Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

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.

TD Securities suggests the US dollar may weaken if the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged this week. The note argues markets are overpricing the chance of a rate hike under Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. The federal funds rate is expected to stay in the 3.50%–3.75% range. TD Securities points to a key risk: past episodes where the Fed held rates steady but adopted hawkish language tended to strengthen the US dollar, especially when it signaled future hikes. In this case, the probability implied by pricing for a July 28–29 rate hike is 22.2%, down from 26% a day earlier. Traders should focus on the Fed statement and wording. Any indication of potential future rate hikes could reinforce US dollar strength, while softer guidance would likely add downward pressure. Data such as core inflation and employment figures may also shift rate-hike expectations ahead of the next Fed meetings in September and October, where the market assigns higher hike probabilities of 68.5% and 73.0% respectively.

Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports cited by Ynetnews, escalating the US–Iran conflict after weeks of strikes failed to meet key objectives. The Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz move targets a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments, potentially causing major economic and geopolitical fallout. The article notes that the closure reduces the likelihood of maritime traffic normalization by July 31. It also says market pricing reflects a lower probability that the US will announce an end to the Iranian blockade by the end of July, signaling heightened tensions. Traders should expect prolonged disruptions in oil shipping routes, which can spill into energy prices and broader risk sentiment. What to watch next includes any statements from US President Donald Trump or Iranian leaders that could indicate de-escalation—especially announcements about lifting the blockade or renewed diplomatic efforts. The next few days are described as critical as the July 31 deadline approaches for both traffic normalization and potential US announcements related to the blockade. Overall, Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz is framed as a step-up in military engagement, with markets likely to reprice geopolitical and energy volatility ahead of any policy signals.

Hyperliquid, a decentralized perpetuals exchange, reported a major shift: real-world assets (RWAs) surpassed crypto-related activity in weekly trading volume for the first time. Per a tweet by @laurashin, individual stocks accounted for 61% of the RWA volume. During July 13–19, 2026, Hyperliquid’s RWA activity reached $25.1B out of $48.2B in total weekly volume, signaling a growing appetite for tokenized non-crypto exposure. The article links this change to Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 mechanism, which governs tokenized stock-style markets. It also notes that Hyperliquid’s 2026 price prediction market is pricing in a 19.5% probability of reaching $100 by year-end, implying there is still optimism despite recent declines. Traders are watching for follow-up announcements, partnerships (potentially including large corporates and more institutional involvement), and any security or regulatory setbacks that could swing sentiment. For crypto traders, the key takeaway is the continuing rotation within DEX derivatives flows toward RWAs. Hyperliquid’s equities-heavy RWA mix may influence liquidity allocation, order-book depth, and near-term sentiment across tokenized-asset narratives.

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) reportedly plans a consolidated Digital Asset Basic Act covering stablecoin issuance and circulation, exchange entry requirements, disclosures, internal controls and system-resilience standards. The FSC is said to work with the ruling Democratic Party after months of delays, as 10 separate digital asset and stablecoin bills remain pending in Parliament. Key disputes could affect market structure: whether won-denominated stablecoin issuers must be majority bank-owned and whether ownership limits should apply to major crypto exchanges. The FSC has not yet set a timeline for introducing the consolidated stablecoin rules. Meanwhile, an opposition-backed bill seeks to repeal South Korea’s crypto income tax before it takes effect on 1 Jan 2027. The proposal would remove tax on income from transferring or lending digital assets. It is scheduled for committee review, but subcommittees have not been fully formed and no review dates are set. Under the current plan, crypto transfer/lending income above 2.5 million won (about $1,700) annually faces a 20% income tax plus a 2% local tax. The government and the ruling party support the tax, while opposition argues it is unfair because many stock investors remain exempt.

SlowMist/MistEye reports a job-scam operation using the site relay.lc to trick Web3 professionals into installing “interview software.” The lure claims to be an AI meeting and collaboration platform (via Windows/macOS download pages), but the installers are designed as an info-stealing malware chain. On macOS, the DMG contains no legitimate .app. Instead, a script launched via “drag into Terminal and press Enter” copies a hidden executable, removes macOS quarantine attributes, and then collects highly sensitive data. The malware prepares candidate passwords and reads the user’s macOS login Keychain database, combining the candidate password with Keychain contents into a network request. It also targets browser data (passwords, cookies, tokens), wallet-related extensions (MetaMask, Phantom, Trust Wallet), Telegram Desktop session data, and Apple Notes. No reboot-persistence was found. On Windows, the Electron-based installer shows a fake “Updating” progress bar. The progress logic is randomized and not tied to real installation activity. When the bar hits 80%, it triggers a runUpdate routine that launches an unsigned updater.exe via PowerShell with administrator privileges (UAC elevation, hidden window). The embedded component attempts reboot persistence through Run/RunOnce/Startup folder, then scans Chrome/Brave extension process memory for wallet unlock parameters, and exfiltrates results to e1.cdnresolver.com (with additional telemetry via Sentry). IOCs include relay.lc and cdnresolver.com domains, and multiple sample hashes (Relay.dmg, Relay.exe, updater.exe, etc.). MistEye flags relay.lc as high-risk and recommends immediate isolation, credential rotation, session revocation, and—if Windows execution is confirmed—reinstalling the OS.

Speculation is rising that Bitcoin has reached its cycle bottom after multiple crypto exchange shutdowns. Analyst Joao Wedson (Alphractal founder) argues this narrative is misleading: only nine crypto exchanges/trading platforms have announced or completed shutdowns in 2026—its lowest annual count in at least eight years and far below the prior bear-market cycle. Wedson says exchange failures alone do not reliably indicate a Bitcoin bottom. He cites closures including BitMEX, AscendEX, and BitMart, plus Odos (ending July 30) and Dango’s plan to discontinue its Layer 1 on August 13. Storj Labs also reportedly sought U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Despite the news flow, Bitcoin price impact has been limited; BTC is trading near $63,500. Some traders still interpret shutdowns as bearish-to-bullish “cleanup” effects, noting weaker models tend to fall during bear markets. Others remain focused on accumulation zones: Grayscale suggests the cycle framework may be less relevant, while analysts like Doctor Profit and Ali Martinez highlight buying interest and market-stats signals (e.g., Sharpe ratio changes) consistent with later bear-market exhaustion. For traders, the key takeaway is that Bitcoin exchange shutdowns may reflect industry consolidation, but the data presented does not confirm a definitive bottom.

Tether signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nairobi Securities Exchange to explore tokenized securities and blockchain-based market infrastructure in Kenya. The plan includes digital-asset education and real-world asset tokenization, with Tether’s Hadron tokenization platform potentially used for issuing and trading tokenized securities. The parties will also assess instant settlement mechanisms and whether USDT (USDt) can serve as a digital settlement layer, subject to Kenyan regulations. The move comes as tokenized real-world assets keep expanding. RWA.xyz estimates the on-chain tokenized RWA value at about $36.8 billion (excluding stablecoins), while tracking nearly $298 billion in stablecoins. Tether’s USDT remains the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, at roughly $184 billion. For traders, this is a Kenya-focused RWA and tokenized securities initiative rather than an immediate on-chain launch, but it reinforces the broader shift toward regulated settlement rails using stablecoins like USDT.

The EU announced its 21st sanctions package on Russia on July 23, effective August 23, targeting “over a hundred” banks and crypto operators. A key focus is the A7 network behind the A7A5 ruble-backed stablecoin. The EU added new designations covering multiple A7 entities, including A7 Agent LLC and A71, plus A7 Africa and A7 Nigeria, expanding to A7’s growing African footprint. The EU also widened prior action against the Meer exchange, which had hosted significant A7A5 trading volume. Separately, the EU sanctioned HTX (formerly Huobi) for facilitating Russia-linked crypto activity. This follows a similar UK move that accused HTX/Huobi of helping funnel more than $1.5 billion back to the Kremlin. A TRM Labs report said HTX was “rotating” wallets and shifting funding across TRON, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, and Solana to stay ahead of compliance blocklists, while HTX denied wrongdoing and called the activity routine security operations. Traders should note that this is a compliance-driven enforcement cycle aimed at A7A5 and HTX, which may raise operational risk, liquidity frictions, and stablecoin off-exchange availability for Russia-linked routes in the short term.

Binance and local partner BlockShoals Technologies have appointed crypto and fintech veteran Jen Bilango as General Manager for Binance in the Philippines. The move supports Binance’s preparations for regulatory compliance and its planned official entry via “Binance PH” by BlockShoals. Bilango previously served as General Manager at BlockchainSpace, where she supported Web3 communities across Southeast Asia and led initiatives tied to The Sandbox, including a country-specific NFT asset sale. She also worked as Country Manager for locally licensed exchange Coins.ph, contributing to the launch of the PHPC stablecoin. Binance says Bilango’s experience working with regulatory bodies, gained during her time at Mabuhay Capital’s investment banking work, will help strengthen compliance efforts with the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Binance APAC Head SB Seker noted her role in guiding local compliance and platform launch. Bilango said the appointment is an opportunity to join a leading blockchain brand while ensuring “full compliance and regulatory measures” for the Philippines market. Keywords: Binance, Binance Philippines, Jen Bilango, regulatory compliance, SEC, fintech, Web3, The Sandbox, Coins.ph, PHPC stablecoin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Crimea is “not currently on the table”, implying a pause or shift away from near-term Crimea recapture efforts. His remarks came as Ukraine continues strikes on Russian military targets on the peninsula, which Russia has controlled since 2014. The change in messaging matters for traders because market pricing for a Crimea recapture by December 2026 reportedly fell, reflecting reduced confidence in Ukraine’s immediate ability to reclaim the region. Zelensky also framed the priority as “saving lives”, suggesting diplomatic or operational focus may be moving to other areas while military pressure in Crimea continues. What to watch: further statements from Ukrainian leadership on military objectives for the peninsula, updates from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on territorial control, and any shift in Ukraine’s southern-front operations that could improve or worsen market confidence. If Ukraine resumes active operations targeting key positions in Crimea, pricing could adjust quickly; likewise, diplomatic developments could drive another repricing of the Crimea recapture timeline. For crypto markets, this is a geopolitical timeline signal. A slower or uncertain Crimea recapture plan can affect risk sentiment and liquidity, especially when markets reassess the probability of near-term escalation or major front changes.

Kraken says USDC deposits and withdrawals via Injective are now live. This expands Kraken’s stablecoin routes to the Injective network, allowing users to move USDC using Injective-supported deposit addresses. Key trading notes: deposits must be made on networks supported by Kraken—sending funds via other networks could result in loss. The post also notes that trading through the Kraken App and Instant Buy will be available once liquidity conditions are met (enough buyers and sellers for efficient order matching). Context on the assets: USDC is described as a fully reserved digital dollar stablecoin issued by Circle, backed 1:1 by USD reserves at regulated institutions. Injective is positioned as a blockchain purpose-built for finance, with its native token INJ powering the ecosystem. Overall, the update is an exchange integration rather than a protocol change, but it can improve access to USDC on Injective and may influence short-term trading flows as liquidity is seeded.

Kraken has launched “Fixed Rate Rewards,” a new Kraken Earn product offering eligible US accredited investors fixed APYs of up to 7% on cash and stablecoins. Clients choose a lockup term of 3, 6, 12, or 18 months, and the APY is locked at allocation—so there is no rate drift during the term. Rewards compound weekly into the locked allocation. Users can enable auto-renew to roll balances at maturity under the prevailing rate for the same term; otherwise, funds are returned when the term ends. Fixed Rate Rewards is available for eligible balances in USD and EUR, as well as stablecoins USDT, USDC, and USDG. It can be accessed via Kraken’s Consumer and Pro apps (web and mobile). John Zettler, Director of Product for Kraken Earn & Trade, said the goal is to give clients predictable, fixed-rate yields on cash and stables without active management. Kraken notes participation is limited by eligibility/geography, rates may change for new allocations, and the opt-in rewards program involves risk. For traders, the product is likely to increase demand for USD/stablecoin parking within Kraken, but the impact on broader crypto liquidity is capped by the accredited-investor and geographic restrictions.

Bitcoin fell to around $63,000 on Tuesday, then edged back to trade near $63,400, as a sharp risk-off move spread from Asia’s equity markets into crypto. South Korea’s Kospi dropped nearly 11%—its weakest since mid-April—down more than 36% from a mid-June peak, with losses concentrated in chip stocks including Samsung and SK Hynix. Bitcoin faces a tighter macro test midweek. The Federal Reserve is set to deliver its interest rate decision on Wednesday, followed by Core PCE inflation and GDP data on Thursday. Citadel Securities expects a quarter-point hike, warning markets may be underestimating a more hawkish Fed stance. CME Group’s FedWatch tool put the latest odds of a rate hike at 33.7%. Separately, declining odds that the Clarity Act—a market structure bill many traders see as a potential catalyst for institutional inflows—will pass this year has also weighed on sentiment. With Bitcoin tethered to broader liquidity expectations, traders are likely to watch both the Fed path and upcoming inflation/growth prints for direction and volatility.

Circle has acquired nearly 1,000 blockchain patents from IBM, including 680+ patent families. Circle says the move makes it the largest U.S. holder of blockchain patents. The portfolio spans foundational blockchain technology and use cases in financial services, enterprise infrastructure, supply-chain verification, and cloud security. Deal terms were not disclosed, and Circle did not clarify how many patents are U.S.-issued or whether IBM kept any licensing rights. Circle plans to apply the IP across USDC and its on-chain infrastructure, including the Circle Payments Network and its Arc blockchain, with additional support for financial tools for AI agents. Circle also noted it received its first patent in December 2023 and previously joined the LOT Network to reduce exposure to patent-assertion entities. Separately, Circle this month received final federal approval to establish Circle National Trust, a national trust bank. Circle is scheduled to report Q2 results on August 5. For crypto traders, the key takeaway is improved IP defensibility for stablecoins and payments—USDC is positioned as a core beneficiary. Near-term sentiment may be supported if USDC-related product upgrades or commercial licensing follow, but uncertainty around patent scope and revenue impact could limit follow-through.

Zcash has completed formal verification of its Ironwood shielded pool, publishing a machine-checked “Ironwood proof” intended to rule out undetectable counterfeiting bugs under stated cryptographic assumptions. Project Tachyon said the proof was written in the Lean programming language, includes 2,700+ theorems, and required three teams of researchers and cryptographers over more than a month. The “Ironwood proof” establishes a security property called balance integrity. It is designed to prevent the shielded pool from paying out more value than has been publicly entered. Zcash says the proof covers the components needed for this property, including Ironwood’s zero-knowledge proof system, circuit rules, and ledger-level accounting. It does not verify Ironwood’s separate privacy guarantees. Ironwood was introduced with the NU6.3 upgrade after a theoretical vulnerability was found in Zcash’s Orchard shielded pool, which could have enabled undetectable ZEC counterfeiting. Zcash developers stated they found no evidence the Orchard flaw was exploited. The new pool routes funds migrating from Orchard through a public “turnstile” checkpoint to help prevent any hypothetical excess coins from entering Ironwood, and to potentially surface evidence about Orchard’s integrity as funds move. For traders, the key takeaway is that the Ironwood proof is a security hardening milestone focused on supply integrity and counterfeit-resistance, not a change in issuance or protocol economics.

PayPal (PYPL) reported its Q2 2026 results for the period ended June 30, 2026. The company said the earnings release and supporting materials are available on its investor relations site. PayPal earnings will be discussed on a conference call scheduled for July 28 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific (8:00 a.m. Eastern), with a live webcast and a 90-day replay archive. The article excerpt does not include specific financial figures, such as revenue, profit, or guidance. For crypto traders, the catalyst is mainly sentiment around digital wallet and consumer payment activity tied to PayPal and Venmo, rather than any direct crypto policy or protocol change. Trading focus should be on how PayPal frames digital payments demand when the full PYPL earnings release and management commentary land.

PayPal and Amazon announced that, starting in August, eligible customers in Germany and Austria will be able to use PayPal Ratenzahlung (Buy Now, Pay Later) on Amazon.de and in the Amazon app. PayPal Ratenzahlung lets shoppers split qualifying orders from €30 to €10,000 into fixed monthly payments with terms of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Amazon-exclusive term options of 36 and 48 months are also offered, subject to credit checks. Customers can view repayment details upfront in checkout, track upcoming installments, and manage the installment plan via the PayPal app or online. Payments are automatically debited monthly from a bank account or debit card, with reminders sent by email/text. Additional repayments or full early repayment are allowed at no extra cost. Key figures in the release include PayPal’s Carola Wahl (Managing Director Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and Amazon DACH’s Rocco Bräuniger (Country Manager). The service will roll out on Amazon.de and the Amazon app over the coming weeks, with standard terms and conditions applying in Germany and Austria. For traders: this is a broader payment-rails expansion for PayPal’s BNPL offering (PayPal Ratenzahlung), not a direct crypto market catalyst. It may influence consumer-finance adoption and merchant payment behavior, which can indirectly affect fintech and digital-wallet sentiment.

US Congress is facing renewed pressure over the proposed CLARITY Act after crypto critic Ben McKenzie urged lawmakers to block it, arguing the bill cannot stop “Trump’s crypto corruption.” McKenzie joined Senate Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Chris Van Hollen at a Capitol Hill anti-corruption forum on Monday. The group says the CLARITY Act contains loopholes. Blumenthal claims Trump made about $2 billion last year, with $1.4 billion tied to cryptocurrency profits, and said the current draft does not require Trump to divest crypto holdings. He also warned that the bill’s ethics provisions would expire in 2029 and enforcement would fall to the Department of Justice, which he called insufficient. New York Attorney General Letitia James added an investor-protection angle, warning that the CLARITY Act could weaken state oversight of crypto fraud and reduce states’ ability to hold platforms accountable. She called for stronger rules to protect investors and maintain market trust. In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune placed the CLARITY Act on hold as the chamber focuses on confirmations and a Russia sanctions bill. That delays crypto legislation, with September now the earliest expected return for consideration—depending on whether Democrats can secure changes before a vote. The Senate would still need at least 60 votes to advance the legislation.

Lido has started relocating Lido staked ETH (about $16B) to Ethereum’s larger Pectra-era validators, replacing many smaller 32 ETH validator setups with fewer, higher-capacity ones. The goal is to reduce the validator footprint of Lido’s Curated Module while aligning operations with Ethereum’s May 2025 Pectra hardfork and its 0x02 credentials (max effective balance up to 2,048 ETH). The rollout is centered on Curated Module v2 (CMv2) support. Lido says CMv2 covers 265,000+ validators and more than 8M ETH, and that Phase 1 went live Monday. For security, the curated node operators are now required to lock (bond) their own ETH, creating real economic penalties for underperformance; Lido also indicates no operators plan to exit. Traders should note the direct effect on price and fees is limited: Lido says the migration does not change Ethereum gas costs or transaction speed, though it may improve background consensus performance. The downside is a temporary earnings gap: validators must be migrated over months due to exit constraints and restaking. Lido estimates the earnings cost at ~738.5 ETH (fast theoretical ~117 days; more like ~6 months in practice). Lido staked ETH could therefore see short-term operational drag, but the update targets longer-term staking infrastructure efficiency and resilience.

Anthropic says its unreleased “Claude Mythos” Preview model discovered two previously unknown cryptographic attacks, including a post-quantum cryptography break affecting HAWK— a digital signature candidate in NIST’s post-quantum signature competition. For HAWK, Claude found a symmetry that reduced the work to recover the smallest key from 2^64 operations to 2^38 (about 67 million times less). Anthropic notes that fixing the flaw would require roughly doubling HAWK’s key size, which could weaken HAWK’s attractiveness as a practical post-quantum cryptography option because compact signatures and fast signing were central to its pitch. Separately, Claude accelerated an attack on a 7-round version of AES by 200–800x, beating a long-standing cryptographers’ record from 2013. Anthropic emphasizes the result targets a reduced AES version (not a fully deployed standard), and verification took hundreds of hours of human review. The model also broke 13 rounds of LEA (a lightweight encryption standard), but the real 24-round deployments were not broken. Anthropic coordinated disclosures with HAWK’s authors and NIST before publishing. The company also argues this shows AI-assisted vulnerability discovery can outpace human triage and verification, and it introduced “CryptanalysisBench” to benchmark fully automated cipher-breaking. For traders, the key point is timing: HAWK is not deployed, and Bitcoin still uses ECDSA. The post-quantum cryptography development affects future replacement planning more than today’s chain security.

The US ceasefire against Iran is already being treated as fragile by crypto-relevant prediction markets. A Polymarket contract that requires a continuous 14-day period with no US airstrike or surface-to-surface missile strike hitting Iranian territory fell from above 60% to around 53% on the day of the update. The markets’ logic: a ceasefire is a sustained halt in fighting, not just an announcement. Traders are effectively pricing roughly 50-50 odds that the US will be unable to contain escalation for two full weeks. This skepticism is tied to recent behavior. The US and Iran had reportedly held fire for a third day by Monday after 13 consecutive nights of US strikes. Still, President Donald Trump warned he could return to “very strong military action” if diplomacy fails. Iran also denied direct negotiations, saying mediators only carry messages. A separate Decrypt-linked prediction market, Myriad, tracks whether a formal senior-level US-Iran talks round begins by July 31 (excluding technical meetings and mediator-only messages). Most bets point to delays until next month. Crypto angle: in a prior April ceasefire, Bitcoin and oil markets rallied sharply, but prediction markets continued to doubt normalization (e.g., Strait of Hormuz shipping). With the US ceasefire against Iran now showing weaker odds of durability, traders may expect event-driven volatility rather than a clean risk-off/risk-on trend.

The US-Saudi joint strike in Iraq, announced by CENTCOM on Jul. 28, 2026, targeted sites used by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-aligned groups. The operations were linked to attacks on U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure, marking a shift from Saudi Arabia’s more defensive posture to more active military engagement. The US-Saudi joint strike is framed as part of broader efforts to counter threats from Iran-aligned militias in the region. It also signals increased military collaboration between the United States and Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed actors operating out of Iraq. Crypto-trader relevance: market pricing in the article suggests a reduced near-term probability of Iran directly striking a Gulf state. However, the impact will likely depend on Iran’s response and any subsequent diplomatic or military escalation involving Iran and its allies. Key watch points include whether retaliation occurs, whether regional tensions intensify, and whether U.S.-Saudi coordination continues to shape expectations for future Gulf-area military actions.

Myanmar’s parliament passed an anti-online scam law on July 28, targeting crypto and online fraud syndicates with region-leading penalties. Under the approved “anti-online fraud” bill, people running crypto currency scams can face up to life imprisonment. If offenders use violence, torture, or illegal detention to force victims into online scams, the maximum also reaches life imprisonment. The death penalty can apply if a victim dies. The law also criminalizes operating scam centers. A May draft set similar sentence ranges, and reports say the final version kept the death-penalty clause after legislative chambers reconciled differences. The text has not yet been publicly released, and no presidential signing timeline or effective date is confirmed. For traders, the main impact is enforcement and compliance risk rather than broad market regulation. A crackdown can reduce fraud-related on/off-ramp activity and raise scrutiny in parts of Southeast Asia, but it is aimed at criminal operators. Expect limited direct price impact unless similar enforcement spreads quickly across the region. anti-online scam law; anti-online scam law

The Clarity Act, a key U.S. crypto bill that would split oversight between the SEC and CFTC, is losing momentum. After the House approved the Clarity Act in July 2025 and it cleared the Senate Banking Committee, the bill remains stuck with no scheduled Senate floor vote. The latest delay is linked to unresolved disputes over stablecoin yield rules, ethics provisions, and DeFi developer liability. Until lawmakers settle these issues, traders are repricing regulatory timelines and showing weaker confidence. Prediction-market pricing reflects the change: the probability the Clarity Act will be signed in 2026 fell from 38% to 31.5% in 24 hours. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Banking Chair Tim Scott are cited as potential gatekeepers for whether a full Senate vote is scheduled. Any public stance from President Donald Trump could further shift expectations. For traders, the Clarity Act slowdown raises near-term policy-risk. That can pressure sentiment, increase volatility around compliance expectations, and affect positioning across major crypto assets and DeFi-related bets while clarity remains uncertain.

The “Digital Asset Market Clarity Act” is losing momentum in the US Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has effectively shelved the crypto market structure bill until after the August recess, prioritizing nominations and Russia sanctions. Galaxy Research cut the odds of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act becoming law to 30% from 50% a month earlier. Earlier progress remains: the House passed H.R. 3633 with bipartisan support in 2025, and Senate committees advanced the measure in early 2026. A revised draft adds an ethics provision with a sunset clause for 2029. Support from major Wall Street firms such as BlackRock, Fidelity, and Goldman Sachs is still in place. But key Democrats say the revised package still does not go far enough on ethics enforcement, illicit finance safeguards, and consumer protections. Partisan tension—especially around former President Trump’s digital asset holdings—adds friction. With the Senate calendar crowded, Galaxy expects serious floor action may not happen before September, and passage may be nearly impossible until 2026 without a “last-ditch effort.” For traders, the near-term risk is regulatory uncertainty: SEC vs CFTC jurisdiction, payment stablecoin treatment, and the overall “market structure” framework may remain unsettled. Watch for any Democratic crossover support and any fall floor-timing commitment by Thune; otherwise, traders may need to price in longer “regulatory limbo.”

A sanctions bill is expected to be signed by President Trump, targeting Russia and Iran and raising the risk of higher global energy prices. The bill—named after late Sen. Lindsey Graham—moves to pressure Russia over its actions in Ukraine and extend Iran sanctions. It also authorizes high tariffs on countries importing Russian oil and gas, which could lift energy costs worldwide. The U.S. Senate has advanced the sanctions bill, but final congressional passage is still required before it reaches Trump’s desk. Markets are closely monitoring potential new Iran sanctions, especially amid expectations of a possible U.S.-Iran deal in 2026. Prediction markets suggest the sanctions bill reduces the odds of diplomatic progress. The share pricing for including “Iran Reconstruction Funding” in a U.S.-Iran deal is at 26.5% YES, down from prior levels, signaling lower confidence that an Iran-related component will be agreed. Traders are likely to watch how Iran and its allies respond, as well as any changes in market-implied probabilities after the bill clears Congress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Donald Trump in Washington during the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. The discussions were framed by ongoing wars: Zelensky reportedly focused on the peace process with Russia, while Netanyahu addressed Israel’s security concerns in the Middle East. The key trading-relevant takeaway is the Israel-Iran ceasefire. The article says heightened geopolitical tension could reduce the odds of a broader ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Market pricing suggests the Israel-Iran ceasefire remains likely through July 31, but confidence has edged down recently. What to watch next includes any official statements or joint announcements from Trump, Netanyahu, or Zelensky that could shift expectations for the Israel-Iran ceasefire. Traders may also react to signals of either diplomatic breakthroughs or renewed military actions that could destabilize existing arrangements. Overall, this is a high-profile diplomatic moment, but with uncertainty around how long the Israel-Iran ceasefire can hold—factors that typically influence macro risk sentiment and volatility across crypto markets.

CENTCOM strikes Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The U.S. said the targets were Iran-backed units allegedly planning attacks on U.S. personnel and on Saudi Arabia’s strategic oil infrastructure. The action comes amid broader regional tensions and a persistent missile/drone threat environment. Markets are treating CENTCOM strikes Iran-backed groups in Iraq as deterrence against an Iranian escalation toward Gulf states. A stated market metric shows the probability of Iranian action against a Gulf state on July 30 rising to 21.5%, signaling higher near-term tail risk. Key figures mentioned include Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, whose statements could move market sentiment. Saudi Arabia’s defense posture—especially around oil facilities—was also flagged as a key variable. What to watch next is any Iranian response in the coming days, because retaliatory steps would likely change probabilities and trading expectations. Traders should also monitor diplomatic or military developments affecting the U.S.–Iran–Saudi triangle, since shifts could quickly reverse risk premia.