Bakkt Acquires 30% Stake in Japan’s Marusho Hotta to Expand Into Asia
Bakkt signed an agreement to purchase a 30% interest in Tokyo-listed Marusho Hotta, becoming its largest shareholder and securing the bitcoin.jp brand. The deal positions Bakkt for growth in Asian crypto markets under new leadership.
Roman Storm Convicted for Operating Unlicensed Crypto Mixer Business
A Manhattan jury found Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm guilty of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Verdict leaves money laundering and sanctions charges unresolved, pending possible retrial. Storm remains free on bail pending sentencing.
Base Says Sequencer Failure Caused Block Production Halt of 33 Minutes
Block production on Coinbase’s Base network was halted for 33 minutes due to a sequencer failover that did not recover automatically after on-chain congestion. Engineers manually intervened to restore operations, and Base plans infrastructure changes and enhanced test coverage to ensure backup sequencers are fully provisioned prior to failover events.
SBI Files for Bitcoin–XRP ETF in Japan, Pushing Dual Crypto Exposure Into Regulated Markets
SBI Holdings filed for a dual-asset ‘Crypto-Assets ETF’ in Japan, offering simultaneous exposure to bitcoin and XRP in a single product. The filing, disclosed in its Q2 2025 earnings report, represents Japan’s first potential institutional product bundling XRP with bitcoin. SBI also proposed a Digital Gold Crypto ETF combining gold ETFs with gold-backed cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin ETFs Bleed Millions for 4th Straight Day as U.S. Stagflation Fears Weigh on BTC and Stocks
Investors withdrew $196 million from U.S.-listed bitcoin ETFs for a fourth consecutive day amid stagflation concerns after weak U.S. ISM services PMI data. Ether ETFs attracted $73.22 million in inflows. Market declines in tech stocks and cryptocurrencies followed the release of pressing economic indicators.
China Warns Worldcoin-Style Iris Scanning a National Security Threat
China’s Ministry of State Security issued an advisory warning foreign firms against incentivizing iris scans with cryptocurrency, citing risks of privacy violations and national security breaches. The advisory, referencing projects like Worldcoin, highlighted concerns over biometric data transfers abroad and potential misuse for surveillance or deepfake operations.
Nomura-Backed Laser Digital Wins Regulatory Nod for Crypto Derivatives in Dubai
Laser Digital obtained approval under Dubai VARA’s pilot framework to offer regulated over-the-counter crypto derivative options, becoming the first entity to secure such a license. The firm will initially provide medium-dated options under ISDA agreements targeting major tokens. The license highlights Dubai’s growing appeal as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction.
Base Outage: Sequencer Failover Left Network Offline for 33 Minutes
Coinbase’s Base network experienced a 33-minute outage after a sequencer failover attempted under congestion. The backup sequencer was not fully provisioned, requiring manual intervention to restore block production. Base plans infrastructure changes to prevent similar incidents.
Pendle Launches Boros Platform for Betting on BTC and ETH Funding Rates
Pendle launched Boros on Arbitrum, allowing speculation on Bitcoin and Ether funding rates through Yield Units. The platform caps open interest at $10 million and supports up to 1.2× leverage. Planned expansions include additional token listings and liquidity integrations.
SBI Files for Dual Bitcoin and XRP ETF in Japan’s Regulated Markets
SBI Holdings filed for a dual-asset ‘Crypto-Assets ETF’ in Japan to track Bitcoin and XRP simultaneously. A separate Digital Gold Crypto ETF would blend gold ETFs with gold-backed tokens. Approval is pending, which would mark Japan’s first XRP-inclusive institutional product.
Laser Digital Gains First VARA License for OTC Crypto Derivatives in Dubai
Nomura’s Laser Digital secured the first VARA pilot framework license to offer OTC crypto derivative services in Dubai. The license covers medium-dated options on major tokens under ISDA agreements. Dubai’s crypto-friendly regulations continue to lure global firms.
Bitcoin ETFs Suffer Fourth Consecutive Day of Outflows Amid Stagflation Concerns
U.S.-listed bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows of $196 million over four consecutive days. Ether ETFs attracted $73.22 million in inflows after SEC staking guidance. Stagflation fears from U.S. services PMI pressured risk assets.
Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon Launch Tokenized Money Market Funds
Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon announced a joint initiative to tokenize money market fund shares on a regulated blockchain. The program enables institutional investors to create and redeem digital tokens representing traditional MMF units in real time. The project follows regulatory approvals and aims to streamline settlement and compliance.
Binance CEO Files Motion to Dismiss $1.76B FTX Clawback Lawsuit
Changpeng Zhao filed a motion in a U.S. court seeking dismissal of a $1.76 billion clawback lawsuit filed by the FTX bankruptcy estate. The filing argues that the complaint fails to allege necessary legal elements for preferential or fraudulent transfers. The dispute stems from FTX’s collapse in November 2022.
Ripple and BDACS Launch Institutional XRP Custody Service in South Korea
BDACS has commenced regulated custody support for XRP in South Korea following a February partnership with Ripple. The service provides institutional clients with compliant storage and management of XRP and RLUSD, aligning with Korea’s Financial Services Commission roadmap to expand institutional crypto participation.
Asia Briefing: Architect Launches Institutional-Grade Crypto Credit Ratings Service
Architect has introduced the first institutional-grade credit rating platform built for crypto, addressing the absence of a trusted risk assessment intermediary. The service leverages blockchain-based data to evaluate creditworthiness of miners and DePIN projects, aiming to unlock new financing channels in digital assets.
Binance to Launch USDⓈ-Margined ALL Composite Index Perpetual Contract with 75x Leverage
Binance Futures will introduce a new USDⓈ-M perpetual contract tracking an ALL composite index of USDT-quoted contracts, excluding select instruments. The contract offers up to 75× leverage and rebalances daily at 08:00 UTC. The launch is scheduled for 2025-08-06T09:00 UTC to enable broader market participation in a diversified index structure.
SEC’s Peirce Defends Transaction Privacy Ahead of Tornado Cash Verdict
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce issued a staff statement arguing that certain on-chain transaction privacy measures do not inherently violate securities laws. Her comments aim to clarify regulatory expectations as the Tornado Cash court case concludes.
Trump to Order Probe of Crypto, Political Debanking Claims: WSJ
According to the Wall Street Journal, former President Trump will direct a federal investigation into allegations of political debanking and discrimination against crypto businesses. The probe aims to assess whether banks improperly targeted clients based on political or industry affiliations.
Philippines SEC Cracks Down on Unregistered Crypto Exchanges
The Philippines SEC issued warnings to multiple unregistered crypto platforms, including OKX, Bybit, KuCoin, and Kraken. The regulator cited non-compliance with local licensing requirements and imposed cease-and-desist orders pending formal registration or withdrawal from the market.
CrediX Recovers $4.5 M in Crypto After Exploit Negotiation
CrediX successfully negotiated with attackers to recover approximately $4.5 million in digital assets following an exploit. The recovery underscores the growing use of off-chain negotiations and white-hat recovery strategies to mitigate losses from smart contract vulnerabilities.
🔎 Coin Research — Cycle Network (CYC) — 06 August 2025
New weekly coin research for Cycle Network (CYC). — Score: 7.00/10 TL;DR: A trustless omnichain interoperability protocol abstracting global state across multiple blockchains.
How Fake News and Deepfakes Fuel Crypto Pump-and-Dump Scams
Detailed examination of coordinated crypto pump-and-dump schemes enabled by fake news, deepfake videos, and unregulated markets reveals persistent manipulation tactics. The article outlines scheme stages and offers protective measures against these fraudulent operations.
Benchmark Sees 3× Upside in Semler Scientific Stock
Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and $101 price target on Semler Scientific, citing undervaluation relative to its bitcoin holdings. Semler’s strategy combines operating cash flow, convertible debt and ATM issuances to grow BTC treasury.
Base Network Suffers First Downtime Since 2023, Halts for 29 Minutes
Base, the Coinbase-backed Ethereum layer-2 blockchain, experienced a 29-minute outage due to an unsafe head delay. Network functions including block production, deposits and withdrawals were halted before a fix was deployed.
Long-Term BTC Bullishness Evaporates as Options Skew Turns Neutral
Bitcoin’s 180-day implied volatility skew has retreated to zero, signaling a shift from bullish to neutral sentiment. Rising inflation concerns and disappointing economic data have weighed on far-dated call premiums, complicating a sustained rally outlook.
Lookback Call Option Gains Appeal Amid Low Volatility
Lookback call options allow acquisition of bitcoin at the lowest price during a set period, offering strategic entry. Low implied volatility has increased appeal for this structured product, despite a higher premium of 12.75% versus 9.25% for standard calls.
Bitcoin Struggles to Hold $115K; Solana and Dogecoin Show Strength
Bitcoin remains below $115,000 after a drop that triggered over $1 billion in leveraged liquidations. Ethereum recovered toward $3,650 amid institutional inflows, while Solana and Dogecoin underperformed amid fragile sentiment.
Worried About Timing the Bitcoin Market? A 'Lookback Call' Might Be the Answer
A lookback call option offers traders the right to buy Bitcoin at its lowest price during a predetermined lookback period, providing a strategic entry when implied volatility is low. Orbit Markets recommends a three-month lookback with a one-month observation window, setting strike at the period’s low for optimal dip capture.
Solana's Jito Proposes Routing 100% of Block Engine Fees to DAO Treasury
Jito Labs has submitted governance proposal JIP-24 to redirect all Block Engine and Block Assembly Marketplace fees—currently split 50/50—into the Jito DAO treasury. If adopted, the DAO will control the full 6% protocol fee, empowering tokenholders and reducing the core team’s revenue share, while a subDAO plans budget allocations for yield initiatives.
Bitcoin Treasury Firm Semler Scientific Still Has 3X Upside: Benchmark
Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer reiterated a buy rating and $101 price target on Semler Scientific (SMLR) after second-quarter results, noting the stock trades near the value of its bitcoin holdings and overlooks leverage plans. Semler’s slow-growth strategy uses operating cash flow and convertible debt to expand BTC reserves, targeting 10,000 BTC by year-end and 105,000 by 2027.
Retail XRP Holders Can Now Tap DeFi on Flare, No Seed Phrase Needed
Flare Network launched Luminite, a seedless wallet that enables XRP holders to wrap tokens into FXRP via FAssets and access DeFi protocols without managing seed phrases. Authentication uses passkeys, biometrics or email, simplifying on-ramp to staking, swaps and bridging. The move broadens XRP’s utility by adding smart-contract compatibility to a previously non-programmable asset.
CFTC to Allow Spot Crypto Trading on Registered Futures Exchanges
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced a plan to permit spot crypto asset contracts to trade on futures exchanges registered under its jurisdiction, coordinating with the SEC’s Project Crypto. Stakeholders are invited to comment on listing procedures in a designated market. The move aims to leverage existing federal authority to bring immediate regulatory clarity and expand institutional access to digital assets.
Base Network Suffers 1st Downtime Since 2023, Halts Operations for 29 Minutes
Coinbase’s Base blockchain experienced a 29-minute outage on August 5, halting block production, deposits and withdrawals. The incident resulted from an “unsafe head delay” that was identified and resolved within minutes. With $4.2 billion TVL, the event underscores the network’s critical role and operational challenges.
A Year Ago, Bitcoin Hit $49K on Yen Carry Trade Unwind; Now Up 130%
On August 5, 2024, Bitcoin fell to $49,000 following an unwind of the yen carry trade. Over the past year, the largest cryptocurrency surged 130% amid rising bond yields and equity gains. Long-term holders now control over 8% of the circulating supply, indicating deepening conviction in Bitcoin’s value proposition.
Bitcoin's Long-Term Bullishness Evaporates From Options Market as Inflation Concern Rises
Long-term Bitcoin options skew has shifted to neutral territory, with the 180-day skew retreating to zero amid rising inflationary pressure and macroeconomic uncertainty. Analysts warn that tariffs and supply chain disruptions may elevate core inflation, complicating potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Market sentiment reflects increased demand for downside protection.
Litecoin Surges 10% on ETF Hopes and Merchant Activity Amid Quiet Rotation
Litecoin surged over 11% in the past 24 hours, advancing above $123 as traders rotated into legacy altcoins amid improving sentiment and fresh ETF speculation. Merchant adoption and structural tailwinds supported the rally despite the SEC delaying Grayscale’s decision until October. Technical indicators signal potential consolidation near current levels.
Bitcoin Struggles to Hold $115K; Solana, Dogecoin Show Relative Strength
Bitcoin slipped below $115,000 after erasing nearly $6,000 in local highs, triggering over $1 billion in leveraged long liquidations. Ether recovered towards $3,650 on institutional inflows, outperforming struggling altcoins like Solana and XRP. Sentiment remains fragile amid macro uncertainty and choppy ETF flows.
Crypto Memes — 2025-08-06
😂 Best crypto memes today — BTC swings, altcoin drama, and trader jokes. Laugh & share the top picks for 2025-08-06. 🚀
🔎 Coin Research — Towns (TOWNS) — 06 August 2025
New weekly coin research for Towns (TOWNS). — Score: 7.00/10 TL;DR: Decentralized, programmable messaging infrastructure enabling secure on-chain group communication
XRP Breaks $3 With $33M Traded in a Minute. Here's What Analysis Predicts Next
XRP surged to $3.05 on a record single-minute trading volume of $33 million, driven by aggressive whale liquidations and heightened market activity. Despite resistance at $3.09, AI-based forecasts project upside toward $3.12 by month-end ahead of a key SEC regulatory update.
Bitcoin Struggles to Hold $115K; Solana, Dogecoin Show Relative Strength as Risk-Off Sentiment Lingers
Bitcoin traded below $115,000 after a recent pullback erased over $6,000 from local highs, while Solana and Dogecoin demonstrated relative resilience. Market sentiment remains fragile amid U.S. tariffs, ETF outflows and softer economic data, though some analysts view the consolidation as corrective rather than bearish.
Bitcoin's Long-Term Bullishness Evaporates From Options Market as Inflation Concern Rises
Bitcoin’s 180-day options skew retreated to neutral after implied volatility for call and put options converged, indicating waning long-term bullish conviction. Analysts warn rising inflation and macroeconomic uncertainties, including tariffs and supply chain pressures, are shifting sentiment from optimism to caution.
Litecoin Surges 10% on ETF Hopes and Merchant Activity Amid Quiet Rotation
Litecoin climbed over 11% to above $123 on heavy trading volume, driven by renewed ETF approval speculation and increased merchant adoption that outpaced stablecoin usage. The rally marked the token’s strongest weekly gain among large-cap cryptocurrencies amid a broader market pause and regulatory tailwinds.
Crypto Memes — 2025-08-05
😂 Best crypto memes today — BTC swings, altcoin drama, and trader jokes. Laugh & share the top picks for 2025-08-05. 🚀
DeFi protocol CrediX taken offline after $4.5M exploit
Sonic-based DeFi platform CrediX Finance went offline following a $4.5 million exploit that transferred funds to Ethereum wallets. Security firm CertiK reported the breach, and CrediX assured users that all assets would be recovered within 24–48 hours as a fix is implemented.
DCG founder Silbert returns to Grayscale as chairman amid IPO push
Digital Currency Group founder Barry Silbert has resumed his role as board chairman at Grayscale Asset Management. His reappointment comes alongside new executive hires and follows Grayscale’s transition of major crypto trusts into ETFs. Silbert had resigned in December 2023 amid a New York AG lawsuit.
Crypto Digest — 05 August 2025
📢 Read the daily digest for 2025-08-05: 📰 top news, 📊 analytics and 🌍 events of the day in one place. Stay up to date with what s important!
Blockchain-based loans firm Figure files confidential submission for IPO
Figure Technology Solutions filed confidential paperwork with the SEC to pursue an IPO later this year. The firm has originated over $16 billion in home equity lines of credit on the Provenance Blockchain and merged with Figure Markets, issuer of a tokenized money market stablecoin.
Peter Thiel-backed Bullish seeks up to $4.2 billion valuation in US IPO
Crypto exchange Bullish, backed by Peter Thiel, filed for a U.S. IPO targeting a valuation up to $4.23 billion by offering 20.3 million shares at $28–$31 each. The proposed range reflects a significant discount to its 2021 SPAC valuation. Bullish plans to use proceeds to expand its institutional exchange and stablecoin strategies.
CFTC to allow listed spot crypto trading on registered exchanges
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission will permit trading of spot crypto asset contracts on registered futures exchanges, coordinating with the SEC under “Project Crypto.” This regulatory change follows the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts, providing clarity for digital assets. The move aims to enable immediate federal-level crypto trading and invites stakeholder input on listing mechanisms.
CFTC Faces Pressure to Probe Nominee’s Ties to Kalshi
U.S. Representative Dina Titus has called on the CFTC to investigate nominee Brian Quintenz over his links to Kalshi, a prediction market platform, amid concerns about potential conflicts of interest affecting regulator impartiality.
Ethereum Price Battles Key Levels – Will Buyers Step Back In?
Ethereum price found support near $3,400 and reclaimed levels above $3,550 and the 100-hour SMA, with a bullish trend line at $3,620. Key resistance zones at $3,720 and $3,750 must be cleared to target $3,800 and beyond in the coming sessions.
Saylor’s Strategy doubles Bitcoin holdings since Trump’s election
MicroStrategy’s treasury arm boosted its Bitcoin reserves from 252,220 BTC to 628,791 BTC following the 2024 U.S. election, marking a 60 % increase over nine months. The firm disclosed a third-largest weekly purchase of 21,021 BTC worth $2.46 billion at an average price of $117,256 per coin.
Ether-stacking BitMine crosses $3B milestone as ETH rallies 6%
BitMine Immersion Technologies increased its Ethereum holdings by 208,137 ETH this week, bringing its total to 833,137 ETH valued above $3 billion. This acquisition widens the gap with fellow treasury firms amid a brief 5.8% price surge to $3,730 before a pullback to $3,654.
Justin Sun Outlines Tron Ecosystem Ambitions Following Blue Origin Flight
Justin Sun completed a Blue Origin NS-34 mission on August 3 after securing a $28 million auction bid in 2021. The flight led to plans for nominating five additional passengers and integrating space exploration into Tron’s innovation roadmap.
Banks Could Face Fines for De-Banking Crypto Firms Under White House Order
Draft executive order to penalize banks for closing accounts over ideological reasons, reviewing compliance with Equal Credit Opportunity Act and antitrust laws. Violators may face fines or consent decrees.
Crypto Memes — 2025-08-04
😂 Best crypto memes today — BTC swings, altcoin drama, and trader jokes. Laugh & share the top picks for 2025-08-04. 🚀
Metaplanet Buys 463 BTC, Brings Bitcoin Treasury to Over $2B
Tokyo-listed Metaplanet added 463 Bitcoin to its treasury, lifting its total holdings to 17,595 BTC worth about ¥261.28 billion (~$1.78 billion) based on current prices and market gains estimated at $2.02 billion. The firm also filed to raise ¥555 billion ($3.6 billion) via perpetual preferred stock to fund a goal of acquiring 210,000 BTC by 2027.
Crypto Market Rebounds as PayFi Sector Leads with 8% Surge
Bitcoin held around $114,500 as Ethereum gained 3% and XRP rose 5% in the past 24 hours. Overall crypto market cap remains down 2.4%, driven by uneven sector performance. PayFi tokens led the recovery with an 8% rally, while DeFi, NFT and RWA sectors posted 4–5% gains amid cautious sentiment.