News linked to both this project and an event.
Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas stated that the 22-year development history of gold ETFs may provide the closest reference path for Bitcoin ETF investors. Both are packaging vehicles for non-yielding, non-cash-flow store-of-value assets, with their performance primarily driven by investor sentiment rather than earnings, coupons, or policy support.
According to Bits.media, the Russian State Duma Committee on the Financial Market has recommended rejecting several loosening amendments to the government's cryptocurrency regulation bill, which is currently prepared for its second reading. The rejected amendments mainly include: increasing the annual limit for non-professional investors purchasing cryptocurrency through a single intermediary from 300,000 rubles to 600,000 rubles; expanding the scope of tradable cryptocurrencies to coins with a market cap exceeding 1 trillion rubles and average daily trading volume exceeding 100 billion rubles (the current draft requires a market cap of no less than 5 trillion rubles and trading volume of no less than 1 trillion rubles, effectively allowing only a very small number of coins such as BTC and ETH to be listed); allowing Russian citizens to use non-custodial crypto wallets; canceling the mandatory review power of digital custodians over every transaction; and postponing the bill's effective date to January 2027. The current version of the bill retains the power of digital custodians to review every transaction and freeze transactions. The bill completed its first reading in April this year and was originally planned to be passed before July 1, but has now been postponed to September 1, with the deliberation of the supporting criminal liability bill also scheduled no earlier than September.
Coinbase officially announced that the regulated derivatives clearing business of UK financial services group Marex has now formally supported the use of USDC as Initial Margin collateral. This marks the first entry of a stablecoin into the actual operational processes of traditional clearing infrastructure. The first transaction was completed by Prime Trading, LLC, with Coinbase providing the underlying infrastructure support, including custody services, 1:1 instant conversion between fiat currency and USDC, and a customized daily reporting system that meets clearing industry standards.The implementation of this business was made possible by a "No-Action Letter" issued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in December 2025. This policy opens the door for Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) to accept stablecoins, Bitcoin, and Ethereum as client margin collateral.Coinbase stated that USDC, as a collateral asset, can provide round-the-clock liquidity, helping institutions break free from the limitations of traditional banking hours, allowing margin funds to be transferred in line with market operating hours. In this partnership, the core capabilities provided by Coinbase include:24/7 instant conversion between fiat currency and USDC: Institutional clients can convert between USD and USDC at any time, improving the efficiency of margin allocation;Customized reporting system: Meets the requirements of traditional clearing systems for asset recording, reconciliation, and regulatory reporting;NYDFS-compliant custody: Provides institutional-grade security for USDC collateral assets.
Kraken Institutional has announced a partnership with on-chain yield platform Upshift, allowing eligible institutional clients to earn yields on idle Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and other crypto assets directly within Kraken's compliant custody framework. Upshift will build dedicated customized vaults for each client, designed according to their investment strategies, risk parameters, liquidity requirements, and asset portfolios. Assets will be allocated to these non-custodial vaults and subsequently deployed to selected on-chain contracts, with clients' segregated Kraken custody accounts receiving receipt tokens.
Odaily News on July 14, Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $181 million, and Ethereum ETFs recorded net inflows of $58.34 million. No outflows were observed for either Bitcoin or Ethereum ETFs on that day. BlackRock's IBIT saw net inflows of $139 million, Fidelity's FBTC posted net inflows of $21.07 million; all net inflows into Ethereum ETFs came from BlackRock's ETHA. HYPE, XRP, and Solana ETFs had no trading activity on the day. Morgan Stanley submitted a proposed amended filing for spot Ethereum and Solana ETFs, with the document covering service providers such as Coinbase Custody and staking provisions. Japanese policymakers are advancing reforms aimed at classifying crypto assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.
the US CPI fell 0.4% month-on-month in June, the largest monthly decline since April 2020; the annual rate dropped to 3.5% from 4.2% in May, below the expected 3.8%. Core CPI fell to 2.6%, below expectations, and was flat month-on-month. Major crypto assets rose after the data release, with BTC rising from approximately $62,000 to $64,900, ETH gaining 7% to $1,884, and about $300 million in short positions liquidated. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh stated during congressional testimony that the Fed has "zero tolerance" for persistently high inflation; if policy is correct, the inflation surge of the past five years will become a thing of the past. When asked about the CPI data, he said he does not share the view that the "mission is accomplished" and did not provide guidance on the next policy steps.
a fraud review commissioned by the UK government recommends that the Judicial College provide training for all judges and magistrates in England and Wales to address the rise in cases involving AI fraud and money laundering via cryptocurrency. The report argues that the Fraud Act 2006 is generally adequate for handling AI fraud, but the issue lies in the courts' lack of preparedness for adjudicating such cases. It recommends assessing whether the existing "Long and Complex Trials" course should be updated or replaced with specialized modules on fraud and related offenses, and considering mandatory training for judges who may preside over complex fraud cases. The report states that fraud could soon account for half of all crime in England and Wales, with an estimated 4.1 million cases occurring in the year to June 2025, affecting 1 in 14 adults and 1 in 4 businesses. The Financial Ombudsman Service estimates that over half of investment scams now involve crypto assets. The report also references the case of Qian Zhimin, who operated a Ponzi scheme in China, defrauding over 128,000 victims of approximately £5 billion and laundering the proceeds into Bitcoin. This case led to the largest confirmed Bitcoin seizure in UK history, involving over 61,000 BTC. Qian Zhimin was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison at Southwark Crown Court in November.
According to the official announcement, Huobi HTX will host a themed live stream today at 20:00 titled "Ceasefire Ends, Oil Price Surges Past 75, STRATEGY Sells Coins at Loss for First Time: Can BTC's Macro Narrative Still Hold?" During the event, crypto KOLs such as HuaBai Blockchain, Sincere Little Taoist, Crypto.0824, and OxPink will gather in the live stream room to conduct in-depth discussions on recent market hotspots such as the fluctuating situation in the Middle East and the strong upward trend in international oil prices, and combine Federal Reserve policy expectations to analyze BTC's future trend as well as crypto asset allocation opportunities and risk management strategies, providing investors with multi-dimensional market observations and trading ideas.
on July 13, the Czech Ministry of Finance added Polymarket to its list of unauthorized internet gaming platforms, identifying it as an unlicensed gambling platform. Internet service providers are required to block access to the platform within 15 days. The Czech Institute for Gambling Regulation stated that Polymarket settles payments using the USDC stablecoin and operates as a decentralized exchange, without providing services through licensed local operators. The institute noted that several EU countries have recently restricted or blocked Polymarket; Italy has reinstated it on the blocklist, while the Netherlands has dismissed the platform's appeal. Separately, this month, the EU market regulator ESMA warned that event contracts meeting the definition of financial instruments are already prohibited from being sold to retail investors under existing binary options rules. Gibraltar has introduced a dedicated regulatory framework for prediction markets this week, while Malta has indicated it is exploring a similar regime. (Bitcoin.com News).
: White House Crypto Council Executive Director Patrick Witt will conclude his final working day at the White House on July 18. He will begin attending the Georgia Army National Guard Judge Advocate Officer training on July 27. Witt was previously responsible for negotiations on the CLARITY Act, which is expected to face a full Senate vote around July 20. Deputy Director Harry Jung will take over the relevant negotiations and will also lead efforts on the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the GENIUS Act. The consolidated draft of the CLARITY Act is expected to be released this week. The bill needs 60 votes to pass the filibuster threshold, requiring at least seven Democratic supporters. Democrats are demanding the inclusion of ethics clauses regarding the president's personal crypto asset exposure. Disclosure information shows that Trump earned over $1.4 billion from crypto-related businesses last year. (Bitcoin.com News)
According to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) deputy Scott Allen Simpkins (34 years old) was sentenced by a federal court on July 13 to 18 months imprisonment and fined $10,000 for obstructing a judicial investigation. Simpkins was previously employed by a private security company under businessman Adam Iza, who claims to be the "godfather" of cryptocurrency. In August 2021, he witnessed Iza threaten party planner R.C. with bullets at his Bel Air mansion, forcing him to transfer $25,000. During the federal investigation in November 2024, Simpkins lied multiple times to the FBI and federal prosecutors, falsely claiming he did not witness the ammunition and financial transactions, thereby interfering with the criminal investigation into Iza. Iza has currently pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to violate rights, wire fraud, tax evasion, and suspected kidnapping and robbery involving Bitcoin, among others, and is awaiting sentencing. This case was jointly investigated by the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
According to Crypto in America, White House Chief Crypto Advisor Patrick Witt will depart for the Georgia Army National Guard to participate in JAG (Judge Advocate General) training starting July 27, and is expected to conclude his work at the White House by next Friday. The timing of this departure is sensitive, coinciding with Senate Republicans accelerating the crypto market structure legislation, the CLARITY Act, striving to complete legislation before Congress's August recess; otherwise, this session of Congress may miss the window for passage. Witt had previously postponed the training originally scheduled to start in April to continue leading the CLARITY Act negotiations, including coordinating core controversies such as stablecoin yields, ethics clauses, and law enforcement agency concerns, but a second postponement is no longer possible. During his absence, Deputy Director Harry Jung will take over related responsibilities. Witt previously also led important policy issues such as the implementation of the strategic Bitcoin reserve and the enactment of the GENIUS Act; whether he will return after the training ends remains unclear.
According to Decrypt, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte signed HB 639, the "Blockchain Foundation Act," last week, providing comprehensive legal protection for blockchain developers, miners, validators, and crypto users, and allowing for the establishment of a specialized blockchain dispute tribunal within the Superior Court. Keith Ammon, a state representative and the bill's primary sponsor, stated that this move aims to protect the fundamental rights of individuals to control digital assets through self-custody and to provide a clear legal framework for next-generation fintech enterprises, attracting entrepreneurs, investors, and developers to the state. Previously, New Hampshire became the first state in the U.S. to pass a strategic Bitcoin reserve bill in May 2025, allowing the state treasury to invest up to 5% of public funds in Bitcoin and precious metal assets such as gold and silver.
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte signed HB 639 into law last week. Known as The Blockchain Basic Laws, the bill provides protections for cryptocurrency innovation and usage within the state and allows for the establishment of a special blockchain dispute docket in the superior court. Last year, New Hampshire passed a strategic Bitcoin reserve bill, allowing the state treasurer to invest up to 5% of public funds in Bitcoin, as well as precious metals such as gold and silver. Additionally, the state's Executive Council last week rejected a proposal that would have allowed the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority to promote Bitcoin-backed municipal bonds. (Decrypt)
Odaily Bitcoin has been declining since October last year, with its current price hovering around half of its all-time high of $126,000, indicating the market remains in a deep bear phase. Multiple industry analysts believe the current pressure on Bitcoin stems primarily from three factors: the four-year cycle, macroeconomic inflationary pressures, and market leverage liquidations.Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, stated that Bitcoin's long-standing "four-year cycle" continues to influence investor psychology. Historically, Bitcoin typically undergoes approximately three years of an upward cycle followed by a one-year correction period. Investors have developed cyclical expectations and began reducing some long-term holdings towards the end of 2025.Additionally, the macroeconomic environment is a significant drag on Bitcoin. Zach Pandl, Head of Research at Grayscale, pointed out that rising inflationary pressures in the US have weakened market expectations for interest rate cuts. Investors are shifting towards higher-yielding traditional assets, leading to capital outflows from risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. The short-term bottom is estimated to be around $58,000, with future trends still influenced by interest rate policies, corporate Bitcoin buying behavior, and progress in US crypto regulatory legislation.Excessive market leverage has also exacerbated this correction. As a large number of investors expanded their Bitcoin exposure through borrowing and financing during the bull market, derivatives open interest has declined as the market weakened. Digital asset treasury companies have also come under pressure. Strategy's stock price has fallen approximately 75% since October last year, and its previously promoted model of corporate Bitcoin accumulation is facing renewed market scrutiny.However, some analysts remain optimistic about Bitcoin's prospects. Adrian Fritz, Chief Investment Strategist at 21Shares, predicts that Bitcoin may bottom out this summer, rebound after interest rates shift towards easing and geopolitical conflicts ease, with a year-end price target of $100,000. (Fortune)
According to a report released by CryptoQuant analyst maartunn, Binance's monthly futures trading volume has climbed to $1.6 trillion, the highest level this year. Despite the current Bitcoin price still hovering in the mid-$60,000 range, generally cautious market sentiment, and multiple headwinds such as the European MiCA regulatory adjustment period and the summer trading off-season, momentum in Binance derivatives trading has not subsided, indicating that traders are still actively establishing futures positions.
According to Bitcoin.com, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched a nighttime special operation in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department, seizing multiple luxury vehicles using forged or unregistered license plates, with drivers all claiming to be cryptocurrency and forex "traders". Among them was a Mercedes-AMG GLE valued at over $153,000 (approximately 2.5 million South African rand), which was fraudulently registered as a white BMW. Authorities pointed out that such "financial influencers" are accustomed to flaunting wealth with luxury cars on social media platforms like TikTok, luring victims into investing in fraudulent platforms. A report released in March had previously identified Cape Town and Johannesburg as hubs for organized crypto fraud, where criminal groups employ technologies such as deepfakes and cloned apps to commit fraud, and illicit funds are laundered through crypto wallets and physical assets. To address increasingly complex financial crimes, the mayor has established an independent Metropolitan Police Detective Unit to enforce the law independently, bypassing the under-resourced national police system.
Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad responded on X on July 11 to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's criticism of the CLARITY Act, stating that the bill would not weaken national security but would instead bring digital asset platforms under stronger regulation. Elizabeth Warren had previously stated on July 8 that the current draft of the CLARITY Act could provide opportunities for evading sanctions. Faryar Shirzad stated that the bill would require crypto platforms to comply with stricter national security standards and allow platforms to freeze suspicious transactions upon request from law enforcement. U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis previously stated that the CLARITY Act includes 16 illicit finance safeguards and warned that the bill may represent the last major opportunity for the U.S. Congress to pass comprehensive digital asset rules before 2030. (Bitcoin.com News).
The Singapore Police Force's Anti-Scam Centre and Cybercrime Department, in a six-week joint anti-scam operation from April 16 to May 31, 2026, collaborated with Coinbase, Coinhako, Gemini, Independent Reserve, OKX, StraitsX, and Upbit. Using blockchain analysis tools from Chainalysis and TRM Labs, they identified potential scam victims and conducted over 145 targeted interventions via phone and in-person visits, preventing potential losses exceeding $4.2 million. Coinbase Singapore stated in a post on X on July 10 that it worked with the Singapore police to prevent over 145 individuals from losing a combined total of more than $4.2 million due to scams. The Singapore Police Force stated that it will continue to work with cryptocurrency exchanges and other private sector entities to combat cybercrime. (Bitcoin.com News).
According to Odaily, Bitcoin is set to undergo two fork events in 2026. Developer Paul Sztorc plans to launch an intentional hard fork called eCash, expected to activate around August 21 at block height 964,000. Another controversial soft fork proposal, BIP-110, has the potential to inadvertently cause a chain split during the August signaling window. A Bitcoin chain split replicates the UTXO set, giving holders 1:1 assets on both ledgers. The usability of a forked coin depends on replay protection, mining difficulty, and market conditions. Self-custodial holders, who control their private keys at the time of the snapshot, can typically sign transactions on either chain; custodial holdings, where private keys are controlled by exchanges at the time of the snapshot, mean users' eligibility for the forked coin depends on the platform's policy. (Bitcoin.com News)