Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

The DOJ crypto ATM fraud case targets alleged theft of 47,461.73111 USDT (about $47,000) from five victims. Prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture action on July 31 and asked the court to recover the crypto allegedly taken via a technology-support and government-impersonation scam. In the DOJ crypto ATM fraud scheme, victims were urged to withdraw bank funds and deposit cash into a Bitcoin Depot-branded cryptocurrency ATM. One described target in Ware, Massachusetts saw a computer pop-up telling her to call “customer support.” The caller claimed her bank was compromised and instructed her to transfer money to the “government” for safekeeping. Authorities said she withdrew funds and deposited them into a Bitcoin Depot ATM in Ludlow, Massachusetts; investigators later traced proceeds to a cryptocurrency wallet. In March, authorities seized funds linked to that wallet and connected four additional victims who reportedly paid into the same address, extending the broader DOJ crypto ATM fraud recovery effort in Massachusetts. The filing also arrives as Congress considers tighter controls after reports of heavy losses to crypto ATM scams. A bipartisan Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act was introduced in June, proposing consumer limits, clearer fraud warnings, potential refunds, and stronger AML/recordkeeping requirements for operators. Separately, prior Massachusetts forfeiture actions cited earlier scam-linked crypto, including an ether-backed-by-gold investment fraud and a romance fraud where proceeds were converted into USDT before seizure. For traders, the immediate impact is more about compliance and enforcement headlines than liquidity or token fundamentals.

Markets are risk-off after Bitcoin’s rejection and a drop to a multi-week low, but Pi Network’s token is an exception. Pi Network (PI) is up about 5% in the past 24 hours, trading near $0.086 after briefly testing $0.088, even as broader sentiment remains weak. The driver is an “important reminder” from the Pi Network core team on X. It says the mainnet has started migrating to Protocol version 26. Pi Validators must complete the upgrade by August 11 to stay connected to the network. The team calls v26 a major milestone, improving smart-contract safety, state management, interoperability, and cryptographic capabilities. A further upgrade to Protocol version 27 is expected in late August or September. PI’s rebound comes after Pi had faced heavy drawdown: the token is still down more than 97% versus its February 2025 all-time high, and its market cap remains below $1B (around the 68th-largest by that metric). Still, traders typically reprice “network upgrade with deadlines” events quickly, which aligns with PI’s recent momentum. Key takeaway for traders: Pi Network (PI) is showing relative strength tied to a concrete protocol migration timeline, even while BTC leads a broader downturn.

Ethena (ENA) is consolidating near key resistance as buyers wait for confirmation. The token is trading around $0.081, roughly flat on the day, but price action is still shaped by a multi-month falling wedge on the daily chart. Key levels are driving trader focus. ENA is defending the $0.078 support area. Meanwhile, the descending resistance trendline and the $0.083–$0.085 zone remain the immediate hurdles. A stronger bullish move would likely come from a decisive break above these levels. Derivatives data is a major backdrop for ENA: open interest is elevated at about $474M, suggesting traders are building positions even as spot volatility compresses. Funding rates are close to neutral, indicating no clear, one-sided leverage bias between longs and shorts. Bullish case: if ENA breaks out above the wedge resistance and reclaims $0.083–$0.085, momentum could improve toward $0.090 and potentially $0.100. Bearish case: losing $0.078 would strengthen the existing bearish structure and could open downside to roughly $0.074, then $0.070, with $0.067 flagged as the next major zone where buyers may attempt a defense. Bottom line for ENA traders: this is a “wait for confirmation” setup. ENA’s compression suggests volatility may expand soon, but direction will hinge on whether it clears resistance or fails support.

Galaxy Research (Galaxy Digital) says it traced the Coldcard breach to 1,196 compromised addresses. The attackers stole 1,082.65 BTC, worth about $70.2 million at the time of the transactions. On-chain monitoring tracked the BTC transfers between 01:10–01:51 UTC on July 30 (blocks ~960,183–960,191), around 30 hours before Coldcard issued its first security advisory. Galaxy also identified an attack “fingerprint”: identical transaction fee patterns (30 satoshis per vbyte) and no change outputs, suggesting a coordinated initial push. Galaxy warned that follow-on attacks on other Coldcard-generated addresses may not reuse the same pattern. Coinkite, Coldcard’s manufacturer, confirmed the vulnerability and released a firmware hotfix to remove the flawed software fallback path. However, it stressed that firmware updates do not protect seeds created on vulnerable firmware. Users are urged to move funds to assets generated with a new seed. For traders, this Coldcard breach is a reminder of persistent hardware wallet attack surfaces. The most likely effect is short-term risk caution around self-custody headlines, while longer-term impact depends on whether more disclosures trigger broader de-risking tied to BTC holdings.

The fate of the CLARITY Act is hinging on President Donald Trump after the White House received a bipartisan ethics counterproposal. Former Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett said the Senate may only move forward with the bill before lawmakers leave next week if Trump accepts the deal. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) drafted the ethics language. It would let state attorneys general sue the Department of Justice if it fails to enforce federal ethics rules—an approach modeled on the Laken Riley Act. However, Terrett noted the ethics fix is only part of the problem. Three items must be “locked in together”: (1) CLARITY Act “Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act” (BRCA) language, (2) disputes tied to the agriculture section, and (3) the ethics mechanism. The White House and Treasury rejected a BRCA alternative backed by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and prosecutors’ groups. The proposal would have changed how prosecutors prove criminal intent for software developers in money-laundering cases. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued the existing BRCA language “does nothing other than codify” Treasury policy. On top of this, Republican senators Mike Rounds, James Lankford, and Jerry Moran raised concerns about the bill’s stablecoin yield provisions. They warned that interest-like stablecoin rewards may trigger deposit flight and weaken community banks’ lending capacity by “hundreds of billions.” Traders should watch whether Trump green-lights the ethics counteroffer and whether BRCA and stablecoin yield terms are revised ahead of the Senate timeline.

Caterpillar is set to report Q2 2026 results at 5:30 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. This preview focuses on Caterpillar mining demand and margins—specifically whether backlog converts into shipments and whether margin protection holds as costs, logistics, and FX move. Key figure: analysts cite a record backlog of about $63 billion at Q1 2026, which supports revenue visibility if conversion remains steady. Traders should watch Resource Industries order conversion tied to copper, gold, iron ore and coal capex plans, plus any comments on dealer inventory, lead times, and financing/permits. Margin drivers: management is expected to discuss price realization and mix versus input costs (steel), freight, and foreign exchange. The article highlights the risk of “decremental margins” if volume slips while costs stay sticky, and the potential drag from a firmer US dollar. Tech angle: the recently closed Skycatch acquisition adds near real-time site data to strengthen autonomy and analytics. This is not expected to lift revenue immediately, but it should support service and higher-margin software attach over time—potentially smoothing cyclical swings in Caterpillar mining demand and margins. Street positioning: Oppenheimer raised its price target to $1,105 on backlog strength and order-conversion potential. The main trading catalysts are: backlog drawdown/burn rate, firm price commentary, and whether service/tech attach keeps improving into H2 2026.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says the wave of “corporate blockchains” is likely to end in consolidation, not coexistence. He argues that corporate networks launch with built-in users from their sponsors, but liquidity and real usage are hard to sustain across more than 100 systems. Armstrong points to early traction on Robinhood Chain (about 200M transactions in month one, ~$650M TVL, ~$520M stablecoin supply, and 2.4M monthly active users) while noting that performance is uneven across the broader market. L2Beat tracks 110 Ethereum scaling projects (22 rollups, 7 validiums/optimiums, 81 other chains), yet only 24 process more than ~2 user ops/sec as of July 31—showing most corporate blockchains lag far behind a small group. On an exchange earnings call, Armstrong compares the pattern to stablecoins: many issuers launched dollar-linked tokens, but activity concentrated around Tether and USDC. He suggests some specialized chains may survive independently, while others may go through an “M&A-type process” or migrate apps toward dominant networks. Armstrong also highlights a second fault line: permissioning. A key risk is that known validator sets can weaken neutrality and introduce gatekeeper pressure. Coinbase’s strategy is partly to reduce this trust gap. Coinbase’s Base L2 has a ~two-year head start and processed about $32T in stablecoin transfers in the past 12 months. CFO Alesia Haas says Coinbase is exploring a Base token and deeper decentralization, aiming to make Base credible neutral infrastructure for companies considering leaving their own chains. Keyword note: this consolidation thesis for corporate blockchains and Coinbase’s Base approach may shape where institutional liquidity—and developer activity—clusters on Ethereum.

OpenAI has shut down ChatGPT accounts linked to a Cambodia-based criminal network accused of running crypto “pig-butchering” investment scams. OpenAI said the operation used ChatGPT to create fake identities, translate conversations, write scam messages, and generate marketing content to build trust. Victims were lured through romance or friendship chats, then pushed to fraudulent cryptocurrency and “spot gold” trading platforms. OpenAI also reported staged steps designed to get targets to deposit crypto first, followed by requests for more funds via “activation fees,” “taxes,” or “regulatory fines.” To reinforce the deception, scammers allegedly fabricated passports, legal notices, stock confirmations, and fake crypto trading dashboards. The investigation also found evidence consistent with labor trafficking, including recruitment ads and internal coordination around employee debt, salary deductions, fines, immigration status, and detention. OpenAI shared findings with industry stakeholders and law enforcement. The company suggested the network may have reached hundreds of victims, with losses potentially totaling thousands of dollars. The broader context is rising illicit crypto activity: TRM Labs estimated illicit cryptocurrency flows hit $158B in 2025 (+145% YoY), with stablecoins accounting for about 84% of verified scam inflows. For traders, the key takeaway is that OpenAI shutting down ChatGPT crypto scam accounts targets the trust-building layer rather than major on-chain infrastructure, so direct market impact is likely limited, but enforcement actions could continue to affect scam-related flows and sentiment.

Bitcoin failed near $65,000 earlier this week, slid to a 17-day low of $62,400, then rebounded to around $63,000. Traders de-risked ahead of the FOMC, and volatility persisted after the Fed left rates unchanged. Bitcoin’s market cap is about $1.265T, with dominance at 56%. In the altcoin tape, only a few names posted clear gains. BEAT (Audiera) was the top 24h winner, up 22% to $4.60. MemeCore (M) followed with +11% to $1.10. PUMP rose 9%, while PI gained 5%. Meanwhile, most large-cap alts declined over the last 24 hours. ETH is down over 1%, and BNB and XRP also slipped. HYPE fell another 5% to $52. RAIN lost nearly 3%, while UNI and AAVE dropped more than 6%. The total crypto market cap fell by roughly $30B in a day to about $2.26T (CG). Bitcoin remains the key swing factor: the bounce from $62.4K helped, but the rebound looks vulnerable if bearish momentum returns.

A Manhattan federal judge on July 7, 2026 denied Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction, suggesting New York’s gambling enforcement could still apply while the case continues. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James said enforcement against markets they view as gambling will carry on. This is not a nationwide ban. Instead, it reinforces a “jurisdiction roulette” for Kalshi prediction markets: a Washington injunction blocked Kalshi in-state on July 21, 2026, while a federal judge temporarily paused Minnesota’s new ban on July 28, 2026. Kalshi argues it operates as a federally regulated event-contract venue, and the court did not treat geolocation compliance costs as irreparable harm—making geofencing and state-by-state controls more likely during the transition. For crypto traders, the key risk is trading access and contract resolution mechanics. Geofencing and KYC changes can abruptly close positions, liquidity can thin in niche event contracts, and settlement depends on the specified resolution source plus tie-breaker rules. Dispute outcomes may therefore vary by product design and state enforcement posture rather than by a single nationwide rule. Near-term focus: appeals and the enforcement stance across major states, because Kalshi prediction markets usability is becoming increasingly state-specific, not uniform across the U.S.

Threshold signatures (TSS) vs multisig are the two dominant signing models for serious crypto custody. They look similar externally, but their risk and failure modes differ. The article explains that multisig enforces quorum on-chain (e.g., Bitcoin Taproot/P2WSH scripts or Ethereum smart-contract wallets). Threshold signatures (TSS/MPC) enforce quorum off-chain, then produce one aggregated signature that the chain treats as a single key. Because TSS appears like a single-sig on-chain, it often reduces fees and improves privacy, while multisig offers clearer on-chain policy and easier auditability. On costs and footprint, it cites a 2026 comparison showing a ~57.5 vB input for FROST/MuSig2-style TSS versus ~296 vB for classic 2-of-3 P2SH and ~350 vB for 3-of-5 P2WSH on Bitcoin—about an 80% reduction in higher-threshold cases. On Ethereum, TSS can resemble an EOA and avoid contract execution overhead. The key warning is that most losses come from process, permissions, and off-chain operations—not broken cryptography. It references CertiK’s H1 2026 totals of $1.315B lost across 344 incidents, with wallet compromise as the largest vector ($444.5M). As a TSS example, it cites the THORChain GG20 incident where repeated signing-round manipulation allegedly enabled extraction of enough key material to drain about $10M. For multisig, it highlights common failure paths like key loss, mis-set thresholds, and unsafe EVM admin/upgrade governance. A practical decision matrix is offered: choose TSS for fee efficiency and high-throughput flows, choose multisig for visible policy and conservative recovery. Traders should note the operational emphasis: better custody design reduces exchange/treasury risk, but it doesn’t directly change market pricing—impact is indirect via confidence and incident frequency.

The Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index has been negative for 75 consecutive days (May 19–Aug 1), the longest streak since the metric started. Using CoinGlass data, the index ended at -0.0959%. The indicator compares Bitcoin price levels on Coinbase Pro versus Binance. A persistent negative premium suggests weaker buy-side pressure or stronger sell pressure in the US exchange matchup, because Bitcoin trades lower on Coinbase than on Binance. Traders should note, however, that this alone is not proof of US investor exits or capital outflows. The index can also be influenced by exchange liquidity, trading hours, investor mix, and regional demand differences. For trading, prolonged negative premium may align with a more cautious risk tone for BTC/Binance-vs-Coinbase flows, potentially affecting short-term sentiment. In the article’s context, it also exceeds prior negative-premium records—40 days (Jan 16–Feb 24) and roughly a 30-day stretch during last year’s “October 10 crash”.

The WNBA removed a social-media video showing Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers agreeing to a WNBA wagering bet—$400 for their teams’ next game—then deleted the post as a joke. The league said the exchange “missed the mark” and that players receive annual training on wagering rules, but it did not discipline either player. Key details: Reese’s $400 wager originated from an All-Star weekend shooting competition in Chicago (Team Coop coach Becky Hammon). After the bet post, Atlanta rallied from 15 points down to beat Dallas 82-81. Reese recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds; Bueckers had 16 points and six assists. ESPN reported no disciplinary action would follow. This matters because the newly agreed WNBA collective bargaining agreement bars wagers and attempted wagers on outcomes or other game aspects. The article notes Article XIV, Section 5 allows potential commissioner penalties up to suspension or permanent disqualification if a player is found to have wagered directly or indirectly. Broader trading context: the incident highlights how quickly casual sports talk can collide with integrity rules as prediction markets and sportsbooks—some on crypto rails—expand. With WNBA outcome markets reportedly available on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, the boundary between “joke” and “offer/attempt” becomes more important for future enforcement. Bottom line for traders: this is a governance/integrity headline tied to WNBA wagering, but there’s no allegation of match manipulation—so market impact is likely limited.

XRPL is scheduled to release xrpld 3.3.0 next week, but activation depends on validator approval. Five XRPL amendments will go live only after validators vote. The upgrade targets institutional finance and tokenized-asset workflows, with five practical changes that traders should track for XRP utility. Key amendments in XRPL 3.3.0: - Native privacy for Multi-Purpose Tokens (MPT): Confidential MPT uses zero-knowledge proofs, keeping balances and transfer amounts private on the public ledger, while enabling auditor/regulator verification when needed. - Atomic execution across accounts (Batch): Up to eight transactions across different accounts can execute atomically—either all succeed or none—supporting settlement flows like delivery-versus-payment. - Delegation of authority for institutions: Grants narrowly scoped transaction permissions without handing over full signing-key control, improving separation of duties. - Sponsored fees and reserves: A sponsor can pay XRP transaction fees and account reserves on behalf of users, lowering onboarding friction for institutions and apps. - Dynamic MPT regulation: Issuers can predefine which token properties can be updated at issuance, reducing the need for token migration when business or regulatory requirements change. Near-term market relevance for XRP: the biggest catalyst is validator approval progress and any signal of enterprise tokenization adoption. Until activation, price impact may stay muted, but successful votes can increase expectations for XRP demand from fee sponsorship and institutional use.

Apex Group, which manages about $3.5T in assets, has pledged to move $100B in tokenized assets onto the T-REX Ledger by June 2027. The T-REX Ledger is a compliance-focused infrastructure for digital securities, aimed at making real-world asset (RWA) tokenization usable in regulated markets. T-REX Network says the T-REX Ledger testnet has launched, with the mainnet planned for Q4 2026. Apex Group will act as the network’s first on-chain transfer agent, maintaining ownership records and supporting compliance across the asset lifecycle. A key part of the design is Polygon’s Chain Development Kit (Polygon CDK) plus Agglayer to enable faster, more modular cross-chain asset movement. The ledger also uses ERC-3643, an Ethereum-based token standard for regulated securities. The article claims ERC-3643 has been used to tokenize over $32B in assets and is recognized by major industry players. T-REX Network frames the main hurdle as regulatory fragmentation: when tokenized securities move across chains, ownership and compliance data can become disjointed, slowing adoption for institutional investors. By embedding compliance into the T-REX Ledger, the project expects to reduce friction for institutions. For traders, this signals growing institutional appetite for RWA infrastructure that emphasizes compliance. In the near term, it may support sentiment around Polygon ecosystem tokens tied to development and demand for tokenization rails (notably POL). Over the longer term, sustained partnerships like Apex/Poygon could strengthen the narrative that “regulated” on-chain securities infrastructure is becoming an investable theme.

Crypto Futures Liquidations surged past $150M in the last 24 hours, driven by forced closures of leveraged longs across BTC, ETH, and HYPE perpetual contracts. Crypto Futures Liquidations data shows BTC liquidations at $94.36M, with 95.41% from long positions. ETH followed with $49.31M, where 89.47% were long liquidations. HYPE recorded $6.29M, with 98.29% long share. The long-heavy unwind suggests traders were positioned too bullish before a sudden price drop. Once BTC/ETH/HYPE moved against long positions, many accounts hit liquidation thresholds and were auto-closed, creating a cascade that can amplify short-term volatility. For traders, this is a leverage-risk warning and a potential “position reset.” While liquidation events sometimes coincide with short-term stabilization after leverage clears, further downside remains possible if selling pressure continues. Watch for stabilization signals and whether funding and liquidation flows normalize.

Bitcoin perpetual futures long/short positioning across Binance, OKX and Bybit is slightly bearish. Over the past 24 hours, aggregate open interest shows 49.72% long vs 50.28% short. On individual exchanges, Binance is 48.86% long / 51.14% short, OKX 48.73% / 51.27%, and Bybit is closer to neutral at 49.29% / 50.71%. A perp long/short ratio near 50/50 typically signals indecision and consolidation rather than a strong directional trend. The latest read also aligns with a narrow trading range for BTC. Traders should treat this as a positioning signal, not a standalone trade trigger. Watch for sustained changes in the Bitcoin perp long/short ratio alongside price and volume. A persistent short-heavy skew can raise upside squeeze risk, while a long-heavy build can increase liquidation risk during declines. Cross-check funding rates, open interest changes and options data for confirmation.

The article recommends the best crypto books in 2026 for readers seeking financial alternatives. It stresses “crypto books” should start with why fiat fails—using monetary debasement and the need for self-custody—before moving to blockchain mechanics. Top picks ranked include: Heidi Chakos’ Why Crypto? (best overall), Saifedean Ammous’ The Bitcoin Standard (hard-money monetary history), Nathaniel Popper’s Digital Gold (Bitcoin’s early people and events), Antony Lewis’ The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains (plain technical on-ramp), Vijay Boyapati’s The Bullish Case for Bitcoin (investment stages toward money), and David Gerard’s Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain (counterarguments on fraud, energy use, and speculation). For traders, the key takeaway is informational, not price-driven: these “crypto books” emphasize monetary policy, risk, regulation, and skepticism—plus reading objections before committing to a thesis. The article also suggests next-step learning via structured lessons on tokenomics, self-custody, and risk management after finishing a book. It does not introduce new protocols, listings, or token-specific catalysts. It mainly frames how market narratives about Bitcoin and broader crypto should be evaluated.

A Coldcard wallet flaw has led to one of the largest recent Bitcoin hardware wallet thefts. Galaxy Research reports an attacker drained 1,196 vulnerable Coldcard Bitcoin wallet addresses in a 41-minute window on July 30 (01:10–01:51 UTC), stealing about 1,082.65 BTC (≈$70.2M). The withdrawals occurred almost 30 hours before Coinkite, Coldcard’s maker, issued a public security warning. The issue stems from a 2021 firmware update that inadvertently reduced the entropy used to generate recovery seed phrases on affected devices. Instead of secure hardware randomness, some wallets relied on a software-based random number generator using predictable inputs (e.g., device serial number and internal clock). Researchers estimate seed security dropped from the expected 128-bit entropy to about 40 bits on certain Mk3 firmware versions (4.0.1–5.0.3), enabling offline private-key recreation and automated draining. Researchers also note transaction patterns: a consistently high 30 sat/vB fee and no change output, suggesting the attacker already held the private keys. Investigators identified remaining consolidated holdings, including an address with over 562 BTC and others with 398 BTC, 89 BTC, and 32 BTC that did not move after consolidation. Coinkite advises users who generated recovery phrases on affected firmware to immediately move funds to a newly created wallet using the latest firmware. Users with an additional BIP-39 passphrase face lower risk because it adds a second security layer. Analysts warn more vulnerable Coldcard wallets may still be exposed if owners delay migration. Coldcard wallet flaw is now the key market risk theme for BTC hardware-wallet users: security upgrades and migration decisions may drive short-term sentiment swings around custody reliability.

Crypto estate planning for XRP holders is back in focus. Jake Claver says investors who hold XRP without a trust may face federal estate tax on amounts above the 2026 exemption: $15M per individual or $30M per couple. He notes the top federal estate tax rate can reach 40%. Claver argues that moving XRP into an irrevocable trust while the position is still small can shift future appreciation outside the taxable estate. This can also help heirs access the assets, because crypto inheritance often fails when private keys, seed phrases, or wallet credentials are missing or unusable after the owner dies. He also flags that U.S. states may impose separate estate or inheritance taxes with lower thresholds than the federal limit, increasing the need for early planning and professional legal guidance. The message: treat XRP estate planning as part of risk management, not something to do after major gains.

Strategy’s Michael Saylor says Bitcoin may be at an inflection point and could be near its bottom, using the 200-week moving average (MA) as the key price signal. During a Q2 earnings call, he argued BTC has dropped to the 200-week MA—similar to how it marked Bitcoin’s bottoming phase in 2022—though price later stayed below before recovering. Saylor also outlined five factors keeping Bitcoin from a stronger rebound. First is AI capital expansion: investors and miners are allocating capital to AI build-outs, which he says leaves crypto demand “dry.” Second are trade tensions and the ongoing Middle East crisis. Third is the Federal Reserve’s rate policy. Fourth is the CLARITY Act delay. He added these headwinds could turn into tailwinds if conditions improve. Near-term timing hinges on two items. The CLARITY Act is expected to make meaningful progress next week. Another Fed hike is widely expected in September, while some traders have already discounted its bearish impact. Market data cited in the article suggests overall demand improved slightly in H2 2026 but remained negative. At the time of writing, Bitcoin trades around $63.7K and could stay in a sideways structure until the September Fed decision. For traders, Saylor’s framework links BTC’s inflection thesis to macro catalysts and rotation of capital, with the 200-week MA acting as a technical “line in the sand” for potential trend change.

The U.S. National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) has sent a warning letter to Senate leaders, urging changes to the CLARITY Act’s AML exemptions ahead of a crucial vote. The NSA supports crypto regulation but says the current CLARITY Act AML exemptions could weaken anti-money-laundering enforcement in DeFi. In a 13-page memo, the NSA argues the bill would create broad exemptions from registration, KYC, AML, and sanctions compliance for some decentralized finance participants. It highlights provisions that could effectively cover mixers, tumblers, and cross-chain bridges, and also questions exemptions for DeFi trading protocols from key AML obligations such as registration and recordkeeping. As the Senate prepares for the floor vote, 60 votes are needed to overcome cloture. The bill reportedly has 51 “yes” votes, with an additional 7–10 Democrats expected. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed for action before the August 8 recess, while Senator Cynthia Lummis said negotiations are essentially closed—raising the odds of amendments rather than a clean pass. For crypto traders, the market angle is that the CLARITY Act could codify a “digital commodities” framework and help cement XRP’s commodity status, moving spot oversight toward the CFTC for sufficiently decentralized assets. But the NSA’s AML objections increase the probability of deal-making and near-term volatility as investors price in possible revisions to CLARITY Act AML exemptions.

Anza, a Solana-focused developer firm, announced the Quantumglow cryptographic proposal to upgrade Solana’s consensus and execution layer (Alpenglow). The goal is post-quantum security: supporting quantum-resistant signature schemes while keeping Solana’s high speed and transaction execution. Quantumglow is designed as a proactive response to future cyber-attacks that could exploit cryptographic weaknesses tied to ECDSA and Ed25519 keys as quantum computers advance. Anza says the upgrade would enable adoption of post-quantum signatures without delaying consensus performance. If deployed, validators, developers, institutions, exchanges and other ecosystem participants would need to adapt to new verification processes. Regulators that monitor digital-asset security may also view the move as evidence that Solana is preparing for evolving cryptographic standards. Quantumglow remains in the research phase, with no set release date. Further technical details are expected as Anza continues development. For traders, the near-term market impact is likely limited because there’s no rollout timeline, but long-term sentiment could improve if the upgrade reduces future security uncertainty around SOL’s cryptography.

The CLARITY Act is facing another critical weekend in Washington as regulatory momentum fades and passage odds slide. Prediction markets now price the bill’s chance of becoming law this year at about 31%-35%, down from ~70% earlier this year. Key sticking points remain unresolved in ongoing negotiations. Journalist Eleanor Terrett said the White House is considering an ethics counteroffer involving state attorney general authority. The proposal would center on whether state AGs can retain enforcement power for ethics provisions tied to federal officials. Bipartisan talks between Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (Arizona Democrat) continue. Sources cited by Terrett indicate the initial White House offer lacked approval from Tillis, Gallego, and other Democrats. Instead, lawmakers want state attorneys general to be able to sue the Department of Justice if it fails to enforce ethics laws against federal officials. Another concern is timing: the White House ethics provisions would stay in force through January 2029, with limited clarity on what follows. With the Senate set to begin its August recess next week, the bill has only a narrow window remaining. If no movement occurs before the break, attention may shift to the midterm elections. Bitcoin backers remain supportive. Michael Saylor said BTC will succeed with or without the CLARITY Act, but the U.S. “needs clarity for digital assets,” reinforcing the market’s focus on regulatory certainty alongside long-term adoption.

Tokenised real-world assets (RWA) reached a record $32.1B in July 2026, rising 11.5% month-on-month, according to CoinDesk Research. MiCA’s regulatory rollout is a key driver of this reshuffling across Europe’s stablecoin and tokenised finance markets. MiCA transitional rules ended on 1 July 2026, and EU exchanges completed the delisting of Tether’s USDT. The change reflected MiCA requirements for stablecoin issuers to hold compliant, liquid reserves and maintain backing via European banking channels—conditions Tether did not meet. As a result, the broader stablecoin market slipped 1.02% to $308B. Within compliant supply, MiCA-authorised electronic money tokens (EMTs) reached $77.7B, or 25.2% of the stablecoin market. Circle’s USDC made up 94.9% of that compliant segment. In July, Tether saw $5.8B in outflows and USDC lost $3.4B, while stablecoin dominance eased to 13.6% (from 14.7% in June). USDC remained pegged near $0.9998 and was still the largest MiCA-compliant stablecoin on regulated venues. RWA growth was led by tokenised US Treasuries at $19.2B (58.3% of the RWA total). Tokenised public equities rose to a record $2.26B (+50.3%), with on-chain tokenised equity volumes up 288% to $11.3B. Tokenised commodities totaled $5.63B (+5.8%), with gold at 95.5% of that category. Global Dollar’s USDG was highlighted as the clearest beneficiary of the post-USDT shift, with market cap up 14.2% to a record $3.26B for the 12th straight month. Traders should monitor liquidity migration toward MiCA-compliant issuers and potential volatility from USDT delisting effects.

Bitcoin appears to be forming a bear flag that is “80% complete” as price approaches the $62,383 support area. Traders are watching live levels around this zone for signs of either a breakdown (bearish continuation) or a bounce (support holding). Key focus for Bitcoin (BTC) is the $62,383 support reaction. A clean rejection and sustained move below support would increase downside odds, while stabilization above the level would suggest the flag is failing and could lead to a corrective bounce. Because bear flags often resolve with continuation, the next trading sessions are likely to be sensitive to intraday moves near this threshold. For traders, this is a timing and risk-management setup: manage exposure around the $62,383 pivot, confirm with follow-through, and avoid assuming direction before the market proves it. The article frames the move in terms of “live levels,” implying actionable monitoring of price behavior at the support region rather than a distant target.

Major banks are increasing exposure to XRP as exchange-held supply declines sharply. Intesa Sanpaolo disclosed via an SEC 13F that it owns 712,000 shares of the Grayscale XRP Trust, valued at about $18 million. The filing also shows nearly $235 million in crypto-related investments, with XRP making up roughly 6%–7% of its digital-asset allocation. Other financial firms including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Millennium, and Citadel have also reported XRP exposure through exchange-traded products, which are often favored for custody, compliance, and accounting simplicity. Exchange data highlights the supply squeeze. Glassnode reports XRP reserves across the top 10 exchanges have fallen from around 4 billion XRP to roughly 1.6–1.7 billion XRP. XRP withdrawals from exchanges reached a five-year high, suggesting investors are moving holdings to private wallets. ETF and derivatives signals add to the institutional narrative. U.S. spot XRP ETFs recorded nearly $6 million in net inflows on July 30, with Bitwise and Franklin Templeton leading. Total U.S. spot ETF assets are approaching $1 billion, with cumulative inflows around $1.5 billion. CME continues expanding XRP derivatives through futures and options. On the ecosystem side, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin is now available on South Korea’s four largest exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit), supporting broader market access. For XRP traders, the combination of lower exchange supply and higher institutional participation in XRP ETFs and derivatives typically supports a constructive market backdrop, though near-term price moves may still be volatile.

On-chain data highlighted another controversial Ethereum (ETH) trade by former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes. Lookonchain says Hayes deposited about 2,364.38 ETH into Cumberland and Galaxy Digital, receiving roughly 4.3M USDC. With ETH retreating from around $1,980 (multi-month peak) to about $1,821, the implied selling price caused an estimated loss of ~$241K (about -5.3%). Earlier, Hayes had accumulated 7,213 ETH at an average cost near $1,923 during ETH’s climb. After the price later slid under $1,700, he sold the position—creating another “buy high, sell low” outcome over just weeks. The article frames this as a repeat pattern: Hayes adds to ETH during strength, then cuts exposure as the market turns down, despite ETH’s rebound after the sell. For traders, the key takeaway is not a broad market signal, but a spotlight on large-wallet timing risk around ETH rallies and pullbacks. Monitor ETH support levels and liquidity around similar drawdowns, since trader psychology often shifts after prominent investors realize losses.

Ethereum (ETH) closed July 2026 up 20.3%, its strongest monthly performance in a year. The rebound helped ETH recover much of June’s 21.8% drop, restoring some confidence after a weak first half of 2026. A key support factor was spot ETF demand. Most trading days saw net inflows, and by month-end daily net inflows averaged $13.29M. Total assets held by Ethereum spot ETFs reached about $10.52B, even though a few sessions recorded sizable outflows before buyers returned. Despite the rally, ETH entered August still below recent highs. Price slipped under $1,900, and the RSI fell to 52.25, suggesting buying momentum is weak rather than fully bearish. Derivatives activity also cooled: aggregated open interest fell to around $11.46B from recent highs, while funding stayed slightly positive at 0.0024%—a small edge for longs. Traders are watching the next levels closely. The article’s key “hurdle” is reclaiming $1,900. Until ETH regains that level, the market is vulnerable to sideways trading or a deeper pullback, with $2,000 remains uncertain.