Category: crypto

Standard Chartered has launched a new service for eligible institutional clients to access USDC minting and redemption through its banking platform in partnership with Circle. The service starts in Dubai and may expand globally. This move reinforces the UAE’s role in regulated digital asset activity. Circle’s infrastructure is integrated into Standard Chartered’s platform to support…

HashKey Capital is launching the industry’s first Bitcoin Hashrate Fund, targeting professional investors for BTC-denominated yield access. The fund, denominated in BTC, will use BITMAIN’s computing power services and aim for a market-competitive return. It comes as Bitcoin mining economics face challenges from price swings and difficulty changes.

Binance has received final approval from the Philippine SEC for BlockShoals Technologies to begin regulatory sandbox testing, bringing the exchange closer to returning to the local market. BlockShoals will integrate with a licensed local provider before onboarding users. BSP licensing requirements for crypto services still apply.

Bitcoin has increased while oil has decreased to a 125-day low due to progress in U.S.-Iran talks and weaker U.S. jobs data, boosting risk appetite in financial markets. U.S.-Iran negotiations showed positive progress, with both sides agreeing to resume talks on July 18 after mediation from Qatar and Pakistan.

Robinhood shares rose over 6% as Wall Street firms reiterated Buy ratings and projected upside to $135. Analysts cited global expansion, AI-powered products, and crypto initiatives as drivers of growth. Recent launches in Canada, the UK, and Singapore, along with blockchain and AI features, have boosted investor confidence.

Anthropic will restore public access to Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 after U.S. authorities lifted export restrictions that had kept the company’s two most advanced AI models offline since June 12. The decision followed conversations with the U.S. government, with new safeguards implemented to prevent misuse.

Phantom has hired three Ventuals creators, Alvin Hsia, Emily Hsia, and Aris Samad, for its trading and data teams. Ventuals shut down its OpenAI and Anthropic perpetual futures markets on Hyperliquid. Phantom plans to focus on perpetual futures and Hyperliquid-based trading products with the new hires.

Five individuals in Shanghai were sentenced to prison for running an illegal foreign exchange network that used cryptocurrency to move over $29.4 million abroad. The group targeted wealthy clients for property purchases, emigration, or study abroad. China has been cracking down on crypto-linked money laundering and underground banking networks.

SoftBank Group has made a $10 billion second tranche investment in OpenAI through Vision Fund 2, moving closer to its $30 billion commitment to the AI company. SoftBank borrowed $10 billion to fund the investment and plans to complete another $10 billion tranche by October 1, pending OpenAI’s IPO.

Binance reassured EU users affected by MiCA-related changes that their assets are safe and accessible. CEO Richard Teng confirmed withdrawals will remain available and users will have access to communicated options. The transition deadline reshapes exchange access, with licensed rivals targeting affected users as Binance adjusts its services in compliance with regulations.