Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Trezor data breach news: On 2026-08-13, the hardware wallet firm confirmed that its shipping provider, ShipMonk, suffered an intrusion. Around 13,689 buyers’ order-related information was exposed. The affected shipments covered ShipMonk-fulfilled orders sent from the US, UK, Sweden, Colombia, Brazil, Italy and Portugal between 2026-05-10 and 2026-08-08. Trezor said its own systems and Trezor wallets/firmware were not compromised. However, 11,742 buyers had full exposure (name, email, phone, shipping address), while 1,947 had partial exposure (name, city, email). Some older orders may be outside Trezor’s 90-day retention window. Trezor data breach guidance for users is focused on scam risk: impacted buyers may face phishing and social-engineering messages referencing recent orders. Trezor advises verifying delivery claims via official channels and never entering seed/recovery phrases into websites. The investigation is ongoing after ShipMonk notified Trezor of unauthorized access on 2026-08-10. Trezor has emailed impacted customers and will continue updating via its incident notice. For traders, this raises supply-chain and identity risk around crypto hardware vendors, even if the device layer appears secure, which can increase scam activity without directly moving coin prices.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has cancelled a Friday open meeting on crypto offering rules. The session was expected to discuss a “tailored offering regime” for certain crypto investment contracts and whether the SEC will propose new compliance standards. The SEC cited an “unforeseen scheduling issue” and did not provide a replacement date. This delay lands after the US Senate went into August recess without voting on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act). SEC Chair Paul Atkins previously said the regulator was ready to issue digital-asset rules if the CLARITY Act failed to pass. Earlier expectations also included broader “Reg Crypto” rulemaking and a separate “innovation exemption” concept for tokenized securities, both of which now appear at risk of slipping. For traders, the SEC crypto regulatory meeting cancellation removes a near-term regulatory catalyst, potentially extending uncertainty around token offerings and keeping volatility elevated around policy headlines—especially for tokens that may be treated as investment contracts. Overall: the SEC crypto regulatory meeting cancellation pushes timetable expectations out again, shifting focus back to Congress and any future SEC scheduling.

Figure Technology Solutions reported that its Q2 2026 consumer loan marketplace volume rose 132% year over year to $4.259B (ended June 30, 2026), up from $1.838B in Q2 2025. The loan marketplace volume also climbed 47% quarter over quarter from $2.902B in Q1 2026. The company defines “loan marketplace volume” as the U.S. dollar value of HELOCs, DSCR loans, and personal loans originated through its loan origination system (LOS), plus third-party loans traded on Figure Connect. Figure said the result beat the top end of prior guidance and added a weekly operational tracking dashboard updated every Tuesday after market close. For crypto traders, this is not an on-chain DeFi metric, but a traditional credit-lending throughput indicator. Ongoing changes in loan marketplace volume on the dashboard may help gauge shifts in the broader credit cycle that often feeds DeFi lending sentiment. Since the release does not provide revenue, margins, funding costs, or credit performance, it should be treated as an operational-volume read-through rather than a direct token catalyst. Figure expects Q3 consumer loan marketplace volume between $4.8B and $5.2B.

Bitcoin and XRP are trading under pressure as multiple headwinds hit risk appetite. In the US, progress on the Clarity Act has stalled in the Senate, while the SEC is reportedly set to delay its “innovation exemption,” aimed at tokenized securities rules. The SEC’s parallel “Reg Crypto” effort was also postponed, with no new meeting date. Bitcoin ETF flows add to the downside: US-listed spot BTC ETFs recorded $333M in net outflows this week after $853M of inflows last week. On a year-to-date basis, investors have withdrawn more than $4B. Macro pressure is rising too. US Treasury 30-year yields climbed to as high as 5.22% in a $25B auction, increasing the cost of capital and the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like Bitcoin. For XRP, price action remains fragile near $1 support. A breakdown could trigger selling, especially after late-2024 positioning below $1. Both Bitcoin’s multi-week range and XRP’s $1 level look increasingly vulnerable as traders await a potential year-end rally. Some strategists still see upside later in the year, citing stronger crypto performance versus the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 in July and a potentially explosive Q4, with scenarios including $100,000 Bitcoin.

Liverpool Football Club has confirmed that midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will stay at the club. Carlos Mac Allister, his father and agent, said there have been no talks about a summer departure, dismissing rumours linking Alexis Mac Allister to Real Madrid and Manchester City. The contract situation supports the stance. Alexis Mac Allister, 27, has two years remaining, with his deal running through June 30, 2028. He returned to Liverpool’s pre-season training around August 10, 2026 after playing for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. From a business perspective, Liverpool originally signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton in June 2023 for about £35 million, with potential add-ons raising the figure to roughly £55 million. He is reported to earn around £150,000 per week (about $7.8 million annually). Liverpool’s new head coach has also publicly backed keeping key players, with Alexis Mac Allister highlighted. Overall, the message is clear: no negotiations, no extension “pay-and-stay” signal, and the club expects the core midfield identity to remain intact.

Emerging-market assets rallied after U.S. CPI cooled, strengthening expectations of a Fed rate hike delay. The Consumer Price Index fell 0.4% month-on-month. The annual CPI rate slowed to 3.5%, while core CPI was flat. Traders re-priced the Fed’s near-term path. Market pricing for a September 2026 Fed rate hike dropped to 28% (YES), down from 31% just 24 hours earlier. The October 2026 probability also eased to 39.5% (YES), reflecting the shift from tighter policy expectations. Key figures to watch are Fed Chair Jerome Powell and the FOMC, as any change in policy language could quickly move rate expectations. Further inflation prints and macro indicators may reinforce or reverse this Fed rate hike delay narrative. The broader takeaway for markets: softer inflation is currently supporting a risk-on bid for emerging stocks and FX, and it may improve global liquidity expectations relevant to crypto risk appetite.

Iran is reported to have launched drones over Erbil overnight. Local reports say the drones were intercepted and fell near a hotel without causing injuries. The incident is linked to an ongoing Iran–Iraq/Kurdistan drone-and-missile campaign tied to the broader 2026 Iran war. Erbil’s strategic role—hosting U.S. and coalition facilities—keeps it a focal point in northern regional tensions. The key market takeaway is that pricing for an August 31 Iran airspace closure appears to have fallen, suggesting traders currently see limited immediate escalation. Meanwhile, odds for a full Iran airspace closure by December 31 have edged higher, indicating growing concern about longer-term stability rather than near-term conflict. What to watch next: official statements from Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization or Iranian state television about any changes to Iran airspace status. A formal Iran airspace closure would align with a “YES” outcome in these prediction markets. Conversely, reports of normal air traffic resuming or U.S. de-escalation messaging could shift expectations toward “NO.” For traders, this is a geopolitical risk headline. The Iran airspace closure probabilities may move sentiment, particularly via risk premia and volatility, but no immediate escalation has been indicated so far.

Chainlink (LINK) is flashing renewed bullish momentum as on-chain activity and key technical triggers align. In the latest update, analyst Ali Martinez points to a rare MVRV Ratio “golden cross” versus the 200-day SMA—first seen in over a year. Similar MVRV crossovers previously preceded sharp rallies (+155% in Nov 2024, +85% in Jul 2025), increasing the odds that LINK could enter an upside expansion cycle. Whale and network metrics have also strengthened. Over the last 96 hours, whale transactions above $1M rose from ~1 to ~15, and active addresses nearly doubled from ~2,450 to ~4,800. Martinez further flagged a TD Sequential buy setup on the monthly chart, interpreted as a macro shift from bearish to bullish. On the daily timeframe, LINK is testing the channel mid-range near $8.80. A daily close above $8.80 may set up a roughly 30% move toward the upper channel area around ~$11. Earlier analysis emphasized a higher-timeframe breakout plan: a close above $10.87 would confirm bullish structure and potentially extend targets toward $25, $50, and even $100. Key invalidation was also cited via a breakdown level near $4.761. Trade context: rising institutional adoption and tokenization tailwinds are mentioned as longer-term sentiment support, while the improved whale activity and active addresses may reduce near-term selling pressure—supporting directional bias for LINK if levels hold.

Zebec Network announced an “Earn on Pay” capability by integrating Solstice Finance’s USX into its onchain payroll ecosystem on Solana. The partnership brings USX into Zebec’s ~$500M annual payroll network, adding a reward-bearing dollar layer for enterprises and their globally distributed employees and contractors. Key change: when companies prefund payroll onchain, balances typically sit idle until payday. With USX, those funds can earn rewards during the holding window between top-up and payout, making working capital yield-bearing without requiring enterprises to move to a separate product or change day-to-day behavior. Employees can receive payroll as usual, hold a dollar balance, and use a Zebec debit card to spend USX as $1 in the real world, or withdraw to a wallet on demand. USX is issued by Solstice Finance and is backed by hedged positions across BTC, ETH, SOL, other liquid assets and corresponding perpetual futures, plus major stablecoins and tokenised treasuries. Zebec says USX will roll out across its payroll infrastructure and Zebec Super App, serving 50,000+ monthly active users. Notably, this is a sponsored press release.

A high-stakes crypto player tied to 1win’s Global Crypto Ambassador network received a USDC payout worth $1.749 million after a seven-figure bet on Paris Saint-Germain to beat Aston Villa in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. The deposit and withdrawal were confirmed on-chain, and the payout was settled in USDC via the Ethereum network (USDC on Ethereum). The player joined 1win through the new 1win Global Crypto Ambassador program, which aims to connect 1win with crypto-native creators and communities. The release also cites another large USDC-linked wager earlier in the summer: Mia Khalifa reportedly won $1.65 million after a $1 million bet on Spain to defeat Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Overall, the update underscores how stablecoins like USDC are being used for high-value iGaming flows, with the full cycle from deposit to payout recorded publicly on Ethereum. Traders should note this is promotional/sponsored content, but it signals continued real-world adoption of stablecoin rails for payments and wagering.

JPMorgan has ended its banking relationship with the decentralized prediction market Polymarket in late 2025, the Financial Times reports, citing regulatory concerns. In October 2025, the bank told Polymarket it would need to find a new banking partner. Polymarket has reportedly switched to another lender, though the name has not been disclosed. Polymarket was barred from serving U.S. users in 2022 after the U.S. CFTC imposed a $1.4 million settlement over allegations that it operated an unregistered derivatives trading venue. The platform returned to the U.S. market in late 2025 after federal rules were loosened under the Trump administration. Even after JPMorgan cut the formal banking link, the report says the bank maintained some engagement. For example, it invited Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan to speak at a private client conference in February 2026, and JPMorgan is still reportedly seeking a role underwriting any future IPO. CoinDesk reached out to Polymarket for comment.

Tether International says its full-year 2025 financial statement audit is complete. KPMG U.S. issued an unqualified (clean) opinion for the year ended 31 December 2025 under U.S. GAAP. The Tether audit covers Tether International’s balance sheet, income statement, changes in equity and cash flows, including reserve assets backing issued tokens. Tether says the Tether audit went beyond quarterly reserve attestations. KPMG reviewed transactions, ownership records, valuations, counterparties, internal systems and supporting documentation. Tether also states KPMG physically inspected and counted each gold bar held, as the company built a roughly 150-ton physical gold position. Key figure: reserves exceeded liabilities by $6.814 billion in the audited 2025 accounts. The milestone follows Tether’s March appointment of a Big Four auditor, and it is limited to Tether International rather than a blanket audit of the broader Tether group. Tether framed the process as a response to years of scrutiny over reserve transparency, and it is narrowing focus to USDT and Tether Gold, including winding down aUSD₮ and the Alloy platform.

The Bitcoin Red Team scanned 501 open-source Bitcoin projects and logged 7,958 security findings, including 1,280 reports rated high or critical severity. The coordinated review involved 25 developers working for 108 hours, combining human analysis with automated harnesses and AI models, heavily relying on Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3. OpenSats funded compute costs through its Bitcoin Red Team programme. Importantly, the Bitcoin Red Team stressed these entries are not confirmed vulnerabilities. Maintainers must reproduce AI-generated results, assess whether an exploitable path exists, and verify real-world severity before patching. The programme already intersected with an active incident. BTCPay Server patched a critical flaw in version 2.4.2 involving unauthenticated remote access that could let attackers obtain LND admin macaroon credentials and potentially control connected Lightning wallets. Affected users were advised to update and rotate credentials. Beyond Bitcoin, the coalition “Defenders Need the Frontier” has drawn more than 40 signatories (including Coinbase and BitGo) asking major AI labs to provide qualified open-source security researchers controlled access to advanced cybersecurity models, compute, secure research environments, and direct disclosure channels. For traders, the Bitcoin Red Team’s work signals accelerating security scrutiny around BTC infrastructure and Lightning components, which can reduce tail risks over time but also highlights the market impact of newly disclosed or patched wallet and Lightning-related weaknesses.

Evernorth Holdings, an XRP treasury firm, has revised its public-market debut ahead of a planned Nasdaq listing via a business combination with Armada Acquisition Corp. II. Investors representing over 95% of committed capital approved the updated terms, including all advance funders. The key change affects how Evernorth’s share allocations are set against its XRP treasury. Under the original deal, XRP was valued at $2.36 for determining investor share counts. The amended structure will instead use XRP’s volume-weighted average price (VWAP) closer to the transaction closing date. Because private-placement investors subscribed at $10 per share, the “$10 anchor” remains while the amount of XRP per share adjusts with XRP’s market price at close. If XRP ends below $2.36, each $10 share could represent more XRP, potentially reducing the eventual share count. If XRP ends above $2.36, the opposite outcome applies. This redesign also proportionally adjusts the sponsor founder shares. Evernorth said its focus remains on growing XRP per share through treasury management and participation in the XRP ecosystem. Investors are expected to track metrics such as XRP-per-share and NAV-per-share once the XRP treasury strategy goes public. The combination is expected to close in late Q3 or early Q4 2026, subject to SEC review and standard closing conditions. Major backers cited include Ripple, SBI Group, Pantera Capital, Kraken, Arrington Capital, and GSR.

Binance Alpha will list KiiChain (KII) on Aug 14, according to an official announcement. Binance Alpha users who meet the eligibility requirements can claim an airdrop using Binance Alpha points after Alpha trading opens. The project’s specific participation criteria, claim rules, and distribution details will be released separately. For traders, the key catalyst is the Binance Alpha KII listing window and the points-to-airdrop incentive, which can drive short-term attention and speculative activity around KII ahead of and immediately after Aug 14.

Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) disclosed an $81.87M stake in BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) as of June 30, holding 6,151,062 shares. This is an equity-based way to gain indirect exposure to Ethereum (ETH), not a direct ETH spot purchase. BitMine reported holding 5,805,238 ETH as of Aug. 9, with 5,067,309 ETH already staked (about 87% of its ETH holdings). The earlier context notes BitMine launched an ETH treasury strategy on June 30, 2025 and that staking increases yield and can reduce sell-pressure versus a pure spot hold. The latest filing review also notes the position was not listed in GPFG’s Dec. 31, 2025 13F holdings, implying the purchase happened after year-end, though timing and price were not disclosed. GPFG has sole investment discretion over the BMNR stake. For traders, the key monitoring points are BMNR stock reactions and ongoing corporate staking disclosures. Near-term, the news is unlikely to drive major ETH spot demand because the flow is wrapped inside an operating company rather than a spot ETH allocation.

Ukraine’s drone campaign is worsening Russia’s fuel shortages by damaging oil refineries and fuel depots. Since the 2022 invasion, Ukraine has conducted 300+ drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, cutting estimated domestic refining capacity by about 15% to 40%. The resulting fuel shortages have spread across nearly all of Russia’s 83 regions, triggering rationing, long gas-station queues, and even temporary states of emergency. Key escalation: the strike pace accelerated sharply from spring 2025. Recent attacks hit infrastructure in cities including Omsk and Nizhnekamsk, adding casualties and tightening supply further. By early July 2026, fuel restrictions had become the “norm,” with agriculture among the hardest hit as planting, harvesting, and transport depend on fuel availability. Moscow’s response focuses on emergency measures: importing gasoline by sea from India (initial shipment at least 60,000 metric tons), temporarily relaxing fuel quality standards down to Euro-3 to boost output, and planning tighter refinery defenses plus pump price controls to limit gouging. Energy-market angle: Russia still exports crude, but can increasingly not convert it into enough refined products for domestic demand. India—already a major buyer of discounted Russian crude—has now become a refined-fuel supplier back to Russia. The grain-risk layer matters too: if fuel shortages disrupt Russia’s grain logistics, global food commodity markets could feel spillover effects. This is another example of how sustained refinery attacks can translate into real-world fuel shortages and broader macro volatility.

A new explainer outlines Germany’s rules for a Bitcoin savings plan and tax treatment of monthly buys. Each instalment is treated as a separate acquisition for income tax purposes under Section 23 EStG, so the one-year holding period runs independently per tranche. If a sale happens within one year of specific monthly buys, part of the gain may be taxable while other parts remain tax-free. The article confirms that crypto is “other assets” for Section 23 EStG (citing the Federal Fiscal Court judgment of Feb 14, 2023). Gains are taxed at the investor’s personal income tax rate, with no flat withholding. A key threshold is the €1,000 exemption limit: if total private disposal gains in a calendar year reach €1,000, the entire amount becomes taxable (not only the excess). Losses can offset gains only within the same private disposal category and only up to the year’s realised gains; they cannot be used against salary or share gains. For selling tranches built from many months of buys, disposal is handled via individual identification when possible; otherwise FIFO (for holding-period purposes) and average-cost valuation may apply. Tax treatment is wallet-by-wallet, and the valuation method should be fixed per wallet. The piece also stresses documentation: transaction statements may be subject to extended duties for foreign platforms, and missing records—e.g., due to platform insolvency—are borne by the taxpayer. Traders’ takeaway: the Bitcoin savings plan and tax mechanics mainly affect after you sell, but they can change investors’ sell timing, record-keeping behaviour, and expected tax-driven liquidity over the next 12 months.

A new report from Money 20/20 and FXC Intelligence shows digital assets—covering cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and tokenization—appeared in 26% of Asia-Pacific cross-border payments discussions across more than 1,000 industry articles reviewed over the past year. QR code and wallet connectivity ranked next at 24%, while national real-time payment links accounted for 19%. The analysis highlights cross-border payments priorities for 2026: improving interoperability, expanding adoption of digital payment technologies, and reducing costs and complexity. Sentiment is broadly positive: nearly two-thirds of reviews were positive, led by Hong Kong (69% positive), then Thailand (67%), with China and India at 66%. Japan showed the highest negative share at 19%. On volumes, APAC outbound retail cross-border payments reached $13.5T in 2025 (31% of global outflows). Business-to-business and business-to-consumer payments made up 83% of flows, and the region is projected to grow faster than the global average—potentially reaching $24T by 2033, with APAC contributing 36% of global outbound flows. The piece also cites accelerating digital payments adoption in parts of APAC (e.g., India and Pakistan), reinforcing momentum for cross-border payments and digital rails that could indirectly support demand narratives for stablecoins and tokenized settlement.

US officials, citing Vice President JD Vance, reportedly shifted the Iran conflict objective to secure cheaper oil for Americans. The move marks a change from the earlier U.S. focus on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The policy pivot comes as tensions and disruptions persist in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil. Market participants interpret the change as potentially increasing supply or improving stabilization, rather than only prioritising security. Oil-market pricing reflects this shift. The probability of crude oil reaching new all-time highs by September 30 fell to 3.6% from 4% a week earlier, according to referenced prediction-market odds. Broader market reactions also show declining likelihood of record highs into end-2026. Traders should watch OPEC actions, possible future U.S. policy changes toward Iran, and developments in the Strait of Hormuz. Any geopolitical breakthrough or ceasefire could quickly reprice expectations for crude oil and energy affordability—especially if cheaper oil for Americans becomes the dominant policy signal. Keywords for context: cheaper oil, Iran conflict, Strait of Hormuz, OPEC, crude oil price outlook.

Kraken Prop is expanding its funded trading program by adding S&P 500 signals alongside Nasdaq 100. Starting today, traders can submit S&P 500 trade signals in the Kraken app (search “SP”). Key terms for the Kraken Prop S&P 500 market include 5x leverage, up to a $1M notional cap, and a max daily loss of 3%. Evaluation plans (Starter, Intermediate, Advanced) require entry starting from $20, with wallet sizes from $5K to $200K. Profit split is 80–90%, and payouts go to the trader’s Kraken wallet within 24 hours. The program has no consistency rules and no time limits, but the maximum drawdown limit still applies. Importantly, the S&P 500 here is priced via an index oracle tracking the benchmark’s 500 large-cap U.S. companies, not a standardized futures contract. That means no expiry, no rollover, and no forced exits—positions can be held across days (e.g., Friday to Monday). Kraken frames this as part of a broader multi-asset rollout, with commodities planned next. For crypto traders, the immediate effect is operational: the Kraken Prop S&P 500 experience may feel more TradFi-like, potentially changing how traders manage risk and expectations for pass rates, while not directly altering crypto market fundamentals. Kraken Prop S&P 500 is positioned as a disciplined evaluation program with rigorous risk checks; most applicants do not pass on the first attempt, and fees are non-refundable once trading begins.

Kraken Institutional says it is supporting Lombard’s transition to an institutional Bitcoin yield program by changing LBTC’s yield source from Bitcoin staking to an institutional covered-call strategy managed by Bitwise Asset Management. The target is 2.5% net APY, measured in Bitcoin terms. Under the arrangement, Bitcoin backing the strategy is held in segregated, bankruptcy-remote accounts at qualified custodians including Kraken. Kraken also highlights tri-party agreements designed to keep the assets within qualified custody throughout the strategy’s lifecycle, aiming to meet requirements of institutional allocators. Kraken also acts as an execution venue: Bitwise trades the options underlying the covered-call strategy on Kraken’s platform. Kraken frames this as a shift from “passive” Bitcoin to “productive collateral,” where custody, execution, and yield are integrated rather than split across separate providers. Named parties include Kraken Institutional (Gurpreet Oberoi, Head of Kraken Institutional), Lombard, and Bitwise Asset Management. Kraken positions the move as part of a broader institutional stack—custody as the entry point, with execution, financing, and yield layered on top—referencing related work with Upshift and Centrifuge. For traders, the headline is that institutional Bitcoin yield is expanding beyond staking into options-based strategies, with regulated custody and exchange execution bundled into one workflow.

Kraken has partnered with Mesh to simplify crypto deposits. Users can choose “Another exchange” on the Kraken Deposit screen instead of copying and pasting a long wallet address. In a secure Mesh window, traders select the sending exchange, sign in, pick the asset and amount, and confirm; the transfer is sent on-chain directly to Kraken’s deposit address and credited like a normal deposit. Mesh’s SmartFunding can top up deposits when the sending exchange lacks enough of a single token. For example, if a user wants to deposit 10,000 USDC but holds only 7,000 USDC there, Mesh can convert about 3,000 USDC worth of other supported balances on that exchange to cover the difference. Note that any exchange-specific trading, network, or conversion fees may apply for that portion. Canceling closes the window with no transfer started. At launch, the “direct deposit from another exchange” flow supports Coinbase (where available). More exchanges are expected. Standard address and QR deposits remain available if an exchange is not yet supported. Kraken says the feature is available now on its website with mobile support coming soon, and Kraken does not charge a fee (other exchanges may charge their own withdrawal/network fees). Keywords: Kraken, Mesh, crypto deposits, exchange-to-exchange transfer, SmartFunding, Coinbase, USDC.

Bitcoin price squeeze persists as BTC trades in a tight range between $63,000 support and a $68,700 ceiling. The article cites weak spot exchange volume (lowest since Glassnode’s tracking began), compressed volatility (seen last in Oct 2023), and a lack of clear buying vs forced-selling triggers. On-chain and flow signals point to caution. A Paxos-linked wallet reportedly sold another ~800 BTC (~$50.72M) via Wintermute, adding incremental supply. Meanwhile, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $61.16M net outflows on Aug 12, led by $46.82M pulled from Fidelity’s FBTC, suggesting institutional demand is cooling rather than accelerating. Technical framework: BTC is “wedged” between the median realized price near $63,000 (cost-basis floor for holders) and the short-term holder cost basis around $68,700 (recent-buy entry average as resistance). Analysts note BTC failed to hold above $65,000 despite strength in other assets. Key levels traders are watching: a rejection zone at $64,500–$65,000 resistance; support at $62,000–$62,500 that could be retested if the squeeze breaks down. If selling accelerates, downside references include $60,500–$61,000, then the June low at $58,500. The article highlights a historical parallel: when volatility compressed tightly before (Oct 2023), BTC later gained over 330%. Still, it stresses that thin order books and low volume can make the first directional move overshoot. In this Bitcoin price squeeze, traders should watch ETF flows, spot volume, and whether BTC can reclaim $68,700 to flip buyers back into profit.

Ethereum Foundation is pivoting away from the Poseidon hash function for its planned post-quantum architecture. Researcher Justin Drake said the foundation will instead use established alternatives such as SHA or BLAKE. The rationale is that recent advances in SNARKs (compact proofs) and proving efficiency allow conventional hash functions to run efficiently enough to replace Poseidon in Ethereum systems planned like leanVM. Poseidon had been considered for future post-quantum designs, including leanVM, which could help Ethereum efficiently verify large volumes of blockchain activity. Drake said production-ready leanVM is targeted for 2027, followed by broader deployments across Ethereum’s consensus, data, and execution layers in 2028, though the dates are preliminary. Eigen Labs founder Sreeram Kannan added that using battle-tested hash-based approaches may offer fewer known attack avenues and faster deployment because they’ve undergone years of scrutiny. He said joint work with the foundation and zero-knowledge proof firm Succinct increased proving speeds by 2.5x. Overall, the update is a technical roadmap change for Ethereum’s post-quantum efforts rather than an immediate network upgrade or token-economic change. For traders, it mainly signals evolving cryptography choices and potential timelines for future zk/verification infrastructure.

Ethereum slipped after failing to break above $1,960, but it is still holding its trading range. The article says Ether moved below the 50-day SMA and below the 21-day SMA resistance, with price currently hovering just above the $1,800 support level. Key levels highlighted for Ethereum: resistance at $1,960 (and higher references at $3,500 and $4,000) and support at $1,800 (also noting $2,000 and a downside risk toward $1,500). Technical commentary points to strong selling pressure near $1,960, shown by longer candlestick wicks, while buyers have so far defended the $1,850 area on the 4-hour chart. The near-term outlook for Ethereum is range-bound: if sellers push Ether below the 50-day SMA, traders could see a drop toward $1,500 and a loss of the $1,800 floor. A bullish reversal is possible if buyers reclaim the 21-day SMA barrier, which could lead Ethereum to retest the prior high around $1,960. Overall, the piece frames Ethereum as stuck between moving averages for the next few days, with direction likely dependent on whether support at $1,800/50-day SMA holds or resistance near $1,960/21-day SMA breaks.

On-chain investigator ZachXBT says a Polymarket account under the username “GCottrell93” was linked to George Cottrell, a political aide and major donor to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The account allegedly funneled about $8.8 million into bets that Donald Trump would win the 2024 US election, generating roughly $4.4 million in profits. The deposits reportedly came in late October 2024 from two unidentified wallets. Funds were routed through exchanges including OKX and ChangeNOW, with ChangeNOW described as typically not requiring identity verification for many swaps. Polymarket runs on Polygon and uses pUSD (a USDC-backed token) as collateral, leaving a permanent on-chain trail that enabled ZachXBT to reconstruct activity. Cottrell (32), nicknamed “Posh George,” has a prior US wire fraud conviction. The same Polymarket wallet also took Iran-related positions, losing about $655,000 overall, including one bet of roughly $550,000. Even with those losses, the account remained net positive after the Trump-related wins. The report highlights compliance and transparency concerns. Although Polymarket is nominally blocked for US users after a 2022 CFTC settlement, it operates for international participants, and the use of a no-KYC route is cited as the type of scenario critics say needs stronger identity verification and AML controls.

MyEtherWallet (MEW) announced an integration with Ondo Perps to bring perpetual futures (no expiry) to its self-custody trading experience on MyEtherWallet.com. With the MEW + Ondo Perps connection, users can trade long or short on leading U.S. stocks, ETFs and commodities around the clock (24/7), using continuous perpetual contracts instead of traditional market-hours execution. The release states leverage can reach up to 20x, enabling higher-risk, higher-liquidity strategies for onchain equities and RWA-linked exposure. MEW positions the integration as “non-custodial risk management,” meaning users keep control of private keys while accessing derivatives through the MEW web interface. The product is designed to be compatible with many wallet setups via MEW Portfolio, including MEW wallet mobile, MetaMask (browser extensions), hardware wallets, and WalletConnect. Access is straightforward: new users can create a wallet on MyEtherWallet.com to start trading immediately, while existing users can connect their preferred wallet to access Ondo Perps features. The company also notes the product is not intended for U.S. citizens and that restrictions apply. For traders, this is a new onchain route to equity/ETF/commodity perps with 24/7 execution and up to 20x leverage—features that could shift where liquidity concentrates during off-hours and may increase speculative activity around macro and stock-market catalysts. Keywords: MyEtherWallet (MEW), Ondo Perps, perpetual futures, onchain equities, 24/7 leveraged trading.

The White House reportedly plans an Aug. 19 meeting with crypto and prediction market executives, as Polymarket traders price the CLARITY Act’s 2026 passage odds at 21% (down from earlier highs). President Donald Trump’s attendance and the full participant list were not confirmed. The CLARITY Act is the key US crypto regulation bill that would set federal rules and split oversight between the CFTC and SEC. The measure would place digital commodity spot markets under the CFTC, while tokens classified as securities would remain with the SEC. The House passed its version in July 2025 (294-134), and the Senate Banking Committee advanced a draft in May 2026 (15-9), but the bill has not reached a Senate floor vote yet. Negotiations are stalled over ethics rules for senior officials, stablecoin rewards, DeFi provisions, and financial-crime controls. Supporters need 60 votes to end a filibuster; Republicans hold 53 seats, implying Democrats’ backing remains crucial. Talks reportedly hinge on a bipartisan ethics package from Sens. Thom Tillis and Ruben Gallego. A CFTC meeting (Aug. 20) follows the White House event and will discuss crypto asset, AI, and prediction market regulation via the Innovation Advisory Committee, but it is not expected to produce immediate policy changes. For traders, the near-term takeaway is that the CLARITY Act is still alive, yet the market-implied probability remains low—so volatility may rise on headlines, while follow-through depends on ethics/stablecoin negotiations and any future Senate votes on the final text.