Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Crypto.com says Citadel Securities has invested $400M, valuing the exchange at $20B. This is Crypto.com’s first institutional funding round since launching in 2016, and it will help Crypto.com expand into “all asset classes,” including tokenized securities and derivatives. The deal also reflects Wall Street’s shift toward crypto market infrastructure. Citadel previously invested $200M in rival Kraken, and Jane Street was mentioned in that effort. Other traditional firms backing crypto trading venues include ICE’s stake in OKX and Nasdaq’s $50M investment in Gemini. For traders, the key watchpoint is whether Crypto.com’s institutional push leads to faster product rollout in regulated markets and deeper liquidity. The news lands while crypto prices remain pressured—Bitcoin is down ~28% YTD and total market value is about $2.2T—so any positive sentiment may face macro/market headwinds.

Bitcoin bottom countdown is nearing the 50-day mark after BTC supply in loss passed 50% for the first time this bear market in early June. K33 Research reports that once BTC supply in loss clears 50%, the next macro bear-market bottom typically arrives within 101 days. This year, supply in loss crossed 50% on June 5, and about 42 days have elapsed since then—making 2026’s bottom window among the longest on record. CryptoQuant adds a second confirmation: the bull market’s “emotional premium” appears largely unwound. Its realized cap variance (RCV) model—tracking the gap between realized cap and market cap versus historical norms—currently sits in the bottom 6% of its range. With a standardized RCV Z-score around -2.35, the metric suggests Bitcoin is in the late stages of the bear market. Prior periods where RCV stayed below -2.0 (mid-2022, late-2018, early-2015) later produced strong 12‑month returns, including an extreme -4.68 reading in Nov 2018 near the cycle bottom. Traders may treat this Bitcoin bottom countdown as a timing signal rather than a guarantee. If onchain stress continues to compress, short-term dips could fade and positioning may shift toward accumulation; however, historical timelines still vary, so risk management remains key.

The US DOJ has indicted a South Dakota cryptocurrency investor, charging him in an alleged $20 million investment fraud scheme. The US indicts crypto investor Benjamin Paul Wiener, 43, on wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors allege Wiener used false statements to persuade victims to invest money and digital assets through his companies. They claim he repaid earlier investors using funds from new investors and spent the remaining proceeds for personal expenses once prior funds were exhausted—an allegation consistent with a Ponzi-style flow. The indictment lists 29 counts. If convicted, Wiener faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud, up to 20 years per wire fraud and money laundering count (with up to $250,000 fine per count), plus a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term for aggravated identity theft. The alleged scheme affected dozens of victims across South Dakota, Minnesota and nearby regions. For traders, this US indicts crypto investor development reinforces ongoing regulatory and enforcement pressure around crypto-related fraud. While it is unlikely to move major markets directly, it can weigh on retail sentiment and increase risk premiums for smaller, opaque projects—especially those promising high returns or using investor funds to cover liabilities.

This guide reviews Bitcoin wallet security and how traders can protect private keys, recovery phrases, and funds. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible, so choosing the right Bitcoin wallet matters for risk control. Main wallet types: hosted wallets (exchange-managed keys, simpler recovery) versus self-custody wallets (user controls private keys, but lost seed phrases can mean permanent loss) and hardware wallets (offline key storage for long-term Bitcoin cold storage). It explains setup flows and emphasizes that the recovery phrase is the most critical asset to secure. Hot wallet vs cold wallet: hot wallets stay internet-connected for fast trading and daily transfers, but they are more exposed to malware, phishing, and online fraud. Cold wallets keep private keys offline and require extra steps to sign transactions, which improves protection for larger holdings. Common mistakes highlighted include storing seed phrases on phones/cloud, relying only on software wallets for big balances, sharing private keys/passphrases, failing to verify domains (phishing), using public Wi‑Fi for wallet access, and ignoring two-factor authentication. Recommendations include moving larger holdings off exchanges, writing seed phrases offline, using 2FA, separating storage locations, and considering multi-signature wallets for bigger portfolios.

Microsoft and Google are pushing phishing-resistant workplace authentication as cyberattacks targeting digital identity intensify. Google Passkeys: On July 13, Google Credential Provider for Windows (GCPW) updated to support FIDO2-compliant physical security keys. These keys act as a second factor at the Windows login screen and can be paired with nearby Bluetooth-connected mobile devices. Google Workspace administrators can enforce 2-Step Verification (2SV) via the Google Admin console, with users prompted to complete enrollment (Google Prompt, authenticator app, security key, or phone number). Microsoft Entra ID Passkeys: Starting September 1, Microsoft will make passkeys the default authentication experience in the public cloud version of Microsoft Entra ID. Users currently using default SMS or voice authentication will be migrated automatically to passkey registration at their next multifactor authentication prompt. By February 1, 2027, Microsoft-provided telecom delivery for SMS and voice will be retired; customers needing alternatives can use telecom partners through the Microsoft Security Store and bear telecom costs. Microsoft recommends moving users to passkeys or another phishing-resistant method as soon as possible. Why it matters: Passkeys are passwordless cryptographic credentials tied to specific users and devices, helping reduce phishing and account takeovers compared with SMS/voice codes and traditional MFA.

Blockchain security firm SlowMist reports a macOS malware campaign that hijacks Telegram Desktop sessions and targets crypto wallets. The macOS malware steals credentials and harvests data from the victim’s macOS Keychain, Safari cookies, Apple Notes, Telegram Desktop, and wallet-related databases. After collecting passwords and authenticated session data, the macOS malware can copy Telegram Desktop session files, wallet databases, and browser wallet extension data. Attackers may then: 1) Decrypt stolen wallet databases offline using harvested passwords. 2) Replace legitimate Ledger and Trezor apps with fake versions to trick users into entering wallet recovery phrases. SlowMist says the malware targets both software wallets (Exodus, Atomic, Electrum, Wasabi, and Monero wallets) and hardware wallet workflows (Ledger Live, Trezor Suite). It also searches for wallet data stored by full-node clients, including Bitcoin Core, Litecoin Core, Dash Core, and Dogecoin Core. A key finding is that Telegram two-step verification may not stop the attack. SlowMist attributes this to the malware reusing an already-authenticated local Telegram session rather than initiating a new login. In tests, researchers restored stolen Telegram Desktop session data on another Mac without needing a phone number, verification code, or 2FA password. SlowMist recommends immediate actions if compromise is suspected: terminate existing Telegram sessions, create a new trusted login, change the Telegram 2FA password and Telegram Desktop Passcode, generate a new recovery phrase on a clean device, and move assets to new addresses. Traders should treat this as heightened wallet/security risk rather than a direct protocol or exchange disruption.

Ethena has launched USDe and sUSDe on the Monad network, expanding its synthetic dollar stablecoins beyond earlier chain deployments. USDe is Ethena’s synthetic dollar asset, while sUSDe is its staked version. The rollout adds USDe inside Monad’s DeFi stack, including direct support in Monad’s Aave market. According to MSB Intel, USDe and sUSDe are enabled as Aave collateral, supporting “recursive borrowing” (deposit collateral, borrow, and repeat). This can deepen borrowing and liquidity, but also increases liquidation risk depending on leverage, risk parameters, and liquidity depth. Ethena bridged USDe into Monad via Stargate, and the move follows a recent liquidity seeding on Robinhood Chain. In its broader expansion push, Ethena also points to deployments across Robinhood Chain, Avalanche, and TON—adding more routes for USDe trading, borrowing, and liquidity demand. Traders to watch: USDe liquidity on Monad, Aave borrow utilization, and market reaction to collateral-enabled stablecoin borrowing activity.

Robinhood Crypto has crossed 1 million active addresses on its Ethereum Layer 2 network, according to Everstake. The milestone comes soon after launch and suggests rapid early adoption. Everstake also reported 68.7 million transactions processed on Robinhood Crypto. Transactions cover transfers, swaps, and application activity, indicating that users are not only creating wallets but also interacting with dApps and trading tools. Decentralized exchange activity is also rising. DEX volume across the ecosystem reached $2.4 billion, which can signal stronger liquidity and user demand. Separate reporting from Weiss Crypto highlighted similarly strong momentum on Robinhood Chain, saying it drew over 1 million addresses and logged more than 38 million transactions within days. Market watchers may focus on whether Robinhood Crypto can sustain address growth, ongoing transaction volume, and DEX volume after the initial launch phase. If the activity trend holds, it could add to the broader Ethereum scaling narrative by pulling more users and liquidity onto Layer 2 networks.

Pi Network’s core team has rolled out a major redesign for the Pi mining app and the app profile page, aimed at making key “Pioneer” information and ecosystem features easier to find. The update introduces a refreshed side menu (via the top-left hamburger icon), improved UI style and visual hierarchy, and consolidation of items such as the Mainnet Checklist, mining information, featured Pi Apps, and other important sections into one place. The mining app now also includes dark mode. The team said the refresh is the first step in a broader mining-app design refresh, after intense user feedback, and that changes will be introduced thoughtfully and iteratively because the app is used by 60M+ engaged Pioneers. In parallel, market data remains pressured. PI recently lost the $0.10 support level and fell to just over $0.07 (CoinGecko). It rebounded to challenge $0.085 but was rejected and dropped again toward $0.073. PI is now around $0.078 after a minor uptick. PiScan data adds a near-term supply overhang risk: roughly 130M PI coins are scheduled to unlock in the coming month, which could increase potential selling pressure from holders waiting for access.

The US Treasury and the UK’s HM Treasury released joint recommendations under the Transatlantic Taskforce for the Markets of the Future (TTMF) to expand cross-border capital markets and crypto market infrastructure. The plan targets tokenized assets and shared regulatory/accounting standards, with a dedicated focus on stablecoins. For tokenization, regulators are encouraged to use a private-sector-led experimentation group to test cross-border use cases for tokenized assets. Authorities including the Bank of England, FCA, CFTC, and SEC are also asked to align approaches for tokenized securities—such as settlement finality and whether stablecoins and tokenized money market funds can be accepted as margin collateral at central counterparties. For stablecoins, the two governments aim to converge regimes and enable more dynamic cross-border circulation. They reaffirm 10 principles, including that stablecoins held as money must be fully backed at least 1:1 by high-quality, liquid assets, plus stronger prudential/custody and supervisory mechanisms to prevent fragmentation. The guidance is designed to support innovation without undermining cross-border competitiveness and aligns with the direction of the US GENIUS Act (one-to-one backing; regulations pending before a January 2027 effective date). Separately, a UK government-backed industry report estimates the UK could add up to $44B in annual output by 2035 if it becomes a leading tokenization hub, including tokenized bond issuance by Q1 2027.

Ethereum (ETH) has reclaimed $1,820 after nine months of lower lows, reigniting debate over whether a market bottom is forming. Traders cited two key structure changes: (1) ETH reportedly flipped the $1,750 horizontal level back into support after it previously acted as resistance during the downtrend; and (2) ETH reclaimed a “lost low” near $1,820 in July, the first such reclaim in about nine months, according to analysts Daan Crypto Trades and Merlijn The Trader. Both commentators framed this as an early trend-change signal, but not confirmation. The bullish case depends on ETH holding the $1,820 area on higher time frames and pushing toward the next major resistance near $2,100, described as a recurring market-level across cycles. Failure near $2,100 could keep ETH trapped in a broader recovery range. Risk triggers are explicit. Daan said a move below $1,750 would weaken the bullish setup. Merlijn added an invalidation condition: a three-day close below $1,820 would undermine the “bottom reclaim” thesis. Overall, ETH’s reclaim is a near-term positive for momentum, while follow-through above resistance is required for traders to upgrade expectations for the broader market structure.

Bitcoin options expiry is under way today, with about 19,500 BTC contracts expiring and roughly $1.23B notional (smaller than typical). The earlier coverage also framed it as only slightly larger than the prior week and unlikely to create major spot swings, keeping traders focused on short-dated volatility and liquidity rather than trend change. Derivatives positioning stays mixed-to-cautious. The later article shows a put/call ratio around 0.87 and max pain near $62,500, below spot (~$63.3K), while Deribit open interest concentrates around the $70,000 strike (about $1.6B) and still shows large short-side OI near $60,000 (about $1.1B). Earlier data likewise pointed to skew toward loss zones and dealers with meaningful exposure. Risk tone is described as slightly softer than earlier: bearish protection remains more expensive than calls, but the premium gap looks more uniform across tenors, and some bullish short-term bull spreads are reportedly increasing—potentially reducing panic even as two-way volatility persists. Ethereum expiry adds smaller, choppy signals: about 131,000 ETH contracts (around $242M notional). Max pain is near $1,750 and put/call flips to ~1.5 in the later update, while total ETH options open interest is roughly $4.8B. Bottom line for traders: Bitcoin options expiry may move near-term implied volatility and market depth, but the event size and the broader weak spot backdrop suggest limited structural impact on the BTC trend.

1win has expanded its Markets product with new crypto prediction markets using simple binary “Yes/No” questions. The launch includes major asset narratives and outcome bets for 2026, such as the price HYPE will reach by end-2026, whether HYPE will overtake Solana (SOL) in market cap before Dec 31, 2026, the XRP 2026 price target, and the DOGE year-end price. The update positions prediction markets as an easy-to-understand way to connect crypto communities with binary-style speculation, alongside 1win’s existing sports, politics, technology, entertainment, and global events categories. For traders, this is primarily an engagement/adoption story for prediction markets—not a direct protocol or tokenomics change. Still, the added venues could concentrate retail attention on HYPE, XRP, and DOGE and slightly influence sentiment tied to 2026 price and relative-cap themes. Overall, the impact on market stability appears broadly neutral while offering a new derivatives-style narrative outlet.

Circle has expanded its institutional USDC services with deeper integration on Fireblocks. Eligible customers can now access Circle Gateway and the Circle Payments Network directly inside Fireblocks, enabling unified USDC balances across supported chains and fiat payouts in 50+ countries. With Circle Gateway, Fireblocks users get a virtual unified USDC balance rather than separate balances per blockchain. Incoming USDC deposits flow into the unified balance automatically. The setup also aims to reduce operational steps and remove the need to hold gas tokens on destination chains for supported transfers. Fireblocks says the transfers do not rely on bridge liquidity or external liquidity pools. The Circle Payments Network addition allows approved participants to move USDC through existing Fireblocks wallets and deliver local fiat to recipients via supported payment partners. Circle and Fireblocks indicate the same compliance and transaction controls remain in place, including approval workflows, beneficiary management, transaction monitoring, counterparty verification, sanctions screening, and travel rule compliance. Automated approval rules can be used for higher-value transactions. Circle notes that stablecoins made up 69% of Fireblocks digital asset transaction volume in Q2 2026, and that USDC became the most-used stablecoin earlier this year. Existing customers can activate Gateway via Fireblocks console or API; Payments Network access requires approval.

SBI Group and Ondo Finance announced a partnership to bring Japanese equities on-chain. The plan tokenizes Japan-linked financial products, enables distribution through SBI’s financial network, and aims for an end-to-end flow covering tokenization, distribution, settlement, and collateral support within the SBI ecosystem. A core update is the settlement layer: transactions will use JPYSC, described as a yen stablecoin backed by a trust bank. This is positioned as a yen-based alternative to dollar-settled workflows common in many existing stablecoin designs. Executives including Ondo CEO Ian De Bode and SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao tied the effort to Japan’s capital markets and SBI’s digital asset “corridor” strategy. Traders are likely to watch rollout details—what tokenized assets qualify first and how widely JPYSC will be adopted across SBI channels. The news reinforces a broader trend toward localized, yen-settled infrastructure for tokenized equities and RWA workflows, with JPYSC at the center of settlement and potential collateral use.

Bitcoin “anti-spam” policy is facing a split approach as a proposed data-cap via BIP 110 stalls and community developers promote DOG Mode. DOG Mode, proposed by Leonidas (Runestone/Runes advocate), is an announced open-source Bitcoin client initiative that aims to change only node relay policies—not consensus rules. Key claims for DOG Mode include: - Raising Bitcoin’s standard max relay transaction size from 400,000 weight units to 3,900,000 (near one block). - Cutting the dust limit down to 1 satoshi from roughly 294–546 satoshis. This could reduce the need for “padding” that Ordinals and Runes users add to meet current relay thresholds. Leonidas estimates this would unlock about $25 million of previously extra BTC back into those ecosystems. By contrast, BIP 110 would require a consensus soft fork with 55% miner signaling and has received effectively zero support in the current period, according to the BIP 110 monitor. Because DOG Mode does not require miner voting, the article suggests it could function with minimal adoption: if enough nodes relay the transactions and at least one miner accepts the fees, blocks can still be mined. However, DOG Mode has no published code yet, and BIP 110’s node support remains in the low single digits. Bitcoin price was reported little changed after the announcement. For traders, the immediate takeaway is that Bitcoin’s handling of Ordinals/Runes-related transactions could become more flexible without a consensus change, but execution risk remains until code and real network support appear.

Papua New Guinea is advancing digital reform with new cybersecurity and AI-related criminal laws, plus tighter digital identity controls. The Marape administration plans to revamp its 2016 Cybercrime Code Act. Under the updated rules, people using AI for deepfakes, voice cloning, and digital impersonation will face criminal charges. Those who upload, share, or monetize illegal AI content will also be targeted, while digital platforms and AI service providers will be held accountable. The government is drafting final guidelines through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), with an expected rollout in November. The move comes amid rising cybercrime concerns in Asia and the South Pacific, with Interpol citing 6.5 billion cyber threats in 2024. Papua New Guinea’s internet access has also reportedly surpassed 2.57 million. Separately, DICT and major telcos (Digicel, Vodafone, Telikom) are working to integrate the SevisPass digital ID into SIM self-registration in Port Moresby. The aim is to standardize identity data, reduce inconsistencies, and improve operational efficiency for trusted digital transactions. A legal framework for verifiable credentials and trusted data exchange is also being prepared. Finally, Papua New Guinea has signed an agreement with Australia’s Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to support innovation and research, with a focus on expanding SevisPass and building digital solutions for citizens.

Bybit announced it has launched a locally operated platform in Indonesia after acquiring a majority stake in digital asset firm PT Enkripsi Teknologi Handal, formerly NOBI. The deal rebranded NOBI as Bybit Indonesia. Bybit Indonesia will roll out services in phases, starting with 500 cryptocurrency trading pairs. The platform will be led by Lawrence Samantha as CEO and Dionisius Evan as COO, both previously senior executives at NOBI. The move positions Bybit inside one of Asia’s largest crypto markets. Indonesia had 21.07 million registered crypto asset users as of February 2026, and total crypto transaction value reached $26.85 billion in 2025, according to Indonesia’s financial regulator. As of April, 31 crypto-related entities were licensed in Indonesia, including two exchanges and PT Enkripsi Teknologi Handal. For traders, the Bybit Indonesia launch may improve access and liquidity in local trading, but near-term impact is likely gradual because pair rollouts are planned in phases starting with 500 pairs.

A London Central Employment Tribunal rejected “unfair dismissal” claims by two former nChain UK executives, David Brookes and Andrew Moody, ruling they were not genuine whistleblowers. The tribunal said both men adopted the whistleblower narrative pushed by Christen Ager‑Hanssen (CAH) and treated their evidence as “absurd” and “entirely without substance,” describing it as effectively reverse engineered to match CAH’s conspiracy theories. It also found they lacked a genuine belief in any “protected disclosure.” Brookes (former general counsel) and Moody (chief financial officer) were dismissed in November 2023 for gross misconduct after a “rigorous and independent” external investigation connected to CAH’s September 2023 failed boardroom coup. The tribunal noted a minor procedural error in Moody’s dismissal, but denied compensation, saying it was “inconceivable” he would have avoided dismissal given the evidence. The latest reporting adds more governance context: CAH previously circulated a document with false fraud allegations that nChain’s board rejected, and the article alleges an after-hours raid involving attempts to disable security cameras, shred documents, and access a server room to copy or steal sensitive data. For crypto traders, this is not a direct token-price catalyst. Still, the ruling can affect sentiment in the BSV-adjacent ecosystem by elevating perceived reputational and corporate-governance risk around leadership disputes—potentially widening near-term risk appetite and headline sensitivity.

GoTyme Bank reported reaching 10 million users as of July 2026, three years after launch, and said total customer deposits surpassed P53 billion (about $861.5 million). GoTyme Bank expects to reach nearly 12 million customers by end-2026 and target profitability in 2027, attributing growth to rising customer trust. The bank linked the user increase to both broader digital usage and physical distribution: it operates 600+ kiosks in Robinsons Retail and SM Stores, supported by 1,200+ bank ambassadors. Customers can deposit or withdraw cash at 2,500+ Robinsons checkout lanes, and make cash deposits at 4,500+ 7-Eleven branches. GoTyme also cited card network data saying its Visa debit card was the most used Visa debit card in the Philippines in 2025. Timing-wise, the update follows a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) policy pushing digital banks and e-wallets to reduce or waive InstaPay and PESONet fees. GoTyme stated it already offered up to 20 free InstaPay transfers per month before the new rules.

Philippines’ Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) system saw strong first-half momentum in 2026. BSP data shows total PERA contributions reached ₱757.554 million, up 45.3% year-on-year from ₱521.363 million. The number of PERA contributors surged 385.31% to 30,055 (from 6,193). Employee contributions made up 59.33% of funds at ₱449.45 million (+24.08%). Self-employed contributions rose faster, up 179.85% to ₱207.901 million, and overseas Filipinos added ₱100.203 million (+18.12%). By participant count, self-employed enrollees were the largest group at 23,529. PERA-enrolled employees increased 22.63% to 5,441, while overseas Filipinos with PERA accounts climbed 33.29% to 1,085. On the distribution side, the BSP is pushing Open Finance for PERA Pilot to standardize digital onboarding across institutions. Participating entities include Land Bank, Maya, BDO, BPI, PNB, RCBC, UnionBank, and GCash (via G-Xchange). PERA administrator roles are managed by ATRAM Trust Corp., BDO Unibank, and BPI Wealth. The BSP is also coordinating with employers to expand corporate-sponsored PERA accounts. Under the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act, eligible private employers may claim up to 150% tax deductions if they match/exceed employees’ PERA contributions. The BSP is additionally working with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to increase PERA registration among overseas workers.

Bitcoin slid below $64,000 on Friday as fresh U.S. airstrikes on Iran increased geopolitical uncertainty and weighed on broader risk sentiment. BTC was around $63,457–$63,600, extending Thursday’s nearly 1.4% drop and trading just under its 50-day simple moving average. Asian equities also fell: Japan’s Nikkei was down nearly 3% (near a one-month low). The Australian dollar weakened, a key risk proxy, after President Donald Trump alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 U.S. election, including claims Beijing obtained 220 million voter records. China’s embassy denied the allegations. Market focus is less on the accusation details and more on the potential for renewed U.S.–China friction ahead of Trump’s September meeting with Xi. Analysts noted the rhetoric could raise “friction risk,” which may spill over into other risk assets, including Bitcoin. Oil futures (WTI) held near $79 per barrel despite the Iran headlines, suggesting crypto and equities are reacting more to policy/geopolitical uncertainty than to immediate inflation/energy shocks.

Mitsubishi Electric plans a September deal to merge Toshiba and ROHM’s power semiconductor (power chips) businesses and form a joint venture. The goal is to challenge Infineon’s near-20% global market share. Mitsubishi CEO Hitoshi Imazu said the partners aim to integrate sales, manufacturing and R&D into a single stronger entity, with the JV’s operating control expected to be led by Mitsubishi. Industry data cited from Omdia shows Infineon controls about 20% of the global power semiconductor market, while Mitsubishi, Toshiba and ROHM each hold under 5%. The merger is driven by the AI infrastructure buildout, which is boosting demand for power chips used in data centers, EVs and industrial systems. Bloomberg also notes that shortages could slow Japan’s energy-efficiency and capacity-expansion plans. Key risks remain. Toshiba and ROHM want the JV to include a broader analog product range (e.g., converters and drivers), while Mitsubishi prefers focusing on power chips only. Separately, Japan’s government subsidy rules require at least 200 billion yen of related investment to qualify—far higher than other semiconductor programs with a 30 billion yen threshold—raising concerns about an uneven competitive landscape. Traders should watch for spillover sentiment to broader AI infrastructure supply chains, though this is not a direct crypto catalyst.

Network School founder Balaji Srinivasan says he is seeking a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia after authorities probed his Forest City tech community in Johor. The Home Affairs Ministry said it is investigating claims that the community may have hosted Israeli citizens in possible violation of Malaysia’s immigration rules. Early checks reportedly found all 266 foreign residents held valid documents. Srinivasan told Malaysia’s prime minister that a formal agreement would provide “legal certainty” for continued investment. He warned that if the community is not welcome, it could take its capital elsewhere. He also said he is putting further Malaysia investment, including a planned $122 million expansion, on hold until he gets “sufficient assurance” the issue will not repeat. The allegations began after a social media post by “Malaysian Protest 4 Palestine” accused the Network School of becoming a “gathering place for Israeli entrepreneurs.” Malaysia does not recognize Israel and requires written permission for Israeli passport holders to enter. Balaji previously served as Coinbase’s chief technology officer and launched Network School in August 2024, marketing it as a physical hub for tech builders and creators near Singapore.

Project Eleven says it has built a post-quantum cryptographic method to help Bitcoin users prove wallet ownership after “Q-Day”, when quantum computers can break elliptic-curve signatures. The company’s core claim is that the real issue is not stopping quantum attacks, but proving you still control the wallet once an attacker can forge signatures. Project Eleven’s approach uses the wallet’s key derivation path so users can demonstrate knowledge of the parent key used to generate their private key—without revealing the key itself. The firm argues a quantum attacker cannot reconstruct that parent key, letting the system distinguish legitimate owners even if the wallet’s private key has been compromised. Key figures include CEO Alex Pruden and Binius maintainer Jim Posen, with the work based on “signature lifting” research by Alon Sattath and Robert Wyborski. Project Eleven states the prototype is unaudited and would require blockchain protocol support before deployment. The announcement lands amid rising industry focus on quantum readiness. Coinbase’s quantum advisory council has urged developers to plan post-quantum migrations now, including addressing what happens to users who never migrate to quantum-safe addresses. The report also references Bitcoin development progress such as BIP-360 moving into formal review, BTQ Technologies’ Bitcoin Quantum testnet work, and broader government steps to accelerate post-quantum cryptography.

Morgan Stanley has launched E*TRADE crypto trading for eligible customers, enabling them to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) alongside stocks. Trades and custody are handled through Zero Hash rails, using linked Zero Hash accounts rather than Morgan Stanley holding assets on its own balance sheet. E*TRADE crypto trading is priced with a 50-basis-point fee. Morgan Stanley also said digital-asset transfer functionality is expected later this year, and clients can view crypto holdings inside the E*TRADE platform. The rollout follows earlier crypto moves by Morgan Stanley, including SEC filings tied to spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs (and later amendments for spot Ether and Solana ETF fees). For traders, the key takeaway is that E*TRADE crypto trading expands mainstream spot access via established brokerage infrastructure, which could support incremental liquidity and sentiment for BTC, ETH and SOL as availability broadens.

T. Rowe Price has launched an active crypto ETF on NYSE Arca under the ticker **TKNZ**. The fund is described as the first actively managed multi-token spot crypto exchange-traded product in the market. **TKNZ** provides one listed wrapper for exposure to several major assets. Its eligible universe includes **Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), BNB (BNB), XRP, Solana (SOL), Hyperliquid (HYPE)** and other digital assets. The fund differentiates from many single-coin or passive-index products by using active management to respond to market rotations, momentum, and emerging crypto trends. The strategy includes proof-of-stake network investment flexibility, but the ETF initially will not stake holdings for yield (staking may be considered later). On launch, **TKNZ** allocated about **40.75% to BTC** and **18.42% to ETH**. **BNB** received **11.01%**, while **SOL** and **XRP** were **9.44%** and **9.37%** respectively. **HYPE** accounted for **6.45%**. Additional allocations included **XLM (3.00%)**, **DOGE (1.28%)**, **USDC (0.16%)**, and cash equivalents near **0.11%**. The ETF started with roughly **$15 million** in assets and carries a **0.75% management fee**. Portfolio management is led by Blue Macellari, with four co-portfolio managers. T. Rowe Price’s ETF head Tim Coyne framed the launch as a step for the firm’s active investment platform. Initial commentary from Bloomberg Intelligence’s Eric Balchunas suggested the opening weights were **underweight BTC** and relatively **overweight** other tokens, especially **HYPE**.

Base creator Jesse Pollak said Base’s strategy to drive adoption via web3 social platforms failed. In an X post, Pollak described Q1 2026 as a “punch in the face” for the network’s plans, saying onchain-native social experiences (including Farcaster, Zora, and creator coins) “disintegrated completely.” He also admitted they fell behind competitors in prediction markets, perpetual contracts, and enterprise tokenization. As a result, Base will pivot for the rest of 2026 toward global finance use cases. The priorities are: (1) trading, (2) global payments using stablecoins, and (3) AI agents. Pollak also returned management of the Base app to Coinbase, with the app to be led by “Cobie” to expand beyond the Base ecosystem. The shift follows Coinbase’s May 5, 2026 workforce reduction of about 14%, which eliminated regional growth and developer support roles across Asia-Pacific. Base’s Southeast Asia expansion teams were impacted, including Base Philippines. The local country lead Eli Becislao confirmed he was affected, and the Base Philippines X account was updated to say it is “no longer active.” Before the restructuring, Base Philippines reported a builder pipeline of 15,200+ people across 50 Philippine cities, 40+ university partnerships, and $150,000+ in grants to local crypto.

SheFi, a global educational initiative for women in Web3 and DeFi, held its private Manila event on July 11, 2026, officially launching the SheFi Philippines chapter. The program aims to create a localized space for Filipino women to learn, network, and lead in blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi). SheFi Philippines Chapter Lead Krystelle Galano said the event reached full capacity despite bad weather, reflecting rising demand for safe and inclusive communities for women in Web3. During the gathering, attendees used YODL, a web3 payments and rewards app, to claim digital rewards and buy beverages, positioning the integration as a practical blockchain utility demo. The launch also included partner and panel support from web3, media, and finance entities, including LBank, Miden, EMW Global, Cryptita Plays, 9Catgroup, BD Ventures, Captain Capital, and BitPinas. A panel discussion featured industry representatives Myrtle Anne, Crescenda Babiera, Thara Fajardo, Pearl Sy, and Pauliza J. In the broader context, SheFi (founded in 2020 by Maggie Love) runs multi-week cohorts covering blockchain fundamentals, wallet security, and decentralized protocols. The organization says it has expanded to 100+ countries and 30,000+ members, targeting the gender and education gap in crypto—an area where women remain underrepresented as investors and founders. This Women in Web3-focused chapter adds community-driven onboarding momentum in the Philippines’ web3 and DeFi ecosystem.