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Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential investors, recently confirmed that Bitcoin continues to constitute just 1% of his investment portfolio. Despite Bitcoin’s growing popularity among institutional investors, Dalio maintains his longstanding preference for gold over the leading cryptocurrency.

Gold favored over BitcoinSpeaking during an episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast, Dalio emphasized that gold remains his asset of choice due to its historical resilience and stability. He acknowledged Bitcoin as a legitimate form of money that cannot be printed, but highlighted several risks associated with it.

Dalio pointed to advancements in technology as a potential threat to Bitcoin’s security, particularly referencing the development of quantum computing. He explained that such advancements could compromise the cryptographic foundation of digital assets like Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is a type of money that can’t be printed, but technologies like quantum computing could hurt it. And it can be monitored by governments, get taxed, and digital currencies are somewhat similar.

The billionaire investor also expressed skepticism about governments’ tolerance for decentralized digital currencies, stating that regulatory bodies possess the authority to impose significant restrictions if they choose. He stressed that central banks are unlikely to hold large amounts of Bitcoin, as their priorities remain privacy and control over transactions.

Consistent stance and increasing institutional adoptionDalio has reiterated his cautious approach toward Bitcoin over the years. He previously argued that the cryptocurrency was too volatile for use as money and regularly advocated for investors to maintain exposure to gold.

His view on Bitcoin was previously expressed in 2020, when he described the digital asset as an unreliable store of value, while affirming his belief in gold’s necessity within any investment portfolio. Nonetheless, Dalio has gradually warmed to the idea of owning Bitcoin, admitting that it is now a standard component, albeit in a limited capacity, within his investments.

When governments say they don’t want it, they have the power to act as they wish, and central banks will not own significant amounts because they prioritize privacy and control in their liquidity management.

Despite Dalio’s hesitance, the financial mainstream has shown increasing acceptance of Bitcoin. Major asset managers and Wall Street institutions have adopted the cryptocurrency in recent years, reflecting a shift in attitude from earlier skepticism.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, for example, has called Bitcoin an “international asset” and referred to it as a method of “digitizing gold.” This comment signals a growing convergence between traditional finance and digital assets.

Seizing market opportunitiesAs both gold and digital assets continue to attract investor attention, real-time access to market data and portfolio tools becomes increasingly important. Investors seeking to monitor price changes, analyze trends, or react quickly to market shifts may benefit from platforms like CryptoAppsy. This platform eliminates account creation obstacles and consolidates crypto holdings, live prices, advanced charts, and multi-currency portfolio management on a single interface. Investors can set custom price alerts, receive coin-specific news, identify newly listed altcoins before they trend, and track macroeconomic indicators such as Fed interest rates, enabling them to remain agile in evolving markets.

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.

Updated Jul 30, 2026, 9:17 p.m. Published Jul 30, 2026, 8:32 p.m.

2 min read

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor at the Digital Asset Summit in New York City on March 20, 2025. (Nikhilesh De)Summary

Strategy (MSTR), the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, reported an $8.2 billion second-quarter net loss driven almost entirely by an $8.32 billion unrealized markdown on its bitcoin holdings under fair-value accounting.The company now holds 843,775 bitcoin worth about $54.8 billion at current prices versus a $63.7 billion acquisition cost, and has raised $17.06 billion this year through stock offerings while repurchasing $1.5 billion of convertible notes at a discount.Strategy has built a $3.75 billion U.S. dollar reserve—enough to cover more than two years of preferred dividends and interest—begun selling some bitcoin under a new monetization program, and is pursuing a “Digital Credit” business and a $1 billion share repurchase authorization.Strategy (MSTR), the world’s largest corporate bitcoin BTC$64,892.87 holder, reported Thursday an $8.2 billion second-quarter net loss after the cryptocurrency’s price decline erased billions of dollars from the value of its digital asset holdings.

The quarterly loss was driven almost entirely by an $8.32 billion unrealized markdown on its bitcoin holdings under fair-value accounting.

The company held 843,775 bitcoin as of July 26, up 25% from the start of the year. At current prices, the stash is worth roughly $54.8 billion, compared with an acquisition cost of $63.7 billion.

The report came after a period of growing investor scrutiny on the firm over whether it can sustain an increasingly complex capital structure built around multiple classes of preferred stock, common equity and convertible debt.

The company raised $17.06 billion through at-the-market stock offerings this year, repurchased $1.5 billion of convertible notes at an 8% discount and expanded its U.S. dollar reserve to $3.75 billion, enough to cover more than two years of preferred dividend payments and interest expenses.

"Our USD Reserve currently stands at $3.75 billion, which is enough to cover our existing preferred dividend payments and interest obligations for more than 2.1 years," Chief Financial Officer Andrew Kang said in a statement.

The firm also sold about $218.4 million worth of bitcoin under its new BTC Monetization Program to shore up cash and help fund preferred stock dividends, departing from its long-standing strategy of accumulating bitcoin without selling it.

Executive Chairman Michael Saylor said the company remains focused on expanding what it calls its "Digital Credit" business despite weaker bitcoin prices.

"In the midst of this phase of muted bitcoin sentiment and market skepticism, we continue to evolve our business model and establish Digital Credit as a new asset class," Saylor said.

Strategy also established a $1 billion share repurchase program for its MSTR common stock, although it has not bought back any shares. It separately repurchased about $25 million of its STRC preferred shares at a discount to their stated value and said it intends to continue buying the securities while they trade below par.

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Strategy, the world’s largest institutional Bitcoin investor, announced its results for the second quarter of 2026. The company’s Bitcoin reserves increased by 11 percent during the quarter, reaching 843,775 BTC.

According to data shared by Strategy, the company’s Bitcoin holdings have grown by 25% year-to-date as of July 26, 2026. The company reported a 4.5% return on BTC during the same period.

Strategy also launched a new program called the “BTC Monetization Program,” aimed at generating revenue from Bitcoin assets. The total value of sales made by the company under this program since the beginning of 2026 has reached $218.4 million.

Strategy has raised a total of $17.06 billion since the beginning of the year through ATM programs that allow the sale of shares at market price.

The company also announced a $1 billion MSTR share buyback program. However, as of July 26, no shares had been repurchased under this program.

Strategy has also started publishing new performance metrics on its website, such as “BTC Hurdle ARR” and “Net Bitcoin Per Share,” to allow investors to follow the company’s Bitcoin strategy more closely.

On the company’s digital lending side, the capital obtained from STRC issuances has increased by 254 percent since the beginning of the year, reaching $7.53 billion.

Strategy reported that it has paid a total of $1.06 billion in dividends to preferred shareholders to date. The company’s dollar reserves set aside for dividend and interest payments increased by 12 percent to $3.75 billion.

According to Strategy, the company’s current dollar reserves are sufficient to cover its dividend and interest payments for more than 2.1 years.

The company also repurchased STRC securities with a nominal value of $28.9 million for $25 million. This transaction was carried out at a 13 percent discount compared to the nominal value.

According to the announced results, Strategy reduced its convertible debt by 18 percent in the second quarter while increasing its Bitcoin holdings per share by 5 percent. The company maintained its position as the world’s largest institutional Bitcoin holder with a reserve of 843,775 BTC.

*This is not investment advice.

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Bitcoin treasury company Strategy reported a loss of $8.22 billion for the second quarter of 2026 thanks to the falling price of the leading cryptocurrency. 

In its quarterly report, Nasdaq-listed Strategy (MSTR) — formerly MicroStrategy — put the loss down to the Bitcoin price crash, even as the company continued raising capital, buying more Bitcoin and paying down debt.

In the same period of 2025, Strategy reported a net income of $10.02 billion. 

“In the second quarter of 2026, Strategy strengthened its balance sheet while navigating a meaningful Bitcoin price decline,” Strategy CEO and President Phong Le said in a statement. 

Chairman and the architect behind the software company’s Bitcoin-buying masterplan, Michael Saylor, added: “In the midst of this phase of muted Bitcoin sentiment and market skepticism, we continue to evolve our business model and establish digital credit as a new asset class.”

Bitcoin’s price is down nearly 50% from the all-time high of $126,080 it notched in October 2025. The leading cryptocurrency was recently priced at $64,745, down 26% year-to-date. 

Over the quarter, the Tysons, Virginia-based company said it increased its Bitcoin holdings by 11%. Strategy now holds 843,775 Bitcoins worth $54.6 billion at today’s prices.

Strategy for the past five weeks had paused its Bitcoin buys, instead focusing on putting more cash on its balance sheet. 

Investors buy Strategy’s stock to get leveraged exposure to Bitcoin. But when the price of the asset dips, MSTR also suffers. 

MSTR stock is currently down over 80% from its 2024 peak of over $500 per share. 

The company has other offerings, including STRC, a product that pays investors a dividend. 

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.

TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRBitcoin Holdings Expand During Market DeclineCapital Raising Strengthens Strategy’s Balance SheetDigital Credit Program Supports Dividend CoverageGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Strategy shares rose 4.73% despite an $8.22 billion second-quarter net loss. Bitcoin holdings reached 843,775 as Strategy expanded its treasury in 2026. Strategy raised $17.06 billion through its capital programs by late July 2026. The company grew its dollar reserve to $3.75 billion for future obligations. Strategy repurchased discounted STRC shares while keeping MSTR buybacks open. Strategy Inc. (MSTR) shares rose 4.73% to $97.74 Thursday, despite the company reporting a major second-quarter loss. The stock later slipped 0.45% to $97.30 after hours following the earnings release. However, stronger capital reserves and expanded bitcoin holdings supported the market response.

Strategy Inc, MSTR

Bitcoin Holdings Expand During Market Decline Strategy held 843,775 bitcoin as of July 26, marking 25% growth since the year began. The holdings carried a $63.69 billion cost basis and a $54.77 billion market value.  The company recorded a large unrealized loss after bitcoin traded below its average purchase price.

The company reported an $8.22 billion net loss, compared with a $10.02 billion profit one year earlier. Meanwhile, operating losses reached $8.33 billion because digital asset values fell during the quarter. Preferred dividends also reduced common shareholder results by $400.7 million during the reporting period.

Still, Strategy achieved a 4.5% bitcoin yield and a 29,997 bitcoin gain during 2026. The company valued that gain at $1.95 billion using bitcoin’s July 27 market price. Strategy also sold $218.4 million of bitcoin to help fund preferred dividend payments.

Capital Raising Strengthens Strategy’s Balance Sheet Strategy raised $17.06 billion through at-the-market programs during 2026 through July 26. It collected $8.41 billion during the second quarter and another $1.28 billion afterward. Consequently, the company expanded its funding options despite weaker bitcoin prices and heavy accounting losses.

In May, Strategy repurchased $1.50 billion of convertible notes for about $1.38 billion in cash. That transaction reduced outstanding convertible debt from $8.21 billion to $6.71 billion. The company completed the purchase at an estimated 8% discount to face value.

Strategy also established a $1 billion MSTR repurchase program, although it has made no purchases. Management may use the program when shares trade below its view of intrinsic value. Moreover, the company added new measures covering credit costs and net bitcoin per share.

Digital Credit Program Supports Dividend Coverage Strategy increased its dollar reserve to $3.75 billion by July 26. The reserve covers more than 2.1 years of preferred dividends and interest payments. This buffer supports the company’s credit structure while bitcoin remains below its average acquisition cost.

The company raised $7.53 billion through STRC issuances during 2026, representing 254% growth. It also increased STRC’s dividend rate to 12% to support trading near $100. Strategy plans regular repurchases while STRC remains below its stated value.

Between July 20 and July 26, Strategy repurchased 288,930 STRC shares for $25 million. The purchases represented $28.9 million in stated value and an average price of $86.53. Strategy still has about $975 million available under its digital credit securities program.

Strategy (MSTR), the Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin treasury company previously known as MicroStrategy, posted an $8.22 billion loss for the second quarter of 2026. This significant setback came amid a sharp decline in Bitcoin’s price, despite the firm’s ongoing capital raising activities, additional Bitcoin purchases, and debt repayments.

Continued Commitment Amid Market DownturnStrategy’s leadership addressed the company’s position in a period marked by subdued sentiment in the cryptocurrency sector. CEO and President Phong Le emphasized the proactive steps taken in response to market volatility.

During the second quarter of 2026, Strategy reinforced its balance sheet while facing a substantial decline in Bitcoin prices, according to Phong Le’s statement.

Michael Saylor, the company’s chairman and the principal architect of its Bitcoin-focused approach, noted adjustments to the overall business strategy. He pointed to an evolving business model and a continued effort to establish digital credit as an asset class, even as skepticism about Bitcoin heightened in recent months.

Bitcoin Holdings and Market ImpactBitcoin’s price has experienced a sharp downturn since its all-time high of $126,080 in October 2025. The cryptocurrency’s value recently stood at $64,745, marking a 26% drop since the start of the year and a nearly 50% decrease from its peak.

Despite the price decline, Strategy increased its Bitcoin holdings by 11% during the quarter. The company now owns 843,775 Bitcoins, with a total value of $54.6 billion at recent prices. However, for the past five weeks, Strategy paused further Bitcoin purchases, prioritizing a stronger cash position instead.

MSTR Stock and Alternative OfferingsStrategy’s stock, MSTR, serves as a vehicle for investors seeking leveraged exposure to Bitcoin. The stock has suffered along with Bitcoin’s price, currently trading over 80% lower than its 2024 peak, which exceeded $500 per share.

When the value of Bitcoin drops, MSTR shares also decline, reflecting the company’s business strategy that closely mirrors the cryptocurrency’s performance.

In addition to Bitcoin holdings, Strategy has continued to diversify its offerings. The company’s STRC product provides investors with dividend payments, aiming to broaden its appeal beyond Bitcoin-centric positions.

With attention shifting toward portfolio diversification and best execution practices, platforms such as 1stepSwap are gaining traction. By enabling the transfer of real-world assets like shares of leading U.S. companies and commodities directly onto blockchain networks, 1stepSwap offers investors the opportunity to access stocks and precious metals directly through their digital wallets, bypassing traditional intermediaries. The platform’s ability to secure the most advantageous market prices in real time stands out, allowing for efficient trading and streamlined portfolio management across both traditional and digital assets.

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.

Strategy reported an $8.22 billion second-quarter net loss, driven primarily by an $8.32 billion unrealized loss on its Bitcoin holdings as the cryptocurrency’s price declined during the quarter.

As of July 26, Strategy held 843,775 Bitcoin (BTC), up 25% from the beginning of the year. The company also disclosed that it had sold approximately $218.4 million worth of Bitcoin under its newly established BTC monetization program to help fund a portion of its preferred stock dividend obligations. Most of those sales ($216 million) occurred in early July after the second quarter ended.

Strategy also said it has built a $3.75 billion U.S. dollar reserve, enough to cover more than two years of preferred dividend payments and interest obligations. The company recently repurchased $25 million of its STRC preferred shares at a discount to par and said it intends to continue buying the securities while they trade below $100.

Bitcoin fell about 14% during the second quarter, from around $68,000 at the start of April to about $58,600 by the end of June, according to CoinGecko data. On Thursday afternoon, it was trading around $64,700.

Strategy (MSTR) shares finished the regular trading session on Thursday up 4.7% before slipping modestly in after-hours trading following the earnings report, per Yahoo Finance data.

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.

Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis has again attacked the Democrats for holding back the long-awaited crypto Clarity Act. 

Speaking on the Crypto in America podcast Thursday, Lummis said that the bill could have been passed months ago but is unfairly being held back. 

Lawmakers are hoping the Clarity Act gets passed before Congress departs for August recess. While the bill has been drafted bipartisanly, some Democrats are unhappy with the current version. 

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Sen. Cynthia Lummis says a Senate vote is still on track before the August recess 👀

"Sen. Thune has kept a place for the CLARITY ACT on the agenda before the August recess…and I believe he does intend to go through with it…We will be moving forward." 👏 pic.twitter.com/FxVlbtgbNr

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) July 30, 2026 “The biggest obstacle is that the Democrats, in spite of having 11 months to work on this bill intensely, which we have done, still won’t commit to voting for it, and that that is the bigger challenge,” Lummis said. 

“When we started working with [the Democrats] last Labor Day, the Clarity Act was about 300 pages — it’s getting closer to 700 pages. Most of those new pages were added at the requests of Democrats.”

She added: “This messing around, this pussyfooting around with, I want to change this, no, I want to change it back, I like the House version, no, let’s go with the Senate version, and then bringing last minute changes to this bill that could have been brought weeks ago — in fact, months ago — is absurd, and I’m just tired of being played.”

Major financial institutions, lawmakers and companies have thrown their weight behind the new bill, but a group of Democrats last week said in a statement that the bill in its current form falls short.   

Still, Lummis added that while lawmakers had a lot to vote on before the August recess, there was still a chance the bill could fit into a slot. 

Despite being passed in the house of representatives last year with strong bipartisan support, the Clarity Act has been in a deadlock for much of 2026, partially the banking lobby raised concerns over stablecoin yield. 

An updated bill of the Clarity Act was introduced last week that addressed ethics concerns — banning government officials and their families from issuing or promoting crypto. 

Republicans are hoping to gain bipartisan support for the bill this week to advance the legislation. If passed, the long-awaited bill would create a regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency market.

Trump ally Lummis is one of the most pro-crypto senators on Capitol Hill, even earning the name “Bitcoin Senator.” 

The Republican helped draft the Bitcoin Act for a Bitcoin strategic reserve, and co-sponsored the 2025’s GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins.

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.

Major cryptocurrencies remained largely stable as semiconductor stocks posted another volatile session, driven by fresh earnings reports from industry leaders. While Samsung Electronics delivered a dramatic surge in chip profits prompted by artificial intelligence demand, digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum avoided sharp swings and continued to trade within limited ranges.

Market divergence: Crypto stays calm as chip stocks swingBitcoin held close to $63,906.06 after slipping 0.67% in 24 hours, and Ether traded around $1,898.12, down 0.98%. XRP hovered at $1.07 after a 1.28% loss. Solana was nearly flat at $73.42, BNB inched up to $572.59, and TRON traded at $0.3264. Hyperliquid’s HYPE token dropped 3.02% to $53.69, while Dogecoin was modestly lower at $0.06985.

Daily trading volumes remained measured. Bitcoin’s market capitalization stood at $1.28 trillion, and its 24-hour volume reached $28.18 billion. Ether recorded roughly $10 billion in volume, showing that market participants kept risk appetite tempered despite turbulence in the equity sector.

The most recent price action highlights how crypto-specific factors—such as liquidity and internal sentiment—are steering digital assets independently of technology stocks, especially as chip shares endure wide daily fluctuations.

With thinning liquidity more likely than direct external pressures, recent trading suggests key cryptocurrencies are now insulated from the sharp volatility seen across global technology stocks.

Samsung and SK Hynix post strong chip results but investor reaction is mutedSamsung Electronics reported that operating profit in its semiconductor business soared by more than 250-fold, powered by continued growth in AI memory chip demand. The company delivered 89.2 trillion won ($62 billion) in operating income and generated record quarterly revenue of 171.5 trillion won ($119 billion), exceeding analyst forecasts.

Yet, Samsung shares climbed only about 2%, suggesting that investors already anticipated these strong numbers. SK Hynix delivered a 557% leap in operating profit, but its stock tumbled 17% after the report. Market participants appear focused on whether current AI spending can justify long-term growth, rather than reacting to individual earnings beats.

Samsung and SK Hynix together account for roughly two-thirds of global memory chip output. Both have announced large-scale investments to expand semiconductor manufacturing, aiming to capitalize on AI-driven infrastructure growth through 2030. Samsung, for example, has a $200 billion chip supply agreement with Broadcom, while SK Hynix signed long-term deals with ten major clients.

Altcoins and liquidity trends define weekly crypto performanceThough daily changes remain subdued, several leading cryptocurrencies weakened over the week. HYPE led with an 8% decline, while XRP lost 6%, Solana dropped 5%, Dogecoin fell 4%, and Bitcoin slipped 3%. BNB was the exception, maintaining a slight gain through the period.

This selective retreat in altcoins underlines the importance of liquidity conditions in the current market. CoinGlass data showed total crypto liquidations stood at $276.25 million, reflecting a 36.18% decrease. Meanwhile, open interest measured $112.16 billion, down by 0.6%, and the average Relative Strength Index was 43.41—pointing to a neutral setup. The Altcoin Season Index held at 62, reinforcing the view of a rangebound market.

Against the backdrop of shifting allocations and reduced appetite for rapid moves, platforms that help manage portfolio exposure have come into sharper focus. 1stepSwap offers seamless access to traditional and crypto assets by transferring real-world assets—such as major U.S. company shares, gold, and silver—onto the blockchain. This approach streamlines portfolio diversification, giving investors the ability to execute trades at optimal market rates within seconds, all from their digital wallets and without intricate procedures or middlemen.

Recent trading emphasizes the growing divergence between crypto and technology equities, with market mechanics and liquidity taking the lead role in steering digital asset values.

Broader sentiment and AI investment outlookGlobal investors continue watching whether increased AI investment will support current valuations in technology and related sectors. Long-term supply agreements—such as those signed by Samsung and SK Hynix—are granting businesses greater visibility, even as competition from Chinese chipmakers intensifies and capital requirements grow.

In the United States, the broader tech landscape sent mixed signals. Microsoft surged almost 9% in after-hours trading on rapid cloud growth, while Meta declined 8% amid softer revenue forecasts. South Korea’s Kospi index bounced between gains and losses, ending over 40% lower than its June high.

Nasdaq 100 futures rose 1% after the index moved into technical correction territory, highlighting ongoing volatility in global equities. In contrast, cryptocurrencies continued showing resilience to these wide swings, marking a notable shift from previous months when Bitcoin closely tracked chip stocks.

Overall, digital assets are showing signs of decoupling from traditional tech stocks, with liquidity and platform innovations—such as those provided by 1stepSwap—supporting portfolio stability as broader sentiment shifts. Investors are set to watch whether this theme of crypto insulation can persist as AI-driven narratives unfold.

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 traded near $64,869, up 1.54% over the past 24 hours, while Ethereum climbed to $1,921, up 1.21% on the day and XRP held near $1.08. Total crypto market capitalization stood at $2.21 trillion, up 1.35% over the past day.

Bitcoin: Weekly Bullish Divergence Still Intact

Bitcoin continues to hold a significant bullish divergence on the weekly chart, a pattern that has been confirming across multiple weekly candle closes. Analysts say the last comparable setup appeared near the end of the 2022 bear market, making this a longer-term signal that could play out over coming months rather than days.

On the 3-day chart, Bitcoin remains boxed between support near $60,000 and resistance in the $66,000 to $67,000 zone, a range that has held for weeks. The most recent local high formed right at that resistance band before pulling back.

Important resistance levels sit at $64,300-$64,400, then $65,000, and more significantly near $67,000, where a large liquidity pocket also sits. On the downside, support levels to watch are $62,600-$62,700, followed by $62,200 and $61,500. A fresh liquidity cluster has also built up just under $62,000.

Ethereum: Double Bottom Intact

Ethereum’s 3-day chart still shows an active “W” double-bottom pattern bouncing off support in the $1,500-$1,600 zone. However, resistance in the $1,950 area has capped rallies for weeks and remains firmly in play.

The bullish breakout target for this pattern sits at $2,070-$2,080, and the setup remains technically valid as long as ETH doesn’t break back below $1,800. That said, the daily chart is starting to show a bearish RSI divergence, with price posting higher highs while RSI prints lower highs, an early warning sign that upside momentum may be fading.

XRP: Bearish Divergence Invalidation Underway

XRP tells a weaker story. XRP currently trades at $1.08, having crashed dramatically from levels above $3 last year, and touching as low as $1.06 in recent sessions. Buying interest has emerged alongside exchange outflows, a sign some holders are moving coins off exchanges rather than preparing to sell.

The $1.00-$1.05 range is the important zone to watch. A daily close below it could open the door to fresh lows.

Bitcoin Dominance and Altcoin Outlook

Bitcoin dominance remains largely neutral on the 3-day chart, hinting that most major altcoins will continue tracking Bitcoin’s price action closely in the near term rather than diverging meaningfully.

Story Ends Here

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Retail participation will return during the next crypto bull market yet institutional influence has become a structural feature of digital asset markets, according to a Wintermute Research report.

Institutional Investment At Record 72% LevelsIn a report published on July 30, Wintermute analysts highlighted that Institutional investors are increasingly dictating crypto market structure.

They account for a record 72% of spot over the counter (OTC) trading flow during the first half of 2026, compared to 61% in the second half of 2025.

The reported noted that institutional activity is becoming concentrated in a relatively small group of cryptocurrencies.

"As crypto works through a bear market, with retail largely absent and preoccupied with equities, the structure underneath is easier to see," Wintermute wrote. "The asset class is maturing, whatever recent price action suggests."

Over the past month, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) gained 11% but failed to reclaim the key $70,000 level.

In contrast, Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) outperformed with a 22% rally, signaling stronger momentum.

Tokenization Continues To ExpandWintermute also highlighted continued growth in tokenized real-world assets.

During the first six months of 2026, the value of tokenized assets increased nearly 50% to $31 billion.

Institutional adoption remains focused on tokenized U.S. Treasuries, money market funds and private credit, while retail investors continue to dominate activity in tokenized equities.

Image: Shutterstock

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BlackRock’s institutional clients dumped $60 million worth of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) this week while simultaneously scooping up over $20 million in the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA).

The data, surfaced by Arkham Intelligence, paints a picture of deliberate repositioning rather than panic selling.

The numbers behind the rotation IBIT currently holds somewhere between $47 billion and $55 billion in assets under management, making it one of the largest Bitcoin ETFs on the planet. A $60 million outflow against that backdrop is roughly 0.1% of the fund.

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That capital didn’t vanish into cash or rotate into bonds. At least $20 million of it landed in ETHA, BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF. The net effect is still negative for crypto ETFs overall, with roughly $40 million more leaving than arriving.

Performance divergence tells a story IBIT, which launched in January 2024, has delivered returns exceeding 35% since inception.

ETHA has had a rougher ride. The Ethereum-focused fund began trading in mid-2024 and has declined approximately 48% from its launch price. It doesn’t offer staking yields, which means holders miss out on one of Ethereum’s key value propositions.

What this means for investors BlackRock’s client base isn’t retail traders chasing momentum on social media. These are pension funds, endowments, family offices, and sovereign wealth vehicles.

That said, there are risks to reading too much into a single week’s data. One sovereign wealth fund trimming a position could account for the entire $60 million outflow. Without granular client-level data, it’s impossible to know whether this reflects broad consensus or a handful of concentrated decisions.

For Ethereum specifically, sustained institutional buying through regulated ETF products could provide meaningful price support at a time when the asset has struggled. But one week of $20 million in buying is a data point, not a trend.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two firms accused of supporting an IRGC-backed scheme that allegedly extorted commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz by requiring them to purchase maritime insurance.

Wednesday’s designations hit the Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company and HormuzSafe Marine Services Authority, known as Hormuz Safe. Treasury says the policies extract revenue while covering risks that Iran itself creates.

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How Iran’s Hormuz Insurance Scheme Drew US Sanctions The IRGC reportedly began collecting transit fees from tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz in April, with charges starting at approximately $1 per barrel.

The Treasury said the insurance scheme was created to offset revenue lost following Operation Epic Fury. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent linked the initiative to Iran’s worsening economic conditions.

“With its economy in freefall and inflation in the triple digits, the regime is desperate for cash,” he said.

According to the department, Iran established the “illegitimate schemes” through the Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company (PGMIC) and HormuzSafe Marine Services Authority.

It said Iran’s Ministry of Economy developed HormuzSafe. It offers insurance, traffic control, security, and emergency response services to vessels transiting the strait. 

The firm accepts payments in Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets as part of Iran’s efforts to circumvent Western sanctions.

The Treasury also noted that Iran’s insurance regulator created the Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company, which issues policies approved by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. 

OFAC sanctioned the IRGC-backed authority on May 27. It has now designated both the Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company and HormuzSafe Marine Services Authority under Executive Order 13902 for operating in Iran’s financial sector.

In addition, OFAC sanctioned eight shipping companies and identified eight oil tankers as blocked property. The operators are registered in Hong Kong, the Marshall Islands, and China. According to the Treasury, the vessels transported Iranian crude oil and petroleum products.

The agency has now sanctioned more than 100 shadow fleet vessels since January. The latest measure is part of a broader US enforcement action against Iran.

In mid-July, the Treasury sanctioned four cryptocurrency wallets linked to Iran’s central bank. At the same time, Tether froze approximately $131 million in USDT held in those addresses.

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Morgan Stanley has expanded beyond Bitcoin by launching Ethereum and Solana trusts, giving traditional investors access to three major digital assets. At the other end of the market, MemeToro has started public development with Coinsult.

Investors searching for the best presale crypto can now compare an early BNB Chain platform with increasingly mature institutional crypto products.

Morgan Stanley Gives Investors Regulated ETH And SOL Access Morgan Stanley Investment Management launched the Ethereum Trust and Solana Trust on July 28. Both exchange-traded products charge an expense ratio of 0.14%.

MSSE tracks the CoinDesk Ether Benchmark 4PM New York Settlement Rate, while MSOL follows the equivalent Solana benchmark.

The products intend to stake part of their ETH and SOL holdings. Staking rewards will pass through to the trusts, giving investors potential income alongside price exposure.

Morgan Stanley’s existing Bitcoin Trust held more than $381 million in assets through July 16. The expanded suite now covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana under one product range.

This institutional progress changes how buyers evaluate the best presale crypto. Early projects must offer something unavailable through regulated large-cap products.

Staking Returns Come With Specific Risks Morgan Stanley’s new products are not FDIC insured and can lose substantial value. Their staking strategies introduce slashing, validator, and liquidity-buffer risks.

The trusts provide convenience but do not give investors direct control over the underlying assets. They also carry annual expenses that direct holders may avoid.

ETH and SOL offer established networks, public liquidity, and significant institutional acceptance. Their scale can make extreme percentage gains more difficult than those available to smaller tokens.

The best presale crypto opportunity therefore appeals to buyers willing to accept more development risk in exchange for entering before public-market valuation.

MemeToro’s Public Repository Shows Development Has Started MemeToro has entered its Foundation and Architecture phase with Coinsult leading development.

The project has published its architecture, launch-manifest specification, example manifest, roadmap, security policy, and contribution guide through an MIT-licensed GitHub repository.

Its practical development benefits include:

Publicly visible progress Community issue submissions Standardized launch manifests ERC-8004 integration plans Security design before deployment Independent review before mainnet Contracts are not implemented or audited yet. This clear status gives best presale crypto buyers a more accurate view of current progress.

The Hourly AI Agent Creates A Distinct Use Case MemeToro’s planned agent will analyze news, market movements, and social sentiment continuously. It will produce a complete memecoin concept every hour, including the name, ticker, reasoning, and launch manifest.

The fair-launch protocol will accept fixed-rate funding in BNB, stablecoins, or $MT. Wallet limits will restrict early concentration, while contracts will automate deployment, liquidity, and distribution.

This model gives MemeToro a different purpose from Morgan Stanley’s trusts. The trusts provide regulated exposure to existing assets. MemeToro aims to create transparent markets around new AI-generated assets.

That distinction supports its best presale crypto positioning, provided development reaches testnet and mainnet.

Final Words on the Best Presale Crypto Right Now MemeToro has raised $87,351.66 during Stage 5, filling 71.02% of the round. Each $MT costs $0.00285, compared with a planned launch price of $0.01875.

The difference is roughly 6.58 times, but public trading may produce a different valuation.

Calling MemeToro the best presale crypto requires more than comparing prices. Investors should follow the commits, review the manifest, and check whether Coinsult completes each published milestone.

Morgan Stanley’s expansion shows that crypto is entering traditional portfolios. MemeToro represents the opposite edge of that market: open-source development before a platform exists.

For high-risk buyers, the best presale crypto may be one whose progress can be verified early. MemeToro now provides that visibility, but execution remains the deciding factor.

More Information on MemeToro ($MT) Presale Here:

Website: https://memetoro.com/

X: https://x.com/memetoro_mt

Telegram: https://t.me/memetoro_mt

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Bitcoin is about to do something it has not done in years: split. Twice, in the same month. One is a contested soft fork that could accidentally break the chain in two. The other is a planned hard fork that will hand every holder a brand new coin. But the detail that makes August 2026 genuinely different from every fork war before it is who owns Bitcoin now. In 2017 the fights were settled by retail holders with their own keys. Today, ETFs, corporate treasuries and custodians sit on more than two million BTC, and most of them have already decided to want nothing to do with any of this.

Let me walk you through what is actually happening, because the coverage has been either terrifying or dismissive, and the truth is more interesting than both.

First, what a fork even is A fork is a change to Bitcoin’s rules, and there are two kinds.

A soft fork tightens the rules. Old software still accepts the new blocks, so the network usually stays as one chain. It only splits if a meaningful group refuses to go along and keeps mining the old way.

A hard fork loosens or rewrites the rules in a way old software rejects. The chain permanently splits in two, and because both chains share history up to the split, everyone holding Bitcoin at that moment ends up with coins on both. That is how Bitcoin Cash was born in 2017.

August brings one of each.

Fork one: BIP-110, the contested soft fork BIP-110 is a proposal to restrict certain ways of embedding arbitrary data into Bitcoin transactions. Behind that dry description is a long-running culture war about what Bitcoin’s block space is for: money, or a general storage layer for images, text, and tokens.

The mechanism matters here. BIP-110 uses mandatory miner signaling, meaning it activates only if enough of the network’s mining power agrees. As of early July, signaling was low, and that is where the risk lives. A soft fork with weak support that reaches its activation window anyway is exactly the recipe for a temporary or even lasting chain split, because miners, exchanges and wallets can end up following different rules at the same moment.

So the honest framing is not “BIP-110 will break Bitcoin.” It is: a contested rule change with low support is entering a decision window, and contested changes are where accidents happen.

Fork two: eCash, the planned hard fork The second event is deliberate. eCash is a hard fork led by Paul Sztorc, the architect behind Drivechain, planned around block 964,000. It creates a separate chain with its own rules and technology, and it will distribute new tokens one-to-one to Bitcoin holders at the snapshot.

Free coins for everyone, then? Not quite, and this is where 2026 stops resembling 2017.

The part that makes this fork different: institutions own Bitcoin now Here is the number that reframes everything. Spot Bitcoin ETFs hold over a million BTC. BlackRock‘s IBIT alone reported $44.95 billion in net assets in early July. Strategy reported holding 847,363 BTC. Add regulated custodians and corporate treasuries and you get well over two million coins sitting in institutional structures.

Now read what IBIT’s own SEC-filed prospectus says: the trust will permanently and irrevocably abandon incidental rights to forked or airdropped assets, unless a future SEC rule change allows otherwise. In plain English, if you own Bitcoin through that ETF, you will not receive eCash. The fund is contractually walking away from it.

Think about what that means. A hard fork’s whole theory of legitimacy is that it splits the economic base of Bitcoin, and holders decide which chain has value. But a huge share of today’s economic base is structurally unable to participate. The 2017 fork wars were decided by people with private keys. The 2026 forks will be decided by custody agreements, prospectus language, and compliance departments. Coinbase has said its custody product historically supports more fork assets than its retail exchange does, so even within one company, institutional and retail holders can end up treated differently.

That is genuinely new, and it is the most interesting thing about August.

What this means for you as a holder Let me be practical, because this is the part people actually need.

If you hold Bitcoin in an ETF, you almost certainly get nothing from eCash, by design. Nothing to do, nothing to claim. Your exposure to a disorderly BIP-110 split, if one happened, would show up indirectly through pricing and creation and redemption mechanics, not in your wallet.

If you hold on an exchange, it is the exchange’s call. Some will credit the forked asset, some will not, some will credit it but delay withdrawals. Check their announcements before the snapshot rather than after.

If you hold in self-custody, you have the most options and the most responsibility. Controlling your own keys before the snapshot is the only reliable way to preserve the option of holding the new asset.

And the safety rule that matters more than any of the above: do not rush to claim anything on day one. Wait for verified wallet support and confirmed replay protection. Replay protection is the safeguard that stops a transaction on one chain from being maliciously rebroadcast on the other, and its absence is how people lost real money in past forks. Every fork event also attracts a wave of fake “claim your coins” sites. There is no urgency worth the risk.

Will this move the Bitcoin price? Cautiously: probably less than the headlines suggest, but it adds volatility to a month that already has plenty. Bitcoin trades near $64,000 heading into August after a choppy July, and the market is already juggling a Federal Reserve that just decided rates, a stalled crypto bill, and uneven ETF flows.

Historically, hard forks have produced some pre-snapshot buying (people wanting the free coins) followed by selling of the new asset. But with the largest holders excluded from participating, that dynamic is weaker this time. The real risk to watch is not eCash’s price, it is whether BIP-110’s contested activation causes any operational disorder around exchanges and custodians.

Bottom line August 2026 brings Bitcoin two forks: BIP-110, a contested soft fork with low miner support and a real chance of causing a split, and eCash, a planned hard fork from Paul Sztorc that will distribute new coins one-to-one to holders around block 964,000.

The fascinating twist is that most of Bitcoin’s economic weight now sits in ETFs and custodians that have contractually opted out of receiving anything. This is the first fork of the institutional era, and it will test whether a fork can still mobilize a real economic base in a market dominated by wrappers.

For holders, the practical guidance is simple: know where your coins live, check your provider’s policy before the snapshot, and if you self-custody, wait for verified wallet support and replay protection before touching anything. Bitcoin has absorbed disagreements like this before. August is another test of that, not an ending.

This is not investment advice. Fork events carry technical and operational risks, and cryptocurrency is highly volatile. Never share your private keys or seed phrase with any service claiming to help you claim forked coins.

While capital flows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs have been volatile recently, the way institutional investors take risks is also changing. According to CryptoSlate’s analysis dated July 30, 2026, ETF inflows and outflows no longer fully reflect institutional demand; because large investors are accessing Bitcoin not only directly through ETFs but also through income-sharing funds, secured loans, and structured debt products. This new structure creates an invisible liquidation wall during market downturns.

A New Era in Corporate Capital Flows According to Farside Investors data, approximately $999 million flowed into US spot Bitcoin ETFs between July 14-22, followed by $526 million in outflows over the next four days.

Since the end of May, a net outflow of $4.46 billion has been observed. Nevertheless, net inflows into ETFs since their launch stand at $51.4 billion. However, these flows now only represent a fraction, as institutional investors are turning to alternatives such as options products and Bitcoin-backed loans. BlackRock’s IBIT ETF stands out with a net inflow of $60.3 billion, while the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF (BITA), launched in June, has reached $59.9 million in assets.

Liquidation Wall: $39,900 Level Growth in corporate lending is remarkable: in the first quarter of 2026, the volume of crypto-backed loans rose to $67 billion. However, the liquidation levels in these loans introduce a new risk to the market. For example, a loan given with an initial collateral ratio of 50% and a liquidation threshold of 80%.

Bitcoin loans trigger forced sell orders when the price drops by 37.5%, or to around $39,900. An increase in such loan positions amplifies the risk of chain liquidation during sudden price drops. Ledn CEO Adam Reeds emphasizes this risk, stating, “As leverage increases, forced sell orders proliferate due to liquidation thresholds across different positions.”

The Balance Between Credit and ETFs in Market Dynamics While ETF flows reflect rapid capital movements in the market, the risks accumulated in options and loan products may appear later. In particular, loan collateral ratios and liquidation levels can unexpectedly impact the market during large price movements. The upcoming major Bitcoin correction will test how resilient loan and yield products are in bringing capital to the market.

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Situational Awareness, a hedge fund founded in 2024 by ex-OpenAI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner, has approached investors and lenders for fresh capital after suffering heavy losses in the recent artificial intelligence stock sell-off, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

The fund, which the Wall Street Journal said had around $20 billion in assets under management as of June 8, has also offered some investors the option to buy portfolio assets, according to the FT, citing people briefed on the discussions and a July 24 investor letter. 

The size of the losses and amount sought were not disclosed. Aschenbrenner’s fund had gained 439% after fees through June, according to the letter, but the FT said borrowing increased the size of the fund’s bets, driving up losses when AI stocks collapsed during July’s market rout. Aschenbrenner reportedly wrote in the letter that the sell-off had created attractive investment opportunities.

Cointelegraph previously reported that the fund had made a big bet in its portfolio around the power and data centers supporting AI, including Bitcoin (BTC) miners pivoting into AI computing. A filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in March showed about $1.11 billion in positions across seven Bitcoin miner stocks, including IREN, Core Scientific, Riot Platforms and CleanSpark.

Aschenbrenner wrote a series of essays on artificial general intelligence in mid-2024 around the same time he launched his Situational Awareness fund. In it, he predicted that AGI machines will outpace college graduates by the end of the decade.

Cointelegraph contacted Situational Awareness for comment but had not received a response by publication.

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.

Bitcoin price remained trapped near $64,600 on July 30 as renewed US-Iran fighting, a hawkish Federal Reserve, and another CLARITY Act delay prevented buyers from extending the recovery.

Summary

Bitcoin price recovered from $62,383, but it remains inside a range capped near $66,500. The Fed held rates at 3.5%–3.75%, while three policymakers favored a rate increase. US-Iran fighting and a 6.6% oil surge revived inflation and risk-off concerns. Gold held near $4,062, but available data does not confirm a broad crypto-to-gold rotation. Bitcoin price struggles to leave its consolidation range According to data from crypto.news, Bitcoin (BTC) price traded near $64,600 at the time of writing after briefly falling to $62,383 following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The rebound returned BTC above $64,000, but the asset has yet to break the range that has controlled its price for several days.

The daily chart shows Bitcoin trading almost directly above the Bollinger Band midpoint at $64,512. The upper band near $66,348 remains the immediate ceiling, while the lower band around $62,676 marks the first major support area.

Bitcoin price daily chart — July 30 | Source: crypto.news Momentum also remains neutral. The daily relative strength index stood at 51.69, slightly below its signal average of 53.18. That setup suggests buyers have stabilized the market but have not gained enough strength to confirm a breakout.

Bitcoin’s resistance to the wider risk-off move remains notable. US stocks fell sharply on Wednesday, with the Dow losing 2.2%, the S&P 500 dropping 1.5% and the Nasdaq sliding 1.7%. BTC, by comparison, recovered most of its post-FOMC decline instead of extending losses below $62,000.

However, the repeated inability to clear $65,000–$66,500 shows that defensive buying has been enough to prevent a breakdown, not enough to restart the broader rally.

War and Fed policy weigh on Bitcoin momentum Renewed fighting between the United States and Iran has added another source of pressure. US forces launched a fresh wave of strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets after Iran fired missiles toward a US base in Jordan.

Jordanian air defenses intercepted five Iranian missiles on Thursday, while concerns grew that the conflict could threaten Persian Gulf energy supplies and shipping through the Red Sea.

Crude oil held above $84 after surging 6.6% in the previous session. Higher energy prices can raise inflation expectations, keep Treasury yields elevated and reduce the appeal of speculative assets, including cryptocurrencies.

That problem was reinforced by the Fed’s July meeting. Policymakers maintained the federal funds rate at 3.5%–3.75%, as expected, but Chair Kevin Warsh rejected the idea of a flexible inflation objective.

Warsh said there was no “soft target” for inflation and reaffirmed that the central bank remained committed to 2%. Three FOMC members voted for a quarter-point rate increase, leaving another hike possible if oil-driven inflation persists. The Federal Reserve’s statement confirmed the 9–3 decision.

For Bitcoin, steady rates provided little relief because the accompanying message reduced expectations of easier financial conditions. Higher-for-longer borrowing costs could continue limiting demand for risk assets ahead of the next inflation readings.

CLARITY Act delay removes another potential catalyst The US Senate’s decision to postpone action on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act has added regulatory uncertainty to the macro pressure.

Lawmakers shifted their attention toward a Russia sanctions package and federal nominations, narrowing the time available to advance the crypto market structure bill before the Aug. 8 recess. The delay does not create an immediate operational change for Bitcoin, but it removes a potential catalyst that could have improved institutional confidence.

The legislation is intended to divide oversight responsibilities between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Its passage could give US exchanges, token issuers and investors clearer federal rules.

Senate Republicans released updated text on July 22, combining Banking and Agriculture Committee proposals into a single framework. However, unresolved ethics language and the need for Democratic support remain obstacles.

The delay alone did not cause Bitcoin’s decline, but it left the market without a policy-driven reason to challenge resistance while geopolitical and monetary risks increased.

Is capital rotating from crypto into gold? Cross-asset performance shows defensive positioning, but there is not enough evidence to conclude that investors are directly moving capital from cryptocurrencies into gold.

Spot gold held near $4,062 an ounce on Thursday, while US gold futures gained 0.7%. Gold had also risen about 2% following the Fed announcement. However, investment demand remained subdued, and silver traded slightly lower.

That mixed performance weakens the argument for a broad flight into precious metals. Gold has retained safe-haven demand, but rising Treasury yields and expectations of another rate increase are limiting its upside because bullion does not pay interest.

The clearer defensive move has been into oil-linked exposure and away from equities sensitive to interest rates and economic growth. Bitcoin’s recovery toward $64,600 also suggests capital has not abandoned the asset entirely.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $32.1 million in net inflows on July 29, with BlackRock’s IBIT attracting $89.8 million, according to Farside Investors. That inflow is modest, but it shows institutional demand continued during the sell-off rather than moving entirely toward traditional havens.

Crypto sentiment nevertheless remains weak. The Fear and Greed Index stood at 28, down from 29 and still inside the “fear” category.

Bitcoin downside targets remain near $63K and $60K The 4-hour chart places Bitcoin against a rising trendline near $64,600. A confirmed move above this area could open a retest of $65,000, followed by the upper daily Bollinger Band between $66,300 and $66,500.

Bitcoin price 4-hour chart — July 30 | Source: crypto.news The 24-hour liquidation heatmap shows concentrated leverage around $64,900–$65,200. A move into that zone could trigger short liquidations and briefly accelerate the recovery. Further liquidity sits near $66,000 and $67,000.

Bitcoin liquidation heatmap | Source: CoinGlass On the downside, another large concentration appears around $63,000–$63,300. Losing the 4-hour trendline could attract price toward that liquidity before opening the way to $62,000 and the psychological $60,000 level.

Crypto trader Lennaert Snyder said Bitcoin was attempting to hold $64,000 following the FOMC meeting but remained vulnerable after generating substantial liquidity below Tuesday’s $62,800 low. He identified $64,800 and $65,800 as possible areas for renewed short positions.

$BTC is trying to hold 64K after FOMC.

The FOMC meeting didn't do much honestly, and I'm sticking to my thesis.

I executed a short on top of my existing shorts yesterday, so I'm well exposed for a potential move down.

I might scale-in another short if we sweep those… pic.twitter.com/zwRj0PBw5b

— Lennaert Snyder (@LennaertSnyder) July 30, 2026 Ali Charts offered a longer-term bullish interpretation, arguing that a decline toward $60,000 could complete an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern. Under that scenario, a confirmed break above $66,500 would place $74,000 in play.

For now, the Aroon Up reading of 57.14 remains above Aroon Down at 21.43, while the 4-hour ADX of 25.29 points to a developing but only moderate trend. Bitcoin must hold above $64,000 and clear $66,500 to turn its resilience into a confirmed breakout. Failure to do so would leave the market exposed to another liquidity sweep as war risks, inflation concerns, and regulatory delays continue to weigh on sentiment.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

US Crypto Regulations — Read the full US Regulation Hub for the latest on SEC enforcement, IRS crypto tax rules, and pending legislation.

Such a pullback may actually lead to a rally to $74,000, Ali Martinez argued.

The leading cryptocurrency experienced enhanced volatility over the past week, eventually stabilizing at around $64,500 (per CoinGecko’s data).

Given the ongoing bear market, though, the price may soon head south again, but one popular analyst claimed that a dip to around $60K should actually be welcomed as good news.

Exactly What BTC Needs? The renowned analyst Ali Martinez argued that a drop by nearly five grand would complete a classic inverse head-and-shoulders pattern that could set the stage for a serious pump. The setup consists of three dips – a low (left shoulder), a deeper plunge (head), and another low (right shoulder) and signals that sellers are running out of steam.

According to Martinez, the completion of the pattern combined with a confirmed breakout above $66,500 could open the door to a pump to a two-month high of around $74,000.

The analyst has been quite focused on BTC lately, revealing that whales have purchased roughly 29,000 units (worth more than $1.8 billion at current rates) over the past week. Accumulation from this cohort of investors is considered a bullish sign as it suggests that they are preparing for a potential upward move. Their actions could encourage smaller players to hop on the bandwagon, too, thus distributing fresh capital into the ecosystem.

Another comment from Martinez was his recent prediction about when BTC will reach its bottom. If the 4-year cycle theory holds, he expects that to happen between October 6 and October 16. This is a common thesis among analysts, as many believe the cryptocurrency could nosedive to multi-year lows before entering a new bull run. Others, like Joao Wedson, anticipate that the pivotal moment when bulls would finally regain control is the midterm elections in the US scheduled for early November.

An Additional Bullish Forecast Vivek Sen – an X user with almost 300,000 followers – presented another optimistic scenario for BTC, based on the formation of a cup-and-handle breakout.

You may also like: Bitcoin’s Next Bull Run Could Follow US Midterms: Analyst Completion of This Chart Pattern Could Send BTC to $220K, Says Analyst Saylor: Bitcoin’s Biggest Threat Isn’t Attackers – It’s Those Trying to Rewrite the Rules The pattern represents a big rounded dip (the cup), followed by a smaller pullback (the handle) and typically shows that the asset has built up strength and is perhaps gearing up for a rally.  According to the analyst, this formation could be a precursor to a giant increase, setting $220,000 as the minimum target.

“Most people will only find out after it happens,” he added.

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Strategy Inc. is sitting on 843,775 Bitcoin.

The company formerly known as MicroStrategy will release its Q2 2026 financial results today, July 30, after market hours, followed by a live earnings call at 5:00 p.m. ET. As of July 6, the firm’s Bitcoin stash represents roughly 4.02% of the total Bitcoin supply.

But here’s the thing. Strategy hasn’t been buying lately. And it actually sold some coins.

The numbers behind the narrative At the end of Q1 2026, recorded as of May 3, Strategy held 818,334 BTC. The current figure of 843,775 BTC reflects a net increase of roughly 25,441 coins quarter-over-quarter.

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The company’s average acquisition cost sits between $75,482 and $75,537 per Bitcoin.

Year-to-date BTC yield was reported at 9.4% in Q1 2026. That metric, which Strategy uses to measure the growth in Bitcoin per diluted share, has become the company’s preferred scoreboard for telling shareholders the treasury strategy is working.

Executive chairman Michael Saylor confirmed the July 6 holdings figure himself, along with $2.55 billion in USD reserves.

But the quarter wasn’t pure accumulation. The company sold 3,588 BTC in early July, trimming from a previous high.

The purchasing pause Strategy has not made new Bitcoin purchases in recent weeks. The company has $2.55 billion in cash and a position representing 4.02% of total Bitcoin supply. At that scale, every purchase moves the market against you.

Why this matters beyond one earnings call Strategy’s influence on the Bitcoin market extends well beyond its quarterly filings. Controlling 4.02% of total supply gives the company an outsized role in price discovery and market psychology.

The company essentially pioneered the corporate Bitcoin treasury model since 2020, when it began converting corporate resources into digital assets.

Investors should watch for three things on the call: updated BTC yield targets for the full year, any forward guidance on acquisition plans, and how Saylor frames the July sale.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Malaysian police have dismantled an illegal Bitcoin mining operation and arrested two men after seizing 73 mining machines that investigators say were powered through stolen electricity.

Summary

Malaysian police arrested two men and seized 73 Bitcoin mining machines during raids on three properties in Tronoh. Investigators said the mining operation used stolen electricity through illegal power connections confirmed by TNB inspections. The latest crackdown follows earlier Bitcoin mining raids in Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur linked to electricity theft across Malaysia. According to a statement from Batu Gajah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Md Noor Aehawan Mohammad, officers carried out coordinated raids at three properties in Tronoh on Tuesday night under Op Elektrik, uncovering what investigators described as illegal Bitcoin mining activities supported by unauthorized electricity connections.

The operation began at about 9:02 p.m. and involved personnel from the district Criminal Investigation Department together with the Technical Unit of Malaysia’s national electricity provider, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), also known as the SEAL Team.

Police detained two local men, aged 40 and 52, to assist with the investigation. Alongside the arrests, officers confiscated 73 Bitcoin mining machines and additional equipment believed to have been used to operate the mining network.

Bitcoin mining operation used illegal power connections Police said inspections carried out during the operation found that each of the three premises had been used for Bitcoin mining. Technical examinations conducted by TNB later confirmed electricity theft at two abandoned houses, while the third property involved in the case was an unoccupied house.

Md Noor Aehawan said investigators found evidence that the mining equipment had been connected through illegal electricity supply lines rather than legitimate metered connections.

Both suspects have been remanded for three days, beginning Wednesday and ending Friday, to facilitate further investigations.

Authorities are investigating the case under Section 427 of Malaysia’s Penal Code for committing mischief, including electricity theft, as well as Section 37(1) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990, which covers interference with electrical installations.

Police also urged residents to report suspicious activities linked to electricity theft or unauthorized cryptocurrency mining. Members of the public with relevant information have been asked to contact the Batu Gajah district police operations room or the nearest police station.

Malaysia has continued targeting illegal Bitcoin mining The latest enforcement action follows several similar crackdowns carried out across Malaysia over the past year as authorities continue to target cryptocurrency mining operations that bypass electricity meters.

In May, Terengganu police dismantled another suspected Bitcoin mining syndicate during Op Letrik after raiding properties in the Hulu Terengganu and Marang districts. Working alongside TNB’s SEAL unit, officers seized 45 illegal Bitcoin mining machines from two premises, including a residential property in Bukit Perpat and a commercial building in Wakaf Tapai.

At the time, Terengganu police chief Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairuddin said investigators believed the premises had been modified to bypass electricity meters, causing estimated monthly losses of about RM36,000 for TNB. Authorities also seized mining-related equipment valued at approximately RM225,000, although no arrests were announced in that operation.

The Terengganu investigation proceeded under Sections 379 and 427 of the Penal Code together with Section 37 of the Electricity Supply Act 1990.

Earlier cases have exposed electricity theft Another illegal mining operation came to light in February after firefighters responded to reports of an explosion and smoke at a house in Kuala Lumpur.

Authorities later discovered modified electrical wiring that had caused a fire before uncovering several Bitcoin mining rigs inside the property. Investigators also confirmed that the operation had been drawing electricity through unauthorized connections, prompting a separate investigation.

Malaysia’s national electricity provider has repeatedly warned about the financial impact of electricity theft linked to cryptocurrency mining. TNB reported in 2024 that illegal Bitcoin mining had caused losses of more than 440 million Malaysian ringgit, or roughly $101 million, due to stolen electricity.

The utility also estimated that electricity theft associated with illegal cryptocurrency mining resulted in losses of about $755 million between 2018 and 2023, highlighting the continued challenge posed by unauthorized mining operations across the country.

Outside Malaysia, governments have taken similar action against illicit cryptocurrency mining where unauthorized electricity use has strained national power systems. Iran has conducted repeated crackdowns on illegal mining operations, while Venezuela introduced a ban on crypto mining to protect its electricity grid from excessive energy demand.

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.

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Banco Santander, the eurozone’s largest bank by market capitalization, has reported owning approximately $4.3 million in US spot Bitcoin ETFs. It’s not exactly a whale-sized position for a bank managing well over a trillion dollars in assets, but the signal matters more than the size.

The $4.3 million position shows up in Santander’s regulatory filings as exposure to US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs. The bank scored around 35% on the 2026 Bitcoin Bank Adoption Index, placing it in what researchers categorize as the middle tier. That puts it alongside institutions like Société Générale, well behind crypto-forward firms like Fidelity but meaningfully ahead of the many banks still treating digital assets like radioactive waste.

This isn’t Santander’s first dance with crypto either. Executive Chair Ana Botín has been publicly discussing potential Bitcoin products since 2021, long before spot ETFs even existed in the US. The bank has been building crypto custody and digital asset capabilities across Europe for years.

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The broader Santander crypto strategy The ETF disclosure fits into a pattern of deliberate, measured crypto integration at Santander. The bank’s digital subsidiary, Openbank, began offering crypto trading services to clients in Germany in September 2025. An expansion to Spain is planned as the next step.

By holding spot Bitcoin ETFs on its own balance sheet while simultaneously offering crypto trading to retail clients through Openbank, Santander is building expertise on both sides of the business.

This mirrors what several major US banks have done after the SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024.

Why a $4.3 million position matters more than it should The timing also matters. Santander’s disclosure comes during a period of accelerating institutional adoption across Europe. The bank has engaged in various crypto custody and digital asset initiatives throughout the continent, positioning itself to capture demand as regulatory frameworks like MiCA provide clearer guidelines for crypto services.

The risk worth monitoring is whether Santander’s mid-tier adoption score reflects genuine caution or structural limitations. Banks with higher integration scores tend to benefit from first-mover advantages in attracting crypto-curious wealthy clients.

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Bitcoin price remained trapped between $63,000 and $64,000 as traders assessed the Federal Reserve’s latest interest-rate decision. Increasing Treasury yields, oil prices, and inflation issues due to tariffs are all adding pressure on risk assets.

The wider crypto market dropped 0.68% to $2.18 trillion in 24 hours. Weak United States equities pressured risk assets and limited demand for major cryptocurrencies this week. 

Ethereum price traded near $1,900, while XRP and Dogecoin recorded similarly muted price action. 

Bitcoin open interest had increased by 1.52%, indicating that leveraged exposure had increased amidst unpredictable market conditions. Coinglass data showed nearly $400 million in liquidations, with bullish long positions accounting for most losses.

Fed Keeps Rates Unchanged Amid Growing Dissent The Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark interest rate between 3.50% and 3.75% for the fifth consecutive meeting. The vote was rather anticipated, but the split in voting indicated more people were in favor of tighter monetary policy.

Officials approved the decision by a 9-3 vote, the most same-direction dissents since September 2016. Neel Kashkari and Beth Hammack, along with Lorie Logan, advocated a 25-basis-point rise. Their stand was indicative of worries on inflation, bond yields, and policy risks of remaining in place.

Traders now estimate a 57% chance of a rate increase at the September meeting. Increasing Treasury yields may limit the recovery of Bitcoin since rising yields tend to diminish the demand of speculative assets. The next FOMC meeting is in 48 days

Source: Fedwatch data Sentiment was also burdened by geopolitical tensions following the United States once again in military attacks against Iran. This move was taken after the Iranian ballistic missile attack on American forces in the Middle East.

Bitcoin ETFs Post $32.11M Inflows as BlackRock’s IBIT Leads U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $32.11 million in net inflows on July 29, according to SoSoValue. The IBIT of BlackRock contributed to the most gains of $89.83 million, but withdrawals by other funds decreased the total. 

Spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded negative returns of net outflows amounting to $18.65 million. 

Bitcoin ETFs Draw $32 Million as BlackRock Leads Inflows

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of USD 32.11 million on July 29, according to SoSoValue, with BlackRock’s IBIT attracting USD 89.83 million as outflows from other funds offset part of the gain. Among spot… pic.twitter.com/6xX6C8NNTk

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 30, 2026

The Ethereum product with the largest inflow was still the newly launched MSSE at Morgan Stanley, which received 14.30 million dollars.

Analyst Ali Predicts Bitcoin Price Retest of $60K Before Major Breakout Crypto analyst Ali predictis the Bitcoin price could fall toward $60,000 before attempting another major breakout

He explained that the drop could contribute to the formation of an inverse head-and-shoulder pattern on the 12-hour chart. The trend is still not complete as Bitcoin continues to trade below the neckline at around $66,500.

Don’t fear a drop to $60,000.

For Bitcoin $BTC, it could be exactly what’s needed to complete an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern. A confirmed breakout above $66,500 would then put $74,000 in play. https://t.co/b6blmQV2mS pic.twitter.com/evHdeGqZab

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) July 30, 2026

A decisive break above $66,500 would validate the set up and reinforce anticipations of additional gains. The measured target of the pattern then projected the move of the long-term BTC projection to an estimated level of $74,000.

But the inability to capture the $60,000 area might undermine the framework and delay the anticipated breakout.

BTC Price Analysis BTC price traded at $64,493 on the four-hour chart after gaining 0.90% during the latest candle. 

The Relative Strength Index rose to 53, and momentum is over the neutral 50 level.

Source: Tradingiew The MACD histogram became positive at 66.30 with the improvement of short-term momentum. The MACD line has also crossed over the signal line, creating a bullish crossover below the zero line.