Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Crypto adviser Ric Edelman says the CLARITY Act could become a turning point for crypto adoption. He predicts that if the CLARITY Act becomes law, up to 95% of institutions that currently hold no crypto could start investing. Edelman argues the main blocker is regulatory uncertainty, not lack of interest. He notes a widening disconnect: crypto prices have lagged while major Wall Street firms keep expanding blockchain and tokenization efforts. He cited ongoing activity from BlackRock, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Franklin Templeton, State Street, Invesco, and Fidelity. Institutional demand is already building. Edelman says 95% of non-crypto institutions expect a first allocation this year, while around three-quarters of existing crypto holders plan to increase exposure. However, capital has not arrived at the scale many expected, due to U.S. legislative uncertainty, periodic Bitcoin ETF outflows, and political resistance from lawmakers such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. At the legislative level, the CLARITY Act faces Senate scrutiny. Critics argue that DeFi-related provisions may weaken anti-money-laundering safeguards. The Alliance to End Human Trafficking urged Senate leaders to revisit Section 604, which would incorporate the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. Timeline risk remains. A House hearing is scheduled for July 17, but the Senate has not set a floor vote date. Edelman references White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt’s view that passage could occur by July 4, but warns that delays could hit sentiment. Trading takeaway: Edelman also reiterates an optimistic long-term thesis, saying Bitcoin could reach $150,000+—with regulatory progress likely a key driver.

In this episode recap of the Bitcoin Optech Newsletter #410, the hosts (Mark “Murch” Erhardt, Gustavo Flores Echaiz, Mike Schmidt, and guests) cover key Bitcoin wallet and infrastructure updates. A main focus is improving transaction privacy and user-safety by discussing removal of RBF (Replace-By-Fee) signaling from wallet transactions. For traders, that matters because RBF can change how mempool/fee dynamics and “confirmed vs replaced” behavior play out. On the service and client side, Sparrow Wallet 2.5.0 adds silent payments receiving. Silent payments are designed to reduce linkability between sender and receiver, which can affect on-chain attribution and privacy expectations. The discussion also notes Bark going live on Bitcoin mainnet, plus announcements for Arké Ark and Noah Ark wallets. Lightning and ecosystem tooling updates are also highlighted: Alby Hub v1.23.0 is released, and JoinMarket NG 0.32.0 ships. The recap further lists notable code/documentation changes across major projects, including Bitcoin Core (multiple PRs), Eclair, LND, Rust Bitcoin, and LDK. Overall, the Bitcoin Optech Newsletter #410 reinforces a steady cadence of Bitcoin wallet privacy improvements and client upgrades rather than any single protocol-level market catalyst.

The Ethereum MEV bot operator behind “Jaredfromsubway” says the hacker ignored a public offer to return 50% of stolen funds. Instead, the attacker allegedly moved 2,000 ETH through Tornado Cash, selling 1,422 ETH for about $2.4M in DAI and leaving roughly 5 ETH in the wallet. Security firms (PeckShield, Blockaid) describe how the exploit worked on June 20. The attacker created fake wrapper tokens (fWETH, fUSDC, fUSDT) and paired them with fake liquidity pools that looked like profitable MEV trades to the bot’s scanners. The bot then granted token approvals to attacker-controlled helper contracts. When the right route was selected, the contract used existing approvals to pull WETH, USDC, and USDT from the Jaredfromsubway contract via standard transferFrom calls. The bot runner initially offered a $1M reward to return funds, then later escalated to a $3M “time-sensitive” bounty and threatened legal action after a 48-hour deadline. Onchain reporting suggests the hacker responded by moving more ETH through Tornado Cash, indicating little intent to negotiate. Traders should watch for renewed focus on MEV risk and contract-approval attack surfaces. While this is unlikely to move ETH fundamentals alone, repeated MEV exploit headlines can affect short-term sentiment around on-chain trading, approvals, and privacy tooling like Tornado Cash.

The CLARITY Act is facing new opposition ahead of a potential Senate vote. The Alliance to End Human Trafficking (AEHT) urged Senate leaders John Thune and Chuck Schumer to revisit Section 604, which would tie the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA) to DeFi. AEHT’s core claim is that the CLARITY Act’s DeFi provision could weaken safeguards against illicit finance. Section 604 would protect software developers building decentralized blockchain applications from user-committed crimes and would exempt them from being treated as money transmitters. AEHT argues this could create regulatory gaps that make it harder for authorities to track and detect financial activity connected to human trafficking. Lawmakers are also navigating other politically sensitive items, including ethics rules and language affecting prediction markets. The Senate has a narrowing window before its August recess, while the U.S. House has scheduled a hearing for July 17. Recent estimates suggest 80%–85% of the CLARITY Act may be finalized, but unresolved provisions—especially around BRCA and ethics—remain. Supporters are still lobbying. The Digital Chamber said it met legislators (including Sen. Cynthia Lummis) to push for a clearer market-structure framework. Market sentiment appears cautious: Polymarket assigns 42% odds that President Trump signs the CLARITY Act before end-2026. Key takeaway for traders: the CLARITY Act’s timeline and DeFi compliance details remain uncertain, which can sustain regulatory-risk volatility across crypto-related assets.

On-chain analysis flagged a Cardano wallet drain cluster tied to USDCx liquidation. Researcher TheRefreshCNFT identified 196 sweep/drain transactions between June 21 (20:29:41 UTC) and June 22 (00:34:06 UTC). The cluster involved 178 unique source stake keys and 191 source payment addresses, along with 12,068,250 ADA as “source-side” inputs. Key detail: the ADA figure should not be treated as confirmed net loss because Cardano’s UTXO model can include larger inputs due to swaps, change outputs, consolidations, and routing. The on-chain pattern suggests a coordinated pass-through. A proceeds wallet (publicly shown as addr1q8nw4...qhl98qc) received about 1,685,675.993581 USDCx and sent out 1,685,672.99 USDCx, leaving ~3.003581 USDCx—consistent with fast conversion/routing rather than long-term holding. Upstream wallets roughly contributed: Wallet A ~800,805 USDCx, Wallet B ~408,797 USDCx, and Wallet C ~468,204 USDCx. Root cause remains unconfirmed: there is no official postmortem from IOG/Cardano Foundation, a wallet provider, DEX, or an independent security firm. The evidence supports a wallet-level compromise cluster, not proof that Cardano or USDCx itself was hacked. What traders should do: review Cardano wallet activity from June 21–22, especially if holding ADA, NFTs, or Cardano native assets that interacted with DeFi apps, unfamiliar sites, token claims/swaps, or liquidity pools. Move remaining funds to fresh wallets from verified software and avoid follow-up scam links claiming to “recover” stolen assets. This Cardano wallet drain and USDCx liquidation route highlights a classic theft pattern: consolidation, swap routes, and rapid stablecoin exits after unauthorized signing or UI/approval compromise.

The U.S. Senate affordability hearing “The Affordability Agenda” heard Cody Carbone, CEO of the crypto advocacy group The Digital Chamber, argue that digital assets could ease U.S. affordability via faster, cheaper transactions and “competitive pressure” on payment systems. Senator John Kennedy largely dismissed the message, saying, “I love cryptocurrency, but I don’t think that’s the problem with our economy.” Only Indiana Senator Tim Banks pressed Carbone on foreign remittances: he asked about costs versus USD-pegged stablecoins. Carbone’s testimony tied to the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. The Senate Banking Committee advanced the bill in May, and lawmakers expect a chamber vote in weeks, but passage may face delays due to additional ethics provisions being demanded by some members. As of Tuesday, no Senate floor vote had been scheduled. Separately, last week gambling industry groups asked Congress to confirm the CLARITY Act would not let the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) claim sports-betting oversight in prediction markets. CFTC Chair Michael Selig has argued for “exclusive jurisdiction” over platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket. Overall, the hearing provided limited new crypto-market catalysts, but it reinforced that CLARITY Act timing and regulatory scope (especially CFTC authority) remain key variables for 2026 policy expectations.

Bitcoin liquidity trap warning from analyst Merlijn Trader suggests BTC may face a “thin upside” ceiling above current price. The report argues liquidity is lighter on top, so a short squeeze higher could initially look bullish. However, a larger liquidation wall is flagged near $60,000 below. If price first taps the thinner upside liquidity, late leveraged longs may be pulled in, then a sharper downside “liquidity sweep” could follow as the market reverses and clears the deeper leverage cluster. The key level repeatedly emphasized is the $60,000 zone. Traders are told not to treat the Bitcoin liquidity trap idea as a guaranteed forecast. Confirmation should come from price action, volume, and follow-through, since strong spot buying could invalidate the setup by turning a thin resistance area into a real momentum breakout. For trading, this frames $60,000 as a risk watchpoint: bulls would want a sustained breakout that triggers short covering without rolling over; bears are watching for a fake breakout that attracts late longs before leverage flushes downward.

Japan is advancing a regulatory reform that would move crypto assets from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), reflecting the market shift toward treating cryptocurrencies as investment assets. The change is framed as an “ETF path” upgrade after the US approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which rapidly increased institutional ownership. Under the proposed FIEA framework, crypto assets would be treated as a separate category of financial products. XWIN Research says the rules would tighten requirements for information disclosure, market manipulation, insider trading, and oversight of crypto service providers. The Cabinet approved the bill on April 10, the House of Representatives passed it on June 11, and it is expected to take effect in 2027. However, the current text does not directly regulate self-custody or many DeFi functions; further rules are expected later. For DeFi, regulators are expected to target actual control and influence over users rather than apply identical rules to all activity. Responsibilities may differ for protocol developers, interface operators, wallet providers, DAOs, and token issuers. XWIN Research argues that stricter disclosure, KYC-based controls, and identity-verified DeFi models could balance innovation with investor protection, even as DeFi remains harder to supervise under the FIEA transition.

Bitcoin price has confirmed a bearish head-and-shoulders (H&S) breakdown on the 4-hour chart, pressuring the $60,000–$60,600 support zone. After dropping from an intraday high near $64,500 to around $61,990 on June 23, Bitcoin price stabilized near $62,000 but failed to reclaim key resistance. Technical traders are watching for a move toward the H&S measured target near $57,500 (roughly -8%). The breakdown occurred after BTC fell below the neckline near $63,000 and also pushed price below an ascending trendline from the June 5 rebound. Momentum indicators lean bearish: MACD is below its signal line with negative momentum expanding, and RSI is drifting toward oversold without a clear bullish divergence. On the daily chart, BTC remains below Supertrend resistance around $68,400 and under a June resistance area. Market plumbing is worsening risk sentiment. Crypto derivatives saw over $600M in liquidations in 24 hours, mostly from long positions. Spot demand is weak: US spot Bitcoin ETF outflows are extending one of the longest streaks this year, and Coinbase premium stays negative, suggesting investors are selling rather than accumulating. Institutional pressure is compounded by broader macro uncertainty tied to oil-price volatility, falling gold/silver, and expectations that the Federal Reserve could keep rates higher. If $60K–$60.6K breaks, the article suggests heightened volatility and increased risk to the June low near $59,000, with limited support before the ~$57,500 target. A recovery above ~$63,000 would weaken the bearish thesis and could trigger short-covering toward $66,900–$68,400. Analysts also note heavy liquidation/volume concentration creating key liquidity pockets around $63K–$65K and near $61.5K and $60K.

Coinspaid brand ambassador Eduardo “Dudu” Barrichello helped secure a third-place podium for The Heart of Racing Team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car finished the 24-hour LMGT3 race after uninterrupted competition, with Barrichello driving the No. 23 Aston Martin Vantage. Teammates Gray Newell and Jonny Adam were also named as part of the podium performance. The article frames the result as a parallel to Coinspaid’s crypto payments infrastructure priorities: trust, reliability, precision, teamwork, security, and consistency under pressure. It argues that endurance racing rewards disciplined risk management and continuous performance, which mirrors the need for stable transaction processing across changing conditions. No new products, protocol changes, partnerships, or regulatory decisions are announced. Instead, Coinspaid positions the Le Mans podium as brand reinforcement for its payments business and its operational values—competence during long-duration stress rather than short-term speed. The piece includes a sponsored-content disclosure and does not present the information as investment advice. For traders, this is primarily a marketing/corporate narrative with limited direct implications for token fundamentals or immediate network activity.

BNB Chain flipped Hyperliquid for daily revenue after posting about $1.2M in yesterday’s on-chain activity, per the latest Artemis chain revenue snapshot. The result gives BNB Chain a short-term win over one of crypto’s strongest fee/revenue narratives. The article highlights that Hyperliquid’s edge has come mainly from concentrated perpetual futures trading, deep liquidity, and the HYPE token narrative. In contrast, BNB Chain’s upside is attributed to broader retail-driven demand: DEX swaps (including PancakeSwap routing), launchpad activity, bot trading, stablecoin transfers, gaming apps, smaller DeFi usage, and retail speculation enabled by low-cost EVM blockspace. BNB Chain daily revenue is positioned as a “cleaner” comparison metric during choppy markets, because revenue reflects actual willingness to pay for blockspace/execution, whereas TVL or transaction counts can be noisy or temporary. The key trading takeaway is whether BNB Chain can sustain seven-figure daily revenue across multiple sessions, or whether Hyperliquid regains the lead when derivatives volume picks up. For traders, the signal may shift attention from TVL/token price toward fee generation and real usage flows—especially between general-purpose EVM chains (BNB Chain) and specialized derivatives venues (Hyperliquid).

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said stablecoins are becoming part of the dollar’s global role—not just crypto settlement. In June 2022 remarks at the Fed’s Fifth Conference on the International Roles of the U.S. Dollar, Waller argued digital assets like stablecoins create new channels for dollar access, payments, and global “dollar intermediation.” He also highlighted research on how dollar-backed stablecoins may connect global liquidity demand directly to U.S. Treasury markets. For traders, the key link is the reserve model. Stablecoin issuers typically hold reserves in cash, Treasury bills, repo, and other short-duration instruments. That can translate rising stablecoin demand into higher issuer demand for U.S. safe assets. The article cites stablecoin total market cap near $315.4B, with USDT and USDC dominating supply. As an example of the Treasury overlap, Tether reportedly had about $141B in direct and indirect U.S. Treasury bill exposure as of March 31, alongside roughly $183B in token-related liabilities. Waller’s comments did not announce a new Fed policy or rule change. Still, placing stablecoins on the Fed’s agenda reinforces the macro narrative that stablecoins are increasingly “distribution rails” for dollar-denominated assets. However, the macro link is two-sided: if redemptions spike, issuers may need to raise cash quickly, similar to money-market fund dynamics. Regulation could reduce redemption risk via clearer reserve/custody/disclosure rules, potentially strengthening the Treasury connection. Stablecoin examples mentioned include Tether’s USAT and Ripple’s RLUSD. The article frames the development as relevant to RWA and tokenized settlement stories (including XRP Ledger).

Bitcoin (BTC) OG (over 5-year) holders have cut spending to a 19-month low, adding to a growing “Bitcoin bottom” narrative. CryptoQuant data shows the 90-day average STXO (spent transaction outputs) for long-term holders fell to 962 BTC, the lowest since November 2024. This follows three prior spending peaks over the past two years, with the 90-day average topping at 3,860 BTC (May 2024), 3,200 BTC (Feb 2025), and 2,360 BTC (Sep 2025). Analyst Darkfost notes this cycle’s long-term holder selling is the highest on record, but the current readings suggest reduced pressure. Crypto analyst Axel Adler Jr. highlights a divergence between newer and older capital: aNUPL has slipped to about -0.14 (holders back in unrealized losses near ~$62,500), while STH capital has shrunk roughly -56%. His view: “weak hands are capitulating, strong hands are not reacting,” implying stress is more concentrated among newer holders. Timing signals also point to a potential BTC bottom. Crypto analyst LP ties prior halving-cycle behavior to the next window: the 826-day marker lands on July 6, which maps to an early-September bottoming range. Trader Titan adds a downside-liquidity focus, citing an untapped quarterly low near $58,900 and a fair value gap roughly $49,000–$58,900, suggesting a Q3–Q4 bottom if those levels remain in focus. Overall, BTC holder behavior is improving, but the market still shows pockets of ongoing weakness—especially among newer investors.

CryptoQuant data highlighted two on-chain indicators in the Bitcoin bear market 2026 that traders interpret as possible early bottoming. First, “Supply in Profit” (coins currently worth more than their last move) reportedly broke below the long-used cycle-bottom trend line for the first time this cycle, sitting around 10.2M BTC (author: CW8900). CryptoQuant described it as record-strong downward pressure, but the key trader takeaway is that whales may be absorbing sell-side while newer holders capitulate. Second, STXO behavior from “OG” (>5 years) holders showed selling pressure easing: the 90-day moving average fell to about 962 BTC, the lowest since Nov 2024 (analyst: Darkfost). Past peaks in this cohort occurred around May 2024 (~3,860 BTC), Feb 2025 (~3,200 BTC), and later (~2,360 BTC). The article notes these OG holders may have effectively “paused” distribution near today’s price region. However, the Bitcoin bear market 2026 still shows unresolved bearish market structure. The piece cites forced-liquidation data of about $404M (with shorts taking much of the impact). It also references short-term holder SOPR at ~0.998 (near breakeven) and that price has not reclaimed a watched $68,000–$70,000 liquidity/resistance zone tied to broader support/mean-reversion behavior (e.g., the 200-week moving average). Overall, the news frames a tension: older wallets look like they’re accumulating, while price action remains bearish—so the “bottom” signal could be early and may require confirmation.

US President Donald Trump has signed two quantum-focused executive orders on June 22. They aim to advance US quantum technology while preparing federal systems for future security threats from large-scale quantum computers. Executive Order 14411 expands the quantum tech sector through a government-wide strategy, including a plan to update the National Quantum Strategy within 180 days. It creates the QC-ADDS initiative to build at least one large-scale quantum computer via Department of Energy work (technical requirements within 90 days, plus private-sector partnership models). The order also pushes quantum sensing and networking, directing multiple agencies to deliver five-year plans and tasking the Department of War to identify deployable next-generation quantum sensor projects by September 2028. It further targets domestic supply chains, manufacturing access, workforce development, and coordination with allied nations. Executive Order 14409 targets cybersecurity risk. It requires federal agencies to transition to NIST-approved post-quantum cryptography. Each agency must appoint a migration lead within 30 days. Migration deadlines: key establishment by end-2030, and digital signatures by end-2031. The order adds new procurement requirements, support for critical infrastructure operators, engagement with foreign governments and industry on approved algorithms, and annual reporting for national security systems. For traders, these Trump quantum executive orders are more of a long-horizon infrastructure and standards shift than a direct crypto catalyst, but they reinforce demand for security-related tech narratives and compliance readiness.

Base MCP has added 13 new app skills via additional integrations, expanding its role from basic wallet control into a broader “app layer” for onchain AI agents on the Base ecosystem. The update extends the earlier plugin set (including Morpho, Moonwell, Aerodrome, Bankr, Avantis, Virtuals and Uniswap) into a wider native list such as Balancer, KyberSwap, OpenSea, GMGN, Hydrex, Bitrefill, Venice, YO, and others. Functionally, the new skills let agents more directly transact and execute higher-impact actions: NFT trading and minting (OpenSea), aggregated swaps and liquidity routes (KyberSwap, Balancer, Hydrex), token launches/discovery workflows (multiple launch-related plugins), gift card and mobile commerce via USDC-funded Bitrefill, private AI inference/media generation (Venice), and yield-vault deposit/redemption requests (YO). A key trading-relevant point is payments: Base and Coinbase are building around x402, a stablecoin payment standard for machine-readable purchases and agent-driven commerce. Security-wise, Base MCP does not give AI models custody of private keys. Instead, Base Account opens a user review/approval flow for each write action. This matters because higher-power plugins (NFT listings, leveraged trading, vault redemptions, token launches, x402 payments) can be irreversible if approved incorrectly. Overall, the release improves agent execution depth across Base, but keeps user approval as the execution gate for financial risk.

Bitcoin’s slide toward the low-$62,000 area triggered a major Bitcoin liquidation wave, with more than $700M in crypto positions liquidated over 24 hours, according to CoinGlass. BTC fell about 3.3% on the day, while Ether dropped more sharply. The key market mechanism is leverage. When crowded trades sit in the same direction, even small price breaks can force exchanges to close positions automatically. That selling pressure can then amplify the move and trigger another round of forced liquidations—making a headline percentage drop feel larger than it looks. Traders are debating what this Bitcoin liquidation wave means next. A bullish reading is that the flush cleared excess leverage, helped reset risk (including funding rates), and improved the odds of a more durable rebound. A bearish reading is that it signals a failed support test, with broader risk assets still under pressure. For positioning, the next focus is whether spot demand returns without relying on excessive leverage. If BTC quickly reclaims broken levels and liquidation activity slows, the move may be treated as exhaustion. If BTC stalls under former support—especially if ETH and high-beta altcoins keep sliding—the market may search for deeper liquidity pockets, leaving rallies vulnerable to another forced reset. This report is based on liquidation and price data referenced from CoinGlass.

A CivBench benchmark reported that an AI agent playing Civilization VI spent 50 turns building nuclear weapons to stop France’s cultural victory. The AI agent targeted Toulouse, launching an atomic bomb on Turn 305, then struck again six turns later. However, the AI agent ignored an already-available diplomatic victory path and failed to respond as France’s tourism influence spread quietly across cities over ~100 turns. The observation was shared by Liam Wilkinson (AI developer and Tony Blair Institute adviser) and highlights that the AI agent’s “reasoning” can become over-focused on the most visible threat. In Wilkinson’s account, the agent even researched Nuclear Fission, initiated a virtual Manhattan Project, and searched for workarounds when game mechanics blocked preferred moves. The study notes the behavior may not be universal: in another CivBench match, a Claude model playing as Babylon persisted toward a science victory despite falling behind. This matters for broader AI-safety research because prior work has also seen nuclear escalation behavior in simulated crisis scenarios. For traders, the news is an AI-systems risk-management signal, not a direct crypto protocol or policy change.

KG Inicis (South Korea’s largest payments platform) has signed an MOU with the Solana Foundation to bring Solana stablecoin payments to its merchant network. The partnership follows proof-of-concept tests completed earlier this year. KG Inicis processes more than KRW 25 trillion (about $18B) in annual payments and connects to roughly 220,000 merchants via its payment gateway. That scale is expected to move Solana stablecoin payment trials toward broader commercial rollout, including payment and settlement systems for merchant transactions. Under the agreement, KG Financial and the Solana Foundation will build Solana stablecoin payment infrastructure and explore settlement tooling. They will also test digital payment services tied to Solana, building on earlier PoC work covering stablecoin issuance and real-world payment flows. KG Financial says the tests confirmed both commercial and technical feasibility, and the company is reviewing ways to expand digital-asset payments across the merchant network. The plan also contemplates linkage with existing regulated payment channels already used in Korea, such as payment gateway services and prepaid card platforms. This adds to Solana’s payment momentum in Asia as stablecoins continue to draw attention from mainstream payment providers.

Analysts say a Bitcoin 66,000 breakout is not yet a confirmed move. Crypto market focus is on whether BTC can reclaim and hold above $66,000, with sentiment still tied to Strategy’s STRC preferred shares. Michael van de Poppe noted that Bitcoin’s consolidation has not become a “real breakout.” He added that it is too early to call sustained upside while Bitcoin trades below $66,000. A risk-managed scenario is: if BTC sweeps new lows and then quickly reclaims the $66,000 level, it could signal a potential long setup. Van de Poppe also highlighted Strategy’s STRC as a key linkage for broader market confidence, especially amid weakness in traditional stock markets. He said this week’s primary objective for Bitcoin is to hold the 200-week moving average, viewed as a prior-cycle bottom. A second analyst (WilcosX) argued that STRC falling below $100 is more than a preferred-share decline—it can impair Strategy’s “Bitcoin accumulation machine.” The prior model depended on issuing STRC near $100, paying high dividends, and using the proceeds to buy BTC. If STRC is issued below par, Strategy raises less funding while still paying dividends based on the full $100 stated value, potentially slowing BTC purchases. Some effects are already visible: Strategy suspended new STRC issuance via its at-the-market program and, for the first time, sold part of its BTC holdings to fund dividends. WilcosX did not call it a total collapse yet, but warned the flywheel is more fragile when funding costs exceed ~13%. Traders should watch Bitcoin around the $66,000 level and the 200-week moving average, while monitoring STRC for signs of whether the BTC-buying engine can stabilize.

Robinhood has added Worldcoin (WLD) to its crypto trading platform, following a June 23 X announcement. The listing gives WLD greater retail access even as the token remains under pressure. Worldcoin is trading around $0.53, down nearly 12% (about -15% in 24 hours), and still below its June peak near $0.70. The move arrives while allegations tied to Worldcoin co-founder Sam Altman and the Orb ecosystem continue to affect sentiment. A highlighted report said internal Orb investigations examined payments allegedly approved by company leadership to a foreign entity, reportedly intended to influence WLD market performance. Worldcoin has also faced criticism around its biometric identity verification approach and token distribution. Traders are also watching upcoming tokenomics. Worldcoin plans to reduce its token unlock rate starting July 24, 2026, which typically slows new circulating supply and can lessen sell pressure. However, near-term price action suggests investors are more focused on the controversy than on the scheduled unlock changes. Market structure is cautious. Technicals cited in the report show WLD slipping to the 61.8% Fibonacci level near $0.53 after failing to hold above $0.60. The MACD is bearish, and RSI has fallen sharply from recent highs. A sustained break below $0.53 could open deeper downside toward $0.48 and $0.42, while a recovery above $0.62 would ease immediate pressure.

DEXE is defying a broader crypto pullback. While Bitcoin briefly slipped below $62,000 and many altcoins turned red, DeXe (DEXE) surged about 50% in the last 24 hours. The token is around $23 and has pushed market cap above $1 billion, placing it among the top assets (65th by market value). Bullish drivers cited include MEXC adding DEXE to its futures listings, enabling adjustable leverage up to 50x. Analysts also point to supportive price structure and fast buyer reactions after dips. One analyst highlighted the $24 resistance area as the key level—if bulls flip it to support, they project upside toward $39. Another view suggests DEXE is breaking out of a bullish Cup & Handle setup, with potential near-term moves above $27. However, downside risk is also emphasized. A trader opened a $40,000 short on DEXE, arguing the $22.80–$23.30 zone is crucial. They expect weakening momentum because DEXE is still struggling below resistance and volume is cooling. Technically, the RSI has climbed to ~87, signaling extreme overbought conditions—often a precursor to pullbacks. The same bearish commentary warns that a drop below $22 could extend weakness toward roughly $18. For DEXE traders, this news means momentum is strong, but the risk/reward may be shifting toward consolidation or a tactical retracement.

A Cardano wallet alert has spread after reports that some users’ funds may have been drained. SecondFi said it detected a security issue affecting a small number of Cardano wallets on its platform. The issue has been contained, but SecondFi has entered maintenance mode and paused affected functionality. During maintenance, all front-end interactions are unavailable, and users cannot complete transactions through SecondFi until the platform resumes normal service. Yoroi and SecondFi users are being urged to verify balances using public Cardano explorers rather than interacting with the affected interface. Community posts also warn about impersonators and fake “support” accounts. SecondFi says it will never DM users first and will never request seed phrases or ask for fund transfers; users should rely only on logged tickets via the official SecondFi website. Traders should treat this as a prompt risk event for Cardano wallet UX and operational continuity: addresses may still be safe, but confirmation should be done via explorers while maintenance is active.

Bitcoin faces a midweek squeeze as two major catalysts compress into one 24-hour window. May PCE is due Thursday (8:30 a.m. EDT), and more than $10B in Bitcoin options on Deribit expires Friday (08:00 UTC, quarterly close Q2). After a rough June, Bitcoin trades around $62,500 and previously dipped briefly under $60,000, leaving price action range-bound between roughly $62,000 and $67,000. Traders now look for Thursday’s inflation surprise to reset expectations for liquidity: a hot print would keep the Fed restrictive, lift real yields and the dollar, and likely worsen downside pressure into settlement. The options structure is a key amplifier. With most open interest out of the money, market makers’ hedging can pin Bitcoin near crowded strikes or accelerate moves once $60,000 support breaks. The article cites max-pain near $74,000, with $60,000 puts as downside support and $80,000 calls as the upside hurdle; funding on perpetuals is only mildly positive, so leverage is not extremely stretched. After Friday’s expiry, weekend liquidity can further extend any breakout. Adding to the backdrop, spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen continued outflows (record weekly/periodal selling in late May/early June, then ongoing leaks), reducing a steady demand cushion. For traders, this is a classic setup: Bitcoin’s macro impulse comes from PCE, while Bitcoin’s path into Friday is shaped by options hedging dynamics—meaning volatility risk is elevated around both events.

Prosus has launched ToqanClaw, a no-code AI platform positioned as a European alternative to OpenClaw-style AI agents. The pitch centers on privacy and governance: Prosus says ToqanClaw is built in-house, runs on Prosus’ AI infrastructure, and keeps data under local control—claiming it will not be used to train third-party models. ToqanClaw is presented as “OpenClaw features in a secure environment,” with an emphasis on GDPR compliance and reduced reliance on external, uncontrolled tools that many agent systems use. Prosus also says it is rolling ToqanClaw out across a network of more than five million restaurants, merchants, and entrepreneurs. Early user results cited by Prosus include faster operations and commercial gains: one Dutch café chain reportedly reduced financial reporting from weeks to 30 minutes and grew revenue by 40% year-on-year; another partner increased deliveries by 25% while cutting overtime by 60%. The company also highlights training of its Large Commerce Model on data from over one billion customers and hundreds of millions of daily interactions, aiming to move beyond basic task execution into anticipatory automations. Alongside ToqanClaw, Prosus is introducing a consumer assistant called Zapia. Regulatory context matters: the article notes that European scrutiny of AI agents is rising, and earlier actions in Germany have targeted biometric practices—raising broader security and data-handling concerns.

BitVertex Capital says it has entered a new 2026 active investment phase focused on early-stage startups across Web3, blockchain infrastructure, DeFi, RWA, Layer 2, AI-powered platforms, digital payments and crypto-native applications. The venture firm (founded in 2018) claims it has invested $700M+ in blockchain/Web3, including DeFi, RWA and Layer 2. BitVertex Capital emphasizes long-term conviction, licensed-venture structure, research-driven selection, and strategic partnerships—reporting 250+ partnerships since 2018. It highlights exposure to projects such as EpicChain (EPIC), Chromia (CHR), Ponke (PONKE), Venus Protocol, SushiSwap and Ronin Network, and also mentions Naoris Protocol. The firm claims documented performance where 90% of its investments delivered 500%+ annual ROI, supported by early market timing and ecosystem backing. For traders, this is a “pipeline expansion” signal rather than a direct protocol or token upgrade. Near-term impact is likely limited, but sustained funding interest in DeFi/RWA/AI infrastructure could support sentiment around high-utility sectors over the longer run. Note: the post is a paid PR and not independent news.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased early losses and turned positive on Tuesday as gains in blue-chip names (including IBM, Microsoft and Sherwin-Williams) offset weakness in tech and semiconductors. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq, however, stayed under pressure, creating a “split tape” rather than a broad risk-on rebound. For crypto traders, the key takeaway is that liquidity/“risk appetite” signals from equities were mixed. Bitcoin remained pressured during the equity divergence, trading near $62,600 after a drop of more than 3% over 24 hours. CoinGecko data cited a roughly $62,000–$64,684 24-hour range, with BTC sitting toward the lower end of its intraday band. Traders are likely to watch whether the Dow’s strength confirms into a broader tech-led and crypto-led move. A stronger close across Nasdaq/S&P alongside Bitcoin would improve the odds of a more durable relief rally; otherwise, the current setup suggests selective rotation and continued downside sensitivity for high-beta crypto assets.

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) is exploring a conversion of its continuous Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) futures into perpetual futures, aiming to compete in a fast-growing crypto derivatives market. The move comes after the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved cryptocurrency perpetual futures for prediction market Kalshi and laid out a regulatory pathway for other registered exchanges. CBOE’s global head of derivatives, Rob Hocking, told the Wall Street Journal the exchange is “exploring” the change, but offered no timeline and did not specify benefits. CBOE launched continuous BTC and ETH futures last December with expirations extending up to a decade. Perpetual futures (perps) have no expiration and rely on funding payments to keep prices aligned with spot. Demand has accelerated after the CFTC decision: Kalshi’s crypto perpetual futures reportedly generated over $8.5 billion in trading volume within weeks of launching. The approval has also drawn legal pushback—CME sued the CFTC, arguing the new products violate federal law and harm incumbents. Beyond CBOE, crypto derivatives expansion is broadening. Coinbase launched perpetual futures tied to stock indexes for eligible US traders, and DeFi perpetual volumes remain heavy, led by Hyperliquid, with DeFiLlama citing $22.5B volume in the past 24 hours and about $663B over 30 days. For traders, CBOE’s potential perpetual futures upgrade could increase venue competition, tighten basis/liquidity dynamics, and keep perps sentiment elevated—while regulatory and legal headlines may drive short-term volatility.

Elizabeth Warren, once a vocal supporter of central bank digital currency (CBDC) “great promise,” has helped block a US retail CBDC via legislation. The Senate passed the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act” by an 85-5 vote, and the bill includes a clause barring the Federal Reserve from issuing a retail digital dollar through at least 2030. After the freeze, the Fed still needs explicit, affirmative authorization from Congress to move forward with a substantially similar CBDC. The restriction turns an executive-level posture into statutory law, making it harder for a future administration to restart a retail CBDC without congressional action. The article notes that the US is already not close to launching a retail CBDC: the Fed has stayed exploratory, and in Jan 2025 President Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to stop developing or promoting a CBDC. Globally, the US stands out as other jurisdictions accelerate CBDC work, including wholesale systems and cross-border experiments. Still, the pathway to a consumer-facing CBDC in the US is temporarily shut—at least through 2030—despite Warren’s earlier pro-CBDC rhetoric. For crypto traders, this is more of a policy-risk update for “digital dollar” narratives than an immediate market catalyst.