Cryptocurrency analyst EGRAG Crypto has shared a fresh perspective on XRP’s long-term technical outlook, posting a chart that removes candlestick fluctuations to focus on major historical market structures. EGRAG Crypto is widely followed for technical insights and has a notable presence on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Key indicators shape XRP’s outlookIn his recent analysis, EGRAG highlighted the 44-week moving average (44 WMA) and the Bull Market Support Band as crucial indicators closely tracking XRP’s major market bottoms in previous cycles. The analyst stated that filtering out short-term price swings allows clearer visibility of recurring patterns, which may hint at XRP’s current placement within the broader market cycle.
EGRAG explained that by observing the asset’s long-term interaction with these support levels, traders and investors can better understand the potential evolution of price movements without being distracted by daily volatility. He believes this approach underscores the significance of historical precedent in technical analysis for cryptocurrencies such as XRP, the digital asset designed for use in global payment settlements by Ripple Labs.
The chart emphasizes how XRP’s behavior around the 44 WMA and Bull Market Support Band has previously coincided with double bottom and triple bottom formations, often seen ahead of long-term price advances.
The chart also features a rising yellow trendline, which EGRAG described as a foundational level of technical support that has remained relevant across several different bull and bear market cycles.
Mini dictionary: 44-week moving average (44 WMA), a technical indicator that averages an asset’s closing prices over the past 44 weeks to identify long-term trends and support/resistance levels.
Historical market formations and current scenariosEGRAG referred to multiple bottoming patterns, including double bottom with higher low, triple bottom with higher low, and other variations that have marked the end of previous XRP downturns. The analyst now sees the potential for another historical setup as XRP’s price action appears to be aligning with these long-term trends.
He described two possible scenarios: the first is a double bottom with a lower low developing around December 2026, which would see XRP retesting previous lows before a reversal; the second scenario involves a double bottom with a higher low near July 2027, with XRP maintaining stronger support above prior lows, suggesting increased market resilience.
ScenarioTimeframeBottom StructureSupport LevelScenario 1December 2026Double bottom (lower low)Retests previous lowsScenario 2July 2027Double bottom (higher low)Holds above previous lowsA third possibility, though less direct according to the analyst, would be the formation of an extended triple bottom at a price level higher than previous cycle lows. EGRAG emphasized that the rising yellow trendline offers a critical technical reference, serving as a consistent support level even as price volatility continues.
EGRAG noted that ongoing interaction with the 44 WMA, Bull Market Support Band, and the rising trendline will help clarify which scenario emerges as XRP develops through the current and coming cycles.
Approach and additional insightsEGRAG stated that this stripped-down charting method avoids noisy price data and instead centers on trend confirmation and repeat historical patterns. The analyst refrained from offering a specific target for XRP, instead favoring a scenario-based outlook guided by significant technical levels and the lessons of past market cycles.
He explained that investors should remain watchful of long-standing support structures, as these may continue to shape price action through 2027. EGRAG advised followers to revisit major technical inflection points, particularly as XRP navigates the latter half of the current cycle.
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.
Hedera (HBAR) showed compressed momentum on its daily price chart, as buyers continued to defend key support zones despite a pattern of smaller highs and lower lows. Technical analysis shared by CryptoWithGopal revealed this price compression is forming a symmetrical triangle, a pattern that often precedes a decisive directional move.
Current price action and market statisticsHBAR traded at $0.06636 during the latest session, with the 24-hour price swinging between $0.06539 and $0.06642. Trading volume for the same period reached approximately $38.38 million, while the total market capitalization stood at $2.91 billion. The circulating supply neared 43.79 billion HBAR, situating Hedera among the larger digital assets by supply and market cap.
The token has retreated sharply from its all-time high of $0.57, recorded on September 15, 2021. This marks a drawdown of roughly 88% from its peak. Recent sessions have reflected a shrinking price range, underscoring a period of consolidation even as HBAR remains under longer-term selling pressure.
Traders observed that HBAR’s current consolidation features a noticeable triangle formation. CryptoWithGopal highlighted that this price compression could be interpreted as a sign that sellers are losing momentum, while buyers continue to uphold support near the $0.065 area. Chart data from TradingView visually underscores this pattern of declining highs and ascending lows.
MetricValue (Last 24h)All-time/ReferenceCurrent price$0.06636$0.57 (ATH, Sep 2021)24h Low / High$0.06539 / $0.06642–Market cap$2.91 billion–24h Volume$38.38 million–Circulating Supply43.79 billion HBAR– Mini dictionary: Hedera is a decentralized network that aims to provide a fast, fair, and secure infrastructure for dApps, powered by its native cryptocurrency, HBAR. It utilizes hashgraph technology rather than traditional blockchains to improve scalability and transaction speed.
Symmetrical triangle and technical setupOn technical charts, a symmetrical triangle forms when a series of higher lows intersects with lower highs, creating a progressively narrower price range. For HBAR, this pattern has been seen with prices fluctuating mainly between $0.065 and $0.067 in recent days, producing daily candles that consistently confirm this narrowing corridor. Such formations are typically associated with a forthcoming breakout that could breach either support or resistance levels once the current lull in volatility ends.
Analysis from TradingView presents the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) signal near the neutral axis. The MACD and its signal line are close together, lacking a distinct cross and indicating muted trend momentum for now.
Additionally, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains steady around 50 to 52 on the daily timeframe, which points to neither overbought nor oversold conditions. This further supports the idea of a consolidating phase for HBAR rather than a clear upward or downward trend.
Trading volume data echoed these findings, as volume levels were consistent with the previous two weeks’ averages, without any notable surges to suggest dominant market conviction. Volatility also remains subdued.
Technical observers noted that the continued lack of strong volume or conviction on either side has contributed to the visible consolidation as HBAR trades within the symmetrical triangle pattern.
Market context and possible outcomesIn the context of HBAR’s current pattern, the symmetrical triangle appears to reflect an ongoing balance between supply and demand. Sellers have not pressed prices further downward, while buyers are still active in defending the lower bounds of the range near $0.065. Analysts such as CryptoWithGopal cautioned that this pattern does not preemptively determine whether a breakout will be upward or downward; rather, a decisive move is likely once volatility increases.
Key areas to watch include the $0.067 to $0.068 range, identified as a potential buy zone if prices manage to break higher. Conversely, a sustained drop below $0.065 could indicate renewed downward momentum and a bearish breakout.
Market data sources, including BraveNewCoin, continued to show that HBAR’s low-volatility environment and narrow trading band are persisting for now. Observers remain attentive to potential shifts in sentiment and broader risk asset trends that could break this consolidation phase and prompt new directional movement.
The ongoing consolidation in HBAR reflects broader indecision among market participants, with neither buyers nor sellers able to gain clear control as technical patterns converge on a pivotal support level.
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.
Uniswap governance is preparing to vote on two proposals that could expand the protocol’s UNI burn by adding new fee sources from Uniswap v4 and Robinhood Chain.
Summary
Uniswap voters will decide whether v4 and Robinhood Chain fees should expand the UNI burn. Robinhood Chain crossed $6 billion in cumulative Uniswap swap volume within ten days of launch. New protocol fees would flow into TokenJar contracts before UNI is burned on Ethereum mainnet. The measures are scheduled for onchain voting from July 19 through July 26.The proposals follow the UNIfication overhaul approved in December 2025, which connected protocol fees to a UNI burn system. Uniswap founder Hayden Adams said current trading activity, especially on Robinhood Chain, could increase the amount of UNI removed from circulation. The votes use an expedited governance process created for later fee updates.
Two votes target v4 and Robinhood Chain fees The official Robinhood Chain protocol fee proposal would activate protocol fees for Uniswap v2 and v3 on the network. Uniswap launched all three versions of its decentralized exchange on Robinhood Chain when the layer-2 network went live on July 1.
According to the proposal, Uniswap deployments on Robinhood Chain crossed $6 billion in cumulative swap volume by July 10. The separate Uniswap v4 fee proposal would activate fees for selected pools on Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, BNB Chain, Polygon, Optimism and Robinhood Chain. A second v4 vote is planned for five other networks.
New protocol fees would feed the UNI burn Both proposals would direct collected protocol fees into Uniswap’s existing TokenJar system. Searchers can claim accumulated fee assets by providing UNI of equal value, which the system then sends to a burn address. UNI collected on other networks is bridged back to Ethereum before it is destroyed.
Adams said in his announcement on X, “Based on current volumes, especially Robinhood, we expect the impact on UNI burn to be substantial.” The proposal documents say protocol fees are already active across v2 and v3 pools on 11 networks. They also record a one-day burn of 186,000 UNI last month.
We just submitted two Uniswap governance proposals for final onchain vote:
(third proposal with remaining v4 chains coming soon)
Both direct all new… pic.twitter.com/NUCXxegnte
— Hayden Adams 🦄 (@haydenzadams) July 17, 2026 As reported by crypto.news, Uniswap had already recorded its largest single-day UNI burn before the latest governance push, showing how higher fee activity can increase the number of tokens removed through the mechanism.
Robinhood Chain activity raises the stakes Robinhood Chain has quickly become a major source of Uniswap trading activity since its July launch. As reported by crypto.news, the network reached $500 million in daily Uniswap volume within eight days and moved behind only Ethereum mainnet for daily activity at that stage.
Crypto.news also reported that Robinhood Chain attracted more than $70 million in bridged Ether during its first week, while total value locked moved above $106 million. The new fee proposals would allow Uniswap governance to capture part of the trading activity generated on the network and route it into the burn mechanism.
The Robinhood proposal uses the same cross-chain governance pattern applied to Arbitrum One. If approved, governance messages would travel from Ethereum to Robinhood Chain, where contracts would redirect the relevant protocol fees toward TokenJar.
Uniswap v4 requires a different fee system Activating fees on v4 requires a different structure because v4 pools can use hooks and dynamic fees. The proposal introduces a V4FeePolicy contract to calculate protocol fees and a V4FeeAdapter to apply governance rules and collect the proceeds.
The first v4 vote covers three categories: static-fee pools, pools launched through continuous clearing auctions and aggregator-hook pools. A later proposal will cover Celo, Soneium, Worldchain, X Layer and Zora because Uniswap’s GovernorBravo contract limits the number of actions in one governance proposal.
Uniswap’s fee-switch model has linked protocol activity with UNI burns since the UNIfication overhaul. The July votes would extend that system to v4 for the first time and add Robinhood Chain’s v2 and v3 activity if governance approves both measures.
Key Takeaways Uniswap community will vote on two critical governance proposals from July 19 through July 26 First proposal introduces v4 protocol fee activation spanning seven blockchain networks Second proposal enables fee collection for v2 and v3 deployments on Robinhood Chain All generated fees will contribute to the active UNI token burn protocol Within just ten days of going live, Robinhood Chain recorded over $6 billion in total Uniswap swap activity The Uniswap decentralized exchange is preparing for a pair of governance decisions that may substantially increase the rate at which UNI tokens are permanently removed from circulation. The voting window begins on July 19 and concludes on July 26.
Uniswap (UNI) Price The initial proposal seeks to implement protocol fee collection on designated Uniswap v4 liquidity pools. The scope encompasses Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, BNB Chain, Polygon, Optimism, and Robinhood Chain. This marks the inaugural governance vote concerning v4 fee activation.
We just submitted two Uniswap governance proposals for final onchain vote:
(third proposal with remaining v4 chains coming soon)
Both direct all new… pic.twitter.com/NUCXxegnte
— Hayden Adams 🦄 (@haydenzadams) July 17, 2026
The companion proposal, introduced by Uniswap’s creator Hayden Adams, aims to enable fee collection for v2 and v3 protocols operating on Robinhood Chain. All three protocol iterations were deployed to the network during its July 1 launch date.
As an Ethereum Layer 2 solution constructed using Arbitrum’s underlying technology, Robinhood Chain achieved a remarkable milestone. Its Uniswap implementations processed more than $6 billion in aggregate swap volume by July 10—a stunning achievement within merely ten days of operation.
Market analyst BATMAN, active on X under the handle @CryptosBatman, drew attention to UNI’s positive trajectory on July 13. He emphasized that UNI serves as the dominant automated market maker powering Robinhood Chain, thereby generating additional protocol revenue. His technical analysis revealed breakout patterns, with a retest level identified as an attractive entry point.
$UNI has been gaining traction.
This is due to the bullish sentiment created by Robinhood.
UNI is the primary automated market maker for Robinhood Chain, which adds more revenue for them.
The chart is pricing it in through a breakout.
A retest would make a solid entry area. pic.twitter.com/DV036wBm0D
— BATMAN ⚡ (@CryptosBatman) July 13, 2026
Each proposal channels collected fee revenue through Uniswap’s TokenJar infrastructure. Under this system, searchers can claim accrued fee assets by submitting an equivalent value in UNI tokens. The submitted UNI is subsequently transferred to a designated burn address for permanent removal. Fee collections originating from alternative chains are bridged to Ethereum mainnet prior to destruction.
Adams stated on X: “Based on current volumes, especially Robinhood, we expect the impact on UNI burn to be substantial.”
Understanding v4 Fee Architecture Implementing fee collection on v4 necessitated developing novel infrastructure components. While v2 and v3 operate with predetermined fee percentages, v4 pools leverage hooks and adaptive fee structures that can fluctuate with each block.
The current proposal establishes a V4FeePolicy contract responsible for fee calculation alongside a V4FeeAdapter that enforces governance parameters. Pools are organized into designated “families” with fees determined through rule-based algorithms rather than individual pool configuration.
An additional v4 voting round addressing five supplementary chains—Celo, Soneium, Worldchain, X Layer, and Zora—will proceed independently. Uniswap’s GovernorBravo smart contract architecture restricts individual proposals to a maximum of ten onchain operations.
UNI Token Burns Leading Up to the Vote The UNI burn framework debuted as a component of the comprehensive “UNIfication” governance reform approved in December 2025 with overwhelming 99.9% community approval. That historic decision enabled fee collection across v2 and v3 pools on Ethereum mainnet while immediately burning 100 million UNI from the protocol treasury.
The initiative has subsequently expanded across 11 blockchain networks. Last month witnessed a historic single-day burn of 186,000 UNI tokens.
UNI is presently trading near the $3.50 price level.
Cover image via depositphotos.com Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Following a more than 100% increase in derivatives market flows, Near Protocol (NEAR) is exhibiting renewed activity, indicating that traders are once again preparing for a bigger move. Fresh capital entering futures markets may indicate that volatility is about to return, even though NEAR has spent the last few weeks consolidating following its explosive rally in May and June.
Liquidity is growingRecent futures flow data shows that NEAR saw a net inflow of about $1.7 million during the four-hour period, which is a 242% increase. With net inflows of $1.78 million and growth of more than 200%, the eight-hour period also remained steadily positive. When traders start opening new positions ahead of expected market movement, such spikes usually signify increased speculative interest.
NEAR/USDT Chart by TradingViewWhen combined with growing open interest across major exchanges, the derivatives picture becomes even more intriguing. Despite a recent slowdown in spot market volume, open interest remains high, and Binance, Bybit, and MEXC continue to dominate NEAR trading activity. When traders prepare for a directional breakout during accumulation phases, this divergence frequently appears.
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Near might be stuckTechnically speaking, NEAR is still stuck between important moving averages and is currently trading at about $1.93. After failing to maintain a move above the $2.00-$2.10 range, where the 50-day moving average continues to serve as resistance, the asset recently lost momentum. Bulls, however, continue to have a significant advantage because the price is still above the 100-day and 200-day trend indicators in the $1.80-$1.85 range.
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The chart also shows that, in contrast to the extreme fluctuations observed in May and June, volatility has considerably decreased. Sharp directional movements have historically followed such contraction periods. This indecision is reflected in the Relative Strength Index near 48, which is essentially in neutral territory and allows for either bullish or bearish expansion.
Regaining $2.05 would probably give bulls fresh momentum and possibly pave the way for the $2.30-$2.50 range. On the downside, losing support at $1.80 would render the existing recovery structure invalid and put NEAR at greater risk of a retracement.
NEAR appears to be entering a phase where the next volatility expansion could happen sooner rather than later, as futures flows have accelerated by more than 100% while the price remains compressed. Traders are already positioning themselves for it.
TLDR: NEAR Protocol futures flows increased sharply across four-hour and eight-hour periods, showing renewed speculative activity despite limited spot market momentum. NEAR price trades near $1.93 and faces a dense resistance cluster between $1.94 and $2.10, where several short-term averages restrict recovery attempts. A confirmed move above $2.05 could support an advance toward $2.30 and $2.50, while losing $1.80 may weaken the current recovery structure. Rising ecosystem liquidity, higher open interest, and compressed volatility suggest traders are preparing for a larger directional move in the futures market. NEAR Protocol futures flows have accelerated while the token trades near $1.93. The increase shows that derivatives traders are opening fresh positions during a period of narrow price movement.
Four-hour net inflows reached about $1.7 million, representing a 242% increase. Eight-hour flows also exceeded $1.78 million after rising more than 200%. Meanwhile, NEAR price remains trapped below a cluster of short-term moving averages.
The combination of rising derivatives activity and falling volatility creates a sensitive technical setup. Traders now watch $2.05 for bullish confirmation and $1.80 for signs of a deeper decline.
NEAR Protocol Futures Flows Rise During Price Compression NEAR Protocol futures flows have more than doubled across several short trading periods. The move signals stronger interest from leveraged traders after weeks of consolidation.
Source: Coinglass Open interest also stays elevated across Binance, Bybit, and MEXC. Those exchanges account for a large share of NEAR derivatives activity. However, spot trading volume shows less conviction.
Binance recorded around $11.6 million in daily spot volume. That level offers limited support for a lasting breakout without a clear rise in demand.
Funding rates near 0.0065% remain broadly neutral. Therefore, perpetual traders have not built an extreme long or short bias. This reduces immediate squeeze pressure but leaves room for positioning to expand quickly.
On-chain figures provide another source of support. The NEAR ecosystem’s total value locked rose 61.21% over the past week. Decentralized exchange volume increased by almost 100% during the same period.
Protocol fees showed little movement despite the liquidity increase. This suggests much of the activity may reflect capital rotation rather than sustained network usage.
NEAR also introduced Confidential Intents through its Infinex integration on July 18. The product enables private cross-chain swaps and deposits. Still, daily trading volume fell, limiting its immediate effect on NEAR price.
NEAR Price Faces a Breakout Test Near the Two Dollar Level NEAR price trades below several closely grouped indicators. The seven-day simple moving average stands near $1.96, while the 20-day average sits around $1.94.
The 12-day and 26-day exponential moving averages also cluster near $1.95 and $1.96. This narrow resistance wall explains why buyers have struggled to secure a daily close above $2.00.
Momentum indicators show limited directional strength. The Relative Strength Index sits near 48, placing NEAR in neutral territory. The MACD histogram rests near zero, while the MACD line holds slightly negative.
The Stochastic indicator near 32 and 25 points to weaker momentum without showing extreme oversold conditions. Bollinger Bands place support near $1.79 and resistance around $2.09.
Source: TradingView A daily close above $1.96 would improve short-term momentum. Bulls would still need to reclaim $2.05 with stronger trading volume. That move could open the path toward $2.30 and $2.50.
Failure to hold the $1.90 area may expose $1.86. A break below $1.80 would damage the recovery structure and increase the risk of a move toward $1.74. The 200-day moving average near $1.58 marks the broader structural support.
Belgium has officially earned the title of the most physically demanding team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, covering more total distance than any other squad through the knockout stages.
Belgium’s numbers are genuinely absurd Youri Tielemans leads the individual distance charts with 61.8 kilometers covered through the tournament’s quarterfinal stage.
Timothy Castagne posted perhaps the most jaw-dropping single stat of the tournament: 16.29 kilometers in a single match. The average professional footballer covers around 10-11 km per game, which makes Castagne’s output look like he was playing a different sport entirely.
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Spain’s Rodri has actually logged a higher total distance of 71.17 km according to alternative tracking metrics, though Belgium’s collective effort across the full squad is what sets them apart.
Where crypto enters the picture The 2026 World Cup marks the deepest integration of cryptocurrency sponsorship in FIFA history. Kraken holds the title of Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for the tournament across both North America and Europe.
W26, a World Cup-themed memecoin built on Solana, has seen active trading throughout the tournament. The token essentially lets fans speculate on World Cup hype as a tradeable asset.
The fan engagement thesis The 2026 World Cup suggests the market has found a different entry point from structured fan tokens. Rather than structured fan tokens with governance rights, the engagement is flowing through memecoins and exchange-level sponsorships.
The risk, as always with event-driven tokens, is that the music stops when the final whistle blows. Traders piling into W26 or similar tokens should understand they’re trading momentum, not fundamentals.
Kraken’s FIFA partnership and the organic emergence of World Cup memecoins represent two very different expressions of the same underlying trend: digital assets are becoming embedded in how fans experience live events.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Solana (SOL) is trading near $75.44 after a modest 24-hour recovery, as buyers focus on defending a critical support level following a recent pullback. The asset’s market capitalization stands at approximately $43.95 billion, with daily trading volume close to $880 million, as reported by Brave New Coin data.
Key support at $74.50 under scrutinyOver the past day, SOL rebounded from a session low of $74.54, returning to the higher end of its intraday range. Market participants remain attentive to the $74.50 area, which has become a pivotal line for the current recovery structure. Analyst Trader Symba identified this level as essential support, warning that a break below could see Solana retrace gains from its move starting near $64.
Holding above $74.50 is viewed as crucial for maintaining bullish momentum. If buyers sustain this area, Solana may aim for higher resistance levels. However, a decisive breach below could result in renewed selling pressure and a further test of lower supports.
Defending the $74.50 zone is critical for Solana’s short-term outlook and recovery potential. Losing this support could quickly shift sentiment and trigger deeper retracements.
Support/ResistancePrice LevelKey Support$74.50Immediate Resistance$76.05 / $76.82 / $78.64Next Major Target$80.83Higher Target$84.18Wedge pattern signals breakout potentialTechnical chartist Anglio shared that SOL is currently consolidating within a descending pattern, with price action indicating a potential move higher from its recent support. If Solana breaks above resistance at $76.05, $76.82, and $78.64, analysts expect an advance towards $80.83 and $84.18 as the next hurdles.
The immediate goal for buyers is to reclaim the $76–$78 region. Achieving this would likely pave the way towards the $80 barrier, which remains an important short-term target among traders.
Macro view: Deeper correction or cycle breakout?From a broader perspective, analyst CryptoAmsterdam outlined a scenario where SOL might undergo a larger correction before a sustained uptrend. The macro chart suggests a possible final retest in the $30 to $20 accumulation zone if there is a further market downturn. This area represents a potential opportunity for long-term participants should significant weakness return.
On the upside, reclaiming higher trading ranges after such a retracement could set the stage for a major upside expansion, with chart projections pointing towards the $400 level by 2027 or 2028.
Mini dictionary: CryptoAmsterdam is a pseudonymous cryptocurrency market analyst known for sharing long-term technical insights and macro-structural charts on major digital assets.
Long-term outlook: $100 breakout and beyondAnalyst James Easton presented a long-term bullish thesis, noting that SOL is consolidating within a broad range, with $100 marking the first key breakout level. While short-term movements will remain important, breaking through $100 would open the door to a potential multi-phase rally, with $1,000 seen as an eventual long-term target if positive momentum persists over the coming cycle.
If SOL pushes above $100 and sustains momentum, a broader cycle expansion could eventually bring four-digit price levels into focus.
For now, immediate attention is set on whether Solana will defend the $74.50 support and reclaim resistance in the $76–$78 area. A move past $80.83 and $84.18 would set the stage for renewed discussions around the $90–$100 price band.
Failure to hold $74.50 may expose SOL to a deeper decline towards the $70 area, and potentially even the $64 level, as flagged in previous technical analyses.
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.
Key TakeawaysNetwork Evolution and Technical AdvancementsCompetitive Pressures and Economic Model Questions ETH currently sits around the $1,870 price level US-based spot Ethereum ETFs have launched, providing institutional and retail access Recent network enhancements have doubled capacity while slashing mainnet transaction costs to under $0.02 Rival platforms like Solana present formidable competition with superior speed and affordability Scaling solutions on layer-2 networks may not directly translate to ETH price appreciation Within the cryptocurrency landscape, Ethereum maintains its position as the second-largest digital asset following Bitcoin. While Bitcoin serves primarily as a store of value and digital gold, Ethereum functions as the foundational layer powering decentralized applications, DeFi protocols, stablecoin infrastructure, and tokenized real-world assets.
Ethereum (ETH) Price This expansive functionality positions ETH as an attractive long-term holding, though it doesn’t automatically ensure upward price momentum.
The current market price for ETH stands near $1,870.
Network Evolution and Technical Advancements Research published in 2026 revealed that Ethereum’s latest protocol improvements successfully doubled the network’s transaction processing capacity throughout both its base layer and layer-2 infrastructure. The median cost for mainnet transactions plummeted from above $2 to less than $0.02. Meanwhile, layer-2 transaction fees experienced reductions exceeding 95%.
The implementation of specialized data structures known as “blobs” drove these improvements, dramatically reducing operational costs for Ethereum-compatible rollup solutions including Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism.
July 2024 marked a milestone when spot Ethereum ETFs commenced trading across US markets. This development positioned ETH alongside Bitcoin as accessible investment vehicles through traditional brokerage platforms and tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Additionally, Ethereum operates on a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, enabling token holders to generate passive income through network validation. This characteristic gives ETH yield-generating properties that Bitcoin lacks.
Competitive Pressures and Economic Model Questions The most significant headwind facing Ethereum stems from intensifying blockchain competition. Solana delivers superior transaction speeds and minimal fees within a unified ecosystem, eliminating the complexity of bridging across multiple layer-2 solutions.
Data from 21Shares indicates that Solana accumulated roughly $2.85 billion in total revenue during the twelve-month period from October 2024 through September 2025.
A fundamental concern revolves around economic value accrual. While reduced fees on layer-2 platforms enhance user experience, they simultaneously diminish revenue flowing to Ethereum’s base layer. This creates a scenario where Ethereum could underpin substantial economic activity without corresponding ETH price appreciation.
Industry analysts have additionally identified concerning levels of consolidation among Ethereum block producers, sparking debates about potential centralization vulnerabilities within critical network components.
Historical price action demonstrates that ETH exhibits significant volatility and has periodically lagged Bitcoin’s performance throughout various market phases.
Key Takeaways Ethereum maintains its position as the dominant platform with strong institutional backing and a mature decentralized application network Solana offers superior transaction speed and cost efficiency, with fees averaging just $0.00025 per transaction Both blockchains now have spot ETF products available in the United States, leveling the institutional playing field Stablecoin volume on Solana has surged past $11 billion, with monthly transaction counts exceeding 200 million While both represent high-risk investments, Ethereum is generally viewed as the more conservative choice for long-term portfolios While Ethereum and Solana both function as smart-contract platforms, their technological approaches and investor appeal differ significantly.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Ethereum represents the veteran in this comparison. The network supports an extensive collection of decentralized applications, stablecoins, and tokenized real-world assets. Its scaling philosophy centers on layer-2 solutions that process transactions off the main blockchain while leveraging Ethereum’s base layer for final settlement and security guarantees.
Throughout 2024, regulatory approval of spot Ethereum exchange-traded products in the United States created new pathways for mainstream adoption. Investors can now access ETH exposure through conventional brokerage platforms and tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Future development plans for Ethereum include technical enhancements such as PeerDAS and increased blob capacity, both designed to accommodate higher volumes of layer-2 transaction processing.
A critical challenge facing Ethereum investors involves the economics of value accrual. With growing transaction volumes migrating to layer-2 solutions, the base layer captures diminishing fee revenue.
User experience complexity presents another hurdle. Participants frequently navigate between different networks, utilize cross-chain bridges, and handle multiple token variants across various layers.
Why Solana Emphasizes Performance Solana operates as a monolithic blockchain without depending on secondary scaling layers. This architectural choice streamlines the overall user experience.
Solana (SOL) Price Transaction costs on the network remain remarkably minimal. Standard operations cost approximately $0.00025. This pricing structure positions Solana favorably for applications requiring high-frequency, low-cost interactions — including decentralized exchanges, blockchain gaming, payment systems, and NFT marketplaces.
The Solana network has witnessed explosive growth in stablecoin adoption. According to the Solana Foundation, stablecoin circulation on the platform has exceeded $11 billion, with monthly transaction volumes surpassing 200 million.
Access points for institutional capital have expanded considerably. Investment products from firms like 21Shares, Grayscale, and Bitwise now provide American investors with regulated SOL exposure, including vehicles that incorporate staking rewards.
This development has significantly reduced Ethereum’s historical edge in attracting institutional investment flows.
Understanding the Risk Profile Solana faces heightened implementation challenges. The ecosystem has demonstrated considerable dependence on speculative trading dynamics, particularly within the memecoin sector. Network activity may contract substantially during bearish market conditions.
Ethereum confronts a distinct set of challenges. While the layer-2 approach enhances transaction throughput, it simultaneously fragments liquidity and complicates the user journey. Long-term questions remain about the proportion of economic value that ultimately accrues to ETH token holders.
Investment Implications Risk-averse cryptocurrency investors may find Ethereum represents a more suitable foundation for portfolio allocation. The platform benefits from operational longevity, established infrastructure networks, and mature relationships with institutional participants.
Solana presents potentially higher appreciation potential, accompanied by increased price volatility and ecosystem uncertainty.
Many sophisticated investors adopt a dual-allocation strategy — capturing Ethereum’s network effects while participating in Solana’s rapid ecosystem expansion. Regardless of approach, both assets remain fundamentally speculative with substantial downside risk potential.
Key TakeawaysSolana: Performance, Scalability, and Corporate PartnershipsChainlink: Critical Data InfrastructureOndo Finance: Bridging Traditional Assets and BlockchainEvaluating the Top Choice Solana stands as a leading Ethereum alternative with partnerships from Visa, PayPal, and Worldpay Chainlink delivers critical oracle services that connect blockchain networks to real-world data feeds Ondo Finance’s tokenized asset platform exceeded $500 million across more than 200 different assets Each token offers substantial utility but comes with significant volatility exposure An optimal portfolio strategy would allocate the most to Solana, with smaller allocations to Chainlink and Ondo As cryptocurrency investors prepare for the next major market rally, attention is shifting toward projects demonstrating tangible utility and measurable adoption. Three altcoins standing out in this landscape are Solana, Chainlink, and Ondo Finance, according to market analysts.
Solana: Performance, Scalability, and Corporate Partnerships Solana has established itself as a formidable Ethereum rival. The platform’s architecture enables rapid processing of high transaction volumes at minimal cost, supporting use cases including decentralized exchanges, payment systems, stablecoin transfers, and blockchain gaming.
Solana (SOL) Price Solana’s primary strength lies in its unified architecture. Applications operate within a single ecosystem, avoiding the complexity Ethereum users face when navigating between the mainnet and various layer-2 scaling solutions.
This streamlined experience has captured the interest of prominent payment processors and financial institutions. According to Solana’s official website, partners include Visa, PayPal, Circle, Western Union, and Worldpay.
The SOL token serves multiple network functions: paying for transactions, staking for network security, and governance participation. Increased on-chain activity could potentially drive greater demand for the token.
However, significant risks remain. Historically, much of Solana’s transaction volume stemmed from memecoins and high-risk speculation, which typically evaporates during market downturns. The network has experienced outages previously, although stability has noticeably improved in recent periods.
Chainlink: Critical Data Infrastructure Chainlink functions as essential infrastructure within the decentralized finance ecosystem. Smart contracts require external information such as asset prices, benchmark rates, and proof-of-reserves verification—services that Chainlink’s oracle infrastructure delivers.
Chainlink (LINK) Price Chainlink is now expanding into traditional finance sectors. Its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) aims to enable financial institutions to move data and tokenized assets seamlessly across disparate blockchain platforms.
This strategic pivot positions Chainlink as foundational technology for the emerging tokenization movement beyond just DeFi applications. As financial instruments potentially migrate across multiple blockchain networks and private ledgers, reliable data connectivity could become indispensable.
The critical uncertainty involves whether Chainlink’s expanding network usage translates directly into increased LINK token demand. This relationship isn’t automatically guaranteed.
Major financial players might develop proprietary infrastructure solutions, while competing oracle providers are actively pursuing the same market opportunities.
Ondo Finance: Bridging Traditional Assets and Blockchain Ondo Finance specializes in blockchain-based representations of conventional assets, including US Treasury securities, equities, and exchange-traded funds.
Ondo Price In January 2026, Ondo announced its tokenized stock platform reached over $500 million in aggregate value spanning more than 200 different assets, with cumulative trading volume surpassing $7 billion since the platform’s September 2025 debut.
The company also established a partnership with Broadridge to introduce a compliant US-based solution for tokenized third-party securities. Qualified token holders now gain access to shareholder voting privileges, effectively linking blockchain technology to traditional regulated financial markets.
Should asset tokenization achieve widespread adoption in mainstream finance, Ondo could capture significant market share. However, the ONDO token doesn’t represent company equity. Token holders don’t directly benefit from the platform’s revenue or profits.
Additional concerns include scheduled token unlock events, evolving regulatory frameworks, and potential competition from established banks and asset management firms. Market observers suggest ONDO functions better as a smaller speculative allocation rather than a portfolio cornerstone.
Evaluating the Top Choice Solana presents the most comprehensive package of network activity and institutional adoption. Chainlink offers diversified infrastructure exposure spanning multiple blockchain ecosystems. Ondo represents the highest-risk proposition but potentially the greatest reward if asset tokenization accelerates.
All three assets exhibit substantial price volatility. Even robust fundamental strengths provide limited protection during widespread crypto market corrections.
Solana is maintaining its position at the lower end of its ascending price structure, with a potential recovery targeting the $83 to $90 range. Analysts note that a clear breakout above this zone could open the path toward $106, while a drop below $72 may signal a weakening trend for the cryptocurrency.
Solana Defends Key Demand ZoneAfter rebounding from sharp selling pressure in June, Solana (SOL) has reclaimed the five-month range that has defined its price movements since February. The critical demand zone between $72 and $75 remains in focus, as holding this area could establish a higher low and facilitate another move toward $83 to $85, followed by the range high around $106.
The broader trading range for SOL extends from $67.50 to $106. Although the token briefly dipped below this lower limit during the June sell-off, buyers managed a swift recovery, preventing a sustained breakdown. Most trading activity has been concentrated between $78 and $92, with the highest volume transacted near $85. Market observers highlight that a daily close above the June peaks near $83 could reintroduce price action to this high-volume area, supporting the case for a return toward the $106 resistance.
Solana’s ability to maintain support above $72–$75 is crucial, as this could confirm formation of a higher low and set the stage for renewed upward movement toward $83 and beyond.
In the short term, bulls are focused on defending $72 to $75 and regaining the $76 to $78 level. This would suggest that the recent pullback is corrective and not the beginning of a new downtrend. Conversely, failing to hold these levels may strengthen bearish sentiment and risk further declines.
Channel Structure and Resistance ZonesSolana is currently retesting the base of a broader ascending channel after a controlled retreat from the $83 price region. Maintaining this support could help preserve the bullish structure and potentially power a move toward $90.
Recent weakness for SOL has unfolded within a smaller, descending channel, indicating that the retracement could be corrective. A breakout above this local channel, particularly if SOL reclaims the $77 to $78 area, would be a sign that buyers are regaining momentum. A successful move could lift SOL toward the $82 to $84 resistance, where the last significant rally paused, and then potentially toward the upper channel boundary near $88 to $90.
A decisive close above $83 to $85 would reinforce the bullish trend, but price action may remain volatile until Solana can sustain levels above $106, potentially signaling a trajectory toward $150 later in the cycle.
However, the bullish case remains contingent on defending the $74 to $75 zone. A firm break below the channel may leave SOL exposed to the $72 level, with more substantial support found between $68 and $70. Should Solana lose support below $71 and revisit June lows near $62, it could invalidate the recovery structure and shift momentum further in favor of sellers.
Mini dictionary: Ascending channel, a chart pattern characterized by higher highs and higher lows, indicating that an asset is trading within parallel upward-sloping lines. This pattern suggests a prevailing bullish trend as long as price stays within the channel.
LevelSupport / ResistanceSignificance$67.50SupportLower boundary of trading range$72–$75Key supportPotential higher low$76–$78Near-term resistanceSignals return of buyers$83–$85Major resistanceFormer rally high$88–$90Channel resistanceUpper boundary target$106Range highCycle resistance$62SupportJune low, recovery invalidated if lostDisclaimer: 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.
England’s third-place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the best result for the Three Lions since their lone championship in 1966. Head coach Thomas Tuchel wasn’t exactly popping champagne about it.
“We barely allow ourselves to be proud of this achievement, because our goal was to reach the final and win the World Cup,” Tuchel said after the match.
Fan tokens rode the knockout stages hard The expanded 48-team format of the 2026 World Cup meant more matches, more drama, and, crucially, more trading catalysts for fan tokens built on the Chiliz blockchain. Six national teams competing in the tournament had official fan tokens on the Chiliz-powered Socios.com platform, including $ARG, $SPAIN, $SAFA, and $BELG.
England didn’t have an official token on the platform.
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Crypto-native platforms reported measurable spikes in trading activity aligned with match outcomes, particularly as the tournament entered its knockout rounds.
The most dramatic on-chain event came courtesy of Spain. Following their quarter-final victory, 1.16 million $SPAIN tokens were burned, the largest single fan-token burn of the tournament. Those tokens were permanently removed from circulation, reducing supply and making remaining tokens more scarce.
Argentina’s $ARG token saw significant trading surges during England’s knockout matches, illustrating how even indirect rivalries and bracket positioning can move digital asset volumes.
The Chiliz ecosystem gets its quadrennial spotlight For Chiliz and its native CHZ token, the World Cup functions like a once-every-four-years marketing event. The underlying premise is straightforward: fans buy tokens tied to their favorite teams, which grant access to polls, rewards, and other engagement features.
Fan token prices have historically shown strong correlation with on-pitch results. The 2026 tournament was no exception, with price volatility tracking match outcomes in near real-time across multiple tokens.
The 48-team format added roughly a third more matches compared to the previous 32-team structure.
What this means for crypto investors The $SPAIN burn of 1.16 million tokens demonstrated that protocol-level mechanics, like supply reduction tied to team performance, can add a structural dimension beyond pure speculation.
Fan tokens have historically struggled with sustained interest between major competitions, leaving holders exposed to prolonged periods of declining volume and liquidity.
The absence of an official England fan token during a tournament where England achieved its best result in 60 years represents a notable gap in the market. Traders watching the CHZ token itself should note that the underlying infrastructure token tends to benefit from aggregate activity across all fan tokens on the platform.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Lionel Messi, 39 years old and somehow still running circles around defenders half his age, has all but whispered the R-word. After guiding Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner told reporters he’s “really very tired, just like my other friends,” a statement that landed somewhere between candid exhaustion and thinly veiled farewell.
The crypto market heard it loud and clear. The $ARG fan token, tied to the Argentine Football Association and trading on the Chiliz blockchain through Socios.com, has seen its trading volume spike up to 300% in correlation with Argentina’s knockout-stage wins.
The Messi effect on fan tokens Here’s the thing about fan tokens: they exist in a strange liminal space between sports memorabilia and speculative assets. The $ARG token lets holders vote on minor club decisions and access exclusive content. In English: it’s a digital membership card that also happens to fluctuate in price based on how well a national team performs in a given week.
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And right now, Argentina is performing very well. The team, co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico in the expanded 48-team format, has fought its way to the final. Every win has sent $ARG volume higher, creating a real-time feedback loop between athletic performance and market activity.
Messi himself isn’t just a passive figure in this ecosystem. He signed a multi-year ambassador deal with Socios.com reportedly worth over $20 million, a partnership that’s been running since 2022. That deal makes him one of the most prominent athletes directly tied to blockchain-based fan engagement.
What retirement speculation means for the market Messi’s comments about fatigue have introduced a variable that traders in the fan-token space haven’t had to price in before: the possibility that the single greatest driver of $ARG sentiment might walk away from the sport entirely.
Messi has been coy about finality before. He’s taking his career “day by day,” leaving the door technically open for the 2030 World Cup, when he’d be 43. As long as Messi doesn’t definitively retire, the $ARG token retains a narrative catalyst that few other fan tokens can match.
The bigger picture for sports and crypto The Messi-Socios relationship represents something larger than one ambassador deal. It’s a template for how blockchain technology is embedding itself into sports fandom. The 2026 World Cup itself has amplified this dynamic. With 48 teams competing across three host nations, the tournament has generated more matches, more storylines, and more opportunities for fan-token engagement than any prior World Cup.
For investors watching the fan-token space, the key takeaway isn’t whether $ARG goes up or down after the final. It’s whether the model works without its most famous participant. If Messi retires and $ARG volume collapses, it suggests fan tokens are personality-driven speculative instruments with limited staying power. If volume holds because the infrastructure and fan habits are already established, it suggests something more durable is being built.
The over $20 million Socios paid Messi was always a bet on legitimacy by association. The question now is whether that legitimacy survives his departure from the pitch.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
England just beat France 6-4 in what might be the most entertaining third-place match in World Cup history. Manager Thomas Tuchel called it a “first step” toward joining football’s elite. But for crypto traders, the real story isn’t happening on the pitch in Miami. It’s happening on fan token platforms where match outcomes are moving prices in real time.
The July 18 third-place playoff at the 2026 FIFA World Cup didn’t just give England a bronze medal finish. It sent trading volumes spiking across Chiliz-powered fan tokens, as the crypto-sports ecosystem continues its increasingly codependent relationship with the beautiful game.
The match, the market, and the missing token Here’s the thing about England’s World Cup run: despite being one of football’s most commercially valuable national teams, England doesn’t have a dedicated fan token on the Chiliz platform. That’s a notable gap, given that several other national teams already offer tokenized fan engagement through CHZ’s infrastructure.
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The absence created an interesting dynamic during the tournament. Rather than trading an England-specific token, crypto participants redirected their activity toward tokens associated with competing nations. Argentina’s fan token ($ARG) saw notable percentage swings tied to key match outcomes throughout the tournament, essentially becoming a proxy trade for World Cup sentiment.
Chiliz itself saw increased trading volumes as the tournament progressed, a pattern consistent with previous major sporting events where fan token platforms tend to experience activity spikes.
Tuchel’s tactical vindication and what it means for tokenized sports Tuchel had faced criticism after England’s semi-final loss to Argentina, with questions swirling about his tactical approach. The decisive win over France provided some measure of redemption.
Still, Tuchel wasn’t entirely satisfied with the occasion itself. He stated that the third-place playoff “should never be played,” a sentiment shared by many in football who view the match as a consolation prize nobody actually wants.
Fan tokens have created a parallel financial layer where team performance directly influences token prices, turning casual viewers into de facto market participants. Kraken’s partnership with FIFA for the 2026 World Cup highlights how major crypto exchanges are positioning themselves as sponsors of the world’s biggest sporting events.
What this means for investors The fact that England, one of the most-watched teams in world football, still lacks a Chiliz fan token represents both a gap and an opportunity. The risk cuts both ways: tokens tied to national teams can experience sharp drawdowns when results disappoint, and the liquidity in many fan token markets remains thin enough that exits during volatile moments can be painful. Argentina’s $ARG token swings during the tournament illustrate this perfectly: the same volatility that creates opportunity also creates risk for anyone caught on the wrong side of a penalty shootout.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
A few hours before the World Cup final played this Sunday at MetLife Stadium, another match is taking place far from the pitch. Prediction platforms have already recorded $5.57 billion in cumulative trading volumes, an unprecedented level that far exceeds the world of traditional sports betting. This rush to predictive markets illustrates the rise of a new ecosystem where decentralized finance, regulated event contracts, and football passion converge. Such a shift could redefine how the public anticipates major sporting events.
In brief $5.5 billion wagered on the Spain–Argentina final. Spain dominates predictive market forecasts. Polymarket and Kalshi concentrate strong activity around the match. Traders anticipate a clear victory for the Spanish team. Spain crowned favorite by Polymarket and Kalshi order books The numbers verdict shows a perfect convergence between decentralized finance and centralized platforms. Volumes and probabilities are distributed precisely as follows :
Polymarket : the main contract linked to the final winner of the competition recorded a historic business volume of $4.28 billion, with a Spanish share trading at 59 cents against 40 cents for Argentina ; Kalshi : the market dedicated to the final captured $1.25 billion in transactions (out of a total of $1.29 billion for its World Cup category), valuing Spain at 59% chance of victory against 41.6% for the Albiceleste ; Platform consensus : both interfaces show an identical estimate concerning the probabilities of Spain winning the title, stabilized at 59%. Behind this apparent uniformity of odds, capital flows reveal a major behavioral divergence among operators. Polymarket traders have indeed committed $123.5 million on a favorable outcome for Spain, against a higher amount of $158 million backed on Argentina.
This configuration indicates that the speculative money supply massively chooses to support the underdog, hoping for a higher return on investment despite a lower mathematical probability. Kalshi also allows refining predictions by isolating regulation time, excluding extra time and penalty kicks. In this strict framework, the Spanish victory falls to 43%, the draw stands at 32%, and the Argentine victory at 28%.
The battle of stars : intense speculation on the individual crowning of soccer stars Beyond team fate, secondary markets focus with unprecedented intensity on the individual performances of key players. The best player of the tournament trophy enjoys an almost absolute consensus for Lionel Messi. The Argentine captain collects a 91% evaluation on Polymarket, supported by $11 million in volume.
On the Kalshi platform side, on-chain data shows that the trend remains identical with 90% probability in his favor, relegating Spanish midfielder Rodri to a marginal score of only 6% of the votes on the $5.73 million of recorded transactions. This stock market hegemony illustrates the impact of individuals on Web3 financial markets.
The race for the competition’s top scorer title, however, is much more competitive and uncertain against Kylian Mbappé. Lionel Messi is valued at 57 cents against 42 cents for the French forward on the Polymarket platform, a market that has already generated $66 million in global volume.
On Kalshi, the gap narrows slightly with an estimate of 56% for the Argentine against 44% for the Frenchman, for a trading volume of $21.67 million. Goalkeepers also face traders’ arbitration: the trophy clearly leans towards Unai Simon, rated at 85 cents on Polymarket and 83% on Kalshi, while Emiliano Martinez stagnates at 15%. Finally, the Fair Play award places Norway ahead at 79% on Polymarket and 80% on Kalshi.
Behind the scenes at MetLife Stadium: ticket prices, audiences, and geopolitical uncertainties The third dimension of this financial confrontation concerns the purely logistical, cultural, and structural aspects of the event. The announced presence of US President Donald Trump in the stands of MetLife Stadium is almost certain on the order books. Polymarket estimates this probability at 97% on a volume of $855,000.
Kalshi shows a very close statistic at 96%, but supported by a much larger financial mass amounting to $6.14 million. Predictions on the minimum entry cost at the stadium vary. Polymarket estimates a 45% chance of a ticket between $7,500 and $8,000 or over $9,000, while Kalshi forecasts a 52% chance of a starting price above $9,500.
Major gaps also appear in markets dedicated to the halftime show and TV audiences. Kalshi favors a performance by singer Sabrina Carpenter at 23% and Swae Lee at 18% for a volume of $3.59 million. Oppositely, Polymarket traders place massive trust in Shakira and her song “Dai Dai” at 73%, far ahead of BTS’s “Dynamite” rated at 45%, and Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” at 34%.
Regarding American territory viewership, Kalshi estimates a 66% chance of exceeding the threshold of 42 million viewers for this World Cup final. Polymarket’s decentralized order book is much more conservative, assigning only a 28% chance to the hypothesis of an audience surpassing 58 million individuals.
In light of these numerical data, the explosion of trading volumes on order books demonstrates that predictive markets are now imposing themselves as sociological and financial analysis tools much more agile and reactive than traditional polls. However, the strictest caution remains necessary for risk managers and speculators, as markets can be heavily mistaken about this World Cup final.
A large number of bettors on predictive markets and bookmakers had placed a lot of money on a French victory, which ultimately turned into a huge failure. The final financial settlement will depend exclusively on the official FIFA reports. This technological maturity lays major milestones for the future. In case of flawless operational success during this final, these decentralized and centralized platforms could definitively establish themselves as indispensable coverage and pricing infrastructures for the sports, entertainment, and international major risk management industries.
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Luc Jose A.
Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
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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.
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.
JasmyCoin (JASMY) trades at around $0.0045. Trading volume has skyrocketed by over 300%. JasmyCoin (JASMY) has rised 3.66% in value, currently trading at $0.004532, with its trading volume skyrocketing 367%, settling at $25.86 million. The asset’s chart is printing a Double Top, two rejections at the same resistance level with sellers stepping in hard both times.
Also, the buyers have tried and failed to push to new highs, and that pattern carries a clear bearish message until proven otherwise. The neckline is the level that matters most right now. A confirmed break below it opens the door to increased downside momentum and a more sustained selloff.
If bulls reclaim the recent highs and break the multi-resistance area cleanly, the Double Top gets invalidated, and a steady rally of over 10% becomes a target. Moreover, the market sentiment of JASMY sits at a bearish bias until buyers reclaim resistance.
Will JasmyCoin Extend Its Gains or Lose Momentum? The four-hour trading session of JASMY displayed a positive trend, and its immediate resistance range might be at around $0.004605. If the bulls gained more traction, the upside pressure continues, and initiates the formation of the golden cross. Gradually, it would target a crucial price level above $0.0047.
On the contrary, once the bears take control of the JasmyCoin market, the risk of loss can be expected, with the price might retrace back to the support zone of $0.0044. A sustained correction on the downside triggers the death cross to unfold, and the potential bears may send the asset’s price below $0.004321.
In addition, JASMY’s Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and signal lines are above the zero line. It confirms that the short-term moving average is trading higher than its long-term average. The buyers have control of the macro market direction.
Any minor price drops could be a healthy pullback within an ongoing uptrend rather than a structural reversal. The primary market forces are working to push the price higher, and the path of least resistance remains upward.
The daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) value staying at 57.34 hints at a solid, bullish condition. As it is above the 50 midline, the upward price momentum is dominant, and buyers are driving the market action.
The reading is way below the overbought threshold; JasmyCoin is under no immediate pressure to exhaust its momentum. Notably, the buying pressure is strong and steady, suggesting it has the fuel to climb higher.
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Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
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.
The final of the US-Canada-Mexico co-hosted World Cup will kick off at 3:00 AM on July 20 at New Jersey Stadium in the New York metropolitan area. US President Donald Trump has confirmed his attendance. The US has launched a "Level 1" special security operation for the event. Deployments at the venue include F-16 fighter jets, military snipers, and thousands of FBI agents, with temporary flight restrictions and no-fly zones implemented across New York and New Jersey. On match day, roads around the stadium will be under traffic control; fans are required to arrive at least four hours before kickoff, while media must complete check-in and security screening by 12:30 PM Eastern Time on July 19.
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Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
According to a report by The Information, Oracle’s $16.5 billion AI super campus Project Jupiter in New Mexico has encountered environmental approval hurdles, forcing adjustments to its power supply plan and adding an estimated billions of dollars in extra costs. The 1,400-acre campus is primarily built to provide computing power for OpenAI, with a designed installed capacity exceeding 2 gigawatts. Oracle originally planned to construct its own natural gas power plant, but related permits have been stalled due to concerns over air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In April this year, the company switched to Bloom Energy’s natural gas fuel cells and adjusted its microgrid capacity to 2.45 gigawatts. Analysts estimate this plan will cost around $8 billion, billions more than the natural gas turbine alternative. New Mexico last week again rejected the proposed fuel pipeline route, and the state’s environmental department will hold a public hearing on the air permit on October 19. The local attorney general is also investigating allegations that residents’ names were used without their consent in project support letters. Oracle’s data center project in Wisconsin is also facing additional expenses. Local regulatory rulings may require Oracle, OpenAI, and Vantage Data Centers to bear the full cost of transmission line construction individually; Oracle says another financial guarantee requirement will add roughly $100 million in annual costs.
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Ansem bullish on ZEC’s upside potential after breakout, sets price alert at $750
Well-known crypto KOL Ansem said he is bullish on ZEC’s upside potential following a breakout, and has set a price alert at $750. The crypto asset has been range-bound for nearly a year. If it breaks out to new highs, the next leg of this trend will bring extremely sharp gains. Ansem added that he currently holds no position, but believes it would be a mistake not to enter the market if a breakout actually occurs. Per HTX market data, ZEC has been rising steadily since breaking above $400 earlier this month, and is now trading at $565.
3 minutes ago
Meritz Securities (South Korea): Middle Eastern sovereign AI investors have begun negotiating medium- and long-term storage procurement with South Korean vendors, with the Q3 DRAM contract price expected to rise by over 15% quarter-on-quarter.
A report from South Korea’s Meritz Securities shows that, according to channel checks, Middle Eastern sovereign AI investors including Saudi Arabia have recently begun discussing medium and long-term storage product procurement plans with South Korean memory chip manufacturers. Amid rising demand, the spot market for server DRAM has started facing upward price pressure, with particularly notable gains in high-end products boasting a bus speed of 6400Mbps. The report notes that as supply shortages intensify, investment competition between cloud service providers and frontier model developers is increasingly focusing on products that maximize performance. Spot prices for 64GB DDR5 server DRAM have risen sharply since mid-July, recently reaching $3,100 to $3,400, a roughly 146% increase from the contract price of around $1,380 at the end of June. Meritz Securities projects that the sequential rise in server DRAM contract prices in Q3 2026 could exceed the current market expectation of around 15%. Suppliers that adopted more flexible, customer-friendly pricing in Q2 may see particularly sharp price increases in Q3 and Q4.
3 minutes ago
Predict.fun World Cup Final: European Champion to Clash with South American Champion, Spain’s Win Probability Hits 58%
Prediction market platform Predict.fun data shows that the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico) final will pit Spain against Argentina. As of press time, the market gives Spain a roughly 58% chance of winning the tournament, while Argentina’s odds stand at around 41%, with traders overall favoring Spain to lift the World Cup trophy. The 2026 World Cup final is set to kick off at 3 a.m. Beijing time on July 20. As two of the tournament’s most outstanding sides, Spain and Argentina will battle for the World Cup trophy. This marks the first time in history that the reigning European champion and reigning South American champion have met in a World Cup final. The two sides have faced off 14 times in history, with each recording 6 wins and 2 draws. They have only met once in the World Cup, when Argentina beat Spain 2-1 in the 1966 World Cup group stage. Both sides have set multiple records in this World Cup. Spain has conceded only 1 goal in its first 7 matches; if they shut out their opponent and win the final, they will break the record for the fewest goals conceded by a World Cup champion in a single tournament. Argentina, meanwhile, advanced to the final with seven straight wins and 19 goals scored, extending its World Cup unbeaten run to 13 matches (11 wins, 2 draws). If Argentina successfully defends its title, it will become the third team in history to win back-to-back World Cups, following Italy and Brazil.
3 minutes ago
SK Group Chairman: Demand for storage chips is projected to grow by at least 50% to 60% next year, with the supply-demand gap likely to further widen.
According to South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper, SK Group Chairman and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Choi Tae-won stated that driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), demand for AI semiconductors is projected to rise by at least 60% to 100% next year compared to this year, while overall memory chip demand will also grow by at least 50% to 60%. Choi noted that the additional supply each company can increase next year is very limited, so the supply-demand gap may widen further, with global firms currently scrambling for memory chip supplies. He added that existing expansion plans are still insufficient to meet the rapidly growing demand; SK’s current strategy is “build wherever possible”, but equipment, personnel and construction timelines continue to restrict capacity release. Choi also pointed out that current memory chip prices have deviated from normal ranges, and PC and smartphone manufacturers cannot keep passing cost increases to consumers. Semiconductor enterprises should not limit supply to maintain high prices; even if their profit margins decline, they should expand output and grow the market. Otherwise, excessive prices may attract new competitors and trigger government interventions. He further stated that the AI industry is facing shortages of infrastructure such as GPUs, storage and power, and new bottlenecks may emerge in the future. Regarding the possibility of a stock split for SK Hynix, Choi said the plan has not been fully studied, and adjustments for Korean domestic stocks and American depositary receipts (ADRs) need to be evaluated together.
3 minutes ago
AI hot stocks like NVIDIA have seen increased volatility, with their relative volatility standing at 4 times that of the S&P 500 index.
The Kobeissi Letter stated in a post that the three-week volatility of U.S. momentum stocks relative to the S&P 500 index has surged to four times, hitting an all-time high. This ratio has more than quadrupled over the past several weeks. The momentum stock group includes high-growth tech stocks at the center of the AI boom, such as NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir, D-Wave Quantum, and CoreWeave. By comparison, the ratio peaked at around 2 times during the 2020 COVID-19 market crash and roughly 1.8 times during the dot-com bubble burst. The current level is significantly higher than those periods. Meanwhile, the U.S. momentum stock index has dropped 24% since July, marking its largest monthly decline since the 2008 financial crisis. The stocks that previously performed the strongest are quickly losing market favor.
3 minutes ago
Changxin Technology's IPO winning numbers have been released, totaling 7,702,207.
According to an announcement by Changxin Technology, the company’s initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the STAR Market has released its offline preliminary placement results and online lottery results. The offering price is RMB 8.66 per share, with an initial share offering size of approximately 6.688 billion shares. A total of 7,702,207 winning lottery numbers have been issued, and each winning number entitles holders to subscribe for 500 Changxin Technology A-shares.
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida allegedly tipped off a MAGA influencer in 2024 that Donald Trump would choose JD Vance as his running mate, teeing up a winning bet on Polymarket, the latest in a string of allegations of insider political betting sweeping Washington, D.C.
Luna allegedly described knowing Trump would choose Vance during a summer 2024 lunch at Stovall House, a social club in Tampa, and said she had tipped off Rogan O’Handley, known online as DC Draino, teasing him for not putting more money behind the bet, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The alleged tip inspired an investigation from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, according to the paper.
The Independent has contacted Luna, O’Handley, Polymarket and the commission for comment.
Both Luna and O’Handley strongly denied the allegations of being involved in an insider trade.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, center, allegedly tipped off an influencer that Donald Trump would choose JD Vance as his vice president, allowing the influencer to place a winning bet on Polymarket. Luna and the influencer deny the allegations (Reuters)“l am honored the WSJ thinks I am telepathic but unfortunately I am not,” the Republican congresswoman told the paper, vowing to “continue to champion the fight against insider trading.”
A spokesperson for the congresswoman told the Journal she initiated a criminal complaint with the commission alleging someone knowingly made a false report to the agency.
“Any suggestion that I traded on confidential information or discussed doing so is inaccurate,” O’Handley told the Journal. He added that he was unaware of any federal investigation.
News of the alleged Vance tip follows the White House’s announcement that one of President Donald Trump’s teleprompter operators was put on unpaid administrative leave after being accused of winning more than $100,000 from betting on the content of the president’s speeches.
Gabriel Perez is currently complying with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday.
The White House has reportedly warned staffers against using inside info to make political bets, after a series of unknown traders made hundreds of thousands of dollars guessing the timing of a ceasefire in the Iran war (Getty Images)Leavitt added that the president found the situation “deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace.”’
In March, the White House reportedly warned staffers against using nonpublic information to make political bets, after a trio of Polymarket accounts made more than $600,000 accurately predicting the timing of a ceasefire in the Iran war.
Polymarket says it vigorously prosecutes any unusual and illegal activity on its platform, where betters can open accounts anonymously.
Critics of online prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi have long warned such forums could inspire corruption.
The president’s son Donald Trump Jr. advises both Polymarket and Kalshi. His venture capital firm is also an investor in Polymarket. He is not accused of wrongdoing regard the above alleged trades.
SK Group Chairman: Demand for storage chips is projected to grow by at least 50% to 60% next year, with the supply-demand gap likely to further widen.
According to South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper, SK Group Chairman and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Choi Tae-won stated that driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), demand for AI semiconductors is projected to rise by at least 60% to 100% next year compared to this year, while overall memory chip demand will also grow by at least 50% to 60%. Choi noted that the additional supply each company can increase next year is very limited, so the supply-demand gap may widen further, with global firms currently scrambling for memory chip supplies. He added that existing expansion plans are still insufficient to meet the rapidly growing demand; SK’s current strategy is “build wherever possible”, but equipment, personnel and construction timelines continue to restrict capacity release. Choi also pointed out that current memory chip prices have deviated from normal ranges, and PC and smartphone manufacturers cannot keep passing cost increases to consumers. Semiconductor enterprises should not limit supply to maintain high prices; even if their profit margins decline, they should expand output and grow the market. Otherwise, excessive prices may attract new competitors and trigger government interventions. He further stated that the AI industry is facing shortages of infrastructure such as GPUs, storage and power, and new bottlenecks may emerge in the future. Regarding the possibility of a stock split for SK Hynix, Choi said the plan has not been fully studied, and adjustments for Korean domestic stocks and American depositary receipts (ADRs) need to be evaluated together.
8 minutes ago
AI hot stocks like NVIDIA have seen increased volatility, with their relative volatility standing at 4 times that of the S&P 500 index.
The Kobeissi Letter stated in a post that the three-week volatility of U.S. momentum stocks relative to the S&P 500 index has surged to four times, hitting an all-time high. This ratio has more than quadrupled over the past several weeks. The momentum stock group includes high-growth tech stocks at the center of the AI boom, such as NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir, D-Wave Quantum, and CoreWeave. By comparison, the ratio peaked at around 2 times during the 2020 COVID-19 market crash and roughly 1.8 times during the dot-com bubble burst. The current level is significantly higher than those periods. Meanwhile, the U.S. momentum stock index has dropped 24% since July, marking its largest monthly decline since the 2008 financial crisis. The stocks that previously performed the strongest are quickly losing market favor.
8 minutes ago
Changxin Technology's IPO winning numbers have been released, totaling 7,702,207.
According to an announcement by Changxin Technology, the company’s initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the STAR Market has released its offline preliminary placement results and online lottery results. The offering price is RMB 8.66 per share, with an initial share offering size of approximately 6.688 billion shares. A total of 7,702,207 winning lottery numbers have been issued, and each winning number entitles holders to subscribe for 500 Changxin Technology A-shares.
8 minutes ago
Renowned trader closes all crypto short positions, resumes buying Bitcoin spot
Renowned crypto trader Doctor Profit announced in a post that he has closed all his cryptocurrency short positions, including Bitcoin shorts established in the $115,000–$125,000 range, another Bitcoin short in the $79,000–$82,000 range, and over 100 altcoin shorts opened in recent months, noting that all these positions have generated significant profits. He also said he has repurchased Bitcoin spot at $64,000, marking his first long-term allocation since September 2025. His plan is to invest 5% of his planned capital daily in spot Bitcoin purchases when the price is in the $54,000–$64,000 range, for up to 20 days total; if the price approaches $54,000, he will increase his buying activity. Doctor Profit pointed out that the current market is showing clear "herd behavior": investors who were previously bullish on Bitcoin up to $150,000 at high levels are now widely waiting for the cryptocurrency to drop to $40,000–$50,000, and are targeting September or October as the bottom of the four-year cycle. When a large number of investors are waiting for the same price level and time point, the market may not move as expected, so he chose to build positions in advance and judges that this cycle’s bottom may arrive earlier than the market’s general expectation. He also cited regulatory clarity, asset tokenization infrastructure, and progress in institutional adoption as the structural reasons for his shift to buying, and retracted his previous prediction that Bitcoin would fall to $40,000–$50,000. However, he still holds all his S&P 500 short positions, arguing that the crypto market has completed a large repricing, while U.S. stock valuations remain elevated.
8 minutes ago
Zcash launches Zakura full node, aiming to boost its privacy transaction throughput to 50,000 per second.
Zcash has launched its new full-node client Zakura 1.0.0, the first implementation component aimed at scaling its private transaction throughput from the current ~1 transaction per second (TPS) to payment-network-level capacity. Maintained by Sean Bowe, an early Zcash zero-knowledge cryptography contributor, and Dev Ojha, head of Valar Group, the client operates independently of the Zcash Foundation and is funded via private ZEC donations. Built on the Zcash Foundation’s Zebra client, the team provides an ~11GB blockchain snapshot, allowing new nodes to sync up in two minutes—an approximately 680x speed improvement. Its compatibility mode also replicates the legacy zcashd interface, enabling wallets and exchanges to continue operating after the original client’s maintenance ends on July 18. The team notes that Visa and Mastercard process over 50,000 transactions per second, a benchmark it has set as its minimum target. To reduce the verification burden of large-scale private transactions, Bowe’s Tachyon project is developing recursive proofs, which let nodes validate thousands of proofs with a single proof. Valar Group is building private information retrieval (PIR) technology, allowing wallets to access relevant transaction data without exposing their query content. Zakura is also testing a fast block propagation system that delivers new blocks to all nodes in half a second. Its upcoming testnet is the Ironwood upgrade, set to activate on the mainnet on July 28. Ironwood will use a "rotating door" mechanism to restrict inflows and outflows of the Orchard privacy pool, mitigating risks of fake ZEC entering circulation due to prior zero-knowledge proof vulnerabilities.
8 minutes ago
Moonshot (Kimi)’s technological breakthrough triggers sell-offs in AI stocks, with leveraged products amplifying market volatility.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese AI startup Moonshot has achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough, triggering sharp declines in global AI and semiconductor stocks on Friday and prompting markets to once again reference the 2025 "DeepSeek Moment". The semiconductor benchmark index has fallen roughly 20% from its June peak, entering a bear market; the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL has dropped more than 50% over the same period. This sell-off demonstrates that when rapid advances in AI technology reshape market perceptions of winners and losers, leveraged ETFs, options, single-stock funds, and crypto-related products may be liquidated simultaneously. Bloomberg Intelligence data shows leveraged ETFs make up around 13% of U.S. ETF trading volume but only 1.2% of industry assets. When accounting for embedded leverage, their share of the U.S. stock market remains less than 1%. While these products are generally small in overall size, their holdings are concentrated in AI chips, volatile stocks, and newly listed firms. When leverage, concentration, and volatility rise at the same time, the funds' daily rebalancing turns them into active trading forces that further amplify existing market trends. The South Korean market offers a clear recent case: local retail investors have heavily purchased leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and as market sentiment turned weak, the related funds were forced to sell an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of SK Hynix positions.
Every Virtuals Protocol agent deployed on Robinhood Chain is now discoverable inside Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush feature. Binance Wallet added filters for Robinhood Chain projects, including Virtuals Protocol, on July 18 and 19, 2026, roughly two and a half weeks after Robinhood Chain’s mainnet went live on July 1.
What Robinhood Chain actually is, and why it matters here Robinhood Chain is an AI-native Layer 2 blockchain built on Arbitrum infrastructure, oriented around financial services and tokenized real-world assets.
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Virtuals Protocol plugged its AI agent framework into Robinhood Chain around the mainnet launch date. Between 2,100 and 2,400 individual AI agents went live on the chain within roughly two weeks of that integration, generating trading volume in the range of $77 million to $100 million.
The VIRTUAL token saw a roughly 20% price increase tied to the Robinhood Chain integration milestones.
Meme Rush, explained without the hype Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush is a token discovery feature focused on emerging and early-stage tokens. The feature recently expanded to support multi-chain browsing, which opened the door for Robinhood Chain projects to appear alongside assets from other networks. Virtuals Protocol is not the only project benefiting. Meme Rush’s Robinhood Chain filter sits alongside filters for other launchpads including Flap and Bankr.
What investors should actually watch The numbers from the first two weeks, between 2,100 and 2,400 agents live and $77 million to $100 million in trading volume, suggest genuine traction rather than a soft launch. Early volume can be inflated by wash trading, incentive farming, or bot activity. The more durable signal will come from whether that volume holds or grows in the weeks after the Meme Rush integration.
The VIRTUAL token’s 20% move is worth contextualizing carefully. A price increase tied to a specific integration event can reflect genuine demand, but it can also reflect traders front-running anticipated retail flows.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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.
Hyperliquid is having a rough start to Q3, with fundamentals dropping to levels last seen in April. After a strong jump in perpetual volume in early July to $84B, the decentralized exchange’s activity has now dropped to $43B. That’s a 2x decline in traction in less than three weeks.
Similarly, the overall total Open Interest (OI), measuring the capital inflows of open contracts, slipped from $75B to $65B. That’s a $10B drop in OI in July, further underscoring the slowing traction.
Amid the cool-off, revenue has decreased by 3x from a weekly average of $23M to $7.5M this week.
Source: DeFiLlama As illustrated on the chart, the declining revenue (red) and perp volume (purple) have dragged HYPE token’s price (green) lower. This may be connected to the pace of buybacks amid dropping revenue.
HYPE buyback drops by half In June, HYPE buybacks rose by 4x from a daily average of 14K tokens to over 44K. The strong buyback and positive ecosystem catalysts and ETF flows boosted the token to a new record high of $76.9 on the Binance platform.
However, the pace of buybacks has since dropped to around 22K HYPE, marking a sharp decline by half from its mid-June levels.
Source: Coinglass And the U.S Spot HYPE ETF demand has not made the situation any better over the last few days. Since 9th July, the products have seen zero demand or outflows, with 15th July being the exception.
Source: SoSo Value With declining fundamentals, easing buybacks, a16z’s $30M sell-off, and lack of interest from institutional investors, HYPE’s price pullback did not come as a surprise.
HYPE’s price drops 19% as traction slows down At the time of writing, HYPE was valued at $58, down 19% from a high of $73 in July. Still, the price action was around $60, which acted as a previous price peak last year and a key support in 2026.
It is still unclear if the $60-support would hold after being tested three times since May.
A decisive weekly candlestick close below the crucial support would reinforce Hyperliquid [HYPE]’s weakening momentum.
Source: HYPE/USDT, TradingView In case of an extended decline, $48-$54 could be the next key support zone. Even so, Hyperliquid became an outlier in 2026 and outperformed several tokens in investor returns. Whether it will bounce back strongly if risk appetite improves remains to be seen.
Final Summary Hyperliquid’s perpetual volume and revenue have dropped by 2x and 3x, respectively. The slowing fundamentals have weighed on HYPE’s price, triggering nearly 20% in losses
AI hot stocks like NVIDIA have seen increased volatility, with their relative volatility standing at 4 times that of the S&P 500 index.
The Kobeissi Letter stated in a post that the three-week volatility of U.S. momentum stocks relative to the S&P 500 index has surged to four times, hitting an all-time high. This ratio has more than quadrupled over the past several weeks. The momentum stock group includes high-growth tech stocks at the center of the AI boom, such as NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir, D-Wave Quantum, and CoreWeave. By comparison, the ratio peaked at around 2 times during the 2020 COVID-19 market crash and roughly 1.8 times during the dot-com bubble burst. The current level is significantly higher than those periods. Meanwhile, the U.S. momentum stock index has dropped 24% since July, marking its largest monthly decline since the 2008 financial crisis. The stocks that previously performed the strongest are quickly losing market favor.
9 minutes ago
Changxin Technology's IPO winning numbers have been released, totaling 7,702,207.
According to an announcement by Changxin Technology, the company’s initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the STAR Market has released its offline preliminary placement results and online lottery results. The offering price is RMB 8.66 per share, with an initial share offering size of approximately 6.688 billion shares. A total of 7,702,207 winning lottery numbers have been issued, and each winning number entitles holders to subscribe for 500 Changxin Technology A-shares.
9 minutes ago
Renowned trader closes all crypto short positions, resumes buying Bitcoin spot
Renowned crypto trader Doctor Profit announced in a post that he has closed all his cryptocurrency short positions, including Bitcoin shorts established in the $115,000–$125,000 range, another Bitcoin short in the $79,000–$82,000 range, and over 100 altcoin shorts opened in recent months, noting that all these positions have generated significant profits. He also said he has repurchased Bitcoin spot at $64,000, marking his first long-term allocation since September 2025. His plan is to invest 5% of his planned capital daily in spot Bitcoin purchases when the price is in the $54,000–$64,000 range, for up to 20 days total; if the price approaches $54,000, he will increase his buying activity. Doctor Profit pointed out that the current market is showing clear "herd behavior": investors who were previously bullish on Bitcoin up to $150,000 at high levels are now widely waiting for the cryptocurrency to drop to $40,000–$50,000, and are targeting September or October as the bottom of the four-year cycle. When a large number of investors are waiting for the same price level and time point, the market may not move as expected, so he chose to build positions in advance and judges that this cycle’s bottom may arrive earlier than the market’s general expectation. He also cited regulatory clarity, asset tokenization infrastructure, and progress in institutional adoption as the structural reasons for his shift to buying, and retracted his previous prediction that Bitcoin would fall to $40,000–$50,000. However, he still holds all his S&P 500 short positions, arguing that the crypto market has completed a large repricing, while U.S. stock valuations remain elevated.
9 minutes ago
Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush adds new launchpad filter options for Robinhood Chain-based projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr.
According to official announcements, Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush has added new launchpad filter options for Robinhood chain projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr, helping users discover more on-chain token opportunities. Users can now track tokens across BSC, Solana, ETH, Base, and Robinhood chains via Meme Rush, with a single feed to stay updated on multi-chain hotspots.
9 minutes ago
Zcash launches Zakura full node, aiming to boost its privacy transaction throughput to 50,000 per second.
Zcash has launched its new full-node client Zakura 1.0.0, the first implementation component aimed at scaling its private transaction throughput from the current ~1 transaction per second (TPS) to payment-network-level capacity. Maintained by Sean Bowe, an early Zcash zero-knowledge cryptography contributor, and Dev Ojha, head of Valar Group, the client operates independently of the Zcash Foundation and is funded via private ZEC donations. Built on the Zcash Foundation’s Zebra client, the team provides an ~11GB blockchain snapshot, allowing new nodes to sync up in two minutes—an approximately 680x speed improvement. Its compatibility mode also replicates the legacy zcashd interface, enabling wallets and exchanges to continue operating after the original client’s maintenance ends on July 18. The team notes that Visa and Mastercard process over 50,000 transactions per second, a benchmark it has set as its minimum target. To reduce the verification burden of large-scale private transactions, Bowe’s Tachyon project is developing recursive proofs, which let nodes validate thousands of proofs with a single proof. Valar Group is building private information retrieval (PIR) technology, allowing wallets to access relevant transaction data without exposing their query content. Zakura is also testing a fast block propagation system that delivers new blocks to all nodes in half a second. Its upcoming testnet is the Ironwood upgrade, set to activate on the mainnet on July 28. Ironwood will use a "rotating door" mechanism to restrict inflows and outflows of the Orchard privacy pool, mitigating risks of fake ZEC entering circulation due to prior zero-knowledge proof vulnerabilities.
9 minutes ago
Moonshot (Kimi)’s technological breakthrough triggers sell-offs in AI stocks, with leveraged products amplifying market volatility.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese AI startup Moonshot has achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough, triggering sharp declines in global AI and semiconductor stocks on Friday and prompting markets to once again reference the 2025 "DeepSeek Moment". The semiconductor benchmark index has fallen roughly 20% from its June peak, entering a bear market; the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL has dropped more than 50% over the same period. This sell-off demonstrates that when rapid advances in AI technology reshape market perceptions of winners and losers, leveraged ETFs, options, single-stock funds, and crypto-related products may be liquidated simultaneously. Bloomberg Intelligence data shows leveraged ETFs make up around 13% of U.S. ETF trading volume but only 1.2% of industry assets. When accounting for embedded leverage, their share of the U.S. stock market remains less than 1%. While these products are generally small in overall size, their holdings are concentrated in AI chips, volatile stocks, and newly listed firms. When leverage, concentration, and volatility rise at the same time, the funds' daily rebalancing turns them into active trading forces that further amplify existing market trends. The South Korean market offers a clear recent case: local retail investors have heavily purchased leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and as market sentiment turned weak, the related funds were forced to sell an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of SK Hynix positions.
US warplanes struck Iran’s Qeshm Island in mid-July 2026, hitting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military installations and triggering multiple explosions near one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints. US Central Command confirmed the operation, which also involved naval vessels and drones targeting facilities in the broader Bandar Abbas area.
Qeshm Island sits at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil passes.
What happened and why it matters The strikes, which took place between July 13 and July 16, 2026, targeted IRGC assets that US officials said were being used to threaten commercial shipping lanes. Iranian sources reported damage to military installations, though casualty figures were not immediately confirmed.
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The IRGC presence on Qeshm is not incidental. The island hosts what Iranian state media has previously described as an underground missile city, making it a high-value target from a military degradation standpoint.
Crypto’s muted response, and one very loud exception Bitcoin dipped to approximately $99,500 in the immediate aftermath of the news before recovering to over $102,000. That is roughly a 2.5% swing on one of the more dramatic geopolitical events of the year.
The louder story came from the US Treasury, which froze over $130 million in crypto assets connected to Iranian central bank wallets as part of the broader economic campaign against Tehran. Stablecoins and Bitcoin were the primary assets referenced in connection with the Iranian wallet freezes. No major DeFi protocols or altcoin ecosystems were directly implicated.
What investors should be watching Exchanges and custodians with any exposure to counterparties in sanctioned jurisdictions are going to be reviewing their compliance infrastructure after this. The operational and legal risk of being on the wrong side of a Treasury designation is now demonstrated at scale.
Bitcoin’s ability to recover above $102,000 after the initial dip is a data point worth noting. The question for traders is not whether crypto survived the first week of the Qeshm strikes. It is whether the market has properly priced the tail risks of a sustained conflict near the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
AI hot stocks like NVIDIA have seen increased volatility, with their relative volatility standing at 4 times that of the S&P 500 index.
The Kobeissi Letter stated in a post that the three-week volatility of U.S. momentum stocks relative to the S&P 500 index has surged to four times, hitting an all-time high. This ratio has more than quadrupled over the past several weeks. The momentum stock group includes high-growth tech stocks at the center of the AI boom, such as NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir, D-Wave Quantum, and CoreWeave. By comparison, the ratio peaked at around 2 times during the 2020 COVID-19 market crash and roughly 1.8 times during the dot-com bubble burst. The current level is significantly higher than those periods. Meanwhile, the U.S. momentum stock index has dropped 24% since July, marking its largest monthly decline since the 2008 financial crisis. The stocks that previously performed the strongest are quickly losing market favor.
9 minutes ago
Changxin Technology's IPO winning numbers have been released, totaling 7,702,207.
According to an announcement by Changxin Technology, the company’s initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the STAR Market has released its offline preliminary placement results and online lottery results. The offering price is RMB 8.66 per share, with an initial share offering size of approximately 6.688 billion shares. A total of 7,702,207 winning lottery numbers have been issued, and each winning number entitles holders to subscribe for 500 Changxin Technology A-shares.
9 minutes ago
Renowned trader closes all crypto short positions, resumes buying Bitcoin spot
Renowned crypto trader Doctor Profit announced in a post that he has closed all his cryptocurrency short positions, including Bitcoin shorts established in the $115,000–$125,000 range, another Bitcoin short in the $79,000–$82,000 range, and over 100 altcoin shorts opened in recent months, noting that all these positions have generated significant profits. He also said he has repurchased Bitcoin spot at $64,000, marking his first long-term allocation since September 2025. His plan is to invest 5% of his planned capital daily in spot Bitcoin purchases when the price is in the $54,000–$64,000 range, for up to 20 days total; if the price approaches $54,000, he will increase his buying activity. Doctor Profit pointed out that the current market is showing clear "herd behavior": investors who were previously bullish on Bitcoin up to $150,000 at high levels are now widely waiting for the cryptocurrency to drop to $40,000–$50,000, and are targeting September or October as the bottom of the four-year cycle. When a large number of investors are waiting for the same price level and time point, the market may not move as expected, so he chose to build positions in advance and judges that this cycle’s bottom may arrive earlier than the market’s general expectation. He also cited regulatory clarity, asset tokenization infrastructure, and progress in institutional adoption as the structural reasons for his shift to buying, and retracted his previous prediction that Bitcoin would fall to $40,000–$50,000. However, he still holds all his S&P 500 short positions, arguing that the crypto market has completed a large repricing, while U.S. stock valuations remain elevated.
9 minutes ago
Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush adds new launchpad filter options for Robinhood Chain-based projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr.
According to official announcements, Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush has added new launchpad filter options for Robinhood chain projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr, helping users discover more on-chain token opportunities. Users can now track tokens across BSC, Solana, ETH, Base, and Robinhood chains via Meme Rush, with a single feed to stay updated on multi-chain hotspots.
9 minutes ago
Zcash launches Zakura full node, aiming to boost its privacy transaction throughput to 50,000 per second.
Zcash has launched its new full-node client Zakura 1.0.0, the first implementation component aimed at scaling its private transaction throughput from the current ~1 transaction per second (TPS) to payment-network-level capacity. Maintained by Sean Bowe, an early Zcash zero-knowledge cryptography contributor, and Dev Ojha, head of Valar Group, the client operates independently of the Zcash Foundation and is funded via private ZEC donations. Built on the Zcash Foundation’s Zebra client, the team provides an ~11GB blockchain snapshot, allowing new nodes to sync up in two minutes—an approximately 680x speed improvement. Its compatibility mode also replicates the legacy zcashd interface, enabling wallets and exchanges to continue operating after the original client’s maintenance ends on July 18. The team notes that Visa and Mastercard process over 50,000 transactions per second, a benchmark it has set as its minimum target. To reduce the verification burden of large-scale private transactions, Bowe’s Tachyon project is developing recursive proofs, which let nodes validate thousands of proofs with a single proof. Valar Group is building private information retrieval (PIR) technology, allowing wallets to access relevant transaction data without exposing their query content. Zakura is also testing a fast block propagation system that delivers new blocks to all nodes in half a second. Its upcoming testnet is the Ironwood upgrade, set to activate on the mainnet on July 28. Ironwood will use a "rotating door" mechanism to restrict inflows and outflows of the Orchard privacy pool, mitigating risks of fake ZEC entering circulation due to prior zero-knowledge proof vulnerabilities.
9 minutes ago
Moonshot (Kimi)’s technological breakthrough triggers sell-offs in AI stocks, with leveraged products amplifying market volatility.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese AI startup Moonshot has achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough, triggering sharp declines in global AI and semiconductor stocks on Friday and prompting markets to once again reference the 2025 "DeepSeek Moment". The semiconductor benchmark index has fallen roughly 20% from its June peak, entering a bear market; the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL has dropped more than 50% over the same period. This sell-off demonstrates that when rapid advances in AI technology reshape market perceptions of winners and losers, leveraged ETFs, options, single-stock funds, and crypto-related products may be liquidated simultaneously. Bloomberg Intelligence data shows leveraged ETFs make up around 13% of U.S. ETF trading volume but only 1.2% of industry assets. When accounting for embedded leverage, their share of the U.S. stock market remains less than 1%. While these products are generally small in overall size, their holdings are concentrated in AI chips, volatile stocks, and newly listed firms. When leverage, concentration, and volatility rise at the same time, the funds' daily rebalancing turns them into active trading forces that further amplify existing market trends. The South Korean market offers a clear recent case: local retail investors have heavily purchased leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and as market sentiment turned weak, the related funds were forced to sell an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of SK Hynix positions.
Bitcoin options desks picked up a telling signal this week — a surge in call spread activity that pins a $72,000 price target to the final days of July, coinciding with the Federal Reserve’s next policy announcement. Data from the options market, as reported in the original CoinDesk report, shows large traders paying a premium for a structure that profits if BTC rallies toward $72,000 but caps gains above that level. The timing is not accidental.
How the $72,000 Call Spread Works A call spread involves buying a call option at one strike price and selling another at a higher strike. The sold call reduces the upfront cost but limits the maximum profit. In this case, the bought call likely sits just below $72,000, while the sold call may be slightly above it. The trade’s maximum payoff occurs if Bitcoin settles exactly at or between the two strikes at expiration. By choosing $72,000 as the target, the trader is signaling a precise directional view rather than a broad bullish bet. The notional size behind the flow points to institutional desks, not retail punters.
Option structures like this thrive on event-driven repricing. They demand not just a move, but a move that lands on schedule. The July expiry window gives the trade roughly two weeks to play out, and that window closes right after the Fed meeting ends. If Bitcoin drifts sideways, time decay erodes the position. The premium paid reflects a calculated risk that the macro catalyst will trigger the needed volatility.
Fed Decision as a Catalyst The Federal Open Market Committee meeting in late July is the obvious anchor for this positioning. Markets currently anticipate a pause in rate hikes, with some participants pricing in dovish language that opens the door to cuts later in the year. For Bitcoin, a clear signal that the tightening cycle is over would likely lift risk appetite. The call spread trade is a levered way to capture that move without committing to an outright long. By paying a fraction of the notional exposure, the trader can book substantial gains if BTC spikes into the $72,000 zone.
The bet is not unique in its structure, but the scale and timing set it apart. Buying volatility into a known macro event is a classic trade, and the cryptocurrency options market has matured enough to handle flows that once would have moved spot prices. This trade likely sat on one or two desks capable of absorbing the risk without destabilizing the book.
What the Flow Doesn’t Tell Us Options flow is opaque by design. A large call spread can be a standalone directional bet, but it can also be part of a more complex hedge. A trader short Bitcoin futures, for instance, might buy call spreads to cap losses if the market rallies. Without knowing the full portfolio, it’s impossible to say whether this positioning is net bullish or a sophisticated defense against an unpleasant surprise. The options market shows positioning, not intent.
The trade arrives in a market where institutional capital is increasingly active across the crypto landscape. Recently, SUI surged 18% to $1.24 as institutional staking and a partnership with Paga drove demand, illustrating how large players are now shaping liquidity across multiple protocols. Meanwhile, the broader tokenization space hit a milestone this week, with real-world assets on-chain crossing $20 billion for the first time. That level of commitment signals a structural shift in how institutions interact with digital assets.
Yet the regulatory backdrop remains unsettled. As the options trade was being placed, banks were trying to kill the biggest crypto bill in US history just days before a Senate vote. Legislative uncertainty of that magnitude can upend any macro thesis, making the call spread as much a volatility bet as a directional one. For now, the $72,000 target will act as a bellwether. If the price drifts higher in the days before the Fed speaks, the trade could become a self-fulfilling catalyst. If not, it’s a reminder that options positioning can vanish as fast as it appeared.
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.
Bitcoin [BTC] climbed above $65,000 during the week beginning the 12th of July. A cooler Consumer Price Index reading supported the move by easing inflation concerns.
However, BTC later retreated toward $64,000. Beneath this volatility, miners continued sending fewer coins to exchanges despite worsening financial conditions.
Why are Bitcoin miners struggling? CryptoQuant data showed that miners faced significant pressure, based on its Miners’ Financial Health Index. The index combines mining revenue, fees, issuance, and other inputs to measure the industry’s overall financial health.
Source: CryptoQuant Based on its seven-day Moving Average, the index stood near 29% at press time. Readings between 10% and 30% have historically aligned with bear-market conditions.
Such conditions can pressure miners’ income and increase their need to sell reserves. However, exchange-flow data showed that selling pressure had eased.
Are miners sending less BTC? CryptoQuant’s Miner to Exchange Flow showed that miners transferred less Bitcoin to exchanges despite their financial strain. Based on the seven-day SMA, exchange flows fell from 1,825.86 BTC on the 1st of July to 1,173.66 BTC.
Source: CryptoQuant This represented a decline of nearly 36%, suggesting that miners reduced their immediately available exchange supply.
However, lower exchange flows did not necessarily confirm accumulation. Miners could also have moved coins through untracked venues or held them elsewhere.
The dollar value of Bitcoin in miner wallets increased by $4.7 billion, from $71.5 billion to roughly $76.2 billion.
Much of this increase could reflect Bitcoin’s price appreciation rather than growth in miners’ BTC holdings. Bitcoin rose from $58,624 on the 1st of July to $63,999 at press time.
Why are mining stocks falling? Publicly listed Bitcoin mining stocks lost 12% collectively over the past month, according to Artemis.
The decline highlighted the financial pressure facing mining companies, even as Bitcoin’s price recovered.
Over five days, Cipher Mining [CIFR] dropped 20.3%, while Iris Energy [IREN] fell 18.3%. TeraWulf [WULF] declined 17.3%. By contrast, Bitcoin added more than $42 billion in market capitalization during the same period.
This divergence suggested that investors remained concerned about miners’ operating costs and profitability despite BTC’s recovery.
Lower miner exchange flows could reduce one source of immediate selling pressure. However, the data did not prove that miners were accumulating Bitcoin.
For now, miners’ reluctance to transfer BTC to exchanges may support supply conditions as Bitcoin attempts to reclaim $65,000.
Final Summary Miner exchange flows fell nearly 36% despite worsening financial conditions across the industry. Mining stocks declined sharply, while lower exchange transfers may ease immediate Bitcoin selling pressure.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong thinks Bitcoin’s floor is in. On June 15, Armstrong stated his belief that Bitcoin likely bottomed around $60,000, leaning on the cryptocurrency’s well-documented four-year halving cycle as his compass. The call came just ten days after BTC touched approximately $59,743 on June 5, its lowest level since October 2024.
The case Armstrong is making Bitcoin recovered from roughly $59,743 to over $66,000 in the days that followed, suggesting at least some buyers agreed the price was attractive at those levels.
Armstrong also characterized the recent decline as relatively mild compared to previous crypto winters. Bitcoin’s June low sat approximately 50% below its October 2025 record high of $126,000. The 2022 collapse wiped out roughly 75% of BTC’s value from peak to trough.
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The market isn’t so sure Armstrong himself seemed to acknowledge the uncertainty when he ran a poll on X in mid-July. The results were not exactly a ringing endorsement of his bottom call. Out of more than 20,000 respondents, 56% said they did not believe the bottom was in. Only 44% sided with Armstrong’s view.
On-chain metrics offer some support for the cautious camp. Bitcoin was recently trading near its realized price of about $53,600. The realized price represents the average cost basis of all Bitcoin in circulation, essentially what the average holder paid for their coins.
ETF flows have also been unstable. The spot Bitcoin ETFs that launched in early 2024 were supposed to provide a steady institutional bid for BTC. Instead, flows have been choppy, oscillating between inflows and outflows without establishing a clear trend during the recent downturn.
Armstrong’s longer game Armstrong co-founded Coinbase with Fred Ehrsam back in 2012, and the company’s revenue is directly tied to crypto trading volumes and asset prices.
The halving cycle framework he’s referencing does have historical precedent on its side. Previous cycles saw Bitcoin bottom roughly 12-18 months after a peak, followed by a prolonged recovery that eventually produced new all-time highs. If that pattern holds, the $60,000 zone would be roughly consistent with where prior cycle bottoms have landed relative to their peaks.
What this means for investors The realized price of $53,600 is the number worth watching. If Bitcoin holds above that level through the summer, Armstrong’s bottom call gains credibility. If it breaks below, the conversation shifts from “is the bottom in” to “how much further down do we go.”
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
AI hot stocks like NVIDIA have seen increased volatility, with their relative volatility standing at 4 times that of the S&P 500 index.
The Kobeissi Letter stated in a post that the three-week volatility of U.S. momentum stocks relative to the S&P 500 index has surged to four times, hitting an all-time high. This ratio has more than quadrupled over the past several weeks. The momentum stock group includes high-growth tech stocks at the center of the AI boom, such as NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir, D-Wave Quantum, and CoreWeave. By comparison, the ratio peaked at around 2 times during the 2020 COVID-19 market crash and roughly 1.8 times during the dot-com bubble burst. The current level is significantly higher than those periods. Meanwhile, the U.S. momentum stock index has dropped 24% since July, marking its largest monthly decline since the 2008 financial crisis. The stocks that previously performed the strongest are quickly losing market favor.
9 minutes ago
Changxin Technology's IPO winning numbers have been released, totaling 7,702,207.
According to an announcement by Changxin Technology, the company’s initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the STAR Market has released its offline preliminary placement results and online lottery results. The offering price is RMB 8.66 per share, with an initial share offering size of approximately 6.688 billion shares. A total of 7,702,207 winning lottery numbers have been issued, and each winning number entitles holders to subscribe for 500 Changxin Technology A-shares.
9 minutes ago
Renowned trader closes all crypto short positions, resumes buying Bitcoin spot
Renowned crypto trader Doctor Profit announced in a post that he has closed all his cryptocurrency short positions, including Bitcoin shorts established in the $115,000–$125,000 range, another Bitcoin short in the $79,000–$82,000 range, and over 100 altcoin shorts opened in recent months, noting that all these positions have generated significant profits. He also said he has repurchased Bitcoin spot at $64,000, marking his first long-term allocation since September 2025. His plan is to invest 5% of his planned capital daily in spot Bitcoin purchases when the price is in the $54,000–$64,000 range, for up to 20 days total; if the price approaches $54,000, he will increase his buying activity. Doctor Profit pointed out that the current market is showing clear "herd behavior": investors who were previously bullish on Bitcoin up to $150,000 at high levels are now widely waiting for the cryptocurrency to drop to $40,000–$50,000, and are targeting September or October as the bottom of the four-year cycle. When a large number of investors are waiting for the same price level and time point, the market may not move as expected, so he chose to build positions in advance and judges that this cycle’s bottom may arrive earlier than the market’s general expectation. He also cited regulatory clarity, asset tokenization infrastructure, and progress in institutional adoption as the structural reasons for his shift to buying, and retracted his previous prediction that Bitcoin would fall to $40,000–$50,000. However, he still holds all his S&P 500 short positions, arguing that the crypto market has completed a large repricing, while U.S. stock valuations remain elevated.
9 minutes ago
Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush adds new launchpad filter options for Robinhood Chain-based projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr.
According to official announcements, Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush has added new launchpad filter options for Robinhood chain projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr, helping users discover more on-chain token opportunities. Users can now track tokens across BSC, Solana, ETH, Base, and Robinhood chains via Meme Rush, with a single feed to stay updated on multi-chain hotspots.
9 minutes ago
Zcash launches Zakura full node, aiming to boost its privacy transaction throughput to 50,000 per second.
Zcash has launched its new full-node client Zakura 1.0.0, the first implementation component aimed at scaling its private transaction throughput from the current ~1 transaction per second (TPS) to payment-network-level capacity. Maintained by Sean Bowe, an early Zcash zero-knowledge cryptography contributor, and Dev Ojha, head of Valar Group, the client operates independently of the Zcash Foundation and is funded via private ZEC donations. Built on the Zcash Foundation’s Zebra client, the team provides an ~11GB blockchain snapshot, allowing new nodes to sync up in two minutes—an approximately 680x speed improvement. Its compatibility mode also replicates the legacy zcashd interface, enabling wallets and exchanges to continue operating after the original client’s maintenance ends on July 18. The team notes that Visa and Mastercard process over 50,000 transactions per second, a benchmark it has set as its minimum target. To reduce the verification burden of large-scale private transactions, Bowe’s Tachyon project is developing recursive proofs, which let nodes validate thousands of proofs with a single proof. Valar Group is building private information retrieval (PIR) technology, allowing wallets to access relevant transaction data without exposing their query content. Zakura is also testing a fast block propagation system that delivers new blocks to all nodes in half a second. Its upcoming testnet is the Ironwood upgrade, set to activate on the mainnet on July 28. Ironwood will use a "rotating door" mechanism to restrict inflows and outflows of the Orchard privacy pool, mitigating risks of fake ZEC entering circulation due to prior zero-knowledge proof vulnerabilities.
9 minutes ago
Moonshot (Kimi)’s technological breakthrough triggers sell-offs in AI stocks, with leveraged products amplifying market volatility.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese AI startup Moonshot has achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough, triggering sharp declines in global AI and semiconductor stocks on Friday and prompting markets to once again reference the 2025 "DeepSeek Moment". The semiconductor benchmark index has fallen roughly 20% from its June peak, entering a bear market; the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL has dropped more than 50% over the same period. This sell-off demonstrates that when rapid advances in AI technology reshape market perceptions of winners and losers, leveraged ETFs, options, single-stock funds, and crypto-related products may be liquidated simultaneously. Bloomberg Intelligence data shows leveraged ETFs make up around 13% of U.S. ETF trading volume but only 1.2% of industry assets. When accounting for embedded leverage, their share of the U.S. stock market remains less than 1%. While these products are generally small in overall size, their holdings are concentrated in AI chips, volatile stocks, and newly listed firms. When leverage, concentration, and volatility rise at the same time, the funds' daily rebalancing turns them into active trading forces that further amplify existing market trends. The South Korean market offers a clear recent case: local retail investors have heavily purchased leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and as market sentiment turned weak, the related funds were forced to sell an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of SK Hynix positions.
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.
AI hot stocks like NVIDIA have seen increased volatility, with their relative volatility standing at 4 times that of the S&P 500 index.
The Kobeissi Letter stated in a post that the three-week volatility of U.S. momentum stocks relative to the S&P 500 index has surged to four times, hitting an all-time high. This ratio has more than quadrupled over the past several weeks. The momentum stock group includes high-growth tech stocks at the center of the AI boom, such as NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir, D-Wave Quantum, and CoreWeave. By comparison, the ratio peaked at around 2 times during the 2020 COVID-19 market crash and roughly 1.8 times during the dot-com bubble burst. The current level is significantly higher than those periods. Meanwhile, the U.S. momentum stock index has dropped 24% since July, marking its largest monthly decline since the 2008 financial crisis. The stocks that previously performed the strongest are quickly losing market favor.
9 minutes ago
Changxin Technology's IPO winning numbers have been released, totaling 7,702,207.
According to an announcement by Changxin Technology, the company’s initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the STAR Market has released its offline preliminary placement results and online lottery results. The offering price is RMB 8.66 per share, with an initial share offering size of approximately 6.688 billion shares. A total of 7,702,207 winning lottery numbers have been issued, and each winning number entitles holders to subscribe for 500 Changxin Technology A-shares.
9 minutes ago
Renowned trader closes all crypto short positions, resumes buying Bitcoin spot
Renowned crypto trader Doctor Profit announced in a post that he has closed all his cryptocurrency short positions, including Bitcoin shorts established in the $115,000–$125,000 range, another Bitcoin short in the $79,000–$82,000 range, and over 100 altcoin shorts opened in recent months, noting that all these positions have generated significant profits. He also said he has repurchased Bitcoin spot at $64,000, marking his first long-term allocation since September 2025. His plan is to invest 5% of his planned capital daily in spot Bitcoin purchases when the price is in the $54,000–$64,000 range, for up to 20 days total; if the price approaches $54,000, he will increase his buying activity. Doctor Profit pointed out that the current market is showing clear "herd behavior": investors who were previously bullish on Bitcoin up to $150,000 at high levels are now widely waiting for the cryptocurrency to drop to $40,000–$50,000, and are targeting September or October as the bottom of the four-year cycle. When a large number of investors are waiting for the same price level and time point, the market may not move as expected, so he chose to build positions in advance and judges that this cycle’s bottom may arrive earlier than the market’s general expectation. He also cited regulatory clarity, asset tokenization infrastructure, and progress in institutional adoption as the structural reasons for his shift to buying, and retracted his previous prediction that Bitcoin would fall to $40,000–$50,000. However, he still holds all his S&P 500 short positions, arguing that the crypto market has completed a large repricing, while U.S. stock valuations remain elevated.
9 minutes ago
Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush adds new launchpad filter options for Robinhood Chain-based projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr.
According to official announcements, Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush has added new launchpad filter options for Robinhood chain projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr, helping users discover more on-chain token opportunities. Users can now track tokens across BSC, Solana, ETH, Base, and Robinhood chains via Meme Rush, with a single feed to stay updated on multi-chain hotspots.
9 minutes ago
Zcash launches Zakura full node, aiming to boost its privacy transaction throughput to 50,000 per second.
Zcash has launched its new full-node client Zakura 1.0.0, the first implementation component aimed at scaling its private transaction throughput from the current ~1 transaction per second (TPS) to payment-network-level capacity. Maintained by Sean Bowe, an early Zcash zero-knowledge cryptography contributor, and Dev Ojha, head of Valar Group, the client operates independently of the Zcash Foundation and is funded via private ZEC donations. Built on the Zcash Foundation’s Zebra client, the team provides an ~11GB blockchain snapshot, allowing new nodes to sync up in two minutes—an approximately 680x speed improvement. Its compatibility mode also replicates the legacy zcashd interface, enabling wallets and exchanges to continue operating after the original client’s maintenance ends on July 18. The team notes that Visa and Mastercard process over 50,000 transactions per second, a benchmark it has set as its minimum target. To reduce the verification burden of large-scale private transactions, Bowe’s Tachyon project is developing recursive proofs, which let nodes validate thousands of proofs with a single proof. Valar Group is building private information retrieval (PIR) technology, allowing wallets to access relevant transaction data without exposing their query content. Zakura is also testing a fast block propagation system that delivers new blocks to all nodes in half a second. Its upcoming testnet is the Ironwood upgrade, set to activate on the mainnet on July 28. Ironwood will use a "rotating door" mechanism to restrict inflows and outflows of the Orchard privacy pool, mitigating risks of fake ZEC entering circulation due to prior zero-knowledge proof vulnerabilities.
9 minutes ago
Moonshot (Kimi)’s technological breakthrough triggers sell-offs in AI stocks, with leveraged products amplifying market volatility.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese AI startup Moonshot has achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough, triggering sharp declines in global AI and semiconductor stocks on Friday and prompting markets to once again reference the 2025 "DeepSeek Moment". The semiconductor benchmark index has fallen roughly 20% from its June peak, entering a bear market; the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL has dropped more than 50% over the same period. This sell-off demonstrates that when rapid advances in AI technology reshape market perceptions of winners and losers, leveraged ETFs, options, single-stock funds, and crypto-related products may be liquidated simultaneously. Bloomberg Intelligence data shows leveraged ETFs make up around 13% of U.S. ETF trading volume but only 1.2% of industry assets. When accounting for embedded leverage, their share of the U.S. stock market remains less than 1%. While these products are generally small in overall size, their holdings are concentrated in AI chips, volatile stocks, and newly listed firms. When leverage, concentration, and volatility rise at the same time, the funds' daily rebalancing turns them into active trading forces that further amplify existing market trends. The South Korean market offers a clear recent case: local retail investors have heavily purchased leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and as market sentiment turned weak, the related funds were forced to sell an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of SK Hynix positions.
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.
Leonidas’ DOG Mode client has thrust Bitcoin’s long-running governance tussle back into the conversation, explicitly challenging default relay policies that determine which transactions get passed along the network. The move reopens a philosophical wound that never fully healed: does the network run on a free market, or does it operate under a set of enforced, community-chosen standards? According to the original report, DOG Mode refuses to play by the existing relay rulebook, a choice that could splinter mempool behavior and unsettle the assumptions miners and full nodes rely on every day.
Default relay policies are the unsung gatekeepers of Bitcoin’s transaction flow. They decide what gets propagated and what sits idle. Core client defaults filter out transactions that are too big, too dusty, or too non-standard. They also shape the fee market and influence miner extractable value. DOG Mode appears to strip away some of these filters, treating the mempool as an entirely open space. The implication is immediate: transactions that Core nodes would reject as spam or low-value would flow freely through DOG Mode peers, potentially forcing miners to consider them if economic incentives align.
The timing is notable. Bitcoin’s fee environment has become more volatile as institutional activity and on-chain assets like Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens compete for block space. A client that relaxes relay rules arrives just as some users feel squeezed out by high fees or arbitrary policy enforcement. Developer activity across blockchains remains high, yet debates about what constitutes valid transaction inclusion rarely reach protocol level. DOG Mode changes that, pushing the argument from social media threads to live node configuration.
The Philosophy Underneath Code At its core, DOG Mode isn’t just a software tweak. It’s a statement about who governs Bitcoin. Protocol defaults have always encoded norms, from block size limits to the shape of script validation. When a single client, Core, dominates 98% of nodes, its policies become the network’s policies by default. DOG Mode introduces client pluralism as a deliberate challenge, tapping into the older, libertarian strain of Bitcoin thought that fears invisible policy-setting as a form of censorship. Dropping relay filters resumes the argument that the network should transmit everything and let miners decide, not pre-screen based on taste.
Critics will note that open relay policies aren’t free of consequence. They can bloat mempools, increase orphan rates, and impose higher costs on nodes. Yet those costs might be worth bearing if the alternative is a permissioned transaction pipeline. The debate mirrors earlier fights over full-RBF and the use of replace-by-fee. In each case, a minority client forced the majority to confront whether defaults were features or accidents of history. Regulatory scrambles remind us that governance is fought on multiple fronts, but code-based governance bypasses legislative halls entirely.
What Remains Unclear The market doesn’t yet know whether miners will adopt DOG Mode or ignore it. A client is only as influential as the nodes and hashrate that run it. If a handful of non-mining nodes alter relay rules, the impact may be trivial. If mining pools adopt it, transaction selection could bifurcate quickly. A splintered mempool creates informational asymmetry, where different miners build on different transaction sets, potentially raising the risk of stale blocks and complicating fee estimation for users.
There’s also the question of economic nodes. Exchanges, payment processors, and custodians running Core defaults may not accept transactions that only propagate through DOG Mode peers, leaving some users in a confirmation limbo. That real-world friction would test whether the free-market argument holds up when money is on the line. Meanwhile, the narrative itself is a force. DOG Mode reminds the broader ecosystem that Bitcoin’s supposed ossification is always under tension, and new client experiments can emerge from anyone willing to write the code. Market infrastructure innovations elsewhere show that protocol rules are constantly being tested, but Bitcoin’s scale means even small policy shifts have outsized consequences.
For now, Leonidas’ move is a provocation in code form. It doesn’t attack the network; it simply refuses to enforce filters that many node operators didn’t actively choose. The debate it triggers will play out on mailing lists, in mining pools’ configuration files, and across block templates. Bitcoin’s governance has always been a messy, slow-motion affair. DOG Mode ensures it won’t be ignored.
AUTHOR
Kester is an experienced freelance content writer. His focus is primarily on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. One might even refer to him as a "blockchain enthusiast." He has been following advancements in the crypto and blockchain area for several years, researching and writing his insights in the media. In addition to being a skilled content writer, Mushumir is also knowledgeable in SEO and digital marketing. He aspires to succeed as a content creator in the digital realm, dealing with customers in the finance and tech industries to generate traffic through engaging taglines and content. Mushumir enjoys traveling, reading, and playing cricket when he is not writing. He now works as a news and article writer for BlockchainReporter.
For more than fifteen years, a question has continued to fuel discussions in the cryptocurrency ecosystem: what really happened with Bitcoin and its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto? While debates around the BIP-110 proposal still divide the community, Adam Back revisited this enigma during an exchange on X. The Blockstream CEO believes that no conclusion can be drawn about the fate of Satoshi Nakamoto, recalling that the circulating hypotheses rely solely on speculation.
In brief Adam Back states that there is no evidence to confirm whether Satoshi Nakamoto is alive or deceased. The last known public message from Satoshi Nakamoto dates back to April 23, 2011, before his complete disappearance. Adam Back’s statements come as the controversial BIP-110 proposal divides the Bitcoin community. Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity and the fate of his bitcoins remain among the greatest mysteries of the crypto ecosystem. Bitcoin Is Still Tied to the Greatest Mystery Surrounding Its Creator At the time when discussions on Bitcoin network security intensify around the BIP-110 proposal, another historical question resurfaces: that of the fate of its creator. Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, recently reacted to a post published on X about Satoshi Nakamoto. After supporting the project’s early stages, he abruptly left the public scene in April 2011. In his last known email, sent to developer Mike Hearn, he explained that he was dedicating himself to other projects and stated that Bitcoin’s development was in good hands.
Since that final message, no communication officially attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto has been made public. This absence has fueled numerous theories about his identity and fate. Some suggest that he has died, while others believe he simply chose to disappear permanently from public life. Adam Back reminds, however, that no concrete element today allows confirming either of these hypotheses.
Adam Back Dismisses Claims About Satoshi Nakamoto The discussion arose after a post by Matteo Pellegrini, CEO of Club Orange, who stated that “Satoshi Nakamoto would support the BIP-110 proposal today if he were still alive.” Adam Back immediately challenged this claim by replying that there is no evidence to assert that Bitcoin’s creator is deceased:
What makes you think he’s dead? unlikely, but possible; either way, pure speculation.
Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream. Source: X / @adam3us He even pointed out that this possibility remains conceivable, but impossible to prove with the available information.
Thus, the Blockstream leader summarized his position by explaining that “all hypotheses about the survival or death of Satoshi Nakamoto are solely speculation.” This stance comes as Back had already rejected the BIP-110 proposal, intended to temporarily limit non-financial data recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain. The proposal is to be examined before early August but currently enjoys limited support from miners.
Theories Persist Despite a Lack of Evidence Satoshi Nakamoto’s silence has now lasted about fifteen years. During this period, no transactions from addresses attributed to him have been identified. This situation fuels several scenarios, none of which can be confirmed. Some believe he destroyed the private keys granting access to his assets.
Another theory suggests that these bitcoins are still under his control, having not been moved since the network’s beginnings. Meanwhile, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains unknown. Adam Back himself is sometimes cited as a potential candidate, notably because he was, along with Hal Finney, one of the first recipients of an email sent by Satoshi Nakamoto. His work on Hashcash, developed in 1997, is also mentioned due to its link to the proof-of-work mechanism used by Bitcoin.
The mystery surrounding Bitcoin and its creator therefore continues to fuel debates without providing a definitive answer. As long as no new evidence arises, different hypotheses should continue to coexist, while discussions about the legacy left by Satoshi Nakamoto will remain at the heart of the ecosystem’s news.
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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.
If BTC is to mimic its previous surge, it would rise above $500,000.
Bitcoin has managed to recover some ground from the early July drop to a multi-year low and now fights for $65,000. On the more macro scale, though, the asset has flashed a signal that preceded one of the most impressive rallies in its recent history.
Can it do it again now?
BTC to $500K and Beyond? The signal in question was the formation of a bullish RSI divergence on the weekly chart, as outlined by popular analyst Ali Martinez. It emerges when the asset’s price and its 14-period Relative Strength Index on a weekly chart move in the opposite direction, suggesting that the underlying trend is losing momentum.
According to Martinez, the last time this happened was four years ago during the 2022 bear cycle. At the time, BTC bottomed at around $16,000 before the next expansion phase began, culminating three years later in a new peak of over $126,000.
The subsequent correction since that October peak has driven the cryptocurrency south to around $60,000, where the bullish RSI divergence appeared. History is no indicator of future price performance, but it’s still fun to speculate that if bitcoin were to mimic its 2022-2025 rally precisely, it would skyrocket to over half a million dollars per unit.
The Right and Wrong Strategies Fellow analyst Altcoin Sherpa noted that the 200-EMA on the 4-hour chart had flipped for the first time in months, but BTC still needs to reclaim $65,000 to signal that the dip and bottom are in during this cycle.
Michaël van de Poppe spoke about when and how investors should consider (re-)entering the bitcoin ecosystem. He argued that many expect another leg down and a drop to $40,000 in the next few months and want to buy there. However, he asked what their plan B would be if that didn’t happen.
You may also like: Bitcoin’s Coinbase Premium Has Been Negative for 60 Days – Why It Matters Bitcoin’s Surprising Reaction to Trump’s Iran Threats and Rising US Margin Debt Will Crypto Markets Move When $1.2B Bitcoin Options Expire Today? “Most of those people will then be buying back at $90,000 per bitcoin. That, to me, is a stupid strategy to go for.”
Instead, he believes buying at current levels is such a “phenomenal opportunity” that investors should take advantage of and wait 2-5 years to fully enjoy the potential price appreciation. And, if BTC indeed dips to $40,000, that would be an “even extra opportunity,” but he wouldn’t rely blindly on such a scenario.
Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz expects BTC to consolidate between $60,000 and $80,000 for the remainder of the year, but a perfect storm of rate cuts, regulatory clarity, and renewed retail enthusiasm could change this.
Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz believes Bitcoin could climb to $100,000 if three key catalysts fall into place: the passage of U.S. crypto legislation, Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, and a revival in investor demand.
During his appearance on the "Prof G Markets" podcast, the billionaire investor said he expects Bitcoin to remain in a relatively narrow trading range unless macroeconomic conditions improve.
"I think 60 is going to hold, and I think 80 is going to be a top. And if we can get through 80, then 100 is going to be a top," Novogratz said.
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He added that a move to six figures would require three specific developments.
"We would need [the] Clarity Act. We would need the Fed to cut rates. And we would need some buyer base to get reignited," he said.
Rising US debt and the Bitcoin thesis Recently, the U.S. national debt has climbed above $39.5 trillion, which is yet another rather grim milestone for fiscally conservative Americans.
The Galaxy Digital CEO reiterated his long-term conviction in the cryptocurrency in response to the aforementioned development.
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"This is why all portfolios still need some BTC," he wrote. "It really is inevitable."
Retail speculators are busy elsewhereNovogratz has acknowledged that the crypto market is currently experiencing a period of subdued enthusiasm.
He argued that much of its explosive growth used to be fueled by retail investors chasing life-changing returns instead of traditional investment performance.
"Crypto was a storytelling business," Novogratz said. "We told the story of how this is an important technology. It's going to change the way the world processes information, moves value around."
According to Novogratz, that speculative capital has since migrated into other fast-moving sectors, including artificial intelligence and high-growth tech.
"We've got sports betting and same-day options... Every young kid who used to buy Solana is buying Hynix or some memory company," he said.
This echoes recent comments made by Fidelity's Jurrien Timmer, who recently stated that fast money has essentially abandoned both Bitcoin and gold.
An established store of value Still, Novogratz believes Bitcoin has successfully transitioned into a recognized store-of-value asset with growing institutional adoption.
"Bitcoin is a story. It's if you trust me and I trust you; we trust this ecosystem. We're going to store our wealth there," he said.
The asset's investor base has become too large for its long-term thesis to unravel.
"I think Bitcoin probably holds 60,000. There's too many people who have bought into the Bitcoin story as its own store of value for it to go away," Novogratz said.
"The infrastructure of crypto is going to survive, be hardened, and thrive," he concluded.
Bitcoin continues with its gradual weekend climb and has neared $65,000 after bouncing from $63,700 yesterday.
Most larger-cap alts have remained still over the past 24 hours, which is why we will focus on their weekly moves, where ZEC, CRO, LTC, and ONDO stand out.
Can BTC Reclaim $65K? The previous weekend was also quite sluggish but slightly positive for BTC, as it stood at around $64,000 for 48 hours straight despite the new attacks between the US and Iran. However, the market finally priced in the skyrocketing tension on Monday morning with a painful dip to $61,800.
The softer-than-expected CPI numbers for June announced on Tuesday, though, were well received by BTC as the asset flew by several grand to $65,600 on Wednesday. This became its highest price tag in about three weeks.
However, it couldn’t keep the momentum going and crashed toward $62,000 once again on Thursday and Friday. Nevertheless, the bulls intercepted the move and didn’t allow another leg down. Instead, BTC recovered some ground to $64,000 yesterday and climbed to almost $65,000 earlier today. It still remains below that level, which has been categorized as key for its short-term price performance.
Bitcoin’s market capitalization has risen to almost $1.3 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the altcoins has rocketed to over 57%.
BTCUSD July 19. Source: TradingView Weekly Gainers and Losers Ethereum jumped to almost $1,950 earlier this week, and even though it has dropped by nearly $100 since then, it’s still 4.2% up since last Sunday. ZEC is the biggest gainer from the larger caps, gaining 9% to $560. LTC, ONDO, and CRO have posted impressive increases as well, up to 8% in the case of Crypto.com’s native token.
In contrast, HYPE has plunged by more than 9%. Nevertheless, it has defended the $60 support and now sits inches above it. BCH, CC, TAO, and AAVE have marked significant losses since last Sunday as well.
The total crypto market cap, though, has increased by approximately $60 billion since this time a week ago and now sits above $2.270 trillion on CG.
Cryptocurrency Market Overview July 19. Source: QuantifyCrypto
Strategy Chairman Michael Saylor has stepped up his opposition to Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 110, arguing that the temporary soft fork could weaken Bitcoin’s neutral base rules.
Summary
Saylor says BIP 110 risks Bitcoin neutrality by restricting transactions through new consensus-level protocol rules. BIP 110 would temporarily limit data-heavy transactions while leaving outputs created before activation entirely unaffected. Miner support remains near zero, while Saylor and Back warn disputed rules could divide Bitcoin. In an article titled “110 Reasons BIP 110 Is a Bad Idea,” Saylor said the network should not use consensus changes to decide which valid transactions deserve access to block space.
In Saylor’s article, he argued that Bitcoin cannot reliably determine why transaction data exists. He closed with the line: “Bitcoin does not need guardians of purity. It needs guardians of neutrality.”
Saylor challenges consensus restrictions on transaction data BIP 110, formally called the Reduced Data Temporary Softfork, would apply consensus rules for about one year. The official BIP 110 specification would restrict large data fields, limit OP_RETURN outputs to 83 bytes and cap payloads at 256 bytes. Outputs created before activation would remain exempt.
Supporters say the proposal would reduce arbitrary data storage and lower burdens on node operators. Saylor accepts that some inscriptions, tokens and files may have value or may be linked to harmful activity. However, he questions whether those concerns justify changing Bitcoin’s consensus rules to block transaction structures the network currently accepts.
Neutrality becomes the center of the BIP 110 debate Saylor’s argument focuses on the difference between transaction intent and transaction structure. He said the protocol cannot know whether data represents an image, proof, authentication record, contract or another future use. Under his view, miners, node operators and fee markets should handle disputed activity without imposing new base-layer restrictions.
The position follows an earlier clash over the proposal. Saylor and Blockstream co-founder Adam Back opposed BIP 110 and warned that enforcing disputed rules without broad support could create fork risks. Saylor previously called the proposal’s consensus precedent “extremely dangerous.”
Miner support remains a key test for BIP 110 BIP 110 uses a modified activation process that seeks support from 1,109 of 2,016 mined blocks, equal to 55%. Crypto.news reported on July 12 that miner signaling remained near zero, far below the threshold needed to lock in the proposed rules.
Bitcoin developer Luke Dashjr continues to support the proposal. As reported by crypto.news, Dashjr rejected calls to withdraw BIP 110 as debate grew over Ordinals, Runes and other data-heavy uses. Supporters argue that such activity increases storage demands and moves Bitcoin away from peer-to-peer money.
Saylor calls for slower change at Bitcoin’s base layer Saylor’s latest comments fit his broader view that Bitcoin should change cautiously. He has argued that the network’s value comes from predictable rules rather than frequent feature changes. His BIP 110 critique says policy tools, pruning, fee pricing and second-layer development offer alternatives for managing resource use without changing consensus.
The dispute also tests how Bitcoin reaches agreement when developers, miners, node operators and users disagree. As reported by crypto.news, Saylor described Bitcoin as a network where capital, node activity and mining power remain in balance. His latest position places neutrality at the center of that debate while BIP 110 moves toward its activation window.
AI hot stocks like NVIDIA have seen increased volatility, with their relative volatility standing at 4 times that of the S&P 500 index.
The Kobeissi Letter stated in a post that the three-week volatility of U.S. momentum stocks relative to the S&P 500 index has surged to four times, hitting an all-time high. This ratio has more than quadrupled over the past several weeks. The momentum stock group includes high-growth tech stocks at the center of the AI boom, such as NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir, D-Wave Quantum, and CoreWeave. By comparison, the ratio peaked at around 2 times during the 2020 COVID-19 market crash and roughly 1.8 times during the dot-com bubble burst. The current level is significantly higher than those periods. Meanwhile, the U.S. momentum stock index has dropped 24% since July, marking its largest monthly decline since the 2008 financial crisis. The stocks that previously performed the strongest are quickly losing market favor.
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Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush adds new launchpad filter options for Robinhood Chain-based projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr.
According to official announcements, Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush has added new launchpad filter options for Robinhood chain projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr, helping users discover more on-chain token opportunities. Users can now track tokens across BSC, Solana, ETH, Base, and Robinhood chains via Meme Rush, with a single feed to stay updated on multi-chain hotspots.
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Zcash launches Zakura full node, aiming to boost its privacy transaction throughput to 50,000 per second.
Zcash has launched its new full-node client Zakura 1.0.0, the first implementation component aimed at scaling its private transaction throughput from the current ~1 transaction per second (TPS) to payment-network-level capacity. Maintained by Sean Bowe, an early Zcash zero-knowledge cryptography contributor, and Dev Ojha, head of Valar Group, the client operates independently of the Zcash Foundation and is funded via private ZEC donations. Built on the Zcash Foundation’s Zebra client, the team provides an ~11GB blockchain snapshot, allowing new nodes to sync up in two minutes—an approximately 680x speed improvement. Its compatibility mode also replicates the legacy zcashd interface, enabling wallets and exchanges to continue operating after the original client’s maintenance ends on July 18. The team notes that Visa and Mastercard process over 50,000 transactions per second, a benchmark it has set as its minimum target. To reduce the verification burden of large-scale private transactions, Bowe’s Tachyon project is developing recursive proofs, which let nodes validate thousands of proofs with a single proof. Valar Group is building private information retrieval (PIR) technology, allowing wallets to access relevant transaction data without exposing their query content. Zakura is also testing a fast block propagation system that delivers new blocks to all nodes in half a second. Its upcoming testnet is the Ironwood upgrade, set to activate on the mainnet on July 28. Ironwood will use a "rotating door" mechanism to restrict inflows and outflows of the Orchard privacy pool, mitigating risks of fake ZEC entering circulation due to prior zero-knowledge proof vulnerabilities.
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Moonshot (Kimi)’s technological breakthrough triggers sell-offs in AI stocks, with leveraged products amplifying market volatility.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese AI startup Moonshot has achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough, triggering sharp declines in global AI and semiconductor stocks on Friday and prompting markets to once again reference the 2025 "DeepSeek Moment". The semiconductor benchmark index has fallen roughly 20% from its June peak, entering a bear market; the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL has dropped more than 50% over the same period. This sell-off demonstrates that when rapid advances in AI technology reshape market perceptions of winners and losers, leveraged ETFs, options, single-stock funds, and crypto-related products may be liquidated simultaneously. Bloomberg Intelligence data shows leveraged ETFs make up around 13% of U.S. ETF trading volume but only 1.2% of industry assets. When accounting for embedded leverage, their share of the U.S. stock market remains less than 1%. While these products are generally small in overall size, their holdings are concentrated in AI chips, volatile stocks, and newly listed firms. When leverage, concentration, and volatility rise at the same time, the funds' daily rebalancing turns them into active trading forces that further amplify existing market trends. The South Korean market offers a clear recent case: local retail investors have heavily purchased leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and as market sentiment turned weak, the related funds were forced to sell an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of SK Hynix positions.
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