Category: crypto

ESMA added 15 crypto-asset service providers to the Markets in Crypto-Assets register, bringing the total to 309 distinct providers across European markets. BNY’s Belgian subsidiary gained approval for crypto custody and transfer services. The update followed the end of the MiCA transition period on July 1, with compliance costs remaining a concern for licensed firms.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong believes that artificial intelligence will increase demand for cryptocurrency rather than replace it. He argues that AI agents will use programmable money for autonomous transactions, and that AI growth is linked to programmable money. Coinbase has introduced Base, USDC, and x402 as part of its Agentic Finance strategy. Armstrong rejects calls…

Zcash is set to activate its NU6.3 “Ironwood” upgrade at block height 3,428,143 on July 28. The upgrade replaces Orchard with a separately tracked shielded transaction pool system, with a turnstile mechanism to prevent hidden inflation. Zcash Foundation’s Zebra 6.0.0 release prepares node operators for the upgrade.

This article does not provide investment advice but focuses on educating readers about crypto and multi-asset proprietary trading firms. It compares different firms based on funding, supported markets, and features to help traders make informed decisions. Various firms are discussed, including their offerings, payout methods, and suitability for different trading styles.

The SparkKitty mobile spyware campaign is back in the spotlight, targeting iOS and Android apps to steal crypto wallet recovery phrases from phone galleries. The malware collects images and sends them to attacker-controlled servers. It has been active since at least 2024 and mainly targets Southeast Asia and China. Researchers recommend offline seed storage and…

Strategy increased its U.S. dollar reserve by $525 million to $3.75 billion while maintaining its Bitcoin holdings at 843,775 BTC. Common stock sales generated $544.5 million and preferred dividend coverage extended to roughly 2.1 years. The company repurchased $25 million of STRC shares and made no Bitcoin purchases during the week.

BitMine Immersion Technologies reported holding 5.79 million ETH, equivalent to 4.8% of Ethereum’s circulating supply. The company also staked over 4.9 million ETH, projecting annual revenue of $254 million. They repurchased 6.1 million shares and valued their portfolio at $11.8 billion, aiming to reach their 5% target of owning all ETH.

Hyperliquid Policy Center and Multicoin Capital support the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s proposed prediction-market framework. They advocate for clear federal standards for regulated prediction market contracts, settlement terms to determine contract legitimacy, and published reasoning for CFTC decisions on event contracts. They argue written federal standards would help operators design contracts and reduce policy swings.…

Circle Internet Group has acquired over 680 IBM patent families, including nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide. The acquisition covers various areas such as blockchain, payments, banking, insurance, supply chains, and cloud. Financial terms were undisclosed, and the deal aims to support USDC, Payments Network, Arc, and agentic finance tools.

Falling crypto prices are causing digital asset treasury companies to shift towards artificial intelligence. Companies like K Wave, Lixte, and Alpha Compute are pivoting to AI as investor interest in crypto fades. The move has not been successful in restoring market confidence, leading to steep share declines for these companies. Treasury premiums are shrinking, pushing…