Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Coldcard has temporarily halted its automatic customer data deletion due to legal obligations tied to a July 30 security incident. Under its normal policy, Coldcard “blanked” customer records after 120 days, keeping only email and country. After the July exploit, the company said it must preserve potentially relevant records for investigations and possible litigation. Coldcard says customers can still opt out of this legal retention by contacting support to apply the original retention schedule instead. The company also stressed that retained data will be restricted to authorized personnel and used only for compliance. The policy change follows a major hardware-wallet vulnerability linked by Galaxy Research to theft of 1,596 BTC from about 7,300 wallet addresses across three confirmed attack waves. Galaxy also flagged a potential fourth, unconfirmed wave that could raise total losses toward ~2,055 BTC. Earlier technical disclosures attribute the flaw to reduced seed randomness in affected firmware: instead of using the hardware-backed RNG, vulnerable devices relied on MicroPython’s deterministic PRNG during wallet seed generation. This allowed attackers to reproduce candidate wallet seeds offline, derive addresses, and compare against public blockchain data. Coinkite reports patched firmware for affected models and says updates only protect wallets created after the fix; users with vulnerable-generated seeds are urged to create new seeds and verify with test transactions.

Ethereum (ETH) is extending its recovery, reclaiming $1,900 and moving above the 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day moving averages after a rebound from the ~$1,850 area. The bigger downtrend is not fully healed yet because ETH still sits below the 200-day average near ~$2,062. The latest upside driver is US spot Ethereum ETF demand. Net inflows were about $92.15M on Aug. 6 (≈48,327 ETH at the reported price), after ~$60.86M on Aug. 5. BlackRock’s ETHA contributed about $50.34M on Aug. 6, and cumulative net inflows are now above ~$11.4B. Softer US jobs data (ADP ~44,000 vs. ~70,000 forecast) supported risk assets, though any renewed rate-hike expectations could cap gains. Traders are watching short-term levels. ETH is holding an intraday support band around $1,907–$1,850 (4-hour Supertrend near ~$1,850.62). Momentum remains constructive but not overheated, with 4-hour RSI around 61.7 (below 70). Liquidity/clearing zones sit above price near ~$1,925 and a wider band around ~$1,945–$1,955, which could act as upside magnets. A break above ~$1,925 may accelerate toward ~$1,950 and the psychological $2,000 level. If $1,900 fails, downside liquidity is noted near ~$1,890, ~$1,870, then ~$1,850–$1,860. Bottom line for ETH: the setup is bullish for a near-term push toward $2,000, but a daily close above resistance near $1,925 and a stronger move through the 200-day average (~$2,062) are key to confirming the trend improvement.

Bitcoin price is stalling just under $65K, trading around $64K and failing to reclaim the $66,000 resistance zone. Over the past 24 hours Bitcoin price slipped about 0.5% and over seven days is down roughly 0.6%. At the same time, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF inflows remain supportive: ETFs pulled in $137.6M on Thursday, lifting four-day net inflows to about $763.6M. BlackRock’s IBIT led with $128.3M; Fidelity’s FBTC added $11.2M, while VanEck’s HODL saw outflows. A key macro and policy factor is timing. Senate leaders delayed the CLARITY Act vote until September, removing an expected August regulatory catalyst. Traders also face an immediate data window: July employment data (Aug. 7) followed by CPI (Aug. 12). Strong jobs or sticky inflation would likely reinforce tighter Fed expectations, which could pressure risk assets. On positioning, derivatives leverage is rebuilding but is still below prior peaks. CryptoQuant reported rising BTC open interest across Binance, Bybit and Gate.io, with total combined open interest around $8.86B—about 54% below the October 2025 high. Technical commentary suggests a clearer bullish shift may require a sustained break above $67K, targeting the $69K–$72K resistance band. For traders, the mix remains constructive for demand via Bitcoin ETF inflows, but the lack of a breakout keeps Bitcoin price action range-bound until the next data-driven catalyst.

XRP USD is trading near $1.03 and faces technical risk of losing the $1 psychological support level after the U.S. Senate delayed the CLARITY Act vote until September. The delay removes an immediate regulatory tailwind for Ripple, contributing to a near -2% 24-hour move, with intraday trading between $1.0153 and $1.039. Technically, XRP is at a two-year low and is approaching a support zone at the bottom of a weekly falling-wedge pattern. Monthly RSI is described as more oversold than ever. Traders are watching key levels: a bullish recovery would require a break above $1.10–$1.15, while a breakdown below $1.00 could open downside toward $0.92. Spot volume is also highlighted—buyers may need expansion above about $1.44B to sustain upside. On the policy front, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said consideration of the CLARITY Act would resume after the August legislative recess. Meanwhile, market participants weigh this against Ripple’s reported full compliance in Europe under MiCA and CASP in Luxembourg. Counterbalancing the headline risk, ETF flows remain supportive: spot XRP ETFs saw over $3M in inflows on the day, taking total inflows to about $1.43B since they launched in November 2025 (per CoinGlass data). Separately, the article mentions LiquidChain’s LIQUID presale and its cross-chain liquidity infrastructure, but this is presented more as sector capital rotation than as a direct XRP catalyst.

LBank has launched a 500,000 USDT reward campaign with Pudgy Penguins, aiming to drive new users and trading activity across spot, futures, and $PUDGY/PENGU earn features. The campaign runs from Aug. 7 and offers five reward categories tied to user engagement and risk-taking on LBank. Key incentives in the 500,000 USDT reward campaign include: (1) a registration bonus—new users who net-deposit at least 100 USDT to their futures account can receive a 10 USDT futures bonus (first 12,000 users); (2) a first-trade reward—an additional 5 USDT futures bonus after completing an eligible first spot or futures trade; (3) lucky draw entries—one entry per every 20,000 USDT cumulative futures volume, up to seven entries per user, with prizes including 1 BTC and merchandise; (4) weekly futures leaderboard—users with at least 10,000 USDT futures volume can place in top-50 rankings, with the largest weekly reward reaching 500 USDT futures bonus; and (5) $PENGU Locked Earn—users subscribing with at least 100 USDT-equivalent can get up to a 100% interest boost and 10% fixed yield during the earning period. For crypto traders, this 500,000 USDT reward campaign is mainly a liquidity and engagement catalyst on LBank’s futures books rather than a new token launch. Traders may see short-term incentive-driven volume spikes around leaderboard periods and eligibility cutoffs, but broader market impact is likely limited unless BTC or $PUDGY-related interest spills over to wider exchanges. Eric He (LBank) framed the effort as a culture-and-identity-driven onboarding push via a recognizable IP partner, positioning it as a “more welcoming” Web3 participation model.

CleanSpark reported a $239M net loss in its fiscal Q3, reversing year-ago profit as revenue dropped 30.5% to $138M and results missed estimates. The stock fell about 5.5% on Thursday before partially rebounding in pre-market, highlighting continued fiscal impact from Bitcoin mining weakness and BTC mark-to-market effects. The quarterly loss was $239M (about $0.89 per basic share). CleanSpark cited a fair value loss on Bitcoin of $224.1M, which made up nearly 60% of the total net loss—showing how sensitive Bitcoin mining equity earnings are to weaker BTC prices. At the same time, BTC holdings rose to $925.2M and cash was $260.3M, indicating ongoing balance-sheet buildup. New offsetting development: on July 14, CleanSpark signed a 20-year, 175MW AI data center lease at its Sandersville, Georgia campus, targeting about $6.6B in contracted revenue over the initial term. Management said it will commercialize assets for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) while continuing Bitcoin mining operations—potentially reducing earnings volatility over the longer term. For crypto traders: the near-term market signal is bearish for miners’ equity momentum due to Bitcoin mining revenue pressure plus BTC valuation losses, while the AI/HPC lease is a medium-term stabilizer rather than an immediate earnings reversal.

Gate has launched Gate DexBuilder’s first “Event Contracts Builder” and announced a $3 million grant program to accelerate the event contract market ecosystem. The initiative targets project teams, developers, communities, and web3 applications worldwide, offering one-stop event contract market building capabilities. The Event Contracts Builder is positioned to lower the barrier to creating market products. Using modular infrastructure services, it includes market creation, trading, liquidity support, settlement, and operational management—so teams do not need to build trading systems, liquidity infrastructure, or settlement architecture from scratch. The service supports API/SDK integration and includes market data, order and position management, market settlement, risk controls, an operations dashboard, and multi-terminal integration. Gate says partners can either integrate event contract functionality into existing products or launch an independently operated, branded event contract market on Gate DexBuilder. Supported scenarios include crypto assets, sports and esports, macroeconomics, AI, and industry events. Applications are open for projects at the ideation, MVP, testing, or live stages. For funding, Gate will provide selected “Builders” with up to $3 million plus ecosystem support across product development, technical integration, liquidity building, market launch, and user growth. Selected projects may also receive technical support, showcases, community exposure, joint AMAs, media promotion, and ecosystem partnerships. This is relevant for traders as Gate attempts to expand event-contract liquidity and activity via infrastructure and incentives—though the announcement is more ecosystem-focused than directly tied to major spot or derivatives tokens.

XRP price is hovering near $1.03 as exchanges rebalance leverage. CryptoQuant data show a venue shift in stablecoin-margined XRP open interest (OI): on July 31, Binance fell to about $186M (lowest since April 2025) while Bybit rose to roughly $229M, leaving a ~$43M gap. This is an XRP leverage reset that makes risk less uniform across venues. The market has a large derivatives vs spot imbalance: total XRP derivatives OI is near $2.36B, far above 24h spot volume of about $379M (CoinGlass). If Bybit’s larger book becomes the liquidation trigger, forced closes can transmit through arbitrage and market makers even for traders not directly using Bybit. Funding rates were near flat across venues (Bybit +0.001%, Binance +0.003%), so the key signal is OI concentration rather than obvious one-sided funding. Stress sizing in the article uses the OI base: assuming 45% directional exposure on Bybit, the vulnerable notional is roughly $52M in a bearish break scenario; a more extreme cascade assumption pushes that toward ~$112M. Price levels: $1.05-$1.10 is cited as a key support zone; losing $1.04 then $1 increases odds of a move toward $0.95-$0.97, with tail risk lower if broader crypto sells off. Polymarket odds (71.5% for XRP touching $1 in August) are treated as sentiment toward a binary $1 threshold, not a full forecast. Traders should watch whether the XRP leverage reset continues—i.e., Bybit OI declines and funding stays flat—or whether Bybit’s book holds while price slips.

American Bitcoin reported holding 8,002 BTC as of June 30, but 3,090 BTC (38.6%) remains restricted under Bitmain miner-purchase agreements. The company said it mined about 932 BTC in Q2, lifting holdings faster than share count growth, with per-share implied satoshis rising 10.52%. On cash flows, the American Bitcoin reserve strategy was not fully self-funding. In the first half, operations and digital-asset purchases used $129.1 million in disclosed cash, while ATM (at-the-market) share sales raised $144.1 million. The filings do not specify earmarking of ATM proceeds. Earnings details show about $67.0 million revenue in Q2. The article also highlights a unit-economics issue: reported cost per mined BTC excludes depreciation and amortization, so the metric may understate total costs. GAAP results included a $57.151 million net loss driven by noncash fair-value moves. For traders, the key takeaway is that American Bitcoin’s balance-sheet BTC is partially encumbered. That can reduce near-term flexibility to sell or monetize coins, but the firm still relies on equity issuance (ATM) to fund operations and purchases.

MyTrade founder Liu Zhou was fined $10,000 (no prison) after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud tied to wash trading bots. The U.S. DOJ said his service used a client dashboard (“Volume Support”) to let customers order daily fake volume that bots generated by repeatedly buying and selling the same assets across roughly 60 cryptocurrencies. Zhou told prospective customers the goal was to make other buyers lose money so the firm could profit, and the system could also be used for pump-and-dump style activity. The FBI used a sting with a fictitious firm, NexFundAI, including an Ethereum-based token that traded on Uniswap, to identify and document offered market-making “services.” The operation led to charges against 18 individuals/entities, including market makers Gotbit, ZM Quant and CLS Global. As part of the plea agreement, MyTrade MM had to stop selling Volume Support and permanently deactivate the bots, and post a notice that volume support is a form of wash trading and illegal under U.S. law. The case underscores regulators’ focus on wash trading and bot-driven volume inflation as enforcement pressure grows.

Ondo Finance is facing a Delaware corporate control dispute that could affect ONDO-linked governance and corporate actions. Founder Nathan Allman’s mother, Kathleen Allman, sued to remove CEO Ian De Bode, arguing De Bode seized the role without board approval after Nathan’s death in May. Allman claims Nathan Allman was ONDO’s CEO, sole director, and controlling shareholder, and that his voting power became locked in his estate, leaving the company with “no sitting directors.” She says De Bode relied on bylaws to claim an automatic CEO transition, installed himself as sole director via a voting agreement, and started hiring advisors and approving performance grants. In the filing, Allman also says Ondo initially refused to recognize her authority or provide a shareholder list. She expanded the board, appointing Nathan’s sister Tahnee Towill, and another nominee (Gordon Liao) declined. On July 24, the board voted to remove De Bode from officer/employee/consultant roles and installed Allman as chair and interim CEO. De Bode denies the claims as “meritless,” saying lead investors and the Ondo Foundation still support current management. Ondo seeks an expedited court process to clarify lawful control and preserve the status quo while litigation continues. As of the latest reporting, no court ruling had been published. For crypto traders, the immediate takeaway is governance/legal uncertainty around ONDO-linked corporate control. The reports also state there is no verified evidence that the dispute disrupted Ondo’s tokenized products or changed the legal status of the ONDO governance token.

Deribit says it is reworking margin calculations for standard margin accounts as INTX consolidation brings many new perpetual instruments. From August 2026, the exchange will replace the old initial margin (IM) and maintenance margin (MM) formulas for futures and perpetuals (options margin is unchanged). The new SM margin model ties available IM leverage to coin and position size using a leverage curve with instrument-tier parameters (C1, C2, C3, C4) and a hard maximum position size limit (NMAX). Deribit calculates available leverage as L(N), where N is the position size in underlying units. Example: For a BTC perpetual (tier 1), Deribit cites C1=50, C2=4, C3=5%, C4=0.4, and NMAX=2,000. With a 150 BTC position (N=150), the maximum available IM leverage is about 27.73x. Deribit’s stated goal is tighter risk control over leverage across all position sizes and better handling of the expanding perpetual lineup. Traders should expect leverage caps to vary more dynamically with trade size, potentially affecting position sizing and liquidation risk around the August 2026 rollout.

Stripe-owned Bridge has been added to the EU MiCA register as an authorized Electronic Money Token (EMT) issuer, becoming the 42nd approved stablecoin-related entity. The move was granted by Luxembourg’s CSSF, enabling Bridge to offer regulated euro-backed stablecoin and euro payment services across all 27 EU member states under a single framework. ESMA also updated its MiCA register by adding three new German crypto-asset service providers (CASPs)—Volksbank Die Gestalterbank, VBU Volksbank im Unterland, and VR-Bank Erding—raising the total authorized CASPs to 324. No new asset-referenced token (ART) approvals were added in this update. Bridge previously secured both a MiCA CASP authorization and an EMI license in Luxembourg (announced July 2). With these approvals, businesses using Bridge’s infrastructure can issue customizable euro stablecoins, create named virtual IBANs, and provide euro accounts and cross-border euro account connectivity. Market context: after MiCA’s full implementation on July 1, several exchanges adjusted stablecoin support—for example, Coinbase/Kraken/Crypto.com removed USDT for EU users following Tether’s decision not to seek MiCA authorization, while Binance changed affected services. Stripe’s continued build-out of regulated stablecoin payments infrastructure adds another signal that compliant euro stablecoin rails are becoming more available.

The article argues the “pure-play” Bitcoin treasury model is changing. Many companies that previously focused on Bitcoin accumulation are exiting, and Strategy’s pivot from that approach into a credit-based model is now under strain. Citing VanEck’s Matthew Sigel, the piece notes a concrete example: Satsuma Technology (SATS LN) voted in July 2026 to liquidate 668 BTC (about $43.5M), return capital, and delist. Against this backdrop, a cash-flow-oriented successor model is emerging. Two competing directions are highlighted. Unchained quotes Onramp Institutional’s Glenn Cameron: (1) Strategy-like credit structures versus (2) a “permanent capital company” approach backed by a Bitcoin treasury. The article points to Orange Juice (proposed permanent capital company) with founders including Lyn Alden and Jeff Booth, and says that about a week later, Tether-backed Twenty One Capital disclosed an executive shake-up and a reworked strategy resembling the permanent capital concept. For traders, the key takeaway is that the Bitcoin treasury model debate is moving from “accumulate and hold” to “generate cash flow,” which could change how capital is deployed, how leveraged/credit risk is priced, and how equity-linked Bitcoin vehicles like MSTR may trade. The article frames the open question as whether cash-flow structures can replace the former flywheel that pure-play treasury strategies relied on—especially as macro conditions pressure funding and credit dynamics.

OKX delisting GODS, PRCL and DUCK spot trading pairs. The exchange scheduled the removal of six markets and issued a phased de-risking timeline for traders. Key dates: deposits for GODS, PRCL and DUCK stopped at 16:00 UTC on Aug. 7. Trading then remains available only during the delisting windows in mid-August. Withdrawals stay open until 16:00 UTC on Nov. 7. Delisting schedule: - Aug. 14 (16:00–18:00 UTC): GODS/USD, PRCL/USD, DUCK/USD - Aug. 17 (16:00–18:00 UTC): GODS/USDT, PRCL/USDT, DUCK/USDT OKX also indicated that additional quoted pairs in EUR and other combinations are removed as part of the same staged process across Aug. 14 and Aug. 17, completing all six affected spot markets listed in the notice. OKX delisting guidance: the company did not disclose a specific reason for the spot market removals. The separation of trading, deposit suspension, and the longer withdrawal deadline (~three months) is typical of exchange delistings, aiming to let users exit positions and move tokens off-platform. Broader context: the article links this move to OKX’s ongoing operational and regulatory adjustments across multiple jurisdictions, including app availability changes in South Korea and expanded regulated stablecoin conversion services in Europe.

XRP has secured full MiCA approval, improving its regulatory clarity and long-term outlook for EU market participants. The article says the news strengthens trader confidence, but warns that XRP still needs confirmation from technical chart signals before a sustained rally can be priced in. Alongside the MiCA update, EiCrypto promotes an AI-powered cloud hashing model that lets users use mainstream crypto (including XRP) to seek passive income rather than relying only on price appreciation. The pitch highlights automatic earnings settlement within 24 hours after contract activation and different contract tiers based on budget and timeframe. Key takeaway for traders: XRP’s MiCA milestone may boost sentiment, but market timing will likely hinge on follow-through demand and technical breakout behavior. Watch for whether volume and order-book strength expand after the regulatory catalyst, or whether the market treats it as “good news, no immediate move.”

South Korea’s National Police Agency has awarded an open tender for a one-year crypto custody contract to Dunamu (operator of Upbit). The custody and management of seized digital assets will be handled via Upbit Custody, using 100% offline cold wallets, 24/7/365 monitoring, and layered security with MPC, DKG and multi-signature controls. Wallets are also separated by asset type. The deal was awarded through the Public Procurement Service, with Dunamu receiving the highest technical evaluation score (94.14) and a contract value of 267 million won (about $195,000) for one year. The appointment follows prior concerns over police-held crypto, including a February incident in which 22 BTC went missing from custody. For traders, this is mainly a crypto custody contract and security-governance update rather than a direct market catalyst. Still, stronger institutional custody practices can shift sentiment around exchange and state-controlled holdings and their perceived operational risk.

Wyoming disclosed an indirect position tied to Hyperliquid’s HYPE token in its second-quarter Form 13F filing. The state did not report buying HYPE directly. Instead, it reported holding shares in Hyperliquid Strategies ($PURR), a publicly traded investment vehicle that provides exposure to HYPE. Crypto.news analyst Shaunda Devens highlighted the filing on social media, noting it adds a new digital-asset-linked holding within Wyoming’s broader crypto policy efforts. The article did not specify the position size or the exact timing of when the stake was established during the quarter. The disclosure arrives as Wyoming continues expanding its blockchain initiatives. Earlier in the year, Wyoming launched the Frontier Stable Token (FRNT), a government-managed dollar-backed stablecoin initially issued on Solana and later bridged across multiple networks. FRNT reserves are described as managed by Franklin Templeton and held in a Wyoming-chartered trust, with proceeds directed to public schools. Wyoming is also preparing to host the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium (Aug. 17–20), with senior policymakers and crypto executives expected to attend. For traders, the key point is that this is not a direct HYPE purchase by a state authority—HYPE exposure is indirect through a listed securities wrapper. Overall, the potential impact on HYPE price is likely limited, but the filing reinforces institutional “access via public equities” as a recurring route to crypto beta.

A new long-horizon study on the crypto market challenges the “altcoin bull market” narrative. Using data from 2020–2026 across 1,972 tokens that at some point exceeded $50M market cap, only 4.1% outperformed Bitcoin (BTC). The median token performance ends with a 97% loss. The paper also finds the key momentum trade has flipped. After 2022, the “altcoin momentum” setup turns negative: instead of gaining when prices rise, tokens lose about 3.8 percentage points per month on average versus BTC. In the strongest earlier cycle (2020–2021), upside capture was higher, but post-2023 conditions deteriorated. More alarming risk metrics follow the token “batch” lifecycle. For 2024-origin listings, 86% suffered a -90% drawdown within 24 months; overall, 73% of tokens eventually triggered a -90% move, and the median time from drawdown threshold to -90% was just 13 months. Even during “altcoin bull market” periods, results were concentrated: a small group of winners existed (e.g., the study notes OKB as a rare sustained outperformer), while most other former winners retraced 90%+. The article attributes the deterioration to token supply industrialization (VC-backed launches and permissionless issuers like pumpfun) outpacing liquidity and fundamentals, alongside increasing market concentration back toward BTC and the top 10 coins.

Bitcoin (BTC) is forming a potential bullish inverse head-and-shoulders pattern on the daily chart. The setup has three troughs: a left shoulder near $60,000 (early June), a head around $57,700 (late June/early July), and a right shoulder from roughly $62,500. Technicians define a neckline near $66,800. A decisive break and hold above this level would confirm the pattern and imply a rally target near $76,000, calculated by adding the pattern’s depth to the breakout point. However, the pattern is not confirmed yet, and technical analysis can be subjective. The article highlights a key downside check: the 50-day simple moving average near $63,321. A clear breakdown below the 50-day average would suggest the bullish structure is weakening rather than progressing toward a breakout. On the macro/regulatory side, uncertainty around the timing and odds of the proposed “Clarity Act” passing this year is flagged as a fading catalyst. That reduces confidence in near-term regulatory tailwinds, increasing traders’ need to watch for renewed weakness even as the chart signals a possible upside setup. Key levels for BTC traders: resistance/trigger at ~$66,800 and risk management around ~$63,321 (50-day SMA).

The White House says it will remove what it considers unnecessary Bitcoin and broader crypto regulations. The move follows a May 2026 executive order asking federal agencies to review rules that could obstruct digital asset activity. Traders should note the policy direction: it aligns with a wider effort to integrate crypto into the U.S. financial framework, including references to a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. It also comes while Congress works on clearer crypto market-structure and stablecoin rules. Market positioning in the article suggests optimism could rise if regulators act quickly. Prediction-market pricing referenced in the report shows the current odds of Bitcoin reaching $200,000 by end-2026 remain low, but the White House signal may shift probabilities for later dates. What to watch next: (1) how fast federal agencies identify and drop/adjust the targeted regulations, and (2) legislative updates on market structure and stablecoins, which typically drive near-term sentiment and volatility for Bitcoin. Keyword focus: Bitcoin regulation changes are expected to be a sentiment catalyst rather than an immediate, guaranteed price trigger. Overall, the headline points to a more supportive compliance environment for crypto, but traders should still monitor execution risk.

Chainalysis reports a sharp rise in crypto wrench attacks in 2026, involving kidnappings, home invasions and hostage-style thefts. So far this year, criminals have stolen more than $30M in successful crypto wrench attacks. If the pace continues, 2026 could surpass 2025’s ~$58M peak. Including failed attempts and recoveries, totals were about $316M (2024), $180M (2025), and ~$107M through mid-2026. Despite more incidents, attacker success is falling. Only ~26% of documented violent theft attempts (through late June 2026) resulted in payments, down from 49% in 2025 and 67% in 2024. France is the key hotspot. Chainalysis cites 19 publicly known incidents in 2025 and 30 more through mid-2026. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said authorities recorded 70+ violent crypto incidents by late June. The report links the surge to alleged breaches and leaks involving wealthy holders, including a French tax-related data leak and a Waltio breach affecting ~50,000 users. Tactics are evolving: home invasions rose from 14% (2025) to 37% (through mid-2026), while kidnappings remain common (~52%). Family or acquaintances are increasingly targeted (25%–30% in early 2026). In France, reports suggest 40%+ of cases target someone connected to the victim. Chainalysis also notes attacker “maturity” in on-chain flows: lower-tier groups often cash out via centralized exchanges, while more advanced actors use DeFi tools, DEX/bridges and mixing-like obfuscation before funds may intersect broader illicit laundering ecosystems. For traders, this is more of a compliance-and-custody risk signal than direct spot-demand news. It may increase scrutiny, raise insurer/custody friction, and create short-term volatility around the most affected jurisdictions—especially for users transferring funds to/from France.

MARA’s Bitcoin stash fell 34% in H1, ending Q2 at 35,577 BTC, according to an SEC filing. That compares with 53,822 BTC at the end of 2025. The reduction came from lower owned Bitcoin plus a decline in Bitcoin receivables (BTC loaned to counterparties or pledged as collateral). MARA’s total digital asset holdings were valued at over $2 billion at quarter-end, down from about $4.7 billion six months earlier, reflecting both reduced positions and changes in Bitcoin prices. The firm’s treasury strategy shifted in 2026 after selling 20,880 BTC for roughly $1.5 billion in Q1. Most of the proceeds were used to repurchase about $1 billion of convertible debt, aiming to strengthen the balance sheet and reduce leverage. This ended MARA’s prior full-HODL approach and allows the company to monetize Bitcoin strategically for liquidity, debt reduction, and other corporate needs. Alongside the Bitcoin changes, MARA is diversifying into AI and high-performance computing infrastructure, including an acquisition of Exaion and plans to acquire Long Ridge Energy & Power. Even after these moves, MARA remains one of the largest publicly traded corporate BTC holders.

Myanmar’s military-backed parliament has passed the Anti-Online Scam Bill to crack down on cyber scam rings and “internet fraud factories.” The law targets individuals and groups organizing fraudulent schemes, including operations tied to cryptocurrencies. Compared with the previous maximum prison term of 10 years, the Anti-Online Scam Bill raises penalties dramatically: convicted offenders can face lifetime imprisonment. If a victim dies, Myanmar may also impose capital punishment. The bill can apply even when the abuse includes “violence, torture, unlawful arrest and detention, or cruel treatment” used to force victims to commit online scams. The change follows evidence from recent years that lighter sentences only displaced and dispersed scam networks rather than dismantling them, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Reporting also cited the scale of the problem, including estimates that about 100,000 people were recruited into scam centers linked to Chinese fraud and gambling operators after Myanmar’s 2021 coup. It is the first major piece of legislation passed under civilian President Min Aung Hlaing, after lawmakers reconciled differences between earlier versions passed by Myanmar’s two parliamentary chambers. The article did not confirm whether the Anti-Online Scam Bill has received presidential assent.

Bloomberg reported a proposed “CLARITY” ethics addendum for US President Donald Trump that could help him politically and financially as Congress works on the crypto market-structure bill. The addendum is not yet public and reportedly would require Trump to divest from crypto-related businesses, addressing Democratic concerns about conflicts of interest. At the same time, it would reportedly allow Trump to defer capital gains taxes on those divestitures, potentially saving “millions” in taxes. The plan is designed to unblock passage of the CLARITY market-structure legislation, but Democrats may challenge whether financial interests are truly curtailed if tax deferral remains in place. Trump’s 2025 annual financial disclosure (released in June) shows large crypto-related earnings, including about $635M from memecoin licensing “royalties” tied to Official Trump (TRUMP) and about $588M from World Liberty Financial “token sales” proceeds. The disclosure also references World Liberty-linked ownership stakes and a stablecoin venture equity sale. Cointelegraph sought comment from the White House and received no immediate response. If the CLARITY ethics deal gains traction, it could increase expectations that US crypto regulation moves forward, but the tax-deferral angle may reintroduce political risk and headline volatility.

Vessel traffic through the **Strait of Hormuz** has fallen this week amid **Iran-Oman** diplomatic talks, Reuters reported. The talks focus on safe passage and whether commercial navigation will face new **transit fees** through this key oil and LNG chokepoint. The change comes during the broader **2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis**, triggered earlier in the year by military operations against Iran. Because the **Strait of Hormuz** is central to global energy flows, any fees or route disruptions can quickly affect shipping costs and regional risk. Crypto traders watching macro-driven sentiment may also note that related **prediction markets** are pricing the outcome. In the market “**US charges Hormuz fees by August 31, 2026?**”, the current probability of the US imposing such fees is **1.7% YES**. The relatively low figure suggests traders think **Iran is more likely** to move first. The term structure signals timing risk later in the year. The “**US charges**” scenario for **December 31, 2026** is priced at **8.5% YES**, implying markets expect increased odds if negotiations fail or geopolitical positions change. Key watchpoints are any agreement from Iran and Oman on **transit fee management** and safe shipping routes. Additional US-Iran or regional developments could further shift pricing in the prediction markets.

Upbit will list Block Street (BSB) and open spot trading on KRW, BTC and USDT markets on Aug. 7, 2026 (3:00 p.m. KST). The exchange will initially support BSB deposits and withdrawals via the Ethereum network only, using contract 0xdb6ba5d510f114f9b2ea08bea7d30e32eee33411. To manage early volatility, Upbit will apply staged trading controls after the listing start. Buy orders are blocked for about five minutes. During the same period, sell orders priced more than 10% below the previous day’s closing price are restricted. For roughly two hours after trading begins, only limit orders will be allowed. Upbit also warned the launch time could shift if sufficient liquidity is not secured, and users must avoid transferring BSB through unsupported networks to prevent delayed or lengthy return processes. Block Street positions BSB as its utility and governance token, tied to staking and ecosystem incentives. Its documentation states total supply is 1 billion BSB, with 207.75 million tokens (20.775%) expected to circulate around the token generation event. The project also previously announced an $11.5 million strategic funding round (Oct 2025). For traders, the key near-term catalyst is BSB’s controlled opening at 15:00 KST, where order restrictions may dampen immediate price discovery. Liquidity and correct ERC-20 contract usage (ETH) remain the main execution risks.

US markets closed lower ahead of the Non-Farm Employment Report, with traders taking profits and re-pricing inflation after a sharp oil rally. The Dow fell 0.85%, S&P 500 -0.18%, and Nasdaq -0.06% on low liquidity. Rates were the key driver: the 10-year Treasury yield rose about 6.5 bps (+1.37%), briefly probing the 4.70% level. A major factor was Google’s $25B bond sale that drew roughly $115B of orders (over 4x), adding supply pressure. The dollar firmed, while gold briefly broke above $4,300 before ending flat. Copper surged toward historic highs, hitting around $14,369/ton (+~2%) on supply constraints tied to the Congo (DRC) copper/cobalt concentrate export ban, plus renewed pricing assumptions around AI data-center power needs and grid upgrades. Earnings and guidance raised concerns in the tech complex: storage and some AI software names dropped hard (e.g., Western Digital -13.03%, SanDisk/other storage-linked weakness; HubSpot and Datadog both sharply down). By contrast, SpaceX jumped ~6% after a massive share unlock. Non-Farm expectations are widely split (forecast range ~18k to 83k). A strong print could validate a September hike and pressure risk assets; a weak print in the context of high oil could spark stagflation fears—either outcome likely increases volatility. Key economic focus: Non-Farm on Aug 7 20:30 (US), with gold positioning data also due Aug 8.

Rarible has launched its NFT marketplace on Solana after months of development and testing. The platform’s first featured Solana NFT collection is Claynosaurz, an entertainment and animated-dinosaur NFT brand. In its announcement, Rarible said it has “been working on Solana for months” and that it will onboard additional Solana projects in the coming days and weeks. The company also framed its earlier Solana release, Gacha Station, as a testing phase for user activity and product-market fit before expanding to a full marketplace. Rarible emphasized a collection-specific experience approach, aiming to go beyond simply listing assets on a standard interface. Planned updates include more Solana collections, new marketplace features, improvements to the trading experience, editorial content, and community campaigns. The rollout does not provide a fixed integration schedule or specific transaction-volume targets, and Rarible did not detail how it plans to compete with established Solana NFT platforms. Market context: Solana is known for relatively low transaction fees and faster settlement, which can benefit high-frequency NFT trading and lower-priced collectibles. The launch also arrives while European lawmakers review NFT rules under broader crypto regulation discussions, including the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. For traders, the direct signal is incremental adoption of Solana NFT infrastructure. Near-term impact will likely hinge on whether Rarible attracts meaningful liquidity and standout collections on SOL.