Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Pi Network has reclaimed the $0.1500 level after a mainnet upgrade. On Wednesday, Pi Network reversed its short-term downtrend and traded around $0.1518 at the time of writing, extending recent losses but holding above the key psychological level. Pi Core Team said major mainnet nodes upgraded to Stellar protocol version 23. The update also included backend improvements, including migrating from Ubuntu 20 to Ubuntu 24 and upgrading the database engine from PostgreSQL 12 to PostgreSQL 16. Pi Core Team framed these changes as support for better network performance, security, and long-term scalability. Technically, the Pi Network outlook remains cautious. The PI/USD 4-hour chart is still bearish, with price below the 50-period EMA near $0.1605 and the 200-period EMA around $0.1709. However, momentum signals suggest selling pressure may be weakening: RSI is near 29 (oversold) and is forming a positive divergence as price approaches Tuesday’s low of $0.1463. If buying momentum increases, Pi Network could retest descending trendline resistance near $0.1519. A breakout above $0.1519 may open a move toward the 50-EMA ($0.1605) and then the 200-EMA ($0.1709). On the downside, a daily close below $0.1463 would weaken the rebound thesis and likely invite further downside.

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $77,000 after failing to break above the 200-day moving average near $82,000. On Wednesday, BTC slipped below $77,000, pressured by weaker risk sentiment tied to macro data. The selloff followed hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation. CPI rose to 3.8% year-over-year, while higher oil prices and a surge in the 10-year Treasury yield reduced expectations for Fed rate cuts. Markets are increasingly pricing a potential rate hike by December. Market structure and positioning remain cautious. K33 Research says the 200-day moving average rejection resembles prior cycles in 2014, 2018, and 2022—where rallies were followed by deleveraging-driven drops. However, this cycle differs: BTC took 189 days to revisit the 200-day level after breaking below it. Derivatives data points to defensive positioning: funding rates have stayed negative for 81 consecutive days, and options skew is near yearly highs. Institutional flows were also mixed, with global Bitcoin ETPs posting the largest weekly outflow of the year (24,303 BTC). Technically, BTC is consolidating near $77,200. The 200-day EMA at ~$81,845 is acting as overhead resistance. Short-term indicators show weakening momentum: RSI is drifting toward the mid-40s and MACD remains negative. Immediate resistance is near the $78,962 Fibonacci retracement; key support sits around the 50-day EMA near $76,743, with further downside toward $74,487 if that level breaks.

Trump postponed an Iran attack after Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE urged him to avoid striking during the Hajj pilgrimage. Gulf officials reportedly secured a 2–3 day diplomacy window. The US president framed the delay as goodwill, saying the “clock is ticking” for a Tehran peace deal, while ordering American forces to remain on standby for a full, large-scale assault if talks fail. A strike was reportedly queued earlier in the week (set for Tuesday). The article highlights why Gulf leaders intervened: attacking Iran while hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are in transit could trigger a wider regional crisis, endanger domestic legitimacy, and complicate US security relationships. For crypto traders, the geopolitical risk premium remains elevated. Any renewed Iran attack risk can disrupt oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz (about a fifth of global oil shipments), which may push energy prices higher and delay Fed rate cuts—tightening financial conditions. Historically, BTC often sells off on initial shock and then mean-reverts (notably after 2020 Soleimani and during the Ukraine shock in 2022). Key watch items: BTC direction versus dollar strength (military actions can strengthen USD short term). Also monitor stablecoin activity—Tether (USDT) and USDC volumes typically rise during acute stress as traders move toward cash-equivalents.

The European Union reached a provisional deal under the “Turnberry” framework ahead of President Trump’s July 4 tariff deadline. The EU will advance implementation by removing import duties on American industrial goods, aiming to keep a 15% tariff ceiling on most EU-bound US goods. The “Turnberry” deal requires reciprocal steps: the EU must cut tariffs on US industrial exports and grant preferential access for certain US agricultural products. It also targets most-favored-nation treatment for some EU exports starting in September 2025. The current “Turnberry” progress is therefore a first legislative step, not the end of the process. A major wildcard remains. Trump has separately threatened a 25% tariff on European automobiles, outside the Turnberry 15% cap. Officials warn that even full compliance with “Turnberry” may not satisfy the US if tariffs are used as leverage across negotiations. Crypto relevance: trade negotiations have been a consistent macro volatility driver. If the July 4 deadline or the 25% auto tariff threat triggers a shock, risk assets—Bitcoin and major altcoins—could sell off alongside equities. Separately, longer trade uncertainty can weaken the euro vs the dollar, which has historically been a headwind for dollar-denominated risk assets like crypto. Traders should watch whether “Turnberry” survives into the September implementation phase and whether the auto tariff threat materializes independently.

LayerZero published its incident report on the KelpDAO rsETH bridge attack, confirming the LayerZero KelpDAO exploit led to about 116,500 rsETH stolen (≈$292M). LayerZero says the issue was confined to KelpDAO’s rsETH deployment, caused by a risky single DVN (1/1) setup where LayerZero Labs acted as the only verifier. LayerZero attributes the breach to compromised off-chain verification infrastructure, not a core LayerZero protocol flaw. Attackers allegedly “poisoned” DVN RPC nodes by accessing the RPC list, compromising two nodes in separate clusters, replacing op-geth binaries, and feeding forged transaction data only to the DVN while returning accurate data elsewhere. A DDoS forced failover onto the poisoned nodes, enabling the DVN to approve messages that never occurred on-chain. Attribution has been tightened: Chainalysis links the activity to North Korea’s Lazarus Group (TraderTraitor). Nexus Mutual estimated the $292M drain occurred in under 46 minutes. LayerZero responded by replacing affected RPC nodes, restoring DVN operations, involving law enforcement/partners (including Seal911), and—most importantly—stopping signing/attesting for any applications using 1/1 DVN configurations while pushing multi-DVN redundancy and independent verifier consensus.

Algorand (ALGO) is regaining momentum as traders watch a potential golden cross and a new exchange accessibility catalyst. The article says ALGO is trading around $0.114 on May 20, up over 39% from March lows near $0.082 and stabilizing above the $0.10 psychological level. Technically, the focus is on whether Algorand can complete a daily golden cross. The 50-day simple moving average (SMA) is near $0.1137, while the 200-day SMA sits around $0.1163. A confirmation would signal medium-term momentum improving versus the broader downtrend. The piece also cites bullish Aroon signals (Aroon Up ~85.7; Aroon Down ~14.2) and suggests a macro bottom may have formed in the $0.08–$0.09 zone. Fundamental support centers on Robinhood Crypto expanding Algorand trading to U.S. users, following an earlier European rollout. The listing adds a fresh retail liquidity channel and aligns with the broader pattern where exchange access often boosts visibility for mid-cap L1 assets. Additional tailwinds mentioned include improving regulatory sentiment in Asia (JVCEA green-listing in Japan) and a growing Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization narrative around Algorand’s institutional positioning (low transaction costs, instant finality, and uptime). The article frames ALGO’s comparatively stable tokenomics—about 89% of its 10B max supply already circulating—as reducing dilution pressure. Key levels to watch: $0.116 (200-day SMA) for confirmation, with upside targeted toward the $0.20 area. Resistance near $0.12–$0.14 and macro risk (US rates/risk appetite) could slow a breakout. If ALGO fails to hold the 50-day SMA near $0.113, a retest of $0.10 and possibly $0.08 is possible.

WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) surged earlier this month after WhiteBIT launched a UK-focused trading platform (whitebit.uk) with GBP funding via Faster Payments. However, WBT has since pulled back toward a decisive support/resistance (S/R) pivot. At press time, WBT was around $57.1 after retreating from a local high near $60.8. The key technical level is the 4/8 Murrey Math pivot near $56.25, which has repeatedly acted as both support and resistance over recent months. Price is also interacting with a support cluster formed by moving averages: the 20-day MA is ~ $58.68, the 50-day MA ~ $55.82, the 100-day MA ~ $54.19, and the 200-day MA ~ $55.11. Traders are watching whether this $54–$56 zone holds. If WBT rebounds, the next upside tests highlighted are the 6/8 pivot near $59.37 and resistance around $60.9, followed by the 8/8 zone near $62.5. If WBT fails to defend the support cluster—particularly around the 100-day/200-day MA area—downside targets could shift toward the 2/8 pivot around $53.12 and potentially the psychological $50 level. Fundamentally, the UK expansion aims to deepen liquidity and adoption, citing UK crypto holding and CEX usage figures from the UK regulator. Still, the article notes broader altcoin weakness as traders rotate capital toward Bitcoin-linked flows. Overall, WBT’s next directional move hinges on whether the UK-launch momentum can translate into sustained demand at the $56.25 pivot—meaning this WBT setup is a near-term technical trigger for traders.

Stablecoin payments project Sorted Wallet has raised a $4.4 million seed round led by Tether (USDT) and Gnosis. The mobile-first wallet is about 10MB and targets users with basic-feature phones in Africa and South Asia, where smartphone access is limited. Sorted Wallet will enable USDT transfers and also supports BTC transfers, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional banking infrastructure. The company says it has already surpassed 500,000 downloads across countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Madagascar. Next, it plans to launch a new payment mechanism in May to improve transaction efficiency in low-smartphone-penetration markets, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and potential partnerships with telecom operators. For traders, this is a stablecoin infrastructure adoption signal for broader USDT usage. However, it is unlikely to act as a direct USDT price catalyst in the near term, so market impact may remain limited.

Coins.ph, a major Philippines crypto platform, has expanded its QR-code payment network to support Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) alongside existing stablecoin support. The update adds new tokens to Coins.ph’s QRPH crypto payments feature, where crypto is converted into Philippine pesos at the point of sale via the BSP-standardized QR system (QRPH). Coins.ph said the rollout targets about 700,000 merchants. The company positions this as the next step after its earlier USDT integration into the national QR infrastructure, which it linked to strong early transaction activity and easier in-store crypto spending. Stablecoins remain central to the model, in line with the Philippines’ large remittance inflows—about $38 billion annually. This flow supports demand for digital assets used to move value across borders before spending locally with fewer conversion steps. Coins.ph also cited the country’s active crypto user base: more than 15 million people (about 13.4% of the population). For traders, the news is primarily about payment rails and real-world access rather than a protocol or supply change. Still, adding BTC/ETH to QRPH could gradually broaden spending demand for major assets in a high-usage market like the Philippines.

USDC now supports direct transfers across 23 blockchains through Stellar, powered by Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). The key change removes the need for external bridges, wrapped assets, and third parties. With CCTP, users effectively “burn” USDC on the source chain and “mint” the same amount on the target chain on a 1:1 basis, enabling faster, cheaper settlement. The article notes transfers are completed in seconds, improving security by avoiding typical bridge risks. For the Stellar ecosystem, USDC liquidity is now directly connected to wallets, exchanges, and DeFi lending protocols that use USDC. This should enhance cross-chain liquidity and market depth for both decentralized and centralized exchanges and DeFi platforms. Developers also get programmability advantages. They can integrate cross-chain USDC transfers into Stellar-based applications without extra custom liquidity work. The protocol supports attaching transfer “metadata” to trigger “Hooks” on the destination chain, enabling more automated, sophisticated cross-chain workflows. A final note references Stellar’s broader payment capabilities (including collaboration with MoneyGram) and positions the CCTP integration as a step toward more efficient global crypto liquidity. (Source figure mentioned: Fatih Çetin.)

Singapore’s central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), revoked Bsquared Technology’s digital payment token service license on Wednesday, ending the firm’s authorization after just 16 months. The MAS decision followed an on-site inspection citing weaknesses in risk management, breaches of conflict-of-interest rules, and failures to meet outsourcing compliance requirements. Regulators also said Bsquared submitted false or misleading information in multiple stages, starting with its initial licensing application and continuing during the review. MAS is now examining the responsibilities of key officers. A closure certificate from external auditors was ordered to confirm customer funds were returned, though Bsquared told authorities it had no outstanding client assets at the time of revocation. In a separate development, Tether International confirmed it bought SoftBank Group’s entire stake in Twenty One Capital (XXI), the publicly traded Bitcoin treasury vehicle backed by Jack Mallers (Strike founder). SoftBank’s representatives exited the board at closing, per the shareholder agreement. Following the announcement, XXI stock rose 5.6% to $8.05 in pre-market trading. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino framed the purchase as confidence in XXI’s long-term Bitcoin accumulation strategy and its role as a flagship public-equity Bitcoin wrapper. The article notes XXI holds 43,514 BTC (about $33.7B), ranking second behind Michael Saylor’s Strategy (843,738 BTC). Overall, the Singapore crypto license revocation highlights regulators’ willingness to act against governance and reporting failures, while Tether’s expanded ownership underscores ongoing institutional concentration into Bitcoin balance sheets rather than broader altcoins.

Manhattan federal court filings allege Jane Street Group sold about $192M of TerraUSD (UST) ahead of the Terra/Luna collapse, possibly using an “insider edge.” Plaintiffs cite an invitation-only Telegram chat linking Bryce Pratt (ex-Terraform Labs intern, later Jane Street) with former colleagues, alleging the channel helped Jane Street offload UST near par and then open short positions. The complaint highlights an $85M UST sale on May 7, 2022 via Curve Finance, allegedly occurring nine minutes after Terraform Labs withdrew about $150M UST from the same Curve pool. The filings attribute the trade to a Jane Street wallet and argue the timing supported the “front-running” theory, with linked profits estimated around $134M. Jane Street denies wrongdoing and says losses were driven by Terraform Labs’ alleged fraud; it also argues the complaint fails to identify specific material non-public information. The defendants include Robert Granieri and trader Michael Huang, and plaintiffs seek restitution and creditor-loss compensation under potential federal securities and Commodity Exchange Act theories. The case is strengthened by a 2023 SEC-related ruling that classified UST and LUNA as securities. Newer details add that Jane Street allegedly offered a job to Terraform Labs’ head of research shortly after the May 18, 2022 UST depeg, and internal messages cited in filings include jokes about having an informational advantage. For crypto traders, this is another legal overhang around UST/LUNA mechanics and risk pricing—expect headline-driven volatility around regulatory/insider-trading precedents rather than changes tied to protocol fundamentals.

U.S. credit downgrade fears are reshaping crypto trading by moving three macro levers: Treasury yields, dollar liquidity and risk appetite. The article notes that the U.S. has already been downgraded in recent years (S&P in 2011, Fitch in 2023, Moody’s in 2025), and the market focus is less about default risk and more about fiscal stress affecting rates and financial conditions. Key transmission channels: - Treasury yields: Higher long-term yields can raise the discount rate and pressure volatile assets. Because Bitcoin pays no interest, competition from Treasuries can reduce near-term risk appetite. - Dollar liquidity: If fiscal anxiety tightens credit and liquidity, crypto can struggle; a policy pivot that improves liquidity can help Bitcoin and higher-beta tokens rebound. - Institutional flows: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs (approved in Jan 2024) create a regulated demand/supply channel. ETF inflows may cushion selloffs; sustained outflows can worsen downside during macro shocks. - Derivatives leverage: Elevated funding rates and crowded open interest can trigger liquidations, amplifying moves. Bitcoin can react in two different ways. In the long run, U.S. credit downgrade fears can support the “non-sovereign asset” narrative. But in the short run, Bitcoin often trades like a high-volatility risk asset when equities sell off and leverage is reduced. Implications for traders: Watch the 10-year/30-year Treasury yield trend, real yields, the U.S. dollar index, ETF flows, and derivatives positioning (funding and open interest). For altcoins and DeFi, the article argues they’re usually more vulnerable than Bitcoin in liquidity tightening, with liquidations and capital rotation risk. Overall, U.S. credit downgrade fears are a macro framework for positioning—not a guaranteed buy/sell signal.

Crypto wealth firm Nexo has renewed its title sponsorship of the DP World Tour’s Nexo Championship, now held at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The event runs August 20–23 and carries a $3 million prize pool, rising from the prior year’s amount. Nexo says its branding will be “deeply embedded” across the tournament, including tee boxes, leaderboards, and broadcast-facing placements. Company marketing manager Konstantin Rangelov said the championship is a core partnership: Nexo’s first title deal with the Tour and a larger, multi-year commitment. Nexo will also run a hospitality program and track performance using metrics such as earned media, social impressions, and broadcast exposure. The article notes Nexo is one of 22 investors in Decrypt, and that the firm previously scaled back U.S. products due to regulatory pressure, later planning a U.S. relaunch using Bakkt infrastructure. For traders, this is primarily a brand-and-distribution headline rather than a protocol, listing, or tokenomics catalyst. Expect limited direct impact on Nexo token demand unless broader crypto marketing spending translates into measurable user growth.

Bitget has launched a Market Integrity Framework to strengthen post-listing surveillance across listed tokens, project teams, and market makers. The exchange says the system aims to reduce manipulation and abusive liquidity, speed up escalation of suspicious trading and wallet behavior, and improve accountability. Key changes include: - Project & market-maker accountability: Newly listed tokens face contractual limits on manipulation, artificial volatility, and abusive liquidity tactics. Violations may lead to high-risk labels, warnings, account freezes, pausing trading pairs, revoking market-maker status, or delisting. - Stronger spot risk analysis: Bitget will score assets using on-chain activity, technical fundamentals, liquidity health, holder concentration, order-book balance, and community sentiment. The score feeds continuous post-listing monitoring. - Faster escalation & user warnings: Abnormal behavior will trigger cross-team escalation and may pause promotions if marketing could increase user risk. - Regulatory reporting & industry coordination: Confirmed abuse cases (e.g., insider dumping, wash trading, market-maker misconduct) may be reported to authorities, and Bitget plans to share verified cases with other exchanges. For traders, this may dampen short-term “pump-and-manipulate” cycles on newly listed assets, but could also increase volatility around listings if enforcement tightens quickly. Overall, the move signals stronger compliance tooling and could improve market stability over time by targeting wash trading and insider activity.

South Korea’s seventh-largest funeral operator, Bumo Sarang (Parents’ Love), is at the centre of a finance controversy after it invested 59.5 billion won (~$39.7M) into a leveraged ETF tied to BitMine Immersion Technologies. The position used the T-REX 2X Long BMNR Daily Target ETF under ticker BMNU. The investment’s book value dropped to 10.2 billion won (~$6.8M), creating a 49.3 billion won paper loss. The article stresses that this was not a spot Ethereum ETF: BMNU is a 2x daily leveraged product designed to deliver 200% of the underlying stock’s daily performance before fees—making it highly sensitive to volatility and the daily reset mechanism. Because BitMine is a major “Ethereum treasury” proxy (its corporate disclosures referenced millions of ETH holdings), the losses quickly became a consumer-protection issue. The risk is amplified for prepaid funeral funds: if asset values fall and many customers seek cancellations or refunds, balance-sheet weakness can turn into repayment pressure. The case puts scrutiny on whether prepaid-service operators in Korea should be allowed to hold high-risk, Ethereum-linked leveraged products through securities wrappers, and whether regulators need tougher rules on how customer-linked funds are invested, disclosed and protected.

Singapore’s central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), revoked Bsquared Technology Pte. Ltd.’s Major Payment Institution licence and stripped the firm of the right to provide digital payment token services. The action follows an on-site inspection that found deficiencies in Bsquared’s risk management and conflict-of-interest policies, plus failures to follow MAS outsourcing guidelines. MAS also said Bsquared provided false or misleading information multiple times, from its initial crypto payment licence application through the inspection process. The company, also known as BSQ, received the crypto payment licence 16 months ago under Singapore’s Payment Services Act 2019. Bsquared must submit a closure certificate from its auditors confirming that all customer funds have been returned to their recipients. MAS said it is reviewing the responsibilities of key officers at Bsquared, calling the breaches serious. MAS noted that revocations of digital payment token licences remain uncommon; it previously rejected AmazingTech’s application (operator of Tokenize Xchange). For traders, this is a regulatory enforcement headline tied to compliance failures rather than token fundamentals. Expect heightened scrutiny of Singapore-linked crypto service providers and possible short-term risk-off sentiment around firms operating similar “digital payment token” models.

A new Bitcoin price model suggests BTC can recover losses from its October 2025 peak and rally to a “conservative” $255,000 by the end of 2026. The article cites the “Bitcoin Decay Channel,” a logarithmic valuation model that historically aligns major tops (2013, 2017, 2021) near upper bands and tracks bear-market lows toward lower support. Key ranges from the Bitcoin price model: - 2026 year-end (conservative): $90,000–$255,000 - 2027 range: $128,000–$308,000 - A separate “Bearish HODL Waves” signal flags a possible higher bottom at $65,900–$70,500 The model’s bullish argument is supported by BTC’s rebound beginning near the Decay Channel’s lower end in March–April, implying buyers defended a long-term support/bottom zone. Analyst Sminston claims this gives a “reasonable range” for 2026 and compares it with BTC around $43,000 in Dec 2023. Context from other analysts: - Bernstein: $150,000 target for 2026; $200,000 peak pushed to 2027 (citing a slower institutional adoption cycle tied to BTC ETFs and public companies). - Arthur Hayes (BitMEX co-founder): expects BTC around $126,000 this year, citing US war-related spending, AI infrastructure demand, and fiat liquidity. Risks for traders: bearish technicals remain active, including a multi-month bear flag. If it plays out, BTC could drop toward ~$56,000 (about 30% below current levels). On-chain data via CryptoQuant suggests BTC may not need to fall that far if the long-term holder base stabilizes near ~$70,500. Overall, this Bitcoin price model reinforces a bullish longer-term framework, but near-term trade setups still hinge on whether BTC holds the $65.9K–$70.5K support area.

The Nexo Championship has renewed its title partnership and will return to Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire on August 20–23, 2026. The event will close the 2026 DP World Tour “Closing Swing” and mark the first phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai. Nexo will headline the Nexo Championship for a second consecutive year. Key terms include a $3m prize fund and continued visibility for Nexo’s digital assets wealth platform. The renewal follows Nexo’s earlier role as the Tour’s Official Digital Wealth Platform through 2027, and the brand’s shift into title rights supported by long-term sports marketing. DP World Tour and venue leaders highlighted the tournament’s prominence. Ben Cowen (Chief Tournament and Operations Officer) said the new agreement keeps the Nexo Championship on the global schedule, while Eric F. Trump called the partnership validation for Trump International’s Old and New Courses. Donald Trump Jr. also backed the 2026 event. On format, the 2026 Nexo Championship will feature the Old Course again after its previous success, plus a celebrity pro-am on Wednesday, August 19, expanding the reach beyond the main professional field. The article also situates this renewal within Nexo’s broader premium sports strategy across regions, alongside partnerships in Formula 1, cricket/tennis, football, and other major events, aiming at “financially active, globally mobile” audiences.

Tether has acquired SoftBank’s entire stake in Twenty One Capital, tightening its control over the NYSE-listed Bitcoin treasury company co-founded by Jack Mallers. Twenty One was launched with support from Tether, SoftBank and Cantor Equity Partners, targeting an initial debut of more than 42,000 BTC. Tether’s buyout reduces SoftBank’s outside influence and strengthens the market perception that Twenty One is evolving into Tether’s broader public Bitcoin operating platform rather than a standalone treasury wrapper. In parallel, Tether has proposed merging Twenty One with Strike and Elektron Energy, aiming to build a larger Bitcoin-focused group combining treasury, payments/financial services and mining infrastructure. The article links this move to Tether’s prior treasury buildup ahead of listing, including earlier additions to Twenty One’s Bitcoin holdings (at one point 36,312 BTC), and frames the consolidation as a step toward a more integrated “Bitcoin corporate stack.” If approved and executed, the Strike and Elektron Energy merger plan could expand revenue pathways beyond balance-sheet accumulation. Key figures: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and Twenty One CEO Jack Mallers. The near-term trading focus is likely on deal momentum, regulatory/approval expectations, and how investors price Tether’s expanding control over a high-aggression, public-market Bitcoin treasury vehicle.

Bitcoin momentum is fading after a rejection above $82,000, with BTC trading around $77,200 and down ~8% from multi-month highs. On-chain/flow indicators turn more cautious: the slow-impulse momentum measure reportedly turned negative for the first time since April, and the broader momentum index fell to ~47 from ~66. Technical levels cited are mixed but key: support sits near $76,801 and $75,080, with a further downside reference at $72,673; resistance is $78,455, then $80,476 and $82,912. The article warns that if the $74,000–$76,000 band fails, the next major demand zone could be much lower (potentially around $65,000). On the regulation side, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed Senate Bill 163 (SB 163). The law bars state agencies and local subdivisions from accepting or participating in Federal Reserve-led CBDC trials. It also offers explicit protections for Bitcoin miners in industrial zones (including limits on discriminatory zoning/noise rules), exempts several mining/node/development/crypto-to-crypto activities from money-transmitter licensing, and supports self-custody by restricting hardware/wallet-use bans and discriminatory tax treatment. South Carolina joins a growing list of U.S. states adopting similar resident self-custody protections.

The Trump administration directed U.S. federal financial regulators to overhaul rules affecting how fintech and crypto firms partner with traditional banks. In the executive order, “crypto access” is central: the Federal Reserve must assess within 120 days whether it can legally provide non-bank financial firms (including digital-asset companies) direct access to the Fed’s payment rails. If permitted, the Fed must publish clear application procedures and decide on complete submissions within 90 days. This “crypto access” review could reduce settlement bottlenecks that have historically limited crypto-native businesses and DeFi custodians from matching mainstream bank settlement capabilities. The broader directive also sets a 90-day identification phase for regulatory rules that impede innovation-friendly partnerships, followed by a 180-day push for revisions. In Europe, Brussels reopened consultation on the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, asking whether the rulebook still fits a rapidly evolving market. The European Commission set an Aug. 31 deadline and runs parallel public and technical tracks covering issuer rules, asset-referenced tokens, e-money tokens, and service providers. The review arrives before a July deadline for firms under MiCA transitional regimes to obtain full authorization. Separately, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders renewed calls for binding AI safety regulation, citing polling that he says shows strong public support. While not crypto-specific, it signals continued political pressure for faster, stricter rules on emerging tech. Overall, policy makers are moving toward selective opening (notably via “crypto access” to payment infrastructure) while also tightening/adjusting compliance frameworks abroad.

Bitdeer (BTDR) reported FY26 Q1 results showing rapid execution after its pivot from Bitcoin mining into an AI cloud business. Q1 revenue jumped 170% YoY to $188.9 million, supported by vertical integration that increases hashrate, Bitcoin output, and fleet efficiency. On the AI side, AI Cloud ARR accelerated from about $10 million in January to over $69 million after Q1. GPU utilization reached 94%, a key indicator of demand and capacity efficiency that could drive faster AI Cloud revenue conversion in upcoming quarters. The article argues this combination may justify a “rerating” versus other AI-pivot peers, as the market digests Bitdeer’s vertically integrated model. However, margins were pressured by non-cash charges and aggressive depreciation. While operational growth is strong, headline GAAP losses remain, and the path from AI Cloud ARR to recognized revenue is a core risk. The author also flags leverage (about $1.9 billion) as an additional downside factor if execution or conversion slows. For traders, the near-term catalyst is continued AI Cloud ARR momentum and sustained high GPU utilization. The main watch item is whether AI Cloud ARR translates into stronger revenue recognition and improved profitability rather than staying trapped in accounting losses.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed SB 163, a new state framework aimed at reducing friction for the crypto industry. The law blocks CBDCs at the state level by prohibiting state agencies from accepting, requiring, or participating in CBDC use, including any Federal Reserve digital currency trials. SB 163 also strengthens crypto self-custody. It guarantees legal self-custody rights (including hardware and self-hosted wallets) and limits state actions that could restrict ownership and use. The bill further establishes that crypto payments should not face higher taxes than equivalent USD transactions. For Bitcoin mining, local governments cannot impose mining-specific limits beyond existing environmental and industrial standards. It also restricts sudden zoning changes affecting mining businesses by requiring proper notice-and-comment procedures, while allowing court challenges. Regulatory relief expands beyond mining: node operation, blockchain software development, and crypto-to-crypto trading are exempt from money transmitter licensing. The law also clarifies that mining-as-a-service and staking-as-a-service are not automatically treated as securities offerings. Traders should treat the market impact as gradual: the immediate effect is likely more about sentiment toward US crypto regulation and clearer compliance expectations than a direct short-term catalyst for BTC prices.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) urged crypto developers to “double check your systems” after Microsoft-owned GitHub reported unauthorized access affecting around 3,800 repositories. The core risk: code can contain API keys, including in private repos, turning a GitHub hack into a crypto supply-chain attack vector. If attackers obtain keys, they can authenticate as legitimate users and potentially bypass defenses like multi-factor authentication (MFA). Security researcher Taylor Monahan added that teams should not only replace keys, but remove them from repositories entirely. The report connects this threat to past incidents. Lazarus Group used API-key access to infiltrate Bybit’s hot wallet infrastructure and steal $1.5B in 2025. DMM Bitcoin’s $305M breach (2024) followed a similar pattern. Binance-linked example: 3Commas users’ exchange API keys were breached, leading to more than $22M in losses from automated trading and alleged market manipulation. It also frames the GitHub hack within a broader trend of rising attacks: May crypto hack losses average about $1.7M/day, down ~20x from April’s ~$21M/day (about $634M total in April). Other mentioned events include Echo Bridge being breached via a stolen key, pushing month-to-date losses to $35M. Keywords: GitHub hack, API keys, crypto supply-chain security, Binance, developer mitigation.

A sponsored press release claims XRPPower is gaining traction within the XRP community as investors shift from short-term price watching to ecosystem-focused positioning. The article ties XRP’s long-term appeal to cross-border settlement, institutional finance, and blockchain-based payments, and says XRPPower is designed to package “ecosystem access” plus AI-powered digital investment products. XRPPower’s Product Center reportedly lists several AI contract options with automated 24-hour settlement. Examples include: DOGE AI Digitalization ($500, 5-day duration, $6.40 daily returns), BTC AI Intelligent Supercomputing ($1,000, 7-day cycle, $13.20 daily returns), and BTC AI Computing Engine ($3,000, 10-day duration, $40.80 daily returns). The platform also highlights a quick onboarding flow via an email-based Registration Portal and mentions a $21 signup reward after registration. The release suggests interest in these XRPPower products is increasing alongside broader discussions on XRP adoption and blockchain finance expansion. Traders are also told to monitor the XRPPower Homepage/Product Section for updates and to register through the “Official” registration page. Crypto-trader takeaway: this is a promotional claim, so treat the ROI figures and rewards as marketing until independently verified. Still, if XRPPower draws sustained attention from XRP-focused users, it could modestly support sentiment around XRP-linked narratives.

Protocols are accelerating a “flight to safety” in DeFi after cross-chain bridge and data-oracle security incidents led to losses of hundreds of millions of dollars. The article says teams are deprecating legacy cross-chain and oracle infrastructure and migrating to Chainlink’s secure-by-default stack. In the past two weeks, seven top teams announced moves to Chainlink, totaling more than $4 billion in value migrating to Chainlink CCIP and Chainlink Data Feeds. It frames this as a shift away from risky bridges toward institutional-grade security controls and operational standards. Named migrations include: - Kraken: migrating kBTC and future Kraken Wrapped Assets to Chainlink CCIP ($330M+). - KelpDAO: moving rsETH via Chainlink CCIP and the Cross-Chain Token (CCT) standard ($1.5B+). - Lombard: shifting LBTC and BTC.b to Chainlink CCIP ($1B+). - Solv Protocol: moving SolvBTC and xSolvBTC to Chainlink CCIP ($700M+). - re: migrating reUSD to Chainlink CCIP ($475M+). - Tenbin: using Chainlink CCIP for tokenized RWAs ($400M+). - Tydro: migrating its data solution to Chainlink Data Feeds ($400M+). It also notes Lido’s cross-chain infrastructure decision: using Chainlink CCIP for $20B of wstETH, highlighting CCIP’s secure-by-default architecture, decentralized validation, and built-in risk controls (e.g., lane rate limits as circuit breakers). The post positions Chainlink as already widely deployed in DeFi, powering 70% of global DeFi markets and enabling trillions in transaction value. For traders, the key takeaway is that Chainlink CCIP adoption is being driven by security risk management, not just integrations—supporting LINK’s narrative as the “safer” cross-chain/oracle infrastructure.

Bitcoin (BTC) has turned bullish after days of sideways consolidation, trading around $77,500 (about +1% on the day). However, traders are being warned that the move may be “too little, too late” without clear breaks above major resistance. Technical levels highlighted for Bitcoin (BTC): - 4-hour chart: bulls need to break and hold above $77,400 resistance to exit the descending channel. - Next confidence level: holding above $78,400. - Daily chart: a breakout over $80,000 plus the 200-day SMA could put bulls back in control. - Bear case: a drop below $76,000 could drag BTC back toward a bear-market structure. Momentum signals: Stochastic RSI is bottoming and attempting to cross upward, which could support BTC upside. But the author notes similar behavior previously led to chop and later downside rather than a clean reversal. Multi-week view (2-week timeframe): resistance is near ~$82,350. The current candle shows strong rejection there. Unless BTC posts a sharp rebound of more than ~$5,000 within the next ~4 days, the article suggests downside risk to as low as $66,000. Market focus is also on the weekend close, implying the next direction could affect weeks to months. Broader catalyst risk: the US–Iran conflict could flare again, pressuring US equities and, by extension, crypto—while a deal outcome could enable a risk-on surge.

Crypto markets turned green overnight as oil pulled back, with BTC around $77.4k and ETH near $2,130. NVDA earnings are the key catalyst: a strong Nvidia beat and guidance could validate the AI infrastructure trade and support crypto upside, while a miss or weaker China export signals may pressure the rebound. NVDA earnings historically move BTC/ETH meaningfully by several percent, so traders are watching volatility closely. HYPE led majors, up ~5% on the day and ~27% over a week, supported by Hyperliquid volume records and a Coinbase/USDC-related partnership narrative. Other top movers included VVV (+~26%), LIT (+~26%), DASH (+~14%), and JUP (+~8%). Despite the upbeat tone, sector-specific risks continued. Monad’s Echo Protocol (Monad) faced an admin-key compromise that initially looked like a ~$76M loss; realized losses were about ~$816k as the team regained keys, burned remaining eBTC, and shut down cross-chain functionality. Polymarket launched private company prediction markets in partnership with Nasdaq, expanding retail access to milestone bets (e.g., OpenAI funding valuation, SpaceX IPO timing). Regulatory/flow headlines also matter for positioning: the White House teased an “imminent” update on the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve framework, while Bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows of about $331M on Tuesday (nearly $1B on the week) and ETH ETFs saw ~$62M outflows. Separately, the Zcash Foundation said the SEC closed its tokenized-stock-related investigation with no enforcement action.