While price action has long dominated the cryptocurrency market, attention in 2026 is steadily shifting toward the technical foundations of blockchain networks. With Ethereum, Solana and Avalanche preparing for some of their most ambitious protocol upgrades to date, Coinbase’s layer-2 network Base activated its Beryl hard fork just last Friday. In contrast, Bitcoin developers remain deadlocked over several contentious proposals and have yet to reach consensus.
Focus shifts from speed to resilienceTim Sun, a senior researcher at Hong Kong-based asset manager HashKey Group, explained that previous protocol upgrades have typically prioritized adding new features, speeding up transactions and boosting capacity. However, Sun observed that by 2026, the industry’s priorities are tilting towards more predictable governance, greater reliability and the development of robust, enterprise-scale infrastructure to support widespread financial use cases.
Tim Sun stresses that, looking ahead to 2026, simply adding more features is no longer the main concern; instead, reliability and institution-grade infrastructure are taking center stage.
Spotlight on Ethereum’s Glamsterdam upgradeAmong Ethereum’s key roadmap milestones, the Glamsterdam upgrade stands out as one of this year’s most pivotal steps. Currently being tested on developer networks, it is expected to roll out to the mainnet in the second half of 2026. Planned changes include improved scalability, reinforcement of the layer-1 base, and a streamlined user experience aimed at simplifying network usage.
Sun noted that the upgrade could enable higher transaction throughput, expand data capacity, and reduce database bloat. The overarching goal is to make Ethereum a more favorable environment for stablecoin settlements and on-chain use of real-world assets.
Holly Atkinson, chief product and technology officer at 1inch, described Glamsterdam as Ethereum’s most significant upgrade since The Merge in September 2022. One highlight is ePBS—short for enshrined proposer builder separation—a structure aimed at making block creation and proposal processes more transparent. However, RuleSpark founder Pavan Kaur cautioned that while this step might help, it will not eradicate maximal extractable value (MEV) issues altogether, as some harmful practices may simply adapt and persist in new forms.
Mini glossary: ePBS stands for enshrined proposer builder separation. It aims to clarify the distinction within the protocol between validators who propose blocks and entities that build their content, with the objective of minimizing concentration in transaction sequencing.
Solana and Base aim for lightning-fast confirmationsOn the Solana front, the Alpenglow upgrade is the year’s most significant development. After receiving strong backing in governance votes in September 2025, Alpenglow is still under development and slated for release in the latter half of 2026 alongside the Agave 4.1 validator client. This system will replace the current TowerBFT mechanism with an innovative voting component named Votor.
One of the most concrete impacts is a dramatic reduction in transaction finality time. The goal is to bring finality down to between 100 and 150 milliseconds under optimal network conditions, compared to the present average of approximately 12.8 seconds. The upgrade also targets reducing network load by removing on-chain voting operations, ultimately improving validator communication efficiency.
NetworkUpgradeKey objectiveEthereumGlamsterdamScalability and stronger layer 1SolanaAlpenglowCut finality time to 100–150 msBaseBerylReduce withdrawal time from 7 to 5 daysAvalanchePost-Etna L1 modelLower custom chain setup cost by over 99%Elsewhere, Base deployed its Beryl hard fork following a brief sequencer outage that paused block production for about two hours due to an invalid block. Jesse Pollak, one of Base’s co-founders, emphasized that users’ assets remained unaffected by the disruption, but acknowledged the downtime was unacceptable and added that lessons learned will help reinforce Base as a round-the-clock global financial platform.
Jesse Pollak underscores that user funds were secure during the incident, but says Base recognizes the network pause was not acceptable and is using this experience to guide technical improvements.
According to Base documentation, the Beryl hard fork introduces the B20 native token standard, shortens withdrawal finality from seven days to five, and implements the Reth V2 integration. These updates are expected to decrease node storage requirements and enhance execution efficiency.
Avalanche goes institutional, Bitcoin debates persistOn Avalanche, there is less focus on a single named hard fork and more on sweeping changes to attract enterprise users and boost performance. According to Sun, the Etna hard fork replaced the legacy subnet model with a system of sovereign Avalanche L1 chains, slashing the startup cost for launching a private blockchain by over 99%. He also highlighted that Progmat, which he says represents about 63% of Japan’s security token market, recently moved more than $2 billion in tokenized assets to a dedicated Avalanche L1 chain.
Bitcoin, meanwhile, stands apart from rival networks. Its main challenges in 2026 are not scheduled upgrades but debates over whether to make the protocol more programmable or to strengthen it against quantum computing threats. Proposals like OP_CAT, CTV and Lightning-focused LNHANCE—each associated with covenants and programmability—remain under discussion but lack an agreed activation path. Proposals such as BIP 360 and similar efforts to ease the shift to quantum-resistant spending methods are also still on the table without a clear consensus.
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.
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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While Ethereum adoption keeps growing, Layer-2 networks are becoming more important for reducing costs and scaling transaction capacity. These networks are efficient in processing transactions while still gaining from Ethereum’s security.
However, gas costs and execution overhead can still affect Layer-2 performance. One aspect of optimization involves improving how the network accesses and processes state data during block execution.
Block-Level Access Lists (BAL) offer a way to organize and predefine state access patterns for a whole block instead of individual transactions. This can improve execution efficiency, reduce unnecessary operations, and lower overall gas consumption.
In this article, we will explain how Block-Level Access Lists work, why it is vital, and the steps involved in incorporating them on Ethereum Layer-2 networks.
Key Takeaways Block-Level Access Lists (BAL) help optimize how state data is accessed during block execution. BAL differs from transaction-level access lists by operating at the block level rather than the individual transaction level. Improved state access can reduce execution overhead and contribute to better gas efficiency. Layer-2 networks can benefit from lower transaction costs, higher throughput, and improved scalability. Successful BAL implementation requires proper planning, testing, and performance monitoring. Understanding Block-Level Access Lists (BAL) These are structures that identify the accounts, state data, or storage slots likely to be accessed during the execution of a block.
Instead of preparing access information for each transaction separately, BAL applies these optimizations at the block level.
This approach can help execution environments prepare state data in advance. It also reduces the number of expensive state lookups needed during processing. Hence, transactions may execute more efficiently and consume fewer resources.
For Layer-2 networks, where massive numbers of transactions are processed together, BAL can enhance performance by streamlining state access and reducing execution overhead. This can contribute to better throughput, lower costs, and improved scalability.
Why Gas Efficiency Matters on Layer-2 Networks Here’s how it plays an important role in scaling.
1. Lower transaction costs Reducing gas consumption lowers the cost of executing transactions on Layer-2 networks. This makes decentralized applications affordable and encourages greater user participation.
2. Improved network throughput Efficient transaction execution enables more transactions to be processed within the same resources. This enhances network throughput and helps support growing levels of activity.
3. Better user experience Faster processing times and lower fees create a smoother experience for users. This can boost adoption and encourage more frequent use of blockchain applications.
4. Increased scalability Gas-efficient systems can manage larger transaction volumes without significantly increasing operational demands. This enables Layer-2 networks to scale more effectively as usage grows.
5. More efficient resource usage Optimizing execution processes reduces unnecessary computations and storage operations. This helps networks use available resources more efficiently and enhance overall performance.
6. Stronger ecosystem growth Affordable transactions and enhanced performance can attract businesses, developers, and users. This supports ecosystem growth and encourages the development of new applications.
Prerequisites for Implementing Block-Level Access Lists Here are some essential features to note, which can simplify the implementation process:
1. Understanding of Ethereum state access Developers should understand how Ethereum stores contract and account data. It also stores how state information is retrieved during transaction execution across Layer-2 environments.
2. Familiarity with Layer-2 architecture A solid understanding of Layer-2 network design helps developers identify where Block-Level Access Lists can boost performance and reduce execution overhead.
3. Access to development tools The required testing frameworks, software tools, and development environments should be available to support debugging, implementation, and performance evaluation activities.
4. Knowledge of smart contract execution Developers should learn how smart contracts consume gas, access storage, and interact with blockchain state during execution and validation processes.
5. Testing environment setup A dependable testing environment is important for measuring BAL performance, identifying issues, and validating improvements before deployment to production systems.
6. Monitoring and analytics tools These solutions help monitor execution metrics, resource usage, and gas consumption. This makes it seamless to evaluate the effectiveness of BAL implementations.
Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Block-Level Access Lists (BAL) Follow these steps to incorporate BAL effectively:
1. Analyze current state access patterns Review transaction execution data to know how contracts and accounts access state information. This helps identify opportunities for reducing repeated storage lookups.
2. Identify frequently accessed storage slots Determine which storage locations are accessed most often during block execution. These locations are likely to gain the most from BAL optimization.
3. Design the BAL structure Create a structured access list that includes frequently used accounts and storage slots expected to be accessed during block processing activities.
4. Integrate BAL into the execution pipeline Modify the execution workflow so that predefined access lists can be utilized and referenced throughout the block processing lifecycle.
5. Configure state prefetching mechanisms Design systems that load commonly accessed state data before execution commences. This reduces delays associated with repeated state retrieval requests.
6. Test access list performance Run simulations and benchmarks to evaluate the impact of BAL on execution speed, gas consumption, and overall network efficiency.
7. Measure gas savings and throughput improvements Compare performance metrics before and after implementation to determine if BAL delivers meaningful improvements in efficiency and scalability.
8. Optimize and refine the implementation Review test results and adjust access list configurations as needed to maximize performance while maintaining system reliability and stability.
9. Deploy to production After successful optimization and testing, deploy the BAL solution to the production environment and keep monitoring performance over time.
Conclusion: Improving Layer-2 Efficiency with Block-Level Access Lists Block-Level Access Lists offer a practical way to improve gas efficiency on Ethereum Layer-2 networks. By optimizing how state data is accessed during block execution, developers can reduce unnecessary overhead and improve overall network performance.
When implemented correctly, BAL can contribute to lower transaction costs, faster execution, and better scalability. As Layer-2 ecosystems continue to grow, techniques such as Block-Level Access Lists may play an increasingly important role in building more efficient and cost-effective blockchain infrastructure.
By combining careful planning, thorough testing, and continuous monitoring, developers can maximize the benefits of BAL and support the long-term growth of their Layer-2 solutions.
Ethereum (ETH) recent price performance has tested investor confidence, but Fundstrat co-founder and BitMine Chairman Tom Lee believes the market is focusing too much on short-term price action.
Speaking about what could make him bearish on Ethereum, Lee said BitMine has deliberately built its business to withstand a prolonged downturn. At the same time, the company continues to invest heavily in Ethereum’s long-term growth.
If Crypto Winter Comes, We Can Make It to SpringLee explained that BitMine isn’t relying on rising ETH prices to survive. Instead, the company maintains a strong financial position with roughly $600 million in cash on its balance sheet.
“We’ve operated with a very conservative capital structure. If crypto winter comes, we can make it to spring.” He said.
Around 80% of BitMine’s Ethereum holdings are staked, generating more than $250 million annually in staking rewards. Combined with several hundred million dollars in free cash flow, Lee believes the company has enough financial strength. Therefore, he thinks BitMine can navigate even a prolonged bear market.
Investing Beyond Ethereum’s PriceRather than simply accumulating ETH, Lee said BitMine is actively investing across the Ethereum ecosystem.
The company has already disclosed investments in MrBeast and 8Co. It is also working closely with organizations that have spun out of the Ethereum Foundation, including ETH Labs. He added that several additional funding announcements are expected soon.
BitMine is also partnering with SharpLink, Joe Lubin, and several Ethereum core developers to strengthen public infrastructure, improve enterprise adoption, and expand Ethereum’s role in artificial intelligence applications.
According to Lee, these investments are designed to strengthen Ethereum’s ecosystem long before the next bull market begins.
Money is becoming software. That’s really where Ethereum is going to shine.Lee remains convinced Ethereum will become one of the foundations of the future financial system.
He argued that financial services are increasingly evolving into programmable technology platforms where assets become digital, composable, and available around the clock. In addition, as tokenized assets grow and traditional finance moves on-chain, Lee expects Ethereum to play a central role in powering that transition.
While acknowledging that Ethereum’s recent price action has been “disappointing” and “very frustrating,” Lee said those short-term moves do not change his long-term thesis.
For him, BitMine’s large cash reserves, recurring staking income, and continued investment across the Ethereum ecosystem leave the company well positioned to survive any crypto winter. Moreover, he believes BitMine will benefit when the next bull cycle eventually returns.
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It's getting harder for bulls to defend XRP's chart. The asset continues to print lower highs and lower lows following months of continuous selling pressure, maintaining the overall downtrend. Is a significant reversal even feasible at this point? The most recent move below the crucial support zone around $1.30 has only strengthened pessimism.
XRP just finished breaking down from a descending triangle formation that had been forming since March, according to the daily chart. These patterns usually indicate that the market will continue to decline, and it has done so nearly flawlessly. XRP lost another significant support cluster after the breakdown, and it is currently trading close to $1.05, one of its lowest points of the year. The moving averages show a similar pessimistic outlook.
XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewXRP is still below the downward-sloping 50-, 100-, and 200-day moving averages. This alignment indicates that sellers maintain control over both near-term and long-term periods. The 200-day moving average, which is currently close to $1.51, is particularly significant because it indicates the level that XRP must recover before any meaningful conversation about a trend reversal can start.
HOT Stories
Not much encouragement has come from volume either. Buying activity has been comparatively muted, despite sporadic spikes during selloffs. This implies that market participants are still reluctant to make aggressive purchases, despite the significant drop from earlier highs.
The Relative Strength Index is the only positive indicator for bulls. The RSI is getting close to oversold territory at 35. Such readings have historically preceded short-term relief rallies, especially if sentiment in the cryptocurrency market as a whole improves. However, oversold conditions alone rarely reverse a significant trend.
Bitcoin makes a moveThe recent price movement of Bitcoin indicates that the market is still having difficulty finding a stable bottom. Following its inability to sustain momentum above important moving averages in May, Bitcoin started a new downward trend that has moved it closer to the lower end of its current trading range. A move toward $52,000 cannot be ruled out based on the technical structure seen on the daily chart.
BTC/USDT Chart by TradingViewFor bulls, the total loss of trend support is the most alarming development. The 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages of Bitcoin are currently below $63,000, $68,000, and $76,000, respectively. This alignment supports a very pessimistic market structure. Over the past few months, every attempt at recovery has failed to reach the longer-term trend indicators.
Upon closer examination, it can be seen that BTC recently broke down from a rising channel that had formed between April and May. What at first appeared to be a recovery phase turned out to be a typical bear-market rally. Sellers swiftly regained control and accelerated the decline after the channel's support failed.
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The bearish narrative is further supported by volume behavior. The biggest spikes in recent weeks have coincided with selloffs rather than recoveries, suggesting that sellers are more confident than buyers. After Bitcoin briefly touched the low $60,000 region, there was some dip-buying activity, but demand was insufficient to buck the trend. The next significant support zone is located between $57,000 and $58,000.
At the moment, Bitcoin is testing that level. If it breaks decisively, the market may start aiming for the $52,000 area, which is the next significant historical support level and a place where buyers have previously intervened forcefully. One factor prevents a scenario of complete collapse.
With a reading of about 35, the Relative Strength Index is still close to oversold territory. Such conditions frequently result in temporary relief rallies. However, oversold readings during established downtrends usually lead to brief bounces rather than long-lasting reversals.
Ethereum stays relevantEthereum is far from being forgotten by the market, even after months of disappointing price movement and increasing competition from other networks. Although ETH has substantially underperformed relative to its historical benchmarks, the chart indicates that investors are still closely monitoring the asset, even as it remains caught in a broader bearish trend.
ETH/USDT Chart by TradingViewAfter yet another unsuccessful attempt at recovery, Ethereum is currently trading close to $1,600. According to the daily chart, the asset recently broke down from a descending wedge-like formation that developed between April and May. The pattern resolved to the downside rather than initiating a sustained breakout, pushing ETH back toward local lows and bolstering sellers' dominance.
The technical picture remains challenging. Ethereum is currently trading below the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day major moving averages. While the 100-day and 200-day averages at $1,850 and $2,280, respectively, continue to be significantly above current price levels, the 50-day moving average at $1,690 has served as immediate resistance. The overall trend remains negative until ETH begins reclaiming these levels.
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However, market behavior refutes the notion that Ethereum has completely lost relevance. Every significant drop attracts buyers who are prepared to step in near support areas, and volume remains relatively steady. The market isn't actively accumulating ETH, but it isn't abandoning it either. The Relative Strength Index is another factor that supports that view.
The RSI is close to 38, which indicates weakness but not total capitulation. Major bottoms in the past frequently occurred when traders became far more pessimistic than current conditions suggest. Put another way, despite the prolonged correction, there is still active participation in the asset.
Reclaiming the $1,690 area is Ethereum's primary goal from a technical standpoint. The 100-day moving average around $1,850 would come back into focus if that level were breached. If buyers are able to overcome both obstacles, sentiment may improve significantly. Ethereum remains under pressure, but it is still a major player in the market.
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.
Over the past several months, selling pressure on XRP has intensified, with the chart showing a series of lower highs and lower lows. After failing to hold the crucial $1.30 support level, XRP slid to around $1.05, approaching some of the lowest levels seen this year. Technical signals indicate that sellers remain firmly in control in both the short and long term.
XRP’s downward trend remains unbrokenOn the daily chart, the breakdown of a descending triangle pattern that has formed since March has further weighed on XRP. Typically, such patterns signal a continuation of the prevailing downtrend, and the breakout resulted in yet another support cluster being lost. The fact that the price remains below the 50, 100, and 200 day moving averages only strengthens the bearish outlook for XRP.
In particular, the 200 day moving average stands at about $1.51. For any meaningful technical recovery, XRP would first need to reclaim levels above this point. Trading volume analysis shows buyer activity remains weak; selling waves have brought volume spikes, but rebound attempts have been very limited.
Losing the $1.30 support in XRP and falling back to the $1.05 range highlight that the overall downward trend is still intact.
One of the few promising technical signals for XRP has come from the Relative Strength Index (RSI). With the RSI approaching 35, XRP is nearing oversold conditions. While these levels can sometimes trigger short lived price bounces, a single indicator is not considered sufficient for calling a lasting trend reversal.
Glossary: RSI is a technical indicator that measures the speed and strength of price movements. Values approaching 30 generally indicate oversold conditions, while values nearing 70 suggest overbought territory.
Bitcoin tests a vital support zoneBitcoin also failed to hold above key moving averages in May, resulting in a fresh wave of declines. Daily charts reveal that the rising channel seen from April to May has broken downward. Though this downturn initially resembled a temporary correction, sellers quickly regained control, leaving the rebound short lived.
Currently, Bitcoin’s 50, 100, and 200 day moving averages remain below $63,000, $68,000, and $76,000 respectively—a structure that underlines persistent market weakness. Notably, stronger volume spikes have occurred on selling days compared to rallies, suggesting sellers are now acting with greater conviction.
AssetCurrent Price RangeKey ResistanceKey SupportXRP$1.05$1.51Below $1.30Bitcoin$57,000 to $58,000$63,000 and higher averages$52,000Ethereum$1,600$1,690 and $1,850local bottom regionRight now, the $57,000 to $58,000 range is drawing attention in the market. Should Bitcoin break clearly below this zone, the next historically significant support could come into play at $52,000. While the RSI near 35 keeps the door open for a potential short term bounce, these types of signals tend to have limited impact in an established downtrend.
If Bitcoin fails to hold the $57,000 to $58,000 region, technical analysis signals a renewed pullback toward $52,000 could be on the horizon.
Ethereum remains under pressure but investor interest persistsDespite its recent weak price performance, Ethereum continues to attract close scrutiny from the market. After a failed rebound attempt, ETH has settled near $1,600, breaking below a descending wedge pattern formed between April and May. This move has reinforced bearish momentum and pushed ETH back toward its local lows.
ETH trading below its 50, 100, and 200 day moving averages leaves its technical prospects clouded. The 50 day moving average at around $1,690 now marks the first key resistance, with longer term averages at $1,850 and $2,280 providing additional upside hurdles. That said, buyers have shown some engagement near support zones during sharp declines, and volume has not completely dried up.
The RSI for Ethereum is hovering near 38, indicating ongoing weakness but not yet signaling total market capitulation. Technically, recapturing the $1,690 level stands as the initial target for ETH; surpassing this could bring $1,850 back into focus as the next milestone.
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 crypto market bounced today after Bitcoin reclaimed the $60,000 level, lifting the total crypto market by nearly $50 billion in about 90 minutes. The move came after improving macro sentiment, strong technical support, and renewed buying across major cryptocurrencies, even as institutional demand remains weak.
What Triggered Today’s Rally?The biggest boost came after comments from former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh at the ECB Forum in Sintra.
Warsh said inflation is still above target, but it showed the four straight quarters of AI-driven productivity gains. If productivity continues improving, it could eventually give the Federal Reserve more room to cut interest rates.
Although Warsh is no longer a Fed policymaker, markets viewed his comments as a positive signal for future monetary easing. Lower interest rates generally increase demand for risk assets, helping fuel buying across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader crypto market.
Bitcoin Led the RecoveryBitcoin climbed around 3%, moving back above $60,000 and adding roughly $36 billion to its market value.
Ethereum followed with gains of more than 3%, while most major altcoins also traded higher as confidence returned across the market.
The total crypto market capitalization climbed back above $2.1 trillion, marking one of its strongest intraday recoveries in recent weeks.
Also Read: Bitcoin Q3 2026 Roadmap: July Bounce, Brutal August, Then the Final Low Near $39,000
Altcoins Join the Party Altcoins joined Bitcoin’s recovery with several tokens posting strong gains over the past 24 hours. Solana (SOL) climbed 6.05%, XRP climbed 1.38%, while Cardano saw a 2.61% jump.
Technically, what is the scenario? From a technical perspective, the recovery has improved the short-term outlook.
Analysts are closely watching the $2.08 trillion level on the total crypto market cap chart. A breakout above that resistance could open the door toward $2.16 trillion, signalling stronger bullish momentum.
For Bitcoin, holding above $60,000 remains the key. If buyers maintain control, traders will likely target the next resistance zone around $62,000-$64,000. However, losing the $60,000 level could bring another test of support near $58,000.
Also Read : Exclusive Bitcoin Prediction: Bear Market in Final Phase, But Altcoins Won’t Move Until 2027
What For Bitcoin Price?While today’s rally has improved sentiment, investors remain cautious.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs continued to record net outflows this week, showing that institutional investors have yet to return aggressively. The latest outflows included $212.4 million from the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and $10.2 million from the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC). Citigroup also recently lowered its one-year Bitcoin price target, reflecting softer institutional expectations.
For now, traders will be watching upcoming U.S. economic data and any fresh signals from Federal Reserve officials. If expectations for rate cuts continue to strengthen and Bitcoin holds above key technical levels, the current rebound could extend further.
But if macro conditions worsen or institutional selling continues, volatility is likely to remain high.
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Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
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Robinhood has gone chain-native. The brokerage firm launched the public mainnet of Robinhood Chain on Wednesday, an Arbitrum-powered Ethereum layer-2 network that the company described as permissionless, AI-native, and purpose-built for real-world assets.
Robinhood Presents: The World is Flat https://t.co/klNh8iHFPd
— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) July 1, 2026 The announcement was made at an event held at the Old Royal Naval College in London, where CEO Vlad Tenev outlined a vision that bridges Robinhood's traditional brokerage offerings with an expanding suite of onchain financial products.
What the chain does
Robinhood Chain is designed to host tokenized real-world assets, beginning with Stock Tokens — on-chain representations of shares in companies including Nvidia and Apple. Eligible users in more than 120 countries can trade these tokens 24/7 directly within the Robinhood Wallet. The tokens can be deployed into lending pools or used as collateral across DeFi protocols, unlocking yield opportunities that traditional brokerage accounts do not permit.
Day-one ecosystem partners include Uniswap (dedicated AMM for public liquidity) and Pleiades (proprietary AMM for prop trading). Infrastructure integrations cover Alchemy, BitGo, and Chainlink.
The Lighter integration
Perpetual futures are now available within the Robinhood Wallet via Lighter, a decentralized exchange. Eligible users in select jurisdictions can access perps through the integration, with Lighter committing $11 million worth of $LIT to the Robinhood community. Users earn 2x points when trading perpetuals through Robinhood Wallet versus Lighter's own app.
Robinhood Earn is also rolling out to eligible US users — lending USDG stablecoin at ~7% APY, insured through Lloyd's of London and RELM. Infrastructure is powered by Morpho.
AI-native positioning
The "AI-native" label is central to the pitch. Agentic Accounts for crypto trading are being prepared for eligible US traders, with Robinhood's Trading MCP allowing AI models to connect to Robinhood data and execute strategies within user-set parameters. At the London event, Robinhood set a Guinness World Record for the most items purchased by an AI agent in three minutes using a single credit card.
Geographic expansion
The launch is paired with Robinhood's broadest geographic push to date. Canadian residents gained access on Canada Day, following the WonderFi acquisition, with zero trading fees until end of September. Singapore's MAS has awarded Robinhood Singapore a CMS licence. The firm is also planning a UK crypto launch.
Robinhood serves nearly 28 million customers across 38 countries. HOOD closed up more than 8% on Wednesday at $108.65 — nearly 20% gains over the past month, though still more than 29% off its 52-week high.
Key Takeaways On-chain monitoring platform Arkham Intelligence detected that Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss moved approximately $60M in Bitcoin and $7M in Ethereum to Gemini exchange hot wallets on July 1, 2026. Similar transfer activity occurred in March ($130M) and June ($67.5M), with Arkham suggesting these movements preceded previous sales. Banking giant Citigroup slashed its one-year price projection for Bitcoin from $112,000 down to $82,000, while reducing its Ethereum forecast from $3,175 to $2,240. Bitcoin touched a 24-hour low of $57,747, with market watchers cautioning that a break below critical support could trigger a decline toward $50,000; Ethereum recorded its weakest monthly closure since 2023. Blockchain analyst Darkfost highlighted that Bitcoin’s net supply ratio reached -0.075, a metric that historically signals potential accumulation zones near market cycle lows. Blockchain surveillance platform Arkham Intelligence disclosed on July 1, 2026, that the Winklevoss twins—Cameron and Tyler—relocated approximately $60 million in Bitcoin alongside $7 million in Ethereum from cold storage wallets to hot wallets associated with Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange they founded. According to Arkham, this transfer pattern mirrors previous movements that preceded liquidation events.
THE WINKLEVOSS TWINS ARE SELLING BITCOIN
The Winklevoss Twins just moved $60M of BTC to Gemini, and $7M of ETH. This activity pattern matches usual selling patterns (custody > hot wallet).
The Winklevosses still hold over $300M of BTC. They made ~$1.7 Billion from Bitcoin since… pic.twitter.com/OXtxB2QBqO
— Arkham (@arkham) July 1, 2026
This isn’t the first time the brothers have executed such transactions. Earlier in June, they moved $67.5 million worth of Bitcoin to Gemini hot wallets. Prior to that, in March, the transfer totaled $130 million. Arkham’s analysis indicates that despite these substantial movements, the Winklevoss brothers maintain a Bitcoin portfolio exceeding $300 million in value, with cumulative Bitcoin gains estimated at approximately $1.7 billion since they began accumulating in 2015.
However, it’s important to recognize that transferring cryptocurrency from cold storage to exchange hot wallets doesn’t automatically signal an impending sale. Institutional holders and high-net-worth individuals frequently move digital assets for various operational purposes, including portfolio rebalancing, security protocol updates, exchange infrastructure management, or enhanced liquidity positioning. As of now, no actual sale has been verified.
Bitcoin Struggles Under Market Pressure The wallet movements occurred while Bitcoin was experiencing notable downward momentum. The leading cryptocurrency declined to an intraday bottom of $57,747 over the preceding 24-hour period and hovered around $58,600 during reporting time. Although trading volume increased by 9%, the cryptocurrency market continued to face headwinds following $4.5 billion in cumulative net withdrawals from Bitcoin exchange-traded funds throughout June, leaving many institutional participants hesitant.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Market analyst Ted Pillows observed that sellers maintain market control, highlighting that the Coinbase Bitcoin premium indicator has reached its lowest level during the current market cycle. Pillows cautioned that should Bitcoin fail to defend the critical support range between $57,000 and $58,000, downside risk could extend toward the $50,000 threshold.
Meanwhile, global financial institution Citigroup revised its cryptocurrency price projections downward. The bank adjusted its 12-month Bitcoin price target from $112,000 to $82,000, while simultaneously reducing its Ethereum outlook from $3,175 to $2,240.
Ethereum Weakness and Blockchain Data Analysis Ethereum traded approximately 1% lower at $1,572, fluctuating within a daily range bounded by $1,549 and $1,600. Technical analyst Cheds Trading emphasized that Ethereum closed the previous month at its lowest level since 2023. The monthly candlestick formation displayed a Red Marubozu pattern, which technical traders generally interpret as a bearish continuation indicator.
Despite prevailing negative price momentum, certain blockchain metrics presented a more nuanced perspective. Cryptocurrency analyst Darkfost highlighted that Bitcoin’s net supply ratio—calculated using unspent transaction output data—declined to -0.075. According to Darkfost, this threshold has historically coincided with strategic accumulation opportunities, with the most recent occurrence observed near the conclusion of the 2022 bear market cycle.
Darkfost acknowledged that Bitcoin might experience additional downside movement before accumulation-phase buyers become active participants. Nevertheless, the current reading indicates that selling pressure may be approaching exhaustion.
Market observer Cryptollica presented a comparable analysis regarding Ethereum, emphasizing that the critical question centers on whether existing market structure can maintain support levels. Should these levels hold, the current environment of diminished investor confidence could ultimately establish conditions favorable for a price recovery.
Key Highlights New non-profit organization Ethereum Institutional debuts to accelerate institutional ETH adoption BitMine, Sharplink, and Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin provide funding for the initiative Beacon Chain staking deposits surge to unprecedented levels, reducing available liquid supply ETH price action confined to $1,500–$1,610 range, struggling below critical moving average resistance Technical analyst Ali Charts identifies $1,100 as crucial historical support with potential targets at $3,000 and $5,000 Ethereum is experiencing renewed institutional interest even as its price continues to face downward pressure. The digital asset is currently confined within a $1,500 to $1,610 trading range, struggling to break through multiple moving average resistance zones.
Ethereum (ETH) Price This week marked the debut of Ethereum Institutional, a newly established non-profit organization. The initiative originated from the Enterprise team within the Ethereum Foundation and received financial backing from BitMine and Sharplink—both Bitcoin treasury firms—alongside Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin.
The mission of this organization centers on bridging the gap between Ethereum’s ecosystem builders—including developers and infrastructure providers—and traditional financial institutions such as banks and asset management firms. The non-profit operates across five strategic pillars: education initiatives, institutional intelligence gathering, marketing campaigns, industry discovery programs, and event coordination.
This development follows closely behind the recent introduction of Ethlabs, another non-profit entity dedicated to advancing research and development efforts aimed at expanding Ethereum’s institutional capabilities. Both organizations share the same funding sources.
These launches arrive amid a period of significant personnel changes at the Ethereum Foundation. Notable departures include former executive directors Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak, along with Tim Beiko and several other key figures. The Foundation has also implemented substantial restructuring, reducing its workforce by 20% and slashing its budget by 40%.
Beacon Chain Staking Reaches Unprecedented Heights While price performance remains subdued, on-chain metrics paint a more optimistic picture. ETH staking deposits flowing into the Beacon Chain continue their upward trajectory, approaching all-time high levels. Increased staking activity directly translates to reduced liquid supply circulating on exchanges.
The Ethereum staking rate just broke above 32.8%, a fresh all-time high! 📈
Zoom out to 90 days and the trend is impossible to miss.
Straight up and to the right
🔹 Staking rate: 31.5% (early April) → 32.8% today
🔹 Climbing relentlessly through every dip and shakeout
🔹 Now… pic.twitter.com/xw5uxl0nuV
— Leon Waidmann (@LeonWaidmann) July 1, 2026
This dynamic carries significant implications, as liquid supply represents the most accessible pool for sellers during periods of market volatility. Should demand strengthen while liquid supply remains constrained, any subsequent price recovery could demonstrate greater intensity than typical market movements.
Recent liquidation data reveals ETH generated $100.3 million in total liquidations during a 24-hour trading window. Short position liquidations accounted for $67.2 million of this figure following a 3.5% price increase.
Technical Analysis and Critical Price Zones Examining the daily timeframe, Ethereum managed to break above a descending trendline in the vicinity of $1,601. Despite this technical achievement, the asset remains trapped beneath its 20-, 50-, and 100-day exponential moving averages, which form a resistance cluster spanning from $1,665 to $1,994.
The Relative Strength Index currently registers approximately 42. Near-term resistance barriers are positioned at $1,665, $1,741, and $1,806. Conversely, support zones beneath the current price level can be found at $1,524 and $1,405.
Cryptocurrency analyst Ali Charts drew attention to the $1,100 price zone as a historically robust support area. In a recent analysis, Ali Charts observed that each test of this level dating back to 2021 has triggered substantial buying pressure. The analyst outlined potential upside objectives, identifying $3,000 as an intermediate target and $5,000 as the upper boundary of Ethereum’s long-term price channel, contingent upon the $1,100 support level maintaining its strength.
ETHEREUM: WHEN TO BUY?
Ethereum is approaching a historically support level that has defined its macro price action for years.
Since 2021, the $1,100 level has served as the ultimate bottom boundary of Ethereum's long-term price channel. Historically, every single test of this… https://t.co/LNkygeXO5n pic.twitter.com/1NQMcvoXYL
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) July 2, 2026
ETH was last quoted near $1,610, with the $1,741 resistance level representing the critical short-term milestone for traders to monitor.
Ethereum Institutional has launched as an independent non-profit focused on accelerating institutional adoption of Ethereum, its Layer 2 networks, applications, and wider ecosystem.
Summary
Ethereum Institutional launched as an independent non-profit focused on finance firms adopting Ethereum and Layer 2s. BitMine, SharpLink, Joe Lubin, and other contributors are anchoring funding for the new organization. The group will focus on education, intelligence, marketing, standards, requirements, and events for institutions. The group says it will act as a neutral entry point for banks, asset managers, custodians, market infrastructure firms, fintechs, and sovereign institutions.
The organization is backed by BitMine Immersion Technologies, SharpLink, Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin, and other individual and institutional contributors. It was formed after a year of institutional engagement work led by the Ethereum Foundation’s go-to-market team.
1/ Announcing Ethereum Institutional
An independent non-profit dedicated to accelerating the institutional adoption of Ethereum, its L2s, applications and overall ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/XUeViH6rrq
— Ethereum Institutional (@ethereuminsti) July 1, 2026 Ethereum Institutional said its launch comes as large financial firms study long-term platform choices for stablecoins, tokenization, and onchain market infrastructure. The group said Ethereum currently hosts about $180 billion in stablecoins on mainnet, about 60% of total stablecoin supply, and about two-thirds of tokenized real-world assets.
Ethereum Institutional sets five focus areas The Ethereum Institutional launch announcement said the group will work across five areas. These are institutional education and engagement, institutional intelligence, ETH and ecosystem marketing, industry discovery and requirements, and institutional events.
The organization said it has built more than 500 institutional relationships across banks, asset managers, sovereign institutions, custodians, and market infrastructure providers. It also pointed to its Institutional Ethereum Forum, which brought together more than 150 senior executives and digital asset leaders from institutions representing about $250 trillion in combined assets under management.
Ethereum Institutional plans to cover New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore from launch. It also plans to expand into Zurich, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi, with dedicated institutional leads in those markets.
BitMine, SharpLink and Lubin back the group Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine, said, “Financial institutions are making infrastructure decisions today that will shape capital markets for decades, and Ethereum is increasingly at the center of those conversations.” He said Ethereum Institutional gives firms a trusted place to engage with the ecosystem.
Joe Lubin said Ethereum has become infrastructure for “decentralized, verifiable, programmable trust.” He added that traditional finance is already moving onto Ethereum’s rails and that Ethereum Institutional will help institutions engage at scale.
“Ethereum’s credible neutrality is one of its greatest strengths, but neutrality without representation can often be seen as silence,” said David Walsh, executive director of Ethereum Institutional.
He said the group will give financial leaders a direct counterpart that can provide clear answers.
Launch follows Ethlabs formation The launch follows another Ethereum-focused non-profit announced last week. As previously reported, Ethereum recruited former Foundation researchers through Ethlabs, a research group backed by Joe Lubin, BitMine, SharpLink, and other ecosystem contributors. Ethlabs focuses on scaling, settlement, interoperability, and infrastructure for institutional use.
The two groups have different roles. Ethlabs focuses on research and protocol work, while Ethereum Institutional focuses on market engagement and institutional needs. Both groups arrive as Ethereum’s ecosystem shifts more work outside the Ethereum Foundation.
As crypto.news reported, the Ethereum Foundation laid off 20% of its workforce in June as part of a wider reorganization. The foundation said the changes were tied to its long-term roadmap and internal structure.
Institutional Ethereum activity keeps growing The new group arrives as Ethereum treasury firms continue to buy ETH despite weak market conditions. Previously,BitMine bought another $90 million in ETH, lifting its holdings close to 4.7% of Ethereum’s supply. BitMine has said it aims to reach 5% of total ETH supply.
SharpLink has also kept adding ETH. SharpLink bought another $62.4 million worth of Ether after ending an eight-month buying pause, as reported. The company has also backed Ethlabs alongside BitMine and Lubin.
Tokenized asset growth adds another reason institutions are watching Ethereum. Crypto.news reported thattokenized real-world assets reached about $34 billion, with Ethereum carrying about 60% of that value. Ethereum Institutional will now try to turn that market position into a clearer path for large financial firms building onchain.
Robinhood has launched its Ethereum Layer 2 mainnet alongside tokenized stock trading and perpetual futures, expanding its blockchain based financial services beyond the testnet stage.
Summary
Robinhood has launched its Ethereum Layer 2 mainnet with tokenized stocks and decentralized finance features. Eligible users in more than 120 countries can trade tokenized stocks through Robinhood Wallet on supported decentralized exchanges. Robinhood Wallet now offers perpetual futures through Lighter, with eligible users earning LIT token rewards based on trading activity. According to an announcement during the company’s “The World is Flat” event in London, Robinhood has unveiled the public mainnet of Robinhood Chain, an Ethereum Layer 2 network built with Arbitrum technology, while introducing tokenized stocks and decentralized perpetual futures trading as part of its latest international product rollout.
Speaking during the launch, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev and other executives described the announcement as the company’s most ambitious global expansion and product strategy so far, with a focus on combining traditional financial products with decentralized finance infrastructure.
Robinhood Chain moves from testnet to mainnet Robinhood Chain has been launched as a permissionless, AI native Ethereum Layer 2 network designed for real world assets. Built using Arbitrum’s technology stack to institutional standards, the network includes integrations with Alchemy, BitGo, and Chainlink, while also supporting built in DeFi features such as lending and borrowing.
The company said Uniswap will deploy a dedicated automated market maker as the chain’s primary public liquidity protocol, while Pleiades will launch its own automated market maker to serve as the primary proprietary trading venue.
The mainnet launch follows Robinhood Chain’s public testnet debut in February. At the time, Tenev said the network processed more than four million transactions during its first week, with developers already experimenting with tokenized stock assets and decentralized financial applications. The testnet was built to let developers evaluate tools and infrastructure before the production rollout.
Tokenized stocks and perpetual futures expand offering Alongside the blockchain launch, Robinhood introduced a new version of Stock Tokens that allows eligible users to trade tokenized equities around the clock directly on Robinhood Chain. According to the company’s disclosures, the tokens can also be used as collateral across decentralized finance applications and deployed into lending pools.
Robinhood said the new Stock Tokens are tokenized debt securities issued by Robinhood Assets (Jersey) Limited. While they provide economic exposure to the underlying shares, holders do not receive legal ownership or beneficial rights in the underlying stocks.
Eligible users in more than 120 countries can access the assets through Robinhood Wallet, with spot trading available on decentralized exchanges including Uniswap, Rialto, Lighter, 1inch and Arcus, which was developed by the team behind dYdX. The company said the product is unavailable to users in the United States and remains restricted in several other jurisdictions, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and sanctioned regions.
Robinhood also renamed its earlier tokenized equity product as Classic Stock Tokens. Those assets, first introduced during the company’s Cannes event in June 2025, will continue to operate inside the Robinhood Europe app after the launch of the new on chain version.
Attention also turned to Robinhood Wallet, which now offers eligible users in selected jurisdictions access to perpetual futures through Ethereum-based decentralized exchange Lighter. According to the company’s disclosures, the product is not available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and other restricted markets.
Robinhood said Lighter has allocated $11 million worth of its native LIT tokens to the Robinhood community. Eligible users will earn trading points on perpetual futures transactions that convert into LIT tokens, with trades executed through Robinhood Wallet receiving double the points compared with trades placed directly through Lighter’s web application.
Ethereum Institutional has launched publicly as an independent non-profit — the dedicated institutional front door for the Ethereum ecosystem. The organization consolidates a year of institutional engagement work previously run by the Ethereum Foundation's go-to-market team, now housed in an independent entity with a sharper commercial mission and long-term funding.
Bitmine (NYSE: BMNR), Sharplink (NASDAQ: SBET), and Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin are anchoring the funding. The board comprises Thomas Lee (Chairman, Bitmine), Joseph Chalom (CEO, Sharplink), and David Walsh (Executive Director, Ethereum Institutional).
The institutional moment
The launch is explicitly timed to the window in which financial institutions are making foundational platform decisions about tokenization, stablecoins, and onchain market infrastructure — decisions that participants argue will shape capital markets for decades.
"Ethereum's credible neutrality is one of its greatest strengths, but neutrality without representation can often be seen as silence," said David Walsh. "The Ethereum ecosystem needs a credible, independent counterpart institutions can engage with directly."
Ethereum currently hosts approximately $180 billion in stablecoins on mainnet — roughly 60% of total stablecoin supply — and around two-thirds of all tokenized real-world assets. Competing ecosystems have made institutional adoption their explicit commercial priority.
What the organization does
Five focus areas from day one: Institutional Education and Engagement, Institutional Intelligence, ETH and Ecosystem Marketing, Standards and Best Practices, and Institutional Events.
Geographic coverage expands from New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore into Zurich, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi, with dedicated institutional leads embedded in each region.
The organization is launching with claimed momentum: 500+ institutional relationships covering Tier-1 banks, top-tier asset managers, sovereign institutions, custodians, and market infrastructure providers. The Institutional Ethereum Forum has convened 150+ senior executives and Heads of Digital Assets from institutions representing roughly $250 trillion in combined AUM.
Relationship to Ethlabs
This is the second major independent Ethereum steward organization unveiled in a week, alongside Ethlabs — the R&D lab also founded by former Ethereum Foundation leaders. The two are positioned as complementary: Ethlabs advancing protocol-layer innovation, Ethereum Institutional serving as the institutional-facing counterpart from evaluation through deployment at scale.
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins positions it as a scarce digital asset with strong institutional support and ETF availability Ethereum functions as the foundation for decentralized finance, stablecoin infrastructure, and real-world asset tokenization via smart contracts The launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs simplified crypto access for mainstream investors seeking exposure without custody concerns Ethereum’s proof-of-stake transition dramatically reduced environmental impact while introducing staking yield opportunities Growing numbers of investors diversify across both assets, leveraging Bitcoin’s stability alongside Ethereum’s technological upside Heading into 2026, Bitcoin and Ethereum continue their reign as cryptocurrency’s leading assets — yet each presents distinctly different investment propositions.
Why Bitcoin Functions as Digital Gold Bitcoin operates under a rigidly enforced supply ceiling of 21 million coins. This programmatic scarcity has established it as one of the most limited assets across global financial markets.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Institutional adoption has accelerated significantly. Corporate treasuries, retirement funds, and major investment firms now allocate capital to Bitcoin. The introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs removed technical barriers, enabling conventional investors to participate without direct blockchain interaction.
Financial experts routinely draw comparisons between Bitcoin and precious metals. Should this analogy prove accurate, sustained institutional demand may provide ongoing price support.
Bitcoin encounters minimal competition within its niche. No alternative cryptocurrency has mounted a credible challenge to its status as the preeminent digital store of value.
For risk-averse portfolios, this unambiguous positioning and institutional validation establish Bitcoin as the more conservative option between the two.
Why Ethereum Represents Infrastructure Investment Ethereum derives value from network utilization. The platform underpins decentralized financial protocols, stablecoin issuance, tokenized securities, and countless developer-built applications spanning the globe.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Each transaction processed across these applications generates network fees. Increased usage directly correlates with heightened demand for Ethereum.
The transition to proof-of-stake slashed Ethereum’s environmental footprint. This upgrade simultaneously enabled staking mechanisms, permitting holders to generate yield by committing coins to network security operations.
Traditional financial institutions now pilot blockchain-based instruments including digital bonds and tokenized investment vehicles. Ethereum consistently ranks among the preferred platforms for these institutional experiments.
Advocates contend Ethereum should be evaluated as foundational technology rather than merely a speculative token. This perspective positions it in an entirely separate category from Bitcoin’s value proposition.
Ethereum confronts stiffer competition than Bitcoin does. Rival platforms such as Solana actively court developers and users seeking alternatives.
Bitcoin experiences no comparable competitive pressure. Its digital gold narrative remains essentially unchallenged across the cryptocurrency landscape.
Nevertheless, both assets have attracted substantial institutional investment. Both now feature prominently in corporate strategy discussions and regulatory policy debates.
Many sophisticated investors have abandoned the either-or framework. They maintain positions in both, deploying Bitcoin for capital preservation and Ethereum for exposure to blockchain infrastructure growth.
As of mid-2026, Bitcoin maintains superior standing regarding institutional legitimacy. Ethereum commands the largest total value locked across decentralized finance protocols compared to all competing blockchain platforms, based on current available metrics.
Key Highlights Ethereum Institutional debuted Wednesday with backing from Joe Lubin, BitMine, and SharpLink to strengthen ties with traditional financial institutions Standard Chartered views the initiative as solving a critical communication barrier between Ethereum and Wall Street Ethereum commands nearly 58% of tokenized real-world assets and approximately half of the $311 billion stablecoin sector The Ethereum Foundation reduced its staff by 20% this year following leadership changes and governance scrutiny Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick reaffirmed his $4,000 ETH forecast for late 2026 A freshly established nonprofit organization named Ethereum Institutional made its debut Wednesday, receiving support from Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin alongside ETH treasury entities BitMine Immersion Technologies and SharpLink.
LATEST: ⚡️ Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin, BitMine and SharpLink have launched Ethereum Institutional, a nonprofit aimed at accelerating the blockchain's adoption among banks and asset managers. pic.twitter.com/89blgTc2LI
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) July 1, 2026
The entity aims to function as a bridge connecting the Ethereum network with global financial powerhouses including banks, asset management firms, and portfolio managers.
According to its official announcement, the organization identified that Ethereum has been missing “a credible, independent front door” for meaningful institutional engagement. Operations will span major financial centers including New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
LATEST: ⚡️ The Ethereum Foundation published a policy guide arguing Ethereum's decentralized design makes it fit for government use cases like digital identity, public records, and asset tokenization. pic.twitter.com/Q8Ujl7HNPG
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) July 2, 2026
Standard Chartered expressed strong support for the initiative, characterizing it as a solution to the longstanding communication disconnect between Ethereum and prominent financial institutions.
“The aim is to ensure Ethereum is well represented in institutional conversations,” a bank representative told CoinDesk.
Geoff Kendrick, an analyst at Standard Chartered, noted that this launch, combined with the previous introduction of Ethlabs, carries “direct positive implications” for Ethereum’s infrastructure, including layer 1, layer 2 solutions, and DeFi protocols.
Kendrick maintained his forecast of $4,000 for ETH by the conclusion of 2026 and $40,000 by the end of 2030.
The Strategic Timing Behind This Move Ethereum presently commands nearly 58% of the tokenized real-world asset marketplace, based on Token Terminal data. The network also represents approximately half of the $311 billion stablecoin ecosystem, according to DeFiLlama figures.
Even with this market leadership, competing blockchain platforms are intensifying their campaigns to secure institutional participants. Ethereum Institutional emerges as a strategic counter to this competitive landscape.
ETH was changing hands near $1,620 on Wednesday, representing a significant decline from levels above $4,000 observed as recently as October 27. Both BitMine and SharpLink are currently experiencing unrealized losses on their ETH positions.
Ethereum Foundation Changes Provide Broader Picture This development arrives amid a transitional phase for the Ethereum Foundation. The organization eliminated approximately 20% of its staff this year while experiencing around 19 departures, including co-executive director Hsiao-Wei Wang.
The foundation has encountered scrutiny regarding transparency practices, governance structures, and Ether’s market trajectory.
In reaction, independent entities have emerged to fill gaps. Ethlabs, a nonprofit dedicated to Ethereum scalability research, debuted in June with backing from the same supporters behind Ethereum Institutional.
Aztec Labs CEO Joe Andrews noted the ecosystem now benefits from three nonprofit organizations championing Ethereum adoption. He characterized the institutional emphasis as a logical progression for what he termed “the only credible option” for worldwide settlement.
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan praised the development on X, writing: “It’s kind of awesome to watch a decentralized system heal itself.”
Vivek Raman from Etherealize interpreted it as validation of Ethereum’s decentralized framework, emphasizing the network is “built by independent nodes” rather than dependent on any singular organization.
According to 21shares analysis, present ETH valuations have not yet incorporated the expanding institutional interest.
Ethereum traded near $1,615 on July 2 as buyers tried to stabilize the market after weeks of pressure.
Summary
Ethereum trades near $1,615 as buyers defend support while ETF flows turn positive again. Analysts watch $1,700 to $1,800 as the recovery zone needed for stronger confirmation next move. Staking rate above 33% suggests more ETH is locked despite weak short-term price action. ETH remains close to the lower end of its recent range, but new ETF inflows and stronger staking activity have added fresh data points for traders watching a recovery attempt.
The token was up 2.49% over 24 hours, with a daily range between $1,564.82 and $1,637.22, according to crypto.news price data. Ethereum’s market cap stood near $194.87 billion, while 24-hour trading volume was about $10.81 billion.
Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $14.895 million in net inflows on July 1, while BlackRock’s ETHA posted the largest single-day inflow at $36.639 million, according to SoSoValue. The shift came after a period in which ETF outflows weighed on ETH demand and kept traders focused on the $1,500 support region.
Ethereum spot ETF net inflow, source: SoSoValue Ethereum price holds near lower range Ethereum’s short-term setup remains cautious. The recent price trend has been mostly sideways near the lower range, with ETH holding around $1,580 to $1,650. The market still needs a move above the $1,700 to $1,800 area to show stronger recovery momentum.
Recently, Ethereum had remained pinned near the $1,500 support zone after quarter-end selling, whale distribution, and weak institutional flows. That report said analysts were watching $1,700 as a key recovery level, while a loss of $1,500 could open another move lower.
The technical picture shows early improvement, but not a full trend reversal. The MACD histogram is positive near 7.60, while the MACD line is around minus 66.92 and above the signal line near minus 74.52. That points to a bullish crossover and weaker bearish momentum, but both lines remain below zero.
Ethereum (ETH) price chart, source: crypto.news The RSI is near 40.46 and above its moving average around 36.50. This shows some recovery in momentum, but the reading remains below 50. Buyers need a stronger RSI move and a price reclaim of $1,700 to $1,800 before the setup turns more constructive.
ETF inflows return after weeks of pressure ETF flows remain central to ETH’s short-term outlook. Earlier pressure came from repeated outflows across U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs. Crypto.news previously reported that funds saw $273 million in net outflows during the week ending June 26, with BlackRock’s ETHA accounting for $236 million of withdrawals.
The latest positive daily flow gives bulls some relief, but one day of inflows does not erase the wider weakness. ETF demand matters because these products can create spot buying pressure when flows are positive. When flows reverse, fund managers may need to redeem underlying ETH, adding supply to the market.
Ethereum has underperformed during this period because its ETF market is smaller than Bitcoin’s. Ethereum ETF outflows have been more painful in relative terms because the ETH ETF complex is much smaller than the Bitcoin ETF market.
That makes the July 1 inflow important for sentiment. A steady run of inflows would support the case for ETH to retest $1,700. If inflows fade again, traders may keep treating rallies as weak rebounds inside a broader downtrend.
Staking rate reaches record level On-chain data adds a different signal. CryptoQuant analyst EgyHash said Ethereum’s staking rate has crossed 33% for the first time, reaching about 33.06%. The analyst described the trend as a sign that long-term holders continue locking ETH despite price weakness.
EgyHash noted that the staking rate has climbed steadily since the Merge, while ETH price has moved through several bull and bear phases. The analyst said this shows many holders prefer to keep ETH staked rather than sell during weak market periods.
Ethereum (ETH) staking rate, source: CryptoQuant analyst EgyHash A higher staking rate can reduce liquid supply available on exchanges. That may support price if demand returns, because fewer coins are immediately available for sale. Still, the analyst warned that “staking growth alone does not guarantee an immediate price recovery.”
This makes staking a medium-term support factor rather than a short-term trigger. It can help tighten supply, but ETH still needs demand from ETFs, spot buyers, treasury firms, and onchain users to produce a stronger recovery.
Corporate buyers keep accumulating ETH Corporate treasury demand remains active despite weak price action. As previously reported, SharpLink bought another 10,000 ETH for $16.1 million, lifting its holdings to 886,725 ETH. The purchase came as Ethereum headed toward a rare third straight quarterly loss.
BitMine has also expanded its Ethereum treasury. Moreover, BitMine added 27,084 ETH in one week, raising its holdings to more than 5.7 million ETH, or about 4.7% of circulating supply.
The institutional push is also expanding beyond treasury buys. Earlier today, crypto.news reported that Ethereum Institutional launched with backing from BitMine, SharpLink and Joe Lubin to support adoption by banks, asset managers, custodians, and other financial firms.
The corporate buying has not yet changed the short-term trend. Whale selling, ETF weakness, and broader risk-off trading have kept ETH below the $1,700 to $1,800 recovery band. Still, these purchases show some institutions continue to add ETH at lower prices.
Ali Charts said ETH is approaching a long-term support area near $1,100, a level he described as the lower boundary of a multi-year channel. He pointed to $3,000 as a mid-range target and $5,000 as a macro ceiling if the lower channel holds.
ETHEREUM: WHEN TO BUY?
Ethereum is approaching a historically support level that has defined its macro price action for years.
Since 2021, the $1,100 level has served as the ultimate bottom boundary of Ethereum's long-term price channel. Historically, every single test of this… https://t.co/LNkygeXO5n pic.twitter.com/1NQMcvoXYL
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) July 2, 2026 Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Solana has quietly become one of the more serious institutional blockchain platforms on the market, and the numbers are starting to reflect that. The total value of real-world assets tokenized on Solana reached approximately $3.3 billion by early July 2026, up from around $2.5 billion in April and $2.8 billion in May. That kind of consistent monthly climb does not happen by accident.
Alongside that RWA growth, the stablecoin supply on Solana crossed $16 billion, driven primarily by Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT.
Big names are choosing Solana for real financial infrastructure The first half of 2026 brought a wave of institutional partnerships that would have seemed ambitious to predict even twelve months earlier. B2C2, one of the larger crypto market makers operating in institutional circles, designated Solana as its primary network for stablecoin settlements.
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SoFi, the US-based financial services company, launched enterprise banking services built on the Solana blockchain during the same period.
Shinhan Card, one of South Korea’s largest card issuers, also signed a memorandum of understanding focused on developing stablecoin payment solutions on Solana.
Solana captured 97% of tokenized equity trading volume Perhaps the single most striking data point from this period: Solana captured 97% of cumulative on-chain tokenized equities spot trading volume by May 2026.
The Solana Foundation also rolled out new security infrastructure during this period, including the STRIDE initiative, which focuses on strengthening the network’s defenses against systemic risks. STRIDE, alongside improved cross-network DeFi recovery tools, signals that Solana is building the compliance and risk management layer that regulated financial entities require before committing serious capital.
What this means for investors watching the RWA space Solana’s $3.3 billion in RWA value by July 2026 positions it as a top-tier venue in that market, competing directly with Ethereum and BNB Chain for institutional flows.
For investors, the stablecoin supply figure is arguably the more actionable signal. A $16 billion stablecoin supply on Solana means there is substantial liquidity available for DeFi protocols, institutional desks, and payment rails operating on the chain.
Market analysts urge caution, suggesting that current metrics should be understood as peaks rather than a stable status quo. Ethereum remains the default institutional blockchain for many legacy finance entrants, and BNB Chain is aggressively courting similar RWA and payment partnerships in Asian markets.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, and other major crypto surged over the past 24 hours. This comes as investors responded to Wall Street’s forecasts on slowing nonfarm payrolls, indicating a cooling labor market and Fed rate cut odds.
Bitcoin climbed more than 4% to hit a 24-hour high of $61,223 after weaker-than-expected ADP private payroll data and lower oil prices eased inflation concerns. The moves came amid broader market optimism, the US-Iran peace talks, and a sharp fall in ISM Manufacturing PMI prices.
Wall Street Giants Estimate Slowing US Nonfarm Payrolls The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release June’s US nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate on July 2. This jobs data release could significantly impact Bitcoin price and the crypto market direction.
Wall Street economists estimated that Nonfarm payrolls would come in at 110K in May, reinforcing signs of slowing labor market conditions. Notably, US jobs data has dropped from 172K last month, which could boost hopes of a Fed rate cut this year.
Citigroup estimated nonfarm payrolls at more than 25K while Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered projected 130K. Meanwhile, JPMorgan estimated jobs data to come in at 125K, while BofA, HSBC and Capital Economics’ forecasts are in line with economists.
Wall Street’s Nonfarm Payrolls Estimate. Source: LiveSquawk Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is projected to hold steady at 4.3%. Average hourly earnings are also expected to rise 0.3% for the month, causing the annual rate to slip from 3.6% to 3.4%.
Bitcoin, ETH, and XRP Rise amid Fed Rate Cut Hopes Bitcoin, ETH, and XRP rebounded after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s comments. He said inflation expectations had eased over the past month, signaling there was no urgency to hike rates.
Meanwhile, CME FedWatch Tool data showed nearly 50% probability of a Fed rate hike in September. Signs of progress in indirect US-Iran talks pushed oil prices lower and eased inflation concerns, causing Bitcoin to climb above $61K.
The US dollar index (DXY) fell to 101.12 on Thursday, with investors closely watching the US nonfarm payrolls report. Also, the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.49%, maintaining recent gains.
Bitcoin price has pared some gains over the past few hours, with the price currently trading at $60,095. The 24-hour low and high are $58,263 and $61,223, respectively. Top altcoins ETH and XRP are trading at $1,615 and $1.05, respectively.
Leading cryptocurrencies ticked higher on Wednesday, while stocks retreated, as Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh called inflation “too high.”
Crypto Market LiftsBitcoin broke past $61,000 in the evening, only to get rejected and drop back to $59,000. With trading volume spiking 11% over the past day, the struggle between bulls and bears continued.
Ethereum progressed to the mid-$1,600s before a pullback, while XRP and Dogecoin were also among the gainers.
Over $450 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with $279 million in short positions wiped out, according to Coinglass data.
Bitcoin’s open interest spiked 1.80% over the last 24 hours. BTC’s taker buy volume exceeded the sell volume over the last 24 hours, indicating a bullish sentiment in the market.
Retail and whale derivatives traders on Binance also remained bullish on the apex cryptocurrency.
Top Gainers (24 Hours)
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.07 trillion, following an increase of 2.78% over the last 24 hours.
Stock Market Cools DownStocks eased on Wednesday after a recent surge in gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 13.96 points, or 0.03%, to close at 52,305.24. The S&P 500 fell 0.22% to end at 7,483.23, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slid 0.66% to close at 26,040.03.
Fed Chair Warsh said at an international conference that "prices are too high," but declined to comment on the central bank’s likely move in the July meeting.
The CME Group’s FedWatch tool showed markets pricing a 71% likelihood of the Fed keeping the rates unchanged in July, but nearly a 50% chance of a rate hike in September.
Seller Fatigue Setting In?Ali Martinez, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, declared that the cryptocurrency market has reached its bottom, citing “buy” signals on the TD Sequential indicator for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana.
The monthly chart suggests a coordinated macro reversal setup,” the analyst added. “Historically, when multiple assets lock in concurrent monthly buy signals, it indicates seller fatigue and a high probability of a long-term market bottom.”
Rekt Capital, another popular chartist, noted that Bitcoin’s monthly close below the 50-month exponential moving average, currently around $63,000, aligns with patterns observed in prior cycles,
“Generally, prices tends to lose the 50-Month EMA and then turn it into new resistance before additional downside over time,” the analyst said.
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Robinhood Taps Chainlink for Official Oracle InfrastructureRobinhood has formally adopted Chainlink as the official data and cross-chain oracle infrastructure for Robinhood Chain, its newly launched Ethereum Layer 2 network. The integration covers Robinhood Chain and all Robinhood-issued assets, including Stock Tokens like NVDA, GOOG, and AAPL. The announcement came alongside the public mainnet launch of Robinhood Chain, an Ethereum Layer 2 network built using Arbitrum's technology stack.
Robinhood Chain is an Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain built on Arbitrum technology, designed to support tokenized real-world assets and onchain financial services. The company described Robinhood Chain as permissionless, AI-native, and purpose-built for real-world assets, with day-one partners including Uniswap, Pleiades, Alchemy, BitGo, and Chainlink.
What Chainlink Brings to the NetworkChainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), Data Streams, and Data Feeds are now live on Robinhood Chain mainnet from day one, delivering verifiable data for tokenized real-world assets and unlocking secure interoperability across the multi-chain ecosystem. Chainlink provides data feeds, interoperability tools, and compliance standards needed for advanced tokenization use cases. Oracles connect smart contracts to external data sources, which is essential for applications like tokenized stocks that require real-time pricing data from traditional markets.
Robinhood also launched new Stock Tokens, enabling eligible users to trade 24/7 directly on Robinhood Chain, as well as deploy those assets into lending pools and use them as trading collateral across the broader DeFi ecosystem. With the mainnet now live, Robinhood Wallet users in more than 120 countries can trade Stock Tokens, though availability varies depending on local regulations.
Gaetan Thabot, Director of Product at Robinhood Crypto, said the company chose Chainlink because its institutional-grade security and reliability are already trusted by the world's largest financial institutions to scale onchain ecosystems.
Sources:
PR Newswire: Robinhood Chain Launches and Adopts Chainlink
The Block: Robinhood Chain Goes Live on Mainnet
FinanceFeeds: Robinhood Opens 24/7 Stock Token Trading on Its New Layer 2 Chain
Key Takeaways Bitcoin leads the pack as the most reliable long-term hold thanks to its limited supply and institutional backing Ethereum dominates smart contract platforms, DeFi applications, and stablecoin infrastructure Solana delivers exceptional speed and affordability while capturing growing DEX market share Chainlink serves as critical infrastructure by bridging smart contracts with off-chain data sources Sui presents a mid-cap opportunity with elevated risk but potentially significant returns Market observers have identified five digital currencies as the most compelling long-term investment opportunities as we move deeper into 2026. These selections prioritize network fundamentals, real-world utility, and adoption metrics over speculative price movements.
Bitcoin Bitcoin continues to hold its position as the premier long-term cryptocurrency investment. With a hard-coded maximum supply of 21 million coins, it represents the most scarce major digital asset available.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price The introduction of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds has simplified institutional access to the asset. Meanwhile, an increasing number of corporations are adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, further integrating it into traditional financial systems.
Market analysts highlight Bitcoin as presenting the most favorable risk-to-reward profile across the entire cryptocurrency landscape. It serves as the cornerstone for any diversified digital asset strategy.
Experts recommend allocating 35 percent of a crypto portfolio to Bitcoin, representing the highest weighting among these five selections.
Ethereum Ethereum functions as the infrastructure layer for much of the cryptocurrency sector. The network powers thousands of decentralized applications and maintains the industry’s most robust DeFi ecosystem.
The Ethereum blockchain processes billions of dollars in stablecoin transactions. Its role in tokenizing traditional assets such as securities and property continues to expand.
While facing competition from emerging blockchains, Ethereum maintains unmatched developer engagement. This sustained developer interest represents a critical competitive advantage for its long-term prospects.
A 25 percent portfolio allocation to Ethereum is recommended for long-term holders.
Solana Solana stands out for its high-performance capabilities and minimal transaction costs. These characteristics have positioned it as a preferred platform for DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, payment systems, and mainstream applications.
Both stablecoin transaction volume and decentralized exchange activity on Solana have shown consistent upward trends. The network has also attracted growing institutional participation.
Analysts suggest a 20 percent allocation to Solana, positioning it as a high-growth blockchain with an increasingly mature ecosystem.
Chainlink Chainlink occupies a unique position among these recommendations. Instead of competing for transaction throughput, it provides critical infrastructure enabling smart contracts to interact with external data sources.
Its oracle technology is considered fundamental to the DeFi sector’s functionality. The platform’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol has gained traction among institutions exploring asset tokenization.
Building a Balanced Portfolio The recommended allocation distributes capital as follows: 35 percent Bitcoin, 25 percent Ethereum, 20 percent Solana, 10 percent Chainlink, and 10 percent Sui.
This distribution aims to balance the stability offered by established networks with growth opportunities from emerging platforms.
Sui completes the portfolio as the highest-risk component. Built using the Move programming language, it prioritizes performance and scalability for gaming, DeFi, and consumer-facing applications.
While Sui’s ecosystem remains in earlier development stages, analysts acknowledge both its elevated risk profile and potential for outsized returns if user adoption accelerates.
No cryptocurrency represents a certain investment. The analysis emphasizes that diversifying across assets with proven fundamentals and practical applications may enhance long-term portfolio performance.
Cryptocurrency investments involve substantial risk and volatility remains inherent to the market. Each of these five digital assets fulfills a specific function within the broader crypto ecosystem as of July 2026.
PANews, July 2 – According to a report by The Block, Robinhood has announced a series of global expansion and product updates, including the mainnet launch of Robinhood Chain, 24/7 tokenized stock trading, perpetual contracts, and planned crypto agentic trading. Robinhood Chain is an Ethereum Layer 2 network built on the Arbitrum technology stack, with launch partners including Uniswap, Pleiades, Alchemy, BitGo, and Chainlink. Robinhood describes it as a permissionless, AI-native network purpose-built for RWAs.
Robinhood launched Stock Tokens, tokenized stocks that allow eligible users to trade 24/7 on Robinhood Chain and deploy assets into lending pools or use them as collateral for trading in the DeFi ecosystem, covering over 120 countries but not available to U.S. users. Robinhood Wallet has integrated Lighter perpetual contract trading in select regions. Lighter has committed to distributing 11 million LIT tokens to the Robinhood community, and for the first 90 days, Robinhood will cover on-chain Gas fees for Robinhood Wallet users with zero fees on perpetual contracts. Robinhood Earn is now available to U.S. users, enabling lending of the USDG stablecoin through self-custody wallets with an estimated annualized yield of around 7%, underpinned by Morpho, with other supporting partners including Steakhouse, Ethena, Spark, and Maple.
Additionally, Robinhood announced its official launch in Canada, that its Singapore subsidiary has obtained a Capital Markets Services license from the MAS, plans to launch commodities, ETFs, and forex perpetual contracts in Europe, and that crypto trading in the UK is coming soon. For the U.S. market, Robinhood plans to introduce Agentic Accounts, an agentic trading account that allows users to connect AI models to execute trading strategies.
Ethereum Institutional has arrived as a nonprofit liaison for institutional adoption.
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A new nonprofit called Ethereum Institutional debuted today, positioning itself as the Ethereum community's unified point of contact for banks, asset managers, and other TradFi players weighing onchain deployments.
Notably, the group has been funded by Ethereum treasury companies Bitmine and Sharplink alongside Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin.
1/ Announcing Ethereum Institutional
An independent non-profit dedicated to accelerating the institutional adoption of Ethereum, its L2s, applications and overall ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/XUeViH6rrq
— Ethereum Institutional (@ethereuminsti) July 1, 2026 What's the Scoop?The team: Ethereum Institutional grew out of work started inside the Ethereum Foundation's enterprise unit, and its leadership, like David Walsh and Matthew Dawson, all cut their teeth there before spinning their efforts into an independently funded organization.The mission: Rather than pitch a specific product, the new nonprofit positions itself as a neutral go-between that will field questions from institutions, translate their requirements into deployable strategies, and represent Ethereum broadly.The numbers: The team says it's already cultivated 100s of relationships with major institutions, and they hosted a forum earlier this year drawing senior digital-asset executives who are collectively responsible for many trillions of dollars' worth of assets.The timing: The launch lands roughly a week after EthLabs, another EF-spinout nonprofit focused on protocol R&D, arrived.The Case for a Second Ethereum R&D Lab on Bankless
Making ETH inevitable and scaling Ethereum to the world. Ethlabs’s co-founders sat down with Bankless to unpack the new org’s mission.
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It’s time to break up with your bank, and join the movement for a better world.
Johann Kerbrat, senior vice president and general manager, Crypto and International Robinhood (CoinDesk)Summary
Robinhood launched the public mainnet for its Layer 2 blockchain, Robinhood Chain, bringing tokenized stock trading live in more than 120 countries and introducing Robinhood Earn, a decentralized lending product offering an estimated 7% yield on USDG.The launch comes as Robinhood expands beyond its brokerage roots into crypto, tokenized assets and AI-powered trading, underscoring how the line between traditional finance and blockchain-based finance continues to blur.Robinhood (HOOD) officially launched the public mainnet for Robinhood Chain, marking the company's biggest step yet into onchain financial infrastructure as it looks to expand beyond brokerage services and into decentralized finance.
Announced during a Wednesday event in London, Robinhood Chain is a layer-2 blockchain built on Arbitrum (ARB) and designed for tokenized real-world assets and decentralized finance applications. The launch comes about four months after Robinhood began testing the network on testnet.
With the launch of the public mainnet, Robinhood's tokenized stock products are now also fully live. Stock Tokens are available through Robinhood Wallet in more than 120 countries, although availability varies by jurisdiction. The company said the goal is to allow users to trade tokenized equities around the clock and use them across decentralized finance applications, including lending protocols and as trading collateral.
Robinhood also introduced Robinhood Earn, a decentralized lending product that allows users to lend USDG, the company's dollar-backed stablecoin, through a self-custody wallet. The product offers an estimated annual percentage yield of 7%.
Beyond the Robinhood Chain ecosystem, the company announced several additional product launches and international expansion efforts. Robinhood said it is expanding perpetual futures trading in Europe to include commodities, ETFs and foreign exchange markets alongside crypto. It also plans to launch crypto trading in the U.K. and said its services are now available in Canada following its acquisition of WonderFi.
The company also unveiled Agentic Accounts for crypto, an AI-powered trading tool that will allow eligible U.S. users to connect AI models to Robinhood's trading infrastructure while retaining control over capital allocation and trading parameters.
"Decentralized finance unlocks possibilities beyond what traditional finance can offer, but historically, it has required technical expertise to navigate," Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood's senior vice president of crypto.
Robinhood's product push shows how the lines between crypto and traditional finance are continuing to blur. The brokerage has steadily expanded beyond stocks and spot crypto trading into tokenized equities, derivatives and event contracts, better known as prediction markets. That strategy fits into the race for the "everything exchange" to host all kinds of trading and financial activity under one roof, increasingly on top of blockchain rails.
At the same time, the company also said last month it would lay off 10% of its workforce, some 290 employees, to streamline its organization and management structure.
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Building 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.
A new independent non-profit called Ethereum Institutional launched on 01 July with a stated mission to accelerate the adoption of Ethereum, its Layer 2 networks and broader ecosystem by the world’s largest financial institutions.
The organisation is being established to serve as what its founders describe as a credible, neutral front door for institutions navigating the Ethereum ecosystem. Banks, asset managers, custodians and market infrastructure providers making long-term platform decisions today often lack a dedicated, unbiased counterpart who can walk them through the technical and commercial landscape without an agenda tied to any single product or protocol.
Why Now
Institutions are currently making foundational infrastructure choices around tokenisation, stablecoins and digital asset custody that will have enduring network effects. The decisions being made today will shape which blockchain platforms become embedded in global financial infrastructure for decades. Ethereum Institutional argues that Ethereum’s neutrality, often cited as one of its core strengths, can read as silence without active representation in those conversations.
Who Is Behind It
The founding team built the Ethereum Foundation’s enterprise engagement function from the ground up, working with hundreds of institutions across banking, asset management, custody and market infrastructure. Ethereum Institutional is designed to scale that work independently and with long-term funding rather than operating within the constraints of the Foundation itself.
The organisation launched with anchor funding from BitMNR, Sharplink and Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, alongside a broader coalition of individual and institutional contributors to be announced.
Five Areas Of Focus From Day One
Institutional engagementInstitutional intelligenceEthereum ecosystem and ETH marketingIndustry discovery and requirementsEvents and conveningsWhat It Is Not
Ethereum Institutional is not a lobbying group and is not affiliated with any single Ethereum project or commercial entity. The independence from the Ethereum Foundation is intentional, giving the organisation the flexibility to represent the full ecosystem rather than any particular subset of it.
Story Ends Here
Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
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In brief Ethereum Institutional, a new nonprofit, will help Wall Street firms adopt Ethereum-based infrastructure. The group follows last week's launch of Ethlabs, another Ethereum nonprofit backed by many of the same supporters. Both initiatives come as the Ethereum Foundation faces mounting criticism, leadership departures, and a major restructuring. A new nonprofit aimed at onboarding Wall Street to Ethereum launched Wednesday, marking the second major Ethereum-focused initiative backed in recent weeks by network co-founder Joe Lubin alongside top treasury firms BitMine Immersion Technologies and SharpLink.
Ethereum Institutional will serve as an independent point of contact for banks, asset managers, and other financial institutions seeking to get more involved with tokenization, stablecoins, and other on-chain financial infrastructure, according to an organization mission statement.
The organization said it will build on institutional engagement efforts previously led by the Ethereum Foundation, but will operate independently with funding from BitMine and SharpLink, Wall Street’s largest publicly traded Ethereum treasury firms.
Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin will also anchor the group’s funding, along with dozens of other individual and institutional contributors. (Disclaimer: Lubin, through his company Consensys, and BitMine Chairman Tom Lee are investors in Dastan, Decrypt’s parent company).
Wednesday’s launch follows the debut last week of Ethlabs, a separate nonprofit research and development organization created by former Ethereum Foundation researchers and backed by many of the same supporters.
“Together, Ethlabs and Ethereum Institutional form complementary pillars of Ethereum’s next chapter,” entities involved in both endeavors said, “one advancing protocol-layer innovation and core infrastructure, the other ensuring institutions have a credible, dedicated counterpart to guide them from evaluation through deployment at scale.”
If these organizations see themselves as Ethereum’s future, the implication could be that the Ethereum Foundation is a remnant of the past. The longstanding nonprofit, which has quarterbacked the network’s technical development for years, has come under fire recently for failing to take proactive measures to bolster both ETH’s price and the network’s public image.
In the last few months, numerous Ethereum Foundation leaders have abandoned their posts. The organization then laid off 20% of its workforce last week and instituted a substantial reorganization.
Former linchpins of the Foundation have come out recently with proposals to “save Ethereum” by allocating significant funds towards the goal of increasing ETH’s long-sagging price. The moves were widely seen as digs at Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s idealistically minded co-founder and current steward.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
In brief Ethereum Institutional, a new nonprofit, will help Wall Street firms adopt Ethereum-based infrastructure. The group follows last week's launch of Ethlabs, another Ethereum nonprofit backed by many of the same supporters. Both initiatives come as the Ethereum Foundation faces mounting criticism, leadership departures, and a major restructuring. A new nonprofit aimed at onboarding Wall Street to Ethereum launched Wednesday, marking the second major Ethereum-focused initiative backed in recent weeks by network co-founder Joe Lubin alongside top treasury firms BitMine Immersion Technologies and SharpLink.
Ethereum Institutional will serve as an independent point of contact for banks, asset managers, and other financial institutions seeking to get more involved with tokenization, stablecoins, and other on-chain financial infrastructure, according to an organization mission statement.
The organization said it will build on institutional engagement efforts previously led by the Ethereum Foundation, but will operate independently with funding from BitMine and SharpLink, Wall Street’s largest publicly traded Ethereum treasury firms.
Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin will also anchor the group’s funding, along with dozens of other individual and institutional contributors. (Disclaimer: Lubin, through his company Consensys, and BitMine Chairman Tom Lee are investors in Dastan, Decrypt’s parent company).
Wednesday’s launch follows the debut last week of Ethlabs, a separate nonprofit research and development organization created by former Ethereum Foundation researchers and backed by many of the same supporters.
“Together, Ethlabs and Ethereum Institutional form complementary pillars of Ethereum’s next chapter,” entities involved in both endeavors said, “one advancing protocol-layer innovation and core infrastructure, the other ensuring institutions have a credible, dedicated counterpart to guide them from evaluation through deployment at scale.”
If these organizations see themselves as Ethereum’s future, the implication could be that the Ethereum Foundation is a remnant of the past. The longstanding nonprofit, which has quarterbacked the network’s technical development for years, has come under fire recently for failing to take proactive measures to bolster both ETH’s price and the network’s public image.
In the last few months, numerous Ethereum Foundation leaders have abandoned their posts. The organization then laid off 20% of its workforce last week and instituted a substantial reorganization.
Former linchpins of the Foundation have come out recently with proposals to “save Ethereum” by allocating significant funds towards the goal of increasing ETH’s long-sagging price. The moves were widely seen as digs at Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s idealistically minded co-founder and current steward.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
The line between traditional finance and Ethereum just got a new, purpose-built entry point. Ethereum Institutional launched this week as an independent non-profit, positioning itself as what the organization calls the dedicated institutional front door for onchain finance. The announcement lands at a moment when tokenized real-world assets have crossed $20 billion onchain, major custodians are building settlement rails, and asset managers are no longer asking whether blockchain fits their stack—they’re working out how quickly they can move.
The details are sparse. The initial disclosure, the original report confirms the entity’s status as a non-profit, but stops short of naming board members, funding sources, or the precise programs it intends to run. That absence of detail is itself a signal: this is a structural play, not a product launch. By incorporating as a non-profit, Ethereum Institutional sidesteps the commercial baggage that comes with being a vendor or service provider. Its mandate, framed loosely as bringing institutional finance onchain at scale, suggests an orchestration role—convening technologists, regulators, asset managers, and protocol teams around standards, education, and shared infrastructure.
The launch comes against a backdrop of accelerating institutional activity across the Ethereum ecosystem. In May, Bullish closed a $4.2 billion acquisition of Equiniti, Ondo Finance and JPMorgan executed the first live tokenized Treasury settlement, and the total value of real-world assets onchain surged past $20 billion, according to a recent roundup. Those moves aren’t experiments; they’re production-grade capital flows. A non-profit gatekeeper could help accelerate that trend by giving allocators a single source of technical and regulatory guidance—something the Ethereum space has historically delivered through a scattered constellation of firms and consortia.
Why a Non-Profit Gateway, and Why Now Institutional entry into decentralized networks isn’t just a technology problem. It’s a coordination problem. The Ethereum landscape today includes multiple layer-2 networks, staking protocols, DeFi venues, and compliance layers, each with its own risk profile and operational nuance. A dedicated non-profit can act as a neutral switchboard without competing with the service providers it aims to onboard. This matters because many of the largest financial institutions remain wary of building on top of for-profit entities that could change terms, deprecate products, or face conflicts of interest. The non-profit structure aligns more naturally with the long-term, public-infrastructure mindset that regulated institutions require before committing balance-sheet capital.
There’s also regulatory timing at play. Just days ago, reports surfaced that major banks were attempting to derail a landmark U.S. crypto bill set for a Senate vote, as BlockchainReporter documented. The legislative fight shows how contested the onramps remain. In that environment, an entity like Ethereum Institutional could serve as an education and advocacy layer, helping policymakers understand the distinction between permissionless speculation and supervised onchain finance—and helping institutions navigate compliance without abandoning the core advantages of Ethereum’s settlement guarantees.
What This Means for Ethereum’s Infrastructure and Market Structure If Ethereum Institutional succeeds in becoming the front door, the downstream effects on Ethereum’s infrastructure could be significant. Institutional flows often demand specific capabilities: segregated custody, onchain identity, verifiable offchain data, and predictable fee environments. Those demands flow directly into layer-2 roadmaps, liquid staking protocols, and zero-knowledge proof deployments that prioritize compliance while preserving auditability. Over the coming quarters, projects that can plug into a unified institutional interface may see faster adoption, while those that can’t may find themselves locked out of the liquidity that regulated capital brings.
There’s already a pattern. Sui’s recent 18% price surge was driven in part by institutional staking from a Nasdaq-listed firm and a fintech integration with Paga, as reported earlier. That episode shows markets reward networks that reduce institutional friction. Ethereum Institutional’s launch, even without granular specifics, signals that the Ethereum ecosystem is deliberately building that friction reduction as a permanent public good.
Uncertainties That Will Shape the Rollout For all the structural logic, a great deal remains unknown. No timeline has been provided for programs, working groups, or deliverables. The organization hasn’t disclosed who is funding it, whether it has the backing of the Ethereum Foundation or any major protocol teams, or how it intends to avoid the fate of earlier enterprise blockchain consortiums that produced more white papers than live capital. The real test will be whether buy-side institutions—pension funds, insurance treasuries, corporate balance sheets—actually walk through the door.
Moreover, the launch does nothing to address the persistent fragmentation across Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem. An institutional gateway that isn’t tightly integrated with the major rollups and their compliance stacks risks becoming merely a directory. The market will be watching for partnerships that show genuine operational integration, not just a branding exercise. Still, the non-profit structure gives Ethereum Institutional a longer runway to get this right. In a market where hype cycles are measured in weeks, a deliberately slow, coordination-first entity may be exactly what institutional capital needs before it commits at scale.
AUTHOR
Max delves deep into the cryptocurrency realm, with a passion for altcoins and NFTs. Convinced of crypto's transformative potential, he envisions a decentralized financial future. Max's background in the financial sector grants him unique insights into global monetary systems. In his leisure, Max embraces the thrill of adventures and is an avid sports enthusiast, finding balance and rejuvenation away from work.
Ethereum Institutional, an independent nonprofit organization, has officially launched with the aim of accelerating large-scale institutional adoption of Ethereum, layer 2 networks, decentralized applications, and the broader ecosystem. The initiative comes as the crypto industry sees growing interest from major companies looking to integrate blockchain technology at the enterprise level.
Key focus areasThe foundation’s creation coincides with a period where more corporations are leveraging ETH for payment settlements, tokenization, and on-chain financial transactions. The maturation of layer 2 scaling solutions, combined with clearer regulatory frameworks in major global markets, made this an opportune time for Ethereum Institutional’s debut.
The organization’s main areas of activity include institutional relations, market intelligence, ecosystem and ETH promotion, sector requirements, and event coordination. Instead of focusing on protocol development, Ethereum Institutional aims to provide education, ensure standards compliance, and act as a bridge between traditional finance and Ethereum developers through advocacy and coordination.
The organization’s mandate is to emphasize education, standards alignment, and acting as a bridge between traditional finance and Ethereum’s development community, rather than engaging directly in protocol development.
Addressing gaps in enterprise adoptionAccording to the new initiative, the primary barriers to institutional participation are less about technical hurdles and more about operational processes, compliance requirements, and a lack of unified narrative. Ethereum Institutional intends to fill these gaps, serving as a coordination layer among businesses, developers, and infrastructure providers.
This approach could deliver a more defined institutional framework, especially benefiting exchanges, custodians, and asset managers. It is expected to help clarify enterprise needs for developers and create a central touchpoint for regulators seeking input from the industry.
Leading supportersMajor backers of the initiative include BitMine, SharpLink, and Joseph Lubin, one of Ethereum’s co-founders. Lubin, also known as the founder of Consensys, is a key figure in Ethereum’s ecosystem and brings significant expertise in protocol development and industry leadership.
Mini glossary: Tokenization refers to creating digital representations of real-world assets or financial instruments on a blockchain. Layer 2 refers to scaling solutions designed to reduce congestion and accelerate transactions on Ethereum at lower costs.
With support from BitMine, SharpLink, and Joseph Lubin, the initiative gains direct links to mining, treasury management, and protocol leadership within the Ethereum community.
Launch coincides with surging institutional interestThe announcement comes at a time when spot Ether ETF demand is climbing and stablecoin-based payment settlements are expanding across the sector. This context underlines the prospect of a strengthened institutional framework being built around Ethereum.
From a corporate perspective, clearer standards and consistent dialogue with the Ethereum community could streamline the path to broader adoption. For investors, the development signals a more visible and organized institutional ecosystem forming around $ETH.
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 analyst Aaron Dishner noted that Bitcoin recorded its lowest daily close since September 2024. According to Dishner, this move caused BTC to fall below its short-term support level, briefly forming a new local low around $57,800.
The analyst stated that the current outlook presents a contradictory picture to Bitcoin’s historically positive July performance. Dishner noted that July has historically been a green month for Bitcoin, with previous “bottom year” Julys of 2018 and 2022 seeing BTC recover an average of around 19 percent.
According to Dishner, this scenario could be consistent with a rebound in Bitcoin driven by overselling, continuing towards the weekly TBO Fast line. However, the analyst added that BTC is still strongly trending downwards on both the daily and weekly TBO indicators.
Dishner noted that Ethereum shows a similar picture to Bitcoin, stating that ETH maintains a strong bearish outlook on its daily and weekly TBO indicators. However, he added that the On-Balance Volume moving average lines for both Bitcoin and Ethereum have begun to flatten. According to the analyst, while this doesn’t confirm a new bull trend, it suggests that the current downtrend may be preparing to change character in the short term.
Excluding stablecoins, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization is still in a strong bearish zone according to the daily TBO Cloud. However, Dishner noted that the OBV moving average is starting to flatten in this area as well. According to the analyst, similar market structures in past July lows were able to recover towards the weekly TBO Fast line before falling again.
Dishner also stated that a potential July recovery could put pressure on stablecoin dominance. According to the analyst, combined stablecoin dominance was hovering near its accumulation zone target of 13%. However, if Bitcoin experiences a rebound, this rate could fall to the lower band of the daily Cloud, i.e., to 11% or lower.
However, Dishner added that the bigger risks haven’t disappeared. According to the analyst, a similar early warning reversal signal was seen before the June decline. Furthermore, August and September remain historically weak months for Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market. Therefore, Dishner stated that a potential rally in July should not be considered a confirmation that the long-term bottom has definitively formed, but rather a reaction rally stemming from oversold conditions.
On the altcoin side, according to the analyst, tactical opportunities are emerging in some assets. Dishner stated that Solana is working on a second TBO Close Short signal, which could be a bullish reversal signal in the short term. He noted that there is room for HYPE up to around $79,372, the 1,272 Fibonacci extension level, that a TBT bullish divergence structure is developing in BCH, that XMR could target the TBO resistance at $418.60 in an upward move, and that a second weekly TBT bullish divergence cluster is forming in KAS.
Dishner also noted that altcoins such as ICP, WLD, FET, SEI, WIF, and FARTCOIN are showing signs of rebound or reversal. Conversely, he said that some of the best-performing assets of late, like LAB, are starting to lose momentum.
*This is not investment advice.
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A new nonprofit organization aimed at accelerating institutional adoption within the Ethereum ecosystem officially launched on Wednesday. The group, dubbed Ethereum Institutional, seeks to support banks, asset management firms, and other financial institutions in getting involved with tokenization, stablecoins, and on-chain financial infrastructure.
New entity targets institutional engagementAccording to its mission statement, Ethereum Institutional will serve as an independent point of contact for Wall Street actors engaging with Ethereum. The initiative builds on previous outreach conducted by the Ethereum Foundation, but is independently funded by BitMine Immersion Technologies and SharpLink.
Both BitMine Immersion Technologies and SharpLink have emerged as prominent publicly listed treasury holders in Ethereum. Joe Lubin, a co-founder of Ethereum and a key figure through his involvement with Consensys, remains influential in the broader ecosystem.
Representatives involved in both new ventures emphasized that Ethlabs and Ethereum Institutional form two complementary pillars for Ethereum’s next phase, with one focused on protocol layer innovation and infrastructure, and the other serving as a trusted counterpart for institutions from assessment to large-scale adoption.
The launch of Ethereum Institutional closely follows the recent unveiling of Ethlabs last week. Founded by former Ethereum Foundation researchers, Ethlabs is positioned as a separate not-for-profit organization focused on research and development. Both initiatives, largely backed by similar supporters, signal the emergence of a new wave of institutional frameworks within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Pressure mounts on the Ethereum FoundationThese new endeavors have surfaced at a time when the Ethereum Foundation faces mounting criticism. Long responsible for driving the network’s technical development, the Foundation has recently been accused of failing to take more active measures to support ETH’s price and strengthen public perception of the network.
As part of an organizational overhaul, the Foundation parted ways with 54 employees, equivalent to roughly 20% of its workforce. This downsizing was positioned as a component of a broader transformation following the publication of a 38-page Mandate document and updated treasury policy in March.
Glossary: Tokenization refers to representing real-world assets or financial instruments as digital tokens on a blockchain. A stablecoin is a digital asset that typically aims to be pegged to a stable value, such as the US dollar.
Over the past few months, several senior leaders and influential figures within the Foundation have stepped down. Subsequent staff reductions and major organizational changes have brought ongoing debates over Ethereum’s governance and priorities into sharper focus.
Debates intensify on price and governanceDiscussion concerning the Ethereum Foundation has extended beyond organizational structures. Some former leading contributors have proposed allocating substantial resources to address Ethereum’s prolonged lackluster price performance, which has been interpreted by some as an indirect critique of co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s more idealistic philosophy.
The Foundation stated that, following restructuring, it aims to proceed with a leaner and more focused organizational model.
The rapid launch of Ethlabs and Ethereum Institutional indicates that technical development and institutional outreach are now being separated into distinct entities. This development suggests ongoing debate about the role of the Foundation in Ethereum’s future, which is likely to continue in the months ahead.
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 Ethereum Foundation wants governments to stop thinking of Ethereum as “crypto stuff” and start seeing it as public infrastructure. On July 1, the foundation’s Global Policy Strategy team published a non-technical guide titled “Ethereum Basics for Governments and Institutions,” designed to walk policymakers, central bankers, and institutional leaders through how the network actually works.
What the guide actually says The primer’s core argument is straightforward: Ethereum is an ownerless, always-on piece of digital infrastructure that no single entity controls. Ethereum has experienced zero network outages since its launch in 2015. The guide contrasts this with other blockchains like Solana and TRON, which have seen between one and seven outages.
Citing an OpenZeppelin Technical Risk Assessment from March 2026, the primer notes that roughly $76 billion in ETH is currently staked on the network. The estimated cost to finalize fraudulent transactions sits at approximately $50.7 billion, plus penalties on top of that.
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The guide highlights that Ethereum supports over five independent client implementations. The ecosystem also claims around 11,000 EVM developers actively building on it. As of March 2026, Ethereum holds approximately $159 billion in stablecoin value and roughly $15.2 billion in tokenized real-world assets.
Real-world deployments, not just whitepapers Bhutan and Buenos Aires both get mentions for decentralized identity initiatives built on Ethereum infrastructure. India appears in the context of land registry efforts. The European Investment Bank and UNICEF are both cited as entities that have used Ethereum-based tools.
The primer frames these examples under broader categories: digital identity, asset tokenization, and public records management.
Why the foundation is doing this now Two technical priorities underpin the foundation’s current roadmap: scaling solutions and post-quantum security. The first is about handling more transactions without sacrificing decentralization. The second is about future-proofing the network against quantum computing threats that could theoretically break current cryptographic standards.
What this means for investors The initial reaction to the primer’s release showed no immediate price impact on ETH. The stablecoin and tokenized asset figures are worth watching closely. At $159 billion and $15.2 billion respectively, Ethereum already dominates the categories that traditional finance is most actively exploring.
By explicitly comparing Ethereum’s uptime and decentralization to Solana and TRON, the foundation is drawing a line in the sand about which networks are suitable for sovereign-grade applications. Investors should watch for whether the primer’s framing — that Ethereum is credible public infrastructure — gets adopted in regulatory language or rejected in favor of more restrictive frameworks.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
"Could we go below $1,200? Maybe," one analyst stated.
The second-largest cryptocurrency has been severely damaged by the prolonged bear market, closing Q2 firmly in the red. Even more striking is that this marks the third consecutive quarter of losses for ETH – something unseen in the asset’s history and a clear signal of how persistent the current downturn has become.
Analysts speculate that bulls might have to endure more pain in the near future, with some projecting a price crash to as low as $1,000.
The Bears Take Total Control It was last August that ETH climbed to a new all-time high of almost $5,000. Since then, it has headed south and currently trades at around $1,560 (per CoinGecko), representing a whopping 70% decline from the historic peak.
Weak market conditions and seasonal factors suggest the asset may experience a further short-term plunge. One should keep in mind that July has rarely been a favorable month for Ethereum, as it has finished the period in the red six out of the last ten times.
ETH Monthly Returns, Source: CoinGlass The analyst who uses the X moniker Ted noted that ETH has been holding up better than BTC lately, but warned that the former isn’t out of the woods yet. He paid special attention to the $1,700 level, arguing that if the asset fails to reclaim it, the probability of setting a new low will rise significantly.
Crypto with Haris ₿ addressed the increasingly popular predictions that ETH could plunge to $1,000 during this cycle, adding that such an extreme downside scenario is far less plausible than many fear.
“Ethereum has already been one of the hardest-hit major coins this cycle and is now building a strong base around the $1,500-$1,600 zone. Even with another Bitcoin flush, I think the realistic downside is around $1,200-$1,300. Could we go below $1,200? Maybe. But I think the risk of trying to catch that exact level is much higher than people realize,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the recent whale behavior strengthens the bearish outlook. Ali Martinez revealed that large investors sold around $900 million in ETH over a single week, while the analytics platform Lookonchain reported that an anonymous market participant cashed out almost 2,500 coins, incurring a major $4.33 million loss.
You may also like: Bitcoin (BTC) Dips Below $62K, Ethereum (ETH) Plunges 6% Daily: Market Watch 5 Reasons Why Bitcoin Just Crashed Below $63K as Liquidations Top $500M Bitmine Buys 52K ETH as Tom Lee Believes the Best Years for Crypto Are Still Ahead Some Bullish Signals Still, it is not all doom and gloom for Ethereum. The number of coins stored on crypto exchanges remains quite close to the ten-year low recorded in June: a development that reduces selling pressure.
ETH Exchange Reserve, Source: CryptoQuant Moreover, ETH’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) continues to hover around 30, indicating that the asset has entered oversold territory and could be due for a rebound. The technical analysis indicator ranges from 0 to 100; anything above 70 is considered a warning of an impending pullback.
In brief Robinhood launched the public mainnet of Robinhood Chain, an "AI-native" Ethereum layer-2 network. The chain further bridges the firm's traditional financial offerings with its crypto products, beginning with Stock Tokens. Shares finished the day up more than 8% on the news, though are still well off their 52-week high. Publicly traded brokerage and financial app Robinhood launched the public mainnet Wednesday for its Ethereum layer-2 network, Robinhood Chain.
The Arbitrum-powered network aims to “bridge the gap” between crypto and the traditional finance world, opening with integrations from BitGo, Chainlink, and partnerships with Uniswap and Pleiades to offer dedicated automated market making for public liquidity and prop trading, respectively. The network, described by Robinhood as “AI-native,” also supports trading by AI agents.
“Decentralized finance unlocks possibilities beyond what traditional finance can offer, but historically, it has required technical expertise to navigate,” said Robinhood SVP and General Manager of Crypto and International Johann Kerbrat, in a statement.
“We’re bringing the best of traditional finance and DeFi together, and in doing so, expanding financial ownership to every corner of the globe,” he said.
The firm’s network will also unlock additional productivity for what it calls “Stock Tokens,” or tokenized, on-chain representations of shares in the world’s biggest companies like Nvidia and Apple, allowing users in eligible jurisdictions—which doesn’t include the U.S.—to place them in lending pools and use them as collateral in DeFi.
The firm is also expanding the feature set within its Robinhood Wallet, opening up perps trading directly in-wallet via decentralized perpetuals exchange, Lighter and enabling eligible U.S. users to use Robinhood Earn, a feature that allows individuals to lend dollar-backed stablecoin USDG for around 7% APY.
Beyond its new features, a core focus of the brokerage’s latest announcement is a major geographic expansion, including welcoming users from Canada and soon Singapore, which will add to its nearly 28 million existing customers. Additionally, Robinhood expects to offer crypto services to users in the U.K. in the near future.
Shares in Robinhood (HOOD) finished the day up more than 8% on Wednesday and now nearly 20% in the last month, changing hands at $108.65. Even at that mark, though, it remains more than 29% off its 52-week high of $153.86.
Last month, the firm cut about 10% of its staff amid a severe downturn in revenue from its crypto offerings, which dropped 34% quarter-over-quarter to $134 million from $221 million.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
In brief Robinhood launched the public mainnet of Robinhood Chain, an "AI-native" Ethereum layer-2 network. The chain further bridges the firm's traditional financial offerings with its crypto products, beginning with Stock Tokens. Shares finished the day up more than 8% on the news, though are still well off their 52-week high. Publicly traded brokerage and financial app Robinhood launched the public mainnet Wednesday for its Ethereum layer-2 network, Robinhood Chain.
The Arbitrum-powered network aims to “bridge the gap” between crypto and the traditional finance world, opening with integrations from BitGo, Chainlink, and partnerships with Uniswap and Pleiades to offer dedicated automated market making for public liquidity and prop trading, respectively. The network, described by Robinhood as “AI-native,” also supports trading by AI agents.
“Decentralized finance unlocks possibilities beyond what traditional finance can offer, but historically, it has required technical expertise to navigate,” said Robinhood SVP and General Manager of Crypto and International Johann Kerbrat, in a statement.
“We’re bringing the best of traditional finance and DeFi together, and in doing so, expanding financial ownership to every corner of the globe,” he said.
The firm’s network will also unlock additional productivity for what it calls “Stock Tokens,” or tokenized, on-chain representations of shares in the world’s biggest companies like Nvidia and Apple, allowing users in eligible jurisdictions—which doesn’t include the U.S.—to place them in lending pools and use them as collateral in DeFi.
The firm is also expanding the feature set within its Robinhood Wallet, opening up perps trading directly in-wallet via decentralized perpetuals exchange, Lighter and enabling eligible U.S. users to use Robinhood Earn, a feature that allows individuals to lend dollar-backed stablecoin USDG for around 7% APY.
Beyond its new features, a core focus of the brokerage’s latest announcement is a major geographic expansion, including welcoming users from Canada and soon Singapore, which will add to its nearly 28 million existing customers. Additionally, Robinhood expects to offer crypto services to users in the U.K. in the near future.
Shares in Robinhood (HOOD) finished the day up more than 8% on Wednesday and now nearly 20% in the last month, changing hands at $108.65. Even at that mark, though, it remains more than 29% off its 52-week high of $153.86.
Last month, the firm cut about 10% of its staff amid a severe downturn in revenue from its crypto offerings, which dropped 34% quarter-over-quarter to $134 million from $221 million.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
Ethereum Institutional's launch has drawn widespread backing from across the Ethereum ecosystem, with some commentary from Standard Chartered Bank, Etherealize, Aztec Labs, Spark and Bitwise describing it as an important step toward accelerating institutional adoption and strengthening Ethereum's position as the leading blockchain for tokenized assets and financial infrastructure.Supporters say the initiative reflects Ethereum's increasingly decentralized ecosystem, arguing that multiple independent organizations, not a single entity, are now driving adoption efforts as the network matures and expands its institutional reach.The launch of Ethereum Institutional on Wednesday was met with widespread support across the Ethereum ecosystem, with industry leaders arguing the initiative will strengthen Ethereum's position as institutional adoption accelerates.
One of the endorsements came from Standard Chartered Bank, which said Ethereum Institutional addresses a longstanding communications gap between Ethereum and the world's largest financial institutions.
"These announcements will drive the type of communication the Ethereum ecosystem has been lacking. The aim is to ensure Ethereum is well represented in institutional conversations, and to make sure the broader ecosystem captures the maximum benefit from those engagements, so that more institutions are brought onchain and ultimately have more of the world's tokenized assets, stablecoins, and market infrastructure on Ethereum and its ecosystem,” a representative for the Bank told CoinDesk in an email.
The initiative is designed to improve Ethereum's engagement with institutions through education, advocacy and strategic communications, complementing the work of other independent organizations across the ecosystem.
Its launch comes as Ethereum's support ecosystem undergoes a broader evolution, following the debut of EthLabs and amid ongoing efforts by the Ethereum Foundation to respond to community criticism over transparency, communication and its role within the ecosystem by encouraging more independent organizations to take the lead on adoption and ecosystem growth.
Vivek Raman, CEO of Etherealize, said on X that Ethereum Institutional is another example of Ethereum's decentralized model in action.
"Ethereum is not built by or run by a single organization," Raman wrote. "Ethereum is a network of independent nodes that collectively make the infrastructure inevitable. Ethereum Institutional will play a key role in amplifying and growing Ethereum. Could not be more excited for this launch."
Joe Andrews, CEO of privacy developer firm Aztec Labs, told CoinDesk that the launch reflects the continued decentralization of Ethereum's support ecosystem rather than the emergence of a single voice.
"Over the last two weeks, the Ethereum community has further added to the decentralisation of the network," he said. "There are now three non-profits all advocating for adoption of Ethereum. It is natural that one of these entities is focusing on institutions, as the world needs a global settlement layer and Ethereum is the only credible option."
Spark CEO and co-founder Sam MacPherson said the significance lies less in the creation of another organization and more in what it signals about Ethereum's evolution.
"The interesting signal isn't the organization itself," he said. "It's that Ethereum is reaching a level of maturity where multiple independent groups are investing in its long-term development. As institutional participation grows, that kind of distributed stewardship will become increasingly important to supporting the next phase of the ecosystem."
Asset management firm Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan echoed the development with praise, describing it as an example of Ethereum's decentralized ecosystem adapting and strengthening over time.
"It's kind of awesome to watch a decentralized system heal itself and find ways to make progress," Hougan wrote on X. "Inspiring stuff."
Taken together, the reactions highlight a common theme: supporters see Ethereum Institutional not as a new center of power, but as another independent organization helping position Ethereum for its next phase of institutional growth.
Read more: Ethereum gets a new nonprofit focused on institutional adoption
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Building 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.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana have once again become the focal point of the crypto market after simultaneously flashing monthly buy signals on the TD Sequential indicator. This development has fueled speculation that a long-term bottom might be forming across leading cryptocurrencies; however, analysts warn that the indicator alone does not guarantee the start of a sustained rally.
Unified technical signal emergesCrypto market analyst Ali Martinez reported that all four major cryptocurrencies triggered a TD Sequential buy signal on the monthly chart. Used primarily on higher timeframes, this indicator aims to spot moments when the prevailing trend is losing steam and the stage may be set for a reversal.
Glossary: The TD Sequential, developed by market analyst Tom DeMark, is a technical indicator designed to identify moments when trends are becoming exhausted and a possible reversal is imminent, using specific counting sequences.
The monthly chart is pointing to a simultaneous macro reversal setup. The TD Sequential indicator is giving a buy signal for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana.
It is rare for all four major cryptos to show monthly buy signals at the same time. This technical improvement has fostered cautious optimism in the market, especially after the sharp volatility seen in recent weeks.
Latest on prices and futures marketsAccording to data from CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin was trading at $59,947.31, Ethereum at $1,615.92, XRP at $1.05, and Solana at $77.45. Analysts note that these large-cap assets are presenting a more positive picture compared to earlier market turbulence.
AssetPriceOpen Futures InterestBitcoin$59,947.31$8.50 billionEthereum$1,615.92$21.99 billionXRP$1.05$2.31 billionSolana$77.45$5.58 billionCoinGlass data shows the open interest in Bitcoin futures on Binance stands at $8.50 billion. Open interest for Ethereum has reached $21.99 billion. XRP and Solana report figures of $2.31 billion and $5.58 billion, respectively. This data suggests that interest in the derivatives market persists, indicating continued engagement from traders and investors.
ETF flows reflect ongoing cautionUS spot Bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows totaling $222.60 million on July 1. Despite this, the total net inflows since these products launched have reached $51.59 billion. This pattern shows that while some investors are taking short-term profits, the broader trend has not been completely disrupted.
Spot Ethereum ETFs, meanwhile, recorded a net outflow of 16,715.33 ETH on June 30. Although institutional players continue to display caution, sentiment around longer-term demand remains upbeat.
Monthly buy signals may signal weakening selling pressure, but further confirmation is needed for a sustained recovery.
In the coming weeks, if Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana manage to hold above current price levels, strengthen ETF inflows, see a rise in open interest, and log increased buying volumes, the probability of a broader crypto market recovery will likely increase.
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.
Aave, the decentralized finance lending protocol, reported its strongest daily network growth in recent years on June 30. Within just 24 hours, 1,806 new Ethereum wallets were created on the platform. This surge stands out against the backdrop of broader weakness in cryptocurrency markets and signals a fresh wave of user interest in the Aave ecosystem.
Sharp jump in network growthAccording to data from Santiment, the number of new wallets on Aave reached its highest point since October 2021. The metrics indicate that the growth is driven primarily by the arrival of new addresses, rather than increased activity from existing users. Analysts view this as an early sign of renewed interest in DeFi platforms.
Santiment announced that Aave saw 1,806 new wallets on the Ethereum network within 24 hours, making it the largest day of network expansion since 2021.
Aave remains one of the largest DeFi protocols, enabling users to deposit crypto assets for yield and to borrow funds against their collateral. The uptick in new addresses suggests that enthusiasm for lending and borrowing products on the platform could be reviving.
Glossary: Total value locked is a key measure representing the total value of assets deposited in a DeFi protocol. Network growth tracks the expansion of a user base by counting newly created wallets over a defined period.
Token price and value lockedAt the time of publication, the AAVE token was trading around $86.20. While the asset had dropped by 2.4% over the previous 24 hours, it recorded an approximate 9% gain over the past week. This performance points to relative resilience in the AAVE token despite ongoing market pressures.
IndicatorDataNew wallets in 24 hours1,806AAVE price$86.2024-hour change2.4% decline7-day changeApprox. 9% increaseTotal value locked$12.2 billionThe value locked in Aave’s lending pools currently stands at around $12.2 billion. This substantial figure reflects both robust user deposits and sustained borrowing demand, confirming Aave’s status as one of the leading players in the DeFi market.
Santiment highlighted that this pace of new wallet creation points to growing interest behind the scenes and may support price stability during periods of uncertainty.
Upgrades and ongoing risk discussionsDevelopment continues on Aave’s V4 upgrade, which aims to improve the protocol’s lending efficiency and system design. A new structure called Smart Value Recapture is also in the works to further strengthen the platform’s revenue streams.
Within the Aave community, discussions on borrowing limits and risk management are front and center. These debates reflect the ongoing effort to balance the platform’s growth ambitions with system security. Although the influx of new users is significant, its lasting impact will depend on whether these wallets translate into active engagement and sustained DeFi demand.
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.
Morpho received two major institutional endorsements in a single day after Standard Chartered initiated coverage of the DeFi lending protocol and Robinhood unveiled a new Crypto Earn product powered by Morpho’s infrastructure.
The back-to-back developments strengthen Morpho’s position as one of the fastest-growing decentralized lending platforms competing alongside Aave. The MORPHO token’s price is up over 12% on the day.
MORPHO Price Performance. Source: BeInCryptoRobinhood Brings Morpho to Mainstream UsersRobinhood has begun rolling out its Crypto Earn product, a decentralized lending service powered by Morpho, to eligible users through the Robinhood app and Robinhood Chain.
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The first lending vault is curated by Steakhouse Financial and incorporates Maple Finance’s newly launched syrupUSDG, an institutional credit product backed by the regulated Global Dollar (USDG) stablecoin issued by Paxos on behalf of the Global Dollar Network.
According to Maple, the company has originated more than $22 billion in institutional loans since 2022. Through the new integration, Robinhood users will gain access to on-chain credit strategies built on Morpho’s open lending infrastructure.
“Morpho provides the open credit network that enables specialized credit strategies to reach users at scale,” Morpho CEO and co-founder Paul Frambot said in the announcement.
Standard Chartered Strengthens the Bullish NarrativeThe Robinhood announcement follows Standard Chartered’s decision to initiate coverage on MORPHO, calling the protocol one of the strongest long-term plays in decentralized finance.
The bank highlighted Morpho’s Vaults architecture as a key differentiator, arguing that its modular design makes it well suited for institutional asset managers, fintech platforms, and tokenized real-world assets. Analysts also pointed to the protocol’s rapid growth and expanding integrations across the digital asset ecosystem.
Together, the research note and Robinhood integration suggest growing institutional confidence in Morpho’s infrastructure rather than simply its token.
What’s Next for Morpho?Robinhood said access to Crypto Earn will expand gradually over the coming weeks, while Maple plans to extend syrupUSDG to additional blockchain networks beyond Ethereum and Robinhood Chain.
For investors, the latest announcements suggest Morpho is evolving from a leading DeFi lending protocol into critical financial infrastructure for regulated stablecoins, institutional credit, and mainstream fintech platforms, a trend that could further accelerate adoption as tokenized finance continues to grow.
@aave recorded its strongest single day of network growth in nearly five years on June 30, adding 1,806 new wallets on Ethereum in 24 hours, its highest tally since October 2021, according to @SantimentData. The milestone stands out against a broader crypto market that has spent much of the first half of the year under pressure.
$AAVE Holds Up While the Market Slides $AAVE has gained roughly 19% over the past week even as Bitcoin hovers around $60,000. CoinDesk notes that network growth measures new addresses interacting with or holding a token, so the surge points to fresh participants arriving rather than existing holders rotating positions. The protocol holds approximately $12.6 billion in total value locked.
Several developments are converging to draw attention. Aave is rolling out its V4 upgrade on Ethereum, which introduces a hub-and-spoke architecture designed to separate individual lending markets while keeping liquidity centralised in shared pools. The Aave DAO is also actively debating borrowing limits, and a new revenue mechanism called Smart Value Recapture is under focus as the protocol looks to route more value back into the system.
V4 and a Bold Bank Call Add to the Momentum Aave V4 launched on Ethereum mainnet in March 2026 after more than two years of development. The upgrade introduces three liquidity hubs at launch, each with conservative supply and borrow caps that the Aave DAO can expand as the protocol proves itself in production. The Defiant reported that Aave has processed over one trillion dollars in cumulative loans and holds more than 50% of the decentralised lending market.
Adding to the positive backdrop, Standard Chartered initiated coverage of Aave in late June with a $3,500 price target for $AAVE by end-2030. Crypto Briefing reported that Geoff Kendrick, the bank's global head of digital assets research, argued Aave is positioned to retain its lead in decentralised lending as tokenised real-world assets move onto blockchain networks, with the bank projecting that tokenised assets used in DeFi could grow 37 times by 2030.
The wallet spike is an encouraging signal, though analysts caution it is not a guarantee of sustained activity. As CoinDesk put it, new wallets show attention rather than commitment, and the figure matters only if it converts into deposits, borrowing, and the protocol revenue that follows.
Sources:
CoinDesk: Aave logs biggest network-growth day in nearly 5 years
Aave: Aave V4 is Live on Ethereum
Crypto Briefing: Standard Chartered initiates Aave coverage with $3,500 target for 2030
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez said that signals indicating a long-term market reversal are emerging in major crypto assets, particularly Bitcoin. According to Martinez, the Tom DeMark (TD) Sequential indicator is giving a bullish signal for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana on the monthly charts.
The analyst noted that trend exhaustion signals, especially those seen in higher timeframes like monthly charts, are significant. Martinez stated that in the past, multiple major crypto assets simultaneously generating monthly bullish signals indicated seller fatigue and long-term market lows.
Another data point highlighted by Martinez concerned the profit and loss status of Bitcoin’s supply. According to the analyst, for the first time in this cycle, the amount of Bitcoin held at a loss reached 10.45 million BTC, surpassing the 9.60 million BTC held at a profit.
Martinez said that the fact that more than half of the circulating Bitcoin supply is at a loss indicates that the speculative bubble in the market has largely cleared. The analyst argued that such crossovers have only been seen very close to major cycle bottoms in Bitcoin’s 15-year history.
Looking at past examples, a similar intersection first occurred in September 2011, and Bitcoin bottomed out in November 2011, starting a new bull market. The second intersection took place in September 2014, and after the market consolidated under these conditions until October 2015, it entered a new expansion period.
The third intersection, seen in November 2018, coincided with one of the harshest periods of the bear market. Following this, Bitcoin began a new bull cycle in March 2019. A similar intersection occurred during the liquidity crisis of March 2020, but this lasted only 17 days, and Bitcoin recorded a strong recovery by April 2020.
According to Martinez, the first supply intersection of the current cycle officially occurred in June 2026, and the metrics have continued to move in the opposite direction since then. The analyst argued that while such periods have lasted from a few weeks to a few months in past data, Bitcoin is currently trading in a region of high-reliability accumulation.
*This is not investment advice.
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Bitcoin reclaimed the $60,000 level, lifting major cryptocurrencies higher suggesting a potential long-term buying opportunity may be emerging despite lingering downside risks.
Notable Statistics:
Coinglass data shows 97,328 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $398.51 million. SoSoValue data shows net outflows of $222.6 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Tuesday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net outflows of $27.6 million. In the past 24 hours, top gainers include MemeCore, Jupiter and Venice Token. Notable Developments:
Trader Notes:
Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez says the monthly charts for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana are flashing Tom DeMark (TD) Sequential buy signals, a technical indicator often associated with trend exhaustion and potential reversals.
This suggests selling pressure may be fading and could mark the formation of a long-term market bottom.
Trader Jelle explained that historically Bitcoin bear markets have tended to bottom roughly a year after they begin, despite sentiment often feeling most pessimistic near the end of the cycle.
If the current cycle follows a similar timeline, the market could be about 75% through the downturn, indicating that the final phase of the bear market may be approaching. However, analysts caution that history does not guarantee the same outcome.
Trader KillaXBT expects short-term relief for Bitcoin despite maintaining a bearish longer-term outlook.
After sweeping major liquidation levels, BTC could stage a temporary rally before potentially making one final move toward the low $50,000 range.
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The Winklevoss twins have transferred about $67 million worth of Bitcoin and Ethereum to Gemini wallets, with Arkham Intelligence identifying the transactions as matching their usual selling pattern.
Summary
Arkham Intelligence flagged the Winklevoss twins’ $67 million Bitcoin and Ethereum transfers to Gemini as matching previous selloff patterns. Bitcoin remains under pressure as Citigroup cuts its price target and ETF outflows continue weighing on market sentiment. Ethereum holds near key support despite continued treasury purchases from SharpLink and Bitmine failing to offset whale selling. According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss moved roughly $60 million in Bitcoin (BTC) and another $7 million in Ethereum (ETH) from custody to hot wallets linked to the Gemini crypto exchange on July 1. Arkham characterized the transfers as consistent with the twins’ previous selloff behavior, although the firm did not confirm that the assets had already been sold.
THE WINKLEVOSS TWINS ARE SELLING BITCOIN
The Winklevoss Twins just moved $60M of BTC to Gemini, and $7M of ETH. This activity pattern matches usual selling patterns (custody > hot wallet).
The Winklevosses still hold over $300M of BTC. They made ~$1.7 Billion from Bitcoin since… pic.twitter.com/OXtxB2QBqO
— Arkham (@arkham) July 1, 2026 The latest transfers come as Bitcoin and Ethereum continue trading under pressure following quarter-end selling and persistent weakness in investor sentiment. Recent price declines have also coincided with reduced expectations that the CLARITY Act will pass this year after U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed a $1.4 billion crypto-related windfall, a development some market participants have linked to shifting legislative expectations.
Since accumulating Bitcoin in 2015, the Winklevoss twins have realized about $1.7 billion in profit, according to Arkham Intelligence. Despite the latest transfers, they still control more than $300 million worth of Bitcoin. The July movement also follows earlier transfers to Gemini, including about $67.5 million in Bitcoin during June and another $130 million moved in March.
Bitcoin continues to face selling pressure Citigroup has turned more cautious on the two largest cryptocurrencies, lowering its 12-month Bitcoin price target to $82,000 from $112,000 while reducing its Ethereum forecast to $2,240 from $3,175.
Bitcoin fell as low as $57,747 over the past 24 hours before recovering to trade near $58,600. Trading volume rose about 9% during the same period, while June recorded roughly $4.5 billion in net outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, adding to the pressure on market sentiment.
Commenting on current market conditions, crypto analyst Ted Pillows wrote, “Sellers are still dominating, while Coinbase Bitcoin Premium is at its lowest level this cycle.” He added that losing the $57,000-$58,000 support region could expose Bitcoin to a deeper decline toward the $50,000 level.
Ethereum buyers continue accumulating despite weakness Ethereum has also remained under pressure even as several companies continue adding the asset to their corporate treasuries. As previously reported by crypto.news, quarter-end selling, whale distribution, and weak institutional flows have kept Ether pinned near the $1,500 support area despite ongoing buying from public companies.
Corporate accumulation has nevertheless continued. SharpLink recently disclosed the purchase of another 10,000 ETH at an average price of $1,611, spending about $16.1 million to expand its treasury.
Separately, Bitmine acquired 27,084 ETH over the past week, increasing its holdings to more than 5.7 million ETH. According to crypto.news, those purchases have so far failed to offset continued selling by whales and institutional investors.
Ether was trading around $1,572 at the time of writing, down about 1% over the past 24 hours after moving between an intraday low of $1,549 and a high of $1,600. Trading volume also declined during the session.
Crypto.news reported earlier today that the $1,500-$1,510 region remains Ethereum’s most important support zone. A break below that level would invalidate the current consolidation structure and could open the door to declines toward $1,400 before attention turns to the $1,200 area identified by several market participants.
The digital asset market is attracting new attention following the publication of a US financial disclosure linked to Donald Trump’s interests. The document reveals the scale of revenues from crypto, with a significant focus on cryptocurrencies, token sales, and blockchain-related projects. Among the declared assets are Bitcoin and Ethereum, two major sector references. This publication comes as the links between politics, regulation, and the crypto industry are gaining increasing importance in the United States.
In brief TRUMP declares a crypto portfolio exceeding $1.1 billion, notably composed of Bitcoin, Ethereum, tokens and memecoins. Digital assets represent a major source of income, with hundreds of millions of dollars generated by his crypto-related activities. World Liberty Financial plays a central role in his crypto ecosystem, thanks to token sales associated with the platform. The memecoin $TRUMP constitutes one of the main declared revenues, illustrating the growing importance of community tokens in the crypto market. This disclosure rekindles the debate on regulation and transparency, as the links between politics and the cryptocurrency industry attract more attention. The latest financial disclosure filed with the United States Office of Government Ethics provides a detailed overview of TRUMP’s economic interests in the digital asset sector. The document highlights several sources of income related to cryptocurrencies, decentralized platforms, and projects based on blockchain technology.
Here are the main figures from the disclosure that show the financial importance of these activities:
1.4 billion dollars: total declared income by TRUMP for fiscal year 2025. More than 100 million dollars: value of assets declared in Bitcoin and Ethereum. More than 500 million dollars: income generated by World Liberty Financial, the crypto company co-founded by TRUMP with his sons, thanks to token sales. Approximately 635 million dollars: income from the sale of the memecoin $TRUMP. More than 80 million dollars: income from settlements with media companies. 2.3 billion dollars: estimated profits generated by the TRUMP family crypto companies from investors since his return to the presidency, according to earlier Reuters estimates. These amounts show that digital activities now represent a significant element in the overall economic interests declared by TRUMP. His exposure covers multiple market sectors, ranging from major cryptocurrencies to decentralized finance projects and community tokens.
World Liberty Financial holds a special place in this ecosystem. This decentralized finance platform, developed with support from TRUMP family members who hold about 38% of its shares and business partners, fits into a trend aiming to offer new financial services based on blockchain. The activities related to this platform’s tokens are among the main crypto revenue sources mentioned in the disclosure.
The disclosure also presents other income sources from activities outside the digital sector. Agreements with media companies thus complement the various financial sources recorded in the official document.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Strengthen Trump’s Exposure to Digital Assets The presence of Bitcoin in the financial disclosure highlights the role of major cryptocurrencies in TRUMP’s digital portfolio. Alongside Ethereum, these assets represent a significant part of his direct exposure to the crypto market. Their inclusion shows that major digital currencies now occupy a place in the financial strategies of some public figures.
Bitcoin remains one of the most followed assets in the crypto ecosystem thanks to its historic role in the sector’s development. Ethereum keeps a major position due to its use in smart contracts and decentralized applications. These two networks are references for many investors and market companies.
The inclusion of these assets in a presidential disclosure also draws attention to the evolving relationship between the traditional economy and digital finance. Cryptocurrencies are no longer only associated with specialized investors but have become a topic followed by institutions and public officials.
This situation occurs in a context marked by institutional changes in the United States. The publication of the financial disclosure came shortly after a decision by the US Supreme Court concerning the Trump v. Slaughter case and presidential authority over certain independent federal agencies.
The ruling, adopted 6 to 3, overturned the 91-year-old Humphrey’s Executor precedent, which protected these agencies from the White House. According to legal analysts, this concerns the SEC and the CFTC, the main crypto regulators.
This timing heightened questions about Trump’s dual role as both a political decision-maker and a crypto investor. This development could influence how organizations overseeing different economic sectors operate.
Crypto Activities Fuel the Regulation Debate Trump’s digital activities continue to attract attention as the United States seeks to define its approach regarding the crypto industry. Revenues from tokens, memecoins, and digital investments now place virtual assets at the center of economic and political discussions.
In this context, the World Liberty Financial case raises particular concerns. In May 2025, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, MGX, made a $2 billion investment through the company’s USD1 stablecoin, via the Binance platform.
This financial arrangement allegedly allowed funds from a foreign government to be routed through a token that the president’s family helps control. Several Democratic senators have called for hearings on this initiative, citing risks related to foreign influence and governance of such transactions.
The White House has denied any agreement that could have influenced the company, while some lawmakers advocate banning federal officials from participating in such crypto operations.
This situation also reignites debates around financial transparency and potential conflicts of interest. The rapid growth of the crypto sector compels institutions to consider new rules adapted to economic models related to digital assets.
Companies associated with the TRUMP family have experienced significant development in this environment. Previous estimates regarding their financial performance from investors bolster interest in upcoming political and regulatory decisions.
Thus, this financial disclosure marks a new stage in the visibility of cryptocurrencies within economic and political spheres. It shows how digital assets, from Bitcoin and Ethereum to memecoins and decentralized finance, now hold an important place in new financial models. The sector’s future evolution will mainly depend on institutional decisions, actor transparency, and authorities’ capacity to govern digital innovation while maintaining an adapted regulatory framework.
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Ghiles A.
Journaliste et rédacteur web passionné par l’univers des cryptomonnaies et des technologies Web3. J’y traite les dernières tendances et actualités afin de proposer un contenu de haute qualité à un large public du secteur.
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.