Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Three Bitcoin holders sued Apple in California federal court, alleging a fake Sparrow Wallet iOS app drained about $1.8 million in crypto. The complaint was filed July 24 and centers on a “seed phrase” scam: users entered their recovery phrases into the fake Sparrow Wallet app, after which funds were stolen. Alleged victims include James Ramirez (7.4 BTC, ~$875,000), Christopher Ellis (~6.9 BTC, ~$840,000), and Jalen Delgado (1.05 BTC, ~$120,000). One plaintiff says he reported the issue to Apple on July 25, 2025, but the fraudulent listings still appeared when the case was filed. The suit claims Apple effectively promoted the fake Sparrow Wallet app by featuring it in curated crypto collections alongside legitimate apps. Plaintiffs filed eight counts, including fraud and negligent misrepresentation, and argue Apple’s App Store should be treated like a product distributed in commerce. Apple declined to comment, saying it rejected 371,000+ malicious submissions and that there are currently no Sparrow Wallet copycats on the App Store. For traders, this is primarily a security-and-legal story: it underscores ongoing risk from seed-phrase phishing in iOS ecosystems, while most Apple-related actions are unlikely to change Bitcoin’s fundamentals.

Hungary is rolling back crypto transaction “checks” after CoinCash received authorization under the EU’s MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) framework. The Hungarian Parliament voted to repeal the country’s crypto validator requirement, removing a mandatory third-party approval step for certain crypto conversions. Finance Minister Kármán András said the prior rules hurt Hungary’s crypto market and led some providers to stop operating locally. Hungary’s stricter validator regime had been introduced via its 2024 crypto assets law and took effect on July 1, 2025, requiring licensed validators to verify asset origin, wallet ownership, and customer information before issuing a compliance declaration. The regulatory shift also matters because MiCA compliance timelines were already tightened in Hungary. The country applied a shortened transition period for CASPs (crypto asset service providers), pushing MiCA-related requirements to July 1, 2025 instead of the EU’s maximum deadline of July 1, 2026. Separately, the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) granted CoinCash operator Tiwala Solutions an MiCA authorization on July 20. Reported coverage indicates it is the first authorization by Hungary’s central bank directly under the MiCA framework. The licence covers custody, crypto-to-fiat and crypto-to-crypto exchange, transfers, investment advice, and portfolio management. CoinCash said it completed a months-long compliance review and paused operations while preparing for MiCA approval, with plans to gradually resume services and expand into additional MiCA-regulated offerings.

Bitcoin price slipped below $62,800 in a risk-off move before the FOMC meeting, but it quickly reversed and is trading back above $64,000. After a rejection near $67,000 last week, BTC fell sharply, then steadied around $64K over the weekend. Traders leaned on US–Iran de-escalation headlines for support, with a brief jump toward $65,600 early Monday. However, another dip followed on Tuesday, and on the day before the “most unpredictable FOMC meetings in years,” Bitcoin dumped under $62,800 again, losing about $3,000 in under a day. The rebound has since lifted BTC’s market cap to about $1.290T and increased BTC dominance to 57%. Altcoins turned broadly green. XRP is up ~3% to around $1.09 and ADA gained ~4.4% to about $0.165. ETH reclaimed $1,900, while UNI rose over 5%. XMR reached ~$350. Losers included NEAR (-~5%) plus LTC and ZEC. Specifically, BEAT led the 24-hour gainers, surging ~35% to $3.75, and Pi Network’s PI rebounded ~5.5% to near $0.08 after dropping to ~$0.074. Total crypto market cap recovered roughly $40B to about $2.270T. Bitcoin’s (BTC) quick rebound suggests demand is returning ahead of macro catalysts, but price action remains highly headline-sensitive into the FOMC window.

Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for Telegram founder Pavel Durov, Reuters reports, after Russia’s Federal Security Service charged him with facilitating terrorist activity. The warrant is described as linked to Telegram allegedly failing to remove content used by Ukrainian intelligence, plus terrorist and extremist groups, for sabotage, mass killings, cyber fraud, and other attacks against Russia. The case comes amid the Russia-Ukraine war, where Telegram is widely used on both sides, with over one billion users globally. The report also says Moscow has tried to restrict Telegram and promote its state-backed MAX service, while Russian government bodies—including the Kremlin and the defense ministry—continue using Durov’s platform for official communications. Earlier this year, other reports said Durov was already under investigation in a terrorism-related case. A summons reportedly reached an apartment he had lived in for more than 20 years. Durov responded that he was targeted for defending free speech and private correspondence. His whereabouts remain unknown. Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for Telegram founder Pavel Durov about two years after he was arrested in France for allegations that Telegram failed to prevent criminal activity and cooperate with law enforcement requests. Durov denies wrongdoing.

Russia’s FSB says it has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov under Article 205.1 for allegedly aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list. The FSB alleges Telegram failed to remove channels, chats, and bots used—according to its claims—by Ukrainian special services and extremist/terror groups to coordinate sabotage and cyber fraud inside Russia. The case was opened in February, after Russia began restricting Telegram. After the announcement, the FSB said it detained 46 Russians recruited via a Telegram dating bot. Durov has not directly commented. For traders, the crypto angle is the Telegram-ecosystem token. In recent weeks, GRAM Telegram said it will roll out a native, non-custodial GRAM wallet to more than 1 billion users. GRAM (renamed from Toncoin in June) briefly rose about 7% on the news. However, the Telegram founder Pavel Durov charge may increase regulatory and platform-risk sentiment for Telegram-adjacent on-chain products, with any market impact more likely concentrated in GRAM than in broad majors. GRAM is around $1.42, down roughly 2.4% over the past 24 hours.

Ionic Digital Nasdaq debut surged 26% after its Nasdaq direct listing, the exchange’s largest since 2021. The stock opened at $50 and closed at $62.90, valuing the company at about $2.8 billion. For Celsius Network bankruptcy claimholders, the listing creates an exit route without new listing-driven capital. Ionic Digital issued about 37 million Class A shares to eligible Celsius-related claimholders. A prior June private placement raised $400 million via convertible preferred shares and warrants; the preferred shares convert into common stock once the listing is completed. A lock-up restricts transfers below $70 until six months after listing. Operationally, Ionic Digital has shifted from bitcoin mining to AI compute infrastructure. It decommissioned its Ward County, Texas mining site in December and allocated 234MW of capacity to Nscale under a 126-month lease tied to $1.95B in contracted revenue. The company projected up to $195M in revenue for the year, with over 90% from infrastructure leasing. As of March 31, it held 2,815.6 BTC and reported no debt. Ionic Digital Nasdaq debut can increase attention on Celsius-legacy equity and the miner-to-AI infrastructure theme, but any immediate market moves are more likely to be stock-volatility driven rather than a direct BTC catalyst.

An analyst argues that XRP’s long-term upside is not driven by payment volume alone, but by whether institutions hold XRP as locked collateral. On X, xrpl_Adam compared XRP to gold: the value comes from being held, not constantly traded. The thesis challenges a common XRP community claim that large cross-border flows imply extremely high valuation. The analyst says a fast bridge asset (settling in seconds) can be reused, so daily volume does not determine price—“idle inventory” does. He cites XRP supply math: about 100B XRP exist, with 32.4B in escrow and ~62B circulating, mapping to roughly $10T market cap at $100 and ~$100T at $1,000. Ripple-related developments are mentioned, including Ripple’s $1.25B acquisition of Hidden Road (renamed Ripple Prime), a prime-broker entity aimed at collateral approval. However, the analyst notes a key missing piece: neither Ripple’s published collateral schedule nor KBRA’s reports currently list XRP as eligible collateral. CEO Brad Garlinghouse framed XRP collateral acceptance as a future goal. Despite ecosystem progress (Ripple Mint for RLUSD stablecoin management and investment in Notabene), XRP price action has lagged: around $1.09, up ~2% in 24h but down ~5% over 7 days, and still more than 70% below the July 2025 high of $3.65. For traders, this keeps attention on any future institutional collateral listings of XRP, but current eligibility gaps and weak price momentum temper the near-term impact.

South Korean outlet Daily NK reports that North Korea has arrested a criminal network of state-trained cyber and IT personnel accused of hacking two state banks and running crypto laundering through digital assets. The alleged breach targeted the North Korea central bank’s internal systems and the Foreign Trade Bank. The suspects are said to have converted stolen state funds into cryptocurrency, split balances into “ghost accounts,” moved assets to overseas crypto wallets, and then swapped them for currencies easier to cash out via China-based brokers. Daily NK says the laundering chain ends with real-time conversion into USD and CNY. The report is not independently verified, but it fits a longer pattern: North Korea remains a major nation-state risk to crypto. Chainalysis estimated North Korea stole at least $2.02 billion in crypto in 2025, while TRM Labs said North Korea-linked actors accounted for about two-thirds of hacking losses in the first half of 2026. For traders, this is more than a single arrest story. Even if crypto laundering routes are disrupted in the short term, the broader financing and brokerage workflow appears durable, which can keep DeFi security risk elevated and contribute to event-driven volatility around affected ecosystems.

The Fed will deliver its rate decision on Wednesday, July 29 (2:00 p.m. ET) with no dot plot, signaling through the statement and Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference rather than the rate move itself. This comes one day before Q2 GDP advance and June PCE inflation (PCE price index) on Thursday, July 30—both key inputs to how markets price the Fed’s next steps. Crypto traders face tight sequencing of liquidity and volatility drivers. Coinbase and Strategy will report second-quarter results on Thursday, July 30. Coinbase posted a $394M net loss in Q1 and cut about 700 jobs; Strategy holds 843,775 BTC acquired for roughly $63.69B and reports large unrealized digital-asset swings under fair-value accounting. On Friday, July 31, monthly Bitcoin and Ether options expiry on Deribit can create “max-pain” settlement magnet effects and short-term volatility around major strikes. In the second week, the July jobs report arrives on Friday, August 7 (8:30 a.m. ET), and July CPI is released on Wednesday, August 12 (8:30 a.m. ET). Stronger payrolls or hotter CPI could cool near-term rate-cut expectations; softer data could support easing expectations—moving BTC and ETH alongside rate-sensitive risk sentiment. Overall, the Fed decision is the anchor, but the real trading risk is how quickly markets must reconcile Fed messaging with GDP/PCE and then with jobs and CPI.

Citadel has called for a surprise 25bp Fed rate hike today, challenging the prevailing market consensus for no change. Markets currently expect the federal funds target range of 3.50%–3.75%. A rate increase to 3.75%–4.00% would be more hawkish and likely pressure interest-rate-sensitive assets. Implied probabilities point to only a 30%–38% chance of a Fed rate hike of this size, while the broader market still leans toward holding rates. However, Citadel’s stance could shift short-term pricing and sentiment among traders. Key pricing signals: the odds of a rate hike by the July 28–29 meeting are 21.2% (down from 26% a day earlier). For the September 15–16 meeting, odds have risen to 68.5%, suggesting tighter policy expectations over the medium term. Traders will focus on the FOMC decision, plus Jerome Powell’s press conference for guidance on the Fed’s next steps. Further labor-market and inflation data will be crucial ahead of the September meeting. Officials’ wording in FOMC statements and minutes will also be closely watched for any hints of a future Fed rate hike.

A White House teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, accused of profiting from Kalshi prediction market bets tied to President Donald Trump’s speeches, is no longer employed by the federal government, the AP reported. Perez had been placed on unpaid leave earlier this month. A White House official confirmed the employment change but did not say whether Perez resigned or was fired. Earlier reporting said Perez used nonpublic information to place wagers on Kalshi and allegedly earned more than $100,000. Kalshi’s surveillance team flagged suspicious trading activity and referred the case to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Kalshi prohibits trading based on information obtained through employment. For crypto traders, the key takeaway is reputational and regulatory risk around prediction markets that reference real-world events. While this is not a direct spot-crypto move, any CFTC escalation could tighten oversight of market conduct and influence sentiment toward event-driven wagering venues—especially those that attract US political headlines.

A CoinDesk opinion argues that the real 2026 “battleground” is Solana perps (perpetual futures), not just tokenized stocks. The author, Brian Smith of the Jito Foundation, says onchain derivatives are onboarding traditional finance because they provide 24/7 price discovery when legacy venues are closed (notably during geopolitical stress). The piece points to SpaceX’s recent IPO as a catalyst for both Solana and Hyperliquid. It claims Solana venues saw tokenized SpaceX spot trading volume surpass $100 million in 24 hours for the first time. It also cites Cerebras Systems, saying perps-implied prices closely matched IPO opening prints—suggesting onchain venues can contribute to genuine price discovery. However, Smith argues the decisive contest is Solana perps volume. He says Solana’s throughput and fees are sufficient for high-frequency derivatives, so the gap is execution and product focus versus Hyperliquid, which was “built specifically for derivatives traders.” The article frames “Sunday volume” as a wedge: if Solana wins early-weekend trading liquidity, it could pull more global participants onto perps and other tokenized assets over time. Bottom line for traders: watch Solana perps-related liquidity and volume shifts versus Hyperliquid, because a lead could attract more TradFi-style hedging and commodity/equity exposure—potentially strengthening onchain derivatives demand beyond tokenized stock headlines.

This page shows a Cloudflare “Performing security verification” screen for medium.com, including “Verification successful” and a notice to wait for the site to respond. There is no underlying article text or crypto-related information available to extract. For traders, this means there is currently no confirmed update on cryptocurrencies, token listings, policy changes, exchange actions, or market-moving fundamentals. As a result, the safest interpretation is that the feed is unavailable rather than the market receiving new information. Cloudflare security verification prevents retrieval of the original content, so traders should avoid acting on assumptions. Treat this as a data-access issue, not a signal. Cloudflare security verification is also unlikely to directly affect market liquidity or order flow; any impact would be indirect (reduced information velocity, slower sentiment formation).

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says its Stablecoin Sprint found stablecoins’ clearest near-term use case is cross-border payments. In meetings with banks, payment firms, and stablecoin issuers, industry participants argued that stablecoins offer the biggest benefits where access to US dollars is limited, especially in emerging markets. In major payment corridors with fast and relatively cheap rails, participants expect fewer advantages. The FCA also expects domestic UK consumer adoption to remain limited. Existing retail payment methods are already fast and inexpensive, so consumers have little incentive to switch. However, merchants could benefit from lower costs and faster settlement. The sprint’s findings helped shape the FCA’s June 30 final rules. From the effective requirements for UK-issued stablecoins, issuers must keep tokens fully backed by reserve assets and ensure redemptions at par. The FCA said the feedback will further inform its future policy on stablecoin payments. For traders, this reinforces a regulatory push toward “fully reserved, redeemable” stablecoin models, with adoption emphasis likely shifting toward cross-border flows rather than UK retail payments in the near term.

The London Blockchain Institutional Tokenisation Summit focused on how to achieve tokenization scaling for real-world assets (RWAs). Speakers from banks, asset managers, law firms and infrastructure providers agreed on a common sequence: regulatory clarity → industry standards → interoperability → scaling. Key figures included Myles Harrison (AMINA Bank) and Paul Landless (DLA Piper). Landless said UK demand is shifting from “what is it” to “where is it”, highlighting the UK’s lack of a dedicated crypto asset regime until at least October 2027. Multiple sessions argued that TradFi participation depends on compliance-friendly structures and clear rules. A central technical theme was privacy with transparency using zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). Martin Halford (Polymath Network) discussed confidential assets and institutional tokenization, explaining how markets need private participant identity while still providing accurate data to regulators when required. The talk pointed to Polymesh as a way to bridge blockchain networks with traditional oversight using ZKP-based proofs. On the standards side, Abrar Akhtar (British Standards Institution, BSI) called for broadly agreed or universal institutional standards for financial asset tokenization, noting progress such as BSI involvement across about 20 countries. The interoperability track highlighted Swift’s Jack Pouderoyen, who framed interoperability as enabling institutions to coordinate payment flows and manage liquidity across environments without creating fragmentation. Canton Network’s James Pollock summed up the main operational barriers as finding counterparties and finding better-than-existing solutions. Trader relevance: the message is bullish for the long-run RWA/tokenization narrative, but near-term market impact is more sentiment-driven than directly tied to major coin-specific catalysts.

The Philippine SEC has issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 23 (Series of 2026) establishing rules for using VERITAS, its blockchain-based system for signing and verifying corporate filings. SEC Chairperson Francisco Ed. Lim signed the circular on July 27, 2026. VERITAS will be accessed via the SEC Check mobile app and works alongside the eSECURE digital identity system. It applies to credentialed eSECURE account holders, including incorporators, directors, corporate officers, and authorized representatives submitting documents such as Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, and Certificates of Authentication. The SEC says VERITAS creates immutable audit trails by recording signing events on a decentralized ledger using public-key cryptography and cryptographic hashing. Only on-chain certificates generated by VERITAS may be used; externally issued commercial certificates are not allowed. After authorized signatories complete signing, the SEC appends a DICT-issued PNPKI Agency Certificate seal and a QR code, while version hashes are stored on-chain. Under the Electronic Commerce Act (RA 8792), VERITAS-signed documents carry the same legal force as signed and notarized physical documents. Physical hard copies are not required unless explicitly mandated by existing laws or SEC rules. VERITAS use is currently optional and free, though the SEC may introduce fees later. The SEC also notes existing PNPKI authentication via the eSAP portal remains operational, but it may mandate VERITAS for specific entities or filings after consultations.

The two-day ASEAN Tech Summit 2026 opened in Manila under the theme “Building ASEAN’s Digital Economy: Secure. Sustainable. Inclusive. Borderless.” The program emphasized AI, cybersecurity, cross-border payments—and how these will reshape finance through digital assets and tokenization. FinTech Alliance PH founding chairman and RCBC EVP Lito Villanueva said agentic AI, digital assets, and cybersecurity are converging. He projected that by 2030, many transactions may happen with little or no human intervention. Villanueva also proposed a private-sector-led “ASEAN Resiliency Wealth Fund” and a “Network Anti-Scam Hub” to counter cross-border financial crime. Regulators and industry leaders also highlighted regulation for digital assets. Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao joined a fireside chat, stressing the need for regulated stablecoins—specifically a Philippine peso-pegged stablecoin—to support the fintech ecosystem. He also floated a “regulatory passport” concept, noting Binance holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions. On the government side, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda delivered remarks on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. DICT Undersecretary David Almirol presented four use cases for the EGov Super App, including integrating 911 for crime reporting and claiming 50%–60% operating budget savings through streamlined government services. Binance’s local expansion was also covered: Binance appointed fintech veteran Jen Bilango as Philippines General Manager, and Binance PH operator BlockShoals (in the SEC regulatory sandbox) joined FinTech Alliance PH. Local crypto and fintech exhibitors included GCrypto (GCash), Coins.ph, and Maya. Overall, the summit connected policy support, AI-driven infrastructure, and digital assets regulation—particularly stablecoins—to regional financial and payment modernization.

China has launched new maritime patrols near Taiwan, using its coast guard and civilian maritime assets to apply pressure without overt military engagement. Analysts say the patrols could escalate toward a blockade and test whether Beijing can normalize control over strategic sea lanes around Taiwan. Taiwan responded by deploying its coast guard to monitor the activities. Taiwan said Chinese vessels remained outside its restricted waters, suggesting the current operation stays below open confrontation. The change has moved risk pricing in prediction markets. The probability of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan by the end of 2027 is now priced at 13%, up from 12% earlier in the week. The probability of a military clash between China and Taiwan before 2027 remains at 7%, indicating traders see heightened tensions but relatively stable near-term conflict risk. What to watch: any further maritime patrols by China’s coast guard, a shift from civilian assets to military vessels, or direct encounters. Statements by senior leaders such as Xi Jinping, U.S. responses, and any diplomatic steps could quickly shift market probabilities. For traders: this is a maritime patrol-driven escalation narrative that can affect broader risk sentiment, liquidity, and cross-asset pricing if it moves from grey-zone pressure toward a blockade scenario.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) opposes a Gulf-backed proposal for tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. The plan suggests a voluntary fee system for vessels transiting the key route. API argues that Strait of Hormuz tolls could threaten free tanker passage and disrupt global energy shipping norms. The proposal is tied to the Iran–U.S./Israel confrontation over maritime control and sanctions. The U.S. has previously warned companies that complying with Iranian fee demands could expose them to sanctions. Market pricing in related prediction instruments shows very low expectations for U.S.-imposed fees, with a quoted 0.4% “YES” probability for July 31, 2026. API’s position therefore aligns with a baseline view that U.S. action on Strait of Hormuz tolls is unlikely. What to watch next includes further statements from senior U.S. officials (e.g., President Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio), any formalization of Iran’s fee mechanism, and the expiration of a 60-day pause on Iranian tolls, which could act as a catalyst for policy shifts.

Whale Insider reports that BlackRock clients sold about $54.8M worth of Bitcoin in 2026, tied to volatile flows around BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). The claim is not based on an official BlackRock filing, but traders are reacting as if it signals sustained selling pressure. In related prediction-market pricing, the probability of Bitcoin reaching $82,500 by late July has dropped sharply to about 0.2% (“YES”). The article links this repricing to historical patterns of client redemptions and IBIT outflows, suggesting markets may interpret the activity as weaker near-term investor confidence. Traders are also watching for confirmation from BlackRock and for changes in ETF inflow/outflow data, since shifts in these indicators could rapidly alter sentiment. More broadly, the report arrives amid choppy crypto risk appetite influenced by macro and regulatory concerns, with ETF-flow news acting as a catalyst for short-term repricing. Key points for traders: the headline is Bitcoin selling linked to IBIT outflows; the market-implied odds for a late-July $82,500 target have fallen to ~0.2%.

Decentralized perpetuals venue Trade.xyz said it will reimburse traders whose positions were liquidated after SK Hynix perps fell about 19% during Korean pre-market trading. The drop was reflected in the platform’s “mark price,” which plunged from roughly $1,128 to $917 around 23:01 UTC on July 27, triggering liquidations tied to that reference level. Trade.xyz said its oracle “worked as intended.” It pointed to a single outsized executed trade from a thin external Korean venue, relayed through multiple independent data providers, rather than an oracle malfunction. The exchange framed the payout as a one-time discretionary decision, with eligibility rules and payments expected within days. For traders, the key update is that Trade.xyz plans to reassess how it sources the mark price, including giving more weight to its own order books. The incident underscores how crypto liquidations can cascade from market microstructure and cross-venue print anomalies, raising ongoing mark-price formation and oracle-design questions. The move occurred ahead of a major two-day decline in Korean equities, while SK Hynix shares later sold off sharply after earnings.

Bitcoin held above $64,000 in Asia trading on Wednesday, rising about 1% on the day. Markets were broadly green ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate decision at 2 p.m. ET. Ether gained roughly 1.7% to about $1,909, while XRP led majors up around 2.6%. Other tracked price action showed continued risk appetite into the event. In Fed pricing, the base case is a hold. About 70% of traders expect the policy rate to remain at 3.50%–3.75%, marking a sixth consecutive pause, according to CME data. However, around 30% now price a quarter-point hike. That minority view has institutional backing. Citadel Securities told clients it expects a surprise increase this week, framing the move as a way to bolster Warsh’s inflation-fighting credibility. UBS similarly said a hike would not surprise it. For crypto traders, the immediate takeaway is event-driven volatility risk. A hawkish surprise could pressure BTC and majors, while any dovish tilt or confirmation of the hold case could extend the pre-Fed upside momentum. Key levels and direction will likely be driven by the Fed outcome and how quickly markets reprice rate-path expectations.

Citadel, a large US hedge fund, expects a surprise 25bp Fed rate hike Wednesday, taking the policy rate to 3.75%–4.00%. This clashes with the consensus for no change and with many crypto-focused forecasts that rates will likely be held. A Fed rate hike Wednesday would likely lift Treasury yields and tighten financial conditions, which could weigh on risk assets. The article notes bitcoin has cooled since last Wednesday, pulling back to just under $64,000 from nearly $67,000. CME FedWatch still shows rate-increase odds are rising (35.8% vs 25.7% a week earlier), but traders are largely positioned for the base case. Citadel’s macro team argues the timing matters: a July shock could end heavy “forward guidance,” reinforce Fed independence, and reset how businesses set prices and how wage-setting behavior responds—potentially requiring less tightening later. Traders will watch whether Chair Kevin Warsh signals an end to forward guidance or repeats the expected September pathway. With oil-price risks and ongoing geopolitical inflation pressures cited, a surprise move could quickly change expectations and volatility across crypto and broader markets.

Bitcoin rose about 1% to around $63,800, edging toward $64,000, even as Asian equities—led by chipmakers—suffered steep sell-offs. Crypto’s majors also picked up. Ether was up ~1% to ~$1,899. XRP gained ~2% to ~$1.07. BNB rose to about $567, while Solana held near $73 and Dogecoin inched higher. Hyperliquid’s HYPE was the only major down, falling ~3% to ~$54. Equity pressure was concentrated in Korean semiconductor stocks. South Korea’s benchmark index slid ~11% after an additional ~11% drop the prior session. SK Hynix fell ~17% despite reporting quarterly profit up 557%—still below expectations. Samsung slid ~12% ahead of its results. The MSCI Asia Pacific index dropped 2% to the lowest since mid-April. The key trading takeaway: Bitcoin showed resilience through two recent AI/tech routs, suggesting the usual correlation between Bitcoin and AI-linked chip equities may be weakening. Traders should watch how Bitcoin reacts around policy and macro catalysts, including the Federal Reserve rate decision (markets pricing roughly a 15% chance of a hike), plus Core PCE inflation and Q2 GDP. In short, Bitcoin is up while tech sector risk rises, but confirmation will depend on Fed guidance and incoming data.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued a public advisory warning consumers not to transact with Bangko Maharlika Ltd., operating under “The Bank of Humanity.” The BSP said the firm is not licensed, authorized, regulated, or supervised by the central bank, and is also not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The BSP urged the public to verify the regulatory status of any entity offering financial products, services, or investment opportunities, saying people dealing with unlicensed operators lack the legal protections available to institutions supervised by the BSP. The regulator also encouraged reporting possible activity or complaints related to Bangko Maharlika Ltd. to relevant authorities. The advisory comes shortly after the BSP launched three digital payment services on July 29, 2026, with Philippine Payments Management, Inc. (PPMI): Direct Debit PH, InstaPay Cash-In, and InstaPay for Business. For registered businesses, InstaPay for Business raised transfer limits from PHP 50,000 to PHP 500,000. The BSP also reiterated payment fee rules: “QR Ph” applies to person-to-merchant payments where merchants bear transaction fees, while “InstaPay QR” applies to person-to-person transfers where fees may apply.

Uniswap founder Hayden Adams pushed back against criticism that the newly activated Uniswap v4 protocol fees would reduce liquidity provider (LP) earnings. In an X post, Adams described the backlash as “FUD and misunderstanding” and rejected the claim that the protocol takes 25% of LP profits. Adams argued the economics are being misread. Using a 30-basis-point pool example, he said a 5-basis-point protocol fee amounts to about 14% of total swap fees, rather than lowering what LPs earn. He added that protocol fees are additive—rather than deducted from existing LP fees—so LP fee income should not fall due to the activation. The comments follow Uniswap governance approval to activate protocol fees for selected v4 pools across multiple blockchains. Adams said these Uniswap v4 fees apply to specific pools, while critics’ assumptions about net LP earnings do not match how the fee split works. DefiLlama data cited in the article places Uniswap as the largest DEX by total value locked, at about $3.06 billion on the protocol. For traders, the key takeaway is that the Uniswap v4 fees debate is shifting from “LPs lose earnings” to “fees are additive,” which may reduce sentiment risk around liquidity on Uniswap.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) started trading two crypto ETPs on NYSE Arca on July 28: the Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust (MSSE) and the Morgan Stanley Solana Trust (MSOL). Both ETH and SOL staking rewards ETFs charge a low 0.14% fee, positioning them as among the cheapest US-listed options for ETH and SOL. The key design is staking economics: MSIM will not retain any portion of staking rewards. Registration documents show staking targets of 50%–80% of ETH holdings for MSSE and up to 100% of SOL holdings for MSOL. Staking is operationally handled by Figment, Galaxy Blockchain Infrastructure, and Coinbase Canada, while provider service fees are capped at 5%. The structure also references IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-31 safe harbor to support tax treatment for an ETP staking a single PoS asset and distributing rewards, subject to conditions such as third-party custody of private keys, independent staking providers, and SEC disclosure approval. Context for traders: MSIM’s earlier Bitcoin fund, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT), also carries a 0.14% fee and reportedly held over $381M AUM by July 16. New benchmarks cited for prior fee lows were Grayscale’s Mini Ethereum Trust (0.15%) and Franklin Templeton’s SOEZ (0.19%). Trading relevance: tighter ETF fees plus direct ETH/SOL staking rewards distribution could improve yield optics and drive incremental inflows, but downside risks remain from staking mechanics (e.g., validator slashing and lock-ups).

UNODC warns that crypto scams in South-East Asia have evolved into an “interconnected criminal ecosystem” combining fraud and crypto-based money laundering. Its report describes criminal networks running like “corporate franchising,” with specialized units for laundering, people trafficking, migrant smuggling and data harvesting. The scale is staggering: combined losses from scam offences across East Asia, South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand rose from $88.3B to $114.1B in 2025. UNODC says a substantial share of proceeds is moved via crypto, including investment and romance scams (“pig butchering”) and blockchain-based laundering of stolen assets. Key trader-relevant point: UNODC says local enforcement lacks training to trace illicit digital-asset flows, and that disruption alone is not enough—authorities should “follow the money,” prioritize confiscation, and build specialized capability to identify, seize and recover crypto funds. The report also highlights deeper evasion tactics: cyber-enabled fraud, harder-to-trace platform-based settlement, generative AI deepfakes and automation, and malvertising (up 42% YoY in 2025). Satellite internet such as Starlink reduces criminals’ reliance on local telecoms. Broader enforcement is also tightening. The UK review flags rapidly growing fraud involving digital assets and AI. Australia’s ASIC warns about social-media/messaging groups promoting fake “stock tips” that push victims into fraudulent crypto trading platforms. For crypto traders, this reinforces a risk-off backdrop for crypto scams: expect stricter compliance attention, tighter scrutiny of suspicious on-chain flows, and more caution around high-risk tokens and messaging-driven channels.

Emirates has launched Crypto.com Pay across its website and mobile app, enabling eligible UAE residents to pay for flights priced in Emirati dirhams (AED) using digital assets. At checkout, users with a Crypto.com account can select Crypto.com Pay. Payments are processed through Crypto.com’s Dubai entity and settled in AED, a structure designed to shield Emirates from holding crypto or absorbing price volatility. For mobile users, the Emirates app redirects to the Crypto.com app to approve the payment, then returns to Emirates for ticket confirmation. For web bookings, a QR code is provided to be scanned and approved inside the Crypto.com app. Emirates has not published a fixed list of supported digital assets, transaction limits, or any additional charges. Access is currently limited to eligible UAE residents making AED-denominated bookings. The rollout completes a July 2025 memorandum of understanding between Emirates and Crypto.com, with implementation targeted for 2026. Crypto.com’s UAE unit received a Stored Value Facilities licence from the Central Bank of the UAE, creating the regulated payment route needed for integrations with Emirates and other local services. Crypto.com Pay became available for eligible Emirates bookings on July 28, with no announced timeline for expansion beyond the UAE.