Category: crypto

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust received regulatory approval to increase its options position limit from 250,000 to 1 million contracts. NYSE Arca justified the higher cap to match trading demand and improve liquidity. The SEC approved the change under Rule 19b-4. BlackRock reported strong revenue growth in Q2, adding to positive momentum.

Blockchain security firm Blockaid revealed that Ostium was targeted in an exploit that drained nearly $18 million USDC from its liquidity vault using a compromised oracle signer key. The attacker manipulated oracle reports to bypass verification processes and extract profits without genuine market risk. The incident has led to a temporary halt in trading while…

Base creator Jesse Pollak admitted that the onchain social strategy did not drive expected growth, leading to a shift towards trading, payments, and AI-powered financial infrastructure. The focus on infrastructure comes after failed social experiments, with Coinbase taking over the Base App. Priorities for 2026 include trading, payments, and AI agents.

Senate Democrats are scrutinizing Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche during his confirmation hearing, accusing him of weakening crypto enforcement to benefit President Trump’s digital asset businesses. Senator Dick Durbin criticized Blanche for dismantling the DOJ’s crypto enforcement unit. Democrats are also pushing for stricter ethics rules in crypto legislation.

A recent academic study found that Polymarket’s short-duration Bitcoin prediction contracts incentivize sophisticated traders to manipulate spot prices, resulting in losses for regular traders. Researchers suggest extending contract duration and using alternative settlement methods to reduce manipulation risks. Despite these issues, prediction markets continue to attract record trading activity and regulatory scrutiny.

President Trump is meeting with Republican senators to advance the CLARITY Act before the August recess. A revised draft of the bill will be introduced, with a Senate floor vote expected next week. Prediction markets show increased odds of a Senate vote before the recess. Democratic senators are pushing for stronger ethics safeguards.

California prosecutors have charged Nicholas Aguilar and Jessica Marcolina with running a darknet drug operation that laundered cryptocurrency proceeds from fentanyl and methamphetamine sales. The pair also operated an illegal ghost gun manufacturing setup. This case is part of U.S. efforts targeting cryptocurrency in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Onchain investigator ZachXBT criticizes hardware wallets, especially Ledger, for not being suitable for critical transactions or storing large amounts of cryptocurrency. He suggests using a dedicated iPhone for managing crypto assets instead. Recent wallet scams show attackers targeting crypto holders through fake apps and social engineering methods. Ledger users have faced attacks involving fake software.

Base has changed its growth strategy after falling behind in prediction markets and perpetual futures. Founder Jesse Pollak is stepping back from leading the Base App, focusing on developing the Base blockchain. Base is now prioritizing trading, payments, stablecoins, and AI tools, moving away from its creator-focused approach.

Bitfinex’s latest report indicates that Bitcoin’s recent rally lacks sustained spot buying support and relies heavily on macroeconomic repricing. Softer inflation data reduced rate-hike fears, driving Bitcoin higher. The key $68,000 to $68,300 range is crucial for Bitcoin’s future, with ETF flows and spot buying determining its acceptance above this level.