News linked to both this project and an event.
Cryptocurrency exchange Luno has formally challenged South Africa’s proposed foreign exchange law reforms, arguing that the National Treasury’s plan to include digital assets under capital flow regulations bypasses parliament and involves the property and privacy rights of millions of South Africans. In its submission, Luno pointed out that the draft contains provisions for asset seizure without court orders, forced liquidation, and sanctions that could lead to business termination. Violators could face up to five years in prison, fines of up to $53,000, or both. Luno recommends that the final framework for crypto capital flows be established through an act of parliament, classifying crypto assets purchased and held on licensed exchanges in South Africa as domestic assets, and distinguishing between different digital asset categories based on their economic functions. Luno also suggests removing mechanisms for forced sales and warrantless asset seizures, and allowing non-resident international trading companies to continue accessing the South African market with appropriate registration, in order to maintain market liquidity.
Odaily Odaily News According to MAX monitoring, on July 16, the Cascade CLS treasury suspectedly experienced a security vulnerability, resulting in approximately $1.3 million in user fund losses. The platform has suspended all trading and withdrawals and has invited SEAL 911 and other third-party security teams to investigate and handle the incident. Cascade is a 24/7 multi-asset perpetual contract platform headquartered in New York, targeting the US market. It supports deposits via Arbitrum USDC or bank accounts and is currently still in an invitation-only private testing phase.
According to on-chain investigator Specter (@SpecterAnalyst), Tether has frozen four TRON chain wallets holding a combined total of approximately 131 million USDT. Tracing the source of funds, most of the funds were withdrawn from payment service provider DTC Pay and cryptocurrency exchange Bitso. Further investigation reveals that the aforementioned wallets are linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Central Bank of Iran on the sanctions list of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The specific reason for the freeze has not yet been officially announced.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the UK's His Majesty's Treasury have issued a joint statement and recommendations as part of the "Transatlantic Working Group for Future Markets." The working group recommends that the Bank of England, the FCA, along with the U.S. CFTC and SEC, develop regulatory frameworks for tokenized assets while requiring the FCA and SEC to explore measures to facilitate cross-border financing. In terms of specific recommendations, both the U.S. and UK propose: supporting the development of stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and similar digital assets; promoting market competition and innovation; and establishing higher standards for asset custody, reserve segregation, and consumer protection. (The Block)
: The U.S. Department of the Treasury and HM Treasury have released recommendations from the Transatlantic Future Markets Working Group, covering stablecoin activities and tokenized finance. Both sides suggest that relevant agencies consider establishing private sector-led groups to test cross-border use cases for tokenized assets, and that U.S. financial institutions work with the Bank of England to determine a common approach to regulating tokenized assets. The U.S. and UK also issued a joint statement on stablecoins, stating their intention to promote regulatory coordination and build cross-border dynamic stablecoin markets. The statement also indicates that stablecoins should be fully backed by high-quality liquid assets at a minimum 1:1 ratio. Additionally, according to a report by an industry working group supported by the UK government, if the UK becomes a leading jurisdiction for tokenization, tokenization expands globally, and domestic adoption increases, tokenization could add up to $44 billion to the UK's annual economic output by 2035. (Cointelegraph)
According to Protos, the stock price of Bitcoin treasury company Hyperscale Data (NYSE: GPUS) closed below $0.14 on July 7, 2026, representing a drop of nearly 100% compared to its historical peak during the 2000 internet bubble (adjusted price over $2.1 billion). The company was formerly an electronics manufacturer established in 1969, Digital Power Corporation, and has since undergone six name changes, five reverse stock splits (cumulative compression ratio exceeding 200 million to 1), and multiple transformations—sequentially involving Bitcoin mining and Michael Saylor-style BTC accumulation strategies. In September 2025, the company announced the launch of a $100 million BTC purchase plan, at which time the stock price was $0.72, and has since fallen cumulatively by over 80%. The company's Executive Chairman Milton "Todd" Ault III was fined and suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in 2012, and the company also reached a $700,000 settlement with the SEC in 2023.
tokenized sovereign debt startup M1X Global has completed a $5.5 million seed funding round, led by Paradigm, with participation from Breed VC and others.It is understood that M1X Global previously collaborated with the Republic of the Marshall Islands to assist in the issuance of the on-chain sovereign debt instrument USDM1. This product is a dollar-denominated tokenized sovereign debt instrument, 1:1 backed by U.S. Treasury bonds, and natively issued on a public blockchain by a sovereign nation. USDM1 was initially issued on Stellar and is now also available on Canton and Solana.Jordan Goldman, President and COO of M1X, stated that sovereign debt is one of the largest asset classes globally, but prior to USDM1, it did not exist in a native on-chain form. The company aims to establish USDM1 as on-chain sovereign collateral and expand its use within regulated financial markets.The initial application scenario for USDM1 is domestic government aid distribution. Citizens of the Marshall Islands can receive funds via the Lomalo wallet, with payments settling in seconds, bypassing the need for traditional correspondent banking networks. M1X also indicated that its recent integration with Bank of Guam, a U.S. FDIC-insured bank, further connects USDM1 to regulated banking infrastructure. (The Block)
the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professional Association stated that representatives from regulatory bodies, including Executive Director of the SFC's Intermediaries Division Keith Yee and Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan, discussed several specific policy changes. These include: canceling the previous 10% minimum exemption for virtual asset management, and implementing new regulations effective immediately without a transitional period.Furthermore, the SFC indicated that it has communicated with the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute (HKSI). In the future, the examination for virtual asset platform practitioners will be separated from the existing courses, and examination fees will be lowered, aligning with the costs of current papers such as Paper 2 and Paper 3. The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professional Association also called for a clear delineation between technology services and regulated activities, suggesting that the SFC establish a more transparent approval timeline and phased reference framework. (Sing Tao Daily)
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Industry Professional Association met with representatives from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Securities and Futures Commission on July 3 to exchange views on issues such as new virtual asset policies, the licensing regime, operating costs, and the Virtual Asset Platform Practitioner Examination (CVAP). During the meeting, the Association expressed concerns regarding CVAP examination authorization and system transparency. The SFC responded that it would promote the separation of courses and examinations and reduce examination fees.
According to Odaily, the U.S. national debt has risen to approximately $39 trillion, with the public debt now equivalent to the size of the U.S. GDP. Annual interest payments have reached about $1 trillion, exceeding the defense budget. The U.S. Treasury system dates back to 1790, when Alexander Hamilton pushed through a debt consolidation reform. At that time, the federal government assumed the wartime debts of individual states and committed to full repayment, thereby establishing the U.S. credit system and laying the foundation for the global status of the dollar and U.S. Treasuries. Today, U.S. Treasuries are regarded as one of the core assets of the global financial system, supporting the U.S. dollar's reserve currency status and being widely held by central banks and financial institutions worldwide. As the debt scale continues to expand, market concerns over long-term sustainability are intensifying. According to estimates from the Penn Wharton Budget Model, when the debt-to-GDP ratio exceeds approximately 210%, the fiscal system may face unsustainable risks. Currently, this ratio in the U.S. stands at about 100%, and the Congressional Budget Office projects it could rise to 175% by 2056. Analysts believe that under scenarios of growing healthcare spending and widening fiscal deficits, this risk threshold could arrive earlier, and the long-term stability of the debt structure is facing increasingly stringent market and policy scrutiny.
the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), in a letter to U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Senator Elizabeth Warren, stated that after some of its concerns regarding Section 604 of the bill were addressed, it has shifted its stance on the CLARITY Act to "neutral." Section 604, concerning the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, aims to protect developers from liability for illegal activities conducted by users on their decentralized platforms. The MCSA had previously stated that Section 604 could provide loopholes for criminals to exploit, making it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate crypto-related crimes. The MCSA indicated that it still hopes the CLARITY Act will amend Section 309 to include state law enforcement agencies. This section requires the U.S. Treasury Department to study decentralized finance and illicit finance risks. (Cointelegraph).
Nick Timiraos, known as the "Fed Whisperer," posted on the X platform: Trump stated that he believes Fed Chair Warsh leans dovish within the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). This came a day after similar remarks from White House National Economic Council Director Hassett, and a week after Treasury Secretary Bessent expressed hope that the Fed would maintain an "open attitude" toward inflation and predicted the Fed would ease policy this year. A new era of "forward guidance"...
On the eve of the U.S. Independence Day holiday, sentiment in the crypto market is gradually stabilizing. Bitcoin is holding above $61,000, and Ethereum has climbed above $1,700, continuing the rebound from the previous day. The unexpectedly weak U.S. non-farm payroll data earlier had cooled market expectations for further tightening by the Federal Reserve, rekindling demand for risk assets. Volatility in the options market has notably declined, with short-term implied volatility falling from recent highs into the low 30s range, as market sentiment shifts from panic hedging to relative calm. However, some institutions believe the data is not a one-sided "dovish signal." Accelerating wages and resilient consumer spending still support the Fed in maintaining a hawkish stance. The divergence between U.S. Treasury yields and stock market performance further indicates lingering disagreement over the policy path. (The Block)
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in an interview with CBS News that the recently disclosed revenue of approximately $1.4 billion earned by President Donald Trump through crypto projects poses no problem for the president. The financial disclosure shows that since the start of his second term, Trump has earned around $1.4 billion from crypto ventures, including the TRUMP meme coin and World Liberty Financial.Congressional Democrats have criticized this, arguing that there is a conflict of interest given that the current administration is seeking to ease cryptocurrency regulations. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly responded by stating that the disclosure reveals no conflict of interest. Additionally, Bessent expressed optimism about the U.S. economic outlook and noted that over 6 million Trump Accounts have been opened, a project aimed at helping minors invest in the stock market to improve financial literacy. (cbsnews)
According to Digital Asset, the Korea Exchange (KRX) announced revisions to listing rules, stipulating that if technology special listing companies change their main business purpose within 5 years after listing, they will be included in the scope of substantive delisting review. This move primarily targets cases where some biotechnology and other enterprises, after listing on KOSDAQ via technology special exemption, transform their main business into digital asset investment or virtual asset treasury (Crypto Treasury). KRX clearly pointed out that such changes indicate that the original technological capability and growth potential are no longer valid, necessitating a delisting review. In addition, special listing companies must mandatorily disclose corporate value enhancement plans during the listing exemption period to protect investors' right to know. This revision also covers the expansion of quality inspection standards for innovative enterprises, the establishment of a disclosure system for low PBR companies, and the improvement of systems related to multiple voting rights stocks.
According to an announcement by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) jointly announced on June 29 that they have completed the first-phase review on promoting the further application of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in Hong Kong's fixed income market. The review results confirmed that Hong Kong's existing legal and regulatory environment is sufficiently flexible to support the issuance of tokenized bonds. The Companies Registry released frequently asked questions on the same day, clarifying that registers of debenture holders maintained using DLT comply with the relevant provisions of the Companies Ordinance. The next phase of the review will commence in the second half of this year, focusing on legal optimization issues such as allowing electronic signatures to execute tokenized bond issuance documents, as well as the "possession" and "transfer" of tokenized fixed income products, to promote the wider application of DLT in the fixed income market and the digital asset sector.
OdailyOdaily Planet Daily reports that Robinhood has officially announced on X that the Trump Account application (supporting iOS and Android) is now live and available to all eligible American families. Users can now activate their accounts, which will officially begin accepting deposits on July 4, 2026.Robinhood added that all US children under the age of 18 with a valid Social Security Number are eligible to open a Trump Account; eligible children born between 2025 and 2028 will receive an initial $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury; family members, friends, and employers can contribute a combined maximum of $5,000 annually; the account is designed for long-term investment.The so-called "Trump Account," also known as a 530A Account, is a tax-deferred investment account plan authorized by then-President Donald Trump on June 9, 2025, under the "Big and Beautiful" Act. Its purpose is to establish government-funded savings accounts for children of US citizens born between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2029. The Bank of New York Mellon has been designated as the financial agent for the Trump Account, while Robinhood serves as the designated broker-dealer and initial trustee.
According to a press release issued by the Hong Kong Government, today, Mr. Paul Chan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong, responded in the Legislative Council regarding stablecoin regulation, stating that the potential risks posed by stablecoins to the financial system have been thoroughly assessed. Licensed stablecoin issuers are explicitly required to implement appropriate risk management measures, including investing reserve assets in qualified assets such as bank deposits and high-quality, highly liquid bonds, and holding such assets at banks in Hong Kong. Where necessary, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) may impose additional regulatory requirements on licensees, depending on the circumstances, to safeguard financial stability. The HKMA will promote exploration of synergies and interoperability between compliant stablecoins and other new payment instruments to create value for the real economy and financial activities. Furthermore, only stablecoins regulated under the Stablecoin Ordinance—and purchased from designated, regulated institutions—are protected under the Ordinance. Purchasing unregulated stablecoins through unregulated channels entails bearing all associated risks personally.
the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Treasury Department, and other financial regulatory agencies have jointly released the implementation draft of the "GENIUS Act," requiring stablecoin issuers to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and implement Customer Identification Programs (CIP).According to the draft requirements, stablecoin issuers must verify user identities, maintain records of identity information such as names and addresses, and screen against terrorist organization and sanctions lists. The relevant rules have now entered a 60-day public comment period, and will be formally implemented after the final rule is issued.Additionally, Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr expressed reservations about this framework, believing it inadequately addresses the risks of illegal financing in secondary market transactions. The proposal specifically solicits comments on whether customer identification requirements should be further extended to secondary market transactions. (CoinDesk)
the bond market is signaling increasingly restrictive interest rate expectations, which may continue to weigh on risk assets like Bitcoin. The spread between the U.S. 2-year and 10-year Treasury yields has narrowed to approximately 28 basis points, its tightest level since April 2025, indicating a clear flattening of the yield curve. This shift is widely interpreted as a heightened market expectation of tighter monetary policy or “higher for longer” interest rates.Skanda Amarnath, Executive Director of the policy research organization EmployAmerica, noted that this flattening trend is "one of the clearest market signals that the Federal Reserve is becoming more hawkish." In a more hawkish interest rate environment, the market anticipates rates remaining elevated for a longer period, which enhances the appeal of fixed-income assets and diminishes the investment demand for non-yielding assets such as Bitcoin.Beyond the 10-year to 2-year spread, the gap between the 30-year and 5-year Treasury yields has also fallen to its lowest level since last April, further reinforcing the overall flattening trend of the yield curve.Market participants believe this change represents a significant reversal from the environment earlier this year, which was characterized by a steepening curve and bets on rate cuts. In the latest round of policy signals, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, but its dot plot indicated a higher projected path for future rates compared to previous forecasts, with median interest rate expectations shifting upward across the board, strengthening the “higher for longer” narrative.Analysts suggest that if the high-interest-rate environment persists, risk assets like Bitcoin may struggle to stage a strong upward trend in the short term. The market could enter a phase of volatile downward pressure, intersecting with certain bottoming expectations tied to the halving cycle. (CoinDesk)