Crypto Breaking

A long-dormant Bitcoin wallet that last moved funds when BTC traded around the mid-$6,000s has re-entered the market, transferring a large amount of coins that may be nearing an eventual sale. Arkham blockchain data shows the wallet “356my” moved 2,931 BTC—worth roughly $188 million at current prices—into a new wallet address on Sunday.
The transaction stands out because it represents the whale’s first on-chain activity in seven years, and analysts link such moves to potential liquidation flows. The transfer also arrives as exchange-related inflows are being increasingly dominated by large holders rather than smaller investors.
Key takeaways
A wallet last active near $6,500 BTC has transferred 2,931 BTC (about $188 million) for the first time in seven years, according to Arkham.
Blockchain analytics from Onchain Lens suggests the holdings could be up nearly 10-fold, based on the wallet’s likely cost basis over the holding period.
CryptoQuant data indicates exchange whale activity remains heavily concentrated, with whale-led deposits accounting for about 99% of BTC exchange inflows year-to-date.
Large whale transfers into exchanges are often interpreted as sell-side preparation, potentially adding pressure to BTC while spot ETF flows remain mixed.
Farside Investors data shows spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows leading into Friday, but June delivered $4.51 billion in net outflows—the worst month on record.
Seven-year-old Bitcoin wallet moves $188 million
Arkham’s explorer data attributes the move to a single whale wallet labeled “356my,” which sent 2,931 BTC to wallet address “bc1qn” on Sunday. The size is significant: at Bitcoin’s current trading level of around $64,000 per coin, the transfer values near $188 million.
What makes the transfer especially noteworthy is the wallet’s dormancy. The earlier activity dates back roughly seven years, when Bitcoin’s market price was around $6,500. While a dormant balance doesn’t guarantee future selling, the timing and magnitude have prompted fresh scrutiny from on-chain analysts.
Onchain Lens has framed the move as a near 10-fold gain scenario—an outcome consistent with buying or accumulating during the years when BTC traded far below today’s level. The implication for traders is straightforward: when long-held coins begin moving, it can signal a shift from accumulation to distribution, particularly if funds are routed toward exchange infrastructure.
Why exchange-linked whale inflows matter
Recent market flows suggest that whales are driving a disproportionate share of BTC entering exchange ecosystems. CryptoQuant’s exchange whale ratio chart—tracking the share of deposits tied to large transfers—stands at 0.99 at press time for the year-to-date window.
CryptoQuant interprets this high concentration as “historically a bearish signal.” The underlying logic is that whale deposits are more likely to be associated with substantial sell orders rather than routine retail behavior. In practice, when large holders move coins to exchanges, it often represents preparation for liquidity events—sometimes immediate, sometimes gradual.
Coinglass defines “whale transfers” as movements of at least $10 million, which helps contextualize why these transactions can carry more weight than smaller wallet activity. If the current pattern persists, BTC could face intermittent sell pressure even if broader demand remains steady.
ETF flows add another layer of selling pressure risk
The whale transfer also lands amid ongoing questions about spot Bitcoin ETF positioning. Farside Investors data shows US-traded spot Bitcoin ETFs registered $197 million in net weekly inflows leading up to Friday. However, the broader trend has not been supportive: Farside also reports that ETFs recorded $4.51 billion in net outflows in June, marking the worst month on record.
That mix—weekly inflows alongside a severely negative monthly performance—can translate into a more fragile price backdrop. Even when ETFs provide short bursts of buying, persistent outflows can reduce the market’s ability to absorb large sell-side catalysts.
As a result, the combination of (1) whale-led exchange inflows and (2) the lingering ETF outflow overhang may be one reason analysts keep pointing to “additional pressure” risk when large on-chain balances start to move.
What to watch next after the transfer
While the wallet-to-wallet transfer itself does not confirm a sale, the market’s next clues will likely come from whether the coins move again—especially if they transition from private wallets to major exchange addresses. Traders and investors will also want to monitor whether whale transfers continue at similar frequency and magnitude, and whether ETF flow momentum improves after June’s outflows.
For now, the key uncertainty is timing: long-dormant coins can sit for weeks or months after the first move, but repeated movements toward exchange liquidity typically strengthen the case for distribution. Readers should watch the on-chain follow-through alongside ETF flow data to gauge whether this whale activity turns into sustained selling pressure or fades into a one-off reshuffling.
This article was originally published as Bitcoin Whale Transfers $188M for First Time in Seven Years on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Bolivia is exploring a path to place Tether’s USDT inside its domestic payments framework, as the country searches for ways to operate in an environment where US dollars remain scarce. If the plan advances, USDT could be treated as a currency option alongside the boliviano and the US dollar—an approach aimed at supporting everyday transactions such as payments, saving, and trade.
Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza said during a Monday press conference that the government is assessing a regulatory structure that would allow USDT to circulate “as just another currency.” However, the minister also warned that any rollout depends on strong safeguards, including anti-money laundering controls, given that Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list for deficiencies related to preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
Key takeaways
Bolivia’s finance ministry is evaluating whether USDT can be recognized for retail use in the national payments system.
Officials say USDT would need a comprehensive regulatory and compliance framework due to Bolivia’s FATF grey-list status.
The proposal follows changes in Bolivia’s stance on cryptocurrencies since its long-standing ban was lifted in 2024.
Broader demand for dollar-denominated alternatives has intensified as Bolivia struggled with a persistent US dollar shortage and exchange-rate pressures.
Tether is likely central to the idea given USDT’s scale as the largest stablecoin by market capitalization.
USDT as “another currency” in Bolivia’s payments system
According to reporting by CriptoNoticias, the regulatory framework under review would potentially recognize USDT for everyday use, including payments and other common financial activities. The government’s stated goal is to avoid tying usage exclusively to cash or the traditional banking channel, which can be difficult in countries where liquidity constraints and currency volatility affect how people store and move value.
Espinoza’s remarks also underline that the proposal is not simply about adoption—it is about building an enforcement-ready system. With Bolivia on the FATF grey list, authorities would need to demonstrate robust controls around compliance, monitoring, and AML requirements before any wider acceptance of stablecoins could become feasible.
Why stablecoins are gaining traction: the dollar squeeze
Bolivia’s stablecoin discussions come at a time when the country has been grappling with a prolonged shortage of US dollars, which are widely used alongside the boliviano. As Reuters reported, Bolivia held an official exchange rate—6.86 bolivianos per US dollar for purchases and 6.96 for sales—from 2011 until earlier this year, when pressure on foreign-exchange reserves forced the government to abandon the long-standing peg.
Once the peg ended, a parallel foreign exchange market expanded, and the dollar traded at a premium relative to the official rate. Reuters’ coverage links that growing gap to heightened demand for dollar-denominated alternatives. In this context, stablecoins such as USDT can appear attractive because they aim to maintain a consistent value relative to the US dollar.
That dynamic helps explain why USDT—already a dominant stablecoin globally—has become part of the policy conversation. While stablecoins do not eliminate exchange-rate and liquidity issues overnight, they can change the mechanics of payments by enabling transfers that are not directly constrained by local cash availability in the same way.
Bolivia’s policy shift after the 2024 crypto ban
The USDT payments idea also fits within Bolivia’s broader move toward regulated participation in digital assets. The country lifted its long-standing ban on cryptocurrencies in 2024, opening space for new rules and institutional integration. CriptoNoticias’ framing of the USDT proposal is consistent with a wider effort to bring crypto-related tools into the formal financial sector rather than leaving them to operate solely in the shadows.
The political direction appears to have accelerated further under President Rodrigo Paz Pereira. Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph noted that the administration, after he took office in late 2025, pledged to integrate digital assets into the formal financial system. That includes paving the way for banks to offer crypto-related products and services, potentially including stablecoin-based accounts.
USDT’s prominence is part of why it is likely to be considered first. CoinMarketCap data cited in the source notes that USDT’s market capitalization exceeds $184 billion, making it the largest stablecoin by size.
Market backdrop: adoption in Latin America and what to watch next
Bolivia is not acting in isolation. Chainalysis, in its 2025 evaluation of crypto adoption across Latin America, reported $14.8 billion in total transaction volume over a 12-month period. While that figure does not isolate Bolivia alone, it signals that stablecoin usage and broader crypto activity have found a meaningful foothold across the region.
What remains uncertain is whether Bolivia can translate its intent into implementable regulation quickly enough to affect day-to-day commerce—and whether the approach will gain institutional buy-in from banks and payment providers. The FATF grey-list constraint is a major variable: it implies that regulators must design a system that can withstand compliance scrutiny and demonstrate effective AML controls.
For users and investors, the immediate watch points are straightforward: the details of any proposed legal definition of USDT in Bolivia, the compliance obligations that would be required for institutions handling stablecoin flows, and whether pilots or limited rollouts precede any broader recognition. As Bolivia weighs stablecoin integration against its regulatory and financial constraints, the outcome could become a significant case study for how governments balance access to dollar liquidity with compliance expectations.
This article was originally published as Bolivia Considers Allowing USDT Payments as Dollar Liquidity Tightens on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Barcelona, Spain, July, 2026 — Eleven weeks after the European Union’s MiCA deadline, the 12th edition of the European Blockchain Convention (EBC12) returns to Barcelona at a pivotal moment for the industry. It is the region’s first major institutional gathering since the world’s first comprehensive cross-border digital asset regulation became fully law, and the event where European deal flow happens.
MiCA is now fully in force. For European markets, the focus shifts to what comes next: CASP licensing, stablecoin issuance, and the role of CBDCs in cross-border settlement. EBC12 is where that conversation takes place.
Rather than chasing mandates city by city across London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Barcelona, EBC12 compresses the European digital asset market into a single two-day commercial arena. It takes place on 16–17 September 2026 at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya.
Europe has set the pace for compliant digital asset markets, giving the industry a clearer framework for how crypto can scale within regulation rather than around it. The institutional signal is unmistakable: Deutsche Börse has invested $200 million in Kraken; Santander’s digital bank, Openbank, has expanded its crypto trading for customers across Germany and Spain. Both will be among the institutions discussing what comes next in Barcelona this September.
EBC expects 80 of Europe’s top 100 banks in Barcelona this September, up from 50 last year. The debate about whether institutions will enter digital assets is over. EBC12 is where they come to work out what comes next.
“Eight years ago, we built EBC because we believed Europe would be where this industry matured. A lot of people thought we were early. In 2026, European banks are deploying capital, institutional products are live across major markets, and the regulatory framework is in place. EBC is where the people driving that change meet once a year to do real business,” said Victoria Gago, Co-CEO of European Blockchain Convention and Digital Assets Forum.
Sessions cover institutional capital allocation, real-world asset tokenisation, regulatory market structure, and the future of stablecoins and CBDCs as global settlement infrastructure.
Confirmed speakers include Emma Landriault, Head of Kinexys Labs at J.P. Morgan; Mohamad Zaraket, Head of Digital Assets Strategy EMEA at BNY; Kathleen Wrynn, Global Head of DA, Invesco; Victor Jung, Vice President, Digital Assets & Currencies, Hamilton Lane; Previn Singh from Fidelity and Colin Payne, Head of Innovation at the Financial Conduct Authority, among more than 300 speakers from across banking, asset management, infrastructure, and policy.
Alongside the main programme, EBC12 features 10,000 pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, a Buy Side Breakfast for allocators and institutional investors, and a dedicated press room with direct access to speakers.
EBC12 expects over 5,000 attendees from 90+ countries for two days of market intelligence, strategic networking, and commercial momentum at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, a new premium venue reflecting the event’s institutional evolution.
About European Blockchain Convention
Founded in 2018, the European Blockchain Convention has grown into a key driver of European deal flow in digital assets, bringing together banks, asset managers, regulators, infrastructure providers, and builders annually. Alongside EBC, the Digital Assets Forum series extends this reach across London, Abu Dhabi, and New York throughout the year.
This article was originally published as European Blockchain Convention Returns to Barcelona for Europe’s First Post-MiCA Gathering on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged senators to move quickly on the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, framing the push as a tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died over the weekend. The timing matters: the Senate is expected to be in session for only about four more weeks before a month-long August state work period, leaving a narrow window for any major legislation to clear.
Trump’s appeal, posted Monday on Truth Social, highlights Graham’s long-running support for the bill and calls on lawmakers to pass CLARITY “in honor of” the South Carolina senator. Graham, 71, served in the Senate since 2003. Following his death—and reports that another Republican senator, Mitch McConnell, is hospitalized—Republicans’ effective majority has narrowed to 51-47, raising the odds that the bill will need additional Democratic backing to reach the 60 votes typically required in the Senate.
Key takeaways
Trump urged the Senate to pass the CLARITY Act, citing Lindsey Graham’s support before his death.
The Senate’s working balance is tighter than before: Republicans are reported at 51-47, making bipartisan support more likely.
CLARITY is expected to shift regulatory enforcement authority for parts of the digital-asset market from the SEC toward the CFTC.
Many Senate Democrats have indicated they oppose the bill without additional ethics safeguards related to potential conflicts of interest.
With only a few weeks left in the current session before August recess, lawmakers have limited time to resolve outstanding objections.
Trump ties CLARITY push to Graham’s legacy
In a Monday Truth Social post, Trump said Graham had been “a big supporter” of the CLARITY Act and called on senators to advance the legislation. The president also referenced the senator’s death, effectively urging legislators to treat the bill’s progress as a commemorative step.
Graham’s record with the CLARITY Act appears less direct than Trump’s framing suggests. In the current Congress, Graham is reported to have not served on the Senate banking committee or the agriculture committee, and he did not cast any votes advancing CLARITY. Cointelegraph previously reported that he did not appear to make public statements specifically supporting CLARITY during the current session. Still, he voted in favor of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act in 2025, indicating he has supported certain crypto-related legislative efforts in recent years.
What CLARITY would change for crypto regulation
The central policy bet behind CLARITY is a reallocation of regulatory oversight. The bill is expected to move much of the authority for enforcing digital-asset regulation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). For market participants, that shift matters because it would likely change which regulator leads on enforcement posture, interpretations of market structure, and how compliance expectations are set.
However, the legislative path is not just about jurisdiction—it’s also about trust and process. Senate Democrats have previously signaled they are unlikely to support the legislation without provisions aimed at addressing possible conflicts of interest involving lawmakers and the crypto industry. Some lawmakers have pointed to Trump’s ties to digital asset-related projects, including his memecoin activity, as well as the family’s World Liberty Financial company, as part of the rationale for demanding ethics-related changes before they back the bill.
Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph noted that this ethics and conflict-of-interest debate is part of why the bill could face resistance on the Senate floor.
https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethics-democrats-market-structure-clarity-bill-markup
Senate math tightens as leadership and votes are tested
In practical terms, CLARITY’s chances depend on the ability to assemble enough votes quickly. With Graham’s death—and with Mitch McConnell reported hospitalized—Republicans’ current majority has been reduced to 51-47. That arithmetical squeeze increases the likelihood that Democratic support will be necessary to hit the 60-vote threshold.
Cointelegraph reports that it sought comment from the offices of Senators Tim Scott, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Angela Alsobrooks regarding Trump’s remarks but did not receive an immediate response.
Support from within the Republican ranks appears at least partially energized by Trump’s message. Senator Cynthia Lummis, in a Monday post on X, said she supported Trump’s comment and described Graham as “passionate about ensuring that American leadership stayed at the forefront of everything – including digital assets.” Cointelegraph also contacted Lummis’ office to request clarification about Graham’s position on digital assets, but received no immediate reply.
The clock is running before August recess
Even if sentiment shifts, lawmakers still face a calendar constraint. The Senate has around four weeks left in session before a month-long state work period in August. That limited schedule creates pressure to resolve both the political and procedural issues surrounding CLARITY—particularly the ethics concerns that have been signaled by Senate Democrats.
What remains uncertain is whether the bill can be moved fast enough to secure the additional votes required, and whether any amendments or guarantees on conflicts-of-interest questions can satisfy enough skeptics to reach the needed margin. Investors and builders watching U.S. crypto regulation will likely focus on whether the debate turns from jurisdiction alone to the specific standards Democrats demand—since that is where the most durable resistance appears to be forming.
For now, the key question is whether Trump’s public push—and the loss of a major backer—changes the Senate’s willingness to compromise on ethics provisions, or whether the vote count still stalls despite the political momentum. With the legislative window shrinking, the next developments from the Senate floor and committee actions will be the most important indicators of whether CLARITY is headed to passage or remains stuck in partisan friction.
This article was originally published as Trump cites senator’s death to advance crypto legislation on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

The United Kingdom has enlisted Ripple to support a national plan for expanding tokenized wholesale financial markets. Ripple will contribute through market design, collateral tokenization, digital asset infrastructure, and broader industry coordination. The initiative aims to improve settlement speed, reduce costs, and replace outdated financial processes across wholesale markets.
Ripple Supports UK Wholesale Market Expansion
Ripple joined HM Treasury’s Wholesale Digital Markets Taskforce alongside major banks, asset managers, exchanges, and digital finance companies. The group includes BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Coinbase, Circle, Wintermute, and several other firms. Together, members will help shape a practical framework for regulated tokenized wholesale markets across the United Kingdom.
Onchain funds, bonds and repo aren't experiments. They're already happening, delivering onchain financial instruments that are cheaper, better and faster than their legacy equivalents.
The UK has the capital markets depth and regulatory credibility to be a global leader in… pic.twitter.com/ELEP4x9UGL
— Ripple (@Ripple) July 13, 2026
Chris Woolard leads the taskforce as HM Treasury’s Wholesale Digital Markets Champion and will coordinate industry participation. Ripple will support work on secondary markets, tokenized collateral, and the planned UK Digital Gilt instrument, known as DIGIT. The Treasury expects the task force to advance these major projects during the next twelve months.
Traditional funds, bonds, and repurchase agreements already operate on blockchain networks across several established financial markets. Ripple says tokenization can lower operating costs while improving transaction speed, market access, and overall financial efficiency. Therefore, the task force will test how these gains can work across Britain’s existing wholesale market structure.
UK Tokenization Plan Targets Economic Growth
The United Kingdom expects tokenized real-world assets to generate £33 billion in annual economic output by 2035. The Treasury also estimates the wider tokenization strategy could produce £14 billion in annual tax revenue. These projections support the government’s push to make Britain a leading global center for tokenized finance.
Global tokenized real-world assets could reach $88 trillion by 2035 as institutions adopt blockchain settlement systems. The UK already has deep capital markets, established financial regulation, and strong connections with global institutions. However, the strategy requires clear standards, reliable infrastructure, and secure links between different public and private blockchain networks.
The government also plans to establish a tokenized repo market through controlled testing and a live trial. Officials expect the trial to begin by spring 2027 after completing technical, commercial, and regulatory preparation. Moreover, the task force may examine commodities and other asset classes during the program’s wider development.
XRP Ledger Expands Institutional Tokenization Role
Ripple will bring its XRP Ledger experience to the Treasury’s broader plan for modern digital wholesale finance. XRPL supports tokenized assets, payments, settlement, and institutional products through its established public blockchain infrastructure. Its design allows firms to issue and transfer assets while maintaining fast settlement and lower transaction costs.
Earlier this year, Ripple partnered with Aviva Investors to develop tokenized traditional fund products on XRPL. The partnership marked another major institutional use case for the network within regulated British financial services. It also strengthened Ripple’s position in the growing international market for blockchain-based investment and settlement products.
More than 500 products now operate on XRPL across payments, tokenized assets, and decentralized financial services. JMWH and Ondo’s Short-Term Government Bond Fund represent nearly $2.5 billion in combined value. Ripple’s task force role could expand XRPL’s institutional reach as Britain builds its national tokenized market infrastructure.
This article was originally published as Ripple Joins UK Treasury Taskforce To Drive £33B Tokenization Strategy on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Bitcoin weakened further at the start of Monday’s Wall Street session as investors digested renewed US–Iran tensions, with the cryptocurrency sliding toward the $62,000 area. The move came alongside risk-off weakness in US equities, while energy markets held firm after heightened developments involving the Strait of Hormuz.
On the political front, US President Donald Trump said the United States would “run” the Strait of Hormuz after Iran closed the route over the weekend—an escalation that helped keep oil prices elevated and added uncertainty for broader markets. Against that backdrop, some traders described aggressive BTC short positioning and pointed to key intraday levels that could determine whether selling continues or sparks a rebound.
Key takeaways
Bitcoin slid toward roughly $62,000 as US stocks opened lower and sentiment was pressured by US–Iran escalation.
Trump’s comments about taking over the Strait of Hormuz coincided with firmer oil prices, with WTI hovering around the mid-$70s.
Traders cited “massive” short activity into the pre–New York open, with price pinned near a volume-weighted average level (mVWAP) that bulls may need to defend.
Despite the weakness, some market participants still see a path back toward the $70,000–$75,000 zone, citing exhaustion signals and exchange data.
Bitcoin tests key levels as shorts lean in
Market charts from TradingView showed BTC/USD edging toward the $62,000 region as Monday’s session got underway. One trader highlighted what they described as “massive” short trading into the period leading up to the New York open, arguing that price was being pushed directly toward mVWAP—a level bulls typically watch because it represents the average traded price weighted by volume across exchanges.
In a post on X, JDK Analysis said the market was “now sitting directly at mVWAP,” adding that $60,000 could resurface if the level fails. JDK also suggested the selloff looked “very weak,” but that a bounce remained possible if New York attracts meaningful spot demand and mVWAP holds, potentially trapping some short sellers.
Other participants echoed the bearish flow. Exitpump, for example, previously flagged a “crazy amount of aggressive shorting” while also noting that open interest appeared to be rising—an observation often associated with expanding derivatives positioning as price moves.
Oil steadies higher on Strait of Hormuz escalation
The BTC pullback also tracked broader macro conditions at the open. US stocks were broadly lower, with the Nasdaq Composite down about 1% at the time of writing, reinforcing a cautious risk tone across markets.
Energy prices remained supported by geopolitical risk tied to the Strait of Hormuz. According to Fox News’ live coverage, Trump said the US would take responsibility for the strait, describing the country as a “guardian” and suggesting it should be “reimbursed” for that role. Reuters and other outlets have frequently framed the Strait as a key international oil shipping route, meaning disruptions or heightened control can quickly spill into expectations for supply and transportation risk.
In crypto markets, that matters because sustained oil-driven inflation and risk premium shifts can influence both liquidity conditions and investor appetite for high-beta assets like BTC—especially during periods where derivatives positioning is already crowded.
WTI crude was reported by TradingView to be circling around $75 per barrel, holding gains as traders priced in continued uncertainty.
Traders still target a rebound toward $70,000
Even with the sell pressure, some traders continued to argue that downside momentum could be nearing exhaustion. Roman, a trader who previously laid out bullish expectations, said on X that several metrics pointed toward a move higher and that timing depended on how the market forms on the way up.
Roman specifically referenced higher-timeframe and lower-timeframe signals, while also pointing to exchange-related observations suggesting that more spot was being bought than sold. He pointed to a potential upside window in the $70,000–$75,000 area, implying that shorts could face a squeeze if buyers regain control and derivatives demand flips.
Importantly for readers, these views do not negate the immediate weakness: they frame the current trading as potentially offering a setup for a rebound rather than a straight line reversal. In markets where price is pinned near levels like mVWAP, bulls typically look for confirmation through sustained spot buying and follow-through after the open.
What to watch next: confirmation, spot demand, and derivatives positioning
For traders trying to gauge whether the current dip evolves into continued downside or a tactical bounce, the near-term focus is likely to remain on whether BTC can hold key intraday benchmarks such as mVWAP and whether spot demand increases during US trading hours. At the same time, monitoring open interest and the pace of short activity could help signal whether the market is building new bearish exposure—or if shorts are starting to get forced out.
With geopolitical headlines still capable of moving both oil and risk sentiment, the next session’s order-flow and follow-through (rather than any single forecast) may determine whether Bitcoin’s $62,000 test turns into a deeper move toward lower support levels or a renewed attempt at reclaiming the $70,000 area.
This article was originally published as Bitcoin Near $62K as Trump Comment Sparks Risk-Asset Rout on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Strategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, has raised additional capital by selling shares under its at-the-market (ATM) program while keeping its Bitcoin treasury unchanged during the latest reporting window. In its most recent SEC update, the company detailed the size of the equity issuance and reaffirmed that no BTC trades occurred in the period.
According to an 8-K filing dated Monday, Strategy sold 4.8 million shares of its Class A common stock for $466.7 million between July 6 and July 12. The filing also states that Strategy held 843,775 BTC at an average purchase price of $75,476 per BTC, with no Bitcoin purchases or sales reported during the same timeframe.
Key takeaways
Strategy raised $466.7 million by selling 4.8 million shares through its ATM offering from July 6–12, without altering its BTC holdings.
The company reported 843,775 BTC at an average purchase price of $75,476 and disclosed no BTC transactions in the period covered by the filing.
Strategy’s reported US dollar reserve increased to $3 billion as of July 12, supporting preferred dividends and debt interest obligations.
The company continues to expand its equity-capacity runway, citing $23.8 billion of remaining ATM capacity, including capacity from a $21 billion additional offering announced earlier this year.
Strategy is preparing its first semi-monthly dividend cycle for preferred shareholders, with near-term payment dates tied to new record-date rules.
Equity funding without touching the Bitcoin treasury
Strategy’s latest SEC filing highlights a deliberate split between raising fiat liquidity and managing its Bitcoin inventory. During the July 6–12 window, the company used its ATM program to issue shares and generate cash, but it reported no spot BTC activity.
The reported balance of 843,775 BTC suggests Strategy continues to treat its Bitcoin treasury as a long-horizon asset rather than a pool to be actively traded in response to short-term liquidity needs. That approach matters for investors watching whether Strategy’s BTC exposure remains steady while it scales the rest of its capital structure.
As investors monitor day-to-day market dynamics, the filing also landed while MSTR shares were reportedly down roughly 3% near the Nasdaq open to about $91.80 per share, according to Yahoo Finance. Bitcoin was trading around $62,580, down more than 2% over the prior 24 hours.
Cash buffer climbs to $3 billion
Beyond the share-sale figures, the 8-K update focused on Strategy’s liquidity position. The company reported its US dollar reserve at $3 billion as of July 12, up from $2.55 billion one week earlier.
Strategy said this cash reserve is used for operational obligations tied to its preferred stock dividends and interest payments on its outstanding debt. Importantly for readers tracking settlement mechanics, the reserve is also described as including expected proceeds from ATM share sales that had not yet settled as of the reporting date.
The update reinforces that Strategy’s financing strategy is not solely reliant on selling Bitcoin. Instead, the company is using equity issuance—at least in this period—to increase its USD buffer, potentially reducing the need for BTC sales to meet near-term payment requirements.
ATM capacity remains significant, with more runway available
Strategy also disclosed remaining capacity under its ATM framework. The company said it has $23.8 billion of available capacity, which includes capacity related to a new $21 billion offering announced on March 23. Strategy noted it may begin selling shares under this additional capacity once the existing offering has been substantially depleted.
That matters because the ATM program effectively functions as a flexible funding channel. For investors, the key question is how quickly Strategy can draw on this capacity while still maintaining its broader Bitcoin-oriented corporate posture.
In a separate development referenced in the update, Strategy previously sold BTC to replenish its US dollar reserve. The company announced it sold 3,588 BTC for about $216 million to fund preferred dividend payments, with the transactions described as:
1,363 BTC sold at an average price of $59,256 between June 29 and June 30
2,225 BTC sold at an average price of $60,773 between July 1 and July 5
In the same earlier June 29 8-K filing, Strategy reportedly stated it made no BTC purchases and disclosed the sale of 12.7 million shares through its ATM offering, generating $1.15 billion in net proceeds. Together, those disclosures show an ongoing balancing act between equity issuance and selective BTC sales to meet liquidity targets.
Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph discussed the rationale behind the company’s $216 million BTC sale, framing the decision in the context of Strategy’s preferred dividend obligations and its overall capital strategy.
Preferred dividends shift to a semi-monthly rhythm
Strategy’s equity and cash management also intersects with its dividend schedule. The company is preparing for its first semi-monthly dividend payment to holders of its STRC preferred stock on Wednesday.
In an announcement from June 8, Strategy said the new schedule would use record dates on the 15th and the last day of each month, with payments made on the following record date. The first semi-monthly record date was June 30, 2026, and the first payment date was scheduled for July 15, according to Strategy’s release.
With dividends arriving more frequently, the importance of Strategy’s updated cash reserve could rise. For preferred investors, the operational question becomes how consistently Strategy can fund distributions through a mix of ATM proceeds, reserve management, and—when necessary—BTC sales.
What to watch next
With Strategy now drawing on substantial remaining ATM capacity while preparing a more frequent preferred dividend timetable, market participants will likely focus on whether the company continues to keep BTC holdings static during future funding windows—and how quickly its USD reserve translates into predictable dividend coverage as semi-monthly payments roll forward.
This article was originally published as Strategy Completes $467M MSTR Share Sale, Keeps 843,775 BTC Intact on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Coinbase Ventures maintained its lead among crypto-focused venture capital investors in the first half of 2026, completing the most funding deals in CryptoRank’s dataset. The Coinbase exchange’s corporate VC arm recorded 30 deals from January through June, edging out Animoca Brands (19), a16z (18), and Tether (15), according to CryptoRank’s funding analytics.
While top investors kept showing up, the wider market remains under pressure. Total funding for crypto companies dropped to $1.4 billion in June, down from $3.8 billion in April—an indication that deal activity is still more fragile than headline counts alone suggest. Even so, July brought a modest rebound, with $456 million raised across 12 funding rounds so far.
Key takeaways
Coinbase Ventures led deal counts in H1 2026 with 30 investments, followed by Animoca Brands (19), a16z (18), and Tether (15), per CryptoRank.
Funding volumes remain depressed: June totals fell to $1.4 billion (down from $3.8 billion in April), alongside fewer rounds (61 in June vs. 89 in May).
DeFi, payments, and AI dominate VC interest over the past year, collectively accounting for hundreds of fundraising rounds.
Investor participation narrowed: unique investors fell to 242 in June from 452 in October 2025.
Geography is uneven: US-based VCs led in capital deployed over six months, while a large share of funds came from undisclosed locations.
Coinbase Ventures stays on top as deal volume softens
Across the first half of 2026, the most active crypto-focused investors by number of deals were concentrated among a handful of firms. Coinbase Ventures’ 30 transactions placed it above Animoca Brands, a16z, and Tether in CryptoRank’s tally.
Looking beyond H1, CryptoRank data shows that Coinbase Ventures also remained highly active over the previous 12 months, completing 75 deals—more than any other listed contender. Animoca Brands followed with 40 deals, YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs) with 39, GSR with 31, and a16z with 30.
Those sustained activity levels stand in contrast to softer market conditions. Crypto VC fundraising fell to $1.4 billion in June, down 63% from $3.8 billion in April. Deal counts declined as well: June saw 61 fundraising rounds, compared with 89 in May.
Still, the pattern is not uniformly downward. CryptoRank data indicates a slight recovery relative to earlier in the year: April’s totals included a two-year low of $698 million across 71 fundraising rounds, and June—while weaker than May—did not repeat that extreme low.
Where the capital goes: DeFi, payments, and AI lead
Crypto VC interest over the past year skewed heavily toward three categories: decentralized finance, payments, and AI-linked crypto initiatives. According to CryptoRank, DeFi protocols accounted for 216 fundraising rounds, payments startups logged 131 rounds, and AI-crypto companies raised through 128 rounds.
Infrastructure also remained a consistent focus. CryptoRank reports 110 funding rounds for infrastructure providers during the same period, while all other sectors recorded fewer than 100 rounds.
For investors and founders, this distribution matters because it suggests VC capital is still flowing toward applications and rails rather than exclusively chasing speculative narratives. Even during a period of reduced fundraising totals, the categories attracting the most rounds tend to have clearer product pathways—whether that’s enabling on-chain finance, improving transaction and settlement use cases, or integrating AI capabilities into crypto systems.
Shifts inside the portfolio: Coinbase Ventures’ thematic exposure
Coinbase Ventures’ participation over the last six months shows a thematic pattern aligned with broader market preferences, though with a degree of specificity. CryptoRank data indicates Coinbase Ventures took part in:
Seven investment rounds linked to payment protocols
Four rounds supporting DeFi projects
Three rounds tied to infrastructure and real-world asset tokenization
That mix reflects a VC approach that emphasizes core crypto primitives and monetizable use cases. At the same time, the relatively small number of rounds in each subcategory (for Coinbase Ventures’ own activity) highlights that even top investors are not scaling uniformly—rather, they are selecting fewer bets while still covering key themes.
Fewer participants, different geography, and what to watch next
Even as deal counts remained steady for certain lead investors, the broader ecosystem saw reduced participation. CryptoRank shows the number of unique investors in June fell to 242 from 452 unique investors in October 2025. That contraction suggests a more selective capital environment: fewer players are deploying money, even if some large funds continue to originate deals.
Geography provides another lens on how VC behavior is concentrating. Over the past six months, US-based VCs contributed $5.8 billion, while Australia-based VCs deployed $3.6 billion. CryptoRank also reports that more than $11.6 billion was invested from undisclosed locations, underscoring how opaque parts of the fundraising landscape remain.
With July activity already showing $456 million raised across 12 funding rounds so far, the immediate question for market participants is whether this qualifies as a durable rebound or merely a short-term uptick. CryptoRank’s June-to-July movement suggests conditions can improve after declines, but the drop in unique investors—and the still-low June fundraising level versus April—signals that conviction and breadth in the VC market may take longer to fully return.
This article was originally published as Coinbase Ventures Leads Crypto VC Funding in H1 2026 Rankings on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

The UK is preparing to move tokenized financial markets from experimental pilots to scaled, live trading and settlement, according to a government-backed industry task force report published by Wholesale Digital Markets Champion Chris Woolard. The document estimates that, if the country becomes a leader in tokenized markets, the effort could add as much as £33 billion (about $44 billion) to annual economic output by 2035.
The report outlines a 12-month plan to test blockchain technology in a financial transaction that uses securities to borrow cash, and it calls for the UK to issue its first tokenized government bond—known as a gilt—by the first quarter of 2027. Woolard’s role is tied to HM Treasury’s digital markets strategy, with the task force assembled to connect traditional market infrastructure providers with digital-asset firms.
Key takeaways
The task force aims to progress from isolated blockchain trials to “scale,” with real-market trading, settlement, and use of tokenized securities as collateral.
Plans include a 12-month blockchain test focused on repo-like mechanics where securities are used to raise cash.
The roadmap targets a first tokenized UK government bond issuance by the first quarter of 2027.
The report urges the Bank of England to accept tokenized gilts as collateral, positioning collateral eligibility as a major adoption gate.
Task force membership spans leading banks, market infrastructure firms, and crypto companies, underscoring a cross-industry approach.
From pilots to live tokenized securities markets
While tokenization has been discussed for years, the report’s emphasis is on practical market plumbing—moving beyond demonstrations toward arrangements that can support securities issuance, secondary-market activity, and settlement workflows. The task force describes its mission as shifting “from pilots to scale” and “from ambition to action,” reflecting a more implementation-focused posture than many earlier initiatives.
Central to that approach is the report’s view that tokenized assets have limited real-world value unless they can be traded and used to obtain cash. In the document’s framing, the ability to raise funding against tokenized securities—and to have those tokens participate in established collateral frameworks—determines whether tokenization can materially change market behavior.
To that end, the task force’s 12-month plan centers on testing blockchain in a financial transaction where securities are used to borrow cash. Although the report does not present additional implementation details in the provided text, the structure aligns with the market logic of repo transactions, where the speed and settlement efficiency of collateral exchanges can have meaningful operational and cost implications.
Tokenized gilts: a timeline and expanded end goals
Tokenized government bonds are not a brand-new idea in the UK. The government previously announced the Digital Gilt Instrument (digit) pilot in November 2024, using public documentation to describe the initiative.
Later updates pushed the concept further. A July 2025 update laid out intentions covering onchain settlement, over-the-counter trading, and secondary-market development. The government also appointed HSBC’s Orion platform to support the pilot on Feb. 12, signaling that at least part of the effort is geared toward real operational systems rather than purely theoretical trials.
The new task force report builds on that foundation by adding a clearer timetable and broadening how the tokenized gilt would be used. Beyond issuance, the roadmap seeks subsequent digital-gilt offerings, live secondary-market trading, and—importantly—eligibility for use as central bank collateral.
The collateral angle is where the report becomes more than a rollout plan. It explicitly argues that tokenized securities only become economically meaningful when they can be used to raise cash, and it calls on the Bank of England to accept digital gilts as collateral. For market participants, that would be a key step toward turning tokenized assets into a mainstream funding and settlement tool rather than a niche alternative.
Task force composition and industry buy-in
Woolard’s first report was developed with a task force described as bringing together more than 50 companies spanning traditional finance and crypto. The membership list in the text includes BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, UBS, Coinbase, Circle, Ripple, Kraken, DTCC, and Euroclear.
Ripple, which appears among the industry members, publicly supported the initiative in a statement shared on Monday. The company said that onchain funds, bonds, and repo are not experiments, arguing that such instruments are already proving “cheaper, better and faster” than legacy equivalents.
For investors and builders, the breadth of the task force matters. A tokenization roadmap that includes both major securities market infrastructure players and crypto platforms suggests the UK is trying to align interfaces—custody, settlement, and compliance—rather than relying on a single ecosystem.
How UK payment infrastructure could connect the dots
The report’s tokenized-gilt ambition also intersects with existing UK efforts to improve settlement and payments. The text points to a blockchain-based wholesale payment infrastructure that could support tokenized-market settlement.
In December 2023, London-based Fnality launched a sterling-denominated payment system tied to central bank reserves. The network was designed to enable real-time repo, tokenized securities settlement, and cross-currency payments, potentially providing the infrastructure layer needed for tokenized collateral to move quickly and consistently across parties.
By pairing that sort of settlement/payment capability with a phased approach to tokenized gilts and secondary-market trading, the UK’s roadmap is effectively trying to solve two problems at once: how tokenized assets are issued and traded, and how the cash legs and settlement mechanics work end to end.
Still, the biggest practical uncertainty remains whether collateral eligibility—specifically Bank of England acceptance of digital gilts—can be achieved on a timeline that matches the planned issuance and market scaling. The report’s call for central bank collateral suggests that regulators and system operators will play a decisive role in determining how quickly tokenization can move into full-market usage.
Going forward, market participants should watch for updates on the 12-month blockchain test details, the operational requirements for secondary trading, and any announcements that clarify how the Bank of England and other oversight bodies plan to treat tokenized gilts as collateral. If those pieces align, the UK could shift tokenization from a series of pilots into a functioning market segment with real funding utility.
This article was originally published as UK Tokenization Plan Could Boost Annual Output by $44B by 2035: Report on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Banking giant Morgan Stanley acquired nearly 1,000 BTC over the past two weeks, taking its total holdings to 5,761 BTC, worth roughly $370 million.
According to data from Arkham, the bank added BTC to its existing stash during the market pullback through its spot Bitcoin investment product.
Morgan Stanley Adds To Bitcoin Stash
Morgan Stanley added to its Bitcoin holdings during the recent market pullback. The banking giant currently holds 5,761 BTC, making it one of the biggest institutional holders of the flagship cryptocurrency.
The acquisition was executed through a series of transfers instead of a single purchase. Arkham data shows large transfers from Coinbase Prime wallets. The transaction history also includes a 1 BTC transfer back to Coinbase Prime along with minor operational transfers.
The inflows originated from Coinbase Prime custody and deposit addresses, indicating the transfers were completed via Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin investment product.
Buying The Dip
Arkham classifies Morgan Stanley as a fund, an exchange-traded product, and a Bitcoin whale. It has also linked the banking giant’s portfolio to 11 wallet addresses. The latest round of purchases is in line with Morgan Stanley’s strategy of accumulating during price dips.
However, Arkham or Morgan Stanley have not disclosed whether the purchases are direct purchases, client subscriptions, or operational inflows into its investment vehicle. Arkham has also not identified the underlying investors or whether the assets are being managed on behalf of clients or are firm-based holdings.
Morgan Stanley Increasing Its Crypto Footprint
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management recently announced a partnership with Galaxy Digital to expand its digital asset footprint. Under the partnership, high-net-worth individuals can lend their digital assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Solana (SOL), and Ethereum (ETH), to Galaxy Digital in return for shares in spot crypto investment products, including the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust. The program allows investors to gain crypto exposure in a regulated environment without selling their digital assets.
Morgan Stanley and Galaxy Digital claim the partnership also reduces the in-kind crypto-to-exchange-trading product onboarding times by 75%. The offering is part of a growing trend of on-chain accumulation as institutional interest and participation rise.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
This article was originally published as Morgan Stanley Purchases 1,000 Bitcoin, Brings Total Holdings To 5,761 BTC on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Binance’s futures desk is showing signs of a renewed momentum spike, reaching a 2026 high even while spot trading on centralized exchanges remains subdued. According to CryptoQuant analyst Maartuun, Binance logged $1.6 trillion in futures volume in June—its strongest month of the year—despite Bitcoin trading in the mid-$60,000s and a broadly cautious tone from many market participants.
The contrast between accelerating derivatives activity and weak spot volumes highlights a tension investors are watching closely: whether leverage is re-entering the market ahead of a broader risk rebound, or simply reflecting short-term positioning in an otherwise lethargic trading environment.
Key takeaways
Binance futures volume hit $1.61 trillion in June, up 80% from May’s $893 billion, marking a 2026 high.
OKX and Bybit also grew in June, but Binance outpaced them by volume and again led the market.
Quarterly CEX futures volume continued to decline: Q2 fell to $15.7 trillion, down 11% from Q1, according to CryptoRank.
Spot volumes on CEXs remain weak, with Q2 spot trading at $3 trillion—the weakest quarter in two years.
Binance’s uptick arrives near regulatory changes in the EU, including the MiCA transition schedule and related licensing developments.
June’s derivatives rebound at Binance
CryptoQuant’s Maartuun said Binance processed $1.61 trillion in futures trading volume in June, the highest monthly figure recorded so far in 2026. The jump was stark: June volume rose by about 80% versus May’s $893 billion.
The strength wasn’t limited to Binance. OKX reported $609 billion in June futures volume, while Bybit recorded $434 billion. Both exchanges increased versus May—OKX up 9% and Bybit up 18%—suggesting the rise was broad-based across major venues rather than isolated to a single platform.
Even so, Binance’s lead stood out. Maartuun noted that the trio of exchanges has not seen futures activity near these levels since January 2026, when Binance moved roughly $1.5 trillion and OKX and Bybit reached $667 billion and $502 billion respectively.
Broader market still shows hesitation: futures down overall, spot at multi-year lows
While June’s spike looks encouraging for derivatives activity, the bigger picture remains mixed. CryptoRank data cited in the report shows that total CEX futures volume fell to $15.7 trillion in Q2 2026, down 11% from $17.6 trillion in Q1. This represented the third consecutive quarterly decline for centralized exchange futures.
The pace of contraction did ease compared with Q1, when futures volume dropped 31% versus Q4 2025. In Q2, Binance maintained its position as the largest futures venue, holding approximately 28% market share.
Spot markets, however, were more clearly impaired. CEX spot volume reportedly fell to $3 trillion in Q2, the weakest quarter in two years and an 18.9% decline from Q1. Binance remained the largest spot exchange by volume, with $731 billion for the quarter, but its market share slid from 27% to 24%, signaling that the downturn wasn’t just a dip in overall activity—it also came with share erosion.
Taken together, the numbers suggest June’s futures surge may reflect traders seeking exposure through leveraged instruments even when broader spot participation has not recovered. For investors, that distinction matters: derivatives volume can rise during periods when spot demand is still muted, but it can also precede volatility rather than stable trend formation.
EU MiCA transition: Binance futures activity continues after the shift
The timing of June’s futures strength also lands near Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) transition period. Earlier coverage noted that the end of the transition schedule raised questions about how major exchanges would adapt operationally and how quickly trading patterns would normalize under the new compliance framework.
In late June, Binance withdrew its application for a license in Greece just days before the framework moved into its next phase on July 1. Against that regulatory backdrop, early July data from CryptoQuant indicated Binance’s futures market remained active after the transition, recording $418 billion in futures volume in the first 10 days of July.
That continuation doesn’t confirm that regulation improved trading conditions; it does, however, provide at least an early signal that activity did not abruptly stall at the transition boundary. The next key question for traders and exchange operators will be whether this level of derivatives throughput persists over subsequent weeks and whether spot volumes begin to respond as regulatory uncertainty fades.
What to watch next for traders and exchange users
June’s futures surge is a clear data point: Binance’s derivatives volume jumped sharply to a 2026 high while broader quarterly trends show that CEX spot and futures volumes remain under pressure. Investors should watch whether July sustains similar momentum and whether spot trading starts to recover alongside futures—or whether the market continues to concentrate activity in leveraged instruments as traders navigate ongoing regulatory and macro uncertainty.
This article was originally published as Binance June Futures Volume Hits $1.6T as Spot Trading Slows on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Japanese retail and payments firms are taking the next step toward real-world stablecoin usage, with two separate developments aimed at easing the gap between crypto rails and everyday checkout flows.
Lawson will test yen-denominated stablecoin payments at a convenience-store location in Tokyo in August, while Netstars has launched a merchant service that lets businesses accept multiple stablecoins and settle in yen using existing terminals in many cases.
Key takeaways
Lawson’s August trial with HashPort and KDDI targets in-store stablecoin checkout—designed to limit merchant operational burden.
HashPort will provide a non-custodial wallet, with the store handling payment processing through its point-of-sale system.
Netstars’ new Stablecoin Pay supports USDC, USDT, and JPYC initially, operating on Solana and Polygon with MetaMask.
Netstars sets its merchant fee at 0.98% and says the service helps businesses settle in yen without managing exchange-rate complexity.
Lawson and HashPort set up a stablecoin trial inside Japan’s convenience-store flow
HashPort said on Monday that it has signed an agreement with Lawson and telecom group KDDI to run a pilot at the Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo. The test will evaluate whether stablecoin payments can be integrated into a typical convenience-store checkout workflow.
According to HashPort, participants will use the company’s non-custodial wallet. At the same time, the store will process transactions through HashPort’s point-of-sale integration, with the intent of avoiding the need for the merchant to open or manage crypto wallets directly.
The stated goal of the pilot is practical: to examine the requirements for integration, how the checkout process behaves under real retail conditions, payment processing time, and whether the wallet experience is usable for participants.
For investors and builders, the emphasis on checkout operations matters. Many stablecoin pilots fail to progress because merchants see payment acceptance as adding new staff workflows, extra systems to manage, or operational uncertainty around settlement and verification. By focusing on how stablecoin payments behave at a standard POS checkout, the companies are effectively testing whether stablecoin payments can fit within existing retail infrastructure rather than replacing it.
Netstars launches Stablecoin Pay for merchants accepting multiple stablecoins
In a separate push, Netstars launched Stablecoin Pay on Monday and opened applications for merchants that want to offer stablecoins as payment options. Netstars positions the service as a way to broaden stablecoin acceptance beyond single-asset pilots and toward ongoing merchant operations.
Per Netstars, the initial rollout supports three stablecoins: USDC, USDT, and JPYC. The service will run over both the Solana and Polygon networks, and MetaMask is listed as the supported wallet for the payment flow.
Netstars set the merchant payment fee at 0.98% and said it plans to expand wallet and blockchain support over time.
A key part of Netstars’ pitch is how merchants handle pricing and records. The company says merchants can use existing payment terminals in most cases and manage product pricing, sales records, and settlement in yen even if customers pay with dollar-denominated stablecoins. Netstars also claims this reduces the need for merchants to hold crypto or actively manage exchange-rate mechanics.
From pilots to merchant services under Japan’s regulated stablecoin framework
Netstars’ product launch follows earlier trials carried out in Japan. The company previously tested in-store USDC payments at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from January to February, and later conducted trials at a trading-card store in Himeji starting in April. The move from limited testing environments to a merchant-facing service suggests Netstars believes operational learnings from those pilots are now mature enough to support broader commercial deployment.
These developments arrive as Japan’s stablecoin ecosystem continues to take shape under a dedicated regulatory approach. On June 1, 2023, Japan introduced a specific framework for stablecoins after amendments to the Payment Services Act and related laws took effect. The framework created regulatory categories for fiat-linked stablecoins and requires intermediaries to register with the Financial Services Agency.
The regulatory pathway has continued to expand: Cointelegraph previously reported regulatory approval for USDC distribution in March 2025. Separately, Cointelegraph noted JPYC’s registration as a fund transfer service provider in August of the same year—before JPYC launched in October, according to the reporting.
Against that backdrop, Lawson’s planned yen-stablecoin payment trial and Netstars’ multi-stablecoin merchant service reflect a broader pattern: Japanese firms are not only experimenting with stablecoin payments, but also aligning them with existing retail systems and the compliance expectations created by Japan’s framework.
What to watch next
In the near term, the most important details will be how smoothly each trial handles real checkout conditions—especially payment processing time, the usability of non-custodial wallets in a retail setting, and whether merchants can keep yen settlement workflows simple as stablecoins diversify. Readers should also watch how Netstars expands wallet and network support after the initial USDC, USDT, and JPYC rollout.
HashPort announcement on the Lawson-KDDI stablecoin trial
Netstars announcement on Stablecoin Pay
Japan Financial Services Agency: stablecoin framework introduction (June 1, 2023)
Related Cointelegraph coverage (as referenced in the source)
This article was originally published as Lawson Trial Enables Yen Stablecoin Payments as Netstars Adds Merchants on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Japanese payments adoption is moving from small pilots toward more practical, merchant-ready stablecoin use. Lawson, one of Japan’s best-known convenience-store chains, will trial yen-denominated stablecoin payments inside a real store checkout flow this August, while Netstars has launched a service that lets merchants accept multiple stablecoins as payment options.
Together, the two developments highlight how Japan’s regulated stablecoin environment is increasingly focused on integration details—how payments happen at the register, how merchants settle in yen, and what wallet or infrastructure customers need.
Key takeaways
Lawson will run an August trial of yen-denominated stablecoin payments at a Tokyo location, using HashPort’s non-custodial wallet and Lawson’s existing point-of-sale system.
The Lawson pilot is designed to test whether stablecoins can fit smoothly into standard convenience-store checkout operations without merchants managing crypto wallets.
Netstars launched “Stablecoin Pay” for merchants, initially supporting USDC, USDT, and JPYC via the Solana and Polygon networks.
Netstars says its setup helps merchants price and settle in yen while customers pay with dollar-denominated stablecoins, aiming to reduce crypto and exchange-rate handling for merchants.
Lawson and HashPort test stablecoin checkout in a real store
On Monday, blockchain company HashPort said it has signed an agreement with Lawson and telecom group KDDI to conduct a trial at the Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo. According to HashPort’s announcement on PRTimes, participants will use HashPort’s non-custodial wallet, while the store will process payments through HashPort’s point-of-sale integration—without the store needing to open or manage crypto wallets.
The stated goal is practical: determine how stablecoin payments can be integrated into Japan’s everyday retail infrastructure, specifically within the checkout flow of a convenience store. That matters because “accepting crypto” can look very different at the register compared with an online checkout, especially when merchants want predictable operations and minimal changes to store systems.
Before expanding beyond the pilot, the companies plan to evaluate integration requirements, checkout operations, payment processing times, and whether the wallet experience is usable for customers. The emphasis on operational metrics suggests the trial is as much about systems fit as it is about payment settlement.
Netstars rolls out a merchant service for multi-stablecoin payments
In a separate move, Netstars launched a merchant-facing product called Stablecoin Pay. The company’s announcement, also published on PRTimes, opens applications for merchants that want to offer multiple stablecoins as payment options.
Stablecoin Pay initially supports three stablecoins: USDC, USDT, and JPYC (a yen-denominated stablecoin). Netstars says these can be used through the Solana and Polygon networks, with MetaMask as the supported wallet. The company set its merchant payment fee at 0.98% and said it plans to add more wallet and blockchain support over time.
Netstars also described how the service is intended to work from a merchant operations perspective. It says that merchants can use existing payment terminals in most cases and manage product pricing, sales records, and settlement in yen even when customers pay with dollar-denominated stablecoins. In its framing, that reduces the need for merchants to hold crypto or handle exchange-rate complexity.
Netstars’ timeline also matters for context. The company’s commercial launch follows earlier trials it ran using USDC payments—first at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from January to February, and later at a trading-card store in Himeji starting in April, according to Netstars’ trial references. The new merchant service marks a step from location-based tests toward a broader offer aimed at business operators.
Japan’s stablecoin rules are shaping real-world product design
Both projects land in the context of Japan’s evolving stablecoin regulatory landscape. Japan introduced a dedicated stablecoin framework on June 1, 2023, when amendments to the Payment Services Act and related laws took effect. The framework created regulatory categories for fiat-linked stablecoins and requires intermediaries operating in certain capacities to register with Japan’s Financial Services Agency.
Subsequent regulatory milestones have helped specific stablecoin products become usable in Japan. Coverage noted that USDC received regulatory approval for distribution in March 2025. JPYC later registered as a fund transfer service provider that August—before the stablecoin launched in October, based on prior reporting.
For merchants and payment providers, the practical takeaway is that regulatory compliance increasingly informs product architecture. Netstars’ approach—settling in yen while accepting multiple stablecoins—reflects a design choice that keeps everyday commerce consistent for retailers. HashPort and Lawson’s trial similarly focuses on minimizing merchant operational burden by routing payment processing through an integrated point-of-sale flow and using a non-custodial customer wallet.
What to watch next for stablecoin payments in Japan
As these trials and merchant products progress, the key uncertainties are less about whether stablecoins can be transferred and more about whether the entire user-and-merchant workflow feels seamless. For Lawson’s pilot, readers should watch reported integration and checkout performance metrics—especially usability and processing time. For Netstars’ Stablecoin Pay, monitoring merchant onboarding, additional supported wallets and blockchains, and continued evidence of smooth yen settlement will indicate whether multi-stablecoin payments can scale beyond early pilots.
This article was originally published as Japan Retail Trial Uses Stablecoin Payments as Lawson and Netstars Expand on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

40% of what you read on LinkedIn is written by AI. And the executive who promised to fix it didn’t write that promise themselves.
The Most LinkedIn Thing That Has Ever Happened
A LinkedIn executive recently announced that the platform would detect and downrank AI-generated posts using an in-house algorithm.
The announcement itself was AI-generated.
Read that again. Let it land.
The person responsible for fighting AI inauthenticity on LinkedIn used AI to write the message telling users they were fighting AI inauthenticity.
This isn’t satire. This isn’t a hypothetical. This happened. And it is the most perfectly LinkedIn thing that has ever occurred on LinkedIn.
The Numbers Behind The Irony
Pangram, a research-first AI detection company, just released data from 1 million posts scanned across LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Reddit, Medium, and Substack.
The findings are worse than you think:
LinkedIn is the most AI-saturated platform on the internet.
More than 40% of longform LinkedIn posts are fully AI-generated. LinkedIn posts made up a third of all scanned items, but accounted for nearly two-thirds (62%) of all AI content flagged across every platform.
For context:
Reddit: 4.4% AI content
X/Twitter: 10% AI content
Substack: 21.9% AI or AI-assisted
LinkedIn: 40%+ fully AI-generated longform
The platform built around professional identity and real names is more AI-saturated than the platform built around anonymity.
Let that sink in.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Professional Identity
Here’s what the data reveals that nobody wants to say out loud:
People are more willing to fake their professional voice than their anonymous one.
On Reddit, where nobody knows who you are, 98.1% of replies are human-authored. People show up as themselves, messy, unpolished, real.
On LinkedIn, where your real name, photo, job title, and company are attached to every post, 40% of longform content is generated by AI.
The platform designed around authentic professional identity is the least authentic platform on the internet.
Why? Because professional stakes are higher. On LinkedIn, every post is supposed to demonstrate your expertise, your thought leadership, your professional value. The pressure to perform is enormous.
So people outsource the performance to AI.
They’re not being lazy. They’re being strategic, in the most self-defeating way possible.
You’re building a professional reputation on LinkedIn using words you didn’t write, ideas you didn’t develop, and a voice that isn’t yours. And everyone’s doing it. So nobody notices. Until now.
What One In Four Longform Posts Actually Means
When you scroll LinkedIn, one in four posts over 250 words was written by an AI system.
Not AI-assisted. Not AI-edited. Fully AI-generated.
That means:
The “thought leadership” you just liked? Probably AI.
The “personal story” that resonated? Possibly AI.
The “industry insight” you shared? Potentially AI.
The connection request that seemed so genuine? Maybe AI.
And here’s the part that’s genuinely unsettling: you can’t tell. That’s the point. The AI is good enough now that the average reader can’t distinguish it from authentic human writing.
So you’re building professional relationships, making hiring decisions, forming opinions about people’s expertise, based on content a machine generated.
LinkedIn has become a platform where humans connect with AI personas attached to human faces.
LinkedIn’s Response Made Everything Worse
When LinkedIn discovered their platform was flooded with AI content, what did they do?
They announced, via AI-generated text, that they would use an in-house algorithm to detect and downrank AI content.
The layers of irony here are almost artistic:
The platform is flooded with AI content
A human executive presumably decides to address this
That executive uses AI to write the announcement
The announcement is about fighting AI inauthenticity
The announcement is itself inauthentic
Nobody at LinkedIn apparently caught this before publishing
This isn’t just ironic. It’s revealing. It shows how normalized AI-generated professional communication has become, even inside the companies trying to fight it.
The executive didn’t think twice. Of course you use AI to write a professional announcement. Everyone does. Even when the announcement is about everyone doing it.
The Feedback Loop Nobody’s Talking About
Here’s what happens when 40% of LinkedIn content is AI-generated:
Step 1: Humans post AI content because they see other humans getting engagement on AI content.
Step 2: LinkedIn’s algorithm surfaces the most engaging content, which includes AI content optimized for engagement.
Step 3: More humans see AI content performing well and generate more AI content to compete.
Step 4: LinkedIn’s feed becomes increasingly AI-saturated.
Step 5: LinkedIn announces they’ll fight AI content. Using AI.
Step 6: Repeat.
The platform has created a race to the bottom where authentic human content is algorithmically disadvantaged against AI content optimized for engagement. And the humans losing that race respond by also using AI.
This is not a technology problem. It’s an incentive problem.
LinkedIn rewards engagement. AI optimizes for engagement. Humans use AI to compete. Authenticity becomes economically irrational.
The Professional Reputation Paradox
LinkedIn exists for one reason: to build professional reputation and relationships.
Your reputation on LinkedIn is supposed to represent your actual professional value. Your writing demonstrates how you think. Your posts show your expertise. Your voice distinguishes you from the thousand other people with your job title.
Now 40% of that is generated by machines.
Which means 40% of professional reputations on LinkedIn are built on a foundation that doesn’t belong to the person claiming it.
When a recruiter reads your posts and thinks “this person thinks clearly and writes well,” are they evaluating you? Or evaluating GPT-4’s ability to impersonate a professional in your field?
When a client reads your thought leadership and trusts your expertise, is that trust earned? Or borrowed from a model trained on millions of documents you had no part in creating?
Professional reputation used to be built slowly, through demonstrated expertise over time. Now it can be generated in seconds.
And when everything can be generated in seconds, nothing signals actual expertise anymore.
The Platform That Knows And Doesn’t Care
LinkedIn knows about the AI slop problem. They announced they’d fight it.
But LinkedIn also has a built-in “Write with AI” button, recently rebranded “Enhance post,” but still offering AI writing assistance. The platform simultaneously fights AI content and encourages users to create it.
This isn’t hypocrisy. It’s business logic.
LinkedIn earns revenue from premium subscriptions and advertising. Premium subscriptions sell partly on the promise of greater visibility. Advertising revenue depends on engagement. AI-generated content drives engagement. More engagement means more advertising revenue.
LinkedIn’s financial incentives are aligned with more content, not more authentic content.
So they announce they’re fighting AI slop (using AI) while keeping the “Write with AI” button active (for engagement). They want the reputation of authenticity without the economics of it.
And they can maintain this contradiction because most users don’t notice, because 40% of what they’re reading is already AI and they’ve stopped being able to tell the difference.
What Real Authenticity Costs
Here’s the thing nobody’s saying:
Authentic content is expensive. AI content is cheap.
Writing a genuine thought leadership post takes hours. Thinking through a real position, finding the right language, editing for clarity. Hours.
Generating an AI post takes 30 seconds.
In a world where LinkedIn’s algorithm treats both the same, where engagement metrics don’t distinguish authentic from generated, the rational economic choice is AI.
The people choosing to write their own posts are paying a time premium for authenticity that the platform doesn’t reward.
Until LinkedIn structurally rewards authentic content with algorithmic visibility, with verified human authorship badges, with something that makes authenticity economically rational, the 40% will become 50%, then 60%, then 70%.
Not because people don’t value authenticity. Because the platform makes inauthenticity free and authenticity expensive.
The Question For Every LinkedIn User
When you post on LinkedIn, are you trying to communicate? Or perform?
Because those are different things. Communication is about sharing what you actually think with people who might actually care. Performance is about generating engagement metrics using whatever tool works best.
AI is a performance tool. It’s very good at generating engagement-optimized content that sounds like professional communication.
But it’s not communication. It’s simulation.
And LinkedIn has become a platform full of simulated professional communication, people performing expertise they may or may not have, in voices that may or may not be theirs, to audiences that increasingly can’t tell the difference.
The LinkedIn executive who announced they’d fight AI slop using AI content didn’t do it maliciously. They did it because it’s become completely normal.
That normalization is the actual problem.
What Comes Next
LinkedIn will deploy their algorithm. It will catch some AI content. The AI will get better at evading detection. LinkedIn will update the algorithm. Repeat.
Meanwhile, the 3% of users who write authentic content will keep getting outpaced by the 97% using AI until LinkedIn makes authenticity worth something.
Or until users start demanding it.
The Pangram Chrome extension lets users scan posts and flag AI-generated content as they scroll. It’s a band-aid on a structural wound. But it’s also evidence that some users are starting to care.
They’re not the majority. But they exist.
And they’re the audience worth writing for.
This article was originally published as LinkedIn Said It Would Fight AI Slop The Announcement Was AI-Generated on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Thailand’s central bank is intensifying oversight of stablecoin activity, aiming to reduce the use of digital assets in money laundering, illicit finance, and cash-linked “gray money.” The Bank of Thailand said it is working alongside the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission to audit high-volume stablecoin transfers, with a particular focus on USDT (USDT), cash movements, and currency exchange flows.
The effort is part of a broader anti-financial-crime push that targets suspicious funds that may originate from scams and other criminal operations. Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn told local media outlet The Nation that the changes are not meant to be a quick fix, but rather a continuous program requiring multiple parallel approaches.
Key takeaways
The Bank of Thailand and the SEC will audit high-volume stablecoin transactions, prioritizing USDT-related activity alongside cash and foreign exchange behavior.
New compliance expectations will extend beyond crypto—covering cash networks, currency exchanges, and gold bullion trading—where suspicious patterns may be linked to illicit flows.
Thailand plans tighter reporting rules for large cash transactions, including source-of-funds declarations and scrutiny of suspicious banknote exchanges.
Regulators are also seeking to address “gray money,” a category closely associated in the reporting with scam-linked proceeds.
The crackdown arrives after prior steps that reportedly affected a wider set of bank customers than intended, highlighting execution risks.
Why the stablecoin spotlight is widening
Stablecoins have become a common bridge for moving value quickly across borders, and Thai authorities are now treating that speed as a potential vulnerability when paired with illicit funding sources. According to the report, the central bank’s focus includes high-volume stablecoin transactions and the routes they may connect to—including exchanges between cash and different currencies.
Thailand is also emphasizing “gray economy” activity. While the article notes there are no reliable figures for the size of the gray economy, it cites a reported $3.4 billion in 2025 scam losses alongside 173 million scam calls and texts. Against that backdrop, regulators appear to be building out monitoring capabilities designed to detect suspicious transaction structures rather than relying solely on post-incident enforcement.
What regulators plan to monitor in practice
In addition to stablecoin transfers, the proposed surveillance program is described as expanding commercial bank compliance responsibilities across several channels. These include cash networks, currency exchanges, and gold bullion trading, alongside “suspicious stablecoin transactions.” The objective, as presented in the reporting, is to reduce the likelihood that regulated intermediaries help facilitate corruption or shadow-economy behavior.
The measures also include reporting requirements for cash activity. For example, the article says high-value cash transactions will require a source-of-funds declaration. It also notes that exchanging large volumes of big banknotes for smaller denominations without a clear business purpose will be monitored, suggesting authorities want to identify patterns consistent with laundering workflows.
The report further states that cash deposits above 5 million baht (about $150,000) will require full disclosure. For market participants, that signals a compliance posture that treats large cash movements as higher-risk, even when those funds never touch an on-chain wallet—an important point for Thai businesses operating between traditional finance and crypto-linked payment rails.
Crypto rules remain layered: legal trading, tighter stablecoin scrutiny
Thailand is often portrayed as relatively open to digital assets, but the central bank’s stance on payment uses remains restrictive. The article reiterates that stablecoin and digital asset payments are outlawed by the central bank, while crypto trading remains legal in the country. That creates a policy tension: while trading is permitted, authorities are still trying to prevent certain transaction uses that can support illicit behavior.
According to the report, Thailand’s largest exchange, Bitkub, handles roughly $26 million in daily volume. CoinGecko data cited in the article indicates that nearly 40% of that activity is tied to forex, with the USDT/THB pair noted as the most popular. This matters because stablecoins can function as a practical liquidity tool for currency-related trading—meaning monitoring efforts could intersect with everyday market operations even if the underlying business is legitimate.
Thailand’s regulatory tightening has not been a one-off. The article points to ongoing rule changes around crypto funding and compliance expectations for crypto businesses, suggesting the stablecoin surveillance push is part of a longer shift toward stronger enforcement rather than a sudden reversal.
Past enforcement backlash is shaping the risk calculus
The stablecoin monitoring initiative comes after a broader banking crackdown on suspicious accounts. The article says Thai banks restricted or froze accounts in 2025 as part of efforts to target mule accounts, gray capital, and other forms of suspicious activity, with reporting that three million bank accounts were frozen.
However, the same reporting notes that thousands of individuals and legitimate businesses were reportedly caught in the dragnet. Local coverage described the earlier campaign as a “scammer crackdown gone wrong,” indicating that the challenge for regulators is not only identifying illicit activity, but doing so without overreach that harms lawful users.
That context is important for investors and businesses because it raises the question of how authorities will balance enforcement intensity with precision. When surveillance expands across cash, forex, and stablecoin rails, false positives can become a recurring operational risk—particularly for firms and customers that frequently move between cash and digital currency due to normal commercial activity.
Thailand’s next signals will likely come from how the audit process is implemented in practice—especially whether regulators publish clearer thresholds, how they define “suspicious” stablecoin transactions, and what remedies are available when compliance actions mistakenly affect legitimate customers. For market participants, the key watch item is how USDT-related flows, cash reporting requirements, and banking compliance obligations converge during enforcement and audits.
This article was originally published as Thailand Central Bank Starts Auditing USDT as Gray-Market Crackdown Grows on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Australian crypto exchange Swyftx says AI-enabled microbusinesses and freelancer work could meaningfully expand stablecoin usage over the next decade, particularly for cross-border payments that are often too slow or too expensive for traditional rails.
In a second-quarter industry report, Swyftx projected that the global gig and freelance payments market could grow to $2.1 trillion by 2033, with AI-native workers contributing $775 billion of that total. In its base-case scenario, Swyftx estimated that $262 billion of payments from the AI-native cohort could be settled using stablecoins, assuming an adoption rate of roughly 33%.
Key takeaways
Swyftx forecasts gig and freelance payments could reach $2.1T by 2033, with AI-native workers accounting for $775B.
Under a base-case adoption assumption (about 33%), Swyftx projects $262B of AI-native payment volume could be settled in stablecoins.
Swyftx argues small firms (fewer than five employees) are moving quickly toward AI adoption, potentially expanding the addressable remittance-like use case for stablecoins.
The exchange links stablecoin demand to fee savings and faster settlement compared with conventional cross-border payment systems.
Swyftx estimates related “institutional settlement” services could generate up to $1.3B in revenue by 2033 if certain cost assumptions hold.
Why Swyftx thinks AI microbusinesses will push stablecoin volume
Swyftx’s thesis centers on a convergence: accelerating adoption of AI tools among smaller businesses and workers, alongside persistent friction in international payments. According to Pav Hundal, lead market analyst at Swyftx, the trend isn’t just about technology—stablecoin uptake depends on whether the incentives and operational conditions make it worthwhile.
“Adoption doesn’t happen just because the technology exists. It happens when the economics are compelling, and the rules are clear. For stablecoins, both of those conditions are now falling into place.”
The report frames stablecoins as a direct beneficiary of payment utility demand. Swyftx notes that stablecoin market capitalization has doubled over the past two years and that stablecoins reached a record $1.79 trillion in volume in June, citing this as evidence that use cases are expanding beyond speculation.
Small firms, solo founders, and cross-border invoices
A key part of Swyftx’s argument is that the “center of gravity” for AI adoption may be shifting. The exchange says the smallest firms—those with fewer than five employees—are among the fastest-moving participants in adopting AI. In its view, this shift has helped create a new class of solo entrepreneurs who can operate like microbusinesses while serving global clients.
Swyftx estimates solo workers number between six and 10 million today, with a projection that they could reach 17 million over the next decade. It argues these workers frequently invoice across borders and typically deal with payment sizes and timing patterns that are not well optimized by conventional banking and payment infrastructure.
Because these solo founders are likely to be particularly sensitive to remittance and transaction fees, Hundal described the market as “potentially chunky” for stablecoins—suggesting that small savings per transfer could compound into substantial aggregate demand.
Swyftx also suggests that if its stablecoin settlement projections materialize, the benefits may not stop at end users. It says the “institutional settlement layer” beneath these payments—over-the-counter liquidity, custody, and yield services for platforms routing payments—could capture a new revenue stream. In its scenario, that revenue opportunity could reach as much as $1.3 billion by 2033, contingent on the assumption that total transaction, liquidity, and custody costs sum to 0.5%.
Speed and cost: stablecoins versus traditional cross-border payments
Swyftx contrasts stablecoin transfers with what it describes as the shortcomings of traditional cross-border rails: high fees, settlement processes that can take multiple days, and limited availability in more than 50 countries.
To illustrate potential savings, Swyftx points to stablecoin transfers using Ethereum layer-2 networks. It claims such transfers can reduce fees by 80% to 90%, and it cites an example in which the average freelancer could save about 86% per year in transfer fees. The implication for investors and builders is straightforward: stablecoin adoption tends to be strongest where it meaningfully improves the cost-benefit equation of moving money internationally—especially for frequent or recurring small-to-mid size payments.
Separately, the report references the “agentic AI payment” narrative as another driver of stablecoin volume. The reasoning, as Swyftx frames it, is that AI agents will not have direct access to bank accounts, so they will likely rely on crypto-based rails to execute payments. While the report does not provide quantified forecasts specifically tied to autonomous agent payments, it treats the payments workflow gap as a structural reason stablecoins may be used more often.
What to watch as the stablecoin use case evolves
For readers tracking where stablecoin demand could go next, Swyftx’s projections highlight two variables to monitor: how quickly smaller businesses and solo operators translate AI adoption into real payment workflows, and whether the economics of stablecoin settlement—fees, liquidity, custody, and routing—continue improving enough to sustain wider usage. The next question is not only whether AI becomes more common, but whether stablecoin infrastructure can meet the operational needs at scale.
This article was originally published as Swyftx: AI microbusinesses may boost stablecoin use to $262B by 2033 on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Australia-based crypto exchange Swyftx says the next wave of stablecoin usage may come from the people and businesses already pushing against the limits of traditional payments: gig workers, freelancers, and AI-enabled solo operators. In a second-quarter industry report, the exchange links the expanding gig economy—particularly cross-border freelance work—to a potential jump in stablecoin settlement.
The report models a global gig and freelance payments market that could grow to $2.1 trillion by 2033, with AI-native workers representing a $775 billion portion of that total. Under Swyftx’s base-case assumptions, about $262 billion of that AI-native payment volume could be settled using stablecoins, implying adoption of roughly 33% for the modeled cohort.
Key takeaways
Swyftx projects gig and freelance payments could reach $2.1 trillion by 2033, with AI-native workers accounting for $775 billion.
In its base case, Swyftx estimates $262 billion of AI-native payment volume could be settled in stablecoins at an assumed ~33% adoption rate.
The exchange points to solo entrepreneurs and small businesses as among the fastest-moving in AI adoption, creating a new customer segment sensitive to fees.
Swyftx cites stablecoin transaction volumes rising to a record $1.79 trillion in June, reinforcing the idea that payment utility demand is real.
It argues stablecoins can outperform cross-border rails on cost and speed, particularly for frequent, cross-border invoices.
Why gig work and AI-native labor are central to stablecoin demand
Swyftx’s thesis starts with who is paying and how often. The exchange argues that the smallest employers—firms with fewer than five employees—are adopting AI at a faster pace than larger organizations. That shift, it says, contributes to a rise in solo entrepreneurs who operate across borders and invoice frequently.
Because these workers often face payment amounts and settlement rhythms that standard banking and payment infrastructure are not optimized for, Swyftx frames stablecoins as a natural fit. It estimates there are currently about 6 million to 10 million solo workers globally, projecting growth to 17 million over the next decade.
Lead market analyst Pav Hundal told Cointelegraph that the appeal of stablecoins is increasingly tied to economics rather than just technology. “Adoption doesn’t happen just because the technology exists. It happens when the economics are compelling, and the rules are clear,” Hundal said, adding that both conditions are “falling into place.”
Stablecoin volumes are already signaling payment utility
The exchange’s predictions build on recent usage trends. Swyftx notes stablecoins have doubled in market capitalization over the past two years and reached a record $1.79 trillion in volume in June—figures Swyftx presents as evidence of growing payment demand.
The report also emphasizes that stablecoin activity is not only about end users; it can extend to the “settlement layer beneath” the payment routes. Swyftx suggests that if its modeled scenario develops, the infrastructure supporting settlements—such as over-the-counter liquidity, custody, and yield services used by platforms—could capture a new revenue stream.
In that framework, Swyftx estimates this could reach as much as $1.3 billion by 2033, assuming total transaction, liquidity, and custody costs of 0.5% across the relevant payments.
For context, earlier coverage from Cointelegraph highlighted the June record by noting stablecoin transaction volume at $1.79 trillion and linking it to broader payment-oriented narratives. Stablecoin transaction volume hits record $1.79T in June
Lower fees, faster settlement, and a more global customer base
In Swyftx’s account, traditional cross-border payment rails tend to impose three frictions that matter most to frequent freelancers: high fees, multi-day settlement windows, and uneven availability across jurisdictions. The exchange also asserts that many rails exclude users in more than 50 countries, which can limit the addressable freelance base.
To illustrate the potential advantage, Swyftx points to stablecoin transfers using Ethereum layer-2 networks as an example of how costs and time can improve. It claims such transfers can cut fees by 80% to 90%, saying an average freelancer could save about 86% per year in transfer fees under the cited example.
The report also ties the stablecoin payments outlook to the broader “agentic AI” narrative. Swyftx argues that AI agents—unlike human users—cannot easily obtain bank accounts. As a result, it says they will likely rely on crypto-based assets to execute payments.
That point aligns with earlier Cointelegraph reporting on the idea that autonomous AI agents with crypto access could become a meaningful payments driver. Autonomous AI agents with crypto access could become unstoppable
What investors should watch next
Swyftx’s projections are directionally clear—stablecoins may benefit as AI-native work increases and small operators demand cheaper, faster international settlement. The key uncertainty is adoption: the exchange’s base case assumes roughly one-third adoption of stablecoins within its modeled AI-native payment cohort by 2033. Traders and builders should watch whether stablecoin use keeps rising in real payment flows at the same pace suggested by recent volume records, and whether regulatory and on-ramps/off-ramps continue to make the “economics and rules” Hundal references more consistent across jurisdictions.
This article was originally published as Swyftx: AI microbusinesses may boost stablecoin volume to $262B by 2033 on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Thailand’s central bank is tightening its scrutiny of stablecoin activity as part of a broader campaign against money laundering, illicit finance and what officials describe as “gray money” flowing through cash-heavy channels. The Bank of Thailand says it is working alongside the Securities and Exchange Commission to audit high-volume stablecoin transfers—particularly those involving USDT—to uncover suspicious patterns and disrupt illicit funds.
According to local media outlet The Nation, Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said the response is designed to be ongoing rather than a one-time intervention. The push comes as stablecoins remain attractive for large cross-border movements due to fast settlement times.
Key takeaways
Thailand’s Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission plan to audit high-volume stablecoin transactions, with a specific focus on USDT (USDT).
The surveillance effort targets multiple channels, including cash transactions, currency exchanges and “suspicious stablecoin transactions,” to prevent regulated entities from being used for illicit flows.
New rules expand compliance obligations for banks across cash networks and currency exchange activity, including source-of-funds declarations for certain high-value cash deals.
Cash deposit thresholds are also being tightened: deposits above 5 million baht (about $150,000) require full disclosure, and large exchanges of big notes for smaller denominations may be monitored if they lack a clear business rationale.
The crackdown is set against a backdrop of prior anti-scam measures that resulted in widespread account restrictions in 2025, according to earlier reporting.
Why Thailand is turning attention to stablecoin flows
The Bank of Thailand’s initiative is aimed at identifying illicit financial activity that can be hidden within high-volume transfers. The focus on stablecoins—especially USDt (USDT)—reflects their growing role as a transfer mechanism across borders, where near-instant settlement can make transactions harder to slow down or interrupt through traditional payment monitoring.
Thailand’s authorities are also targeting what they call the “gray economy,” a category that the article describes largely as cash that may have originated from suspicious activities, including scam call centers that have spread across the region. While the piece notes there are no reliable overall figures for the gray economy, it cites reported scam losses of 115 billion THB (about $3.4 billion) in 2025, alongside roughly 173 million scam calls and texts recorded.
For market participants, the implication is clear: even where crypto trading is regulated or legal, stablecoin transfer activity may face increased compliance scrutiny—particularly when transaction behavior resembles laundering patterns or attempted integration of illicit funds into legitimate financial systems.
What Thailand’s surveillance and compliance expansion includes
Beyond stablecoins, the planned measures would extend existing compliance expectations across several financial touchpoints. The reporting says the initiative will expand how commercial banks handle monitoring duties for cash networks, currency exchanges, gold bullion trading and suspicious stablecoin activity.
Among the specific steps highlighted in the article:
High-value cash transactions would require a source-of-funds declaration.
Banks and related institutions would monitor large exchanges of major banknotes for smaller denominations when there is no clear business justification.
Cash deposits exceeding 5 million baht (about $150,000) would require full disclosure.
These provisions matter because they shift compliance from a reactive model—where suspicious activity is addressed only after the fact—to a more structured approach focused on documentation and transaction context. In practice, businesses and individuals moving cash at scale may face added paperwork burdens, while intermediaries may need tighter internal controls to flag unusual flows earlier.
The measures also reinforce a message Thailand has been sending for some time: stablecoin use and broader digital-asset payments do not fall into a completely hands-off category. Even with a thriving domestic market for crypto trading, policy authorities continue to tighten oversight around how digital assets interact with the traditional financial system.
Thailand’s crypto environment: legal trading, tighter rules for payments
The article reiterates that Thailand’s central bank has previously outlawed stablecoin and digital asset payments, even while crypto trading itself remains legal. It also points to ongoing regulatory tightening affecting crypto businesses.
Still, activity is visible. The piece cites CoinGecko data indicating Thailand’s largest exchange, Bitkub, is seeing about $26 million in daily volume. However, it also notes that close to 40% of that volume is attributed to forex, with the USDT/THB trading pair described as the most popular.
This split between legal trading and restricted payments is important for traders and compliance teams. Increased stablecoin monitoring could affect liquidity patterns, exchange volumes, and how firms approach onboarding, transaction monitoring, and internal risk assessments—especially if authorities emphasize stablecoin transfers even when trading itself is permitted.
From anti-scam account freezes to stablecoin audits
Thailand’s stablecoin surveillance drive is landing after a major episode of enforcement actions targeting scams and “mule” accounts. The article references an earlier crackdown in 2025 in which banks reportedly imposed sweeping account restrictions and froze three million bank accounts.
But it also highlights that the operation reportedly ensnared thousands of individuals and legitimate businesses. Media coverage referenced in the article characterized the situation as a “scammer crackdown gone wrong,” emphasizing the risk of overreach when targeting illicit activity.
That background shapes how market participants may interpret the new stablecoin focus. It suggests regulators are trying to improve how they detect harmful activity—potentially by extending scrutiny to structured transfer mechanisms such as stablecoins—while still confronting the real-world challenge of avoiding collateral damage to legitimate users.
At the same time, the article signals that authorities plan to deploy “multiple parallel strategies,” rather than relying on one narrow fix. If implemented carefully, that approach could refine targeting over time; if not, it may again raise friction for compliant users who don’t fit laundering profiles.
For investors, exchanges, and compliance teams, the next question is how Thailand will operationalize this stablecoin auditing—particularly what qualifies as “high-volume” and what transaction behaviors trigger deeper review. Monitoring whether enforcement focuses narrowly on suspected illicit patterns or broadens to capture ordinary stablecoin usage will likely determine how disruptive the policy becomes for legitimate market activity.
This article was originally published as Bank of Thailand Targets USDT and Cash Flows in Gray-Market Crackdown on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) posted a net inflow of $197.4 million for the week ended Friday, ending an eight-week run of weekly outflows that dated back to May, according to data compiled by Farside Investors.
While the reversal is meaningful for market sentiment, the scale of the latest inflow remains small relative to the broader drawdown from investors. The same dataset shows that since May 11, investors have withdrawn $8.26 billion from US spot Bitcoin ETFs, underscoring how much positioning still needs to rebuild.
Key takeaways
Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $197.4 million in net inflows for the week ended Friday, ending eight consecutive weeks of outflows.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led with $291.9 million in inflows, more than offset by outflows across other major funds.
The rebound remains modest compared with $8.26 billion of net withdrawals since May 11.
Analysts caution the signal may be too early, given ongoing flow headwinds and typical summer seasonal patterns.
Spot Ether ETFs also turned positive, with $84.42 million in net inflows for the week, led by BlackRock and Fidelity.
Bitcoin ETF flows return to positive territory
Farside Investors data indicates that the week’s net inflow was driven largely by a strong performance in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, which reported $291.9 million in inflows. That buying was partially neutralized by outflows from several competitors, including the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF, the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, and the ARK 21 Shares Bitcoin ETF.
In other words, the “end of the streak” was not evenly distributed across the market—one major product absorbed most of the demand while others continued to see redemptions. For traders and allocators, this matters because it can indicate where new institutional or advisor flows are currently concentrating, even if the broader ETF complex is still working through prior positioning.
Is the flow reversal signaling a sustained turn?
Some analysts view a shift from repeated outflows toward inflows as evidence that demand is stabilizing. Still, not everyone believes the ETF data alone is enough to call an inflection.
Cointelegraph highlighted that the broader environment may be more complex than one week’s headline. One argument is that ETF flows could be influenced by factors beyond spot demand—such as stablecoin movement patterns and August/September seasonality. According to the article, 10x Research founder and CEO Markus Thielen said it may be premature to assume a durable recovery based on recent data.
Thielen told Cointelegraph, “There’s also been a pattern over the past few months where Bitcoin performs better in the first half of the month, then consolidates in the latter half. Without flows still pronounced and ETF flows yet to meaningfully pick up, even after Bitcoin’s 9%+ jump, the headwinds remain in our view.”
That perspective frames the flow reversal as a potential early warning rather than a full confirmation. For readers, the practical takeaway is to watch whether positive ETF weeks continue consecutively and whether inflows broaden from a single dominant issuer into the rest of the complex. If inflows remain concentrated and short-lived, the market may revert to consolidation even if spot price action improves.
Thielen also pointed to the importance of aligning flow signals with price behavior. The latest weekly inflow of $197.4 million may look supportive, but it stands out against the much larger withdrawal figure of $8.26 billion recorded since May 11, as referenced via SoSoValue.
Technical vs. fundamental debate: bear-market timing remains contested
ETF flows are only one part of the picture. Elsewhere, analysts have been debating whether Bitcoin is moving through—and beyond—the most difficult part of the cycle.
Cointelegraph reported that Real Vision chief crypto analyst Jamie Coutts suggested in earlier coverage that Bitcoin may be approaching the latter stages of the bear market, citing early technical indications that selling pressure is easing.
Coutts said, “I think we’re getting through most of the bear market action. It’s still not over, clearly. But you know, I think we’re approaching at least the second half,” according to the same Cointelegraph reporting.
Yet other market participants remain more cautious about timing. Cointelegraph noted that Russell Thompson, chief investment officer at asset manager Hilbert Capital, believes Bitcoin is still in a downcycle and could revisit a low around October.
That contrast between “bear market later stages” and “downcycle lows still ahead” is a reminder that flow stabilization does not automatically translate into a finished market bottom. Price can improve while liquidity risks remain, especially if inflows are not broad-based across issuers or if redemptions resume quickly.
Ether ETF flows follow suit, but investors are still net out
The week’s positive momentum was not limited to Bitcoin. Cointelegraph reports that US-listed spot Ether ETFs also broke an eight-week outflow streak, posting $84.42 million in net inflows for the week ended Friday.
Farside Investors data cited in the article attributes the leading role to BlackRock and Fidelity’s Ether-focused products. Even so, the inflow magnitude remains relatively small compared with the larger withdrawal trend. The article notes that investors have pulled out $1.2 billion from Ether ETFs since May 11.
For portfolio managers, this matters because cross-asset ETF behavior can act as a barometer for overall institutional risk appetite. If both Bitcoin and Ether ETFs begin seeing sustained inflows, it could indicate a broader shift in allocation behavior. If only one asset repeatedly turns positive while the other continues to hemorrhage, it can suggest a more selective, thesis-driven buying environment rather than a sweeping re-risking cycle.
What to watch next is whether these ETF flow reversals extend into subsequent weeks—and whether outflows in the rest of the Bitcoin ETF lineup continue to fade rather than reappear. Until inflows become more persistent and less issuer-concentrated, investors may need to treat the latest improvement as a sign of stabilization rather than a confirmed trend reversal.
This article was originally published as Bitcoin ETFs See $197M Inflows, Breaking 8-Week Outflow Run on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds listed in the United States logged their first net inflow in eight weeks, according to Farside Investors data. For the week ended Friday, these products collectively recorded $197.4 million in net inflows—ending a streak of weekly outflows that began in May.
While the shift is notable, the broader picture remains mixed. Analysts told Cointelegraph that it may be premature to read too much into a single weekly turnaround, especially given the scale of prior withdrawals and ongoing questions around institutional demand.
Key takeaways
US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw net inflows of $197.4 million for the week ended Friday, ending an eight-week period of weekly outflows.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust accounted for the majority of the inflows, with $291.9 million, while several other funds posted outflows.
Despite the reversal, total withdrawals since May 11 remain very large—$8.26 billion, according to SoSoValue.
Ether spot ETFs also broke an eight-week losing streak, but net inflows were comparatively small versus cumulative outflows.
Bitcoin ETF flows turn positive—but the damage is still large
Farside Investors data shows most of the week’s inflows came from BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, which recorded $291.9 million in net purchases. That inflow was partially offset by outflows from Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust, Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, and the ARK 21 Shares Bitcoin ETF.
Even with this end to the outflow streak, the magnitude of recent history matters. SoSoValue data cited in the reporting indicates investors have withdrawn $8.26 billion from US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs since May 11. Against that backdrop, the $197.4 million weekly inflow can be seen as an early sign of stabilization rather than a full reversal of sentiment.
What analysts say: recovery may be tentative
Cointelegraph highlighted that the change in weekly flows could indicate institutional demand for Bitcoin is starting to recover after two months of sustained selling pressure. Still, not everyone thinks investors should interpret one week as a lasting trend.
Markus Thielen, founder and CEO of 10x Research, said it may be too early to conclude that the bearish flow cycle is over. He pointed to ongoing uncertainty around ETF flows and also the broader context of stablecoin flows, while noting seasonal patterns in August and September that can affect market behavior.
Thielen also referenced a recurring market pattern: Bitcoin historically tends to perform better in the first half of the month and then consolidates later. In his view, with “flows still pronounced” and ETF inflows not yet “meaningfully pick[ing] up,” headwinds remain.
That assessment underscores a key issue for traders and long-term allocators alike: the market may be reacting to improving conditions, but the inflow data is not yet strong enough to confirm a durable turn.
ETF trend vs. broader market debate on Bitcoin’s cycle
The weekly flow reversal arrives as parts of the market continue debating where Bitcoin sits within the broader cycle. Cointelegraph reported that Real Vision chief crypto analyst Jamie Coutts said Bitcoin could be entering the latter stages of the bear market, citing early technical signs that selling pressure may be easing.
At the same time, other analysts argue that further downside could still be ahead. Russell Thompson, chief investment officer at asset manager Hilbert Capital, told Cointelegraph that he views Bitcoin as remaining in a downcycle and suggested a potential low around October.
Taken together, the ETF data shift provides one piece of evidence that could support a stabilization narrative, but it does not settle the larger disagreement over the timing and depth of the next phase of the market.
Ether spot ETFs also reverse—yet outflows still dominate
Bitcoin wasn’t the only product showing a flow improvement. US-listed spot Ether ETFs also ended an eight-week losing streak, recording $84.42 million in net inflows for the week ended Friday. The inflows were led by BlackRock and Fidelity’s Ether funds.
However, as with Bitcoin, cumulative flow history remains the more important benchmark. The reporting notes that investors withdrew $1.2 billion net from US spot Ether ETFs since May 11. That puts last week’s $84.42 million inflow into sharper perspective: it is a reversal at the margin, but not enough on its own to indicate that the larger outflow trend has ended.
For investors tracking broader crypto adoption through regulated wrappers, this matters because it suggests a tentative bid for both assets—without yet demonstrating the sustained allocation increases that would typically be required to fully counteract prior selling pressure.
Looking ahead, investors will likely want to watch whether weekly ETF inflows can build beyond isolated reversals, and whether stablecoin and broader flow indicators confirm that demand is returning rather than merely reacting to short-term market moves.
This article was originally published as Bitcoin ETFs Pull in $197M as 8-Week Outflow Streak Ends on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.