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Odaily News CME Group Chairman Terry Duffy, the operator of the world's largest futures exchange, and Luana Lopes Lara, co-founder of prediction market platform Kalshi, clashed verbally during a U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) roundtable in Washington. Duffy questioned whether prediction markets face the same regulatory scrutiny as established exchanges and noted that certain contracts could be subject to manipulation.Terry Duffy stated that CME Group is not a "barker at the circus" and mocked some contracts offered by Kalshi, including the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest contract. Luana Lopes Lara responded that traditional markets and exchanges carry risks as well and that regulators are responsible for identifying and addressing such issues. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins subsequently called on both sides to stop attacking each other's business models.The dispute comes amid ongoing disagreements between federal regulators and states over the regulatory authority of prediction markets, with the central question being whether contracts involving sports, elections, and other real-world events are federally regulated derivatives or gambling products subject to state law. Last week, a Washington state judge ordered Kalshi to stop offering certain contracts. Two days ago, the CFTC instructed Kalshi to continue trading, pushing back against New York state's efforts to block its contracts. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: During a meeting at the White House with executives from crypto and financial firms, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass a "fair version" of the Clarity Act, stating that market structure legislation is the next step in his digital assets policy.The meeting was attended by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins, White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt, as well as executives from Coinbase, Ripple, Robinhood, and Kraken.The Clarity Act would establish federal rules for digital assets and clarify the regulatory jurisdictions of the SEC and CFTC. The bill is expected to return to the Senate in September, where Republicans will still need support from about six Democratic senators to reach the 60-vote threshold. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Edward Zimbardi, a 59-year-old Georgia resident, appeared in U.S. federal court facing 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Fiji authorities handed him over to U.S. custody on August 14, in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. State Department.Prosecutors allege that Zimbardi operated a project called "The Crypto Program" from June 2022 to August 2023, luring participants with promises of a fixed 25% monthly return on advertising packages, requiring them to transfer cryptocurrency into wallets he secretly controlled. The government claims that thousands of individuals collectively transferred over $165 million into these wallets. Prosecutors stated that Zimbardi did not purchase advertising but instead funneled more than $34 million into high-risk forex trading, using funds from new investors to pay earlier ones. His personal spending totaled at least $10 million, including purchasing property for his son, buying luxury cars, and making alimony payments.The U.S. Department of Justice stated that after the project collapsed in August 2023, Zimbardi left the country and settled in Fiji in July 2025 upon learning of the FBI investigation. The FBI is urging affected investors to come forward with information. (Decrypt)
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday proposed new rules that would allow crypto projects to raise funds without full securities registration. The proposed "crypto asset regulation" includes two exemptions: projects raising no more than $5 million over a 4-year period, and issuers raising no more than $75 million every 12 months, subject to filing financial statements and ongoing reports. Both exemptions require information disclosure and remain subject to federal anti-fraud and anti-manipulation rules. The proposal also includes a conditional safe harbor, allowing issuers to "decouple" crypto assets from the investment contracts under which they were issued, provided SEC conditions are met. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce stated that the exemptions will not cover all types of crypto projects, and the Commission will refine the rules based on market developments. The SEC canceled a related meeting last week citing "unforeseen scheduling issues," and resumed advancing the proposal days later. (Decrypt)
blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis Government Solutions filed a bid protest with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on July 27, opposing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) decision to award a contract worth approximately $94.6 million to competitor TRM Labs on a sole-source basis. The contract, covering the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, involves blockchain forensics software and support services for Homeland Security task forces investigating fraud, cybercrime, and sextortion cases. Chainalysis argues that ICE's decision was arbitrary and unreasonable. TRM Labs joined the case as an intervenor-defendant on July 28, defending the contract alongside the U.S. government. The court has allowed Chainalysis to temporarily seal its complaint, with oral arguments scheduled for September 2. ICE stated that after approximately six days of market research, it determined that none of the eight responding companies could meet the requirements. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Cryptocurrency platform Bitpanda has been fined €70,000 by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), making it the first publicly disclosed enforcement action under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The ruling is now legally binding. The FMA stated that Bitpanda failed to submit its crypto asset white paper to the regulator at least 20 working days before publication, and published marketing communications prior to the white paper's release. Another marketing communication also lacked a disclaimer stating that it had not been reviewed or approved by the regulator, as well as telephone and email contact information. The violations relate to procedural and disclosure requirements, and do not involve allegations of fraud or investor losses. The MiCA rules for crypto asset service providers took full effect at the end of 2024, and the transition period for existing firms is gradually coming to an end. Bitpanda holds a MiCA license and is expanding across Europe. The EU is expected to revisit the framework in 2027 and tighten oversight of non-EU stablecoin issuers. (Decrypt)
Odaily News According to reports, multiple prediction markets are converging on pricing for the Fed's September meeting outcome: approximately 74% probability of holding rates steady, about 25% probability of a 25 basis point rate hike, and nearly 1% probability of a rate cut. Relevant Polymarket contracts have seen trading volume of $33.9 million; Kalshi, a prediction exchange regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), shows a 73.5% probability of holding rates steady, with related wagers nearing $10 million. Myriad, a prediction platform operated by Dastan, indicates approximately 71% probability for this option. The Fed's July meeting voted 9 to 3 to hold rates at 3.50% to 3.75%, with 3 committee members supporting a rate hike. The FOMC is scheduled to meet from September 15 to 16, with the statement planned for release on September 16; a survey shows nearly 70% of economists expect rates to remain unchanged for the remainder of 2026. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has sold cryptocurrencies seized from the bankrupt Dutch crypto platform Knaken, raising $2.5 million to repay creditors. Court-appointed bankruptcy administrator Carl Hamm stated that this amount is currently the sole source of funds in the bankruptcy estate. Knaken had offered Dutch users cryptocurrency trading and custody services through its app but failed to obtain the license required by the country's market regulator. The platform ceased operations in early June, and the Rotterdam court declared it bankrupt on July 16 after prosecutors sought liquidation on public interest grounds. Hamm estimates that customer funds totaled $12 million to $14 million and has notified approximately 6,300 customers to lower their expectations. A lawyer representing one client questioned whether prosecutors had the right to sell the relevant assets. Knaken founder Ronald J. disputed some of the investment figures and stated that the platform, operating as a broker, recorded all orders. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: The Irish government has published its first national Anti-Money Laundering (AML) strategy, which plans to strengthen scrutiny of digital asset transfers involving private crypto wallets (self-hosted wallets) and raise due diligence requirements for crypto firms collaborating with overseas institutions.According to an announcement from the Irish Department of Finance, the strategy implements the remaining requirements of the EU's Transfer of Funds Regulation, requiring crypto asset service providers (CASPs) to conduct "enhanced checks" on transfers involving private wallets, while also implementing stricter customer due diligence when conducting business with overseas crypto firms.The measures are based on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)'s "Travel Rule," which requires digital asset transactions to include sender and recipient information to enhance transparency in fund flows.Ireland stated that the new regulations are being advanced in tandem with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). MiCA establishes a unified regulatory framework for crypto asset service providers, while Ireland previously granted its domestic crypto firms a transition period of 12 months—shorter than the maximum 18 months allowed by the EU. That transition period ended at the end of December 2025, so the new requirements will now apply directly to firms with full authorization. (Decrypt)
According to Decrypt, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has canceled the public meeting originally scheduled for this Friday. The meeting was planned for three commissioners to vote and discuss whether to seek public comment on an issuance exemption framework tailored for crypto assets—this would be the SEC's first time advancing targeted legislation for the crypto industry. An SEC spokesperson announced the cancellation citing "unforeseen scheduling issues" without announcing a new date. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate adjourned last Saturday, failing to advance the Clarity Act, and data from prediction market Myriad shows the probability of the bill being signed into law within 2026 is only 20%. Notably, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will still hold the first meeting of the Innovation Advisory Committee as scheduled on August 20, with agenda items covering "crypto regulatory evolution" and artificial intelligence, but this meeting will only produce recommendations and does not carry legislative authority.
crypto lending firm Figure Lending LLC offers cryptocurrency-backed loans, allowing borrowers to use Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Solana as collateral to access cash of up to 75% of the collateral's value while retaining ownership of their tokens. Such loans generally do not constitute a sale and typically do not trigger a capital gains event. Figure Lending LLC stated that borrowers should compare maximum loan-to-value ratios, fixed or variable interest rates, regulatory licensing, and liquidation terms. The firm offers fixed-rate loans with a 12-month term, a maximum annual percentage rate of 12.62%, and supports same-day funding without requiring a credit score, as approval is based on the collateral. Figure provides an optional liquidation protection feature, available in select states, which may defer liquidation during the loan term due to price declines; however, liquidation may still occur if the loan becomes delinquent. This feature does not apply to non-payment, default, or violation of loan terms, and declines in crypto asset prices may still trigger margin calls. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold a public meeting on August 14 to consider proposing a "Regulation Crypto" rule framework that would allow certain crypto projects to raise funds without completing full securities registration. If public comment is initiated, this would mark the SEC's first formal, long-term crypto industry rulemaking. The framework is expected to establish a pathway for exiting SEC oversight: after project developers raise funds, if they no longer actively manage the project and the project achieves decentralization, it may fall outside SEC jurisdiction. SEC Chair Paul Atkins has previously stated that the exemption period could last up to four years, though the announcement did not disclose funding amount thresholds. The U.S. Senate did not advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act before entering its August recess. The final rule will still take several months to complete, and the meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. ET on August 14. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Gurinder Singh Josan, Co-Chair of the UK Parliamentary Crypto and Digital Assets All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), along with Lord Vaizey of Didcot, has written to the CEOs of all major UK banks, demanding clarification on how they treat crypto and digital asset businesses. The letter raises six questions covering banks' current policies, whether they provide services to crypto businesses, related transaction restrictions and the factors determining them, and asks whether practices will be adjusted once the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulatory regime takes effect. The group noted that many crypto businesses struggle to open bank accounts in the UK, with some banks also restricting related payments. The letter stems from a parliamentary inquiry into banking service access launched on July 21, with written submissions open until August 31. A January survey by the UK Cryptoasset Business Council estimated that banks block or delay around 40% of transactions to crypto exchanges. HSBC, NatWest, Monzo, and Nationwide cap monthly transfers to crypto exchanges at between £5,000 and £10,000, while Starling and Chase UK prohibit such transfers altogether. UK Treasury Economic Secretary Lucy Rigby stated that the government does not want FCA-licensed firms to face banking restrictions solely because of their industry; the FCA completed related rules in June, with the regime becoming mandatory in October 2027. (Decrypt)
According to Decrypt, protests surrounding AI data centers across the United States have continued to expand this year, with at least 37 people arrested in related protests. Protesters are primarily focused on issues caused by data centers, including power consumption, water usage, environmental pollution, and government transparency. Typical incidents include: an Oklahoma resident arrested for exceeding speaking time limits at a data center hearing, an Indiana resident arrested for refusing to identify themselves at an Amazon data center public meeting, and a Kansas physics teacher handcuffed and removed for applauding at a zoning hearing. The current wave of opposition has evolved from local "NIMBY movements" into a national political movement. The advocacy group "Humans First" organized 142 protests across 42 states in the U.S. in July, and legislators are also calling for stricter regulation on rapidly expanding AI infrastructure.
Odaily News: Apple has limited the number of vulnerability reports a single researcher can submit at one time because its security team has received a large number of submissions generated by AI, many of which do not actually contain real flaws. Apple stated that researchers can request a higher limit at any time, and the company is also using AI internally to triage submissions.Bynario, a Milan-based cybersecurity startup, said it used OpenAI's ChatGPT to discover more than 50 vulnerabilities in the latest version of macOS within three weeks, including a privilege escalation chain that could give attackers full control of a Mac device.Bynario stated that it was unable to report this vulnerability because Apple had already rejected further submissions. Bynario CEO Alfredo Pesoli estimated the vulnerability's value on the criminal market at $100,000 to $200,000. Apple said it has reached out to the company and reviewed its work. In June, Apple added a submission cap and a 30-day cooldown period to its security portal. In a recent security update, Apple listed vulnerabilities discovered with the assistance of Anthropic and OpenAI software, with the number of fixes approximately five times that of a normal cycle. (Decrypt)
According to Decrypt, Texas lawmakers are considering stricter measures than mere regulation for cryptocurrency ATMs, even potentially pushing for a ban. According to FBI data, losses in Texas due to cryptocurrency ATM scams reached $56.8 million in 2025, the highest in the nation, with 1,179 corresponding complaints. Nationwide, losses in such cases increased by 58% year-over-year to $389 million.
According to Decrypt, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that if Congress fails to pass the Clarity Act, the SEC is "ready at any time" to issue cryptocurrency market rules independently. Atkins emphasized that legislation is the only way to prevent the regulatory framework from shifting with changing administrations, and expressed continued optimism regarding the bill's ultimate passage. Currently, the Clarity Act passed the House of Representatives last July with a 294-134 vote, and passed the Senate Banking Committee this May with a 15-9 vote, but has not yet undergone a full Senate vote (requiring 60 votes to pass). Senate Majority Leader Thune recently hinted that the bill may not be voted on before the August recess. If passed, the bill would transfer regulatory authority over the spot market for most tokens to the CFTC, removing them from SEC jurisdiction. The SEC has made advance arrangements; the "Project Crypto" regulatory scheme advanced by Atkins has been included in the 2026 agenda, covering token registration exemptions, safe harbors, and broker-dealer custody, and is regarded as a transitional plan for the Clarity Act.
According to Decrypt, a report released by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) shows that estimated losses from cryptocurrency fraud in the US in 2025 reached as high as $80.7 billion, approximately 7 times the amount actually reported to the FBI ($11.37 billion). Based on 2017 Bureau of Justice Statistics survey data, the CFA extrapolated unreported losses using a 7.1x multiplier. Investment fraud was the largest single category, with estimated losses reaching $61.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 32%; losses were particularly severe for the group aged 60 and above, with losses from crypto fraud alone reaching $4.4 billion. Currently, US law enforcement agencies have taken multiple actions, including the FBI's "Operation Level Up" which has prevented approximately $500 million in losses, and the Department of Justice has also seized over $25 million in crypto assets involved in fraud.
OdailyOdaily reports that the parliament controlled by Myanmar's military passed the "Anti-Online Scam Law" on Tuesday, allowing the death penalty for those who use violence or illegal detention to force others to engage in online fraud. A draft released in May showed that if the related abuse results in the death of the victim, the death penalty shall be imposed. The draft also stipulates that those who operate online scam centers or commit digital currency fraud can face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with sentences for coercion-related crimes ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Lower house lawmaker Aye Chan stated that the death penalty clause has been retained in the approved version, the important parts of the bill remain unchanged, and the full text has not yet been published. This bill is the first law passed by the new government of Min Aung Hlaing. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that scam activities in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania caused losses of between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion in 2025, and individuals from at least 80 countries were found in related scam compounds. (Decrypt)
据 Decrypt 报道，高盛董事长兼 CEO 大卫·所罗门公开表态支持加密货币市场结构法案（Clarity Act），称其有助于"建立公平竞争环境、提升市场稳定性并推动创新"。此举与摩根大通 CEO 杰米·戴蒙及多家银行业协会的立场明显相左——后者强烈反对法案中允许稳定币提供收益的条款，认为此举将吸走传统银行存款。 目前，参议院共和党人正在流传最新法案草案，新增了限制总统及其家人参与加密业务的伦理条款，但该限制将于 2029 年到期且不适用于特朗普之子，遭民主党批评力度不足。法案能否在八月休会前完成参议院投票，前景仍不明朗。