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Businessman Previously Investigated in UK Reportedly Behind $100M WLFI Purchase
Guren “Bobby” Zhou, a businessman with ties to the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, was reportedly behind Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial tokens in June 2025, according to The New York Times.
The transaction benefited members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s family and the family of World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff. Aqua 1 describes itself as a UAE-based, Web3-focused investment fund.
The report raised questions about the source of the investment, noting that Zhou was arrested in the UK in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering following the collapse of a multimillion-dollar crypto business. It remains unclear how the case was resolved or how Zhou financed the WLFI purchase.
The White House has repeatedly denied that Trump’s crypto interests create conflicts of interest. Other major World Liberty backers include TRON founder Justin Sun and an Abu Dhabi entity reportedly supported by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. $BTC
Guren “Bobby” Zhou, a businessman with ties to the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, was reportedly behind Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial tokens in June 2025, according to The New York Times.
The transaction benefited members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s family and the family of World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff. Aqua 1 describes itself as a UAE-based, Web3-focused investment fund.
The report raised questions about the source of the investment, noting that Zhou was arrested in the UK in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering following the collapse of a multimillion-dollar crypto business. It remains unclear how the case was resolved or how Zhou financed the WLFI purchase.
The White House has repeatedly denied that Trump’s crypto interests create conflicts of interest. Other major World Liberty backers include TRON founder Justin Sun and an Abu Dhabi entity reportedly supported by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. $BTC
TRON Stablecoin Supply and Network Activity Hit Record Highs in Q2
TRON reached record levels of stablecoin supply and network activity in the second quarter of 2026, according to Messari, although its DeFi and decentralized exchange sectors continued to weaken.
The network ended the quarter with $87.9 billion in circulating USDT, surpassing Ethereum, and processed $2.1 trillion in USDT transfers. TRON’s total stablecoin supply rose 4.1% quarter over quarter to a record $89.2 billion, with USDT accounting for 98.5%.
Average daily transactions increased 8.7% to 11.8 million, while daily active addresses rose 11.7% to 3.6 million. Network fees climbed 15.9% to $699.4 million, reversing two consecutive quarters of decline.
However, DeFi total value locked fell 1.9% to $4.4 billion, and average daily DEX volume dropped 21.7% to $49.3 million—its fourth consecutive quarterly decline. TRX supply also remained inflationary as issuance continued to exceed token burns.
Institutional access expanded through tokenized funds, regulated trading products and new custody services. Securitize launched a Hamilton Lane credit fund on TRON, while Grayscale added TRX to its list of assets under consideration. $TRX
TRON reached record levels of stablecoin supply and network activity in the second quarter of 2026, according to Messari, although its DeFi and decentralized exchange sectors continued to weaken.
The network ended the quarter with $87.9 billion in circulating USDT, surpassing Ethereum, and processed $2.1 trillion in USDT transfers. TRON’s total stablecoin supply rose 4.1% quarter over quarter to a record $89.2 billion, with USDT accounting for 98.5%.
Average daily transactions increased 8.7% to 11.8 million, while daily active addresses rose 11.7% to 3.6 million. Network fees climbed 15.9% to $699.4 million, reversing two consecutive quarters of decline.
However, DeFi total value locked fell 1.9% to $4.4 billion, and average daily DEX volume dropped 21.7% to $49.3 million—its fourth consecutive quarterly decline. TRX supply also remained inflationary as issuance continued to exceed token burns.
Institutional access expanded through tokenized funds, regulated trading products and new custody services. Securitize launched a Hamilton Lane credit fund on TRON, while Grayscale added TRX to its list of assets under consideration. $TRX
Thailand Introduces 0% Crypto Capital Gains Tax Through 2029
Thailand has introduced a five-year capital gains tax exemption for cryptocurrency transactions conducted through exchanges licensed by the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission.
The exemption applies retroactively from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2029, as Thailand seeks to strengthen its position as a regional digital asset hub and attract more crypto investors and businesses.
Transactions made through unlicensed or overseas platforms will remain subject to standard personal income tax rates of up to 38%. The policy brings crypto investments closer to the tax treatment applied to traditional securities in Thailand.
The move follows Thailand’s decision in early 2024 to waive the 7% value-added tax on cryptocurrency trading. $BTC
Thailand has introduced a five-year capital gains tax exemption for cryptocurrency transactions conducted through exchanges licensed by the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission.
The exemption applies retroactively from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2029, as Thailand seeks to strengthen its position as a regional digital asset hub and attract more crypto investors and businesses.
Transactions made through unlicensed or overseas platforms will remain subject to standard personal income tax rates of up to 38%. The policy brings crypto investments closer to the tax treatment applied to traditional securities in Thailand.
The move follows Thailand’s decision in early 2024 to waive the 7% value-added tax on cryptocurrency trading. $BTC
BTCPay Server Supporters Offer Recovery Bounty After Lightning Wallet Exploit
Supporters of BTCPay Server have committed to paying a bounty equal to 10% of any stolen funds recovered following a critical exploit, capped at 3 BTC if all funds are returned.
The vulnerability affected every BTCPay Server version before 2.4.2, including release candidates. It allowed attackers to obtain LND administrator macaroons—authentication credentials granting full access to connected Lightning wallets. Several users reported that their Lightning nodes had been drained, although BTCPay has not disclosed the total losses or number of affected servers.
Version 2.4.2 fixes the vulnerability. Users without Lightning or those running other Lightning implementations were not exposed to this specific risk, while BTCPay’s on-chain wallets, including hot wallets, were unaffected.
The BTCPay Server Foundation will also donate 0.21 BTC each to Sparrow Wallet developer Craig Raw and the Bitcoin Red Team fund for discovering and privately reporting the flaw. BTCPay is preparing a full postmortem and strengthening its code-scanning and review procedures.
The project warned that artificial intelligence is lowering the cost of examining large codebases for vulnerabilities, giving both attackers and defenders more powerful security tools. $BTC
Supporters of BTCPay Server have committed to paying a bounty equal to 10% of any stolen funds recovered following a critical exploit, capped at 3 BTC if all funds are returned.
The vulnerability affected every BTCPay Server version before 2.4.2, including release candidates. It allowed attackers to obtain LND administrator macaroons—authentication credentials granting full access to connected Lightning wallets. Several users reported that their Lightning nodes had been drained, although BTCPay has not disclosed the total losses or number of affected servers.
Version 2.4.2 fixes the vulnerability. Users without Lightning or those running other Lightning implementations were not exposed to this specific risk, while BTCPay’s on-chain wallets, including hot wallets, were unaffected.
The BTCPay Server Foundation will also donate 0.21 BTC each to Sparrow Wallet developer Craig Raw and the Bitcoin Red Team fund for discovering and privately reporting the flaw. BTCPay is preparing a full postmortem and strengthening its code-scanning and review procedures.
The project warned that artificial intelligence is lowering the cost of examining large codebases for vulnerabilities, giving both attackers and defenders more powerful security tools. $BTC
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Michael Saylor’s Strategy Sells Another 1,690 BTC as USD Reserve Reaches $4.65 Billion
Strategy sold 1,690 BTC for approximately $108.6 million between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9, at an average price of $64,262 per bitcoin. The sale reduced its holdings to 840,447 $BTC
, currently worth about $54.7 billion.
The company originally acquired those holdings for approximately $63.4 billion at an average price of $75,385 per BTC, leaving it with roughly $8.7 billion in unrealized losses at current prices.
Strategy also raised $653.1 million by selling about 6.59 million MSTR shares. The proceeds were used to repurchase more than 1.15 million shares of STRC preferred stock and add $650 million to its U.S. dollar reserve, bringing the total to $4.65 billion.
Despite the sales, Strategy still controls around 4% of bitcoin’s maximum 21 million supply. Michael Saylor stressed that while Strategy’s policy has changed, he has never sold any of his personal bitcoin.
Tiếng Việt
Strategy sold 1,690 BTC for approximately $108.6 million between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9, at an average price of $64,262 per bitcoin. The sale reduced its holdings to 840,447 $BTC
, currently worth about $54.7 billion.
The company originally acquired those holdings for approximately $63.4 billion at an average price of $75,385 per BTC, leaving it with roughly $8.7 billion in unrealized losses at current prices.
Strategy also raised $653.1 million by selling about 6.59 million MSTR shares. The proceeds were used to repurchase more than 1.15 million shares of STRC preferred stock and add $650 million to its U.S. dollar reserve, bringing the total to $4.65 billion.
Despite the sales, Strategy still controls around 4% of bitcoin’s maximum 21 million supply. Michael Saylor stressed that while Strategy’s policy has changed, he has never sold any of his personal bitcoin.
Tiếng Việt
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Vitalik Buterin Unveils Ethereum’s New Focus on Privacy and Quantum Security
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the network’s development priorities have shifted significantly since its 2023 roadmap, with privacy, quantum resistance and protocol simplification now emerging as core objectives.
Comparing the previous roadmap with Ethereum’s updated “Strawmap,” which outlines potential upgrades through 2029, Buterin highlighted several concepts that were absent three years ago. These include privacy pools, transaction “wormholes,” native rollups, gas and blob futures, and AI-assisted formal verification.
The roadmap also envisions a “Lean Ethereum” overhaul that could redesign much of the protocol and potentially replace the Ethereum Virtual Machine with computing architectures such as RISC-V or leanISA. Advances in zero-knowledge proofs are expected to support native rollups and broader scaling improvements.
Buterin said Ethereum’s long-term goal is to become quantum-safe, privacy-focused, censorship-resistant, secure and highly scalable. However, the Strawmap remains a living draft rather than a binding upgrade schedule. $ETH
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the network’s development priorities have shifted significantly since its 2023 roadmap, with privacy, quantum resistance and protocol simplification now emerging as core objectives.
Comparing the previous roadmap with Ethereum’s updated “Strawmap,” which outlines potential upgrades through 2029, Buterin highlighted several concepts that were absent three years ago. These include privacy pools, transaction “wormholes,” native rollups, gas and blob futures, and AI-assisted formal verification.
The roadmap also envisions a “Lean Ethereum” overhaul that could redesign much of the protocol and potentially replace the Ethereum Virtual Machine with computing architectures such as RISC-V or leanISA. Advances in zero-knowledge proofs are expected to support native rollups and broader scaling improvements.
Buterin said Ethereum’s long-term goal is to become quantum-safe, privacy-focused, censorship-resistant, secure and highly scalable. However, the Strawmap remains a living draft rather than a binding upgrade schedule. $ETH
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BlackRock Sees Bitcoin Sentiment Improving as ETF Inflows Accelerate
BlackRock’s Head of Digital Assets Robert Mitchnick said investor sentiment toward bitcoin has improved subtly over the past month as the cryptocurrency increasingly decouples from equities.
Mitchnick argued that bitcoin’s relative strength during July’s AI-stock selloff reinforced its potential role as a portfolio diversifier and hedge against extreme market risks. He also described spot bitcoin ETF investors as predominantly long-term, buy-and-hold participants accustomed to the asset’s volatility.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs attracted $853.5 million last week—their strongest weekly inflow since mid-April—despite bitcoin remaining nearly 30% lower year to date. BlackRock’s IBIT captured $693.7 million, accounting for more than 80% of the total, while Fidelity’s FBTC drew $116.4 million.
Analysts have also suggested that security concerns following the reported $100 million-plus Coldcard exploit may be encouraging some investors to move from self-custody into regulated bitcoin ETFs. $BTC
BlackRock’s Head of Digital Assets Robert Mitchnick said investor sentiment toward bitcoin has improved subtly over the past month as the cryptocurrency increasingly decouples from equities.
Mitchnick argued that bitcoin’s relative strength during July’s AI-stock selloff reinforced its potential role as a portfolio diversifier and hedge against extreme market risks. He also described spot bitcoin ETF investors as predominantly long-term, buy-and-hold participants accustomed to the asset’s volatility.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs attracted $853.5 million last week—their strongest weekly inflow since mid-April—despite bitcoin remaining nearly 30% lower year to date. BlackRock’s IBIT captured $693.7 million, accounting for more than 80% of the total, while Fidelity’s FBTC drew $116.4 million.
Analysts have also suggested that security concerns following the reported $100 million-plus Coldcard exploit may be encouraging some investors to move from self-custody into regulated bitcoin ETFs. $BTC
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Riot Platforms Signs $9.1B AI Data Center Deal, Reportedly With Anthropic
Riot Platforms has signed a 20-year agreement to lease 191 megawatts of data center capacity at its Rockdale, Texas campus to an unnamed “leading frontier AI lab.” Bloomberg identified the customer as Anthropic, the developer of Claude.
The contract is expected to generate approximately $9.1 billion through June 2048. Two optional five-year extensions could increase its total value to $16.1 billion. Riot plans to deliver the first 96 MW by December 2027 and the full capacity by June 2028.
The former bitcoin miner has secured $573 million in interim financing from Morgan Stanley to fund initial development. Together with an earlier AMD agreement, Riot has now contracted 241 MW of capacity representing roughly $9.8 billion in long-term revenue.
Riot shares jumped more than 25% in after-hours trading to approximately $24.30 following the announcement.
The company separately reported a second-quarter net loss of $237.2 million despite revenue rising 14% year over year to $174.2 million. It ended the quarter with 11,380 bitcoin and $548.9 million in cash. $BTC
Riot Platforms has signed a 20-year agreement to lease 191 megawatts of data center capacity at its Rockdale, Texas campus to an unnamed “leading frontier AI lab.” Bloomberg identified the customer as Anthropic, the developer of Claude.
The contract is expected to generate approximately $9.1 billion through June 2048. Two optional five-year extensions could increase its total value to $16.1 billion. Riot plans to deliver the first 96 MW by December 2027 and the full capacity by June 2028.
The former bitcoin miner has secured $573 million in interim financing from Morgan Stanley to fund initial development. Together with an earlier AMD agreement, Riot has now contracted 241 MW of capacity representing roughly $9.8 billion in long-term revenue.
Riot shares jumped more than 25% in after-hours trading to approximately $24.30 following the announcement.
The company separately reported a second-quarter net loss of $237.2 million despite revenue rising 14% year over year to $174.2 million. It ended the quarter with 11,380 bitcoin and $548.9 million in cash. $BTC
Crypto’s 2026 Shakeout Is Killing Weak Projects and Rewarding Real Revenue
More than 100 crypto projects have shut down, filed for bankruptcy or gone permanently inactive in 2026, as falling altcoin prices, weaker venture funding and unsustainable token-based business models force an industry-wide consolidation. BitMEX, BitMart, Movement Labs and Storj Labs were among the major firms announcing closures or filings within a single week in late July.
Ethereum’s layer-2 sector has been particularly crowded. Industry executives argue that too many general-purpose L2 networks were launched with little differentiation, and the market is now eliminating chains that lack real users or a clear business model.
A major weakness has been reliance on native tokens instead of sustainable cash flow. Many projects paid developers, liquidity providers and security costs in their own tokens. With most altcoins falling 70% to 90% during the bear market, those treasuries lost much of their purchasing power.
Even projects with significant usage have failed. Everclear reached $500 million in monthly transaction volume but ran out of money, while Tally supported governance for more than 500 protocols yet concluded there was still no viable venture-backed business model for decentralized governance tooling.
Security failures have also become more difficult to survive. Onchain exploits caused an estimated $1.1 billion in losses during the first half of 2026, while depleted token treasuries and more cautious venture investors have made rescue financing harder to obtain.
The projects still thriving tend to generate real revenue. Hyperliquid has surpassed $1 billion in cumulative fees, Aave continues to earn significant borrowing fees, and Ether.fi has diversified into products such as crypto-linked debit cards. The emerging lesson from the 2026 shakeout is simple: projects with paying users and sustainable cash flow are surviving, while those dependent mainly on token appreciation are being pushed out.
More than 100 crypto projects have shut down, filed for bankruptcy or gone permanently inactive in 2026, as falling altcoin prices, weaker venture funding and unsustainable token-based business models force an industry-wide consolidation. BitMEX, BitMart, Movement Labs and Storj Labs were among the major firms announcing closures or filings within a single week in late July.
Ethereum’s layer-2 sector has been particularly crowded. Industry executives argue that too many general-purpose L2 networks were launched with little differentiation, and the market is now eliminating chains that lack real users or a clear business model.
A major weakness has been reliance on native tokens instead of sustainable cash flow. Many projects paid developers, liquidity providers and security costs in their own tokens. With most altcoins falling 70% to 90% during the bear market, those treasuries lost much of their purchasing power.
Even projects with significant usage have failed. Everclear reached $500 million in monthly transaction volume but ran out of money, while Tally supported governance for more than 500 protocols yet concluded there was still no viable venture-backed business model for decentralized governance tooling.
Security failures have also become more difficult to survive. Onchain exploits caused an estimated $1.1 billion in losses during the first half of 2026, while depleted token treasuries and more cautious venture investors have made rescue financing harder to obtain.
The projects still thriving tend to generate real revenue. Hyperliquid has surpassed $1 billion in cumulative fees, Aave continues to earn significant borrowing fees, and Ether.fi has diversified into products such as crypto-linked debit cards. The emerging lesson from the 2026 shakeout is simple: projects with paying users and sustainable cash flow are surviving, while those dependent mainly on token appreciation are being pushed out.
Bitwise CIO Says Institutional Capital Could Push Bitcoin to $1.3 Million by 2035
Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan expects trillions of dollars in institutional capital to flow into Bitcoin over the next decade, potentially driving BTC to around $1.3 million by 2035.
Hougan said financial advisers and family offices are likely to lead the next wave of adoption, followed by larger pools of capital including pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, sovereign wealth funds and potentially central banks.
These institutions collectively control an estimated $100 trillion to $200 trillion in assets globally. According to Hougan, even a 1% allocation toward Bitcoin could provide enormous long-term demand.
His $1.3 million BTC target assumes Bitcoin eventually captures about 25% of a growing global store-of-value market. Hougan noted that gold’s market capitalization expanded from roughly $2 trillion when gold ETFs launched in 2004 to around $30 trillion today.
He argues that Bitcoin’s next major growth phase will increasingly depend on institutional rather than retail money. Crypto grew largely through retail adoption from virtually zero to a multi-trillion-dollar market, but institutional capital would likely be required to push the industry toward much larger valuations.
Hougan also expects Strategy, currently the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder with 842,138 BTC, to become a less dominant source of demand. The company’s ability to raise cheap capital and issue shares at a premium to its Bitcoin holdings has weakened as spot Bitcoin ETFs provide investors with more direct exposure.
Strategy is still expected to accumulate Bitcoin, but Hougan believes purchases will likely occur at a slower pace and become more dependent on market conditions.
For long-term investors, Hougan said the more important question is not whether Bitcoin has reached a short-term bottom, but whether its long-term upside has already peaked. $BTC
Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan expects trillions of dollars in institutional capital to flow into Bitcoin over the next decade, potentially driving BTC to around $1.3 million by 2035.
Hougan said financial advisers and family offices are likely to lead the next wave of adoption, followed by larger pools of capital including pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, sovereign wealth funds and potentially central banks.
These institutions collectively control an estimated $100 trillion to $200 trillion in assets globally. According to Hougan, even a 1% allocation toward Bitcoin could provide enormous long-term demand.
His $1.3 million BTC target assumes Bitcoin eventually captures about 25% of a growing global store-of-value market. Hougan noted that gold’s market capitalization expanded from roughly $2 trillion when gold ETFs launched in 2004 to around $30 trillion today.
He argues that Bitcoin’s next major growth phase will increasingly depend on institutional rather than retail money. Crypto grew largely through retail adoption from virtually zero to a multi-trillion-dollar market, but institutional capital would likely be required to push the industry toward much larger valuations.
Hougan also expects Strategy, currently the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder with 842,138 BTC, to become a less dominant source of demand. The company’s ability to raise cheap capital and issue shares at a premium to its Bitcoin holdings has weakened as spot Bitcoin ETFs provide investors with more direct exposure.
Strategy is still expected to accumulate Bitcoin, but Hougan believes purchases will likely occur at a slower pace and become more dependent on market conditions.
For long-term investors, Hougan said the more important question is not whether Bitcoin has reached a short-term bottom, but whether its long-term upside has already peaked. $BTC
BitMEX Sale Collapsed as Buyers Balked at Founder Control and Shrinking Business
BitMEX spent roughly two years searching for a buyer before deciding to shut down, but potential acquirers including Exodus walked away over concerns about founder ownership, declining market share and the exchange’s lingering legal and reputational problems, according to CoinDesk.
Although co-founders Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo and Samuel Reed stepped away after facing U.S. criminal charges in 2020, they reportedly continued to control a large majority of the company. That ownership structure complicated negotiations, particularly because buyers typically want acquisition incentives tied to executives who will remain after a deal closes.
BitMEX’s weakening financial performance was another major obstacle. The exchange steadily lost market share to larger centralized platforms and decentralized perpetual-futures venues, making buyers unwilling to pay the higher revenue multiples usually associated with growing companies.
BitMEX was reportedly seeking a valuation of around $1 billion, though it is unclear whether any formal bids were submitted. Investment bank Broadhaven had been advising the company on the sale process.
The exchange, once one of crypto’s most influential trading platforms and a pioneer of perpetual futures, announced in July that it would wind down operations and close on Sept. 23 following a strategic review by parent company HDR Global Trading.
The failed sale comes despite relatively strong crypto M&A activity. So far in 2026, 144 digital-asset mergers and acquisitions worth about $11.8 billion have been announced, according to Architect Partners.
BitMEX is also facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that it withheld customer collateral and engaged in insider trading, adding further pressure as the exchange prepares to shut down.
BitMEX spent roughly two years searching for a buyer before deciding to shut down, but potential acquirers including Exodus walked away over concerns about founder ownership, declining market share and the exchange’s lingering legal and reputational problems, according to CoinDesk.
Although co-founders Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo and Samuel Reed stepped away after facing U.S. criminal charges in 2020, they reportedly continued to control a large majority of the company. That ownership structure complicated negotiations, particularly because buyers typically want acquisition incentives tied to executives who will remain after a deal closes.
BitMEX’s weakening financial performance was another major obstacle. The exchange steadily lost market share to larger centralized platforms and decentralized perpetual-futures venues, making buyers unwilling to pay the higher revenue multiples usually associated with growing companies.
BitMEX was reportedly seeking a valuation of around $1 billion, though it is unclear whether any formal bids were submitted. Investment bank Broadhaven had been advising the company on the sale process.
The exchange, once one of crypto’s most influential trading platforms and a pioneer of perpetual futures, announced in July that it would wind down operations and close on Sept. 23 following a strategic review by parent company HDR Global Trading.
The failed sale comes despite relatively strong crypto M&A activity. So far in 2026, 144 digital-asset mergers and acquisitions worth about $11.8 billion have been announced, according to Architect Partners.
BitMEX is also facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that it withheld customer collateral and engaged in insider trading, adding further pressure as the exchange prepares to shut down.
US Senate Sets Sept. 15 Procedural Vote on Clarity Act
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has filed cloture on a motion to proceed to the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, setting up a key procedural vote when lawmakers return from their August recess.
The Senate is scheduled to vote at 2:15 p.m. ET on Sept. 15. Invoking cloture requires 60 votes and would only limit debate on whether to take up the bill — it would not pass the Clarity Act itself.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, meaning the motion would need support from at least seven Democrats or independents if all Republicans back it.
Negotiations remain unresolved over several major issues, including ethics provisions involving public officials’ crypto interests, illicit-finance rules and how legislation developed by the Senate Agriculture Committee will be incorporated into the broader bill.
A bipartisan ethics proposal from Sens. Ruben Gallego and Thom Tillis would restrict public officials and their spouses from issuing or sponsoring digital assets and require President Donald Trump to divest from crypto-related businesses. The White House has not agreed to the proposal.
Republican support is also not guaranteed. Sen. Josh Hawley has said he will withhold support unless the legislation addresses concerns about deposits moving out of traditional banks.
Crypto industry groups welcomed Thune’s procedural move, but uncertainty remains high. Galaxy Research recently cut its estimated probability of the Clarity Act becoming law in 2026 from 50% to 30%, citing the increasingly limited Senate calendar ahead of the November midterm elections.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has filed cloture on a motion to proceed to the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, setting up a key procedural vote when lawmakers return from their August recess.
The Senate is scheduled to vote at 2:15 p.m. ET on Sept. 15. Invoking cloture requires 60 votes and would only limit debate on whether to take up the bill — it would not pass the Clarity Act itself.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, meaning the motion would need support from at least seven Democrats or independents if all Republicans back it.
Negotiations remain unresolved over several major issues, including ethics provisions involving public officials’ crypto interests, illicit-finance rules and how legislation developed by the Senate Agriculture Committee will be incorporated into the broader bill.
A bipartisan ethics proposal from Sens. Ruben Gallego and Thom Tillis would restrict public officials and their spouses from issuing or sponsoring digital assets and require President Donald Trump to divest from crypto-related businesses. The White House has not agreed to the proposal.
Republican support is also not guaranteed. Sen. Josh Hawley has said he will withhold support unless the legislation addresses concerns about deposits moving out of traditional banks.
Crypto industry groups welcomed Thune’s procedural move, but uncertainty remains high. Galaxy Research recently cut its estimated probability of the Clarity Act becoming law in 2026 from 50% to 30%, citing the increasingly limited Senate calendar ahead of the November midterm elections.
Brazil to Impose 24-Hour Hold on Large Crypto Transfers to Self-Custody and Offshore Platforms
Brazil’s central bank will require crypto service providers to impose a 24-hour waiting period on transfers exceeding $10,000 to self-custody wallets or foreign crypto firms after customers fund their accounts.
The rule, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027, applies when a single transfer or a customer’s total daily transfers exceed $10,000. Smaller transactions flagged by a provider’s risk controls must also be held, although firms may release them early after conducting and documenting a review.
During the hold, providers must assess factors including the customer’s risk profile, the transaction, the counterparty and the recipient’s jurisdiction. After 24 hours, the transfer must either be released immediately or rejected.
The central bank said the measure is intended as a precaution against fraud rather than a permanent freeze on customer assets. Customers must also be notified when a transaction is placed on hold and informed of the reason and duration.
The requirements cover cryptocurrencies including fiat-backed stablecoins. Firms that fail to comply could face tougher restrictions, such as longer holding periods, controls on transactions below $10,000 or limits on their ability to release transfers early.
The measure expands Brazil’s existing fraud-prevention framework to crypto as the country continues tightening oversight of the sector. Brazil ranked fifth globally in Chainalysis’ 2025 Crypto Adoption Index and received roughly $318.8 billion in crypto between July 2024 and June 2025.
Brazil’s central bank will require crypto service providers to impose a 24-hour waiting period on transfers exceeding $10,000 to self-custody wallets or foreign crypto firms after customers fund their accounts.
The rule, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027, applies when a single transfer or a customer’s total daily transfers exceed $10,000. Smaller transactions flagged by a provider’s risk controls must also be held, although firms may release them early after conducting and documenting a review.
During the hold, providers must assess factors including the customer’s risk profile, the transaction, the counterparty and the recipient’s jurisdiction. After 24 hours, the transfer must either be released immediately or rejected.
The central bank said the measure is intended as a precaution against fraud rather than a permanent freeze on customer assets. Customers must also be notified when a transaction is placed on hold and informed of the reason and duration.
The requirements cover cryptocurrencies including fiat-backed stablecoins. Firms that fail to comply could face tougher restrictions, such as longer holding periods, controls on transactions below $10,000 or limits on their ability to release transfers early.
The measure expands Brazil’s existing fraud-prevention framework to crypto as the country continues tightening oversight of the sector. Brazil ranked fifth globally in Chainalysis’ 2025 Crypto Adoption Index and received roughly $318.8 billion in crypto between July 2024 and June 2025.
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Businessman Behind $100M WLFI Purchase Was Arrested in UK Money-Laundering Probe
Guren “Bobby” Zhou, the businessman linked to Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial’s $WLFI
tokens, was arrested in Britain in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering, according to The New York Times.
Zhou has not been charged, but British officials said the investigation remained active as of late July. Court records reportedly accuse him of participating with five others in a money-laundering operation dating back to 2019. Two of his longtime employees have been charged, with a trial scheduled for 2028.
Zhou was previously identified as the person behind UAE-based Aqua 1, which became one of World Liberty Financial’s largest known token buyers after purchasing $100 million worth of WLFI. Blockchain analysis cited by the Times linked $20 million in WLFI purchases to a Web3Port wallet in January 2025 and another $80 million to a wallet likely controlled by Aqua 1 in June.
The source of the $100 million remains unclear. The Times reported that, under World Liberty’s revenue-sharing structure, as much as $75 million from the purchase may have flowed to a company controlled by U.S. President Donald Trump and his sons.
World Liberty Financial said it complied with all applicable laws and regulations and maintained a compliance program meeting or exceeding industry standards. The company declined to say whether it knew the source of Zhou’s funds. Zhou has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Guren “Bobby” Zhou, the businessman linked to Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial’s $WLFI
tokens, was arrested in Britain in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering, according to The New York Times.
Zhou has not been charged, but British officials said the investigation remained active as of late July. Court records reportedly accuse him of participating with five others in a money-laundering operation dating back to 2019. Two of his longtime employees have been charged, with a trial scheduled for 2028.
Zhou was previously identified as the person behind UAE-based Aqua 1, which became one of World Liberty Financial’s largest known token buyers after purchasing $100 million worth of WLFI. Blockchain analysis cited by the Times linked $20 million in WLFI purchases to a Web3Port wallet in January 2025 and another $80 million to a wallet likely controlled by Aqua 1 in June.
The source of the $100 million remains unclear. The Times reported that, under World Liberty’s revenue-sharing structure, as much as $75 million from the purchase may have flowed to a company controlled by U.S. President Donald Trump and his sons.
World Liberty Financial said it complied with all applicable laws and regulations and maintained a compliance program meeting or exceeding industry standards. The company declined to say whether it knew the source of Zhou’s funds. Zhou has not publicly responded to the allegations.
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Nansen CEO says crypto is entering its ‘real-world asset’ era, Bitcoin may never fall below $60,000 again
Nansen founder and CEO Alex Svanevik says crypto is moving beyond its long-standing “get rich quick” image as blockchains increasingly support trading in real-world assets, including tokenized stocks and major indices such as the S&P 500.
Svanevik argued that blockchain’s next phase will be driven increasingly by non-crypto assets rather than purely speculative tokens.
He remains particularly bullish on Solana, rejecting the view that the network is mainly a venue for memecoins. Svanevik praised Solana’s team and business-development capabilities, although he stopped short of making a specific SOL price forecast.
He is also optimistic about Robinhood Chain, calling it a potential major competitor to Coinbase’s Base because of Robinhood’s large distribution network. However, he doubts Robinhood needs to launch a separate token, arguing that value generated by the blockchain could instead accrue to HOOD stock.
On Bitcoin, Svanevik said the market may be close to a cycle bottom and made an especially bullish long-term prediction: Bitcoin may never trade below $60,000 again.
He based that view partly on Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against continued monetary expansion by central banks. Other investors remain more bearish, however, with veteran crypto investor Michael Terpin recently predicting Bitcoin could eventually fall into the $40,000 range before beginning its next major bull cycle. $BTC
Nansen founder and CEO Alex Svanevik says crypto is moving beyond its long-standing “get rich quick” image as blockchains increasingly support trading in real-world assets, including tokenized stocks and major indices such as the S&P 500.
Svanevik argued that blockchain’s next phase will be driven increasingly by non-crypto assets rather than purely speculative tokens.
He remains particularly bullish on Solana, rejecting the view that the network is mainly a venue for memecoins. Svanevik praised Solana’s team and business-development capabilities, although he stopped short of making a specific SOL price forecast.
He is also optimistic about Robinhood Chain, calling it a potential major competitor to Coinbase’s Base because of Robinhood’s large distribution network. However, he doubts Robinhood needs to launch a separate token, arguing that value generated by the blockchain could instead accrue to HOOD stock.
On Bitcoin, Svanevik said the market may be close to a cycle bottom and made an especially bullish long-term prediction: Bitcoin may never trade below $60,000 again.
He based that view partly on Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against continued monetary expansion by central banks. Other investors remain more bearish, however, with veteran crypto investor Michael Terpin recently predicting Bitcoin could eventually fall into the $40,000 range before beginning its next major bull cycle. $BTC
IMF warns local-currency stablecoins could accelerate shift into digital dollars
IMF First Deputy Managing Director Dan Katz warned that stablecoins backed by domestic currencies may unintentionally make it easier for users to move money into US dollar-backed stablecoins.
Katz said that once local and dollar stablecoins operate on the same blockchain infrastructure, users can swap between them through decentralized exchanges, liquidity pools or peer-to-peer markets, potentially moving foreign-exchange activity away from banks and traditional currency dealers.
He noted that users may still prefer digital dollars because of their higher liquidity, stronger network effects and broader cross-border acceptance. In South Africa, for example, dollar stablecoins have gained limited adoption, while rand-backed tokens have attracted even less demand.
The IMF official said the impact will vary by country. In highly dollarized economies, stablecoins may simply replace existing dollar holdings, while in countries with restricted dollar access and weaker economic frameworks they could increase demand for foreign currency.
Katz urged regulators to bring stablecoin onramps, offramps and onchain exchange venues within appropriate regulatory frameworks.
IMF First Deputy Managing Director Dan Katz warned that stablecoins backed by domestic currencies may unintentionally make it easier for users to move money into US dollar-backed stablecoins.
Katz said that once local and dollar stablecoins operate on the same blockchain infrastructure, users can swap between them through decentralized exchanges, liquidity pools or peer-to-peer markets, potentially moving foreign-exchange activity away from banks and traditional currency dealers.
He noted that users may still prefer digital dollars because of their higher liquidity, stronger network effects and broader cross-border acceptance. In South Africa, for example, dollar stablecoins have gained limited adoption, while rand-backed tokens have attracted even less demand.
The IMF official said the impact will vary by country. In highly dollarized economies, stablecoins may simply replace existing dollar holdings, while in countries with restricted dollar access and weaker economic frameworks they could increase demand for foreign currency.
Katz urged regulators to bring stablecoin onramps, offramps and onchain exchange venues within appropriate regulatory frameworks.
US judge grants #bybit expedited discovery in $1.5 billion North Korea-linked hack case
A US federal judge has granted crypto exchange Bybit expedited discovery in its lawsuit seeking to recover assets stolen in the $1.5 billion hack linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group.
The order allows Bybit to request account identities, balances and transaction histories from exchanges and platforms with US operations, potentially helping the company identify intermediaries and recover funds that remain traceable.
Bybit said that as of June 18, about 90.2% of the stolen assets had become untraceable after moving through mixers, cross-chain bridges and OTC dealers. Only 9.8% remained linked to identifiable wallets, with roughly $75.5 million, or 5.3% of the total, already frozen or recovered.
The February 21, 2025 attack stemmed from a compromise of Safe Wallet infrastructure. The FBI formally attributed the theft to North Korea on February 26, 2025.
Bybit is seeking the return of the stolen crypto, approximately $1.5 billion in compensatory damages, as well as punitive and treble damages under the US RICO Act.
A US federal judge has granted crypto exchange Bybit expedited discovery in its lawsuit seeking to recover assets stolen in the $1.5 billion hack linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group.
The order allows Bybit to request account identities, balances and transaction histories from exchanges and platforms with US operations, potentially helping the company identify intermediaries and recover funds that remain traceable.
Bybit said that as of June 18, about 90.2% of the stolen assets had become untraceable after moving through mixers, cross-chain bridges and OTC dealers. Only 9.8% remained linked to identifiable wallets, with roughly $75.5 million, or 5.3% of the total, already frozen or recovered.
The February 21, 2025 attack stemmed from a compromise of Safe Wallet infrastructure. The FBI formally attributed the theft to North Korea on February 26, 2025.
Bybit is seeking the return of the stolen crypto, approximately $1.5 billion in compensatory damages, as well as punitive and treble damages under the US RICO Act.
Bitcoin, Ether ETFs attract $1.1 billion in strongest inflow week since April
U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs recorded a combined $1.1 billion in net inflows last week, marking their strongest weekly performance since April despite trading volumes remaining near multi-year lows.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted about $853.5 million across five consecutive positive sessions. BlackRock’s IBIT dominated with $693.7 million, accounting for more than 80% of total BTC ETF inflows, while Fidelity’s FBTC added $116.4 million.
Spot Ether ETFs brought in another $244.9 million, extending their positive streak to five consecutive weeks — the longest of 2026.
Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas suggested the Bitcoin inflows may partly reflect investors shifting toward ETFs following the Coldcard wallet exploit, which has resulted in at least $111 million in thefts. However, that explanation does not account for the simultaneous surge in Ether ETF demand.
Despite strong inflows, activity remained subdued. Bitcoin ETF trading volume fell 9% week-over-week to about $8.19 billion, the second-lowest full-week total since October 2024. Ether ETF volume declined 21% to roughly $2.38 billion.
For 2026 overall, Bitcoin ETFs still remain about $4.44 billion in net outflows, while Ether ETFs are down approximately $873 million.
Bitcoin traded near $65,100, while Ether was around $1,920 on Saturday morning. $BTC $ETH
U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs recorded a combined $1.1 billion in net inflows last week, marking their strongest weekly performance since April despite trading volumes remaining near multi-year lows.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted about $853.5 million across five consecutive positive sessions. BlackRock’s IBIT dominated with $693.7 million, accounting for more than 80% of total BTC ETF inflows, while Fidelity’s FBTC added $116.4 million.
Spot Ether ETFs brought in another $244.9 million, extending their positive streak to five consecutive weeks — the longest of 2026.
Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas suggested the Bitcoin inflows may partly reflect investors shifting toward ETFs following the Coldcard wallet exploit, which has resulted in at least $111 million in thefts. However, that explanation does not account for the simultaneous surge in Ether ETF demand.
Despite strong inflows, activity remained subdued. Bitcoin ETF trading volume fell 9% week-over-week to about $8.19 billion, the second-lowest full-week total since October 2024. Ether ETF volume declined 21% to roughly $2.38 billion.
For 2026 overall, Bitcoin ETFs still remain about $4.44 billion in net outflows, while Ether ETFs are down approximately $873 million.
Bitcoin traded near $65,100, while Ether was around $1,920 on Saturday morning. $BTC $ETH
Verified
Bitcoin briefly splits as BIP-110 supporters launch minority fork
Bitcoin split into two chains on Saturday after nodes enforcing the controversial BIP-110 “anti-spam” proposal rejected a block that did not signal support for the upgrade.
The fork began at block 961,632, but BIP-110 has attracted very little mining power. While Bitcoin’s main chain continued normally, the minority chain had produced only two additional blocks and was already seven blocks behind by 6:00 p.m. ET.
BIP-110 proposes temporary one-year restrictions on non-financial data stored on Bitcoin, including Ordinals inscriptions. Supporters argue the rules would reduce blockchain spam and preserve block space for monetary transactions, while critics say Bitcoin should remain neutral toward any valid transaction willing to pay fees.
Miner backing remains extremely weak. Only 51 of the previous 2,016 blocks, or 2.53%, signaled support for BIP-110, far below the 55% threshold required for activation without a network split.
The fork currently has little economic significance and does not automatically create a separate tradable cryptocurrency. Its survival will depend on whether additional miners, exchanges, wallets and infrastructure providers choose to support it.
Bitcoin traded near $65,000 following the split, with no noticeable immediate market reaction. $BTC
Bitcoin split into two chains on Saturday after nodes enforcing the controversial BIP-110 “anti-spam” proposal rejected a block that did not signal support for the upgrade.
The fork began at block 961,632, but BIP-110 has attracted very little mining power. While Bitcoin’s main chain continued normally, the minority chain had produced only two additional blocks and was already seven blocks behind by 6:00 p.m. ET.
BIP-110 proposes temporary one-year restrictions on non-financial data stored on Bitcoin, including Ordinals inscriptions. Supporters argue the rules would reduce blockchain spam and preserve block space for monetary transactions, while critics say Bitcoin should remain neutral toward any valid transaction willing to pay fees.
Miner backing remains extremely weak. Only 51 of the previous 2,016 blocks, or 2.53%, signaled support for BIP-110, far below the 55% threshold required for activation without a network split.
The fork currently has little economic significance and does not automatically create a separate tradable cryptocurrency. Its survival will depend on whether additional miners, exchanges, wallets and infrastructure providers choose to support it.
Bitcoin traded near $65,000 following the split, with no noticeable immediate market reaction. $BTC
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