Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Ethereum staking queue data as of 17 Aug 2026 shows 2,229,411 ETH waiting in the entry queue across 37,498 deposits, implying an activation wait of roughly 38.7 days. The delay comes from Ethereum’s capped activation throughput: up to 256 ETH per epoch, or about 57,600 ETH per day, which slows validator onboarding when inflows keep arriving. At the same time, the exit queue was almost clear: only two validators were exiting with 64 ETH total, suggesting no meaningful exit backlog at that snapshot. Active balance stood at 42,240,256 ETH across 898,493 validators, so the entry queue equals about 5.3% of active staking. For traders and depositors focused on yield timing, the Ethereum staking queue matters: if a validator sits ~38.7 days before becoming active, the first-year rewards are reduced to about 89.4% of the value versus continuously active staking (a ~10.6% time-loss). Liquid staking and some exchange-linked products may bypass the on-chain queue because the validator is already running or the queue risk is contractual. Limitations: this is a single snapshot, not a time series, and reward rates weren’t measured. Nonetheless, the data highlights a clear near-term friction point for new ETH staking entries and underscores the importance of provider-specific queue handling.

The IEA says the Iran war has become the largest supply disruption in the global oil market history. Reuters reports that clashes involving the US, Israel and Iran are escalating, disrupting oil and LNG flows because shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is being affected. Markets are increasingly pricing a lower chance of a US-Iran diplomatic deal. “Key Takeaways” notes that pricing implies falling odds across multiple sub-markets, consistent with scenarios where energy security concerns derail negotiations. Recent market moves also suggest traders see higher risk of further military escalation as undermining potential diplomacy. Key figures to watch include US President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. Further military actions by Israel or Iran could reduce expectations for a US-Iran deal. Traders should also monitor whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens, as improved access would likely shift oil market pricing toward more favorable diplomatic outcomes. For traders, the immediate linkage is clear: a shock to the oil market can lift inflation and energy-risk premia, typically pressuring risk sentiment. Volatility can spill into crypto through broader USD/liquidity moves and risk-off positioning.

Iran has executed Ghaem Hosseini, a foreign national, after his conviction for participation in the Isfahan protests, according to the judiciary-linked Mizan news agency. The execution is part of an Iran protests crackdown carried out during protests that erupted across the country in 2025 and 2026, marked by mass arrests and death sentences. Authorities have relied on capital punishment to curb dissent, and while protests have eased since January, the state’s actions continue to draw international scrutiny. For traders, this Iran protests crackdown signals a hardening security posture. Market participants may read the foreign execution as an escalation risk for anti-regime sentiment, which can revive geopolitical anxiety. The article also frames the crackdown as consistent with scenarios where regime change risk rises before 2027. What to watch next: any escalation in anti-regime activity, additional international reactions tied to Iran’s use of capital punishment, and internal shifts that could affect regime stability. Observers specifically note potential IRGC defections or renewed mass protests as variables that could influence the likelihood of regime change. Key name mentioned: Ghaem Hosseini.

Binance said it will stop trading and delist ICON (ICX), Secret (SCRT) and Storj (STORJ) on 2026-09-03 11:00 (UTC+8), citing recent review results. The notice applies to the three spot assets named by Binance. Traders holding ICX, SCRT or STORJ may need to adjust positions ahead of the delisting time, as liquidity can drop and price volatility can rise around the event. Binance advised the update is based on its latest asset review process; no other related coins were mentioned in the announcement. Keywords: Binance, delist, ICX, SCRT, STORJ.

President Donald Trump met with Coinbase, Ripple, Gemini and other crypto executives at the White House to push a stronger US stance on digital assets. The core focus was the CLARITY Act (Digital Asset Market Clarity Act), which passed the House in July 2025 but remains stalled in the Senate. Trump urged Congress to approve a “fair version” of CLARITY and said the bill would help the US stay ahead of China. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong called the policy “durable into the future,” expecting the bill could clear a Senate cloture vote on September 15 with “more than 60 votes.” Trump also claimed US discussions about buying “sizable” amounts of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Market reaction was immediate. Bitcoin gained about 7% to near $70,000. Ethereum jumped nearly 18% to around $2,327. XRP rose to about $1.14. Traders also reacted to remarks involving Hyperliquid: Trump said CFTC Chair Michael Selig is working to bring Hyperliquid’s perpetuals trading platform into the US in a “fully compliant and legal fashion,” and HYPE surged more than 20%. Despite the bullish tape, the key risk remains political. Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego warned against rushing a vote, citing unresolved disagreements over ethics and stablecoin yield. He also noted Democrats have pushed language to restrict public officials, including the president, from selling digital currencies—where talks with the White House have made “little progress.”

Hyperliquid (HYPE) jumped 18.5% to $69.78 in 24 hours, the biggest gain among top-100 coins, and is up about 24% on the week. The move’s key catalyst is a regulatory filing: Hyperliquid’s policy arm and its trading platform trade[XYZ] submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Aug. 18. The proposal focuses on “IPO trust perps” (IPO perpetuals, or IPOPs): cash-settled perpetual futures that track the expected valuation of companies preparing to go public—without granting ownership, voting rights, or IPO allocations. The SEC Chairman Paul Atkins had called for ideas in May 2026, and Hyperliquid’s letter responds to that request. Hyperliquid also supports the case with market data. In five previously completed pre-IPO markets tied to companies including Cerebras, Quantinuum, SpaceX, SK Hynix, and ChangXin Memory Technologies, the filings claim the realized U.S. offerings were priced 10.8% to 38.4% below the pre-listing IPOP market prices from the prior day. This suggests the pre-IPO futures markets have repeatedly priced higher valuations than underwriting outcomes. For traders, the immediate implication is momentum around Hyperliquid: HYPE is tightly linked to trading volume, and the proposed U.S. product could broaden access and liquidity if regulators move forward. However, the document is only a comment letter—no SEC approval, no timeline, and the upside is partly “priced-in hope.”

XRP surged to a monthly high around $1.14 after breaking decisively above the $1.00 level, then pulled back near $1.10. The move was supported by whale activity: transactions worth over $1M jumped about 280% in a day (to nearly 40), and holders in the 10M–100M XRP range bought roughly 72M XRP in 24 hours. Exchange supply also declined, with over 240M XRP reportedly leaving Binance, Upbit and Coinbase between June and mid-August (reserves down from ~5.36B to ~5.12B). On-chain activity improved as the XRP Ledger recorded nearly 50,000 active addresses in 24 hours, the highest in over two months. Derivatives added a key context signal. XRP open interest rose to about $2.7B, with 75% of positions tagged long; however, short volume (~$375M) exceeded long (~$304M) in 24 hours, suggesting traders were not uniformly chasing upside. Analyst Bird noted that past leverage spikes during 2022–2024 often ended badly, but the November 2024 setup differed: XRP broke out alongside rising OI. The article frames today’s XRP breakout as more consistent with the November 2024 pattern if price keeps moving higher while OI remains healthy.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued a draft memo proposing mandatory national ID verification for banks and other BSP-supervised firms, including virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The central bank says institutions must integrate with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) National ID Authentication Services (NIDAS) to strengthen KYC. BSP requires the use of NIDAS via National ID eVerify for customer onboarding, account opening, and customer updates (digital or in-person). If an institution has not completed NIDAS onboarding, BSP directs it to use the National ID Check platform. A risk-based fallback is allowed: if the customer lacks a Philippine National ID or NIDAS is unavailable, firms can rely on other valid IDs and alternative verification methods. BSP also introduces two authentication tiers and states that when KYC is performed through NIDAS, the resulting NIDAS authentication confirmation can replace the need for a physical/printed National ID submission for first-time customers. Rollout comes in two phases: about three months after issuance for major retail-facing institutions (including universal/commercial banks with retail services, digital banks, electronic money issuers, and VASPs), and about six months for the remaining BSP-supervised entities. BSP warns that missing deadlines or failing to resolve onboarding integration delays could trigger supervisory enforcement actions. For crypto traders, this is primarily a compliance and infrastructure shift. It may pressure short-term onboarding operations for exchanges and fintechs due to KYC workflow integration costs, while potentially improving long-term customer verification quality and reducing identity fraud.

OKX has restricted access to Anthropic’s Claude for employees in Hong Kong and for staff connecting via mainland China. The change followed a brief suspension of OKX’s Anthropic enterprise account in early August, which was later restored. OKX said some earlier usage may have violated Anthropic’s Greater China geographic access policies. The restriction appears to be location-based: employees in supported regions can still use Claude through the restored enterprise account, while Hong Kong/China-origin requests are blocked. OKX has not disclosed how many users were affected, what triggered the suspension, or which alternative AI models will handle the blocked traffic. The exchange also revealed its AI spend: $6 million–$8 million per month across major AI providers (about $72 million–$96 million annually if costs stay stable). OKX says it is embedding AI tools into internal workflows and employee performance evaluations. For crypto traders, the key point is operational and vendor-policy compliance around enterprise AI tooling, not a change to OKX’s exchange operations or customer assets. Reported market impact appears unverified and likely indirect, affecting AI-infrastructure sentiment more than immediate token prices.

Sen. Ruben Gallego warned on Aug 19 that a rushed CLARITY Act push toward a Senate vote could derail negotiations on US crypto market structure. A procedural cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3633 is scheduled for Sept 15. It requires 60 votes to advance. Gallego urged the crypto industry to support continued bargaining rather than demanding immediate floor action, saying “Don’t go for a fast vote.” Key sticking points remain unresolved. Gallego said the White House has not provided detailed feedback on bipartisan ethics language he and Sen. Thom Tillis submitted. The proposal targets concerns that public officials could benefit from digital-asset businesses. A second major dispute involves stablecoin rewards. Banks and crypto firms disagree on whether platforms should offer rewards tied to stablecoin balances. Banks argue such rewards could pull deposits away from regulated lenders, while crypto companies say broad limits would protect banks from competition and reduce consumer choice. Lawmakers must also merge Banking and Agriculture Committee provisions, including CFTC-related aspects, into a single package. If the Senate changes the bill, the revised text would need further House action before it can reach the President. Market relevance: the CLARITY Act is moving through an expected 60-vote procedural hurdle, but failure to secure ethics and stablecoin compromises could extend uncertainty into the autumn calendar—often a catalyst for volatility around regulatory headlines. Traders may watch Sept 15 closely for shifts in odds, signaling, and committee-level negotiations.

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego warned against a fast Senate vote on the CLARITY Act, saying it could delay or weaken U.S. crypto market-structure legislation. Speaking at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Gallego said the White House has not provided point-by-point feedback on bipartisan ethics language tied to the CLARITY Act, despite repeated submissions with Sen. Thom Tillis. He argued Democrats will require sufficiently strong ethics restrictions to support the bill. Gallego said lawmakers still must resolve disputes over ethics and stablecoin yield, complete remaining steps in the Agriculture Committee portion, assemble the full legislative package, and determine how to move it to the House. He cautioned that a “premature movement” could set the process back further, complicating the Trump administration’s push for swift passage and the Senate’s need for 60 votes. The remarks come as pressure renews from the White House. President Trump urged Congress to pass a “fair version” of the CLARITY Act with crypto executives, while Senate leaders have already delayed action and plan to queue the vote after the September return. Cointelegraph reports it contacted the White House for comment but received no response before publication.

Col. Douglas Macgregor warned that Strait of Hormuz control could destabilize bond markets. The risk stems from escalating geopolitical tensions tied to Iran’s reported ability to restrict maritime traffic until U.S. conditions are met. The warning comes as U.S. Treasury yields sit near multi-decade highs, signaling higher borrowing costs for governments. Traders appear sensitive to how sovereign-debt stress and geopolitical shocks can raise volatility across fixed-income markets. What to watch: changes to Strait of Hormuz control or traffic restrictions that could disrupt global energy supplies and spill into financial stability. The next moves in U.S. Treasury yields are also key—if yields keep rising, it may confirm broader concerns about sovereign debt and prolonged geopolitical disruption. Federal Reserve messaging and major financial institutions’ policy expectations could further influence market pricing, keeping risk premia elevated.

The Financial Times reports that Gulf oil producers are increasing tanker demand to export crude more aggressively. Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) departing the Gulf are seeing the biggest impact, with spot earnings reaching six-figure daily levels. This tanker demand increase is linked to transporting more barrels via strategic routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. The overall tanker market has tightened, implying higher costs to ship crude and a possible spillover into global oil prices. Traders will likely read these shipping signals as consistent with a scenario where crude prices face upward pressure. The article also highlights watchpoints for further confirmation: OPEC and its Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, plus geopolitics that could affect Gulf export flows. As catalysts approach, market focus may shift toward crude futures timing around September 30 and December 31. Overall, the tanker demand surge suggests a near-term risk of firmer oil pricing, which could feed into broader macro conditions for assets including crypto—especially if energy-driven inflation expectations rise again.

Ethereum spot ETF flows strengthened further: on Aug 19 (ET), Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $189M in total net inflows, marking a third straight day of positive demand. The biggest contributor was BlackRock’s ETHA, with $122M net inflows, while Fidelity’s FETH added about $36.54M. At the time of reporting, Ethereum spot ETFs’ total net asset value (AUM) was $12.063B, with an ETF net asset ratio of 4.51% versus Ethereum’s total market cap. Cumulative net inflows since inception were reported at $11.744B. Traders will likely watch Ethereum spot ETF inflows closely: continued net buying can support near-term spot demand and stabilize sentiment, but any rapid reversal back to outflows could quickly shift short-term price momentum lower. Separately, earlier tracking showed the complex had previously posted strong single-day inflows (e.g., $82.37M on June 8), following a prior stretch of larger outflows.

CryptoQuant data shows a sharp decline in XRP reserves at major exchanges since late May/early June, highlighting ongoing XRP outflows. Total tracked XRP on Upbit, Binance, and Bithumb fell by about 240 million XRP to around 10.84B as of Aug 19. Upbit still holds the most: 6.40B XRP, down from 6.51B on May 30 (about -110M). Bithumb dropped to 1.82B from 1.85B (about -30M). Binance saw the largest percentage decrease: reserves fell to 2.62B from 2.72B (about -100M, -3.7%). Combined reserves across the three exchanges declined from roughly 11.08B to 10.84B (about -2.2%). The article links this to withdrawal-heavy activity, with Coinbase showing negative net wallet counts (e.g., -14,300 over seven days as of Aug 18). Binance and Crypto.com also posted negative net wallet counts, suggesting more XRP leaving exchanges than entering. Despite weak price performance—XRP is down nearly 10% over the past month and struggles near $1—on-chain activity on the XRP Ledger picked up. Transactions worth over $1M reportedly surged 280% in one day, while active addresses approached ~50,000 over a 24-hour period. However, XRP social sentiment fell to a three-month low. For traders, the key tension is clear: exchange outflows for XRP may support accumulation narratives, but bearish sentiment and price weakness remain short-term headwinds.

In the Fed minutes from the July 28–29 FOMC meeting, policymakers signaled that more Fed rate hikes could be needed if inflation does not move convincingly toward the 2% target. The Fed kept the benchmark rate at 3.50%–3.75%, but the Fed minutes showed a hawkish split. Several officials favored raising rates immediately, while others argued tightening may be required if price pressures remain elevated. Three voting members dissented and preferred a 25-basis-point increase. Officials cited broad-based price pressure and said underlying inflation pressures remain elevated even after excluding some effects related to energy and tariffs. They also pointed to inflation data that remain tricky: July CPI cooled to 3.4%, yet policymakers want confirmation that the improvement can persist as energy prices and broader supply pressures stay in focus. Labor-market conditions add uncertainty, with slower hiring potentially arguing against aggressive tightening. The next Fed meeting is scheduled for Sept. 15–16. Markets reduced expectations for an immediate hike after softer economic data, but the Fed minutes made clear that higher rates remain a realistic option later this year. Crypto-trader takeaway: ahead of the Fed minutes, Treasury-related news pushed longer-dated yields lower, which supported stocks and Bitcoin while pressuring the dollar. With both “hold” and “hike” paths still open, traders should expect continued rate-hike headline sensitivity—especially if inflation readings re-accelerate.

The gold price surged above $4,500 an ounce on Wednesday, extending a strong rally as falling long-term Treasury yields and a weaker dollar outweighed a hawkish tone in the Fed minutes. Spot gold later traded around $4,488 (+3.6%), while U.S. gold futures settled near $4,545.30 (+2.8%). The move also pushed gold above its 100-day moving average near $4,381. A key catalyst came from the U.S. Treasury: it plans to double buybacks of longer-dated government bonds. That announcement helped drive the 30-year Treasury yield down roughly 10 bps to about 5.19% (after 5.337%). Lower yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding bullion since gold pays no interest. The dollar index fell around 0.8%, further supporting demand for dollar-priced gold. The rally persisted even after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its July 28–29 meeting. Policymakers signalled concern about persistent inflation, with some prepared to raise rates; the Fed kept its policy rate at 3.50%–3.75%, while three officials voted for a quarter-point hike. Short-term yields reacted more hawkishly, but longer maturities stayed lower after the Treasury buyback news. Broader precious metals also rose: silver (+~4%), platinum (+~5.1%), and palladium (+~2.7%). For traders, the next gold price test is whether it can hold above the $4,500 zone—staying above would strengthen the bullish structure, while losing the level could flip it back to resistance.

PUMP from Pump.fun fell about 3% on Wednesday after nearly a 13% rally the prior day, as traders booked profits. Derivatives data points to still-rising speculative demand. CoinGlass shows PUMP futures Open Interest hit an all-time high of $258.62M (up from $216.74M in 24 hours). The funding rate jumped to 0.039% from -0.0036%, turning sharply positive—typically a sign longs are paying shorts and leverage is building. On-chain metrics also improved. Pump.fun Total Value Locked rose to a record 3.34M SOL (DeFiLlama). Revenue increased to 23,706 SOL on Tuesday, taking the weekly total to 47,500+ SOL, with active addresses up to 81,429 (+9.4% WoW). Technically, PUMP trades above $0.00300 and holds support near the 50-day and 200-day EMAs around $0.00221–$0.00223. A potential Golden Cross is forming as the 50-day EMA nears crossing above the 200-day EMA. RSI is near 68 (strong momentum but below the 70 overbought level). Resistance sits around $0.003399. For traders, record leverage and fast-rising funding can boost upside momentum, but it also raises liquidation risk if PUMP reverses unexpectedly.

Hyperliquid’s token HYPE is extending its recovery and is pushing toward a $60 breakout. After a second consecutive day of gains, HYPE trades around $58.7, holding above key moving averages (50/100/200-day EMAs). Momentum indicators are improving: MACD is positive and RSI is near 56, suggesting buyers remain in control without clear “overbought” conditions. At the same time, the Hyperliquid Policy Center and trade[XYZ] submitted recommendations to the US SEC in response to a request to modernize the IPO process. They argue the SEC should create rules that let US investors access pre-IPO perpetual markets. These instruments are designed to provide continuously updated price exposure to a company’s expected valuation before its public listing, without granting equity, shares, voting rights, or direct claims against the issuing company. The filing points to prior examples of trade[XYZ] pre-IPO perpetual products that tracked listing expectations on Hyperliquid, and cites SpaceX’s market as an example of price discovery that was not accessible to US retail due to lack of a regulated pathway. Supporters see potential for broader price discovery and market access, while critics highlight risks common to leveraged derivatives, including leverage, uncertain valuation, limited disclosure, and possible price manipulation before public-market data arrives. For traders, the key level is $60: technicals favor buyers as long as HYPE holds above the 50-day EMA area (~$58.3). A sustained daily close above the nearby resistance trendline and $60 could confirm a breakout; failure could trigger profit-taking back toward EMA support zones.

BitGo Korea has secured VASP registration from South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), clearing a major compliance step for institutional crypto custody and transfers. Yonhap says the FIU accepted the filing on Aug. 18, ahead of tougher VASP checks that began Aug. 20. The approval lets BitGo Korea serve financial institutions and corporate clients through regulated custody and transfer infrastructure. The venture launched in 2024, but BitGo has not announced a launch date, supported assets, custody fees, or insurance coverage. This comes as South Korea’s VASP framework tightens governance and eligibility reviews. Regulators can scrutinize the CEO or controlling shareholder and apply debt-ratio limits (debt ratio capped at 200%). Applicants can also be rejected for prior defaults, insolvency findings, or certain regulatory violations, alongside requirements for staffing, cybersecurity, and AML/internal controls. BitGo Korea also required Information Security Management System (ISMS) certification, which it obtained in June 2025. The project is backed by Hana Financial (25%) and SK Telecom (10%). While the article frames this as connecting global custody capabilities to Korea, it does not indicate approval to operate a won-based retail crypto exchange. For traders, the immediate price impact is likely limited because BitGo did not announce retail token products. Still, clearer VASP registration rules can reduce regulatory uncertainty and improve institutional liquidity over time, which may support market structure rather than trigger an instant rally.

TikTok is building a way for users to send peer-to-peer payments inside direct messages. Bloomberg reports that code inside the current US iPhone app points to transfers routed through TikTok Pay, but a spokesperson says the feature is not in testing in any market. The flow appears early-stage: recipients would “tap to accept” before a transfer expires, senders would receive push/inbox status updates, and notes could accompany the payment. Settlement would run through TikTok Pay, the wallet TikTok already operates in Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand for TikTok Shop checkout. At present, TikTok can process purchases (TikTok Shop), and creators can receive value via digital gifts/coins, but it cannot move money between two users—so users often rely on Venmo/Cash App links in bios. TikTok’s payments push comes with legal risk. ByteDance has assembled payment infrastructure and hires from JPMorgan Chase tied to the effort. In the US, state attorneys general have previously alleged TikTok’s payment tools facilitated money laundering, violated money transmission laws, or exposed children to exploitation. The article also notes broader pressure on Big Tech “everything app” strategies, including similar experiments by X. For traders, this signals continued competition for consumer payment rails rather than a direct crypto integration. Still, expanded wallet functionality and compliance scrutiny can influence sentiment around payments-adjacent ecosystems and regulated stablecoin/crypto on-ramps.

Cantor Fitzgerald says it has started arranging institutional block trades in Kalshi event contracts on a CFTC-regulated exchange. The bank will act as an introducing broker: Susquehanna Predictions supplies pricing and liquidity, while large orders can be executed at a single negotiated price instead of pushing through thin event-contract order books. Key people include Cantor co-CEO Pascal Bandelier and co-CEO Christian Wall, with Kalshi VP Max Crowley describing more venues expected after Kalshi. The move follows growing institutional “plumbing” for prediction markets, including Galaxy Digital’s OTC desk activity and Crypto.com’s expansion of institutional prediction-markets operations. Susquehanna Predictions expects the next wave of demand to come more from hedging than speculation, targeting institutional risk transfer via tailored contracts that cover market and industry risks not well served by traditional insurance markets. For traders, the headline is better execution capacity for Kalshi event contracts—potentially improving liquidity and reducing slippage for large participants—while the market impact will likely remain gradual as institutions scale up.

Paytaca showed how Bitcoin Cash can move beyond trading and into everyday retail use at Cebu’s Cash 3.0 Conference (July 31–Aug 2). The highlight was the Paytaca NFC Card, which lets users tap to pay at merchants while staying self-custodial: transactions run through Bitcoin Cash smart contracts linked to NFC hardware, aiming to complete payments in seconds without seed-phrase exposure or checkout-screen navigation. To prove real-world usability, organizers paired the conference with a public bazaar at Robinsons Galleria Cebu. Attendees and local shoppers used Bitcoin Cash to buy food, goods, and services directly from regional vendors via Paytaca’s payment stack. A Cash 3.0 Hackathon also ran using CashScript (Bitcoin Cash’s high-level language) for smart-contract apps. Paytaca CEO Joemar Taganna and CMO Aaron James Almadro framed the effort as a shift toward practical payments and merchant adoption outside Metro Manila. Regional innovation goals were emphasized given Paytaca’s Tacloban base since 2018, with a focus on building decentralized software and retail workflows in the Visayas. Hackathon winners included University of Cebu–Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (overall), plus category awards such as ACLC College of Ormoc (Best CashTokens project: ProofPass), University of San Jose–Recoletos (Best CashScript use: eSahod), and STI College Ormoc (Best UI/UX: Pasada). Other notable wins covered merchant and idea categories, including SmartClipCash and Hermes.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) says QR Ph and cheaper interbank transfers are accelerating electronic payments across the Philippines. The share of electronic transactions rose to 64.69% of total retail transaction volume in 2025, up from 57.45% in 2024, reaching the government’s 60%–70% target band for 2023–2028. Key drivers include BSP Circular No. 123, which pressures banks to keep inter-bank transfer fees reasonable and aligned with internal transfer costs. At the same time, interoperability standards like QR Ph reduce consumer friction: customers can scan one QR code at participating merchants, regardless of the consumer’s bank or e-wallet app. BSP data also highlights a payments mix shift. QR Ph processed 2.47 billion transactions worth ₱1.16 trillion in 2025, surpassing debit and credit card usage for the first time. Person-to-merchant payments made up 74.31% of digital transaction volume, supported by a 36.3% increase in merchant outlets accepting digital options. For business payments, PESONet routed supplier payments exceeded paper checks in late 2025, aided by same-day clearing. Value tells a nuanced story: digital payments accounted for 53.32% of total transaction value in 2025 (down from 58.98% in 2024). BSP frames this as increased use of e-wallets for high-frequency, low-value purchases—rather than only large transfers. Looking ahead, the BSP plans to expand digital payments into public transportation fare collection, strengthen cross-border remittance links, and add direct e-commerce checkout tools—keeping electronic payments the default choice. For traders, the takeaway is that QR Ph adoption improves payment rails and consumer e-wallet usage, which can indirectly support fintech and crypto-related on/off-ramp demand, but it is not a direct crypto catalyst.

Crypto Derivatives analytics for Week 34 show a continued summer volatility lull in both BTC and ETH options. BTC 7-day at-the-money implied volatility (ATM IV) fell to about 23% last week, the lowest since September 2023. Realised volatility is also at its lowest since September 2025, reinforcing a low-vol trading regime. Despite several macro catalysts, BTC largely traded sideways around $60K. U.S. data came in softer than expected (CPI and nonfarm payrolls), reducing market expectations of a September rate hike. Separately, the expired June U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding also weighed on risk sentiment. On Monday, BTC rebounded toward $64K, coinciding with a front-end recovery in put-call skew. However, skew still has not turned meaningfully positive, so options demand has not shifted decisively bullish. Derivatives sentiment also faced pressure from fundamentals: spot ETF outflows continued, and there has been nearly two months of no buying from Strategy, the largest BTC digital asset treasury. ETH mirrored the volatility compression. Short-dated ETH vol trended toward ~30% in mid-August. ETH put-call skew trades negatively across all tenors, though the front end has recovered. ETH is up roughly 2% on the month. Overall, the Crypto Derivatives read-through is that price action remains range-bound, while options positioning shows early stabilization (skew uptick) but not a confirmed bullish reversal.

Austrian tax guidance discussed by Dennis Weidner focuses on whether converting BTC into Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is tax-neutral. In principle, Austria treats a crypto-to-crypto swap as non-taxable, provided the tokens both qualify under section 27b(4) of the Austrian Income Tax Act (EStG). The key uncertainty is whether WBTC is officially classified as a “cryptocurrency” for tax purposes, since the Austrian Ministry of Finance (BMF) has no specific published position on Wrapped Bitcoin. If the BTC→WBTC transaction qualifies as a valid crypto-to-crypto swap, accumulated gains are not realized at the swap date, and acquisition costs carry over to WBTC. Later, tax generally applies when WBTC is sold for euros at the special 27.5% capital gains rate. The article also notes structural risk: WBTC can be obtained either by buying on an exchange or by wrapping directly (minting/redeeming via custody). Depending on the technical structure, regulators may treat the process like an asset exchange, but this is not an official ruling for WBTC. Traders and investors should pay extra attention to legacy Bitcoin holdings (acquired before 1 March 2021) and to follow-on DeFi actions—lending, liquidity provision, liquidity mining, swaps, or using WBTC as consideration can create additional taxable events even if the initial BTC-to-WBTC swap is tax-neutral. Detailed record-keeping (dates, costs, token quantities, wallet IDs, market value, fees, and later redemption/sales) is emphasized.

OKX delisting doesn’t happen on one date. It follows a chain of four restrictions: (1) a deposit freeze that stops new deposits, while existing balances remain untouched; (2) a trading halt that removes the sell option (the token may still show in your account); (3) a withdrawal deadline that prevents moving tokens off-exchange; and (4) residual balances being moved into an “untradable assets” area. The only stage traders must treat as truly urgent is the withdrawal deadline, because after it passes you lose control of the tokens and may face delayed or unclear outcomes. The article stresses that open orders and trading bots are also cleared around the delisting day—OKX notes cancellation and bot shutdown can take time, and balances tied up by orders may be blocked for days. OKX case (European support listings): - MAJOR and J: withdrawals close on 2026-08-26 at 08:00 UTC (deposits stopped 2026-05-26, trading cut off earlier). - GODS, PRCL, DUCK: withdrawals close on 2026-11-07 at 08:00 UTC (with multiple trading-pair cutoffs in mid-August). If you want certainty, the article’s universal protection is self-custody: move tokens to a wallet where you hold the keys. Alternatively, transfer to another exchange that still lists the token—after checking network compatibility and withdrawal fees. For taxes, a transfer to self-custody is not a sale. However, if an exchange converts residual balances after the Delisting deadline into a stablecoin, it can be treated as a disposal event for tax reporting. Traders are advised to review account positions (including “untradable assets”) and check exchange announcements rather than relying on notifications.

US President Donald Trump urged the Senate to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, saying the US must stay “ahead of China.” He spoke with crypto executives including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, calling for “a fair version” of CLARITY. The CLARITY Act cleared the House in July 2025 but has been stalled in the Senate for months. Key disputes include tokenized equities, stablecoin reward structures, and potential conflicts of interest tied to Trump family links to the crypto industry. Armstrong said the CLARITY Act would make US crypto rules more “durable,” and suggested it could secure “more than 60 votes” if the Senate addresses a cloture motion on Sept. 15. Trump also framed CLARITY as a continuation of late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s work. However, Sen. Ruben Gallego criticized the president’s comments at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, arguing the White House should not decide the “level of regulation.” Meanwhile, regulators are moving without CLARITY: the SEC proposed a safe harbor so certain tokens may not be treated as “investment contracts,” plus exemptions for some token issuance. Ahead of a CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee meeting, CFTC Chair Michael Selig said the agency will keep exploring crypto regulation because Congress may not return for another month. For traders, the market focus is the CLARITY Act momentum into Sept. 15. Any Senate scheduling clarity could quickly shift risk sentiment, while near-term price action may also react to SEC/CFTC rulemaking progress.

Bitcoin.com has integrated USDU, a UAE-registered US dollar stablecoin issued by Abu Dhabi’s Universal Digital, into its self-custodial web and mobile wallet. USDU is registered with the Central Bank of the UAE under the Payment Token Services Regulation and is described as the first—and currently only—Foreign Payment Token registered under that framework. The Ethereum-based USDU is now available for users to hold, send, and receive. Bitcoin.com says swap and buy/sell features are expected to be added later via third-party providers. The firm also plans to accept USDU for designated services and to work toward enabling payments between users and merchants, but availability will vary by jurisdiction. USDU was launched in January. The integration comes as USDU expands distribution: Zodia Custody added institutional support in July, and a USDT–USDU liquidity pool was launched on Uniswap in August, improving decentralized liquidity for the token. For crypto traders, this is a compliance-driven stablecoin onboarding story. It may increase regional demand for USDU and deepen on-chain liquidity, but its market-wide impact is likely limited by geographic availability.