CryptoPress

The number of U.S. merchants accepting Bitcoin has tripled over the past year, driven by businesses seeking alternatives to traditional credit card processing fees through layer-2 settlement rails. U.S. merchant Bitcoin acceptance tripled as retailers look to lower payment processing overhead. Lightning Network transactions allow businesses to bypass standard 2% to 3% credit card interchange fees for costs under a penny. Global retail Bitcoin usage increased 74%, reflecting broader worldwide adoption across point-of-sale systems. The acceleration in merchant adoption across the United States highlights a pivotal shift in how brick-and-mortar and e-commerce retailers view digital assets. Rather than treating cryptocurrency solely as a speculative asset or treasury reserve, merchants are increasingly deploying Bitcoin (BTC) as an operational payment tool to reduce transaction overhead. Traditional legacy payment rails, including major card networks, typically charge merchants between 2% and 3% in interchange and interchange-related processing fees on every sale. By contrast, transactions routed through the Bitcoin Lightning Network settle near-instantaneously and cost fractions of a cent, allowing merchants to preserve profit margins—especially in high-volume, low-margin retail sectors. This cost advantage has driven broader adoption beyond the U.S. border. Global retail usage of Bitcoin for merchant payments surged 74% over the same period. Modern point-of-sale (POS) integrations and turn-key checkout tools—which automatically convert received Bitcoin to local fiat currency—have eliminated volatility risks for merchants while offering total immunity from traditional payment chargeback fraud. Swapping out a 3% transaction tax for instant Lightning settlement provides an immediate boost to retail operating margins that businesses simply cannot ignore, noted payment integration analysts. As major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and specialized POS providers continue streamlining plug-and-play payment infrastructure, market observers expect merchant integration rates and everyday transaction volume to remain on an upward trajectory. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
The post US Merchant Bitcoin Acceptance Triples as Lightning Network Cuts Processing Fees appeared first on Cryptopress.

When Pavel Durov announced that Telegram would embed a non-custodial crypto wallet directly into every version of its billion-user app, the industry felt the tremor. This isn’t another incremental feature rollout—it’s a tectonic shift in how mainstream audiences will interact with digital assets.
For years, crypto adoption has been hampered by friction. Custodial wallets, clunky interfaces, and opaque fees kept the promise of peer-to-peer finance locked behind technical barriers. Telegram’s move obliterates those barriers. By offering instant, zero-fee transactions through the Gram token, the company is positioning itself as the gateway to mass crypto utility.
The contrast with Telegram’s existing custodial @wallet bot is stark. Custody has always been crypto’s Achilles’ heel—users trade convenience for vulnerability, trusting third parties with private keys. Embedding self-custody into the app flips that equation. It democratizes control, ensuring that ownership is not a service but a right.
Markets reacted predictably. Gram surged to an intraday high of $1.59, though it remains down nearly half from its May peak of $2.88. Skeptics will point to volatility as proof of fragility. But volatility is not the story here—distribution is. Telegram is about to put a crypto wallet in the hands of more people than any other company in history. That scale changes the narrative.
The implications ripple across the ecosystem. Exchanges, payment processors, and even banks will need to reckon with a world where a billion people can transact instantly without intermediaries. Stablecoins may dominate liquidity today, but Gram’s integration into a social platform with unparalleled reach could redefine settlement itself.
Critics will argue that Telegram is walking a regulatory tightrope. Governments are already wary of messaging apps doubling as financial platforms. Embedding a non-custodial wallet raises questions about compliance, anti-money laundering, and systemic risk. Yet, history suggests that innovation rarely waits for permission. Just as PayPal forced regulators to adapt in the early 2000s, Telegram may compel a new framework for digital self-custody.
There is also the philosophical dimension. Crypto was born to decentralize power, but adoption has often meant compromise—centralized exchanges, custodial services, and corporate intermediaries. Telegram’s wallet rollout is a return to first principles. It is a reminder that the true revolution lies not in speculation but in sovereignty.
Still, challenges loom. Gram must prove it can sustain utility beyond hype. Liquidity, developer adoption, and integration with broader DeFi ecosystems will determine whether Telegram’s wallet is a novelty or a cornerstone. If Gram becomes the default medium of exchange within Telegram’s social graph, it could evolve into the most widely used token in the world.
The stakes are enormous. Telegram is not just launching a wallet; it is redefining the relationship between communication and commerce. In one stroke, it is collapsing the distance between social interaction and financial transaction. That fusion could unlock a new era of digital economies—where sending a meme and sending money are indistinguishable acts.
Whether Gram stabilizes or stumbles, the precedent is set. Crypto is no longer a niche pursuit—it is becoming a native feature of global platforms. Telegram’s gamble is audacious, but audacity is often the catalyst of transformation.
The largest rollout of a non-custodial wallet in human history is not just a milestone—it is a manifesto. Telegram is declaring that the future of finance belongs not to institutions, but to individuals. And in doing so, it may have just rewritten the playbook for crypto adoption.
The post Telegram’s Billion-User Bet: The Gram Wallet Revolution appeared first on Cryptopress.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed that the CLARITY Act is ready for a full U.S. Senate floor vote following extensive bipartisan negotiations.
The revised market structure legislation incorporates key compromises on stablecoin rewards, non-custodial developer protections, and regulatory oversight split between the SEC and CFTC.
Key amendments include strict ethics rules prohibiting federal officials, including the U.S. President, from issuing or sponsoring digital assets for profit.
Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong announced that the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) is finalized and prepared for a full floor vote in the U.S. Senate, signaling a potential breakthrough for digital asset market structure regulation in the United States.
Speaking in a public video update, Armstrong emphasized that the proposed legislation represents a bipartisan compromise achieved after thousands of hours of negotiation between lawmakers, banking executives, and crypto industry advocates. According to Armstrong, the bill establishes a clear federal regulatory framework designed to foster domestic innovation while providing essential consumer protections and tools for federal law enforcement.
“We, with fingers crossed, think in the next few weeks we have a good chance of getting this bill to the full Senate floor,” Armstrong stated, describing the current draft as a balanced outcome where both the traditional banking sector and digital asset firms made significant concessions.
Legislative momentum picked up momentum after Senator Cynthia Lummis released an updated draft of the bill incorporating new ethics provisions sought by Senate Democrats. The amended text explicitly bans all federal officials, including the President, from issuing or sponsoring digital assets for personal financial gain, addressing key regulatory and political hurdles that previously threatened to stall the bill before the congressional recess.
A core element of the legislative compromise focuses on stablecoin reward models, which had drawn pushback from commercial banking lobbies. Under the updated agreement, passive yields paid to users merely for holding idle stablecoin balances are banned, whereas rewards linked to active transactions, network usage, or payments remain allowed. Furthermore, the framework formalizes regulatory division by allocating oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while granting statutory clarity to non-custodial software developers.
Following its 15-9 approval by the Senate Banking Committee, the CLARITY Act now awaits scheduling for a final Senate vote, representing the most advanced effort by U.S. lawmakers to establish comprehensive market rules for digital assets.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
The post Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Declares Crypto CLARITY Act Ready for Full Senate Floor Vote appeared first on Cryptopress.

The number of U.S. merchants accepting Bitcoin has tripled over the past year, driven by businesses seeking alternatives to traditional credit card processing fees through layer-2 settlement rails. U.S. merchant Bitcoin acceptance tripled as retailers look to lower payment processing overhead. Lightning Network transactions allow businesses to bypass standard 2% to 3% credit card interchange fees for costs under a penny. Global retail Bitcoin usage increased 74%, reflecting broader worldwide adoption across point-of-sale systems. The acceleration in merchant adoption across the United States highlights a pivotal shift in how brick-and-mortar and e-commerce retailers view digital assets. Rather than treating cryptocurrency solely as a speculative asset or treasury reserve, merchants are increasingly deploying Bitcoin (BTC) as an operational payment tool to reduce transaction overhead. Traditional legacy payment rails, including major card networks, typically charge merchants between 2% and 3% in interchange and interchange-related processing fees on every sale. By contrast, transactions routed through the Bitcoin Lightning Network settle near-instantaneously and cost fractions of a cent, allowing merchants to preserve profit margins—especially in high-volume, low-margin retail sectors. This cost advantage has driven broader adoption beyond the U.S. border. Global retail usage of Bitcoin for merchant payments surged 74% over the same period. Modern point-of-sale (POS) integrations and turn-key checkout tools—which automatically convert received Bitcoin to local fiat currency—have eliminated volatility risks for merchants while offering total immunity from traditional payment chargeback fraud. Swapping out a 3% transaction tax for instant Lightning settlement provides an immediate boost to retail operating margins that businesses simply cannot ignore, noted payment integration analysts. As major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and specialized POS providers continue streamlining plug-and-play payment infrastructure, market observers expect merchant integration rates and everyday transaction volume to remain on an upward trajectory. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.

<hr><ul> <li><strong>Robinhood Chain recorded 323,969 daily active users</strong> on July 21, surpassing Coinbase-incubated Layer-2 Base's 274,520 users.</li> <li><strong>Total value locked (TVL) on the network surged to $588.9 million</strong>, driven by strong inflows into lending protocols like Morpho and Ethena.</li> <li><strong>Memecoin trading accounted for the bulk of spot DEX volume</strong>, despite the chain's core focus on tokenized real-world assets and stock tokens.</li></ul><hr><p>Robinhood Chain has overtaken Coinbase’s Base in daily active users (DAUs) just three weeks after opening its mainnet to the public, marking a major shift in retail Layer-2 dominance.</p><p>On July 21, <strong>Robinhood Chain registered 323,969 daily active users</strong> compared to Base's 274,520, according to on-chain tracking data from Artemis. The Arbitrum Orbit-based Layer-2 network also set a fresh record high in <strong>total value locked (TVL) at $588.9 million</strong>, representing a 14% single-day jump from $514 million on July 20.</p><p>The network's daily active addresses first crossed above Base on July 11 before trading places throughout mid-July. Activity on the retail-focused chain has surged rapidly since its public mainnet launch on July 1, up from fewer than 1,500 daily active users in late June.</p><p>Spot decentralized exchange (DEX) volume on Robinhood Chain also edged ahead of Base, reaching <strong>$624 million in 24-hour volume</strong> compared to Base’s $603 million. Decentralized lending protocol Morpho currently commands the largest share of liquidity on the network, holding $260.6 million—or roughly 44%—of total TVL, followed by synthetic dollar issuer Ethena at 26%.</p><p>Despite being built to support tokenized stocks and real-world assets (RWAs), early transaction volume on the chain has been largely fueled by speculative activity. On-chain analysts estimate that <strong>memecoins represented nearly 80% of spot DEX activity</strong> across the network over the past week, while tokenized stock market capitalization stands at a modest $19.3 million across 36,170 holders.</p><p>While Robinhood Chain leads in recent daily user activity, Base maintains a significant advantage across core structural metrics. Base holds approximately <strong>$4.64 billion in DeFi TVL</strong>—roughly eight times that of Robinhood Chain—along with $4.84 billion in stablecoin supply and over $255 million in daily perpetual futures volume.</p><p><small>Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.</small></p>

BitMEX will cease all exchange operations on September 23, 2026, at 04:00:00 UTC.
New account sign-ups halted immediately; from August 26, 2026, users can only reduce existing positions with risk limits applied.
All open positions will be force-closed in an orderly manner ahead of the final shutdown deadline.
Users are strongly encouraged to close positions and withdraw funds as soon as possible to avoid post-closure account fees on remaining balances.
The platform, which invented the 100x leverage perpetual swap, reported no loss of customer funds to hacks in over 11 years of operation.
BitMEX, a foundational player in crypto derivatives trading since its launch in 2014, revealed on July 23 that it will permanently shut down its exchange operations effective September 23, 2026, at 04:00:00 UTC, following a strategic review by its owner, HDR Global Trading Limited. The official announcement described the move as a difficult decision made “with a heavy heart.”
In a post on X, the exchange stated: “Today, we share with a very heavy heart that BitMEX exchange will shut down its operations, effective 23 September 2026 at 04:00:00 UTC. … We want to reassure you that your assets remain fully safe and under your control during this transition period.” @BitMEX urged users to close positions and withdraw promptly, linking to the detailed blog post for the full wind-down process.
The timeline includes an immediate halt to new registrations. Starting August 26, 2026, at 04:00 UTC, risk limits will prevent new positions, allowing only reductions of existing ones. Open positions will then be force closed gradually to ensure an orderly exit, with any remaining automatically closed at the closure time. BitMEX emphasized that it may force close positions at its discretion and holds no responsibility for losses if users fail to act.
Post-closure, users can still log in to withdraw balances, but KYC’d accounts with funds left will face monthly fees of the greater of a USD 50 equivalent or 1% per annum on remaining balances. The company highlighted its long-standing commitment to security, noting it has never lost user funds to hacks in its entire history.
BitMEX’s legacy includes pioneering the perpetual swap contract with up to 100x leverage, a product that has since been adopted industry-wide. Data shows crypto perpetual swap volumes reached $61.7 trillion in 2025, an increase of $13.8 trillion from the prior year. Decrypt reported, citing CryptoQuant figures. While BitMEX’s prominence has waned relative to larger competitors, its closure represents a notable shift for traders who valued its early innovations in derivatives.
The announcement comes as the broader crypto trading ecosystem continues to evolve, with numerous platforms now offering similar leveraged products. BitMEX expressed pride in its contributions and encouraged users to explore other established venues for ongoing trading needs. All assets are stated to exceed liabilities per the platform’s Proof of Reserves.
The post BitMEX to Shut Down on September 23, 2026, Citing Strategic Review appeared first on Cryptopress.

BitMEX, pioneer of perpetual swaps, will close its crypto derivatives exchange Sept. 23, 2026, at 04:00 UTC. New sign-ups halted; close positions and withdraw funds by Aug. 26.
BitMEX, a foundational player in crypto derivatives trading since its launch in 2014, revealed on July 23 that it will permanently shut down its exchange operations effective September 23, 2026, at 04:00:00 UTC, following a strategic review by its owner, HDR Global Trading Limited. The official announcement described the move as a difficult decision made “with a heavy heart.”
In a post on X, the exchange stated: “Today, we share with a very heavy heart that BitMEX exchange will shut down its operations, effective 23 September 2026 at 04:00:00 UTC. … We want to reassure you that your assets remain fully safe and under your control during this transition period.” @BitMEX urged users to close positions and withdraw promptly, linking to the detailed blog post for the full wind-down process.
The timeline includes an immediate halt to new registrations. Starting August 26, 2026, at 04:00 UTC, risk limits will prevent new positions, allowing only reductions of existing ones. Open positions will then be force closed gradually to ensure an orderly exit, with any remaining automatically closed at the closure time. BitMEX emphasized that it may force close positions at its discretion and holds no responsibility for losses if users fail to act.
Post-closure, users can still log in to withdraw balances, but KYC’d accounts with funds left will face monthly fees of the greater of a USD 50 equivalent or 1% per annum on remaining balances. The company highlighted its long-standing commitment to security, noting it has never lost user funds to hacks in its entire history.
BitMEX’s legacy includes pioneering the perpetual swap contract with up to 100x leverage, a product that has since been adopted industry-wide. Data shows crypto perpetual swap volumes reached $61.7 trillion in 2025, an increase of $13.8 trillion from the prior year. Decrypt reported, citing CryptoQuant figures. While BitMEX’s prominence has waned relative to larger competitors, its closure represents a notable shift for traders who valued its early innovations in derivatives.
The announcement comes as the broader crypto trading ecosystem continues to evolve, with numerous platforms now offering similar leveraged products. BitMEX expressed pride in its contributions and encouraged users to explore other established venues for ongoing trading needs. All assets are stated to exceed liabilities per the platform’s Proof of Reserves.
2026 © Cryptopress. For informational purposes only, not offered as advice of any kind.

Telegram plans to introduce a native non-custodial Gram wallet across every version of its messaging app this summer, targeting more than 1 billion users with instant, zero-fee crypto transactions.
The initiative expands on the existing @wallet bot, which has already attracted over 150 million registered users operating in a partly custodial model.
Founder Pavel Durov described the development as the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history, with the Gram token rising roughly 7% following the announcement.
The move leverages recent performance upgrades to The Open Network (TON) blockchain and positions Telegram as a key on-ramp for mainstream crypto adoption and payments.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced plans to roll out a native non-custodial Gram wallet to every version of the Telegram app this summer, potentially bringing self-custodial cryptocurrency access and instant zero-fee transactions to more than 1 billion users worldwide.
The development, revealed on July 21, 2026, builds directly on Telegram’s existing Wallet bot (@wallet), which is operated by The Open Platform and currently serves over 150 million registered users in a partly custodial capacity. The new native implementation will be fully non-custodial, allowing users to retain full control of their private keys.
In a post on X, Durov stated: “This summer will see the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history. Instant zero-fee crypto transactions for over a billion users are about to become reality. We’re bringing a native non-custodial Gram wallet to every Telegram app! ” posted on X.
The wallet will support Gram, the native token of The Open Network (TON) blockchain, which was rebranded from Toncoin in June 2026. The announcement triggered a positive market response, with Gram’s price increasing by roughly 7% to trade above $1.52, resulting in a market capitalization of approximately $4.18 billion, according to reports.
Decrypt reported that the rollout aims to facilitate seamless crypto payments for small businesses and retailers within the app ecosystem, capitalizing on Telegram’s vast global user base, particularly in emerging markets where the platform is dominant.
Recent upgrades to the TON blockchain, including a 6x increase in block rate and faster transaction finality, have paved the way for this scale of adoption. Durov has previously outlined a multi-step plan to enhance the network’s performance and reduce fees further.
While the precise rollout timeline within summer 2026 has not been detailed, the phased deployment is anticipated to commence imminently. Observers highlight the potential for substantial growth in on-chain activity and user onboarding to non-custodial solutions, though success will depend on user experience, security measures, and navigating evolving regulatory landscapes across jurisdictions.
The post Pavel Durov Announces Native Non-Custodial Gram Wallet Rollout for Over 1 Billion Telegram Users appeared first on Cryptopress.

An estimated 50 million Americans now hold Bitcoin, surpassing the roughly 37 million who own physical gold, according to a report by Bitcoin financial services company River. The milestone highlights a dramatic generational pivot toward digital hard assets across the United States. U.S. Bitcoin ownership has reached approximately 50 million individuals (18.6% of American adults), compared to 37 million (10.8%) holding gold. The United States accounts for roughly 40% of the total global Bitcoin supply and 94.8% of all public corporate Bitcoin holdings worldwide. Four out of five Americans support converting a portion of national gold reserves into Bitcoin, with median recommendations ranging from 10% to 24% among younger cohorts. Data compiled by River—drawing on survey metrics from The Nakamoto Project and the Gold IRA Guide—indicates that roughly 18.6% of American adults now possess Bitcoin. By contrast, traditional physical gold ownership stands at 10.8%. The roughly 35% gap underscores how rapidly digital assets have achieved mainstream penetration compared to an asset class with a 5,000-year head start. America’s dominant position extends far beyond individual retail investors. U.S. entities currently control 40% of global circulating Bitcoin. Furthermore, U.S. publicly traded companies hold 94.8% of all corporate-owned Bitcoin on global balance sheets, led by major treasury accumulators. The federal government itself holds approximately 198,000 BTC, representing nearly two-thirds of all nation-state Bitcoin reserves globally. The acceleration in adoption is largely attributed to friction-free mobile access, regulatory developments, and broader distribution via spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) introduced by legacy financial institutions like Bank of America, Fidelity, and Vanguard. While gold still retains dominance among central banks and institutional balance sheets, Bitcoin’s monetization curve has outpaced gold’s early fund vehicles; Bitcoin ETFs reached $10 billion in assets within seven weeks, a benchmark that took gold ETFs over two years. “America’s story began with sound money. Hard-working Americans saved their wealth in gold-backed money. Today, Bitcoin carries that torch forward,” River stated in its adoption analysis. Public sentiment is also tracking the shift. A survey of 3,345 Americans conducted by The Nakamoto Project and Qualtrics found that 80% of respondents favor reallocating a portion of the U.S. national gold reserve into Bitcoin. Among investors under the age of 45, the median recommended allocation rose to 24%, emphasizing a structural demographic divide in perception of reserve assets. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
The post More Americans Now Own Bitcoin Than Gold as U.S. Dominates Global Crypto Holdings appeared first on Cryptopress.

An estimated 50 million Americans now hold Bitcoin, surpassing the roughly 37 million who own physical gold, according to a report by Bitcoin financial services company River. The milestone highlights a dramatic generational pivot toward digital hard assets across the United States. U.S. Bitcoin ownership has reached approximately 50 million individuals (18.6% of American adults), compared to 37 million (10.8%) holding gold. The United States accounts for roughly 40% of the total global Bitcoin supply and 94.8% of all public corporate Bitcoin holdings worldwide. Four out of five Americans support converting a portion of national gold reserves into Bitcoin, with median recommendations ranging from 10% to 24% among younger cohorts. Data compiled by River—drawing on survey metrics from The Nakamoto Project and the Gold IRA Guide—indicates that roughly 18.6% of American adults now possess Bitcoin. By contrast, traditional physical gold ownership stands at 10.8%. The roughly 35% gap underscores how rapidly digital assets have achieved mainstream penetration compared to an asset class with a 5,000-year head start. America's dominant position extends far beyond individual retail investors. U.S. entities currently control 40% of global circulating Bitcoin. Furthermore, U.S. publicly traded companies hold 94.8% of all corporate-owned Bitcoin on global balance sheets, led by major treasury accumulators. The federal government itself holds approximately 198,000 BTC, representing nearly two-thirds of all nation-state Bitcoin reserves globally. The acceleration in adoption is largely attributed to friction-free mobile access, regulatory developments, and broader distribution via spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) introduced by legacy financial institutions like Bank of America, Fidelity, and Vanguard. While gold still retains dominance among central banks and institutional balance sheets, Bitcoin's monetization curve has outpaced gold's early fund vehicles; Bitcoin ETFs reached $10 billion in assets within seven weeks, a benchmark that took gold ETFs over two years. "America's story began with sound money. Hard-working Americans saved their wealth in gold-backed money. Today, Bitcoin carries that torch forward," River stated in its adoption analysis. Public sentiment is also tracking the shift. A survey of 3,345 Americans conducted by The Nakamoto Project and Qualtrics found that 80% of respondents favor reallocating a portion of the U.S. national gold reserve into Bitcoin. Among investors under the age of 45, the median recommended allocation rose to 24%, emphasizing a structural demographic divide in perception of reserve assets. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.

Pavel Durov announces a native non-custodial Gram crypto wallet for 1B+ Telegram users this summer, enabling instant zero-fee transactions and boosting crypto adoption.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced plans to roll out a native non-custodial Gram wallet to every version of the Telegram app this summer, potentially bringing self-custodial cryptocurrency access and instant zero-fee transactions to more than 1 billion users worldwide.
The development, revealed on July 21, 2026, builds directly on Telegram’s existing Wallet bot (@wallet), which is operated by The Open Platform and currently serves over 150 million registered users in a partly custodial capacity. The new native implementation will be fully non-custodial, allowing users to retain full control of their private keys.
In a post on X, Durov stated: “This summer will see the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history. ⚡️Instant zero-fee crypto transactions for over a billion users are about to become reality. We’re bringing a native non-custodial Gram wallet to every Telegram app! 💎” posted on X.
The wallet will support Gram, the native token of The Open Network (TON) blockchain, which was rebranded from Toncoin in June 2026. The announcement triggered a positive market response, with Gram’s price increasing by roughly 7% to trade above $1.52, resulting in a market capitalization of approximately $4.18 billion, according to reports.
Decrypt reported that the rollout aims to facilitate seamless crypto payments for small businesses and retailers within the app ecosystem, capitalizing on Telegram’s vast global user base, particularly in emerging markets where the platform is dominant.
Recent upgrades to the TON blockchain, including a 6x increase in block rate and faster transaction finality, have paved the way for this scale of adoption. Durov has previously outlined a multi-step plan to enhance the network’s performance and reduce fees further.
While the precise rollout timeline within summer 2026 has not been detailed, the phased deployment is anticipated to commence imminently. Observers highlight the potential for substantial growth in on-chain activity and user onboarding to non-custodial solutions, though success will depend on user experience, security measures, and navigating evolving regulatory landscapes across jurisdictions.
2026 © Cryptopress. For informational purposes only, not offered as advice of any kind.

White House agrees to ethics package for the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act and sends language to Senate Republicans.
Trump personally signs off on provisions addressing officials’ conflicts of interest in digital assets.
CLARITY Act clarifies jurisdiction with CFTC for decentralized commodities like Bitcoin and SEC for security tokens; protects customer crypto in bankruptcies.
Senate committee approved 15-9 in May 2026; bill needs 60 votes before first week of August recess.
Trump’s $1.4 billion crypto income in 2025 disclosures heightened ethics negotiations involving World Liberty Financial.
President Donald Trump has agreed to ethics provisions for the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act, removing the last significant barrier to moving the landmark cryptocurrency regulation bill forward in the Senate.
The agreement was reached after months of negotiations and a July 16 meeting that initially failed to produce a deal. The Block reported an industry source saying, “We are now hearing Trump has agreed to an ethics provision.”
Eleanor Terrett reported hearing from multiple industry sources that the White House agreed on an ethics package and sent the language to certain Senate Republicans this afternoon, with participants hopeful it could clear the way for updated bill text soon.
The CLARITY Act represents the first comprehensive federal effort to regulate the digital asset industry. It would assign the CFTC primary jurisdiction over sufficiently decentralized digital commodities, including bitcoin, while leaving the SEC in charge of security tokens. Additionally, the legislation would establish customer-owned crypto as customer property in exchange bankruptcy cases, providing clearer protections than seen in prior collapses.
The bill cleared the Senate Banking Committee on a 15-9 vote in May 2026. Progress had been hampered by disputes over ethics rules designed to prevent presidents, vice presidents, lawmakers, and federal officials from profiting from digital assets while in office. These issues gained prominence following disclosures of Trump’s more than $1.4 billion in 2025 crypto-related income, much connected to World Liberty Financial.
Republican Sens. Bernie Moreno and Cynthia Lummis, along with White House adviser Patrick Witt, have been central to the talks. With the ethics hurdle cleared, attention now turns to releasing the updated bill text and securing the necessary votes in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats but need 60 to advance past a filibuster.
Bitcoin.com News indicated that the Senate has limited time, with recess looming in the first week of August, and prediction markets previously showing about 39% odds for 2026 passage.
Although this marks substantial progress toward regulatory certainty that could support broader institutional participation in crypto markets, the absence of public details on the ethics language and the requirement for bipartisan support introduce ongoing uncertainty. Stakeholders will watch closely for the bill text and any further amendments in the coming days.
The post Trump Agrees to Ethics Provisions for CLARITY Act, Advancing Landmark Crypto Bill appeared first on Cryptopress.

Bitcoin Nears $65,000 with Whale Accumulation and ETF Inflows
Bitcoin has stabilized around $64,000–$65,000, supported by significant whale buying (66,700 BTC added over 60 days) offsetting mid-sized holder sales. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $132M inflows recently, ending prior outflow streaks and signaling renewed institutional interest. This accumulation pattern is viewed as bullish, with resistance targeted at $67,000 ahead of key macro announcements.
The broader market shows resilience despite token unlock pressures. Ethereum traded near $1,870–$1,895, reclaiming trendline breaks with potential upside to $2,200+ if supports hold. These developments reflect a market transitioning from fear to cautious optimism, with on-chain metrics supporting a potential near-term push higher.
Other news:
Positive
KAITO token surges near 40% weekly gains on AI platform momentum and funding.
Ethereum technical breakout from descending trendline.
Strong daily performers like Pump.fun and Jito.
Neutral
Scheduled token unlocks for ZRO, KAITO, Humanity Protocol following vesting schedules.
Overall market cap stability with Bitcoin dominance around 58%.
Negative
Potential short-term selling pressure from unlocks impacting supply.
Lingering macro caution around FOMC and broader risk assets.
Top Movers & Opportunities
Recent movers include KAITO (strong weekly gains on AI hype), Jito (JTO), and various DeFi/meme tokens like Pump.fun showing 24h strength. Bitcoin remains the anchor with steady accumulation but limited explosive upside currently. No strong buy signals in overextended alts; focus on BTC for stability.
A BTC price volatility surge may be brewing, key indicator suggests: Crypto Daily.
The post Weekly Snapshot – Market Consolidation Amid Unlocks appeared first on Cryptopress.

Polymarket’s soccer category volume surged by 300% to surpass $2 billion as global football activity fuels record event-market trading. U.S.-regulated platform Kalshi reached a record aggregate open interest of $1.16 billion, crossing the billion-dollar milestone for the first time.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has established prediction protocols as primary venues for real-time sentiment and sport sentiment hedging. The 2026 World Cup has unleashed an unprecedented wave of volume across digital asset prediction platforms, with decentralized protocol Polymarket and CFTC-regulated exchange Kalshi reaching historic operational milestones driven by international football enthusiasm.
Polymarket’s dedicated soccer contracts generated over $2 billion in trading volume, representing a 300% surge compared to pre-tournament levels. Daily average volume for the platform’s football markets spiked from $53 million prior to kickoff to more than $220 million during peak match periods.
Concurrently, Kalshi achieved an all-time high open interest of $1.16 billion, marking a 350% year-to-date expansion driven by sustained institutional and retail positioning. The record figures demonstrate how major quadrennial sports tournaments are transforming prediction markets into essential financial venues for event hedging and real-time sentiment tracking.
Unlike short-term speculative spikes seen in meme assets, Kalshi’s steadily compounding open interest indicates traders are holding multi-week directional positions on tournament group stages and knockout brackets rather than executing high-frequency scalping.
The broader sports landscape has witnessed a parallel expansion of Web3 integrations, from official exchange sponsorships like Kraken supporting the tournament to expanded fan-token usage on dedicated layer-1 blockchains. As competition escalates on the pitch, market participants anticipate prediction market liquidity to remain elevated throughout the remainder of the summer tournament.
#FootballSeason2026
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
The post World Cup Boom Drives Polymarket and Kalshi to Record Prediction Market Volumes appeared first on Cryptopress.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies acquired 7,430 ETH last week, marking a sharp deceleration in its weekly accumulation pace. The firm redirected approximately $86 million toward repurchasing 5.5 million shares of its BMNR common stock. Bitmine’s total Ethereum treasury reached 5.78 million ETH, representing roughly 4.8% of the circulating supply. Ethereum treasury giant Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) slowed its token purchases last week, acquiring 7,430 ETH valued at approximately $14 million.
The company redirected capital toward equity repurchases, allocating nearly $86 million to buy back 5.5 million shares of its common stock. According to a company update released Monday, Bitmine executed the equity buyback at an average price of $15.61 under its previously authorized $4 billion share repurchase program.
The shift in capital allocation comes as the Las Vegas-based firm approaches its target of controlling 5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply. We view the purchase of our common shares as accretive to shareholder value, said Bitmine Chairman Thomas “Tom” Lee in a statement. Lee emphasized that the firm has maintained weekly Ether purchases continuously since initiating its corporate treasury strategy in mid-2025.
With its latest purchase, Bitmine’s total holdings stand at 5.78 million ETH valued at roughly $10.8 billion, representing 4.8% of the total circulating supply. The company’s balance sheet assets—which encompass crypto holdings, cash, and venture positions—reached $11.5 billion, including 207 Bitcoin, $385 million in cash and marketable securities, a $180 million stake in Beast Industries, and a $58 million holding in Eightco Holdings.
Bitmine continues to generate cash flow from its reserves via its institutional validator network, MAVAN. The firm has staked approximately 4.92 million ETH—about 85% of its total holdings—projected to deliver $247 million in annualized staking rewards. Investors responded favorably to the buyback news, with BMNR shares advancing over 4% in Monday trading as market participants endorsed the corporate capital management decision.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
The post Bitmine Slows Ether Buys to $14M, Directs $86M Toward Stock Buybacks appeared first on Cryptopress.

Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor has published a detailed critique opposing BIP-110, a proposed temporary soft fork to restrict non-monetary data storage on the blockchain.
The proposal, aimed at curbing “spam” like Ordinals and Runes to reduce node costs and bloat, would impose seven consensus changes for about one year and use a 55% miner signaling threshold for activation.
Saylor argues the “proposed cure is more dangerous than the condition,” advocating for neutrality, policy-based tools, and permissionless innovation instead of consensus restrictions that could set censorship precedents.
Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy, has intensified the debate over Bitcoin’s protocol governance by releasing an extensive post detailing 110 reasons why BIP-110 represents a flawed approach to addressing data storage on the blockchain.
In the post on X, Saylor acknowledges concerns from supporters about node operator costs, chain bloat from inscriptions and similar uses, and preserving Bitcoin’s focus on sound money. However, he contends that changing consensus rules to discourage certain valid, fee-paying transactions risks undermining the network’s core principles of neutrality and permissionless innovation.
BIP-110, formally the “Reduced Data Temporary Softfork,” proposes limiting scriptPubKeys to 34 bytes (with exceptions), capping pushed payloads and witness items at 256 bytes, prohibiting the Taproot annex and certain OP codes, and other restrictions for roughly one year. Pre-activation UTXOs would be grandfathered. The goal, according to proponents, is to lower validation and storage burdens for nodes while keeping block space prioritized for monetary transactions.
Saylor counters that such measures elevate contested judgments about “spam” versus legitimate use into protocol law, where Bitcoin cannot discern intent. He warns this creates a dangerous precedent: “The proposed cure is more dangerous than the condition.” Future disputes could similarly seek to exclude disfavored but valid activities through soft forks.
The proposal modifies activation mechanics with a lower 55% miner threshold (versus standard 95% in BIP 9), mandatory signaling, and an EXPIRED state, aiming for quicker deployment amid what authors call urgency. Saylor and critics argue this lowers the bar for contentious changes and increases risks of coordination failures or chain splits.
Supporters view it as essential protection for decentralization and node accessibility against growing non-financial data. Saylor maintains that better alternatives exist, such as improved relay policies, mining filters, fee markets, and pruning solutions, without altering consensus validity rules.
In coverage from CoinDesk, the debate is framed around Saylor’s opposition to using consensus changes for what he sees as a social or policy issue rather than a critical technical failure.
The debate highlights tensions in Bitcoin governance as the ecosystem evolves with Layer 2s, Ordinals, and other innovations. With discussions around an August timeline and reportedly low miner support, the outcome could influence perceptions of Bitcoin’s adaptability.
While the proposal seeks to safeguard the network’s monetary primacy, Saylor’s intervention underscores the importance of preserving optionality and neutral rules. “Bitcoin does not need guardians of purity. It needs guardians of neutrality,” he concluded in the detailed analysis.
The post Michael Saylor Pens 110 Reasons Against BIP-110, Warning of Greater Risks to Bitcoin Neutrality appeared first on Cryptopress.

ANJ ordered French ISPs to block Polymarket following a July 16, 2026 decision, viewing it as an unauthorized gambling platform.
Platform recorded 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique French users in June 2026 despite prior financial transaction restrictions.
Promotion of unauthorized gambling services carries potential fines of up to €100,000 ($114,000).
Polymarket is already geoblocked in 36 regions as regulatory scrutiny intensifies across jurisdictions.
France’s gambling regulator has ordered the country’s internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, the prominent crypto prediction market platform, in a move aimed at curbing what authorities describe as unauthorized gambling activities.
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) issued the order on July 16, 2026, determining that the platform promotes illegal gambling services not authorized under French law. In its official announcement, the ANJ stated that “prediction websites are considered illegal gambling” and emphasized concerns over addictive mechanics that lack the protective safeguards, such as self-exclusion tools, typically required in licensed gambling offerings.
The regulator highlighted the site’s dynamic display of real-time odds as a primary means of promoting these services to French audiences. It also referenced ongoing investigations, including a May 2026 probe by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office cybercrime unit into allegations of bet manipulation, such as weather event contracts potentially affected by tampered sensors.
This latest action follows earlier interventions. Since November 2024, ANJ had already mandated a block on financial transactions originating from France. However, data showed users continued to access the platform, resulting in 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in June 2026 alone, according to figures cited by the authority and reported in industry coverage.
Reporting from CoinDesk noted that France formally reclassified prediction markets as illegal gambling in February 2026, prompting the ANJ to urge users to exercise caution due to the absence of standard player protections.
Additional details from Cointelegraph indicate that Polymarket, which has seen billions of dollars in trading volume over the past two years, is currently geoblocked in 36 regions worldwide. The platform enables trading on event outcomes, a model that has attracted significant interest from crypto participants but also increasing regulatory attention in multiple countries.
France’s decision places it alongside other nations that have imposed restrictions on the platform, including several in Europe. While the block targets access within France, the broader implications for crypto traders and investors center on the evolving regulatory landscape for prediction markets, which some view as innovative tools for information aggregation and others as forms of unlicensed betting.
The ANJ indicated it remains vigilant and will continue monitoring the operator’s compliance efforts, including user identification and location verification measures. Polymarket did not provide an immediate public response to the latest directive at the time of reporting.
The post France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Over Unauthorized Gambling Concerns appeared first on Cryptopress.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies acquired 7,430 ETH last week, marking a sharp deceleration in its weekly accumulation pace. The firm redirected approximately $86 million toward repurchasing 5.5 million shares of its BMNR common stock. Bitmine's total Ethereum treasury reached 5.78 million ETH, representing roughly 4.8% of the circulating supply. Ethereum treasury giant Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) slowed its token purchases last week, acquiring 7,430 ETH valued at approximately $14 million. The company redirected capital toward equity repurchases, allocating nearly $86 million to buy back 5.5 million shares of its common stock. According to a company update released Monday, Bitmine executed the equity buyback at an average price of $15.61 under its previously authorized $4 billion share repurchase program. The shift in capital allocation comes as the Las Vegas-based firm approaches its target of controlling 5% of Ethereum's circulating supply. We view the purchase of our common shares as accretive to shareholder value, said Bitmine Chairman Thomas "Tom" Lee in a statement. Lee emphasized that the firm has maintained weekly Ether purchases continuously since initiating its corporate treasury strategy in mid-2025. With its latest purchase, Bitmine's total holdings stand at 5.78 million ETH valued at roughly $10.8 billion, representing 4.8% of the total circulating supply. The company's balance sheet assets—which encompass crypto holdings, cash, and venture positions—reached $11.5 billion, including 207 Bitcoin, $385 million in cash and marketable securities, a $180 million stake in Beast Industries, and a $58 million holding in Eightco Holdings. Bitmine continues to generate cash flow from its reserves via its institutional validator network, MAVAN. The firm has staked approximately 4.92 million ETH—about 85% of its total holdings—projected to deliver $247 million in annualized staking rewards. Investors responded favorably to the buyback news, with BMNR shares advancing over 4% in Monday trading as market participants endorsed the corporate capital management decision. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.

Polymarket's soccer category volume surged by 300% to surpass $2 billion as global football activity fuels record event-market trading. U.S.-regulated platform Kalshi reached a record aggregate open interest of $1.16 billion, crossing the billion-dollar milestone for the first time. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has established prediction protocols as primary venues for real-time sentiment and sport sentiment hedging. The 2026 World Cup has unleashed an unprecedented wave of volume across digital asset prediction platforms, with decentralized protocol Polymarket and CFTC-regulated exchange Kalshi reaching historic operational milestones driven by international football enthusiasm. Polymarket's dedicated soccer contracts generated over $2 billion in trading volume, representing a 300% surge compared to pre-tournament levels. Daily average volume for the platform's football markets spiked from $53 million prior to kickoff to more than $220 million during peak match periods. Concurrently, Kalshi achieved an all-time high open interest of $1.16 billion, marking a 350% year-to-date expansion driven by sustained institutional and retail positioning. The record figures demonstrate how major quadrennial sports tournaments are transforming prediction markets into essential financial venues for event hedging and real-time sentiment tracking. Unlike short-term speculative spikes seen in meme assets, Kalshi's steadily compounding open interest indicates traders are holding multi-week directional positions on tournament group stages and knockout brackets rather than executing high-frequency scalping. The broader sports landscape has witnessed a parallel expansion of Web3 integrations, from official exchange sponsorships like Kraken supporting the tournament to expanded fan-token usage on dedicated layer-1 blockchains. As competition escalates on the pitch, market participants anticipate prediction market liquidity to remain elevated throughout the remainder of the summer tournament. #FootballSeason2026 Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.

Michael Saylor opposes Bitcoin BIP-110, arguing the data limit proposal endangers neutrality and innovation, solving node bloat concerns at too high a cost.
Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy, has intensified the debate over Bitcoin’s protocol governance by releasing an extensive post detailing 110 reasons why BIP-110 represents a flawed approach to addressing data storage on the blockchain.
In the post on X, Saylor acknowledges concerns from supporters about node operator costs, chain bloat from inscriptions and similar uses, and preserving Bitcoin’s focus on sound money. However, he contends that changing consensus rules to discourage certain valid, fee-paying transactions risks undermining the network’s core principles of neutrality and permissionless innovation.
BIP-110, formally the “Reduced Data Temporary Softfork,” proposes limiting scriptPubKeys to 34 bytes (with exceptions), capping pushed payloads and witness items at 256 bytes, prohibiting the Taproot annex and certain OP codes, and other restrictions for roughly one year. Pre-activation UTXOs would be grandfathered. The goal, according to proponents, is to lower validation and storage burdens for nodes while keeping block space prioritized for monetary transactions.
Saylor counters that such measures elevate contested judgments about “spam” versus legitimate use into protocol law, where Bitcoin cannot discern intent. He warns this creates a dangerous precedent: “The proposed cure is more dangerous than the condition.” Future disputes could similarly seek to exclude disfavored but valid activities through soft forks.
The proposal modifies activation mechanics with a lower 55% miner threshold (versus standard 95% in BIP 9), mandatory signaling, and an EXPIRED state, aiming for quicker deployment amid what authors call urgency. Saylor and critics argue this lowers the bar for contentious changes and increases risks of coordination failures or chain splits.
Supporters view it as essential protection for decentralization and node accessibility against growing non-financial data. Saylor maintains that better alternatives exist, such as improved relay policies, mining filters, fee markets, and pruning solutions, without altering consensus validity rules.
In coverage from CoinDesk, the debate is framed around Saylor’s opposition to using consensus changes for what he sees as a social or policy issue rather than a critical technical failure.
The debate highlights tensions in Bitcoin governance as the ecosystem evolves with Layer 2s, Ordinals, and other innovations. With discussions around an August timeline and reportedly low miner support, the outcome could influence perceptions of Bitcoin’s adaptability.
While the proposal seeks to safeguard the network’s monetary primacy, Saylor’s intervention underscores the importance of preserving optionality and neutral rules. “Bitcoin does not need guardians of purity. It needs guardians of neutrality,” he concluded in the detailed analysis.