Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

A critical cybersecurity incident targeting ad-tech provider Adform has exposed crypto users to a browser-side supply-chain attack that performs wallet-swapping. Attackers injected malicious code into a shared Adform script/library used across many customer sites. When users try to transfer cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), or TRON (TRX), the script silently replaces the intended destination address in copied text or form fields with an attacker-controlled address. The altered strings are heavily obfuscated using a six-byte XOR key, and early scans reportedly showed zero detections on common tools like VirusTotal. Adform removed the malicious code and notified clients, but security firms warn that cached copies can persist in users’ browsers. Recommended mitigations include clearing browser caches/storage, manually double-checking destination hash/addresses before confirming any on-chain transaction, and using stricter Content Security Policies (CSP) to limit unauthorized third-party script execution. For traders, this wallet-swapping supply-chain event raises operational risk rather than changing protocol fundamentals. It can trigger short-term sentiment swings and momentary liquidity/volume distortions if exchanges, custodians, or user communities report incidents. Over the longer term, repeated frontend compromise cases may push more security scrutiny onto web integrations, potentially influencing risk premiums for crypto services reliant on third-party scripts and analytics.

Bitget has upgraded its Bitcoin-backed token BGBTC with daily rewards denominated in BTC, aiming to let holders earn yield without selling their Bitcoin exposure. Bitget says BGBTC stays pegged 1:1 to Bitcoin (BTC) and will support faster, large-volume redemptions at scale. The upgrade adds Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) as the “canonical” cross-chain messaging and transfer layer, enabling BGBTC distribution across multiple blockchain networks and potential access to off-exchange DeFi services. Bitget also states it uses Chainlink Proof of Reserve to help verify collateral behind BGBTC. For yield-risk supervision, Bitget appointed Gauntlet to independently oversee the strategies that generate the BGBTC rewards. Gauntlet’s role focuses on monitoring the underlying portfolio and assessing risks, with Bitget emphasizing long-term sustainability rather than unmanaged strategies. Bitget did not disclose a fixed annual yield or full deployment timeline, and reward levels may vary with market and strategy performance. Trading and risk angle: BGBTC packages BTC exposure plus BTC-denominated income into one token, which may increase demand from users seeking yield and collateral use inside the Bitget ecosystem (e.g., margin, loans, Launchpool, PoolX). However, traders should weigh additional platform/custody/smart-contract and yield-strategy risks versus holding BTC directly, and confirm jurisdictional availability for US users.

The Bank of Italy reports that stablecoins are not automatically cheaper for cross-border remittances once end-to-end costs are included. In a “mystery shopping” test of 200 USDC transfers from Italy across 10 corridors (including Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, the UAE, and Japan), total fees ranged from ~0.3% to nearly 9% depending on the route and providers. On-chain blockchain gas fees were minimal. Most costs came from the “last mile” around the on-chain leg: EUR→USDC conversions, off-ramp withdrawals back to local fiat, FX spreads, exchange charges, and local banking rails. Settlement time also varied sharply: ~20 minutes when instant domestic payment options supported withdrawals, versus 1–2 business days when recipients relied on traditional bank transfers. For traders, the key takeaway is to challenge the “always cheaper” stablecoin remittance narrative. Cost advantages appear corridor- and rails-dependent, while stablecoins still offer faster and programmable settlement—especially when both parties can remain within crypto flows. Looking ahead, improved domestic instant payment infrastructure and more competitive/regulated off-ramps under frameworks like MiCA may help reduce friction, though FX spreads are likely to remain a structural cross-border cost.

Federal Election Commission filings show crypto-backed PACs spent about $2 million on Michigan’s 13th Congressional District primary, up from roughly half that amount the prior week. Protect Progress, a Fairshake affiliate, increased weekly spending by about $884,240. The ads back incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar and also run more than $150,000 in negative advertising against challenger Donavan McKinney. The filings connect the effort to the crypto sector, including funding links to Ripple and Coinbase, reinforcing the growing “fiscal impact” of tech firms on US elections. McKinney criticized the surge as “payback” from the crypto lobby, alleging Thanedar supports Donald Trump’s pro-crypto agenda. He referenced Trump’s 2025 disclosures tied to crypto exposure, including assets associated with the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin and World Liberty Financial. Beyond Michigan, Fairshake-linked groups are expanding political ad spend in other races, including Washington’s 4th District and Alabama’s 1st District. For crypto traders, this signals sustained political pressure aimed at regulatory outcomes (e.g., stablecoin and market-structure expectations). In the short term, election-year ad headlines can add volatility risk, even if the longer-term path points toward “regulatory clarity” sentiment.

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) is pausing Bitcoin purchases while rebuilding cash. After a recent earnings call, CEO Phong Le said the firm may sell up to $5B in Bitcoin—far above the previously cited $1.25B. Key details matter for Bitcoin traders: the company has gone five straight weeks without buying BTC, its longest acquisition pause in years. Instead of adding more Bitcoin to its treasury, Strategy increased its USD position via fundraising and preferred-stock activity. Le framed the Bitcoin sell-down as funding priorities: raising its USD reserve to $1.25B, supporting dividend and interest payments of about $1.76B per year, and enabling up to $2B in common and preferred share repurchases. He also stated a corporate objective for STRC to trade around $99–$100. Analyst reactions were sharp. Critics (including Peter Schiff) argued the approach harms common shareholders. Others (like CryptoKaleo) claimed the business has shifted from a “BTC company” toward a leveraged credit/finance model and questioned the deterioration in credit quality. The immediate trading implication is sentiment: a credible pathway for large-scale Bitcoin selling can pressure BTC volatility and sentiment, even if Strategy positions the move as tactical rather than a full exit.

A Coldcard Bitcoin wallet exploit reportedly grew to about 1,082.65 BTC (around $70.2M) stolen from 1,196 addresses within 41 minutes on July 30. Binance founder CZ Zhao said even established hardware wallets can have bugs, stressing “Nothing is 100%” and urging traders and holders to avoid single-custody assumptions. New details trace the issue to a March 2021 firmware build error. A seed-generation fallback pulled randomness from a software path instead of Coldcard’s hardware RNG, making private keys easier to guess. Loss estimates were previously near 594 BTC, but Galaxy Research later revised the scope upward using a fund-flow pattern identified by Block engineers. Galaxy Research also reported consistent sweep behavior (fixed fee, no change outputs). Coinkite shipped emergency hotfixes and advised exposed users to migrate to newly generated seeds. For markets, this Coldcard Bitcoin wallet exploit reinforces “custody and key hygiene” risk pricing, which can weigh on short-term sentiment around BTC despite limited direct protocol impact.

Cardano (ADA) has completed the van Rossem intra-era hard fork to Protocol Version 11. The update improves Plutus performance, strengthens ledger consistency, and enhances node security. Intersect says the network is now shifting focus to the upcoming Dijkstra era. The Dijkstra era will bring key protocol upgrades, including Ouroboros Leios, Nested Transactions, Linear Leios, and Peras. The Haskell node team targets mainnet delivery of the first stages—Nested Transactions and Linear Leios—by the end of 2026 on a phased rollout. This approach is designed to unlock functionality gradually while maintaining network stability. On governance, voting has started on constitutional-related changes. The Constitutional Amendment Portal is in alpha, enabling on-chain participation in potential amendments. Intersect also highlighted the process for future committee elections and scope-setting for upgrades beyond Dijkstra. Hard fork naming is also live. After a prior working group decision, the next hard fork after Dijkstra is proposed to be named Alexander Esgen. An alternative proposal to name it Fabian von Bergen has been submitted via an on-chain Info action, and community feedback is open. For traders, the news is a technical and governance milestone for Cardano’s development cycle. It may support longer-term sentiment around ADA’s roadmap, while near-term price impact is likely limited unless broader market risk appetite changes.

A 2026 review compares leading sportsbooks using four trader-relevant factors: sports/competitions covered, market count per event, live betting strength, and overall breadth of betting opportunities. The piece argues that sportsbooks are not better just because they advertise many events; what matters for bettors is market depth (more bet types per match) and how fast odds update. Sportsbooks ranked include bet365 (global coverage; strong live betting and 300+ markets on major football matches), DraftKings (player props; strong U.S. and Same Game Parlays), FanDuel (clean UI; very high market depth; strong mobile live betting), Cloudbet (crypto-first; 30+ sports; deep esports like CS2, Dota 2, LoL, Valorant; high limits; fast live), Stake (crypto ecosystem; alternative/niche markets and 10+ esports disciplines), Dexsport (Web3-first with fast crypto settlement; no mandatory KYC; streaming, Cash Out; anonymous-focused), BetMGM (regulated U.S. focus; deep markets on major leagues; player props and live), and Thunderpick (esports specialist; very high esports market depth). Crypto angle: the review highlights “crypto sportsbooks” as more competitive by pairing extensive market coverage with crypto payments, high-volume live markets, and features like Cash Out and same-game parlays. It concludes bet365 leads overall market count, DraftKings/FanDuel lead U.S. player props, while Cloudbet and Stake lead among crypto-native operators; Dexsport stands out for privacy-first Web3 access. For traders, this is more about platform liquidity of markets (bet types + live responsiveness) than on-chain price drivers, so it is best treated as neutral context for sentiment rather than a direct catalyst.

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) has gone live with version 3.2.1, a security and stability upgrade created after an unusual validator manifest flood on July 31. The incident did not break consensus or transaction integrity, but it did waste node memory, storage, and bandwidth by allowing an unlimited number of manifests tied to unknown validator keys. XRP Ledger 3.2.1 adds four safeguards: it rejects oversized manifests, limits incoming manifest batches, caps manifests shared during peer connections, and restricts the cache to 100 unknown validator keys. It also stops writing unknown manifests to disk. Node operators are advised to upgrade, run the server for 1–2 minutes, then restart a second time to fully clear any previously stored unknown manifests. The release lands as network usage reaches new highs. In 2026’s first half, XRPL added 489,739 accounts, rising from 7.91M to 8.40M before passing 8.42M in July. Notably, this growth came even as XRP’s price fell about 41%, while fundamentals strengthened: exchange-held XRP hit a seven-year low and spot XRP ETFs recorded about $1.49B in cumulative inflows. Ripple is also expanding its product and ecosystem: Ripple Mint lets enterprises issue and manage RLUSD, and Aviva selected the XRPL for a tokenized liquidity fund. Tokenized shares of companies including Tesla, NVIDIA, and SpaceX are reportedly being developed on XRPL, while XRP and RLUSD are used for AI agent payments. Overall, XRP Ledger 3.2.1 addresses an operational abuse vector and coincides with accelerating adoption—key signals traders may watch for sentiment and liquidity.

The U.S. SEC has paused Nasdaq PHLX’s approval of cash-settled bitcoin index options (QBTC) and will reconsider its decision after a legal challenge from CME Group. In May, the SEC granted conditional approval for Nasdaq to list QBTC. However, the product still required Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) exemptions before trading could begin. CME challenged the approval in June, arguing bitcoin is a commodity, so options tied directly to its value should fall under CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction rather than the SEC’s. CME warned that if the SEC can’t approve QBTC under its authority, Nasdaq would likely need to redesign the contracts (e.g., tracking a security such as a spot bitcoin ETF) or register as a CFTC-regulated venue. CME also noted it already runs regulated bitcoin futures and options markets, raising competitive concerns if QBTC proceeds without aligning with CFTC rules. The SEC’s order keeps the approval frozen while the full commission reviews the dispute. Interested parties can submit comments until Aug. 24. The SEC’s May approval contemplated CFTC exemptions, but CME argued exemptions can’t be used to shift a product from one regulator to another. For traders, this is a near-term process risk: QBTC is suspended, and any delay or redesign could affect expected derivatives liquidity and hedging demand in regulated U.S. bitcoin options.

Bitcoin mining difficulty has fallen to 126.23T, down about 14% from this year’s peak near 155.97T. Difficulty adjusts every 2,016 blocks (~two weeks), and this marks only the second year-over-year decline since the network’s start. The latest Bitcoin mining difficulty drop comes as weak mining economics pressure operators: lower BTC prices compress mining revenue (hashprice), leading to machine cutbacks and capacity exits. The article also cites shifting capital and labor toward AI and high-performance computing, along with curtailments in Texas and other regional disruptions. For traders, the key risk is that Bitcoin mining difficulty weakness may persist while miner revenue stress remains elevated. Hashprice fell to about $27.66 per PH/day in late June (near the February low) before rebounding to around $31.7, while Luxor’s forward pricing averages roughly $31.85 into December—only modestly above spot. Net takeaway: reduced competition among remaining miners looks more likely than a fast return to strong profitability. Watch whether falling Bitcoin mining difficulty and revenue stress translate into supply/sentiment effects into Q4 if revenue recovery stays limited.

South Korea crypto exchanges are “switching to survival mode” as the crypto winter deepens and trading volume collapses. Combined first-half turnover at Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit and Gopax fell 54.6% YoY to about $366.58B, with total volume around 17.3T won and daily turnover averaging 597.8B won—only ~1.59% of the KOSPI’s daily average (down sharply from earlier in the year). Liquidity is concentrating at the largest venues. Upbit’s market share rose to 67.4% even as its July turnover dropped 10% to ~11.7T won. Bithumb’s turnover fell 26.6% to ~4.7T won and its share slid to 27.1%, widening the gap between the top two. Upbit briefly boosted stablecoin activity via fee waivers for selected stablecoins, with USDT turnover peaking near 200.0B won on July 29. To stabilize revenue, South Korea crypto exchanges are turning to banks and brokerages. Coinone added a stock-trading entry routed through Korea Investment & Securities after the firms bought stakes in May (Korea Investment & Securities and OKX Ventures each ~20%). Mirae Asset Consulting bought 97.15% of Korbit, which plans to relaunch as DigitalX and expand into stablecoins, tokenized securities and custody—aiming at institutional clients. However, Bithumb’s stalled talks reportedly foundered on deal terms and complex ownership and regulatory issues. Gopax, with ~0.1% share, prioritized resolving its suspended deposit product “GoFi” (losses near 100B won post-FTX collapse in 2022). Regulators require full repayments before granting its VASP renewal. Overall, South Korea crypto exchanges are restructuring around institutional and compliance-driven partnerships, while retail liquidity keeps fleeing to alternatives like stocks.

Cardano’s ecosystem group Intersect says the network has shifted from the van Rossem upgrade to the Cardano Dijkstra era, outlining new protocol and governance steps. The Intersect weekly update #122 reports progress across protocol development, on-chain governance, community tooling, and delivery. Key Dijkstra era items include a new parameter action open for voting, an on-chain Constitutional Committee election, and the Constitutional Amendment Portal (CAP) opening for community alpha testing. The earlier van Rossem intra-era hard fork to Protocol Version 11 was enacted on July 18 to improve Plutus performance, ledger consistency, and node security. It sets the stage for the next Cardano Dijkstra era hard fork, which will introduce Ouroboros Leios. For rollout timing, Intersect expects the initial Dijkstra upgrades to arrive in phases: Nested Transactions, Linear Leios, and Peras. The Haskell node team aims to deliver the first two phases—Nested Transactions and Linear Leios—to mainnet by end of 2026, enabling an incremental release of core Dijkstra capabilities. Any constitutional changes are expected after the hard fork is enacted, though community discussion may start earlier to gather feedback. Naming discussions are also underway, with the intention to name the next hard fork after Alexander Esgen, alongside an existing on-chain Info action proposing Fabian von Bergen. Intersect also notes completion progress on the Eryx ZK Bridge.

Circle Internet Group, the issuer of USDC, received a limited-purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) on 31 July 2026. The approval adds New York state oversight after Circle secured a federal national trust bank charter on 10 July 2026. The NYDFS charter is a state authorization under New York Banking Law. It permits fiduciary, custody and asset-management services, but it does not include deposit-taking or lending. Circle said the move is a milestone for regulated USDC issuance and compliance, framing New York’s regulator as a global benchmark. Circle also said the NYDFS approval complements—rather than replaces—the federal OCC approval. USDC operations in New York continue through the limited-purpose trust route, while reserve management is expected to evolve as the institution develops. At the time of reporting, USDC traded around $1.00, with market cap near $72.09B, circulating supply around 71.9B tokens, and 24h volume close to $12.8B. Other US limited-purpose trust charter holders include Coinbase, MoonPay, BitGo and Paxos. For traders, the key takeaway is clearer regulatory positioning for USDC custody and compliance, which can support sentiment around stablecoin rails as oversight expands.

A crypto researcher, SMQKE, shared an X video asking: “Is Ripple (XRP) more secure than SWIFT?” The video does not give a clear winner. Instead, it argues that financial payment security can fail through weak points outside the messaging network itself. SMQKE revisits the 2016 Bangladesh Bank cyberattack to make the point. The presentation claims hackers exploited the bank’s internal security issues (reportedly including a misconfigured router). After stealing SWIFT credentials, attackers allegedly sent fraudulent payment instructions through SWIFT, leading to about $81 million being stolen from Bangladesh Bank’s Federal Reserve of New York account. The video stresses this was not a direct failure of SWIFT’s core messaging system; rather, once legitimate credentials were compromised, the trusted network enabled unauthorized transfers. The video then connects the lesson to Ripple’s ongoing push for cross-border payments. It frames a still-open question: whether XRP’s technology and architecture can reduce or mitigate risks that originate outside the payment network (e.g., credential and operational security). Crypto Sensei commented that such comparisons may grow as institutions evaluate modern payment infrastructure. He said meaningful adoption starts with security and efficiency questions, not just protocol comparisons.

On-chain data claims BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes reduced his Ethereum (ETH) exposure after ETH fell nearly 3%. In the past two weeks, Hayes reportedly bought 3,298 ETH via OTC at about $1,916 average. About two hours before the latest update, an address believed linked to Hayes transferred 2,364 ETH to wallets associated with Cumberland and Galaxy Digital. After the transfer, around 4.30 million USDC was sent to Hayes’ wallet, implying the ETH was likely sold. Based on the reported cost basis, the estimated loss is roughly $220,000. The same tracking also notes additional altcoin selling: $658,000 of SYN and $248,000 of ENA. Earlier reporting also highlighted Hayes’ recurring pattern of adding to ETH during strength and trimming during pullbacks, reinforcing “whale timing” risk. Traders may watch ETH support and liquidity for potential near-term sell pressure tied to this large-wallet activity, as well as broader risk sentiment around exchange/platform developments.

Bitcoin bullish sentiment fell to a historic low within 24 hours after a Coldcard firmware exploit reportedly caused losses of over $70 million. Santiment data shows the bullish-to-bearish ratio dropped to 0.58, with each positive Bitcoin comment attracting up to 1.72 bearish comments across X, Reddit, Telegram and other channels. The article notes this move is not driven by a typical market trigger like an exchange failure or a broad crash. Instead, traders are re-pricing self-custody and hardware-wallet safety risk, reviving debate over whether even hardware solutions can be fully trusted after the Coldcard incident. Santiment adds that the negative intensity is stronger than fear seen during earlier geopolitical tensions and exceeds social panic in several past crypto episodes. For traders, this is a risk-off sentiment signal that can amplify sell pressure and keep volatility elevated until confidence stabilizes.

XRP is flashing a strong institutional signal. Market analyst Xaif Crypto reports the average transaction value on the XRP Ledger has risen to $85,290, the highest among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by a wide margin. For context, Bitcoin (BTC) averages about $10,600 per transaction and Ethereum (ETH) about $2,930. This matters because average transaction size reflects how much value is transferred per on-chain payment, not just how many transfers occur. When XRP’s transaction values jump to this level, it typically points to large capital movements by institutions—such as asset managers, exchanges, custodians, OTC desks, and corporate treasuries—rather than retail speculation. In other words, it’s not necessarily more XRP transactions; it’s more value settled per XRP transfer. The on-chain read aligns with Evernorth Holdings’ corporate move. Evernorth filed Amendment No. 5 to its S-4 registration with the SEC as it pushes forward with its SPAC merger with Armada Acquisition Corp. II. If approved, the combined company is expected to trade on Nasdaq under ticker XRPN and position itself as a large public XRP treasury company. Evernorth’s strategy is equity-backed and balance-sheet driven: it plans to accumulate XRP as a strategic reserve rather than actively trade it, potentially reducing circulating supply while offering traditional investors indirect exposure. Institutional demand signals extend on-chain and in regulated products: Binance recorded its highest-ever XRP exchange outflow transaction count, and U.S. spot XRP ETFs have pulled in more than $1.5B in net inflows since launch. Keywords: XRP, XRP Ledger, institutional adoption, spot XRP ETFs, exchange outflows, treasury strategy.

Ripple CTO emeritus David Schwartz says he is still actively involved with XRP projects, even after stepping back from his day-to-day CTO role. In late September 2025, Schwartz said he would leave Ripple’s routine CTO responsibilities, but he indicated he continues to engage with the XRP ecosystem. Schwartz recently helped investigate a technical problem affecting the XRP Ledger. He reported losing network peers tied to a message negotiation issue, including the error “onReadMessage: No message of desired type.” xrpl.to data confirmed the incident impacted the wider network rather than just Schwartz’s node. After the issue was detected, the XRP Ledger released version 3.2.1. The update targets a “manifest flood” bug where nodes could accept and rebroadcast unlimited manifests from unknown validator keys. Version 3.2.1 introduces four restrictions to limit manifests and tighten validator-key activity rules, aiming to improve security and network reliability. For XRP traders, the key takeaway is that XRP Ledger maintenance is continuing: a senior XRP Ledger architect remains engaged, and a protocol upgrade was deployed to reduce the risk of network disruptions linked to manifest floods.

A major Coldcard security flaw has been linked to a large-scale Bitcoin theft. Coinkite, the maker of Coldcard hardware wallets, says the bug may have been discovered with AI-assisted code review, but it has not provided proof that AI was responsible. Reportedly affected are recovery seeds generated on certain Coldcard models (especially Mk3 with firmware 4.0.1 and later variants of Mk3, plus some Mk4/Mk5/Q devices before emergency firmware fixes). The issue weakened the wallet’s entropy during seed generation, potentially reducing effective randomness from the intended 128 bits to about 40 bits (some newer devices closer to ~72 bits). That lower randomness makes offline seed reconstruction more feasible, enabling attackers to derive private keys and sweep funds. The theft became public when hundreds of single-signature Bitcoin addresses were drained in a short window. Totals tracked by “Coldcard Sweep Watch” reached about 1,128.4717 BTC (roughly $71.1M at ~$63,044/BTC), later updating slightly higher to 1,128.6633 BTC. Most funds were consolidated into a large holding address. Coinkite’s CEO Rodolfo Novak apologized and stated users with affected seeds must install corrected firmware, create new seeds, and move funds to addresses controlled by the new seed. The company also said users may reduce risk if they added at least 50 independent dice rolls during seed creation, used a strong BIP-39 passphrase, or relied on multisig. Overall, the Coldcard security flaw underscores that even open-source firmware can contain subtle build-time configuration errors that persist for years—while AI can lower the effort required to find such weaknesses.

Bitcoin traders are watching a surge in Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt after the Coldcard hardware wallet exploit shook confidence in self-custody. Santiment data shows the BTC bullish-to-bearish comment ratio fell to 0.58—the lowest positive/negative ratio since tracking began on X, Reddit, and Telegram. The Coldcard hardware wallet exploit reportedly involved tainted firmware during device setup that could expose seed phrases. Estimates now suggest around 1,200 wallets were compromised, with nearly 1,100 BTC lost in a coordinated 41-minute sweep. On-chain activity shared a consistent “fingerprint,” including 30sat/vB fees well above typical network levels, implying automated draining tools. A key new detail is the timeline: the attack appears to have occurred roughly a day before Coldcard’s public warning. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao added that even long-used wallets can contain bugs, reinforcing the message that no setup is 100% safe. For traders, the immediate focus is on whether stolen BTC will move toward exchanges, which could pressure liquidity and short-term price action. Technically, risk stays skewed to the downside if BTC loses the $60,000 area; recovery attempts may face resistance near the $64,000 zone.

Bitcoin enters the weekend around $62,900 after Deribit settled about $9.6B in monthly options and order books thinned. The key trigger is $62,000: a sustained break below it, rather than a brief wick, would shift focus to $60,000. The $60,000 put has roughly $1.17B in open interest, making it the largest downside hedge and a likely destination if selling persists. Options context matters for Bitcoin: if price stays under $62,000 while rebounds fail, spot-led selling should outrun futures selling, open interest should expand on the way down, and perpetual funding should remain neutral to positive—signals that new derivative positions are forming behind the move. Refilled sell orders on bounces would further confirm resistance. On the flip side, a bullish recovery requires buy-side depth to contract faster than sell-side depth. Bitcoin would first target $64,500 as an early repair level, and then $65,300 to clear Friday’s high. Above $65,300, upside levels near $66,000 and $68,000 could reopen, potentially turning thin asks from the options reset into squeeze fuel. Weekend liquidity is also a watch item: the article highlights bid/ask depth changes across major venues and notes that ETF spot trading pauses until Monday, while CME derivatives can keep hedge demand flowing. Trader takeaway: manage risk around the $62,000 breakdown zone and be ready for a volatility expansion toward $60,000 if support fails.

A Coinmonks guide ranks the best Hyperliquid alternatives for 2026, focusing on perp DEX selection criteria that matter to traders: fee model (maker/taker vs pool open/close + borrow), order-book vs pool execution, margin and liquidation mechanics, custody and privacy (encrypted positions), and supported chain/collateral. The article argues Hyperliquid is dominant due to deep liquidity and an order book, but not always the best fit for lower fees, extreme leverage, Solana-native trading, tokenized-stock perps, or enhanced on-chain privacy. It also stresses operational safety, excluding platforms with active exploits, shutdowns, or frozen withdrawals. Top picks in the ranking include: Lighter (ZK-verified order book on an Ethereum rollup; 0% retail fees; up to 50x; token LIT), Aster/AsterDEX (multi-chain, dark-pool-style orders; up to 1001x headline leverage; tokens ASTER), edgeX (low-fee hybrid order book; 0% retail maker/taker framing; token EDGE), Jupiter Perps (Solana pool venue where JLP earns trading fees; ~0.06% to open/close plus borrow; token JUP with liquidity token JLP), GMX (battle-tested pool model; fee-based yield; token GMX), Paradex (privacy-first on Starknet; encrypted liquidation levels; 0% retail fees; token DIME), Pacifica (Solana; pre-token with points/airdrops; token none mentioned), GRVT (ZKsync app with CEX-like UX and encrypted positions; token GRVT), Extended (Starknet; crypto + TradFi perps; token symbol not stated), and dYdX (Cosmos-based decentralized purist; token DYDX; up to 20x). For traders choosing Hyperliquid alternatives, the practical takeaway is to match the venue to your trading style (scalping, hedging, yield vs trading, or privacy needs) and verify operational status before depositing.

US Republicans are racing to advance the CLARITY Act before the November 3 midterms, linking the bill’s fate to political timing. The proposal would split crypto regulatory responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC, a move backers say could reduce uncertainty for exchanges and token projects. Democrats generally support crypto regulation but want stronger consumer and ethics safeguards inside the CLARITY Act. Negotiations focus on tougher AML requirements, conflict-of-interest limits, and rules addressing lawmakers’ or officials’ personal crypto holdings. A key risk is a potential divided Congress after the midterms, which could drag CLARITY Act talks into the next session. Meanwhile, Bitcoin network activity appears resilient. On-chain data shows active Bitcoin addresses hovering near one million, suggesting steady market engagement despite legislative uncertainty. Traders are likely to watch both the evolving SEC/CFTC debate around the CLARITY Act and real-time on-chain indicators for confirmation of sentiment. For positioning, the headline takeaway is that policy risk remains, but current Bitcoin usage signals do not show a sharp deterioration.

Tether reported $1.5B net profit in Q2 2026 (+44% QoQ), driven mainly by income from U.S. Treasury holdings and repo agreements (repos). The firm said it maintained a large $4.1B reserve buffer to support potential USDT redemption stress and keep USDT fully backed. USDT circulation rose to about $183.5B, while Tether increased physical gold holdings to 146 tons (up from 132.2 tons QoQ). Adoption continued to expand: CEO Paolo Ardoino pointed to a new all-time high of 650M+ USDT users. Tether also reiterated an emerging-markets push, highlighting heavy USDT use across LATAM (e.g., Venezuela, Bolivia) and a planned Kenya effort to tokenize local stocks and settle in USDT, though rollout risk remains. However, despite stronger fundamentals, USDT market cap fell about $7B from May’s peak and the broader stablecoin sector contracted ~5% in Q2, signaling choppy flows in a “crypto winter.” For traders, the improved USDT earnings and reserve strength are a liquidity-positive factor, but falling market cap suggests near-term caution on stablecoin flow momentum.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) marks its 6th anniversary after crossing 1.6M on-chain holders worldwide, reaching 1,678,192 total holders. The token added 78,977 new addresses in July, signalling expanding adoption. Price action also reflects renewed momentum: SHIB is up 6.74% over the past 24 hours, trading around $0.00000496. Despite the daily strength, SHIB remains about 95% below its Oct 2021 all-time high of $0.0000884. The anniversary celebration included outreach from major community and exchange voices. LBank announced a $66,666 giveaway featuring SHIB alongside BTC and ETH, plus an iPhone 17 Pro and “futures bonuses.” HTX also congratulated Shiba Inu, framing the project’s shift from meme status to a global community-driven movement. Looking ahead, community members say updates are in the pipeline. Mentions include improved development for the Shiba Eternity game and the Shiba Inu metaverse, with some work reportedly paused during a focus shift. The team indicated 2026 will prioritize rebuilding, technical improvements, and long-term value. For traders, this news combines holder growth, positive community catalysts, and a near-term price pop—though the broader context remains that SHIB is still far from prior peak levels.

The CLARITY Act is nearing a key early-August deadline, with Trump considering a bipartisan ethics counteroffer as Senate negotiators race to secure votes before the chamber’s recess. The latest reported compromise, drafted by Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. Ruben Gallego and sent to the White House on July 29, would broaden enforcement of senior-official crypto conflict-of-interest rules. Instead of relying mainly on the DOJ, the plan would let state attorneys general police violations—an approach aimed at addressing concerns that earlier drafts created enforcement “loopholes.” The dispute is viewed as central to the bill’s credibility, including concerns around Trump-linked crypto activity. Trading-relevant momentum also matters for timing. The House already passed the CLARITY Act version by 294–134 (July 17, 2025). The Senate still needs 60 votes, implying at least seven Democrats may have to support the final package even if the White House accepts the state-AG enforcement language. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the bill was at “one yard line,” while Senate Majority Leader John Thune signalled a floor vote may still be possible. For traders, the CLARITY Act could be a medium-term tailwind by reducing regulatory uncertainty around crypto market structure and SEC/CFTC treatment. But near-term price action may stay choppy because the final ethics and enforcement terms remain unresolved, and the 60-vote threshold leaves room for surprise.

XRP Ledger Foundation has deployed an upgrade after a manifest flood vulnerability was detected on July 31. The issue targeted how nodes process validator manifests—cryptographic documents that verify validator authenticity—causing excessive consumption of network and compute resources, though XRP Ledger transaction processing and ledger close continued normally. The upgrade adds four protections for XRP Ledger (XRP): (1) nodes now actively reject abnormally large validator manifests; (2) limits are introduced on the number of manifest batches processed per incoming connection; (3) caps are set on the amount of bulk manifest data exchanged when peers connect; and (4) nodes restrict storing manifests from more than 100 unknown validator keys, with unknown validator manifests no longer written to disk (they are cleared on restart). The Foundation said it fast-tracked the patch to improve XRPL stability and prevent future resource-exhaustion incidents without reducing validator operations or network openness.

Bitget CEO Gracy Chen argues the market “convergence” story is backward. Instead of crypto adopting traditional finance, traditional assets are moving onto the perpetual (perps) market structure that crypto pioneered. Chen highlights that perps are already the deepest and most liquid crypto derivatives, with daily volumes approaching $0.75T and often several times spot. Their key design—no expiry/settlement dates, with prices kept to spot via a funding rate—makes them continuous and globally tradable, unlike many legacy futures venues. This utility is now spreading beyond crypto. Traders can access perpetuals on gold, FX pairs, and equity/index exposure, settled on-chain, across newer venues. Decentralized platforms also list synthetic large-cap stock exposure alongside BTC and ETH, while centralized exchanges extend perps into commodities and indices. CoinDesk Research data cited in the piece: real-world-asset perps hit a May 2026 record of $211B, up ~16x from about $12B in Q4 2025. Equity perps alone rose 121% month-over-month to $54B. Analysts expect equity perps could eventually surpass crypto perps in volume. The article also notes a partial alignment gap: tokenization has progressed via revenue rights, buybacks, votes, and delistings, but the “market structure” beneath perps is still catching up. It points to centralized platforms building multi-asset books where equities, crypto, and FX clear together; one centralized platform accounted for over half of real-world-asset perp volume in May 2026. For traders, the message is clear: perps are increasingly the venue for tradable access to stocks, FX, and commodities, not just crypto—bringing more liquidity and product variety, while keeping leverage-driven risk in focus.