Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

The Satoshi Nakamoto statue was stolen overnight from a public park in Lugano, Switzerland. The theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, designed by Valentina Picozzi, marks a bold art heist: the faceless stainless steel sculpture took 18 months to conceive and three months to build. Unveiled in October 2024 as part of the city’s Plan B initiative with Swiss-Tether, the statue anchors Lugano’s ambition to become a cryptocurrency hub. Thieves removed the steel mounting plates without triggering security cameras, leaving only an empty platform. Speculation that the statue was dumped into Lake Ceresio led volunteer divers to search the water, but no trace was found. Local police say they may inspect the lakebed for evidence. Art collective SatoshiGallery has offered a 0.1 BTC reward for information leading to its recovery and affirmed plans to install similar symbols in 21 cities worldwide.

From October 8, 2025, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will permit retail investors to trade crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) on recognized investment exchanges. These debt securities track cryptocurrency performance net of fees and do not hold underlying assets directly. The policy reverses the 2021 ban on retail crypto ETNs and follows FCA’s earlier approval for professional investors and a June 2025 consultation. Approved crypto ETNs must meet strict authorization, transparency, and Consumer Duty requirements. They will be subject to financial promotion rules and clear disclosures but remain outside the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Meanwhile, the FCA keeps its ban on high-risk crypto derivatives like futures and options for retail clients. This move aligns the UK with markets in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and the EU, balancing consumer protection with rising demand for regulated digital-asset products.

Blockstream has launched Simplicity, a new smart contract language for Bitcoin’s Liquid Network. Simplicity reduces code complexity compared to Bitcoin Script, uses the UTXO model, and offers formal verification to minimize bugs and exploits. The language supports advanced on-chain and off-chain DeFi applications, including programmable vaults, trustless swaps and stateless decentralized exchanges. Blockstream plans to integrate Simplicity with upcoming upgrades such as Taproot and Schnorr signatures. Early adopters can access open-source tools, documentation and a testnet. By simplifying smart contract development and enhancing security, Simplicity aims to boost developer interest, institutional adoption and confidence in Bitcoin’s programmable finance.

Brazil’s House of Representatives will debate a Bitcoin reserve bill on August 20. The legislation would allocate up to 5% of national treasury funds (about $15 billion) to Bitcoin. Proponents say the Bitcoin reserve would shield foreign exchange reserves from currency volatility and geopolitical risks. A scheduled hearing will feature the Central Bank, the Finance Ministry, crypto advocacy groups, fintech firms and major banks. Supporters argue the reserve will bolster economic resilience, promote blockchain adoption and drive institutional investment. Opponents, including the central bank’s monetary policy director, warn that adding crypto assets to state reserves is risky. If passed by both chambers and signed by President Lula, Brazil would join other countries exploring sovereign Bitcoin reserves — a shift that could boost market confidence and reshape global crypto markets.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw three consecutive days of net outflows as prices retreated from July highs. BlackRock’s IBIT led the sell-off with a $292.5M withdrawal, the largest since May. Fidelity’s FBTC and Grayscale’s GBTC lost $40M and $10M respectively, while Bitwise’s ETF attracted $18.7M. Weekend selling sent Bitcoin down 8.5% from its July 14 peak, dipping to $112,300 before recovering to around $115,000. Spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded record outflows, with $465.1M withdrawn in one session, led by BlackRock’s ETHA. Despite the recent pullback, July inflows remained robust. IBIT gathered $5.2B for the month, and digital assets drew $60B year-to-date, according to Bloomberg and JPMorgan. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have compressed 90-day volatility from over 60 to below 40, creating a more stable market. Traders should watch Bitcoin ETF flows closely. Persistent outflows may dampen short-term sentiment, while lower volatility and sustained institutional interest support long-term accumulation.

US spot Ethereum ETF outflows hit a record $465 million on Monday, ending a 20-day inflow streak after $152 million exited on Friday. The outflows coincided with Ethereum’s price dropping 12% over the weekend to $3,380 before recovering to $3,670. BlackRock’s ETHA led withdrawals with $375 million, followed by Fidelity’s FETH ($55.1 million) and Grayscale’s Mini and ETHE funds ($28 million and $6.9 million). Spot Bitcoin ETFs also saw $333 million leave the market. Despite these Ethereum ETF outflows, ETH has climbed 44% in the past 30 days, trading near $3,630, and Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz forecasts a revisit to $4,000 within six months. On-chain data points to robust institutional demand amid ETF turbulence. Since July 9, 14 new wallets have accumulated 856,000 ETH (over $3.1 billion), while three whale wallets added 63,837 ETH (~$236 million) via OTC trades. Cumulative inflows into spot Ethereum ETFs since launch stand at $9.02 billion, driven by a 20-day July streak that attracted $5.4 billion. These mixed signals underscore short-term pressure from net outflows but reflect sustained long-term confidence in Ethereum’s fundamentals.

Nasdaq-listed Verb Technology has completed a $558 million private placement to acquire Toncoin (TON) as a treasury asset. More than 110 institutional and crypto-native investors, including Blockchain.com, Kraken, Pantera, Ribbit Capital and Animoca, joined the round. Verb plans to rebrand as TON Strategy Co. on August 7, 2025, and will hold 77% of its Toncoin reserves for dip buying, liquidity support and volatility buffering. The deal removes about 5% of TON’s circulating supply, triggering a supply shock that could drive a price rally. On-chain data shows TON trading above its 20-day moving average and near the lower Bollinger Band, with Fibonacci extension targets at $3.90 and $4.20. A break above $4.50 may spark further momentum. Traders may see short-term consolidation between $3.30 and $3.55, with dips near $3.20 as buying opportunities. In the long term, treasury staking yields and Telegram integration could establish a higher price floor, positioning Toncoin as an institutional-grade crypto asset.

Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano’s Parco Ciani was attacked overnight, as vandals used angle grinders to sever its welded base and dumped the bronze figure into Lake Lugano. Police cordoned off the scene, and evidence at the site pointed to industrial cutting tools. Satoshigallery has offered a 0.1 BTC reward for tips leading to the statue’s recovery. Divers from the local municipality retrieved the broken statue from the lake. Satoshigallery confirmed the bronze piece is secure and has outlined plans to restore the public artwork. City authorities will tighten security after tourist foot traffic dipped following the incident. This statue theft is the first major vandalism of the “Disappearing Satoshi” campaign, which has installed 21 Satoshi Nakamoto statues worldwide to symbolize Bitcoin’s 21 million supply cap. Satoshigallery remains committed to casting replicas in new locations.

CFTC and SEC have launched a joint ’crypto sprint’ to implement the White House’s crypto regulation recommendations. Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham will work with SEC leaders to execute 18 proposals from the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets. Two plans focus on CFTC actions: issuing guidance to classify cryptocurrencies as commodities and updating rules for blockchain-based derivatives. The remaining measures call for joint rule-making, a regulatory sandbox, and clearer jurisdiction over spot markets for non-security tokens. Pham’s team has met industry stakeholders, withdrawn outdated guidance, and sought feedback on 24/7 derivatives trading and perpetual contracts. Brian Quintenz is pending Senate confirmation as CFTC Chair. The initiative aims to improve crypto regulation, foster DeFi innovation, and strengthen the U.S. as a global crypto hub. Traders can expect clearer rules, greater market stability, and new opportunities in digital asset trading.

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will introduce new crypto lending guidelines in August to tighten oversight of leveraged lending. A joint task force, including regulators and the Digital Asset eXchange Alliance, will set leverage limits, define eligible users and assets, and mandate risk disclosures and transparency requirements. The new crypto lending rules address high-risk borrowing services on major exchanges like Bithumb and Upbit, which offer up to 4x collateral loans or 80% asset-value loans. Exchanges must review and adjust high-leverage products ahead of the second phase of the country’s virtual asset regulation. These crypto regulations draw on global best practices to curb speculation, enhance market stability, and strengthen investor protection. Meanwhile, the Bank of Korea is forming a Virtual Asset Team to advance CBDC, stablecoin, and broader crypto asset oversight.

Since its CoinMarketCap listing, Ruvi AI’s presale has raised over $2.6 million by selling 205 million RUVI tokens to more than 2,500 holders. Whales have snapped up 70% of Phase 2 at $0.015 each. The project combines blockchain and AI to deliver real-world utility, including AI-driven marketing tools, instant on-chain payouts and audience analytics. A CyberScope audit confirms its secure smart contracts. Phase 2 tokens remain at $0.015, with planned increases to $0.02 in Phase 3 and $0.07 at presale end, implying up to 5× short-term returns. Analysts forecast a $1 price post-exchange listing for a potential 66× ROI. VIP investment tiers reward large stakes with up to 100% bonus tokens. Purchases are streamlined via WEEX Exchange, lowering entry barriers. Strong presale metrics, whale activity and institutional interest signal bullish prospects for traders eyeing early entry.

NFT sales surged 47.6% month-on-month to $574 million in July, making it the second-highest monthly total of 2025. Driven by a 62% Ethereum rally to $3,900, the average sale price climbed to $113.08, a six-month high. Total trades fell 9% to 5 million, while unique buyers dropped 17% to 713,000 and unique sellers rose 9% to 405,000, indicating market consolidation around premium assets. NFT market capitalization jumped 21% to $8 billion. Top collections by volume included CryptoPunks ($69.2 million), Pudgy Penguins ($55.5 million) and Polygon’s Courtyard ($23.8 million), with Pudgy Penguins’ floor price up 65.4%. Meanwhile, NFT lending volumes collapsed 97% from $1 billion in January 2024 to $50 million in May 2025 as major platforms shut down. Traders should watch NFT market momentum and Ethereum price action for short-term opportunities and long-term asset consolidation trends.

President Trump will sign an executive order directing federal regulators to probe crypto debanking for political bias in banking. The order tasks agencies to investigate potential antitrust, fair lending, ECOA and consumer protection violations by banks that engaged in crypto debanking or closed accounts of conservative groups. It mandates scrapping internal derisking policies and assigns the SBA to review loan guarantees for digital-asset and political businesses. The directive also questions banks’ cooperation in January 6 inquiries and data sharing with government agencies. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce supports stronger privacy protections for private transactions. Traders should monitor this regulatory shift, as improved bank-crypto relations could enhance liquidity, reduce operational hurdles and support market stability.

Tokyo-based Metaplanet bought 463 Bitcoin on August 4 at an average price of $115,895. This raises its corporate treasury to 17,595 BTC (approx. $2.02 bn), making it one of the top public Bitcoin holders. Over the past year, Metaplanet’s dip-buying strategy grew reserves from under 1,000 to nearly 18,000 BTC. Arkham Intelligence data shows its treasury yield hit 41.7% in Q3 2024, 309.8% in Q4 2024, 95.6% in Q1 2025 and 129.4% in Q2 2025, with a 24.6% return from July 1 to August 4. To reach its 210,000 BTC target by end-2027, Metaplanet plans to raise up to $3.73 bn via a perpetual preferred shares offering with dividends up to 6%. This mirrors MicroStrategy’s model but adds dividend obligations if Bitcoin weakens. Bitcoin’s price is now compressed around $114,400, facing resistance at the 200-day MA (~$115,300), the $115,724 level and the 50-day MA (~$116,442). Short-term bullish momentum is limited, but Metaplanet’s institutional accumulation may provide support. Traders will watch if Bitcoin can reclaim $115,724 and $116,442; failure could trigger a pullback to $112,200 or the psychological $110,000.

Justin Sun’s August 3, 2025 Blue Origin spaceflight aboard New Shepard not only made him the youngest Chinese-born commercial astronaut but also the first crypto entrepreneur in space. The privately funded NS-34 mission raised $28 million for Blue Origin’s Club for the Future and carried 1,000 messages from the Tron community, marking TRON’s first presence beyond Earth. Sun’s reflections on Earth’s fragility underscored environmental stewardship, while the record-setting flight elevated the visibility of the Tron network and enhanced TRX’s brand profile. However, despite the Justin Sun spaceflight’s extensive media coverage, there was minimal immediate impact on the TRX market or USDT liquidity. Historical trends suggest that high-profile space ventures boost public exposure without driving long-term price shifts. Industry experts point out that meaningful market movements are more likely to arise from future blockchain-space collaborations than from individual flights.

Blockchain intelligence firm Arkham has exposed the world’s largest Bitcoin hack at Chinese mining pool Lubian. On December 28, 2020, attackers exploited weak 32-bit entropy in Lubian’s Trust Wallet code to siphon 127,426 BTC—$3.5 billion at the time, now worth about $14.5 billion. They drained 90% of the pool’s reserves before Lubian transferred the remaining 11,886 BTC into recovery wallets. A further $6 million in BTC and USDT was stolen the following day. Lubian never disclosed the breach and quietly shut down in early 2021 amid regulatory crackdown rumors. Instead, it attempted to recover funds through over 1,500 small transactions. Arkham’s on-chain analysis reveals that private key generation failures, not regulation, caused the crypto hack. The stolen coins lay dormant until their consolidation into a single address in 2024, making the hacker the 13th-largest holder of BTC. This Bitcoin hack underscores critical vulnerabilities in wallet security and the urgent need for improved transparency and operational controls in centralized crypto platforms.

July crypto hacks surged as attackers stole $142 million across 17 incidents, marking a 27% rise from June. The largest breach hit CoinDCX, where malware on a developer’s laptop enabled a server-level hack that cost the exchange $44.2 million. Decentralized exchange GMX suffered a $42 million exploit, though the attacker returned $40.5 million days later. Other platforms including BigONE, WOO X and Future Protocol lost over $46 million in third-party and phishing attacks. These crypto hacks highlight growing exchange security gaps and DeFi vulnerabilities, as hackers shift from on-chain smart contracts to back-end infrastructure and social engineering. Traders should monitor exchange risk and on-chain activity, and strengthen employee device protection to mitigate future threats.

Ruvi AI has raised over $2.7 million in its presale since listing on CoinMarketCap, selling 215 million tokens to more than 2,600 holders. Phase 2 is now 75% sold, and the token price is set to jump 33% from $0.015 to $0.02. The AI super app targets the $100 billion content creator market with real-time trend research, automated script generation and multimedia publishing tools. A global partnership with WEEX exchange ensures liquidity and seamless trading. A CyberScope audit confirms secure smart contracts and full transparency. VIP presale tiers offer up to 100% bonus tokens, promising early investors potential ROI of over 9,000%. Analysts say Ruvi AI could rival the early momentum of XRP and Avalanche thanks to its real-world utility and CoinMarketCap visibility. Traders should watch Ruvi AI’s bullish trend and price catalyst.

Michigan State Retirement System tripled its Bitcoin ETF holdings in Q2, raising ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) shares to 300,000—worth about $11.3 million at current prices. The fund also holds 460,000 shares of the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE), valued at $9.6 million, making it the first US state pension to invest in an Ether product. Following the SEC’s January approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, US spot Bitcoin ETF assets under management have grown to 1.292 million BTC (approx. $146.5 billion), fueling fresh inflows and reflecting rising institutional adoption. Ether ETF products have also gained traction, supporting an ETH rally. Meanwhile, Michigan lawmakers have proposed four bills to integrate crypto into state operations, including allowing crypto investments, banning crypto bans, preventing CBDC endorsements, and establishing Bitcoin mining at former oil and gas sites. These developments underscore a maturing digital asset market and growing regulatory support.

BitMine Immersion Technologies has added 208,137 ETH in one week, bringing its total Ethereum reserves to 833,137 ETH (over $3 billion). This makes BitMine the fourth-largest crypto reserve firm, trailing only Strategy, MARA Holdings and Twenty One Capital. This aggressive ETH accumulation drove Ethereum’s price up nearly 6% to $3,730 before stabilizing at $3,654, reflecting renewed institutional demand. Led by Fundstrat CIO Tom Lee and backed by investors like Bill Miller III, Stanley Druckenmiller and Cathie Wood, BitMine cites softer U.S. labor data and a potential Fed policy pivot as catalysts for further gains. The surge in institutional purchases and tightening Ethereum reserves has intensified competition among reserve firms such as SharpLink Gaming (438,200 ETH) and The Ether Machine. For traders, growing institutional ETH demand and supply constraints signal bullish momentum, suggesting continued price support and upside potential for Ethereum.

The CFTC has launched a public comment period on amendments to Section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act and Part 40, marking the agency’s “crypto sprint” to fast-track regulation. The CFTC spot crypto contracts proposal would allow spot crypto contracts to trade on CFTC-registered designated contract markets. Under the plan, spot crypto contracts would mirror listed futures and track real-time Bitcoin prices, while permitting leveraged retail trading. Acting Chair Caroline Pham emphasized coordination with the SEC’s Project Crypto to avoid overlap with securities laws and is seeking input on how DeFi platforms fit into the new federal framework. With the public comment period open until August 18 and three of five board seats vacant, the CFTC aims to clarify its authority over digital assets and strengthen oversight of leverage-based spot trading.

Arkham Intelligence’s on-chain analysis reveals the record $14.5B Bitcoin heist that drained 127,426 BTC from LuBian’s mining pool in December 2020. Attackers exploited a private key generation flaw, siphoning over 90% of the pool’s reserves. Two days later, they stole an additional $6M in BTC and USDT via the Omni layer. Despite moving 11,886 BTC to recovery wallets and sending 1,500 OP_RETURN pleas, LuBian never recovered the funds. A minor consolidation in July 2024 left the hacker’s address intact as the 13th largest Bitcoin wallet, surpassing the Mt. Gox hack. This Bitcoin heist eclipses the 2025 Bybit $1.5B exploit and highlights urgent blockchain security gaps, urging mining pools and exchanges to bolster defenses against similar attacks.

Chainlink has launched its Data Streams service, delivering real-time U.S. equities and ETF prices across 37 blockchains with institutional-grade reliability. Major DeFi platforms such as GMX and Kamino are already integrating these decentralized market data feeds, enabling tokenized stock trading, lending and synthetic ETFs. The launch addresses stale data gaps and boosts arbitrage opportunities by providing continuous, low-latency pricing for tokenized assets. Following the announcement, LINK, Chainlink’s oracle token, rose 4%, reflecting strong market confidence. By strengthening its data infrastructure, Chainlink reinforces its oracle leadership and lays the groundwork for broader institutional adoption in DeFi.

BlockDAG presale has raised USD 361 million across 29 batches and sold over 24.46 billion BDAG tokens. Batch 29 tokens trade at USD 0.0276, delivering a cumulative ROI of 2,660%. The BlockDAG presale live trading dashboard V4 links directly to presale wallets. Traders can buy and sell BDAG against USD, view real-time order books, track price charts and see instant wallet updates. A special entry price of USD 0.0016 is available until August 11, offering a potential 3,025% return from the original USD 0.05 launch price. By simulating post-launch conditions, the live trading dashboard bolsters trader confidence, attracts seasoned investors and sets the stage for sustained demand ahead of the full exchange launch.

Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National has introduced a five-year pilot program to deploy surplus nuclear energy at EDF’s state-controlled plants for Bitcoin mining. The plan, led by RN lawmaker Aurélien Lopez-Liguori, aims to power high-performance rigs with unused nuclear electricity, boosting energy efficiency and creating digital assets. Le Pen publicly endorsed the initiative during a visit to the Flamanville plant, marking a shift from the party’s 2016 anti-crypto stance. If approved by the National Assembly, this nuclear-powered Bitcoin mining strategy could pioneer France’s approach to clean-energy blockchain operations and align with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets rules. Traders will monitor how this move affects energy costs, mining hardware demand and Europe’s crypto-mining landscape.

On July 29, decentralized exchange Hyperliquid suffered a 37-minute API outage after its open interest surged to a record $14.7 billion, halting order processing though transactions still reached the blockchain. To restore user trust, Hyperliquid refunded $1.99 million in USDC on August 4, issuing full refunds for losses under $10,000 and an initial $9,999 payout for larger claims, with KYC required by August 18 to claim the balance. The platform clarified the outage resulted from traffic overload rather than an attack. This swift response, following a $6.26 million exploit in March, won community praise and reinforced Hyperliquid’s reliability. Hyperliquid now ranks as the world’s seventh-largest derivatives exchange by open interest at $10.6 billion.

Cardano’s community has approved a 96 million ADA (about $71 million) proposal to fund year-long protocol upgrades by Input Output Engineering (IOE). Supported by 74% of voters, funds will be released from Cardano’s on-chain treasury on a milestone basis under Intersect oversight, with monthly reports and quarterly budget disclosures ensuring transparency. Key enhancements target scalability, interoperability and developer experience, including the Ouroboros Leios consensus boost, Hydra layer-2 scaling, Mithril signature aggregation, Nested Transactions and a modular node architecture via Project Acropolis. This marks Cardano’s first direct core development funded through decentralized governance. After the vote, ADA rallied over 8% to $0.7357. Traders will watch milestone deliveries and network metrics as potential catalysts for further price moves.

Metaplanet has acquired an additional 463 BTC for $53.7 million, lifting its total Bitcoin holdings to 17,595 BTC at an average cost of $101,422 per coin. The Japanese-listed firm has filed to issue ¥555 billion (≈$3.7 billion) in perpetual preferred shares over two years to fund its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy en route to a 100,000 BTC treasury by 2027. CEO Simon Gerovich says the perpetual shares will boost long-term shareholder returns and increase Bitcoin per share. In Q2, Bitcoin-related revenue jumped 42.4% year-on-year to ¥1.1 billion ($7.6 million), positioning Metaplanet as the seventh-largest corporate Bitcoin holder globally. Traders should watch for potential BTC liquidity impacts and market reactions to this substantial capital raise.

Tron founder Justin Sun returned safely from Blue Origin’s NS-34 spaceflight on Saturday, after winning the $28 million seat bid in 2021. He flew with five other passengers, including investor J.D. Russell and meteorologist Deborah Martorell. During the brief suborbital flight, Sun described the “overview effect”, highlighting Earth’s fragility and urging planetary protection. In January 2024, Filecoin and Lockheed Martin tested the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) protocol, sending data via satellite to reduce delays and shield information from solar radiation. Then in December 2024, DePIN network Spacecoin XYZ launched its first satellite to enable blockchain-based communications in orbit. These milestones underline the growing intersection of blockchain and space exploration. Traders may watch TRX and FIL tokens as demand for decentralized storage and space-based data transmission expands.