News linked to both this project and an event.
According to CoinDesk, Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, plans to include Ethereum (ETH) and the Tether stablecoin (USDT) in its cryptocurrency collateral lending program, listed alongside Bitcoin (BTC) as acceptable collateral, once regulatory approval is granted. Deputy President Anatoly Popov stated that the bank will gradually expand its accepted asset scope after adapting to Russia’s new cryptocurrency regulations. Last August, the Central Bank of Russia had already placed BTC, ETH, and USDT on a draft list of digital currencies permitted for open trading at domestic exchanges. Sberbank had previously issued Russia’s first bitcoin collateral loan to mining firm Intelion Data last December. Notably, USDT carries additional sanctions risks; Tether can freeze tokens linked to sanctioned entities without a court order, while Sberbank has been subject to U.S. and EU sanctions since 2022. Russia’s new cryptocurrency law will officially take effect on September 1, and market participants must complete their licensing applications by July 2027.
Odaily News - Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, has announced that the new state-supported savings and investment scheme will exclude crypto assets and derivatives. The initiative aims to encourage residents to channel bank deposits into traditional capital markets, with Irish household bank deposits standing at approximately $197 billion, and cash accounting for around 38% of financial assets.The scheme is open to tax-resident individuals aged 18 and over, allowing them to hold exchange-traded funds, listed company shares, and corporate bonds under a simplified tax regime, replacing the 33% capital gains tax and 41% fund exit tax with a fixed annual fee above the tax-free threshold. Specific operational details are expected to be published in October, with accounts slated to launch in 2027.Ireland's Department of Finance has issued a national anti-money laundering strategy running through 2030. Under the new rules, starting in 2027, regulated service providers must verify ownership of external wallets when processing transfers exceeding $1,150 from non-custodial wallets, and use automated controls to identify transfers with incomplete transaction information. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Stablecoin issuer Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that stablecoins are a more credible form of money than tokenized bank deposits, as the former is almost fully backed by U.S. Treasuries, while the latter typically has only 10% liquid asset backing.Pablo Hernandez de Cos, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), said stablecoins raise concerns regarding redemption capacity, supply, interoperability, and their potential to facilitate criminal activity, adding that tokenized bank deposits represent a more direct path to preserving the foundations of the monetary system while leveraging tokenization.Ardoino noted that USDT's market capitalization has surpassed $183 billion and is used in some emerging markets for domestic and cross-border commerce. In discussions surrounding the CLARITY Act, banks have expressed concerns that allowing crypto exchanges to offer incentives on stablecoins could trigger deposit outflows. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Iceland held a referendum on August 30, with 52.8% of voters, totaling 105,339 votes, opposing the restart of EU accession negotiations. This outcome allows Iceland to maintain its status as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and remain within the Schengen Agreement framework.As an EEA member rather than an EU member state, Iceland does not automatically apply the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Crypto activities are primarily regulated under general financial laws. MiCA is expected to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement in the future, but no official timeline has been set yet. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Anatoly Popov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board at Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, stated that the country's compliant crypto trading is expected to reach at least 4 trillion rubles (approximately $46.43 billion) in its first year. The bank projects that as investors shift toward the official trading system, this figure could grow to approximately 7.5 trillion rubles (around $87.06 billion) by 2029.He noted that the majority of crypto trading volume will still flow outside the regulated exchange system, with only about 20% of trading volume—amounting to 3.5 trillion to 4 trillion rubles per year—expected to be conducted through exchanges in the first year. The relevant framework will take effect on September 1, allowing investors to legally purchase crypto assets through brokers.Non-qualified investors will be permitted to purchase up to 300,000 rubles in crypto assets annually through a single licensed intermediary, and must pass a risk awareness test; qualified investors have a higher annual cap of 3 million rubles. Official exchanges will initially only be allowed to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT, with all other altcoins excluded; exchanges must complete their registration by July 1, 2027. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Bitcoin News posted on X platform that Blockstream stated Jade is not affected by the Coldcard random number generator vulnerability, and has released firmware 1.0.41 following a large number of AI-assisted security reviews.Jade stated that it has undergone dozens of automated AI scans and multiple manual reviews, focusing on sensitive areas such as random number generation and transaction signing.The new firmware strengthens stack protection, updates dependencies, audits sensitive memory cleanup processes, and upgrades the Jade runtime environment.Blockstream stated that Jade's random number generation mechanism uses multiple entropy sources, including hardware chip noise, timing data, sensor data, and camera noise, mixed via SHA-512 to prevent a single entropy source failure from affecting seed generation.The team stated that other lower-severity findings are still being addressed, and firmware 1.0.42 is expected to be released within a shorter development cycle.
Odaily News - The UK government has released its first official statistics on taxable crypto asset gains, with 240 individuals each declaring over £1 million in capital gains for the 2024-25 tax year, totaling £717 million—accounting for more than half of the £1.38 billion declared by 17,600 individuals.HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) stated that 17,600 individuals declared £13.8 billion in proceeds from crypto asset disposals and £1.38 billion in taxable gains, averaging approximately £78,000 per person. Of these, around 87% were male and 13% female. Selling, exchanging, spending tokens, or gifting assets to others may all trigger tax obligations.HMRC has issued 81,000 crypto tax letters over the past 12 months, a 25% increase from approximately 65,000, and nearly three times the 27,714 letters issued in the 2023-24 tax year. James Murray, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, stated that gains from crypto assets are subject to tax just like other gains.The UK plans to adjust tax treatment for certain DeFi transactions starting April 6, 2027, with related lending and liquidity pool transactions typically deferring capital gains tax until an economic disposal occurs. This is expected to affect around 700,000 people. HMRC estimates that its crypto tax compliance and education campaigns have generated an additional £168 million in capital gains tax revenue in 2024-25. (Bitcoin.com News)
The CME FedWatch tool shows that the probability of a 25 basis point rate hike at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on September 16 has risen to 57%, with the target rate range potentially rising to 3.75% to 4%; the probability of maintaining the current range of 3.5% to 3.75% stands at 43%.On August 21, the probability of a rate hike was 39.9%, which rose to 57% after the Jackson Hole speech on August 28, and market bets on a September rate cut have essentially disappeared.Polymarket data shows that the probability of the federal funds rate remaining unchanged is 52%, while the probability of a hike is 48%, with related trading volume exceeding $66.6 million. Kalshi data shows that the probabilities of holding rates steady and hiking are 52% and 48%, respectively, with related trading volume exceeding $23.8 million.In his speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh stated that the Fed will adhere to its 2% Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index inflation target, and noted that his commitment is to discipline rather than specific decisions. Data shows that the 12-month PCE inflation rate is 3.7%, and the 6-month reading is 4.1%. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Isabel Schnabel, a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), stated at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium that central bank reserves remain superior to stablecoins as the ultimate settlement asset, and that the ECB must place central bank reserves on the blockchain. She noted that stablecoins lack the independent capacity to rapidly expand liquidity during periods of financial stress.Schnabel stated that tokenization can make financial transactions faster, safer, and programmable, but only if central bank money operates on the same infrastructure as other tokenized assets. The ECB's Project Pontes is scheduled to launch in September 2026, initially connecting TARGET services with DLT platforms operated by market participants.Project Pontes will subsequently support direct settlement on DLT platforms operating within the Eurosystem, gradually incorporating smart contract functionality and 24/7 operation. Project Appia, meanwhile, is responsible for developing the long-term architecture, technical standards, and legal framework for the European tokenized asset market, with a complete blueprint expected by 2028. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: The sandwich attack bot operated by JaredfromSubway.eth has extracted a cumulative total of 117,007 ETH since March 2023, worth approximately $295 million at current prices. In June 2026, an anonymous attacker deployed 66 counterfeit token contracts, exploiting the bot's automated trading logic to steal at least $7.5 million in ETH and stablecoins, and funneled the funds into Tornado Cash. The stolen assets have not yet been recovered.Sandwich attacks are a form of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV): the bot monitors large transactions in Ethereum's public mempool, buys ahead of the target transaction, and sells after the transaction pushes the price up, capturing profits from the spread. The bot's primary contract had received a cumulative total of 117,007 ETH as of August 28.MEV-Boost block construction is centralized among a small group of participants, with relay.ultrasound.money, Titan Relay, and bloXroute regulated relays collectively forwarding approximately 85% to 88% of related blocks within a 24-hour window; Titan's builder independently assembled 50.3% of the blocks. Monthly sandwich attack extraction amounts have declined from approximately $10 million in late 2024 to roughly $2.5 million in October 2025. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News - New York state officials have warned that AI-generated content and fake crypto projects are making investment scams more deceptive. Investment fraud losses exceeded $8 billion in 2025, up 38% from 2024, with 144,041 consumers reporting losses and a median loss of $10,560 per incident.AI can be used to clone voices, fabricate videos, impersonate financial professionals, and create social media advertisements. New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned that scammers lure investors through celebrity deepfake endorsements, fraudulent cryptocurrencies, pump-and-dump schemes, and fake trading platforms.Some fraudulent platforms display fabricated account balances, returns, and trading records, allowing victims to make small withdrawals to build trust before demanding additional deposits or fees. New York state officials advise consumers to verify the identities of promoters, companies, and investment projects, and to confirm where their funds are going.Data from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shows that reported losses from cybercrime in 2025 totaled $20.877 billion, with losses from cryptocurrency-related complaints reaching $11.37 billion. Common scam signs include promises of high returns, unsolicited investment opportunities, high-pressure sales tactics, and projects lacking clear documentation. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that he will ask the Speaker of the Polish Sejm to organize a re-vote on the Crypto Asset Market Bill. The bill was vetoed for the third time by President Karol Nawrocki on June 11.Tusk noted that the Zondacrypto bankruptcy has become one of Poland's largest corruption cases in the crypto sector, with affected clients suffering losses of up to $94 million. He accused the ruling party of accepting cash and other benefits.The president's consecutive vetoes have prevented Poland from implementing the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), and domestic cryptocurrency exchanges are still unable to complete registration. Przemysław Kral, former head of Zondacrypto, had criticized that the bill would harm Poland's crypto industry. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Bitcoin News posted on X that Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said in his first Jackson Hole speech that the U.S. economy has strengthened and remains resilient, but the Fed still needs to continue addressing inflation.Warsh stated that the labor market is consistent with full employment, with the unemployment rate at 4.1% and initial jobless claims near multi-decade lows. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index inflation rate over the past year was 3.7%, and the annualized inflation rate over the past six months was 4.1%, both significantly above the Fed's 2% target. 54% of items in the PCE price index basket rose by more than 3% over the past year, indicating that inflation remains fairly broad-based.Warsh said that recent better-than-expected inflation data has not yet convinced him that the underlying inflation trend has shown substantial improvement. Credit spreads remain narrow, lending standards are relatively loose, and credit markets show little sign of policy tightening. He stated: "I find it difficult to characterize overall financial conditions as restrictive."Warsh said the Fed should currently focus primarily on prices and reiterated that the 2% inflation target is a "firm and fixed goal." He also noted that the Fed's forward guidance "has become outdated" and that markets should no longer rely mainly on the Fed for their next trade.Warsh stated that the criteria for initiating easing are: "We must be convinced that underlying inflation is clearly and quickly moving toward target. Otherwise, we still have work to do." He concluded his speech by saying: "I stand here today to adhere to a discipline, not to make a decision."
Odaily News - UK police financial investigation team announced the recovery of 20.21 Bitcoin along with other crypto assets and bank account funds, with a total value of approximately $1.4 million (£1.03 million). The individual involved had a prior money laundering conviction and has since passed away. With assistance from the police cyber team, investigators traced these assets back to dark web marketplaces that operated between 2016 and 2019. The police stated that these websites, now all shut down, had facilitated criminal activities such as drug supply and human trafficking, but did not disclose the specific platform names. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Dallas Fed) have stated that tokenized deposits and round-the-clock instant blockchain transfers could weaken bank liquidity and limit their ability to issue long-term loans. The research was authored by Rosie Levy and Srini Ramaswamy.The study notes that of the $7 trillion in maturity risk borne by U.S. banks, approximately 80% is supported by the maturity characteristics of traditional deposits. If the weighted average maturity of deposits shortened by 10%, the banking system's maturity transformation capacity would decline by roughly $580 billion, potentially increasing liquidity risks and outflows pressure.Chris Turner, co-founder of Kula, stated that the speed of token transfers does not equate to the legal settlement of underlying financial claims. Tokens can be moved across blockchain networks in seconds, but payments, ownership, and legal claims still rely on banks, custodians, clearing systems, and regulatory registries to complete settlement. (Bitcoin.com News)
As reported by Fortune, Grayscale CEO Peter Mintzberg authored an article stating that Bitcoin rallied nearly 20% last week, recording its strongest three-day gains since 2023 as the crypto winter slowly thaws. However, he cautioned that market participants remain overly focused on short-term price fluctuations, overlooking the long-term structural growth of digital assets. Mintzberg highlighted two key drivers: first, sustained expansion in institutional demand. In 2025, the daily average capital inflow into spot Bitcoin ETPs exceeded $500 million, roughly 12 times the daily new supply from miners. Additionally, a 2026 EY survey revealed that 73% of institutional investors plan to increase their digital asset allocations. Second, accelerated enterprise blockchain adoption. In 2025, approximately 60% of Fortune 500 executives stated that their companies are actively advancing blockchain initiatives, with major players like Fidelity, Visa, and Stripe all positioning themselves in the stablecoin sector. He also noted the complementary nature of AI and public chain technologies, adding that emerging demands such as machine-native micro-payments and cross-border instant settlements will further drive real-world blockchain adoption. As regulatory frameworks grow increasingly clear, digital assets are rapidly integrating into the mainstream financial ecosystem.
According to Decrypt, privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Sparrow Wallet released version 2.5.4 on August 28. Developer Craig Raw stated that the update was driven by an AI-assisted code review, with the majority of fixes originating from it. This review was prompted by the recent seed generation code vulnerability exploit affecting Coldcard, as well as the release of unrestricted AI models in China, which has significantly enhanced vulnerability scanning capabilities across large codebases. Key updates include: validating the authenticity of transactions returned by Electrum servers, enforcing stricter BitBox02 hardware wallet security requirements (firmware v9.4.0 or higher required), patching local DNS leaks, and masking sensitive credentials in debug logs. Raw noted that there are no indications of any exploits being leveraged, user funds remain secure, and he still advises all users to update at their earliest convenience.
As reported by Bitcoin.com, New Zealand's fourth-largest party, the ACT Party (Consumers and Taxpayers Association), has formally proposed a digital asset tax reform plan. The proposal seeks to exempt compliant crypto assets held by individual retail investors for over a year from capital gains tax and waive tax reporting obligations for small-value crypto payments. Additionally, the plan introduces clear regulatory frameworks for stablecoins and tokenized securities, alongside a regulatory sandbox mechanism tailored for startups. ACT Party Deputy Leader Nicole McKee stated that this initiative aims to establish New Zealand as a trusted hub for digital finance, driving local high-value employment and economic growth.
Odaily News: Prediction market platform Polymarket US withdrew two NFL player participation contract filings on August 26. The platform had completed certification with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the previous day and planned to launch the related products no earlier than August 27.On the same day, Polymarket US certified Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana price contracts. All three contract types were submitted in paired form and classified as swaps under the binary options subcategory. Both the NFL contracts and the cryptocurrency contracts fall under the relevant classification.Polymarket US separately filed a confidential treatment request for the NFL compliance analysis documents, seeking permanent non-disclosure on the grounds that public release would reveal trade secrets and give competitors an unfair advantage. As of the time of record, another NFL American football starting eligibility contract remained in certified status. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Sparrow Wallet v2.5.4 has been released following an extensive AI-assisted review, featuring multiple security hardening updates aimed at reducing users' reliance on external servers such as Electrum.Additionally, this version strengthens Ledger, Keycard, Trezor, Payjoin, PSBT, and multi-signature handling, removes Bitcoin Core credentials and other sensitive information from debug logs, restricts permissions for existing wallet and backup directories to owner-only access, closes residual local DNS resolution leaks when using Tor, and reinforces validation for wallet import, signing, downloads, and server responses. The update expands Sparrow Wallet's scope of independent verification for transaction data, hardware devices, and other inputs, reducing dependence on data provided by external servers. (Bitcoin News)