capabilities.

This announcement follows AMC’s robust second-quarter performance, fueled by major theatrical releases such as The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which contributed to record attendance figures.

Leawood Films expands upon AMC’s prior distribution successes with concert films featuring Taylor Swift and Beyonce in 2023 and 2025.

Industry veterans Toby Emmerich, Ricky Strauss and Kyle Davies will serve as advisors to the new venture. AMC anticipates debut releases occurring no sooner than 2027 or 2028.

From a chart perspective, AMC is positioned above all significant moving averages. The 50-day and 200-day SMAs formed a golden cross pattern in July. The RSI currently registers at 50.46, indicating neutral momentum.

Macquarie reaffirmed a Neutral rating on September 2 while increasing its price objective to $3. AMC maintains a Hold consensus among analysts with an average target price of $2.74.

The post AMC Entertainment (AMC) Stock Surges 7% Following CEO’s Robinhood Confrontation Over Tokenized Shares appeared first on Blockonomi.

It was another eventful week in the cryptocurrency markets as August closed, with BTC ending in the green for the first time during a bear market, further signaling a major shift in sentiment. However, Friday’s jobs report flipped the script again.

Before we dive into all of that, let’s rewind the clock by a week and see what the landscape was last Friday. Despite briefly surging past $81,000 on a couple of occasions, BTC was quickly halted and driven south to just under $80,000. Most altcoins, though, produced major weekly gains.

The rejection at the time came after the hawkish stance taken by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, and the leg down drove BTC to just under $77,000 on Saturday morning. However, the asset rebounded swiftly and tapped $79,000 on Sunday. Another leg down to $77,000 took place on Monday morning as the US and Iran initiated new attacks against each other.

The primary cryptocurrency remained volatile in the following few days, but was contained in a relatively tight range between $76,400 and $79,000. It last tested the upper boundary on Wednesday morning, and the bulls managed to defend it. The subsequent leg up came on Thursday and was significantly more successful.

Bitcoin broke out of its $79,000 barrier and surged past $80,000. It kept going during the early hours on Friday and jumped to $82,400 for the first time since mid-May. Although it was stopped there, it remained above $81,000 until earlier today, when the much stronger-than-expected US jobs report came out.

BTC slumped immediately by two grand as the general assumption is that the Fed will be more inclined to raise the hikes at the end of the month. The weekly performance shows a few clear winners – ZEC has gained 20%, and it even surpassed $1,000 earlier today, XMR is up by 10%, while UNI has rocketed by almost 40%.

Market Data

Market Cap: $2.775T | 24H Vol: $121B | BTC Dominance: 57.6%

BTC: $79,270 (-0.35%) | ETH: $2,450 (-2.5%) | XRP: $1.39 (-1.5%)

This Week’s Crypto Headlines You Can’t Miss

Strategy Is Buying Bitcoin Again After 2-Month Pause: Here’s How Much. Monday began with a bang as the world’s largest corporate holder of BTC resumed its purchases for the first time in over two months, accumulating 4,603 BTC for $370 million. The problem for the company is that it sold at low prices only to buy back at much higher levels.

Gold Just Erased All Its August Gains – Bitcoin Is Holding Up Better at $77K. The precious metal exploded alongside BTC in the middle of August, hitting $4,700 for the first time in months. However, it lost all gains, even dipping below its starting price of $4,360 earlier this week. In contrast, BTC is up by roughly 25% even after today’s correction.

Arthur Hayes Says Ignore Warsh and Watch EUR/JPY for Bitcoin’s Next Move. BitMEX’s former CEO believes the Fed and Kevin Warsh are not the most important factors to determine BTC’s next move. Instead, he urged investors to pay more attention to the euro-yen exchange rate.

Trezor Breach Is Much Bigger Than Initially Thought: Another 67,000 Customers Exposed. The hardware wallet manufacturer admitted today that the ShipMonk breach was significantly more worrisome than initially believed. Its latest update showed that the actual number of affected US customers from the data leaks is over 80,000, not 13,689.

Bitcoin Makes History With First-Ever Green August During a Bear Market. As mentioned above, bitcoin ended August in a highly unexpected manner. History suggested that the asset wouldn’t enjoy the eighth month of the year, but reality was much different. BTC closed with a near-25% surge for the first time in bear market years.

Bitcoin Is Back Above $80,000, But Fidelity Says the Bear Market May Not Be Over Yet. The flagship digital asset surged past $80,000, as explained earlier, but analysts at Fidelity weren’t convinced BTC is out of the woods. They outlined some historical references and determined that the bear market might not be over yet.

Charts

This week, we have a chart analysis of Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid – click here for the complete price analysis.

The post BTC Stopped at $82K as Strong US Jobs Report Shakes Markets, Strategy Resumes Buying: Weekly Recap appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Ethereum has staged a sharp recovery from the June lows and is now consolidating below $2.5K after reclaiming several important technical levels. The daily structure has improved materially, but ETH is still struggling at a key resistance area, while the latest taker-flow data suggests that aggressive buying has not yet fully confirmed the move.

Ethereum Price Analysis: The Daily Chart

The daily chart shows a clear structural recovery from the $1.5K area. ETH subsequently reclaimed the $1.9K zone and pushed above the $2K mark, with the latest impulsive move taking price toward $2.5K.

The most important development is the price moving above the previous swing-high area around $2.45K and finally creating a higher high after months of decline. However, the asset is still sitting directly below the $2.5K resistance zone and has not yet cleared it after it was rejected again today. Therefore, further upside may require a decisive daily breakout rather than another rejection from the same area.

The 100-day and 200-day moving averages have also become more constructive. Both are now sloping upward after being reclaimed, with the 200-day moving average around the $2K region being the most important support element buyers should defend.

If ETH establishes a daily close above the $2.5K resistance zone, the next major upside area visible on the chart is the next swing high at $3.4K. Conversely, a rejection could send ETH back toward the $2K-$2.1K region, which appears to be the key structural support that must be held at all costs.

ETH/USDT 4-Hour Chart

The 4-hour chart shows that most of the recent advance occurred through a very aggressive vertical move from roughly $1.9K toward $2.5K. Since then, ETH has been consolidating inside a tight range, roughly between $2.35K and $2.55K.

This consolidation is important because it follows a strong impulsive breakout. Rather than immediately giving back the entire move, ETH has spent several weeks holding above the previous breakout area. The latest candles are also moving toward the upper boundary of the range.

The $2.4K-$2.5K area is therefore the key near-term pivot. Holding around this region would preserve the bullish structure and could allow another attempt to break out higher. This would strengthen the continuation case and potentially expose the $2.8K area before the larger $3.4K resistance zone.

On the downside, a loss of the consolidation range’s low around $2.4K would weaken the immediate setup and could trigger a deeper retracement toward the $2.25K order block. Meanwhile, the 4-hour RSI remains constructive, although it has cooled from its recent spike. This suggests that momentum is still positive without being as stretched as it was immediately after the breakout.

Sentiment Analysis

The Ethereum Taker Buy/Sell Ratio chart provides a more cautious signal. The 30-day moving average of the metric has recently dropped below the neutral 1.0 level  again and appears to be hovering around 0.995, meaning aggressive sell orders have slightly outweighed aggressive buy orders across exchanges.

This is notable because ETH has simultaneously remained close to $2.5K. In other words, the latest price strength has not been accompanied by a strong increase in taker buying pressure.

The divergence does not necessarily invalidate the bullish technical structure, but it does suggest that the current consolidation may need another wave of genuine spot or aggressive futures demand before ETH can sustain a larger breakout. A move back above 1.0 in the taker buy/sell ratio alongside a decisive break above $2.5K would provide stronger confirmation for continuation and potentially lead to a genuine market recovery after months of downtrend.

The post Ethereum Price Analysis: ETH Rejected at $2.5K Again – What Happens Next? appeared first on CryptoPotato.

[PRESS RELEASE – Chicago, United States, September 4th, 2026]

Liquid Mercury today announced that ACQUA1, LLC completed the initial closing of its MERC exchange offering on September 1, 2026.

ACQUA1 is a Liquid Mercury subsidiary that operates Liquid Mercury’s Lab Company program, licensing Liquid Mercury technology to companies primarily tokenizing real-world assets and receiving fees plus a minority equity stake in return. Liquid Mercury is the majority holder and Manager.

“Over the past 18 months, dozens of companies have approached Liquid Mercury seeking to tokenize their assets,” said Tony Saliba, CEO and founder of Liquid Mercury. “Many assumed they would need to raise capital and build this infrastructure from scratch. Licensing Mercury RWA lets them launch on systems that were already live and proven, at a fraction of the time and cost. ACQUA1 token holders now own a slice of the business that earns equity, plus fees from the companies in the Lab Company program.”

Verified accredited investors subscribed by exchanging MERC for non-voting Class B units of ACQUA1 at the initial conversion rate of 10 MERC per unit. Under its operating agreement, ACQUA1 must burn 100% of the MERC it receives at each closing within five business days and may not transfer, trade, lend, stake, pledge, or otherwise deploy it.

On September 2, all 563,230,000 MERC received at the initial closing were burned via a transfer to the dead address, as the offering documents require.

Initial Closing Highlights

• Initial closing: September 1, 2026
• MERC burned: 563,230,000
• Transferred to the dead address September 2, 2026
• Units issued: 56,323,000
• Non-voting Class B units of ACQUA1, LLC under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D
• 10 MERC per unit
• Evidenced on-chain by ACQUA1-C tokens
• ACQUA1-C tokens convert one-for-one into ACQUA1 tokens upon issuance
• Remaining closings: On or about October 30 and December 31, 2026
• ACQUA1 may skip or terminate at its discretion
• The conversion rate at subsequent closings may differ

Verification Links

Burn transaction

ACQUA1-C contract

Verified accredited investors can request full terms at acqua1.liquidmercury.com/contact.

About Liquid Mercury

Liquid Mercury powers professional crypto trading and digital asset marketplaces. The company delivers institutional-grade infrastructure, access to deep liquidity, and best-in-class trading tools and workflow automation across its Pro, OTC, and RWA platforms. Through Mercury RWA, Liquid Mercury is extending that infrastructure into tokenized real-world assets, with $MERC serving as the access and platform layer token. For more information, visit www.liquidmercury.com.

Investor Notice

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Class B units of ACQUA1, LLC and the ACQUA1 tokens representing them are offered and sold in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 506(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, solely to verified accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D, and solely pursuant to ACQUA1’s confidential private placement memorandum, as supplemented, and definitive subscription documents, which contain important information, including risk factors. ACQUA1 tokens are restricted securities, are subject to transfer restrictions under ACQUA1’s operating agreement and may remain illiquid indefinitely; investors should not assume that Rule 144 will be available. Statements regarding future revenues, valuations, portfolio performance, and subsequent closings are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ materially. The MERC contract has no burn function; tokens are removed from circulation by transferring to the dead address. Supply outstanding excluding the dead address is 5,436,770,000 MERC, as of the date of publication.

The post Liquid Mercury Announces Initial Closing of ACQUA1 Offering appeared first on CryptoPotato.

This Friday, we examine Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid in greater detail.

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum was flat this week. Still, the price held well above the support at $2,400. However, the volume has been falling since the initial rally, and volatility has decreased significantly compared to the early days.

While a consolidation period is normal, this is also a period of weakness in the price action when sellers could make their return. Nevertheless, as long as the key support is not challenged, buyers continue to have the upper hand.

Looking ahead, ETH must stay above $2,400 if it wants the rally to continue. So far, buyers appear in control, but the road towards $2,800 could be bumpier compared to the past few weeks.

Ripple (XRP)

XRP was also mostly flat this week, booking a modest 2% gain. The price has been moving sideways between $1.3 and the resistance at $1.6. This range also kept the price in check between February and May this year.

To get momentum back, this cryptocurrency will need to break away from this range. That will likely see volume and volatility return as well. Based on the current price action, buyers have the advantage, but this could change if they fail to clear $1.6.

Looking ahead, the market is showing some indecision here after a strong pump. While a continuation would put an end to the bear market, it is still too early to say this is it. That’s why buyers may be hesitating here.

Cardano (ADA)

ADA closed 5% higher this week after a good push from buyers, with the price retesting resistance at $0.23. At the time of this post, the resistance remains intact but could be put under pressure by any renewed buying.

For Cardano to confirm a bottom under $0.15, the price has to move beyond its current resistance. Buyers were rejected there in August. However, another push in September could be successful.

Looking ahead, this cryptocurrency is ripe for a strong rally as soon as $0.23 turns into a key support. That can easily see ADA move towards $0.30 and $0.40 if buying volume picks up.

Binance Coin (BNB)

This week, Binance Coin held well above the support at $690, but did not manage to distance itself much beyond that. That’s the reason why the price is up only 1% in the past seven days.

While momentum has been decreasing, BNB is very close to making a higher high. Any price above $745 would confirm it and likely see this cryptocurrency continue its rally towards $900 next.

Looking ahead, the market may be taking a pause right now before momentum returns. While the price action favors a continuation of the rally, a higher high is needed to give it confidence.

Hype (HYPE)

This week, Hyperliquid managed to break above the $85 resistance and closed 4% higher. This both confirmed a higher high and new price record. The question is if this level can hold as support or sellers will turn it into a resistance again.

If the latter, then buyers will likely move to the support at $76 next to defend the recent gains. Still, HYPE has been in a rally for weeks without any significant pullback or correction. One should be expected eventually.

Looking ahead, HYPE could continue its push higher until it hits the psychological level at $100. Sellers could be making a stand there if buyers decide to go for it. But for now, best to watch the price reaction at $85 in the coming days.

The post Crypto Price Analysis Sep-04: ETH, XRP, ADA, BNB, and HYPE appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The US economy added almost three times as many jobs as expected in August, triggering an immediate sell-off for risk-on assets like bitcoin as investors reassess the chances of another Federal Reserve rate hike.

The cryptocurrency’s price had risen to over $81,000 before the news went live, but plunged immediately by $2,000 to $79,200.

More specifically, the US economy added 162,000 jobs in August, according to data shared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The general expectations were for roughly 55,000-58,000 new jobs, which means that the actual numbers were significantly higher. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%.

The July reading was also revised sharply higher, from a previously reported loss of 23,000 jobs to a gain of 21,000. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% monthly and 3.1% annually.

A strong labor market gives the Federal Reserve more room to keep monetary policy tight, which, given Kevin Warsh’s hawkish speech from last week, spells trouble for risk-on assets like bitcoin.

The blowout jobs number weakens one argument for keeping rates unchanged: that the US labor market needs protection from tighter monetary policy. Higher interest-rate expectations typically push Treasury yields and the greenback north while reducing the relative appeal of risk assets.

Although the jobs report does not guarantee a September rate hike, as inflation remains the biggest concern for the US central bank, it certainly gives investors a lot to think about ahead of the CPI data next week.

The post Bitcoin Price Plunges After Blowout US Jobs Report: Here’s Why appeared first on CryptoPotato.