In brief
A reported breach of France’s tax authority exposed data tied to 678,437 people and businesses.
The records allegedly include income figures, addresses, tax identifiers, and family information.
The data could help criminals craft targeted scams against wealthy taxpayers and Bitcoin holders.
A hacker is selling a trove of French tax records that could expose more than 678,000 people and businesses, including Bitcoin holders, to phishing, identity theft, and targeted attacks.
According to a report by French cybersecurity outlet FrenchBreaches, a hacker is selling records allegedly stolen from France’s tax authority, the DGFiP, during a June breach for several thousand euros.
Myriad: Bitcoin's next move? Click to make your prediction.“More bad news for Bitcoiners living in the leading country for wrench attacks,” Chief Security Officer at Bitcoin security platform Casa Jameson Loop wrote on X. “The French tax authority has been hacked, and 678K records leaked.”
FrenchBreaches said the database contains records on 392,867 individuals and 285,570 professionals, including 26,805 people with reference tax income of at least $116,000, 386 above $1.16 million, and eight above $11.6 million; the hacker is reportedly offering the file for several thousand dollars.
FrenchBreaches said a sample of the leaked data included names, birth details, home and email addresses, phone numbers, income figures, withholding tax rates, family status, dependents, and tax-share information.
“There DGFiP officially confirms the intrusion in its information system,” FrenchBreaches wrote in an update. Stolen credentials were used in late June to access and extract taxpayer data, and the number of people affected remains under investigation, the firm added.
According to FrenchBreaches, the attacker used stolen VPN credentials and an internal search tool to extract names, contact details, tax identifiers, income figures, withholding rates, and family information before officials cut off access.
“A scammer with real tax information and knowing of the existence of an old approach to the DGFiP could, for example, construct a fraudulent message that is much more credible than a simple fake generic email,” FrenchBreaches wrote.
While the FrenchBreaches report focused on the data leak, it comes amid a rise in wrench attacks, in which criminals use violence or threats to steal cryptocurrency.
In July, CertiK reported 52 attacks worldwide during the first half of 2026, including 33 in France. Earlier this month, Chainalysis reported 46 attacks through June, including 30 in France, with more than $30 million stolen.
“Criminals have recognized that crypto holders are high-value targets because they possess wealth in an instantly and irreversibly transferable form,” Chainalysis wrote.
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DDC Enterprise, a company best known for selling Asian food products, saw its stock jump 46% in a single week. The catalyst wasn’t a new dumpling recipe. It was Bitcoin.
The NYSE American-listed company now holds 2,899 BTC, placing it among the top 30 publicly traded corporate Bitcoin holders worldwide. At an average acquisition cost of roughly $78,204 per coin, that stash carries an estimated value north of $181 million, a remarkable figure for a firm whose shares recently traded near $0.70.
From food to digital gold DDC Enterprise was founded in 2012 and went public on NYSE American in late 2023 under the ticker DDC. Its core business revolves around Asian food products, with fiscal year 2025 revenue hitting $39.2 million and positive Adjusted EBITDA.
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DDC has been aggressively stacking Bitcoin throughout 2025 and 2026, including a 200 BTC purchase in May and another 131 BTC shortly after. Those acquisitions were funded without issuing new equity, meaning existing shareholders didn’t get diluted.
The result: Bitcoin per 1,000 fully diluted shares climbed 53.3% year-to-date, now sitting at 0.060942 BTC. That metric matters because it shows the company is growing its Bitcoin exposure faster than its share count, a dynamic that directly benefits existing stockholders.
The company has projected revenue guidance of $19.5 to $20.5 million for the second half of 2026, suggesting it intends to keep the food business humming while treating Bitcoin as its principal reserve asset.
The MicroStrategy playbook, miniature edition If this strategy sounds familiar, it should. MicroStrategy, now rebranded as Strategy, pioneered the corporate Bitcoin treasury approach starting in 2020. DDC is running a similar playbook at a fraction of the scale.
Where Strategy holds hundreds of thousands of Bitcoin and commands a market cap in the tens of billions, DDC is a micro-cap stock trading near $0.70 with a 52-week range stretching from $0.39 all the way up to $14.67. On certain trading days, DDC shares have swung 15% to 18% intraday. Those moves tend to cluster around Bitcoin treasury announcements.
Why the 46% pop matters beyond DDC DDC’s 53.3% year-to-date increase in per-share Bitcoin exposure is genuinely impressive for shareholders who got in early. But the 52-week high of $14.67 versus the current price near $0.70 tells a cautionary tale about what happens when sentiment shifts.
The company’s dual strategy — growing a legitimate food business while accumulating Bitcoin — is reflected in revenue guidance for the back half of 2026, suggesting management isn’t abandoning operations to go full crypto.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitcoin is the most important asset in two of Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds, according to regulatory filings.
Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company disclosed Friday that it held a $490 million stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust — the second-largest single holding across its entire 13F portfolio.
And a Thursday filing from the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, another state-run fund, revealed a $273.6 million position in the popular Bitcoin exchange-traded fund. The stake is the biggest position in its portfolio.
JUST IN: 🇦🇪 UAE sovereign wealth funds Mubadala and Abu Dhabi Investment Council report owning a combined $763.7 million of BlackRocks Bitcoin ETF 👀 pic.twitter.com/OOnptHhlTA
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) August 14, 2026 Both wealth funds’ position in Bitcoin is unchanged since last quarter.
Earlier this year, blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence attributed approximately 6,782 Bitcoins — worth roughly $453.6 million at the time of its analysis — to wallets connected to Bitcoin mining activity linked to the UAE’s Royal Group.
The findings highlight a distinction between how the UAE has built its bitcoin position compared with other governments known to hold large amounts of the asset. Countries such as the United States hold substantial Bitcoin reserves that largely originated from law enforcement seizures.
The UAE’s holdings, by contrast, stem primarily from domestic mining activity rather than confiscated assets.
Since the SEC approved a slew of Bitcoin funds in January 2024, major firms have been able to buy exposure to the asset via shares of the regulated vehicles that trade on stock exchanges.
BlackRock’s IBIT is the most successful crypto ETF: The fund has received more cash than any other crypto ETF and currently has $47.3 billion in assets under management.
Pension funds and U.S. states have all bought exposure to Bitcoin via the ETFs, along with more traditional investments like tech stocks and other U.S. equities.
Mathew Di Salvo
Mathew is a reporter who's covered the space since 2019, reporting on everything from Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele's Bitcoin bet to crypto exchange FTX's bankruptcy.
On Friday, August 14, Bitcoin [BTC] briefly fell below the $63k mark, falling as low as $62,535. Incidentally, earlier in August, the same $62.5k area set up a Bitcoin price rebound up to $65.5k.
The BTC average production cost, or mining cost, stood at $76.5k. Despite a 17% drawdown from this price level, miners remained resilient.
Weak selling pressure from miners highlighted this point, and Bitcoin miner stocks have outperformed the leading crypto so far in 2026.
The latest rejection from the $65k supply zone underlined weakness from the bulls. However, there is whale accumulation behind the scenes. Here are some recovery signals to watch out for.
“June whale signal intact” but market recovery might need more activity onchain
Source: CryptoQuant
Crypto analyst Woominkyu used onchain data of BTC held by various wallet cohorts to understand what each of them was doing. Wallets holding 100 Bitcoin or more, which can be classified as whale wallets, have added 54,000 Bitcoin to their holdings since June 14.
Meanwhile, shark and retail wallets have been selling their holdings. Though whales were buying, the BTC price was stuck below the $65k supply zone.
Source: Axel Adler Jr.
The metric above shows the share of UTXOs whose current market price is above the price at which they last moved, or are in profit. The 30-day average is at 53.7%, compared to the yearly average of 74.6%.
Crypto analyst Axel Adler Jr. used this metric to demonstrate that there was continued stress among holders.
The only bright point is that the pace of deterioration in the 30-day average has slowed, evidenced by the slight bounce from 48% to 53.7% in recent days.
Source: Axel Adler Jr.
The 30-day moving average of the total Bitcoin transferred across the network saw a 23% boost from its April low at 627.7k BTC to 769.1k BTC now. The 30DMA is also above the 365-day moving average.
Sustained recovery in the total transfer volume would be a good sign of an uptick in activity. It is unclear, based on just this metric, if the moved BTC is being accumulated or distributed, if they are moved at a profit or at a loss.
Improvement in UTXOs in profit and increased coin movement would signal more robust onchain conditions, which could help signal a potential market recovery.
Final Summary
The Bitcoin price action has been stuck below the $65k supply zone in recent weeks, though whale wallets purchased 54,000 more BTC since mid-June.
Onchain activity is recovering faster than the share of coins in profit. A rise in the share of coins in profit, alongside higher Bitcoin transfer volume, would be a positive sign.
The good news is that Strategy's CEO said when the company will resume its BTC purchases.
The end of the week is here, which means that we will take a look at what happened in the past seven days, from the good, the bad, and the ugly price movements.
Let’s begin from this time last Friday when bitcoin was actually fighting for the $65,000 level despite the latest setback in the CLARITY Act saga and the lack of an actual deal between the US and Iran, although such was promised by the POTUS. The weekend was significantly less eventful, as BTC failed to make a move but remained sideways at around $65,000.
The actual breakout attempt came on Monday morning, but it was quickly halted at $65,400 again. The subsequent leg down drove the asset to $63,800. After another rebound to $64,400, the bears stepped up again and pushed it south to $63,200. The same pattern repeated on Tuesday and Wednesday as BTC was stopped at $64,400 and slipped back down to its starting point despite the rather positive CPI data for July.
It kept charting lower highs, and the latest rebound attempt was stopped even before the previous ones. Bitcoin tapped $64,000 yesterday, but the rejection drove it to under $63,000 almost immediately. Although it rebounded slightly, the bears are back in control now, driving it to a 10-day low of $62,500 as of press time.
Its weekly losses are close to 4% now. Its market capitalization has slumped to $1.255 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the alts has taken a major hit and is down to 56.1%. This is because several alts are actually in the green weekly, such as SOL, BNB, TRX, XMR, CC, and LINK.
ETH is down by a more modest 2.8%, while XRP slipped below $1.00 earlier this week for the first time in 21 months and is now fighting to reclaim that psychological support.
You may also like: Solana Overtakes Bitcoin and Ether in GSR’s Latest Crypto Portfolio Shake-Up XRP Closed at a 21-Month Low, but the Bigger Ripple Story Is Elsewhere XRP Faces Its Strongest Selling Pressure Since May: What’s Next for Ripple’s Price? BTC: $62,550 (-3.5%) | ETH: $1,865 (-2.8%) | XRP: $1.00 (-3.2%)
This Week’s Crypto Headlines You Can’t Miss Strategy Dumps Another 1,690 BTC in Ongoing Bitcoin Sell-Off. As the title of the Market Update suggests, Strategy continues to offload some of its BTC holdings. In the latest selling spree, the largest corporate holder of any cryptocurrency disposed of another 1,690 BTC for $108.6 million. The good news is that CEO Phong Le has reassured that the firm plans to resume its bitcoin purchases by the end of the year.
Only 90 Bitcoin Wallets Hold 10K+ BTC: And That Number Just Hit a 6-Month High. The number of large BTC wallets is increasing, which indicates a potential bullish trend amid cooling institutional demand. Such addresses hit a six-month high, as 90 hold over 10,000 units.
Ripple’s (XRP) Summer Slump Isn’t Stopping Large Wallets From Growing. The same trend is observed within the broader Ripple ecosystem, as the number of large wallets has increased by 32 over the past three months. This comes despite the asset’s massive price slide that drove it to a 21-month low earlier this week.
Trezor Provider ShipMonk Breach Exposed Order Data for 13,689 Hardware Wallet Customers. Trezor confirmed that a data breach at its logistics partner, ShipMonk, which stores its products and ships orders to customers, has exposed personal information and increased phishing attack risks for almost 13,000 customers.
Tether Clears First Full Audit as KPMG Issues Unqualified Opinion on 2025 Statements. For the first time in its long history, the company behind the largest stablecoin received an unqualified audit opinion from KPMG for all of its financial holdings. The Big 4 member verified Tether’s gold reserves through physical inspection.
‘Crypto Is Dead’ Talk Is Rising; Could Peak Fear Be a Contrarian Signal? Amid the ongoing price collapse of BTC and countless alts, the online chatter about the industry’s demise has been on the rise. Analysts, though, suggested that this could be a contrarian signal as large investors are accumulating ahead of a potential market recovery.
Charts This week, we have a chart analysis of Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid – click here for the complete price analysis.
JPMorgan Chase has terminated its banking relationship with Polymarket over regulatory concerns.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, sources familiar with the matter said JPMorgan Chase terminated its banking relationship with prediction market platform Polymarket last October due to regulatory concerns. However, the bank still maintains partial partnerships with Polymarket and other prediction market firms. A Polymarket spokesperson noted that the company currently has "close and active relations" with JPMorgan through multiple entities. Over the past year, Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan has attended JPMorgan-hosted events three times. Earlier this year, a major investor in Polymarket assisted the firm in reaching out to large banks including Citigroup and Fifth Third. Currently, prediction markets are facing heightened scrutiny from U.S. state and federal regulators. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is investigating Polymarket, while the New York City Council is also probing its marketing practices; simultaneously, multiple states are engaged in ongoing litigation over whether prediction markets should be regulated as gambling operations. JPMorgan has previously come under the Trump administration’s spotlight over so-called "debanking" issues. Trump has ordered regulators to probe whether banks engage in "politicized or illegal debanking" practices, and JPMorgan received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice last month as a result.
5 hours ago
Fed's Goolsby: More evidence needed to confirm inflation is falling
Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee said recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data is encouraging, but inflation remained elevated in May and June. If the momentum from June persists over the next three to four months, policymakers can be confident prices are steadily returning to the 2% target, he noted. He backed holding interest rates steady in July, pointing out that inflation remains the top concern while the economy and employment have "broadly held stable." Goolsbee warned that a sustained drop in retail sales would spark worries, as consumption is a key pillar of the U.S. economy. Separately, he expressed concern over the recent slowdown in productivity growth, stating that if AI-driven growth is not sustainable, the narrative around AI and monetary policy will need to be re-evaluated. On the question of reducing the number of policy meetings, Goolsbee said he has no strong stance and is willing to wait for the working group’s recommendations. (Jinshi)
5 hours ago
Elon Musk: Orbit computing could become the only way to scale AI by 2029.
Elon Musk stated in a post that due to issues with power availability and regulatory approvals for ground-based data centers, orbital computing — also known as space-based computing platforms — may become the only way to continue scaling up AI by some point in 2029.
5 hours ago
Anthropic’s IPO Could Be a Key Test for the AI Boom, as Its $2 Trillion Valuation Faces Profitability Scrutiny
According to analysis by Jim Osman, a Forbes columnist, Anthropic’s potential initial public offering (IPO) could serve as a key milestone for testing the investment logic underpinning the AI boom. The company’s annualized revenue run rate has climbed from $14 billion in February to over $47 billion in May, while its latest private valuation has surged from $380 billion in February to $965 billion. Markets are even debating whether its IPO valuation could top $2 trillion, though the company has yet to disclose an offering price or final listing timeline. Osman pointed out that Anthropic’s growth is highly impressive, but this also means much of its future success may already be factored into its valuation. The firm filed a confidential IPO application on June 1, and while preparing for its public listing, it must continue pouring massive capital into maintaining its competitiveness in cutting-edge AI models. In May, Anthropic raised $65 billion in funding, with a portion earmarked for expanding computing power. The company has secured an additional 5GW computing power deal with Amazon, plus another 5GW next-generation TPU computing partnership with Google and Broadcom, and also has access to SpaceX’s GPU capacity. The report added that Anthropic has committed to investing more than $100 billion in Amazon Web Services (AWS) over the next decade. Osman believes investors need to focus not only on whether AI technology continues to advance, but also on how future profits will ultimately be split among model developers, chipmakers, cloud service providers, data centers, and software firms. For Anthropic, the critical factors are how much of its revenue can eventually be converted into cash, how much capital must be reinvested to sustain technological leadership, and whether it can preserve pricing power and long-term returns amid intensifying competition.
5 hours ago
Suspect in UnitedHealth Group CEO shooting pleads guilty to federal charges.
Luigi Mangione has formally pleaded guilty in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson. A federal judge has set Mangione’s sentencing date for December 18. Mangione told the court during the hearing that he entered a guilty plea in his federal criminal case, admitting to shooting Thompson. The plea agreement will prevent the high-profile case from proceeding to a federal trial. Additionally, the guilty plea may enable Mangione to seek dismissal of New York state murder charges and delay the upcoming state trial. Mangione currently faces both federal and state charges. The state trial is scheduled for September 8. If convicted of second-degree murder, Mangione faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. (CCTV)
5 hours ago
Federal Reserve’s Goolsbee: CPI Data Is Encouraging, Supports Decision to Hold Interest Rates Steady in July
Fed’s Goolsbee says CPI data is encouraging, but more data is needed to reach a judgment. The latest two productivity readings are very disappointing, backing the decision to hold interest rates steady in July. If productivity continues to decline, expectations around AI will need to be re-evaluated.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in BlackRock’s Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) during the second quarter, according to a new filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The bank’s exposure to these products grew notably, with its position in the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF rising by roughly 25% and its stake in the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF more than quadrupling since the first quarter.
Major ETF position changes in Q2The SEC’s Form 13F filing, submitted on Wednesday and covering holdings as of June 30, revealed that JPMorgan held approximately 10.4 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), compared to 8.3 million shares at the end of Q1. This holding was valued at around $356 million.
In the same period, JPMorgan’s position in BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) increased more sharply, growing to about 1.17 million shares from 267,000 previously. This marks a more than fourfold rise in its Ethereum ETF exposure within one quarter.
Senior market analyst Jonatan Randin of PrimeXBT pointed out that Form 13F filings aggregate positions from various divisions within financial institutions, including assets held for clients and inventory, making it difficult to interpret these numbers as clear directional bets. The filings also omit short positions, showing only long holdings and not revealing net market exposure.
Randin noted that while these disclosures provide some insight into institutional activity, they “do not necessarily reflect a market outlook or a conviction about price direction.”
First-time investments in XRP productsJPMorgan also reported initial positions in XRP-related investment products during the second quarter. This included 181 shares of Grayscale’s XRP offering valued at $3,763 and 113 shares of Bitwise’s XRP ETF at $1,356. The bank had reported no exposure to either of these products in the prior quarter.
Randin attributed the timing of these new investments to recent regulatory developments regarding XRP and the launch of spot XRP investment products in the United States.
He commented that these investments “add credibility to the regulatory improvements surrounding XRP.”
Mini dictionary: Form 13F, a quarterly report filed by institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in assets under management, required by the SEC to disclose equity holdings.
Reductions in Bitcoin miner exposureIn addition to expanding positions in crypto ETFs, JPMorgan reduced investments in several Bitcoin mining companies during the quarter. Randin suggested that this move likely reflects a shift in the operational focus of some listed miners, as they increasingly diversify into artificial intelligence and high-performance computing sectors.
He explained that miners are no longer straightforward proxies for Bitcoin, and adjusting the related exposures “makes sense regardless of expectations for future price direction.”
ProductQ1 2024 SharesQ2 2024 SharesQ2 ValueiShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT)8.3 million10.4 million$356 millioniShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA)267,0001.17 millionNot disclosedGrayscale XRP Product0181$3,763Bitwise XRP ETF0113$1,356JPMorgan is the largest US bank by assets and maintains an influential role in global financial markets, including growing involvement in digital asset investment products as more regulated options appear in the sector.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
“Crypto is dead” is trending across social media again, and analysts say that is historically one of the clearest signals the bottom is close.
Why Is the ‘Crypto Is Dead’ Narrative Actually a Bullish Signal?Santiment flagged on X that words like dead, dying, over, ended, and finished are gaining traction across X, Reddit, and Telegram.
The analytics firm noted this is fear language that typically appears when retail patience breaks and traders start treating temporary weakness like permanent failure.
Crypto markets historically move hardest against the crowd when the crowd becomes most certain upside is gone.
Analyst Alan Rogers echoed the same read on X, noting that every major spike in the “crypto is dead” narrative has shown up near periods of extreme fear, often when Bitcoin was close to finding a bottom.
What The On-Chain Data Is ShowingCryptoQuant analyst EgyHash wrote that Bitcoin’s supply in profit has dropped to 51.4%, meaning roughly 48.6% of circulating supply sits underwater at current prices near $63,400.
The last time this metric hovered around 51% was during the early 2023 recovery phase when Bitcoin traded near $16,000 to $20,000.
At near coin-flip levels of profitability, over-leveraged traders and weak hands get flushed out, transferring coins to buyers with lower cost basis and higher conviction.
Meanwhile, Glassnode’s Week On-Chain report flagged Bitcoin compressed between the median realized price at $63,000 and the short-term holder cost basis at $68,700, with seller exhaustion signals building even though a full capitulation signal has not confirmed yet.
Moreover, analyst Quinten Francois noted on X that since February, Bitcoin has given everyone months to accumulate around these levels. “Sentiment is dead. Engagement is dead. Bottom indicators are flashing,” he wrote.
Where Do ETH and XRP Stand Right Now?Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) outpulled Bitcoin ETFs on individual trading days in late July and early August for the first time, while the ETH/BTC ratio climbed roughly 25% off its May low.
Moreover, XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) defends the $1 psychological floor after briefly breaking below it last weekend for the first time since November 2024.
Large holders kept accumulating through the dip, with buyers stepping back in to defend the level.
Meanwhile, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan told Bloomberg that Bitcoin stopping its reaction to bad news is one of the clearest signs of a bear market bottom, pointing to quiet institutional demand as the next leg higher’s driver.
Image: Shutterstock
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XRP fell below the $1 mark this week, touching as low as $0.99, as a broader crypto market selloff dragged prices lower across the board. The move triggered a familiar wave of bearish commentary online, with some traders declaring the token, and crypto broadly, on the way out. But not everyone in the market is reading the dip the same way.
A Familiar Pattern of Panic
Coach JB said that Bitcoin alone has been declared “dead” more than 470 times since its creation, a figure that has circulated widely among crypto bulls as a rebuttal to recurring bearish calls. He argues that investors who bought into that narrative and stayed out of the market each time would have missed out on substantial long-term gains, though this framing reflects hindsight bias and isn’t a guarantee of future performance.
How XRP and Bitcoin Have Performed Since 2020
According to figures shared by Coach JB, since January 2020:
Bitcoin is up approximately 796%XRP is up approximately 445%Gold is up approximately 179%The S&P 500 is up approximately 137%U.S. real estate is up approximately 55%These figures reflect historical price performance over a specific window and don’t account for volatility experienced along the way, including XRP’s multi-year legal battle with the SEC or Bitcoin’s own sharp drawdowns during that period. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
A Dollar-Cost Averaging Strategy Through the Dip
Rather than treating the drop below $1 as a signal to exit, Coach JB says his own approach has been to dollar-cost average, buying more aggressively as prices fall and taking profits as prices recover. He disclosed that his largest holdings are currently XRP, followed by Bitcoin and Solana, and that he began accumulating XRP years before it became a mainstream trade, and Bitcoin starting around 2023.
He also offered a near-term price outlook, suggesting XRP could continue trading between roughly $0.60 and $0.90 before a potential recovery later in the year, and that Bitcoin could see further downside into the $40,000-$50,000 range. It’s worth stressing that this is one individual’s speculative outlook, not a verified forecast, and crypto markets remain highly unpredictable. Nobody, including seasoned traders, can reliably predict short-term price movements.
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Is Wall Street taking advantage of crypto volatility to advance its pieces? In the second quarter of 2026, JPMorgan significantly increased its exposure to bitcoin and Ethereum, while reconnecting with XRP. The bank’s latest regulatory filings reveal $355.7 million invested in BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF, as well as a 338% increase in its position on the Ethereum ETHA ETF. This move contrasts with recent capital outflows recorded by spot Bitcoin ETFs and reveals a striking gap between short-term turbulence and institutional choices.
In brief
JPMorgan, the top American bank, has significantly strengthened its positions in Bitcoin (IBIT) and Ethereum (ETHA) ETFs in the second quarter of 2026.
The decrease in put options and the increase in call options confirm an optimistic investment strategy in the medium term.
JPMorgan re-exposed itself to Ripple by investing in two specialized funds and a SPAC linked to the project.
These quarterly accumulations contrast with the recent withdrawals suffered by ETFs, illustrating the difference between short-term nervousness and long-term institutional management.
The massive acceleration of JPMorgan’s positions on Bitcoin and Ethereum
On August 12, 2026, JPMorgan Chase & Co. filed a 13F-HR regulatory document with the SEC. Indeed, this document reveals the exact composition of the bank’s portfolio as of June 30, 2026. In this filing, the investment bank declared about 10.4 million shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) issued by BlackRock. These shares represent a total market value of 355.7 million dollars.
Such a sum constitutes an exceptional quantitative leap compared to the first quarter when the bank declared nearly 8.3 million shares valued then at about 162 million dollars. Thus, this rise goes beyond the market’s leading crypto. JPMorgan’s position in BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) saw a dizzying 338% increase over the same period, totaling nearly 14.3 million dollars spread over nearly 1.17 million shares.
These crypto holdings remain a modest fraction compared to the bank’s entire declared portfolio, estimated at 1,807 billion dollars spread across 34,064 individual lines, but their growth rate far exceeds the average of its traditional equity investments. Observing the exact breakdown submitted through the 13F-HR filing to regulatory authorities for the end of Q2 2026, the precise allocation of the bank’s main crypto assets is as follows :
iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) : 10.4 million shares valued at 355.7 million dollars (compared to 162 million in Q1) ;
iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) : 1.17 million shares valued at 14.3 million dollars (up 338%) ;
Total declared institutional portfolio : 1,807 billion dollars spread over 34,064 positions.
Beyond direct holdings of spot ETF shares, the bank’s options portfolio structure shows a notably bullish shift. The quarterly report indicates that call options related to the IBIT fund rose from 3.77 million to 3.94 million contracts over the period. At the same time, put option volume contracted significantly, dropping from about 4.75 million to 3.5 million contracts. In Wall Street risk management jargon, a drop in the puts/calls ratio directly signifies a reduction of bearish hedges and reflects a much more constructive medium-term market sentiment.
These arbitrages confirm the analysis developed over recent JPMorgan research notes by strategists, according to which “institutional investors increasingly treat bitcoin as a direct competitor to gold in their strategic allocations”.
The calculated return of the American bank on the XRP ecosystem
The standout fact of this filing lies in JPMorgan’s discreet but calculated return to the XRP token of Ripple, marking a turn compared to the previous quarter. While the Q1 filing showed a complete exit from the Bitwise XRP ETF, where the bank had sold off its 3,870 shares down to zero, Q2 figures show a re-exposure split over three distinct vehicles. The bank accumulated 113 shares of the Bitwise XRP ETF valued at $1,356, as well as 181 shares of the Grayscale XRP Trust ETF representing $3,763.
Most importantly, the largest position takes the form of 19,894 shares in Armada Acquisition Corp II, a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) listed under ticker XRPN and tied to the Ripple ecosystem, valued at $207,295. Although these amounts remain extremely modest compared to the bank’s overall balance sheet, the shift from a full liquidation to a simultaneous subscription on three XRP-related instruments clearly indicates the asset management branch no longer excludes this asset from its diversification strategies.
It is important to maintain a very nuanced interpretation of these figures so as not to overstate the scale of committed capital. With just over $212,000 cumulative exposure on these three XRP-related vehicles, JPMorgan’s financial commitment remains minimal compared to the $355.7 million placed on bitcoin or the $14.3 million invested in Ethereum.
However, from an institutional analysis standpoint, the strategic decision to open three distinct lines simultaneously demonstrates that the bank’s investment committees approved the asset’s reintroduction after a period of total abstention. This move fits a context where several large North American banking institutions are gradually adjusting their evaluation frameworks regarding tokens with regulated exchange-traded vehicles.
A contrast with the daily capital outflows suffered by ETFs
This long-term accumulation strategy carried out by the top American bank starkly contrasts with current volatility and short-term arbitrage movements observed on the market. On August 13, 2026, just as the 13F filing data began to be integrated by the financial community, all US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net collective outflow of $61.16 million in a single session.
The outflow wave was driven by Fidelity’s FBTC fund, which suffered withdrawals of $46.82 million, while BlackRock’s IBIT ETF experienced a smaller drop of $14.34 million, unlike Ether ETFs which recorded a positive net inflow of $7.38 million at the same time. This sharp retreat on bitcoin extended an instability episode marked two days earlier, on August 11, by a massive disengagement of $144.67 million that ended a five-consecutive-session upward momentum.
This significant gap between JPMorgan’s quarterly accumulation and the daily capital withdrawals highlights the current duality of the crypto market. On one hand, daily ETF flows reflect the responsiveness of hedge funds, financial advisors, and retail investors adjusting their positions in line with economic releases and immediate price fluctuations. On the other, 13F filings submitted to the SEC reveal the underlying trajectory followed by the asset management of major banks, which leverage this same volatility to methodically build their positions over several quarters. This dissociation shows that ETF liquidity now serves as an absorption mechanism where short-term profit-taking feeds the gradual allocation of institutional balance sheets.
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Luc Jose A.
Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019.
Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
Morgan Stanley significantly increased its position in Circle while expanding its investments in the cryptocurrency sector in the second quarter. According to the 13F filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 14, Morgan Stanley increased its holdings of Circle (CRCL) shares from approximately 1.46 million to 8.32 million as of June 30.
The bank also expanded its positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs during the same period. Morgan Stanley’s BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) position increased from 13.4 million shares in the first quarter to approximately 16.5 million shares. This represents an increase of about 23 percent in terms of the number of shares held. Conversely, due to the decline in Bitcoin price, the market value of the IBIT position decreased by approximately 18 percent, from $667 million to $549 million.
Morgan Stanley also increased its holdings in Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust, Bitwise Bitcoin ETF, and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), while holding approximately 2.57 million MSBT shares worth about $43.3 million. The increase in the bank’s FBTC holdings was approximately 38 percent.
Ethereum also saw more aggressive growth. Morgan Stanley’s BlackRock iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) position increased by approximately 202% to 4.6 million shares, while its Grayscale Ethereum Staking Mini ETF position rose by about 26% to 5.1 million shares.
The bank also turned to Solana investment products. In the second quarter, Morgan Stanley opened new positions in the Grayscale Solana Staking ETF and the Fidelity Solana Fund, with these investments valued at approximately $4.25 million and $2.26 million, respectively.
A more varied picture emerged in crypto-related company stocks. Morgan Stanley increased its positions in mining and infrastructure companies such as Circle, Cipher Digital, Core Scientific, Hut 8, and Bitdeer.
On the other hand, the bank reduced its Coinbase position by approximately 550,000 shares, while decreasing its holdings in CleanSpark by over 3.1 million shares. Morgan Stanley also completely closed its Bitfarms position, which amounted to approximately 8 million shares.
*This is not investment advice.
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Citigroup, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, has expressed support for the Crypto CLARITY Act and called on the US Senate to advance the new digital asset regulation bill. The endorsement came as Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser emphasized the need for comprehensive legislation governing crypto markets in the United States.
Citigroup’s stance on the CLARITY ActJane Fraser voiced appreciation for current efforts to draft the Crypto CLARITY Act, while also noting that the bank continues to advocate for improvements in the legislation. Citigroup remains a major player in global banking and has increasingly engaged with digital asset markets in recent years.
Fraser stressed the importance of moving forward with the bill, even as discussions about potential amendments persist. “We’re not giving up on pushing to get some improvements made to the bill, but we would like to see a good bill go through. I think it would be excellent for the system,” Fraser stated during an interview with Fox Business.
“We’re not giving up on pushing to get some improvements made to the bill, but we would like to see a good bill go through. I think it would be excellent for the system.”
Citigroup has previously noted that regulatory progress in digital assets could help drive institutional adoption. The bank regards legislative clarity as a potential turning point for both compliance and market participation by large investors.
Market context and legislative aimsThe call for regulatory clarity comes after a difficult period for cryptocurrencies, with the global market capitalization falling by over $2 trillion in the past year. Supporters of the CLARITY Act believe the new legal framework could pave the way for a more stable and trusted crypto sector, contributing to market recovery.
The Crypto CLARITY Act is designed to establish defined rules for digital assets in the US. Its primary goals are to provide regulatory certainty, encourage institutional engagement, and strengthen investor protection.
If enacted, the legislation could help address common concerns about scams and security vulnerabilities that persist in the crypto industry. The promise of greater safeguards may help attract new participants to the market while reassuring existing investors.
Mini dictionary: Crypto CLARITY Act, proposed US legislation aimed at improving regulatory oversight and investor protection in digital asset markets. The act seeks to create clearer legal distinctions for crypto asset classes and establish consistent rules for their use and trading.
Citigroup’s recent outlook on the crypto marketWhile supporting stronger legislation, Citi recently adopted a more cautious view towards digital asset performance. On July 1, the bank reduced its 12-month price target for Bitcoin from $112,000 to $82,000. Citigroup also adjusted its projection for Ethereum, lowering it from $3,175 to $2,240.
AssetPrevious 12-Month TargetNew 12-Month TargetBitcoin$112,000$82,000Ethereum$3,175$2,240Jane Fraser’s positive remarks on the proposed crypto bill follow these cautious adjustments, reflecting Citigroup’s dual approach of backing regulatory clarity while remaining vigilant about sector volatility.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
The Israeli bank Leumi is preparing a new step in services related to digital assets. With Galaxy Digital, it will allow its customers to buy, hold and sell Bitcoin, Ether and Solana from its app. The service is set to start in 2027, in a Leumi Trade section. Pepper, Leumi’s mobile subsidiary, will participate in the setup. The project thus marks the announced arrival of an Israeli bank on the crypto trading market.
In brief Leumi partners with Galaxy Digital to launch its crypto trading service in early 2027. Bitcoin, Ether and Solana will be available for purchase, holding and sale. Leumi will become the first Israeli bank to offer digital asset trading to its clients. Galaxy will provide the necessary infrastructure for crypto operations and custody. Leumi readies crypto trading across three digital assets Leumi and Galaxy Digital announced that customers will be able to access three assets: Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Solana (SOL). They will be able to perform their operations from a section integrated into the Leumi Trade application. The offer will cover the purchase, holding and sale of cryptocurrencies, starting early 2027. Leumi thus becomes the first Israeli bank to offer this digital asset trading.
In their press release published Friday, Leumi indicated that it will use GalaxyOne Institutional for trading operations. Galaxy will provide its digital asset custody infrastructure, derived from the platform formerly known as GK8. The setup thus aims to combine order execution, custody and banking access in a single environment. Trading will be based on this infrastructure.
A partnership that expands the bank’s digital asset services Maya Ravia, Chief Strategy Officer at Leumi, regards digital assets as a growing component of the global financial system. She believes this initiative will offer our clients simple, secure and regulated access to digital asset trading.
We are working tirelessly to expand the range of advanced financial services that the bank offers its customers. This initiative constitutes a key pillar of our innovation strategy and allows us to offer our clients simple, secure and regulated access to digital asset trading which is gradually integrating into the global financial system.
Maya Ravia, Chief Strategy Officer at Leumi On his side, Lior Lamesh, CEO of Galaxy Israel, believes pioneering banks will participate in the evolution towards an open and programmable financial infrastructure.
The future of finance will rest on open and programmable infrastructures, and we are convinced that pioneer banks will shape the coming era.
Lior Lamesh, CEO of Galaxy Israel The partnership is therefore part of a desire to integrate cryptocurrencies into existing banking services. Crypto trading thus joins the offered services. For clients, trading will go through their bank’s investment platform.
However, the project comes after a difficult quarter for Galaxy Digital. The company announced a net loss of 85 million dollars in the second quarter, mainly linked to the decline in digital assets. Despite this result, its crypto activity generated an adjusted gross profit of 66 million dollars, up 34% over a quarter. Galaxy Digital, led by Mike Novogratz, has been listed on Nasdaq since May 2025 under the symbol GLXY.
Leumi and Galaxy team up to write the next chapter for digital assets The planned launch in early 2027 will give a new dimension to services offered by Leumi. Clients will be able to buy, hold and sell Bitcoin, Ether and Solana from the bank’s investment platform. Galaxy Digital will provide the necessary infrastructure for operations and custody of assets. This integration will thus gather several functions related to cryptocurrencies in a single banking environment.
Until then, the two partners will still need to specify access modalities, fees, limits and required authorizations. Compliance with banking requirements also represents an important step before the service opens. These elements will concretely define how this new offer will work for Leumi and Pepper clients. The next step will notably depend on the regulatory progress of the project.
This development will finally give a first indication of the place that digital assets can occupy in Israeli banking services. Leumi serves millions of customers through its retail and commercial activities, giving the project significant scope. The launch will thus allow observing the reception reserved for this new functionality and its integration into existing services
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Mikaia A.
La révolution blockchain et crypto est en marche ! Et le jour où les impacts se feront ressentir sur l’économie la plus vulnérable de ce Monde, contre toute espérance, je dirai que j’y étais pour quelque chose
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15 August 2026 | 00:25 Cboe BZX has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to approve two funds targeting three times the daily performance of Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Key Takeaways The proposed funds would gain exposure through CME futures rather than holding Bitcoin or Ether directly. The 3x target resets after each session, so returns over longer periods could differ sharply from three times the underlying move. The SEC filing starts the review process; the products have not been approved and have no confirmed launch date. If approved and launched, they would be the first U.S.-listed 3x ETFs tied to the two cryptocurrencies. Volatility Shares would sponsor both products as part of a six-fund proposal that also covers gold, silver, crude oil and natural gas.
The SEC notice, published on August 14, follows Cboe’s submission of the proposed rule change four days earlier. It opens a regulatory review rather than authorizing the funds to begin trading.
Why Cboe Needs Separate SEC Approval Cboe wants to list the products as Commodity-Based Trust Shares under BZX Rule 14.11(e)(4).
The exchange already has generic standards that allow qualifying commodity products to list without an individual rule filing. Those standards, however, prohibit funds designed to deliver a specified multiple of a benchmark.
The proposed Bitcoin and Ethereum funds fall outside that framework because each would seek 3x the daily return of its futures benchmark. Cboe is therefore asking the SEC to approve an exception for these specific products through the 19b-4 process.
How the Proposed 3x ETFs Function
Structure
CME Futures
Holds Bitcoin & Ether futures instead of spot crypto.
3x Daily Target
Seeks triple the daily return of its benchmark.
Reset
Session Reset
Target resets daily, causing compounding over time.
Status
Under Review
Requires SEC approval and effective registration.
Both would operate as commodity pools overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Neither would be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Funds Would Use Futures, Not Hold Crypto The Bitcoin fund would primarily invest in first- and second-month Bitcoin futures traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The Ether fund would use the equivalent CME Ether contracts, with cash and cash equivalents held as collateral.
Each benchmark would move from the contract approaching expiration into the following contract over five business days. Around 20% of the expiring position would be rolled each day.
If the main contracts become unavailable because of position limits, margin requirements or restrictions imposed by futures brokers, the funds could use later-dated futures, crypto-linked ETFs and ETPs, or listed options.
Their performance would therefore depend on more than the direction of the spot market. Futures pricing, contract rolls, trading costs and the fund’s ability to maintain its target exposure would all affect returns.
The underlying asset alone no longer explains how many crypto funds behave. Our recent examination of Bitcoin and Ether income ETFs showed how options can reshape a fund’s upside, downside and distributions. The proposed Cboe products would alter the payoff in another way by adding daily futures leverage.
The 3x Target Lasts for One Trading Day If the relevant futures benchmark rises 5% in a session, the fund would seek a gain of approximately 15% before fees and expenses. A 5% decline would imply a targeted loss of roughly 15%.
That relationship starts again the next day.
Consider a benchmark that gains 10% and then falls approximately 9.09%, returning to its starting value. A 3x daily fund would first rise 30% and then lose about 27.27% from its new value. It would finish the two-day period approximately 5.45% lower even though the benchmark ended flat.
This is a consequence of daily compounding, not necessarily a failure to track the benchmark. Persistent moves in one direction can help performance, while repeated reversals can erode the fund’s value.
These products would not provide three times Bitcoin’s or Ether’s return over any period an investor chooses. They would be short-horizon trading instruments that require the position to be monitored from one session to the next.
Cboe argues that the funds can be supervised effectively because their main futures contracts trade on a CFTC-regulated market covered by surveillance-sharing arrangements.
Net asset value would be calculated daily, while an intraday indicative value would be published every 15 seconds during regular trading hours. Cboe could halt trading if important pricing or portfolio information stopped being available.
Those measures address market surveillance and transparency. They do not reduce the losses, compounding effects or tracking differences that can come with 3x daily exposure.
SEC Review Begins, but No Launch Date Is Set The SEC generally has 45 days from publication of the notice in the Federal Register to approve or reject the rule change or begin a longer review. The initial period can be extended to as many as 90 days under the conditions set out in the filing.
An exchange decision is not the only step. The VS Trust must also have an effective registration statement before any shares can trade.
The current proposal does not provide tickers, expense ratios or a launch date. Until the listing and registration requirements are cleared, the funds remain proposals.
If they reach the market, investors holding them beyond a single session would need to follow daily compounding, futures rolls and fund expenses, not simply whether Bitcoin or Ether moved higher or lower.
Disclaimer: Leveraged ETFs seek a multiple of daily performance and can experience substantial losses over short periods. The proposed Bitcoin and Ether funds have not been approved or launched. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Author
Kosta has reported on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain infrastructure since 2020, bringing over six years of hands-on experience in the crypto industry built through daily tracking of markets, trends, and emerging blockchain developments. Specializing in Bitcoin on-chain analysis, institutional ETF flows, and digital asset price action, his work at Coindoo has been cited by other news agencies and consistently covers market developments with a focus on data-driven reporting across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Over the years, Kosta has contributed to multiple crypto media outlets in different regions, authoring over 6,000 articles across the sector. His reporting spans cryptocurrency markets and the broader fintech industry, tracking not only price action but also the technological and regulatory forces shaping the ecosystem. To support his analysis, Kosta actively leverages on-chain data and metrics from leading platforms such as Santiment, Glassnode, and CryptoQuant, enabling deeper, evidence-based market insights. He believes in the power of transparency and the data that underpins the blockchain ecosystem. His academic background in Marketing Management from Denmark further complements his analytical approach, adding a strong understanding of communication strategy and content positioning to his work.
Coinglass data shows 82,737 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $166.56 million. SoSoValue data shows net outflows of $131.1 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Thursday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net inflows of $6.72 million. In the past 24 hours, top gainers include Bitway, OKB and Shiba Inu. Notable Developments:
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP Remain Trapped: ‘Crypto Bottom May Take Months,’ Trader Cautions ‘Crypto is Dead’ Chatter Is Back but Here’s Why That’s Bullish for BTC, ETH, XRP Bitcoin Holding Above $60,000 Is ‘Very Telling’, Analyst Says Forget Bitcoin, S&P 500: Pokémon Cards Are Up 28% In 2026 and Beating Them Both Strategy, Metaplanet Face MSCI Exclusion Again: Will History Repeat? The S&P 500 Pumped on Good Inflation Data — Why Didn’t Bitcoin? XRP Clinging On to $1 and Could Crater Another 50%, Analyst Warns Trump-Affiliated WLFI Token Delays Expansion Plans Over Iran War Trader Notes:
Trader Michael van de Poppe said the key is to keep accumulating Bitcoin rather than trying to time the exact bottom.
Over a five-year horizon, buying at $55,000 versus $60,000 may matter little, just as buying at $16,000 versus $20,000 four years ago does today.
Rekt Capital noted Bitcoin has repeatedly wicked below $63,000 but managed to recover.
However, weakening rebounds from that level, combined with Bitcoin’s historical tendency to roll over in the second half of August during bear-market years, point to growing downside risk.
A weekly close below $63,000 would confirm the existing technical and seasonal weakness.
Altcoin Sherpa expects Bitcoin to remain in a 2-4 month consolidation phase even after finding a bottom, like 2018 and 2022.
However, both prior cycles featured sharp capitulation moves around the final bottom, something the trader believes has yet to occur this cycle, potentially setting up a volatile latter half of the year.
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Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Bitcoin holds $63,441 and Ethereum $1,884.70 on August 14, 2026, both slightly higher.
Dogecoin climbed 1.1 percent to $0.0701, while Chainlink led at $8.86 after a 2.5 percent gain.
Buyers asking which crypto to buy now can weigh live charts against a fixed presale rung.
Stage one sold out in full, and $BULLSKI stage 2 costs $0.000015 against a $0.0025 listing reference, on a capped 120 billion supply.
Anyone asking what crypto to buy now wants numbers, not noise. On August 14, 2026, Bitcoin sits at $63,441 and Ethereum at $1,884.70. Dogecoin rose 1.1 percent to $0.0701.
Chainlink gained 2.5 percent to $8.86. One name below has no chart at all, because today’s Bullski stage price comes from a ladder rather than from traders. Stage one sold out, so stage 2 now costs $0.000015.
How Today’s Board Looks
Table of Contents
Green outweighed red across crypto on August 14, 2026. Total value reads $2.264 trillion and finished flat. Bitcoin dominance sits at 56.22 percent.
Meme coins gained 1.19 percent as a group, worth $25.13 billion. Chainlink led the larger names. Ravencoin at $0.002667 and Zilliqa at $0.002403 led the small caps, up 3.1 and 2.9 percent, on caps of $43.7 million and $46.9 million.
Nothing here looks like a mania, and entry prices are usually kindest in quiet weeks.
Definition: A presale sells tokens before they reach an exchange. Prices are set by the project one stage at a time, so the number does not drift with the market.
1. $BULLSKI at $0.000015 in Stage 2
Bullski sells through a 16-stage ladder built on Ethereum. Its opening rung cleared all 1,192,283,023 tokens at $0.00001 and closed. Stage 2 now costs $0.000015 per token, and stage 3 sits at $0.00002.
Each rung opens only after the one before it sells out. On August 15, 2026, 1,398,621,785 tokens remained in stage 2 out of a 1,400,000,000 allocation. Sales across the whole ladder reached 1,193,661,238 tokens.
Total supply stops at 120 billion tokens. Presale covers 40 percent of that. $BULLSKI is an ERC-20 token, so a standard Ethereum wallet holds it.
ETH, BNB and USDT all work as payment. Listing reference is $0.0025, printed before the sale opened.
2. Bitcoin at $63,441
Bitcoin edged up 0.1 percent today, worth $1.273 trillion. BTC recorded its high of $126,080 on October 6, 2025. Around 20.1 million coins are in circulation.
Dominance of 56.22 percent still shapes how the rest of the market trades. Bitcoin gives the steadiest base of the five here. It also needs the most new money to move, which caps quick gains.
3. Ethereum at $1,884.70
Ethereum added 0.4 percent, carrying a $227.5 billion market cap. ETH peaked at $4,946.05 on August 24, 2025, so plenty of ground remains above. Roughly 120.7 million coins circulate.
Two jobs put Ethereum on this list. It works as a core holding, and it hosts the presale contract. Anyone funding a wallet with ETH is already set up for both.
Coin
Price on Aug 14, 2026
Market cap
24h move
All-time high
How the price is set
$BULLSKI
$0.000015 at stage 2 (Aug 15)
Presale, 120 billion supply
Fixed until the rung sells out
None yet, $0.0025 listing reference
A 16-stage ladder published in advance
Bitcoin (BTC)
$63,441
$1.273T
+0.1%
$126,080 (Oct 6, 2025)
Open market, 56.22% dominance
Ethereum (ETH)
$1,884.70
$227.5B
+0.4%
$4,946.05 (Aug 24, 2025)
Open market order book
Dogecoin (DOGE)
$0.0701
$10.90B
+1.1%
$0.7316 (May 7, 2021)
Open market, supply keeps growing
Chainlink (LINK)
$8.86
$6.63B
+2.5%
$52.70 (May 9, 2021)
Open market order book
One column separates this list. Four of these prices came from buyers and sellers today. The fifth came from a published rung and holds until that rung sells out.
Shortlists of crypto coins to buy now usually mix both kinds.
4. Dogecoin at $0.0701, Up 1.1 Percent
Dogecoin rose 1.1 percent to $0.0701, giving DOGE a $10.90 billion market cap. It remains the largest meme coin by value. DOGE peaked at $0.7316 on May 7, 2021, so it trades roughly 90 percent lower.
Supply keeps growing by about 5 billion coins a year, which works against the price. Figures for the token appear on CoinGecko, checked on August 14, 2026.
Pro tip: Check supply before price. Dogecoin mints new coins every year, while the fixed $BULLSKI token supply stops at 120 billion and never grows.
5. Chainlink at $8.86, Up 2.5 Percent
Chainlink posted one of the strongest large-cap moves today, up 2.5 percent to $8.86. LINK carries a $6.63 billion market cap. Its record of $52.70 dates to May 9, 2021, far above today’s level.
Chainlink supplies outside data to smart contracts across many networks. Quiet news cycles can leave it flat for months, so patience is part of holding it.
Fun fact: Dogecoin launched in December 2013 as a joke built around a Shiba Inu meme. Twelve years later it still carries a $10.90 billion market cap.
Cheap Crypto to Buy Now and What Cheap Really Means
Low prices draw attention, and supply decides whether they matter. Dogecoin at $0.0701 already carries $10.90 billion in value. A rung at $0.000015 carries none yet, because the token has not listed.
Anyone screening for penny crypto to buy now should treat a traded coin and a presale rung as two different things. Market cap tells you what a token already costs the market. Read the supply line before comparing two small numbers.
Where Else Buyers Are Looking
Presale rounds draw steady interest when terms are public. Readers who want the background can start with our note on the opening of stage one. A wider view of the meme coins buyers are choosing now covers the traded side of the sector.
Shortlists of the best crypto presales to buy now keep growing, so published terms are the fastest filter.
Take a $BULLSKI Position on the Stage 2 Rung
Chainlink and Dogecoin both moved on the day. One name on this board did not, because its price answers to a sell-out counter rather than to a chart. That counter ran the opening rung down to zero, all 1,192,283,023 tokens of it at $0.00001, and the ladder stepped up.
Stage 2 held 1,398,621,785 tokens of 1,400,000,000 on August 15, 2026. When the last one there is gone, $0.00002 becomes the number, and this ladder never steps back down.
Take a stage 2 entry at $0.000015: fund an Ethereum wallet, load the official site, look at what the counter says, then take a $BULLSKI position now.
Questions Buyers Ask Before They Click Buy
Is Now a Good Time to Buy Crypto?
Today reads mildly green. Total value sits at $2.264 trillion, flat over 24 hours, with meme coins up 1.19 percent. Quiet tape usually brings calmer entry prices than a rally does.
Size any buy to what you can leave alone, and check the live rung first.
Which Crypto to Buy Right Now?
Match the coin to the job. Lists of the top crypto to buy now usually pair one large anchor with a couple of smaller bets. Bitcoin at $63,441 anchors a portfolio.
Chainlink at $8.86 adds infrastructure. Dogecoin at $0.0701 adds meme exposure with a supply that keeps growing. $BULLSKI adds a fixed entry at $0.000015 with a $0.0025 listing reference.
What Is the Best Crypto to Buy Right Now?
Published terms make the strongest case. Bullski prints all 16 rungs, caps supply at 120 billion, locks liquidity at launch and vests team tokens. Its contract is verified on Etherscan, with an audit in process.
Read the live stage on the official site, then decide.
Can a Presale Price Change During the Day?
Only when the rung sells out. Prices move up the ladder, never down, and never on a clock. Stage 2 holds at $0.000015 until the last token in that rung is gone.
Every buyer sees the same figure on the site. Counters matter more than charts here.
For More Information
Website: Visit the official Bullski website at bullski.io
Telegram: Join the Bullski Telegram channel at t.me/BullskiCoinOfficial
X (Twitter): Follow Bullski on X at x.com/bullskicoin
Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.
Artificial intelligence stocks continue to dominate investor attention, translating into more volatility in equities in than the once famously volatile Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) market.
Jeroen Blokland, founder of the Blokland Smart Multi-Asset Fund, on Friday highlighted an unusual reversal in market dynamics: semiconductor stocks tied to the AI boom are experiencing substantially more volatility than Bitcoin.
Blokland noted that Bitcoin is down roughly 50% from its peak 10 months ago.
Meanwhile, the 60-day realized volatility of the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) has surged to around 70%, compared with roughly 30% for Bitcoin.
“Bitcoin, and pretty much every other asset class, has been completely overshadowed by AI and tech stocks,” Blokland said.
He argued that the divergence reflects an “unprecedented amount of price discovery”, or speculation, taking place in AI stocks while relatively little is happening in Bitcoin.
Blokland stressed that the volatility gap says little about Bitcoin’s long-term fundamentals. For investors who view Bitcoin as a trusted digital store of value in a debt-driven monetary system, he argued that patience remains key.
What Could Bring Crypto Back Into the AI Trade?Ironically, the technology currently pulling attention away from crypto could ultimately help bring activity back.
Market analyst Tanaya Macheel noted on Aug. 7 that crypto companies are increasingly positioning AI agents as a potential new class of blockchain users.
This shifts the industry’s pitch away from convincing humans to adopt crypto and provider autonomous software access to wallets and programmable money.
“Agents are the new mobile story,” one industry executive said as they could eventually trade assets, rebalance portfolios, purchase information and make payments without requiring human approval for every transaction.
That creates a natural potential use case for blockchain infrastructure because agents operate entirely online and may need financial rails that are programmable and available around the clock.
Stablecoins Could Be the Bridge Between AI and CryptoStablecoins could sit at the center of the AI-crypto convergence, giving autonomous agents predictable payment units while retaining blockchain’s 24/7 availability and programmability.
Unlike traditional banking infrastructure, stablecoins and smart contracts could enable real-time machine-to-machine payments and automated settlement.
Circle is positioning USDC (CRYPTO: USDC) for this opportunity, even as banks and financial firms explore competing stablecoins.
If AI agents become widespread, they could generate blockchain activity tied to real economic transactions rather than speculation.
AI equities may be winning investor attention today, but AI could eventually shift from crypto’s competitor for capital to a major source of real-world demand.
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JPMorgan Chase has terminated its banking relationship with Polymarket over regulatory concerns.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, sources familiar with the matter said JPMorgan Chase terminated its banking relationship with prediction market platform Polymarket last October due to regulatory concerns. However, the bank still maintains partial partnerships with Polymarket and other prediction market firms. A Polymarket spokesperson noted that the company currently has "close and active relations" with JPMorgan through multiple entities. Over the past year, Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan has attended JPMorgan-hosted events three times. Earlier this year, a major investor in Polymarket assisted the firm in reaching out to large banks including Citigroup and Fifth Third.
Currently, prediction markets are facing heightened scrutiny from U.S. state and federal regulators. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is investigating Polymarket, while the New York City Council is also probing its marketing practices; simultaneously, multiple states are engaged in ongoing litigation over whether prediction markets should be regulated as gambling operations.
JPMorgan has previously come under the Trump administration’s spotlight over so-called "debanking" issues. Trump has ordered regulators to probe whether banks engage in "politicized or illegal debanking" practices, and JPMorgan received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice last month as a result.
4 hours ago
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Israel’s largest bank taps Galaxy to offer Bitcoin, Ether, Solana tradingLatest NewsPublishedAug 14, 2026
Bank Leumi customers will be able to buy, hold and sell three major cryptocurrencies directly through the bank’s investment app beginning in early 2027.
Israel’s Bank Leumi has partnered with Galaxy Digital to let customers trade Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Solana (SOL) through the bank’s investment platform, with the service expected to launch in early 2027.
The companies said Friday that customers of Leumi and Pepper, its mobile banking arm, will be able to buy, hold and sell the three cryptocurrencies through a dedicated section of the Leumi Trade app. Leumi and Galaxy said the rollout would make Leumi the first Israeli bank to offer digital asset trading services to customers.
Leumi will use GalaxyOne Institutional for trading and related services, while Galaxy’s custody infrastructure platform, formerly known as GK8, will support the bank’s digital asset infrastructure.
According to Leumi, the bank serves millions of customers across its retail and business operations.
The partnership comes after Galaxy reported an $85 million net loss in the second quarter, which it attributed largely to declining digital asset prices. Despite the loss, its digital assets business generated $66 million in adjusted gross profit, up 34% from the previous quarter.
Galaxy Digital, founded and led by Mike Novogratz, began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker GLXY in May 2025. Its shares were trading at $21.38 on Friday morning, up about 2% on the day but down roughly 25% over the past year, according to Yahoo Finance data.
Magazine: Solana’s fee overhaul increases burn and makes resource hogs pay
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Israel’s largest bank taps Galaxy to offer Bitcoin, Ether, Solana tradingLatest NewsPublishedAug 14, 2026
Bank Leumi customers will be able to buy, hold and sell three major cryptocurrencies directly through the bank’s investment app beginning in early 2027.
Israel’s Bank Leumi has partnered with Galaxy Digital to let customers trade Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Solana (SOL) through the bank’s investment platform, with the service expected to launch in early 2027.
The companies said Friday that customers of Leumi and Pepper, its mobile banking arm, will be able to buy, hold and sell the three cryptocurrencies through a dedicated section of the Leumi Trade app. Leumi and Galaxy said the rollout would make Leumi the first Israeli bank to offer digital asset trading services to customers.
Leumi will use GalaxyOne Institutional for trading and related services, while Galaxy’s custody infrastructure platform, formerly known as GK8, will support the bank’s digital asset infrastructure.
According to Leumi, the bank serves millions of customers across its retail and business operations.
The partnership comes after Galaxy reported an $85 million net loss in the second quarter, which it attributed largely to declining digital asset prices. Despite the loss, its digital assets business generated $66 million in adjusted gross profit, up 34% from the previous quarter.
Galaxy Digital, founded and led by Mike Novogratz, began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker GLXY in May 2025. Its shares were trading at $21.38 on Friday morning, up about 2% on the day but down roughly 25% over the past year, according to Yahoo Finance data.
Magazine: Solana’s fee overhaul increases burn and makes resource hogs pay
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) remains pinned near $63,000 even as U.S. stocks push to record highs, fueling the debate about whether crypto has already bottomed.
BTC Trapped, Bottom In Q4?In a podcast on Aug. 13, Crypto trader Trader Mayne highlighted Bitcoin has essentially been trapped in the same range since June and argued investors haven’t missed much even if the cycle bottom is already in.
“The bottom is a process,” Mayne said, pointing to previous cycles in which Bitcoin spent months establishing a base before eventually breaking higher.
He currently leans toward Bitcoin’s ultimate low not being in yet. Mayne noted that following the traditional four-year cycle would put a potential bottom around late Q4 or early 2027.
Rather than trying to perfectly time the low, Mayne favors gradually building exposure while keeping dry powder available for another decline.
The weakness is particularly notable because Bitcoin has failed to follow equities higher. Mayne warned that if stocks eventually correct, Bitcoin could face additional pressure despite barely participating in their rally.
Traders Are Watching Ethereum, Solana And XRPEthereum (CRYPTO: ETH) remains bearish on Mayne’s framework after its latest bounce failed to change the broader market structure.
He believes ETH needs a bullish market-structure break before he becomes interested in longs. Until then, lows around $1,750 remain vulnerable if Bitcoin rolls over.
The ETH/BTC pair has broken its downtrend line, but Mayne wants to see it take out previous highs before treating the move as a meaningful trend change.
Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), meanwhile, continues consolidating inside a weekly order block. Mayne sees there is little confirmation in either direction yet, although SOL has recovered more strongly from its June lows than Bitcoin.
For XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), Mayne remains focused on its aggressive downtrend.
The token failed to deliver the trendline breakout he previously wanted to see and instead printed another low. His next potential setup would be a weekly swing failure pattern, followed by a breakout from the downtrend.
XRP has recently been hovering around the psychologically important $1 area, which has acted as near-term support.
Chainlink (CRYPTO: LINK) offered a relatively stronger setup. Mayne noted that LINK reacted from a three-day order block and said the next confirmation would be a higher high.
Hyperliquid (CRYPTO: HYPE) is also showing signs of life after breaking above a short-term downtrend, although Mayne noted it still needs to clear additional highs to confirm a broader structural reversal.
Could Crowded Bitcoin Shorts Spark A Squeeze?In an X post on Aug. 13, Trader Cav noted another factor that could dramatically change the setup.
“Total BTC Open Interest / Market Cap is getting pretty elevated here,” Cav said, noting that the calculation includes perpetual futures and Deribit options.
He believes a significant amount of bearish positioning is already “baked in,” with traders betting on another Bitcoin decline.
That could turn into fuel for a squeeze if BTC instead breaks higher.
Image: Shutterstock
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Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana have become the first cryptocurrencies to be offered by the largest bank in Israel, which has just added digital assets to its long list of services.
Following a recent announcement shared by the firm, the crypto assets are set to become more accessible to residents in Israel after Bank Leumi partners with Galaxy to introduce digital asset trading services through its banking platform.
Leumi and Galaxy partner Being the first bank in Israel to offer digital asset trading directly to its customers, the move has sparked a buzz across the crypto ecosystem.
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The move follows the bank's recent partnership with Galaxy Digital, a renowned cryptocurrency firm, which will allow customers of Bank Leumi and its mobile banking arm, PEPPER, to buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrencies.
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Following the partnership, Bank Leumi will utilize the GalaxyOne Institutional infrastructure to execute its crypto operations. This is Galaxy's platform designed for banks, asset managers and other institutional clients to trade, finance and stake digital assets.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana in the spotlight The crypto assets currently available for purchase on the banking platform include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana. Other assets like XRP and more are expected to join the list soon.
Nonetheless, it is important to note that the crypto assets are not yet available to customers of the bank, as the service is expected to launch in early 2027 and will be available through a dedicated section of the Leumi Trade capital markets application.
According to the bank, the trading environment will be designed to provide customers with a secure and regulated way to access digital assets.
Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan increased their exposure to cryptocurrency ETFs in the second quarter, with both banks adding to their Bitcoin and Ethereum positions despite a volatile period for digital assets, according to SEC filings.
JPMorgan increased its IBIT stake to about 10.4 million shares from 8.3 million and more than quadrupled its position in BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF to roughly 1.17 million shares. It also added positions in Solana and XRP investment products.
The filings highlight growing institutional adoption of crypto ETFs, with the biggest banks expanding exposure across Bitcoin, Ethereum and newer crypto assets.
QUICK CONTEXT: Big Banks Expand Crypto ETF ExposureThe second-quarter filings show that major Wall Street banks are continuing to build cryptocurrency exposure through exchange-traded products. The moves are notable because they came despite volatility in crypto markets during the quarter.
Morgan Stanley’s IBIT position increased in share count, but its reported value declined to about $549 million from $667 million as Bitcoin prices fell during the period. The bank also reported 2.57 million shares of its own Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, which began trading in April.
Ethereum saw particularly sharp percentage increases. Morgan Stanley more than tripled its BlackRock Ethereum ETF position, while JPMorgan increased its stake in the same product more than fourfold. Both banks also broadened beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, adding exposure to Solana products, while JPMorgan reported new positions in XRP investment products.
The filings suggest crypto ETF exposure is becoming increasingly diversified among large financial institutions.
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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest bank, has partnered with Galaxy Digital to offer digital asset trading to its customers, making it the first bank in Israel to announce direct crypto trading services.
Customers of Bank Leumi and PEPPER, its mobile banking arm, will be able to buy, hold and sell Bitcoin, Ether and Solana through the Leumi Trade capital markets app. The service is expected to launch in early 2027.
Trading will be available through a dedicated section of the app, allowing customers to access digital assets alongside the bank’s existing investment services.
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Galaxy will provide trading infrastructure through GalaxyOne Institutional, its platform designed for banks, asset managers and other institutional clients.
Bank Leumi also signed an agreement to use Galaxy’s Custody Infrastructure platform, formerly known as GK8, to support the custody infrastructure behind the service.
Bank Leumi Head of Strategy Maya Ravia said the initiative forms part of the bank’s broader innovation strategy and is intended to give customers regulated access to digital assets within its banking platform.
Galaxy Israel CEO Lior Lamesh said the partnership combines the company’s trading and custody infrastructure as Galaxy seeks to provide digital asset services to banks globally.
Galaxy confirmed the partnership Friday, saying Leumi had selected the company to provide the infrastructure supporting its planned digital asset offering.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Morgan Stanley has increased its reported holding in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF by 23% to about 16.5 million shares while adding exposure to Ether, Solana, and several crypto-linked companies during the second quarter.
Summary
Morgan Stanley added roughly 3.04 million shares of BlackRock’s IBIT during Q2. Its IBIT position was valued at $549 million as of June 30. Holdings in BlackRock’s Ether ETF increased by 202% to 4.6 million shares. New positions included Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin fund and two Solana investment products. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing signed on Aug. 11 showed that Morgan Stanley held about 16.5 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, up from approximately 13.4 million shares at the end of the first quarter.
The addition of roughly 3.04 million IBIT shares represented a quarterly increase of about 23%. However, the reported value of the position fell by nearly 18%, from around $667 million to $549 million, as Bitcoin’s price declined during the three months ended June 30.
Morgan Stanley submitted the report as a combination Form 13F covering positions held by several related managers. The Q2 regulatory filing contained 45,905 entries with an aggregate reported value of about $1.89 trillion.
A Form 13F provides a quarter-end view of certain U.S.-listed securities held by institutional investment managers. It does not identify every transaction made during the quarter, disclose short positions, or establish that every reported share represents a proprietary investment by Morgan Stanley itself.
Morgan Stanley has added its own Bitcoin fund Alongside the larger IBIT position, Morgan Stanley reported 2.57 million shares of the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, valued at approximately $43.3 million on June 30. The position was new because MSBT began trading during the second quarter.
Morgan Stanley launched the Bitcoin fund on NYSE Arca on April 8 with an annual management fee of 0.14%. The product holds Bitcoin and seeks to follow its spot price after accounting for expenses and other liabilities.
MSBT’s fee came below the 0.25% charged by both BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund. The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust charges 0.15%, placing Morgan Stanley’s product one basis point below that rate at launch.
Despite offering its own fund, Morgan Stanley continued to hold larger positions in products run by competing asset managers. Its $549 million IBIT position was more than 12 times the value of the reported MSBT holding at the end of June.
Several other Bitcoin fund positions also increased. Morgan Stanley added shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF and the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF, while its Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund holding rose by nearly 38%.
As crypto.news reported on Aug. 8, MSBT later added about 232.5 BTC worth $15.05 million as Bitcoin traded near $65,000. Blockchain intelligence platform Arkham estimated that the purchase raised the fund’s balance to 6,563 BTC, valued at more than $426 million at the time.
The fund-level Bitcoin balance differs from Morgan Stanley’s 13F position in MSBT shares. An ETF’s digital assets back all outstanding shares, while the 13F records the shares reported by Morgan Stanley and the affiliated managers covered by the filing.
Ether and Solana fund positions have increased Ether exposure rose across two funds during the quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its holding in BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust ETF by about 202%, taking the position to approximately 4.6 million shares.
The bank also reported around 5.1 million shares of the Grayscale Ethereum Staking Mini ETF, an increase of roughly 26% from the previous quarter. Both products provide exposure to Ether through securities traded in the United States, although their structures, fees, and treatment of staking rewards differ.
Solana appeared in the filing through two new positions. Morgan Stanley reported approximately $4.25 million in shares of the Grayscale Solana Staking ETF and about $2.26 million in the Fidelity Solana Fund.
The positions preceded Morgan Stanley’s launch of its own Solana and Ethereum products after the quarter had ended. On July 28, the bank launched Ethereum and Solana exchange-traded products under the MSSE and MSOL tickers.
Both products charge a 0.14% annual management fee and include staking provisions. Regulatory documents indicate that the Ethereum product may stake between 50% and 80% of its Ether, while the Solana product may stake up to 100% of its SOL holdings.
For U.S. investors, the 13F positions represent exposure through securities available in traditional brokerage accounts rather than direct ownership of Bitcoin, Ether, or Solana. The SEC filing reports the value of the fund shares on June 30, meaning subsequent token-price changes and portfolio transactions are not captured.
Circle and Bitcoin infrastructure holdings have grown Morgan Stanley made one of its largest crypto-related additions in Circle Internet Group, the company behind the USDC stablecoin. Its reported Circle position increased from about 1.46 million shares in the first quarter to approximately 8.32 million shares at the end of Q2.
The change represented an addition of about 6.86 million shares, leaving the reported position at more than 5.5 times its previous size. Because Circle trades on a U.S. stock exchange, its shares fall within the securities covered by Form 13F rather than being reported as a direct stablecoin holding.
Positions also grew across several Bitcoin mining and digital infrastructure companies. The filing showed additions to Cipher Digital, Core Scientific, Hut 8, and Bitdeer Technologies.
Such equity holdings carry company-specific exposure beyond Bitcoin’s market price. Their values can also depend on electricity costs, debt, mining output, hardware efficiency, and revenue from data centers or high-performance computing operations, according to the individual companies’ public disclosures.
At the same time, Morgan Stanley has expanded the ways its U.S. clients can access digital assets. In July, the bank completed its E*TRADE rollout, allowing eligible customers to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana for a 0.50% transaction fee through infrastructure provided by Zerohash.
Coinbase and some mining positions have declined Not every crypto-linked security increased during the quarter. Morgan Stanley reported about 550,000 fewer Coinbase shares than it held at the end of March.
The bank also reduced its CleanSpark position by more than 3.1 million shares. CleanSpark remained among the publicly traded U.S. Bitcoin miners covered by institutional filings, but Morgan Stanley’s Q2 report showed a materially smaller holding.
Bitfarms was removed from the portfolio entirely. Morgan Stanley had reported a position of roughly 8 million shares in the previous quarter before disclosing no corresponding holding on June 30.
Since a 13F only presents positions held on the final day of a quarter, the filing does not provide Morgan Stanley’s purchase or sale prices for IBIT, Circle, Coinbase, CleanSpark, or Bitfarms. It also does not show whether any of the positions were changed after June 30.
The leading bank in Israel, Bank Leumi, has caught the eyes of crypto market traders with its recent announcement to allow crypto trading for its customers through a partnership with Galaxy. According to the announcement, the customers would be able to buy, sell, or hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Notably, this also marks a major step for the Israeli banking sector into the digital assets space. Simultaneously, it also suggests the growing institutional confidence and soaring demand for cryptocurrencies globally.
Israel Bank to Allow Bitcoin, ETH, and SOL Trading
Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest bank, has partnered with Galaxy to launch digital asset trading for its customers. The service is expected to go live in early 2027. Customers of Leumi and PEPPER will be able to buy, hold, and sell selected cryptocurrencies through the Leumi Trade capital markets application.
The service will operate through a dedicated section within the app. GalaxyOne Institutional will provide the trading infrastructure. Galaxy’s Custody Infrastructure platform will also support Leumi’s digital asset operations. The setup aims to combine crypto exposure with banking-grade controls and security.
Meanwhile, the initial asset selection also offers an interesting glimpse into institutional demand. The customers would be able to trade or hold the two largest cryptocurrencies by market cap, Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In addition, it would also allow trading Solana alongside Bitcoin and Ether. Galaxy has already built institutional infrastructure around Solana exposure. Its role as a staking provider for digital asset products further highlights the network’s growing institutional presence.
Galaxy Deepens its Institutional Banking Push
The latest deal to offer Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana trading has strengthened Galaxy’s broader push into institutional digital assets. GalaxyOne Institutional offers trading, custody, staking, financing, and research services through one platform.
In addition, Galaxy and BNY have recently deepened their crypto partnership by adding institutional staking to BNY’s digital asset platform. Through this setup, clients can hold and stake their assets in a single workflow, while BNY continues to build out its services for tokenized funds and blockchain-based transfer agency operations.
On the other hand, the company has also continued expanding beyond pure crypto infrastructure. In July, Galaxy secured a naming rights deal with Texas Tech, making Galaxy the athletics department’s official data center and digital assets partner.
Meanwhile, as traditional banks are slowly integrating these options, active retail traders can compare the best crypto apps for mobile trading to find options with wider asset coverage and lower fees.
Israel’s largest bank has partnered with Galaxy to offer Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana trading through its investment app from early 2027.
Summary
Bank Leumi will become the first Israeli bank to provide direct digital asset trading.
Leumi and PEPPER customers will access Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana through Leumi Trade.
GalaxyOne Institutional will handle trading, while Galaxy’s former GK8 platform will support custody.
Galaxy has also added institutional crypto services through BNY and Morgan Stanley in 2026.
Galaxy announced the partnership with Bank Leumi on Aug. 14, saying the planned service will let customers buy, hold, and sell three cryptocurrencies without leaving the bank’s capital markets application.
The service is expected to become available in early 2027 and will cover customers of both Leumi and PEPPER, its mobile banking arm. Users will find the trading tools inside a dedicated, secured section of the Leumi Trade app, according to the announcement.
Bank Leumi, which describes itself as Israel’s leading financial institution, serves millions of households, small businesses, and corporate clients. Once the service goes live, it will become the first bank in Israel to provide digital asset trading directly to customers, the companies said.
Bank Leumi crypto trading will begin with three assets
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana will form the initial asset list, giving customers access to the three networks through an existing banking interface rather than a separate crypto exchange or self-custody wallet.
The announcement did not disclose trading fees, minimum purchase amounts, or whether the bank will add more assets after launch. Galaxy and Leumi also did not specify whether all customers will receive access at once or whether the service will begin with a phased rollout.
By placing the service inside Leumi Trade, the bank will combine crypto transactions with the application customers already use for capital markets activity. Bank Leumi said the arrangement will provide access through a regulated banking framework, while Galaxy will supply the systems needed to execute trades and support the underlying assets.
Maya Ravia, head of strategy at Bank Leumi, said the initiative would expand the financial services available to customers and provide “simple, secure, and regulated access” to digital asset trading.
“We believe that digital assets are gradually becoming an integral part of the global financial system, and it is our role to enable customers to benefit from this development within a reliable, secure, and regulated banking framework.”
Rather than building every part of the service internally, Leumi will use two Galaxy products for separate functions. GalaxyOne Institutional will provide trading and related services, while Galaxy’s Custody Infrastructure platform will support the bank’s digital asset operations.
Galaxy will provide trading and custody infrastructure
GalaxyOne Institutional combines services including crypto trading, financing, staking, custody and research for banks, asset managers, and other professional clients. Under the Leumi agreement, the platform will handle the trading side of the bank’s planned offering.
For custody infrastructure, Leumi has signed a separate agreement covering the Galaxy platform, formerly known as GK8. Galaxy acquired GK8 from bankrupt crypto lender Celsius in 2023 and later incorporated the technology into its institutional infrastructure business.
Lior Lamesh, CEO of Galaxy Israel, said the company is building a single platform that links trading and custody for banks. He described Leumi as the first Israeli bank to bring digital asset trading to its customers.
“The future of finance will run on open, programmable rails, and we believe the banks that move first will define the era that follows,” Lamesh said.
Galaxy did not disclose the value or duration of either agreement. The announcement also provided no details about how customer assets will be held, whether the bank will use segregated wallets or what withdrawal options may be available.
Bank Leumi’s selection of Bitcoin and Ether gives customers access to the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Solana’s inclusion places a third network alongside them at launch, although the announcement did not say whether staking will be offered for ETH or SOL.
Galaxy has added more banks to its institutional network
The Leumi agreement follows several 2026 deals through which Galaxy has supplied crypto infrastructure or services to established financial institutions.
Earlier in August, crypto.news reported on BNY adding Galaxy’s staking infrastructure to its Digital Asset Custody platform. The planned service will allow eligible institutional clients to hold and stake supported assets through one servicing model, subject to regulatory review.
BNY said Galaxy would act as both an infrastructure provider and a design partner. Clients would keep their assets within BNY’s custody framework while using Galaxy’s systems to participate in proof-of-stake networks, although the companies had not disclosed the supported assets or launch date.
In June, Galaxy also entered a Morgan Stanley arrangement for eligible wealth-management clients holding Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana. Under the referral setup, clients can lend at least $5 million in digital assets to Galaxy and receive shares in spot crypto investment products, including the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust.
The companies said the process can reduce crypto-to-exchange-traded-product onboarding times by as much as 75%. Morgan Stanley clients previously faced a $25 million minimum for the service before Galaxy lowered the threshold to $5 million under the referral arrangement.
Galaxy’s work with Leumi differs in customer scope because it places direct buying, holding, and selling functions inside a retail-facing bank application. The BNY agreement focuses on staking for eligible institutions, while the Morgan Stanley arrangement serves high-net-worth clients moving existing crypto exposure into investment products.
U.S. investors can access Galaxy through Nasdaq
Although the Leumi trading service is intended for the Israeli bank’s customers, Galaxy is a New York-headquartered public company whose Class A shares trade on Nasdaq under the GLXY ticker. American investors can therefore gain equity exposure to the company supplying Leumi’s trading and custody infrastructure, though the firms did not disclose the agreement’s expected financial contribution.
Galaxy also operates regulated digital asset services in the United States. In May, its GalaxyOne Prime NY subsidiary secured a BitLicense and a Money Transmission License from the New York State Department of Financial Services.
The approvals allow the subsidiary to provide digital asset trading and custody services to hedge funds, registered investment advisers, and family offices in New York. At the time of the approval, Galaxy said its platform managed about $9 billion in client assets and held more than 50 licenses across its international regulatory network.
New York’s framework requires licensed digital asset companies to meet capital, compliance, and cybersecurity requirements. Galaxy became the second company to receive a BitLicense in 2026, following payments company Strike, while other license holders include Coinbase, Circle, Robinhood, and PayPal.
Outside its digital asset operations, Galaxy also develops data center infrastructure in the United States. The company’s Helios campus in Texas anchors a planned pipeline with more than 5.7 gigawatts of potential capacity, according to its Aug. 14 announcement.
Bank Leumi was founded more than 120 years ago and operates without a controlling shareholder. The bank said its customer base covers individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations through physical branches and digital services.
US inflation dropped to 3.4% in July 2026, down from prior months
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2%
Asian and US stock markets showed early gains on the news
Bitcoin held steady near $63,000 with little reaction
A possible US-Iran peace deal could push inflation lower and sway the Fed
US inflation cooled to 3.4% in July 2026. The drop came in the latest Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Prices are still higher than they were before the US-Iran conflict began. The cooling trend has not fully reversed those gains.
Core inflation, which strips out food and energy costs, rose 0.2% for the month. This measure is often watched closely because it filters out short term price swings.
How Stock Markets Responded
Asian stock markets showed gains on August 14, 2026, the day the inflation data was released. Traders appeared to welcome the lower reading.
US stock futures pointed in a similar direction during pre-market trading hours. Early activity suggested investors felt more comfortable with the pace of price growth.
Tech stocks saw some of the strongest movement among sectors. These companies are often sensitive to changes in inflation expectations.
Lower inflation can ease pressure on the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high. That connection is part of why stock investors tend to react quickly to CPI reports.
Crypto Market Stays Flat
The cryptocurrency market told a different story. Bitcoin continued trading near the $63,000 level with little movement.
Most other digital assets followed Bitcoin’s sideways pattern. Risk appetite across the crypto market remained low.
Cryptocurrencies are generally viewed as higher risk investments than stocks. When investors are cautious, these assets often see less trading activity.
The Federal Reserve may choose to leave interest rates unchanged for now. Inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target, which gives policymakers a reason for caution.
Higher interest rates tend to keep investors away from riskier assets like crypto. That dynamic may explain why Bitcoin has not moved much despite the cooler inflation data.
Some data suggests Bitcoin is trading near its cost of production. Historically, this price zone has lined up with the bottom of past bear markets.
President Trump has said a peace deal between the US and Iran could be reached soon. Such a deal could ease global tensions and support investor confidence.
A resolution to the conflict may also help bring inflation down further in coming months. Lower inflation could open the door to an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve later this year.
An interest rate cut is often seen as a positive signal for higher risk assets. If that happens, some analysts believe it could support a stronger move higher for the crypto market.
JPMorgan Chase has terminated its banking relationship with Polymarket over regulatory concerns.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, sources familiar with the matter said JPMorgan Chase terminated its banking relationship with prediction market platform Polymarket last October due to regulatory concerns. However, the bank still maintains partial partnerships with Polymarket and other prediction market firms. A Polymarket spokesperson noted that the company currently has "close and active relations" with JPMorgan through multiple entities. Over the past year, Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan has attended JPMorgan-hosted events three times. Earlier this year, a major investor in Polymarket assisted the firm in reaching out to large banks including Citigroup and Fifth Third.
Currently, prediction markets are facing heightened scrutiny from U.S. state and federal regulators. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is investigating Polymarket, while the New York City Council is also probing its marketing practices; simultaneously, multiple states are engaged in ongoing litigation over whether prediction markets should be regulated as gambling operations.
JPMorgan has previously come under the Trump administration’s spotlight over so-called "debanking" issues. Trump has ordered regulators to probe whether banks engage in "politicized or illegal debanking" practices, and JPMorgan received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice last month as a result.
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Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee said recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data is encouraging, but inflation remained elevated in May and June. If the momentum from June persists over the next three to four months, policymakers can be confident prices are steadily returning to the 2% target, he noted. He backed holding interest rates steady in July, pointing out that inflation remains the top concern while the economy and employment have "broadly held stable." Goolsbee warned that a sustained drop in retail sales would spark worries, as consumption is a key pillar of the U.S. economy. Separately, he expressed concern over the recent slowdown in productivity growth, stating that if AI-driven growth is not sustainable, the narrative around AI and monetary policy will need to be re-evaluated. On the question of reducing the number of policy meetings, Goolsbee said he has no strong stance and is willing to wait for the working group’s recommendations. (Jinshi)
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Elon Musk: Orbit computing could become the only way to scale AI by 2029.
Elon Musk stated in a post that due to issues with power availability and regulatory approvals for ground-based data centers, orbital computing — also known as space-based computing platforms — may become the only way to continue scaling up AI by some point in 2029.
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Osman pointed out that Anthropic’s growth is highly impressive, but this also means much of its future success may already be factored into its valuation. The firm filed a confidential IPO application on June 1, and while preparing for its public listing, it must continue pouring massive capital into maintaining its competitiveness in cutting-edge AI models. In May, Anthropic raised $65 billion in funding, with a portion earmarked for expanding computing power. The company has secured an additional 5GW computing power deal with Amazon, plus another 5GW next-generation TPU computing partnership with Google and Broadcom, and also has access to SpaceX’s GPU capacity. The report added that Anthropic has committed to investing more than $100 billion in Amazon Web Services (AWS) over the next decade.
Osman believes investors need to focus not only on whether AI technology continues to advance, but also on how future profits will ultimately be split among model developers, chipmakers, cloud service providers, data centers, and software firms. For Anthropic, the critical factors are how much of its revenue can eventually be converted into cash, how much capital must be reinvested to sustain technological leadership, and whether it can preserve pricing power and long-term returns amid intensifying competition.
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Luigi Mangione has formally pleaded guilty in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson. A federal judge has set Mangione’s sentencing date for December 18. Mangione told the court during the hearing that he entered a guilty plea in his federal criminal case, admitting to shooting Thompson. The plea agreement will prevent the high-profile case from proceeding to a federal trial. Additionally, the guilty plea may enable Mangione to seek dismissal of New York state murder charges and delay the upcoming state trial. Mangione currently faces both federal and state charges. The state trial is scheduled for September 8. If convicted of second-degree murder, Mangione faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. (CCTV)
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Federal Reserve’s Goolsbee: CPI Data Is Encouraging, Supports Decision to Hold Interest Rates Steady in July
Fed’s Goolsbee says CPI data is encouraging, but more data is needed to reach a judgment. The latest two productivity readings are very disappointing, backing the decision to hold interest rates steady in July. If productivity continues to decline, expectations around AI will need to be re-evaluated.
Bitcoin (BTC) hovers around $63,000 at press time on Friday, as the broader crypto market maintains a risk-off sentiment. Rising against the tide, Cosmos (ATOM) and Pump.fun (PUMP) are leading gains over the last 24 hours, emerging as top performers.
CoinMarketCap’s Fear and Greed Index at 37 on Friday flattens below the neutral zone, indicating persistent mildly risk-averse conditions.
Fear and Greed Index. Source: CoinMarketCapTechnical outlook: Will Bitcoin extend its losses?Bitcoin trades around $63,556 at press time on Friday, maintaining a bearish near-term tone, capped below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $64,488 and well below the 200-day EMA at $72,432. From a technical perspective, price has breached an upward support trendline near $63,955, now acting as an overhead barrier.
Reinforcing the downside bias, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is below its signal line, with a negative reading, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers near 46, hinting at a softer but not yet oversold momentum.
Initial resistance is seen at the former short-term uptrend break around $63,955, followed by the 50-day EMA at $64,488.
BTC/USDT daily price chart.Looking down, the July 6 low at $61,307 emerges as the initial support, followed by the July 1 low at $57,800.
Technical outlook: Could ATOM and PUMP extend their rally?Cosmos is up 3% on Friday, extending its 7% rise from the previous day. ATOM maintains a bullish near-term bias as the price holds above the 50-day EMA at $1.4857, following a bullish breakout above a long-term resistance trendline near $1.3500 last week.
The MACD rises in positive territory while the RSI hovers near 65, hinting at strong but increasingly stretched momentum.
The path of least resistance for ATOM targets the R2 Pivot level at $1.7703, indicating an upside of roughly 15%.
ATOM/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, the 50-day EMA at $1.4857 remains a crucial support level, guarding the downside of the broken trendline now at $1.2854.
PUMP is inching closer to $0.003000 on Friday, extending its advance above both the 50-day EMA at $0.002750 and the 200-day EMA at $0.002196, which together hint at a bullish near-term bias. A decisive close above the $0.0030 round figure could target the December 3 high at $0.003399.
The RSI at 76 stays in overbought territory, suggesting strong but potentially stretched upside momentum.
PUMP/USDT daily price chart.Looking down, the May 9 high at $0.002251 now acts as a support zone, reinforced by the 200-day EMA at $0.002196.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Bitcoin (BTC) long positions are “facing liquidation” as volatility shows signs that a range breakout is finally coming.
Key points:
Bitcoin long positions face multiple threats as BTC price action heads toward new August lows, analyst warns.The correlation between Binance open interest and price reached 0.25 on Thursday as both fell.The Bitcoin bull market is not ready to make a comeback, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju says.
Bitcoin longs feel the squeeze as price dropsInsights published on onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant by community analyst “BorisD on Thursday said that leveraged long BTC positions are being flushed out as BTC/USD targets month-to-date lows.
The analysis focuses on the relationship between price and open interest (OI) on Binance. OI represents total active derivative positions, both long and short, and reflects capital commitment in a given market.
While price has traded in a narrow range since June, CryptoQuant data show that Binance OI has gradually increased, reaching $8.15 billion on Wednesday as futures increasingly steer the market while spot traders sit on the sidelines.
Bitcoin open interest on Binance. Source: CryptoQuant
With price now seeing downside volatility on lower time frames, the correlation between price and OI has entered a state of flux, potentially squeezing long positions that have built up in the low $60,000 zone.
“In the Bitcoin market, the Binance Open Interest (OI) Correlation and liquidation warning signals clearly reveal the process of leveraged positions being flushed out. Initially, as the price fell, the correlation shifted to the negative side, indicating that OI was rising despite declining prices,” the analyst wrote.
“This showed a double-sided squeeze and [an] increasingly complex liquidity structure — driven by long positions trying to buy the dip on one end, and additional short positions entering the market on the other.”BTC/USD vs. Binance OI data. Source: CryptoQuant
The latest correlation data showed a reading of 0.25, a number that the analyst said reflects declining long positions as price continues to fall, suggesting the “anticipated cleanout has begun.”
“The simultaneous drop in both price and OI indicates that leveraged long positions are giving up, getting stopped out, or facing liquidation,” the analyst continued.
Data from CoinGlass put total 24-hour cross-crypto liquidations at $236 million at the time of writing.
Crypto liquidation history (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass
CryptoQuant CEO: “Stars haven’t aligned” for Bitcoin bull marketIn his latest market commentary, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju said conditions for a renewed Bitcoin bull market have yet to emerge.
“The stars haven’t aligned for a Bitcoin bull run just yet,” he wrote on X alongside a basket of onchain indicators still in “bear” territory.
Bitcoin onchain indicator heatmap. Source: Ki Young Ju on X.com
Cointelegraph has previously reported on several composite onchain indicators reaching similar conclusions about the current stage of the BTC price cycle. One of them, from onchain analytics platform Glassnode, is currently in its longest “capitulation” phase since the end of Bitcoin’s last bear market in 2022.
This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph's Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research.
MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor published a post noting that digital assets compete across four distinct markets—they do not form a single market, but a new financial architecture comprehensively challenging the traditional financial system (TradFi). The breakdown: Digital capital (BTC) competes for wealth, with rivals including stocks, real estate, gold, and art. Digital credit (STRC) competes for income, facing bonds and private credit. Digital currency competes for savings, with competitors being money market funds and Treasury bonds. Digital payment currency competes for payments, with rivals including cash and bank deposits. Saylor elaborated on digital assets’ "currency spectrum" concept in his post yesterday, categorizing them as: Bitcoin = digital capital, STRC = digital credit, SR-strcUSX = digital currency, USDT = digital payment currency. On this spectrum, volatility and return potential decline gradually from left to right, while stability and transaction utility rise gradually. Saylor defines Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value—highly volatile, high-energy, a sound bearer asset; USDT as the ultimate medium of exchange, stable and easy to transact; digital credit and digital currency serve as bridges between capital and currency.
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According to Reuters, the SEC canceled its open meeting scheduled for August 14 at 10:00 AM due to an unforeseen scheduling issue. The agency has not announced a new date for the meeting.
The SEC’s agenda document clearly lists the regulation as “Regulation Crypto Assets.”
As is known, the SEC was scheduled to discuss rules for establishing an initial public offering (IPO) framework for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets at today’s canceled meeting. In this context, the meeting focused on which rules would apply to the IPO processes for these specific contracts.
It is noteworthy that the SEC canceled the meeting after the US Senate postponed discussions on the comprehensive crypto regulation Clarity Act until after the August recess, while uncertainty still persists regarding a comprehensive regulatory framework for the crypto sector in the US.
*This is not investment advice.
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Spot bitcoin ETFs saw $192 million in back-to-back outflows as bitcoin fell to its lowest level since Aug. 3.While U.S. stocks gained after cooler-than-expected producer price data, crypto markets lagged, with bitcoin and ether slipping even as some altcoins outperformed.Derivatives and funding data show growing bearish positioning in tokens like bitcoin cash and hedera. Bitcoin volatility eased and options flows remain mixed.Bitcoin BTC$62,760.68 dropped below $63,000, losing 1.14% since midnight UTC as a second day of outflows from spot exchange-traded funds and a lack of bullish catalysts weighed on the crypto market.
Spot bitcoin ETFs experienced the first back-to-back days of outflows since late July with $192 million exiting the products, according to SoSoValue.
The largest cryptocurrency is now trading at its lowest point since Aug. 3 having wiped out all of last week’s rally. Ether ETH$1,873.48 is down by 0.73% since midnight, while a portion of the altcoin market continues to show resilience, outperforming crypto majors.
U.S. equities were boosted on Thursday by producer price inflation data, which cooled to 4.7%, below forecasts. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both rallied following the report, and futures on the indexes remain marginally in the black.
Derivatives positioningFutures churn continues: While the crypto market is under pressure, the long-short taker ratio in futures remains balanced, with longs accounting for half of the flow. 24-hour volume growth is again outpacing open interest (OI) growth by a wide margin. That’s a sign of churn rather than fresh positioning.BCH sees heaviest fresh shorting: Futures tied to Bitcoin Cash BCH$203.71 are the biggest OI gainer of the past 24 hours, adding 10% to 1.64 million tokens as the spot price drops 3%. That combination points to short positions being built up. Deeply negative annualized funding rates support that interpretation. The 24-hour OI-adjusted cumulative volume delta (CVD) is negative too, signaling that shorts are trading more aggressively via market orders rather than passive limit orders. Together, these signals point to positioning for a deeper selloff in the token.BTC OI rises alongside falling price: Bitcoin is another OI gainer, with the tally rising over 3% to 765,000 BTC alongside a negative CVD. Annualized funding rates, however, still hold mildly positive.HBAR shows the clearest bearish tilt: The token's 24-hour CVD is the most negative among the top 25 coins, with funding rates around -20%, pointing to a market clearly dominated by bears. More broadly, all the top 25 are showing negative CVD.Bitcoin volatility cools: BTC's 30-day implied volatility index, BVIV, fell back below 36%, erasing a spike to nearly 39% earlier this week. That points to continued investor interest in overwriting strategies — approaches aimed at generating extra yield on top of spot holdings. Ether's equivalent index, EVIV, is showing the same pattern.Options positioning stays mixed: On Deribit, BTC calls at the $70,000, $69,000 and $67,000 strikes rank among the five most-traded bets. For ETH, puts at the $1,700 and $1,780 strikes ranked higher instead.Token talkEther.fi (ETHFI) is the standout performer over the past 24 hours, rallying by 11.5% after adding tokenized stocks and DeFi loans to its neobank platform. The token gave back some of the gains on Friday, dropping 3.3%.Cosmos ATOM$1.5413 also experienced upside. The token surged by more than 10% in 24 hours and trading volume jumped by 232% to $51 million despite the absence of a clear news catalyst.Fetch.ai FET$0.1357 and monero (XMR) extended their positive weeks, rising 0.55% and 0.81%, respectively, since midnight UTC.NEAR, MORPHO, TAO and JUP all lost around 2% since midnight as cautious sentiment remains the dominant theme across the crypto market.Related Assets
12345678910Building the Zcash Machine: Tachyon and Quantum Readiness
Building the Zcash Machine: Tachyon and Quantum Readiness
Zcash’s Tachyon upgrade aims to scale shielded payments, improve quantum readiness, and test whether its funding, security, and governance can hold.
Jun 30, 2026
Zcash’s Tachyon upgrade aims to scale shielded payments, improve quantum readiness, and test whether its funding, security, and governance can hold.
Why it matters:
Zcash’s Tachyon upgrade aims to scale shielded payments, improve quantum readiness, and test whether its funding, security, and governance can hold.
Edelman Financial Engines, the independent registered investment advisor managing roughly $326 billion in client assets, has disclosed $40 million in spot Bitcoin ETF holdings. That position is now larger than the firm’s $25 million stake in Amazon.
Let that comparison marinate for a second. A firm that advises over 1.3 million clients, mostly everyday Americans saving for retirement, is holding 60% more in Bitcoin-linked funds than in one of the most dominant companies in the history of capitalism.
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The numbers behind the allocation The $40 million Bitcoin ETF position is modest relative to Edelman Financial’s $326 billion in total assets under management. It represents roughly 0.012% of the firm’s overall portfolio. But the signal matters far more than the size.
Ric Edelman saw this coming years ago The firm’s positioning shouldn’t come as a total surprise to anyone who has followed its founder. Ric Edelman has been publicly advocating for Bitcoin ETFs since 2019, well before the SEC finally approved spot products in January 2024.
Edelman also founded the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, an organization designed to educate financial advisors on crypto and blockchain technology. His thesis has been consistent: regulated investment vehicles would unlock massive demand from advisors and their clients who wanted Bitcoin exposure without the headaches of self-custody or navigating crypto exchanges.
A broader industry shift Edelman Financial isn’t operating in isolation. By mid-2026, 563 registered investment advisors had collectively reported $3.5 billion in Bitcoin ETF holdings through 13F filings.
Ric Edelman himself has projected that new Bitcoin products, including an anticipated Morgan Stanley ETF offering, could attract roughly $7 billion in inflows during their first year alone.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitcoin (BTC) long positions are coming under pressure as increased volatility points to an imminent range breakout. Analysts have observed that recent moves in the BTC price are heightening the risk of liquidation for leveraged traders, particularly as the market challenges new monthly lows.
Rising threats for Bitcoin long positionsAnalysts have noted multiple threats to long positions as Bitcoin price action edges closer to the lowest levels seen in August. The combination of declining prices and market-wide shifts in derivative positioning has created an uncertain environment for bullish traders. Community analyst BorisD, writing on onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant, pointed out that leveraged long BTC positions are increasingly being liquidated as BTC/USD approaches month-to-date lows.
Recent data show a growing correlation between Bitcoin’s price and open interest (OI) on Binance. As both dropped on Thursday, the correlation reached 0.25. Open interest, which measures the total value of active derivative positions in the market, had been on a steady upward trajectory until recently, peaking at $8.15 billion on Wednesday.
“In the Bitcoin market, the Binance Open Interest (OI) Correlation and liquidation warning signals clearly reveal the process of leveraged positions being flushed out. Initially, as the price fell, the correlation shifted to the negative side, indicating that OI was rising despite declining prices,” BorisD stated.
“The simultaneous drop in both price and OI indicates that leveraged long positions are giving up, getting stopped out, or facing liquidation.”
The current market turmoil is evident in the 24-hour liquidation data, with CoinGlass reporting total cross-crypto liquidations hitting $236 million at the time of publication.
Mini dictionary: Open interest (OI) refers to the total number of outstanding derivative contracts, such as futures or options, that have not been settled. It is a metric widely used to gauge trading activity and market sentiment in derivatives markets.
MetricRecent ValueEarlier ValueBinance Open Interest$8.15 billion(peak) on Wednesday24h Crypto Liquidations$236 million(latest data)Correlation (Price & OI)0.25(Thursday)Binance open interest and leveraged liquidationsThe relationship between price and open interest is a crucial indicator of market sentiment. As the Bitcoin price began to fall, open interest at Binance initially continued to rise, suggesting that traders were increasing positions despite weakening spot prices. This divergence later gave way to a parallel decline in both price and OI, which analysts interpret as a sign of forced closing or liquidation of long positions.
The overlapping drop in both price and open interest has led to speculation that the market is undergoing a “cleanout” of excessive leverage and risk-taking. The swift shift in correlation values highlights this transitional phase, with leveraged traders appearing to exit en masse amid price volatility.
CryptoQuant CEO weighs in: “No bull market yet”CryptoQuant is a leading onchain analytics company that provides data-driven insights for investors and traders in the digital assets space. Its CEO, Ki Young Ju, shared his perspective on the current market conditions via social media. He wrote that a new Bitcoin bull market is yet to materialize, referencing several onchain indicators that remain in what he termed “bear” territory.
The stars haven’t aligned for a Bitcoin bull run just yet, as multiple onchain indicators continue to suggest persistent bearish sentiment.
Multiple composite onchain metrics, including those highlighted by onchain analytics provider Glassnode, reflect a market still in a period of extended capitulation. Glassnode’s indicators are currently registering their longest bearish phase since late 2022.
This ongoing bearish sentiment is reflected across a spectrum of technical measures, suggesting macro market recovery has yet to take hold for Bitcoin.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Gold retreated from a two-month peak as traders secured profits following an impressive rally
Market participants now assign just a 32% probability to a Federal Reserve rate increase in September
Bitcoin declined 0.4% to $63,140 amid heightened Middle East geopolitical concerns affecting risk assets
Crude oil prices surged, with Brent climbing 1.6%, as diplomatic discussions regarding the Strait of Hormuz remained deadlocked
U.S. 30-year Treasury yields reached their highest auction level in over two decades, touching levels last seen in 2001
The precious metal experienced a pullback on Friday following its climb to a two-month peak earlier in the week. Market participants opted to secure gains after an impressive rally that drove prices beyond the $4,400 per ounce threshold.
Spot gold traded approximately unchanged at $4,349.71 per ounce during early Friday sessions. Gold futures declined 0.4% to settle at $4,404.65. Meanwhile, New York-traded gold futures dropped 0.8% to $4,385.90, positioning the metal for a slight weekly decline despite accumulating gains over the preceding fortnight.
Gold Dec 26 (GC=F)
Earlier this week, gold surpassed its 100-day moving average for the first time since April. Nevertheless, the metal has subsequently fallen back beneath this technical threshold, indicating that profit-taking activity has intensified.
Market strategists at Sucden Financial observed that gold, alongside other asset classes, struggled to maintain recent peak levels, attributing this to profit-taking following the substantial rally. Research analysts at ANZ cautioned that extended positioning leaves gold’s recent advances susceptible to additional consolidation.
Milder-than-anticipated U.S. inflation readings this week diminished market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate increase in September. Data from the CME FedWatch tool indicates traders now estimate merely a 32% likelihood of a September rate hike, representing a decline from previously elevated probabilities.
Reduced rate expectations typically provide tailwinds for gold. When interest rates decline, the opportunity cost of maintaining a non-interest-bearing asset like gold decreases.
Disappointing employment statistics from the previous week, coupled with tempered consumer and wholesale inflation figures this week, have collectively reduced rate-hike expectations. Market participants will closely monitor Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s commentary at the upcoming Jackson Hole symposium later this month for additional guidance.
Middle East Tensions Push Oil Higher and Weigh on Bitcoin
Oil prices advanced significantly on Friday as U.S.-Iran diplomatic tensions demonstrated no indication of subsiding. Brent crude increased 1.6% to reach $88.45 per barrel, while WTI futures advanced 1.9% to $82.78. Both benchmark contracts were positioned for weekly gains approaching 6%.
The U.S. Defense Secretary indicated that the naval blockade of Iranian ports could be sustained indefinitely through vessel rotation strategies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent additionally signaled expectations for measures targeting Iran’s economic isolation in the coming week.
Jefferies economist Mohit Kumar stated there appears to be no straightforward resolution to the current standoff. Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. refuses to accept Iran imposing transit fees through the waterway, he noted.
MUFG analysts projected that ongoing threats across both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea should maintain a substantial geopolitical risk premium embedded in oil valuations.
Bitcoin dropped 0.4% to $63,140 as the persistent Iran conflict elevated oil prices and diminished appetite for riskier asset classes.
U.S. equity futures traded lower during early European market hours. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.02% while the Dow declined 0.1%, despite the S&P achieving a record closing level in the prior trading session.
U.S. 30-year Treasury yields climbed to 5.228%, marking the highest auction level since 2001. Danske Bank analysts attributed the outcome to mounting concerns regarding the expanding federal debt burden and inflation persisting above the Federal Reserve’s target.
The dollar index eased 0.1% to 99.854 as interest rate increase expectations continue to moderate.
Gold’s extended-term recovery has received additional support from robust central bank purchasing activity, particularly from China, along with revitalized investor interest since prices climbed back above the $4,000 per ounce level.
Hyperscale Data (NYSE American: GPUS) sold roughly 685 Bitcoin for approximately $43 million, using the proceeds to slash about $30 million in debt and funnel remaining capital into its Michigan AI data center campus. The company now holds around 275 Bitcoin, down from over 1,000 just weeks ago.
The numbers behind the sell-off As of July 19, Hyperscale Data’s Bitcoin stash sat at 1,087.4527 BTC, valued at roughly $70.3 million at the time. Then came a sale of approximately 100 Bitcoin in late July, earmarked for the Michigan data center project. The 685-coin sale announced around August 14 was considerably larger, generating around $43 million in gross proceeds.
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Of that $43 million, an estimated $30 million went directly toward paying down corporate debt. The remainder is being directed toward expanding the company’s AI data center operations through its subsidiary Sentinum.
Executive Chairman Milton “Todd” Ault III affirmed that Bitcoin will remain central to the company’s strategy, positioning the sale as a capital allocation decision rather than a philosophical shift away from crypto.
Why Michigan, why now Hyperscale Data operates at the intersection of two capital-hungry industries: Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. The dual-track approach, running Bitcoin mining alongside AI data center operations via Sentinum, lets the company play both sides.
Selling 685 BTC for $43 million implies an average sale price of roughly $62,700 per coin. The debt reduction cuts $30 million in liabilities, improves interest coverage, frees up future cash flow, and leaves 275 Bitcoin still on the balance sheet as residual crypto exposure.
The company also plans to divest Ault Capital Group in 2027 to concentrate efforts more squarely on data centers and digital asset management.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Netanyahu is struggling in his election campaign, with Trump yet to publicly voice his support.
According to Axios, two weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, where Trump asked Netanyahu about his poll numbers ahead of the October 27 general election. Netanyahu paused in silence for a moment before one of his advisors interjected: "Mr. President, he’s leading." Netanyahu’s lead is not substantial. Despite repeated queries from reporters, Trump has not yet provided the support Netanyahu had expected. Trump could still change his mind, but with only 75 days remaining until the election, Netanyahu is running out of time. Netanyahu’s current ruling coalition is polling at just 49 to 53 seats—far below its current 68 seats and short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. Meanwhile, Israel’s opposition holds 67 to 70 seats in surveys. Netanyahu’s main rival, former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, has higher support in most polls. (Jinshi)
10 minutes ago
JPMorgan Chase upgrades Sandisk's rating to Overweight, with a target price of $2,250.
According to CNBC, JPMorgan Chase has upgraded its rating on SanDisk (SNDK) from Neutral to Overweight, setting a $2,250 target price that implies roughly 47% upside from Thursday’s closing level. SanDisk’s stock has surged 544% so far this year. JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur noted that the rapid growth of AI inference is driving a structural inflection point in NAND demand, leaving SanDisk uniquely positioned to benefit. The acceleration of AI applications has lifted storage demand and created supply tightness. At its New York Investor Day, SanDisk disclosed it will adopt a new business model including structured pricing mechanisms and advance payment agreements with major clients. JPMorgan said this framework is expected to boost the company’s profit margins and reduce its business cyclicality. To date, SanDisk has signed 8 related long-term agreements, with a total contract value of approximately $94 billion based on the price floor, and a weighted average contract term of over four years. LSEG data shows that among the 25 analysts covering SanDisk, 22 have assigned a Buy or Strong Buy rating, while the remaining 3 have given a Hold rating.
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Kraken's parent company Payward reported a 71% year-on-year drop in pre-tax profit to $23 million in the second quarter.
According to Bloomberg, Payward Inc., parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, reported an adjusted pretax profit of $23 million in the second quarter, down 71% year-over-year from $79.7 million in the same period last year. Adjusted revenue rose 17% YoY to $508 million, while total platform trading volume reached $310 billion, an 18% YoY decline. Payward said the number of funded accounts grew 42% YoY to 6.6 million in Q2, hitting an all-time high. Co-CEO Arjun Sethi noted that as spot trading volumes in the crypto industry fell, Kraken’s traditional futures, equities and tokenized equities businesses all grew, with the firm’s spot market share rising for three consecutive quarters. Against the backdrop of slowing crypto market trading activity, multiple exchanges are expanding into derivatives and real-world asset-related trading. Payward laid off roughly 150 employees earlier this year, adding that AI technology adoption has improved operational efficiency. Bloomberg previously reported that Payward’s highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) could occur as early as later this year, or may be delayed until early 2027.
10 minutes ago
Cumberland transferred 3.72 million UNI tokens to CEXs in nearly 23 hours, worth approximately $12.63 million.
According to on-chain analyst Yu Jin’s monitoring, approximately 3.72 million UNI tokens (valued at around $12.63 million) were transferred by market maker Cumberland to trading platforms including Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and Bybit over the past 23 hours. During the same period, UNI’s price fell from $3.59 to $3.22, a decline of roughly 10%.
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SK Group's top executive pay revealed: Choi Tae-won earns 1.75 billion won in half a year.
According to South Korean media reports, SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won received 1.75 billion won (approximately $1.24 million) in compensation from SK Inc. in the first half of this year. The information was disclosed in SK Inc.’s half-year report released on August 14, per an announcement from the Financial Supervisory Service. The chairman’s first-half compensation was flat year-on-year, with no bonuses received beyond his salary. Choi Jae-won, the chairman’s younger brother and SK Group’s vice chairman, earned 1.5 billion won during the same period. SK Inc. President Jang Yong-ho took home a total of 1.8 billion won, including 1 billion won in salary and 800 million won in bonuses. Additionally, Yoon Pung-young, head of the SK Supex Pursuit Council, was revealed to have received 7.715 billion won overall: 500 million won in salary, 800 million won in bonuses, and 6.415 billion won in compensation from 12,103 performance stock units (PSUs) granted three years ago.
10 minutes ago
Binance will no longer process transactions related to platforms such as HTX and EXMO.
In an official announcement, Binance stated that in light of recent changes to regulatory requirements, it will phase out processing of transactions involving certain crypto asset service providers or platforms to maintain ongoing compliance with relevant rules and safeguard user assets. The restrictions took effect for Shelbit and Aban Tether Exchange on August 7; A7 Nigeria, A7 Africa, and PilotFinance Ltd were added to the list with effect from August 13. Effective August 23, additional entities subject to the measures include Rapira, Aifory Pro, ABCeX, WhiteBird, NoOnecrypto, Tradex, Monease, BitPapa, Exnode, Exnode Pay, HTX (Huobi Global SA), and EXMO Ltd. Binance warned that after the respective effective dates, users should avoid transferring assets to, receiving assets from, or conducting any other transactions with the above-mentioned entities directly or indirectly via Binance. Any user attempting such transactions may face additional compliance reviews, during which associated wallets could be restricted, and the activity may violate Binance’s Terms of Use. Binance noted that these measures are designed to fulfill its regulatory and compliance obligations in the jurisdictions where it operates, as well as maintain a secure trading environment for users and protect their assets.
Verition Fund Management, a Connecticut-based hedge fund overseeing roughly $15 billion in assets, has reportedly increased its Bitcoin ETF holdings by 19%. The move brings the firm’s total position to 3.07 million shares valued at approximately $110M.
The numbers and the nuance
The most recent publicly available 13F filings, covering Q1 2026 and submitted in May, showed Verition holding roughly 238,911 shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) worth about $9.2M. That Q1 figure actually represented an 87% reduction from the prior quarter.
The gap between the Q1 filing and the reported 3.07 million shares is significant. It suggests one of two possibilities: either Verition dramatically reversed course after Q1 and loaded up on Bitcoin ETF shares in Q2, or the position involves a different Bitcoin ETF product entirely, not IBIT.
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Institutional sentiment is anything but uniform
The first quarter of 2026 saw a general decline in professional Bitcoin ETF holdings when measured in equivalent Bitcoin terms. Millennium Management, one of the most closely watched names in the hedge fund world, notably cut its IBIT stake during the same period.
Why Bitcoin ETFs remain the institutional on-ramp
Spot Bitcoin ETFs have fundamentally changed how traditional finance interacts with crypto. Before their approval, institutions that wanted Bitcoin exposure had to navigate custody solutions, prime brokerage relationships, and compliance headaches. ETFs simplified that equation dramatically, with custody handled by established players like Coinbase within a clear regulatory framework.
For perspective, $110M buys roughly 1,000 to 1,200 Bitcoin at recent price levels.
What to watch next
The key date to circle is the next 13F filing deadline. That’s when Verition’s Q2 2026 holdings will become public record, confirming or complicating the reported 19% increase. It will also reveal which specific Bitcoin ETF product the fund is accumulating, whether that’s BlackRock’s IBIT, Fidelity’s FBTC, or another issuer.
As of mid-August 2026, no widespread reports have corroborated Verition’s 19% position increase, suggesting it may mark a breaking development ahead of the forthcoming 13F filing cycle.
Verition was founded in 2008 and has navigated multiple market cycles. The firm operates as a diversified multi-manager platform focusing on absolute returns through strategies including credit, macroeconomic, event-driven, equity long/short, and quantitative.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Israel’s largest commercial bank is finally ready to put crypto on the same screen as your savings account. Bank Leumi has announced a partnership with Galaxy Digital and its custody subsidiary GK8 to offer trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana directly through its Leumi Trade platform and Pepper mobile app, with a planned rollout in early 2027.
The bank’s roughly 2.5 million retail clients would be able to buy, hold, and sell digital assets alongside stocks and bonds, all in one place. Leumi will handle custody through GK8’s infrastructure and take responsibility for tax compliance on behalf of customers.
The second act
This is not Leumi’s first attempt at getting into crypto. In 2022, the bank tried to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum trading through a partnership with Paxos, only to shelve the whole project when the Bank of Israel declined to grant regulatory approval.
What’s changed since then is the regulatory environment. Israel has made meaningful progress on its framework for virtual asset service providers, creating a clearer path for banks that want to offer digital asset services. That updated landscape is what makes this 2026 announcement feel more durable than its predecessor, though final sign-off from the Bank of Israel is still pending.
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Galaxy Digital’s announcement of the partnership came in mid-August 2026. The involvement of GK8, a custody-focused subsidiary, addresses one of the thorniest problems banks face when integrating crypto: keeping clients’ assets safe without taking on operational risk the bank can’t manage.
Why 2.5 million clients is a meaningful number
Bank Leumi is not a niche fintech running a pilot for early adopters. It is the largest commercial bank in Israel, with a retail customer base that spans essentially every demographic. Dropping a crypto trading feature into an app that 2.5 million people already use for mortgages, payroll, and bill payments is a very different distribution strategy than launching a standalone exchange.
The specific mechanics of the service, including fees, withdrawal options, and the granular details of how custody works in practice, have not been publicly disclosed yet. The structural architecture is clear: Leumi owns the client relationship, GK8 owns the security infrastructure, and Galaxy Digital provides the broader digital asset expertise tying it together.
What this means for the Israeli market and beyond
More than 25% of Israel’s population has engaged with cryptocurrencies, according to available reports. A green light from the Bank of Israel for Leumi’s new service would carry symbolic weight that goes beyond the bank itself, given that Galaxy Digital oversees approximately $9 billion in client assets and holds the necessary financial licenses.
Israel’s regulatory environment has also seen relaxed deposit requirements for funds originating from digital assets, showcasing a more accommodating environment for banks to integrate crypto services. The Leumi model, combining an established custody partner with an existing retail app, offers a blueprint that competitors could replicate without building from zero.
There is still a meaningful caveat sitting over all of this: regulatory approval. Leumi’s 2022 effort is a reminder that bank announcements and bank launches are not the same thing. The Bank of Israel will need to formally bless the arrangement before a single client can execute a trade.
What to watch between now and early 2027: the Bank of Israel’s formal response, the fee structure Leumi chooses to publish, and whether any competing Israeli banks announce similar partnerships in the months that follow.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
A recent attempt by a radical faction within the Bitcoin community to restrict nonfinancial data on the blockchain has backfired, resulting in a substantial increase in heavy, data-laden blocks. The BIP-110 soft fork, aimed at temporarily capping the amount of non-transactional data that can be stored on the network, failed to gain consensus just days before an influx of large, deliberately filled blocks appeared on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Block 962266: Scene of the DebateBitcoin block 962266 quickly became the center of attention. Data visualizations reveal that standard monetary transfers made up only a small portion of the entire block. Instead, most of the space was consumed by NFT inscriptions and custom scripts. Critics of these activities, particularly those who supported BIP-110, intensely criticized the content, calling it “garbage and spam.”
Despite the outcry, block 962266 set a clear precedent. Instead of demonstrating the need for censorship, it underscored that open blockchain platforms will operate according to user demand, not imposed preferences.
David Schwartz on Blockchain NeutralityRipple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz weighed in on the outcome, asserting that on public blockchains, the opinions of others about individual transactions are inconsequential.
Supporters of usage restrictions were reminded that on open networks, one person’s view of another’s transactions “doesn’t matter one bit.”
Schwartz, known for his role as chief architect of the XRP Ledger and its focus on commercial efficiency, approached the situation analytically. He argued that proposals for censorship within blockchain networks are fundamentally flawed when considering standard economic principles.
He pointed out that worries about excessive resource use are only justified if those consuming network resources do not pay an equivalent rate. Once higher transaction fees are paid — matching or exceeding those of similar resource-consuming operations — economic fairness is maintained within the network.
Schwartz advised that any calls for further restrictions should be met with strong skepticism, reasoning that imposing usage rules aligns blockchain operations closer to those of traditional banks.
Market Response and Broader Industry TrendsThe breakdown of BIP-110 appears to have cemented a new consensus within the Bitcoin ecosystem that neutrality will prevail as long as users pay equivalent fees for network resources. This outcome reflects a broader movement in digital finance toward decentralization and the removal of traditional gatekeepers.
While technical details such as fee markets and block composition fuel ongoing debate in the cryptocurrency industry, overall market behavior continues to demonstrate demand for flexible, open networks.
In a related development, the landscape of asset management is also evolving. Whereas traditional markets have long relied on complex brokers, Wall Street is now making a significant shift toward Web3 technology. Investors increasingly use innovative platforms such as 1stepSwap to directly hold shares of leading U.S. companies, as well as assets like gold and silver, inside their crypto wallets. By tokenizing real-world assets and optimizing for the best available prices through automation, platforms like these are removing the need for middlemen entirely.
The ongoing debate about network neutrality, data limits, and direct asset ownership points to an industry in the midst of transformation. Both Bitcoin’s recent events and the rise of tokenized real-world assets signal sustained demand for decentralization and user empowerment across the crypto sector.
Open networks must function whether others see your actions as “good and valuable or terrible and worthless,” reflecting the new status quo post BIP-110.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Bitcoin (BTC) trades below $63,000 on Friday, projecting a downside bias as selling pressure resurfaces. Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) also take a bearish path, risking a drop below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $1,856 and the $1.00 psychological support, respectively. The technical outlook for BTC, ETH, and XRP is bearish, with downside momentum building.
Technical outlook: Will Bitcoin's price drop to $60,000?Bitcoin maintains a bearish near-term bias as the price drops below $63,000, capped below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $64,453 and the 200-day EMA at $73,089. The King Crypto is also trading below the broken upward support trendline around $63,982, suggesting an increase in downside pressure.
Momentum is soft, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 42 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) declining into the negative territory, hinting that downside pressure persists.
The immediate support for BTC lies at the July 6 low of $61,307, guarding the downside to the July 1 low at $57,800.
BTC/USDT daily price chart.On the upside, a potential rebound in BTC could face resistance at the broken trendline near $63,982, followed by the 50-day EMA at $64,453.
Altcoins technical outlook: Ethereum and XRP risk steeper declineEthereum is trading around $1,873, holding marginally above the 50-day EMA at $1,865, with support from a rising trendline near $1,870. In addition, the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement, measured over the recent upswing from $1,512 to $1,981, at $1,870 supports the 50-day EMA.
From a technical perspective, a decisive close below this cluster could trigger a bearish reversal, with the 50% retracement at $1,746 as the next support level.
Momentum is mixed, with the RSI at 49 hovering around the neutral zone, the MACD and signal line in a downtrend, and a steady negative histogram, suggesting neutral-to-bearish pressure.
ETH/USDT daily price chart.Looking up, a descending trendline near $1,919 guards the way toward the cycle high anchor at $1,981. A sustained break above that broader zone would shift the near-term bias back toward a more decisively bullish stance.
XRP hovers around $1.0075, extending a bearish bias as price holds beneath both the 50-day EMA at $1.0876 and the 200-day EMA at $1.3598. The altcoin has maintained a steady downward trend over the last two weeks, approaching the $1.0000 psychological threshold.
Momentum remains weak, with the RSI near 36, reflecting firm bearish pressure, while the MACD and signal line decline further into negative territory, reaffirming persistent downside pressure.
Looking down, a slippage below the S1 Pivot level at $0.9945, followed by the S2 Pivot level at $0.9271.
XRP/USDT daily price chart.On the topside, initial resistance emerges at the 50-day EMA around $1.0876. A sustained breakout above this short-term moving average could signal a bullish shift.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)