Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

A group of crypto companies and organizations, led by the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), has urged frontier AI labs to provide early access to their most capable models for Bitcoin developers and other open-source cybersecurity teams. The letter says many Bitcoin Core contributors lack access to advanced lab cyber programs and can be blocked by guardrails on public frontier systems, forcing them to rely on less capable open-weight models. Bitcoin developers need trusted, standing access programs because frontier AI can accelerate security research: models can search large codebases, spot weaknesses faster, and help both defenders and adversaries. The BPI also cites independent reports that sophisticated attackers, potentially including foreign adversaries, are already using advanced AI to sustain attacks. This comes as crypto hacking surged in April 2026, with attackers stealing over $634 million—its highest monthly total since the Bybit hack. Signatories named in the open letter include Anchorage Digital, BitGo, Bitwise, Blockstream, Bull Bitcoin, MARA, Kraken, Ledger, and Trezor, among others. The request focuses on protecting open-source financial infrastructure and reducing the risk of vulnerabilities that could endanger users’ funds. For traders, the message is mainly a medium-term security and ecosystem resilience signal for Bitcoin and related open-source infrastructure. The immediate market impact is likely limited, but heightened attention to AI-driven cyber risk could influence sentiment around BTC and crypto security plays.

The European Commission has launched a targeted consultation on whether its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules are still “fit for purpose”. Euronews cites a view from an EU diplomat that reopening MiCA is “unavoidable”, driven by positions from multiple EU institutions, including the ECB, as well as global regulatory and technology changes. A key revision area is how MiCA treats stablecoins issued or jointly issued outside the EU, especially where parts of issuance and reserves may sit beyond the EU regulatory perimeter. The article notes that the current MiCA framework has already pushed some issuers away from EU trading. Most notably, Tether’s USDT lost access to regulated EU exchange trading after the MiCA transition period ended on 1 July 2026. At the same time, US stablecoin momentum is strengthening. President Donald Trump backed dollar-denominated stablecoins, moved to block a US CBDC, and signed the GENIUS Act (with reported concerns including a yield-related restriction). Stablecoin payments have risen sharply, and US officials have forecast supply growth to $3T–$4T by 2030. The Commission’s consultation runs until 30 September. Traders should watch whether the MiCA review leads to a more permissive path for non-EU stablecoins like USDT, or instead tightens cross-border safeguards—either outcome can shift liquidity and exchange access in Europe.

Lazio are nearing an agreement with Inter Milan for the Davide Frattesi transfer. The reported deal is a loan arrangement with an obligation to buy, worth around €15 million in total. Inter paid roughly €35 million for Frattesi only last year, making this move a substantial markdown for the San Siro side. Lazio can’t immediately meet Inter’s preferred fee, so the clubs are structuring payments to spread the cost. The mandatory buy clause is expected to trigger after specific conditions—such as Frattesi’s appearances and possibly Lazio’s league finish—are met. Frattesi, 25, is a Lazio academy product who moved across Rome to Roma’s youth setup before establishing himself professionally at Sassuolo. He then joined Inter and, under Cristian Chivu, has reportedly been lower in the pecking order, with limited starts. The player has indicated he wants a move to protect playing time during his mid-twenties. Lazio have pursued the Frattesi transfer persistently. They reportedly submitted a bid of about €30 million in February, which Inter rejected. Now, Inter appear more willing to facilitate the move at roughly half that price, aligning with their shifting priorities. A key context point is Inter’s continued pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. With Frattesi’s exit potentially freeing squad space and improving financial flexibility, Inter could shift resources toward Jones right after concluding the Frattesi transfer. What to watch: the exact appearance/league-performance triggers in the mandatory buy clause, as these determine how quickly Lazio’s payment obligation becomes due.

Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has approved KRX exchange rule changes that tighten risk controls for leveraged and inverse ETF/ETN products. From Aug. 19, the dealer “tracking deviation” obligation (market price vs. NAV) will be reduced to 2% for domestic products (from 3%) and 5% for overseas products (from 6%). For retail investors making their first purchase of single-stock leveraged and inverse products, the new requirement adds a practical barrier: investors must complete a 5-trading-day, at least 5-hour simulation (training) in the KRX system. However, the simulation service opens on Aug. 19 and the certification is issued no earlier than Aug. 24, while broker account registration may take another 1–2 business days. In practice, this means new buyers may not be able to place orders quickly after Aug. 19. The market appears to have reacted even before implementation. Trading value in the single-stock leveraged and inverse complex fell sharply: from KRW 12.4 trillion on July 30 to KRW 7.0 trillion on Aug. 11 (about 5.6% of the late-July level). The article attributes part of the drop to higher initial cash margin and broader caution, with liquidity gradually withdrawing. For traders, this is a regulatory overhang for Korea’s leveraged ETF flow. Reduced deviation thresholds and the “time/experience” test may lower speculative demand, likely increasing short-term volatility around liquidity and flows while dampening leveraged product participation over the medium term.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a sharper decline in global oil inventories this quarter, even as demand is reduced due to the Iran conflict. In the IEA’s outlook (reported by Bloomberg Markets), global oil production is expected to fall short of earlier estimates. The supply risk is intensified by depleted emergency reserves and slower inventory replenishment. The news points to a persistent oil supply deficit, which may translate into tighter physical markets and potential crude oil price increases. For traders watching sentiment and volatility, the article also references prediction markets tied to new highs: the probability of crude reaching a new all-time high by September 30 is low (about 3.8% YES), while the chance by December 31 is higher (about 12.5% YES). Market pricing suggests participants expect catalysts such as geopolitical escalation and production adjustments by major producers. Key watch items include potential OPEC production changes, further developments around Iran, and any shifts in energy policy or unexpected demand swings. The next IEA report and updates to emergency reserve rules are flagged as key indicators for how quickly the oil supply deficit could worsen or ease.

Chelsea have signed left back Pep Chavarría from Rayo Vallecano for a total package worth €21 million. The deal is reported as €19 million fixed plus €2 million in performance-related add-ons. Chavarría is a 28-year-old, left-footed defender (born 10 April 1998). He joined Rayo Vallecano in August 2022 and made more than 105 La Liga appearances, with his contract running until 2030—helping Rayo secure a sizeable fee. The move comes after Chelsea sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid for around €60 million, creating a left-back vacancy. Chelsea negotiations for Pep Chavarría reportedly took over a month, and the structured add-ons give Rayo additional upside if Chavarría performs in the Premier League. This is Chelsea’s ninth summer signing under manager Xabi Alonso as the squad is reshaped for the new season.

Australia’s securities regulator ASIC has taken down several websites linked to the crypto exchange Yepbit after investors reported being unable to withdraw funds. ASIC said multiple consumers lodged complaints that money held on the Yepbit digital asset and futures trading platform could not be retrieved. ASIC also rejected Yepbit’s explanation. The platform allegedly told users that ASIC had frozen their funds during regulatory checks or audits. ASIC said it imposed no such freeze and added that these statements were false and used to deflect withdrawal and refund requests. Separately, ASIC found Yepbit lacks key local authorisations: it does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and is not registered with AUSTRAC as a virtual asset service provider (VASP). Under Australia’s framework, covered crypto businesses must register before operating, and AUSTRAC maintains a public VASP register for consumers to verify providers. ASIC placed Yepbit warnings on its Investor Alert List and cautioned investors to verify licensing via ASIC registers rather than relying on company details or claims made by the platform itself. For traders, this reinforces counterparty and jurisdiction risk: sharp enforcement actions can quickly disrupt user access, increase withdrawal uncertainty, and amplify scam-related sentiment around smaller exchanges—especially when “regulator freeze” narratives are used.

Crypto.com has launched tokenized derivatives that track 1,500 U.S. stocks and ETFs for eligible users, with 24/7 trading and a low $1 starting price. This is Crypto.com tokenized derivatives in a synthetic-exposure format: holders do not get legal ownership or shareholder voting rights, though dividend-equivalent adjustments may apply. The underlying assets are held in custody with Alpaca, a U.S.-regulated broker-dealer. Crypto.com says Alpaca supports over 90% of the tokenized U.S. stock and ETF market. The initial lineup includes AAPL, NVDA, TSLA, and gold/silver ETFs such as GLD and SLV. During an introductory period, Tokenized Stocks may be offered with zero commission, though FX-related fees or spreads can still apply. From a compliance standpoint, the instruments are issued by Foris Capital CY Limited, following Crypto.com’s May 2025 acquisition and MiFID licensing expansion in Europe. Trader takeaway: Crypto.com tokenized derivatives broaden RWA access using a crypto-style interface, but because these are derivatives (not true ownership tokens), risk and settlement mechanics may differ from fully backed, rights-bearing tokenization models.

Strategy CEO Phong Le says the firm will resume its buy Bitcoin activity by the end of 2026, after pausing in late June. While Strategy has shifted priorities toward rebuilding its USD reserve and investor confidence in STRC, it remains a major BTC buyer: it purchased about 175,000 BTC since the start of the year and sold roughly 7,000. That still implies ~25x net buying despite the temporary slowdown. Le also framed recent BTC sales as funding for preferred stock dividends, share buybacks, and additional USD reserve growth, which now exceeds $4.6B after the latest sale. The article notes STRC has rebounded from the $75 lows but is still below its $100 par value, closing Tuesday near $95. Traders should track whether the Strategy buy Bitcoin plan holds through Q4, since persistent net accumulation typically supports BTC sentiment. At the same time, Le’s admission that management has focused on pushing STRC back to par may affect risk appetite around Strategy-linked equities and could add volatility to broader crypto flows. Overall, Strategy buy Bitcoin guidance is a near-term catalyst, but execution risk remains tied to STRC management priorities.

Harmony is investigating an unauthorized mint on its Layer 1 blockchain. An attacker created at least 4B ONE tokens and moved about 2.8B ONE to exchanges. On-chain alerts suggest around 115M ONE may still be available for on-chain selling, while most supply appears already on exchanges or in deposit wallets. Harmony identified four suspected wallet addresses and asked exchanges to block and freeze funds tied to them. The protocol paused the LayerZero–Harmony bridge, and instructed validators to upgrade with a patch to prevent further minting. Harmony is working on fixes and possible rollback options, but has not disclosed the full root cause. Price action was immediate: ONE fell to near a new all-time low around $0.0005735 and had traded near ~$0.00117 earlier. The incident is also linked to renewed bridge/security concerns after a separate XRPL–Coreum bridge attack involving stolen XRP. For traders, the key watch items for ONE are exchange freeze execution (liquidity impact), whether additional supply details or a rollback are confirmed, and timing around bridge/validator patches—factors that can drive sharp short-term volatility.

Austria’s tax rules may allow a Bitcoin tax loss to offset dividend income. In principle, the Austrian Ministry of Finance says cryptocurrency gains and losses can be offset against certain other investment income, including dividends and realized share gains. Both taxable dividends and realized crypto income are generally taxed at the 27.5% special rate. Key trading/tax mechanics for Bitcoin tax loss offset in Austria: - The Bitcoin loss must be realized for tax purposes (e.g., via a sale). A “paper loss” while coins remain in a wallet is not enough. - Cross-provider offsetting is not automatic. Banks and Austrian crypto service providers do not automatically net Bitcoin tax loss against dividends. The investor typically must claim it via the annual income tax assessment. - Timing matters: the Bitcoin tax loss offset works within the same calendar year. Losses are not generally carried forward for private capital losses. - Not all income types qualify: Bitcoin tax losses cannot offset savings account interest (deposit interest) or salary. Example given in the article: - Dividends: €5,000 - Realized Bitcoin loss: €3,000 - Result: remaining positive investment income becomes €2,000 (then taxed at 27.5% if applicable). From the 2025 tax year, withholding entities (including banks and certain crypto platforms) must provide standardized tax reporting upon request. This documentation can support claims for the Bitcoin tax loss offset when it was not applied automatically. Related note: the article also states the reverse may apply—Bitcoin gains may be reduced by eligible losses on shares, but again not automatically across providers.

Bitcoin is trading around $63,600 as Japan’s corporate holder Metaplanet moves 3,881 BTC between wallets it controls. According to Arkham blockchain data, the transfer—about $247 million—was routed from Metaplanet’s cold wallets to new addresses under its own custody. Because the move did not go to an exchange, it is not treated as a sell. Transfers to fresh self-custody wallets generally do not increase “tradable supply,” unlike exchange deposits. Metaplanet has done similar reshuffling before. In March it moved nearly 5,000 BTC with follow-up transactions interpreted as internal custody management. The Wednesday on-chain pattern appears consistent with that prior approach. Despite the internal transfer, Bitcoin’s price leaves Metaplanet nursing large unrealized losses. The company reportedly bought roughly 43,000 BTC at an average around $96,000, implying an unrealized paper loss of about $1.4 billion (down ~34% from those levels). Metaplanet has also been one of the more aggressive corporate buyers since April 2024, with a stated target of 210,000 BTC. For traders, today’s focus remains on how corporate Bitcoin flows are interpreted: internal wallet moves can look “active” on-chain but may not signal distribution, while macro catalysts can still drive volatility.

A fake crypto startup was used to infiltrate suspected North Korean IT workers and map how they operate. In June, researchers had a reporter join a Zoom call posing as “Aelin Ashriver,” an investor from the fictitious “Definitive Communications,” to recruit developers for the fake project “Ballena Azul.” The goal of the fake crypto startup was to observe working methods, infrastructure, and data the operatives left behind. Researchers (Mauro Eldritch of BCA LTD and Heiner García of Telefónica Tech and founder of NorthScane) say the workers spent about five weeks in controlled virtual desktops. The operation revealed high-value external servers used as intermediary points and linked to prior North Korea-linked malware activity, including InvisibleFerret and BeaverTail/OtterCookie. The researchers also found “new-looking” infrastructure that avoided mainstream blocklists, suggesting the threat actor can rotate resources. The fake crypto startup also showed tradecraft: suspected workers could compromise organizations for internal access and sensitive data without deploying malware. They relied heavily on AI tools such as ChatGPT for coding and basic tasks, and Google Gemini for image alteration and document forgery. They also used remote desktop software, crypto wallets, and services for two-factor authentication (2FA) code sharing. The wider context is rising financial impact from North Korean IT worker schemes, including claims of nearly $800 million generated in 2024 to fund Pyongyang’s weapons programs and recent US charges alleging $900,000+ in crypto theft. While this is not a protocol or token event, the fake crypto startup underscores ongoing credential/phishing and wallet-targeting risks that can affect exchange and institutional risk management in the short term.

On Aug. 12, 2026, on-chain tracker Lookonchain reported that Metaplanet moved 3,881 BTC (about $247.3M) from wallets it links to the company. The transfer occurred while Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $63,600. Metaplanet previously disclosed 43,000 BTC holdings (as of July) and has not publicly announced a BTC sale. Lookonchain estimates Metaplanet’s average acquisition cost at about $96,191 per BTC, implying a mark-to-market “paper loss” of roughly $1.4B (about -34%). The moved 3,881 BTC equals around 9% of the last disclosed 43,000 BTC treasury. Importantly, Metaplanet moves 3,881 BTC do not automatically prove a sale. The company could be transferring coins between custodians, cold wallets, trading accounts, or using them as collateral—especially since Metaplanet has discussed or pursued Bitcoin-backed financing and other treasury-related structures. The article notes that wallet destination matters before traders treat any outflow as disposal. A related data point: Lookonchain also reported Hut 8 transferring 493 BTC (about $31M) during the same window, without an identified disposal announcement. What traders watch next: whether Metaplanet updates its disclosed BTC balance, and whether the transferred BTC ends up in addresses attributed to exchanges. Until a disclosure or stronger on-chain evidence confirms disposal, the most verifiable event is Metaplanet moves 3,881 BTC while BTC remains well below the estimated cost basis.

Bitwise Asset Management has cut 14% of its workforce, shrinking its global team to about 155 employees, citing the prolonged crypto market downturn. CEO Hunter Horsley said the layoffs were completed last week and position the firm for continued growth as crypto integrates further into the global economy. The move comes as Bitwise’s flagship index product, the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (BITW), saw net assets fall 31% during the first seven months of 2026. BITW tracks a basket of major cryptocurrencies, so the decline reflects broader pressure on crypto-linked investment products. Despite the job cuts, Bitwise continues product expansion. In May, its Hyperliquid exchange-traded fund recorded around $19 million in inflows in a single day, with roughly $22 million in trading volume. Horsley also noted that Bitwise’s XRP exchange-traded products in the US and Europe collected more than $200 million in inflows since the start of 2026. Bitwise also referenced an acquisition trend: in February, it completed the purchase of institutional staking provider Chorus One to expand staking services. On market outlook, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan said Bitcoin may already have bottomed, pointing to Bitcoin’s ability to hold up amid negative headlines such as delays around the CLARITY Act and Strategy-related BTC sales. He also suggested large wealth management platforms could act as a “quiet catalyst” for the next bull market. Overall, this is a cost-efficiency response to a weak tape, but it’s paired with ongoing ETF/flow activity and a cautious bullish framing for BTC.

The U.S. Treasury’s quarterly refinancing statement reportedly shifted wording from “future potential increase” to “future potential adjustment,” and traders interpreted it as a possible reduction in 20-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury auction supply. The change matters because Treasury Secretary Bessent closely watches the 10-year yield as a key “temperature gauge.” If US Treasury long-dated bond auctions are actually scaled back, the new issuance burden may move toward shorter tenors (2-year to 10-year), keeping total debt funding needs similar but altering the yield curve’s shape. The article notes U.S. public debt has nearly doubled since 2018 (about $15T to near $31T), and the Treasury has leaned heavily on short-dated bills—an approach traders view as reaching its limits. Market commentary is split. TD Securities expects potential relief in long-end pressure and suggests a window around May, when the Treasury could cut 20y/30y auction sizes and redirect demand to the 2y–10y segment. However, Deutsche Bank and CIBC argue the “adjustment” language is more about market management than real supply reduction. If the Treasury replaces long debt with more short bills, the short end could still rise, leaving overall pressure unresolved. Crypto relevance: if US Treasury long-dated bond auctions effectively reduce long-end yields, the resulting liquidity backdrop could be supportive for risk assets such as Bitcoin, echoing 2023’s episode when the Treasury slowed long-bond issuance and yields fell while crypto recovered.

US President Donald Trump said the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran rise. The claim signals a tougher US posture over maritime control at the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint where both sides have increased military presence. Traders are watching how this affects expectations for a US-Iran agreement to restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Market-based pricing suggests odds are fading: the probability of an agreement by August 15 fell to 8.5% from 68% a week ago. For an August 31 deal, pricing implies a 23.5% “YES” probability. Key watch points include further statements from the White House and Iran’s Foreign Ministry, plus any reported negotiations or renewed conflict. Separately, shipping data and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could confirm whether risks to energy flows are rising or easing.

Ravencoin (RVN) slid to a record low around $0.002754 after a exploited consensus flaw put several days of transactions at risk. RVN was down about 22% from its 24-hour high near $0.003529. Sell volume briefly exceeded ~$18M before easing to around ~$9.6M, and RVN later bounced modestly to about $0.00284. Ravencoin said vulnerable nodes accepted invalid blocks. The first known invalid block was traced to height 4,487,776 (Aug. 7). Transactions confirmed after block 4,487,775 could be removed from the accepted chain. Mining pools 2Miners and RavenMiner began building a competing chain that excludes the invalid-block branch from block 4,487,776. As they control a majority of the network hash rate, Ravencoin expects a reorganization covering roughly three days if their chain becomes dominant. To reduce settlement risk, Upbit and Bitget suspended RVN deposits and withdrawals while trading stayed open. This aims to prevent users from seeing temporary credited deposits that may disappear after the chain reorg. Traders should treat the RVN move as driven by technical risk and exchange settlement controls, not fundamentals, and watch for confirmation that the competing chain becomes dominant.

Erebor Bank is nearing a roughly $1.5 billion funding round at an $8 billion pre-money valuation, with an implied valuation around $9.5 billion if fully raised. Erebor Bank is a regulated U.S. digital bank focused on crypto-linked services, payments and crypto-backed lending. Regulatory filings show deposits of $4.06 billion as of June 30, reportedly rising to about $4.6 billion by end-July. The bank added nearly 400 customers in the prior stretch and had earlier led a $200 million credit facility with Valar Atomics, with JPMorgan and other lenders participating. Erebor Bank received national bank approval roughly six months after its charter approval began and is expanding to serve the “U.S. innovation economy,” including companies tied to digital assets, AI, defense and advanced manufacturing. A key constraint is FDIC capital discipline: for its first three years, Erebor must maintain at least a 12% Tier 1 leverage ratio, making new equity important as it moves beyond deposit gathering into lending. Erebor has not confirmed final terms or investor commitments, so traders should watch timing once funding is finalized. The follow-through could signal continued institutional appetite for regulated crypto banking, but the lack of confirmed deal details keeps near-term market impact cautious.

Bitcoin price held near $63,700 on Aug. 12 as traders positioned for the July U.S. CPI release. BTC traded in a tight $63,200–$64,414 range and was about -0.6% over 24 hours, after a failed attempt to break above $65,000. DOGE led the majors, up about 2.9% to just over $0.07, while BNB gained more than 2% to around $614. ETH added roughly 1% near $1,888, XRP edged higher to $1.02, and SOL was largely flat around $76. Hyperliquid fell about 1.6%, and ADA was weaker. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF flows turned barely positive: $7.8M net inflows on Tuesday, following a $144.6M net outflow on Monday. BlackRock’s IBIT saw $50.2M inflows, with some offsetting withdrawals across other products. Market commentary suggested ETF demand remains supportive but needs follow-through. Macro focus is CPI at 8:30 a.m. ET, where economists expect 0.1% monthly inflation and 3.4% year-over-year. Oil (Brent near $89.6) is keeping inflation risk elevated. A cooler CPI could ease rate-tightening fears; a hotter print could revive volatility. Key trading levels remain the $64K area and the resistance zone above $65,000, with altcoin relative strength signaling selective risk appetite rather than broad momentum.

Ripple has renewed support for New York University Abu Dhabi’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) through 2027, extending an existing six-year grant. NYU Abu Dhabi says the renewed funding will back expanded “Volta” work, fintech education, venture development, and research using the XRP Ledger. Key details: Volta is a serverless mobile application that uses blockchain infrastructure to support trade among smallholder farmers in Ghana, and the next phase will expand to more regions. Ripple previously said total funding for the NYU Abu Dhabi partnership exceeded $1 million in 2024, but the university did not disclose the size of the latest tranche. UBRI is a global Ripple program launched in 2018, covering 60+ university partners across 27 countries with 1,500 research projects. NYU Abu Dhabi’s renewed work is led by professors Raša Karapandža and Yaw Nyarko (Center for Technology, Economics and Development). This extension comes as Ripple increases its UAE presence, where it has expanded regulated offerings and its RLUSD stablecoin has received Abu Dhabi recognition as an Accepted Fiat Referenced Token within Abu Dhabi Global Market. No new token launch, regulatory approval, or market product was announced alongside the NYU Abu Dhabi renewal.

A “fake deposit” exploit drained nearly 200,000 XRP from a bridge connecting the XRP Ledger and Coreum (rebranded as tx) on Aug 9. The attacker tricked the bridge’s deposit-checking logic into treating a wallet-to-wallet transfer as a real deposit. The bridge was halted after the incident. Coreum-side software was identified as the root cause: the attacker sent the bridge’s own wrapped token between their wallets and attached a bridge-deposit memo. Because the token is issued by the bridge, relayers accepted the transaction and minted unbacked assets on the Coreum side, allowing withdrawals of real XRP on the XRPL. Investigations put the stolen amount at about 198,715.88 XRP. On-chain flow reported in the article: XRP was converted to ETH, routed through THORChain, and finally sent to Tornado Cash. The tx team said a vulnerability was identified, and it filed a report with the FBI’s IC3. No other bridged assets were affected, and compensation plans are under discussion. Traders first raised alarms after seeing a bridge-controlled XRPL account’s balance drop rapidly. Later analysis showed 21 separate Coreum relayers attested to the same “phantom deposit,” including valid multisig signatures on payouts, which helped confirm the “fake deposit” mechanism. Market context: XRP was already under pressure, trading near ~$1.02 (around a 21-month low), down roughly 4.4% on the week as BTC fell toward ~$64,000 and broader crypto prices weakened.

FC Porto is still negotiating with AS Roma for a potential transfer of 19-year-old midfielder Rodrigo Mora, but Porto will not approve the move until the contract’s buy obligation terms are upgraded. The key dispute is structure and certainty, not only the fee level. Roma’s proposals focus on a loan-with-buy-option model, with a loan fee estimated at €5M–€8M and a purchase option valued around €42M–€45M. Porto pushes for a total valuation closer to €50M and wants a more binding “buy obligation” rather than an “option.” In practical terms, a buy option gives Roma the right but not the requirement to purchase after the loan. A buy obligation means Roma commits to the permanent purchase once agreed conditions are met, typically linked to performance or appearances. Porto wants those triggers to be as automatic as possible. One floated deal would split the ~€50M valuation into two €25M installments: one paid this summer and another next summer. Porto also insists on a 50% sell-on clause, so they benefit if Mora is later transferred to a larger club. Both sides reportedly place Mora’s value in the €45M–€50M range, but they disagree on when and under what conditions Roma must pay. What to watch: the 50% sell-on clause may act as the “pressure valve” to unlock agreement on the buy obligation terms. Roma is also reportedly motivated by coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s interest in adding Mora for the 2026–27 season, with Mora’s profile boosted by senior appearances, including in the Europa League.

Dogecoin led major coins higher, gaining almost 3% to just above $0.07 and lifting its weekly gain to nearly 3%. BNB followed with a ~2% rise to $614. Other movers were mixed: TRON added ~1% to just under $0.34, XRP rose slightly above $1 but remains down ~5% on the week (worst among the majors). Solana edged up to about $76 (+~3% on the week) and ether gained to around $1,890. Hyperliquid’s HYPE was the only other major down, falling ~1% on the day and ~3% on the week. Bitcoin slipped near $63,700 and was the only large token lower both on the day and the week. Traders are now focused on Thursday’s U.S. CPI print and Middle East tensions, with the possibility that cooler inflation could support expectations for Fed cuts and a risk-asset relief rally—especially if oil’s upward pressure doesn’t worsen the inflation outlook. On the macro side, Asian equities rallied on strong semiconductor earnings. Korea’s Kospi jumped 4.6%, helped by Samsung and SK Hynix, and Nasdaq 100 futures were lifted by after-hours gains in CoreWeave (+16%) and Super Micro Computer (+~8%) on stronger sales/revenue forecasts. For crypto traders, today’s read is clear: Dogecoin strength contrasts with Bitcoin’s relative softness, while the next catalyst is U.S. CPI, which could quickly change liquidity expectations across majors.

Harmony’s ONE token fell about 26% in Asian trading after an apparent exploit minted roughly 4 billion new ONE, lifting circulating supply by more than a quarter. Harmony confirmed the incident and said it is working with exchanges to freeze funds. The team also indicated it is preparing a software fix and “rollback options.” A rollback would mean reverting the chain to a pre-exploit state, potentially removing post-exploit transactions. Traders should note the trade-off: while rollback can reduce the attacker’s ability to keep newly created ONE, it can also undo legitimate activity, and it can become harder once funds move to exchanges or other systems. The reported damage is creation of ONE on Harmony itself, not a bridge theft. The incident follows prior Harmony security problems, including: - Dec 2023: a staking bug that minted about 146.3 million ONE; some funds later moved to an exchange. - 2022: the $100 million Horizon bridge hack attributed by the FBI to Lazarus. Harmony has not yet detailed the vulnerability, how the ~4 billion figure was calculated, or how far back a rollback might go. The situation remains developing and could drive heightened volatility in ONE and broader DeFi sentiment.

Bitcoin and ether traders are preparing for Wednesday’s U.S. CPI print, a potential catalyst that could end BTC’s weeks-long range of about $62,000–$66,000. A hotter CPI would support a September Fed rate hike, push Treasury yields higher, and pressure risk assets. A cooler CPI would likely do the opposite. On Deribit, some traders are seeking upside with call options. Laevitas reported dominant flow concentrated in the 25SEP26 70k BTC call. Those who bought the $70,000 strike call reportedly paid about $2.5M in premium, limiting maximum loss to the premium if BTC stays below $70,000 by end-September. The bullish demand suggests at least part of the market is positioning for CPI to surprise softer and lift risk. Other desks are leaning toward volatility expansion rather than direction. TDX Strategies recommended accumulating December optionality and specifically favors December BTC and SOL strangles (buying a call and a put with the same expiry). These positions profit if BTC makes a large move in either direction, with maximum loss capped at the combined premium. Market makers also expect faster volatility after a decisive spot break. STS Digital’s Jeff Anderson said a clear level break should expand volatility quickly, with CPI serving as the first key signal after an inflation-focused press event. On-chain data is cautiously constructive: Nansen noted major coins leaving exchanges (ETH exchange net outflows of $49.7M in one day and $164.6M over one week), implying accumulation. However, the derivatives picture is more guarded, with Hyperliquid showing net short exposure of $46.8M BTC and $20.9M ETH. Consensus forecasts: headline CPI +0.1% m/m and +3.4% y/y; core CPI +0.2% m/m and +2.5% y/y. Traders are also mindful that September is historically BTC’s weakest month, averaging about a 4% decline since 2013.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) invoked emergency authority to order prediction market platform **Kalshi** to keep operating as a New York lawsuit escalates. The CFTC said New York’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) would create a “market emergency,” and directed **Kalshi** to continue offering event contracts under its normal practices and the Commodity Exchange Act’s Core Principles. New York is seeking a TRO to stop **Kalshi** from selling event contracts tied to sports, culture, elections, and other events “in or from” New York or to New York residents. The state alleges **Kalshi** runs an illegal, unlicensed gambling business and asks for restitution, disgorgement, penalties (including a penalty up to three times alleged gains and $100,000 per unauthorized sports wagering offer/attempt), and claims compensatory losses of at least $36 billion. Kalshi argues states cannot shut down a federally licensed exchange, while the CFTC argues it has exclusive jurisdiction under the Commodity Exchange Act for certain transactions (treating event contracts as swaps). A prior court filing also matters: on July 7, a federal judge denied Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction, finding insufficient evidence at that stage that the federal law preempts New York gambling enforcement against Kalshi’s sports-event contracts. The latest CFTC emergency order does not resolve the core legal dispute over federal preemption; it only maintains market continuity while litigation proceeds. Separately, the CFTC said it has sued eight other states to defend its jurisdiction view, and an appeal by Kalshi is pending in the Second Circuit.

Boston Fed President Susan Collins said she would support a September rate hike if inflation remains elevated, according to the Financial Times. The Fed held rates steady in July in a 3.50%–3.75% target range, but inflation is still above the 2% goal. Her comments point to a potentially more hawkish policy path, with the September rate hike scenario gaining traction if inflation fails to cool. Market pricing also suggests a lower probability of near-term rate cuts from July through October 2026. Key watch items for traders are upcoming inflation releases, especially the PCE price index. Investors will also monitor Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s remarks and the September FOMC Dot Plot for changes in expectations. If core CPI or core PCE continues rising and stays above 3.0%, it could further support the September rate hike case. Conversely, moderation in inflation data could reduce hawkish odds. Overall, the market focus is shifting toward whether incoming inflation prints reinforce a September rate hike rather than a cut cycle.

MoneyGram Ramps launched on Solana (Aug. 11), adding a unified crypto-to-cash on/off-ramp via a single API for Solana wallets, exchanges, and developers. The integration is embedded in Solana’s Developer Platform payments module, linking onchain flows to MoneyGram’s physical cash network. MoneyGram Ramps now supports cash withdrawals in 170+ countries and territories. Cash deposits are available in 25+ countries through one developer API, reducing the need for separate banking integrations. Rift was the first Solana wallet to integrate MoneyGram Ramps for both crypto and local-currency cash flows. In the U.S., MoneyGram Payments System is a FinCEN-registered money services business authorized across all 50 states plus D.C., but current availability is limited on MoneyGram’s product page (not available in Alaska, Louisiana, Hawaii, and New York). MoneyGram says it includes identity checks, compliance, and real-time stablecoin settlement within the integration. For traders, MoneyGram Ramps on Solana can improve stablecoin distribution and “cash-out” liquidity for USDC on SOL-linked rails. The near-term price impact on SOL is likely modest, but continued on/off-ramp expansion can support steadier stablecoin usage and on-chain activity over time.