CASHCAT’s market cap briefly surpassed $200 million, rising over 20% in 24 hours.
According to GMGN market data, the Robinhood Chain meme coin CASHCAT briefly exceeded $200 million in market capitalization, and has now retreated to $192 million, posting a more than 20% 24-hour gain with a 24-hour trading volume of $40.3 million. BlockBeats reminds users that meme coins are subject to extreme price volatility, and investors should exercise caution regarding associated risks.
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Global crude oil prices continue to rise, with both U.S. WTI and Brent crude up 3% on the day.
According to Bitget market data, Brent crude oil rose 3.00% intraday to $85.31 per barrel. WTI crude oil rose 3.00% intraday to $80.14 per barrel. Trump posted a statement yesterday saying that the US will immediately resume the blockade of Iran and impose a 20% fee on cargo transportation.
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Market sources: Samsung is in preliminary discussions regarding a potential stock sale in the U.S.
According to market sources, Samsung is holding preliminary discussions regarding a potential stock sale in the United States.
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Goldman Sachs: Hong Kong's market has entered the AI era, and equity financing volume is expected to reach a new high this year.
Wang Yajun, Head of Equity Capital Markets for Goldman Sachs Asia (ex-Japan), noted that Hong Kong’s market has entered the AI era, yet major stock indices have not fully reflected the impact of AI-related enterprises. This explains the contrast between this year’s red-hot IPO fundraising and the relatively lackluster performance of secondary market indices. Wang forecasts that Hong Kong’s total equity financing and IPO fundraising scale will both reach new highs in 2026. Since the start of this year, AI has become the most active investment theme in Hong Kong’s stock market: the most actively traded, best-performing, and largest fundraising stocks are all AI-related, though index constituent adjustments lag behind. Regarding AI industry valuations, Wang believes that sustained growth in AI demand will drive continued expansion of capital expenditures on infrastructure such as computing power, chips, and storage, and the industry still has room for growth in capital spending. As China’s AI industrial chain continues to improve, more AI enterprises are expected to list in Hong Kong or on the STAR Market in the second half of the year.
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The funding rate of SK Hynix-related contracts on Hyperliquid surged more than 130% within one hour.
Hyperliquid platform’s SK Hynix-linked contracts SKHX and SKHY have seen extremely robust trading activity, with a combined 24-hour trading volume of $1.836 billion, surpassing Bitcoin (BTC) to become the platform’s most active asset by trading volume. SKHX alone notched a 24-hour volume of $1.63 billion and open interest (OI) of $635 million, while SKHY posted a 24-hour volume of $206 million and OI of $101 million. SKHY still trades at a roughly 26% premium to SKHX. Notably, SKHX’s funding rate surged sharply in just one hour: it jumped from +0.0064% to +0.0151%, a rise of over 130%. Concurrently, the contract’s trading volume dipped slightly from $1.663 billion to $1.604 billion, and its open interest fell from $638.6 million to $627.1 million. A sharp spike in funding rates typically signals a rapid rise in bullish sentiment, as long positions flood the market—traders holding long positions face higher costs to maintain their bets, reflecting intensifying long-short battles in SKHX contracts and growing speculative enthusiasm for SK Hynix’s US-listed assets.
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The United States launched a five-hour continuous air raid on Iran, in retaliation for Iran's bombing of a U.S. military base in Jordan.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. military air base in Jordan and called on Jordanian citizens to resist the U.S. military presence there. Jordanian authorities said its air defense systems successfully intercepted four Iranian missiles that entered its airspace, and the incident caused no casualties or property damage. In response, U.S. Central Command, with authorization from President Donald Trump, carried out approximately five hours of continuous airstrikes on targets inside Iran. This marked the third consecutive night of large-scale U.S. military strikes against Iran. According to Iranian media reports, multiple targets including the port of Bandar Abbas were struck, with some naval maintenance facilities damaged. Meanwhile, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz remain high. Trump recently proposed that the U.S. would take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz and planned to impose a 20% fee on goods transiting the waterway, sparking widespread international controversy. Affected by the escalating situation in the Middle East, international oil prices rose nearly 3% at one point, as markets worry that shipping risks in the strait will further exacerbate global energy supply tensions.
The U.S. government transferred nearly $297 million in seized Bitcoin and Ether to Coinbase Prime on Monday, according to blockchain data.
Summary
U.S. government wallets transferred nearly $297 million in seized Bitcoin and Ether to Coinbase Prime. The Bitcoin movement renewed questions about compliance with Trump’s strategic reserve order banning government sales. Coinbase Prime supports custody and trading, so the transfers do not prove an immediate liquidation. The move renewed questions about how federal agencies plan to handle crypto covered by President Donald Trump’s reserve policy.
The transfers included about 3,940 BTC worth roughly $244 million and around 30,000 ETH valued near $53 million at the time. Arkham’s government wallet tracker recorded the movements, although changing market prices can alter their dollar value.
Seized Bitcoin and Ether reach Coinbase Prime Galaxy Research head Alex Thorn linked the Bitcoin to seizures involving Ryan Farace, known online as “Xanaxman,” and the closed BTC-e exchange.
“These coin movements were comprised of coins seized from Ryan Farace and defunct crypto exchange BTC-e,” Thorn said.
these coin movements were comprised of coins seized from ryan farace (“xanaxman”) and defunct crypto exchange btc-e
— Alex Thorn (@intangiblecoins) July 13, 2026 The Ether came from wallets tied to Brian Krewson, an Oracle employee connected to a federal case involving crypto storage and money laundering. The transfers brought assets from several enforcement cases into an institutional platform used by government agencies and large investors.
Transfer does not confirm a government sale A deposit to Coinbase Prime can allow trading, but it does not prove that officials plan to sell the assets. Coinbase Prime provides custody, execution, financing and staking services. Federal agencies may use the platform to consolidate wallets or move assets into managed custody.
The U.S. Marshals Service selected Coinbase Prime in 2024 to safeguard and trade certain forfeited digital assets. Government wallets have since sent funds to the platform several times. As reported by crypto.news, authorities moved nearly $984,000 in FTX and Alameda-linked crypto in June, with about $768,000 reaching Coinbase Prime.
Trump reserve order limits Bitcoin sales Trump’s March 2025 executive order created a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a separate stockpile for other digital assets. The order says Bitcoin placed in the reserve “shall not be sold” and must remain a U.S. reserve asset.
The order also allows some exceptions under existing law. Agencies may return assets to verified victims, use them for law enforcement work or follow a court order. Ether and other non-Bitcoin holdings fall under the separate digital asset stockpile, where the Treasury can set stewardship plans within its legal authority.
Reserve structure remains unsettled The latest movement comes while federal agencies still debate who should manage the Bitcoin reserve.Treasury and Commerce have discussed control of seized BTC while officials review custody, legal authority and the need for new legislation.
Government-linked wallets still hold about $20.5 billion in crypto, based on current tracker estimates. Bitcoin accounts for most of the total, with roughly 325,000 BTC. The wallets also hold Ether, Tether, wrapped Bitcoin and other seized assets, although public trackers may not identify every federal address.
The recorded balance can change quickly because crypto prices move throughout the day. It can also change when courts order restitution, agencies transfer custody, or investigators identify new wallets. Public dashboards therefore provide estimates rather than a complete official federal accounting.
The Monday transfers ranked among the largest government-linked moves to Coinbase Prime in 2026. In April,a federal wallet sent 2.438 BTC from a separate criminal case to the platform.
On-chain records show where funds moved, but they do not reveal the government’s final instructions to Coinbase Prime. A confirmed sale would require further wallet activity, trading records or an official statement. Until then, the transaction remains a custody or asset-management move rather than proof of liquidation.
This is a general announcement. Products and services referred to here may not be available in your region. Fellow Binancians, Binance will perform wallet maintenance for Ethereum Network (ETH) at 2026-07-16 06:00 (UTC). To support the wallet maintenance, deposits and withdrawals on Ethereum Network (ETH) will be suspended starting from 2026-07-16 05:55 (UTC), and be resumed when the maintenance is complete. The maintenance will take about one hour. Please note: The trading of token(s) on the aforementioned network will not be impacted.Binance will handle all technical requirements involved for all users.Deposits and withdrawals for token(s) on the aforementioned network will be reopened once the upgraded network is deemed to be stable. No further announcement will be posted.There may be discrepancies between this original content in English and any translated versions. Please refer to the original English version for the most accurate information, in case any discrepancies arise. Thank you for your support! Binance Team 2026-07-14
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.
Key Highlights BitMine acquired 27,801 ETH over the past week, pushing its total reserves to 5.77 million ETH valued at approximately $10.25 billion US spot Ethereum ETFs saw $84.42 million in net inflows, marking the first positive week after eight consecutive weeks of capital outflows ETH dropped beneath $1,800 following escalated U.S.-Iran military tensions that drove oil prices above $74 and sparked risk-off market behavior Critical support remains established at $1,750; breaching resistance at $1,825–$1,850 could push prices toward $2,140 according to daily chart double-bottom formations $81.75 million worth of positions were liquidated over 24 hours, with long positions accounting for $57 million of the total Ethereum continues to trade in the vicinity of $1,760 after dipping under the $1,800 threshold amid heightened U.S.-Iran military confrontation. Recent American airstrikes against Iranian targets propelled crude oil prices approximately 4% higher to surpass $74 per barrel, prompting investors to retreat from risky assets such as cryptocurrencies.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Iranian officials reported strikes on U.S. military installations across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan as retaliatory measures. Growing concerns surrounding the strategic Strait of Hormuz corridor intensified downward pressure across global financial markets.
ETH retreated roughly 3.6% from its Monday session peak of $1,837. Market participants continue to protect the $1,750 price floor for the time being.
Corporate Accumulation Gains Momentum BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) increased its Ethereum reserves by 27,801 ETH throughout the previous week. This acquisition brings the company’s aggregate holdings to 5.77 million ETH, representing an estimated market value of $10.25 billion.
BitMine Buys 27,801 ETH, Holdings Reach 5.77M ETH
BitMine said it acquired 27,801 ETH over the past week, lifting total holdings to 5,770,038 ETH, or about 4.8% of Ethereum’s supply, and has staked 4,917,189 ETH. As of July 12, the company also held $482 million in cash and… pic.twitter.com/mPIsOLFZ9c
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 13, 2026
BitMine’s Chairman Thomas Lee disclosed that projected annualized staking revenue has reached $242 million. The organization has allocated 4.91 million ETH — representing approximately 85% of total reserves — to its Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN), which is currently generating a 7-day annualized staking yield of 2.70%.
The Nevada-based enterprise reports it has achieved 96% completion toward its strategic objective of controlling 5% of Ethereum’s total circulating supply.
US spot Ethereum ETFs registered $84.42 million in net capital inflows during the past week, based on SoSoValue tracking data. This represents the first positive weekly performance following two consecutive months of withdrawals.
Market Analyst Perspectives Cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez indicated he would establish long positions on ETH upon a decisive break above $1,850. This price level corresponds with a significant short liquidation concentration zone between $1,840 and $1,860 identified in CoinGlass data, where forced short closure could potentially accelerate upward momentum.
Analyst Ted Pillows observed on July 13 that ETH maintaining support above $1,750 represents an encouraging signal, suggesting a potential rally toward $2,000 if this foundation persists.
Cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) commented that despite broader market headwinds, ETH “isn’t bothered” and is “showing a lot of strength” relative to Bitcoin. He highlighted improving momentum in the ETH/BTC trading pair and referenced the forthcoming Clarity Act as a possible positive trigger.
Despite the overall weakness, $ETH isn't bothered.
It's showing a lot of strength, as it continues to go up.
A lot of momentum in this one against #Bitcoin and I'm sure this will continue to last, given that the Clarity Act seems to be on the horizon. pic.twitter.com/ifVq8TRbLD
— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) July 13, 2026
Examining the daily timeframe, a prospective double-bottom formation with troughs around $1,505 continues to hold. A validated breakout above $1,825 would establish a technical price objective in the vicinity of $2,140.
ETH currently trades beneath both its 50-day EMA positioned at $1,798 and its 100-day EMA located at $1,946. The MACD indicator maintains elevation above its signal line, while the Chaikin Money Flow registers approximately 0.10, indicating positive territory.
$81.75 million in aggregate liquidations struck the marketplace within a 24-hour window, with $57 million stemming from leveraged long positions, according to Coinglass data.
CASHCAT’s market cap briefly surpassed $200 million, rising over 20% in 24 hours.
According to GMGN market data, the Robinhood Chain meme coin CASHCAT briefly exceeded $200 million in market capitalization, and has now retreated to $192 million, posting a more than 20% 24-hour gain with a 24-hour trading volume of $40.3 million. BlockBeats reminds users that meme coins are subject to extreme price volatility, and investors should exercise caution regarding associated risks.
14 minutes ago
Global crude oil prices continue to rise, with both U.S. WTI and Brent crude up 3% on the day.
According to Bitget market data, Brent crude oil rose 3.00% intraday to $85.31 per barrel. WTI crude oil rose 3.00% intraday to $80.14 per barrel. Trump posted a statement yesterday saying that the US will immediately resume the blockade of Iran and impose a 20% fee on cargo transportation.
14 minutes ago
Market sources: Samsung is in preliminary discussions regarding a potential stock sale in the U.S.
According to market sources, Samsung is holding preliminary discussions regarding a potential stock sale in the United States.
14 minutes ago
Goldman Sachs: Hong Kong's market has entered the AI era, and equity financing volume is expected to reach a new high this year.
Wang Yajun, Head of Equity Capital Markets for Goldman Sachs Asia (ex-Japan), noted that Hong Kong’s market has entered the AI era, yet major stock indices have not fully reflected the impact of AI-related enterprises. This explains the contrast between this year’s red-hot IPO fundraising and the relatively lackluster performance of secondary market indices. Wang forecasts that Hong Kong’s total equity financing and IPO fundraising scale will both reach new highs in 2026. Since the start of this year, AI has become the most active investment theme in Hong Kong’s stock market: the most actively traded, best-performing, and largest fundraising stocks are all AI-related, though index constituent adjustments lag behind. Regarding AI industry valuations, Wang believes that sustained growth in AI demand will drive continued expansion of capital expenditures on infrastructure such as computing power, chips, and storage, and the industry still has room for growth in capital spending. As China’s AI industrial chain continues to improve, more AI enterprises are expected to list in Hong Kong or on the STAR Market in the second half of the year.
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The funding rate of SK Hynix-related contracts on Hyperliquid surged more than 130% within one hour.
Hyperliquid platform’s SK Hynix-linked contracts SKHX and SKHY have seen extremely robust trading activity, with a combined 24-hour trading volume of $1.836 billion, surpassing Bitcoin (BTC) to become the platform’s most active asset by trading volume. SKHX alone notched a 24-hour volume of $1.63 billion and open interest (OI) of $635 million, while SKHY posted a 24-hour volume of $206 million and OI of $101 million. SKHY still trades at a roughly 26% premium to SKHX. Notably, SKHX’s funding rate surged sharply in just one hour: it jumped from +0.0064% to +0.0151%, a rise of over 130%. Concurrently, the contract’s trading volume dipped slightly from $1.663 billion to $1.604 billion, and its open interest fell from $638.6 million to $627.1 million. A sharp spike in funding rates typically signals a rapid rise in bullish sentiment, as long positions flood the market—traders holding long positions face higher costs to maintain their bets, reflecting intensifying long-short battles in SKHX contracts and growing speculative enthusiasm for SK Hynix’s US-listed assets.
14 minutes ago
The United States launched a five-hour continuous air raid on Iran, in retaliation for Iran's bombing of a U.S. military base in Jordan.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. military air base in Jordan and called on Jordanian citizens to resist the U.S. military presence there. Jordanian authorities said its air defense systems successfully intercepted four Iranian missiles that entered its airspace, and the incident caused no casualties or property damage. In response, U.S. Central Command, with authorization from President Donald Trump, carried out approximately five hours of continuous airstrikes on targets inside Iran. This marked the third consecutive night of large-scale U.S. military strikes against Iran. According to Iranian media reports, multiple targets including the port of Bandar Abbas were struck, with some naval maintenance facilities damaged. Meanwhile, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz remain high. Trump recently proposed that the U.S. would take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz and planned to impose a 20% fee on goods transiting the waterway, sparking widespread international controversy. Affected by the escalating situation in the Middle East, international oil prices rose nearly 3% at one point, as markets worry that shipping risks in the strait will further exacerbate global energy supply tensions.
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.
Key Takeaways Federal authorities transferred approximately 3,940 BTC (valued at ~$244M) and roughly 30,014 ETH (~$53M) to Coinbase Prime this week The Bitcoin originated from seizures connected to Ryan Farace (alias “Xanaxman”) and the shuttered BTC-e exchange; Ethereum traces back to a money laundering investigation involving an Oracle employee This transaction prompts scrutiny regarding Trump’s executive directive from March 2025 that prohibits liquidation of confiscated Bitcoin Transfers to Coinbase Prime don’t necessarily signal an impending sale — the service provides custody and portfolio management capabilities Federal crypto holdings remain substantial at approximately $20.5 billion, with around 325,000 BTC in storage Federal authorities orchestrated a substantial movement of confiscated cryptocurrency assets to Coinbase Prime this week, with blockchain intelligence platform Arkham documenting the transactions. The operation involved approximately 3,940 Bitcoin valued at roughly $244 million alongside about 30,014 Ethereum worth near $53 million.
The Bitcoin portion traces back to law enforcement actions against Ryan Farace, who operated under the alias “Xanaxman,” plus assets recovered from BTC-e, a cryptocurrency exchange that ceased operations. Galaxy Research’s director Alex Thorn publicly verified these origins.
The Ether portion originated from addresses associated with Brian Krewson, an Oracle corporation employee implicated in federal proceedings concerning cryptocurrency custody and financial crimes totaling approximately $54 million. These movements consolidated assets from multiple enforcement actions onto one institutional-grade platform.
Is the Government Planning to Liquidate These Assets? Moving cryptocurrency to Coinbase Prime doesn’t automatically indicate an impending liquidation. This platform delivers comprehensive services including secure storage, trading capabilities, financing options, and staking functionality. Federal departments may simply be reorganizing their holdings or transitioning assets into professionally managed custody arrangements.
The United States Marshals Service selected Coinbase Prime during 2024 as their designated platform for securing and potentially trading confiscated digital currencies. Government-controlled addresses have executed multiple transfers to this platform since then. This week’s operation represents one of the most substantial government-related movements to the platform recorded in 2026.
Previously in June, government-affiliated wallets dispatched approximately $768,000 in cryptocurrency connected to the FTX and Alameda Research collapse to Coinbase Prime. Earlier in April, approximately 8.2 Bitcoin associated with the notorious 2016 Bitfinex security breach was similarly transferred.
Implications of Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Directive These cryptocurrency movements attract heightened scrutiny due to Trump’s executive directive issued in March 2025. This presidential order established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve with explicit language mandating that Bitcoin included within this reserve “shall not be sold.”
However, the directive incorporates specific exemptions. Federal agencies maintain authorization to restore assets to confirmed victims, deploy them for investigative purposes, or comply with judicial mandates. Ethereum and alternative digital currencies fall under a distinct digital asset inventory, where Treasury officials possess discretion in establishing management protocols.
The reserve’s operational framework remains under development. Treasury and Commerce departments continue negotiations regarding administrative responsibility for the Bitcoin reserve, addressing questions surrounding custody arrangements, regulatory jurisdiction, and potential legislative requirements.
Government-controlled cryptocurrency wallets currently contain an estimated $20.5 billion in digital assets. Bitcoin comprises the majority of these holdings, totaling roughly 325,000 BTC. Additional holdings include Ethereum, Tether, wrapped Bitcoin, and various other confiscated cryptocurrencies.
Blockchain transparency reveals where funds traveled, but not the specific instructions provided to Coinbase Prime. Definitive evidence of liquidation would require subsequent wallet transactions, exchange records, or formal government announcements. Until such confirmation emerges, analysts interpret this transfer as a custodial reorganization.
Robinhood Chain has renewed debate over how much value Ethereum captures from Layer 2 networks.
Summary
Robinhood Chain generated $843,000 in fees while paying Ethereum about $1,600 for settlement and availability. Critics say the revenue gap weakens Ethereum’s value capture despite rising activity across Layer 2s. Supporters argue Robinhood’s tokenized stocks could bring millions of new users into Ethereum-based financial markets. Ethereum Daily said users paid about $843,000 in fees, while the chain sent roughly $1,600 to Ethereum for data availability and settlement.
Lorenzo Valente, a crypto analyst and contributor at ARK Invest, used an earlier snapshot showing about $816,000 in revenue and $1,538 in Ethereum costs. He estimated that Robinhood retained 89%, Arbitrum received 10%, and Ethereum captured 0.15%. The different totals likely reflect when each account collected the data.
Fee split renews debate over Ethereum’s Layer 2 model Valente said the figures support two views of ETH. Higher activity can increase the asset’s use as gas, collateral and settlement money. However, Layer 2 networks may keep most user fees, leaving Ethereum with limited direct income from the transactions they process.
The Robinhood Chain is the cleanest case study of what happened to ETH's economics over time.
Since inception, @RobinhoodApp Chain has grossed ~$816K in revenue.@Arbitrum, the middleware provider, takes 10%: ~$80K.
Arbitrum then pays Ethereum for settlement: $1,538.
The… pic.twitter.com/Jc8k4yi60M
— Lorenzo Valente (@LorenzoARK) July 13, 2026 “Ethereum won this deal on merit. It’s just not pricing it right,” he wrote.
Robinhood Chain uses Arbitrum technology and posts data to Ethereum. Its licensing structure sends 10% of protocol net revenue to the Arbitrum ecosystem, including 8% for the DAO treasury and 2% for developer support.
Tokenized stocks strengthen the distribution case Ethereum Daily argued that direct fees show only part of Robinhood Chain’s potential value. Robinhood launched Stock Tokens through Robinhood Wallet in more than 120 countries. Eligible users can trade them around the clock and use them in decentralized applications, including lending pools and collateral markets.
That reach could bring traditional investors into onchain markets through Apple and Nvidia-linked products. Users who begin with tokenized equities may later use decentralized exchanges, stablecoins, lending services and perpetual futures. The outcome still depends on demand, liquidity and continued product access.
Joseph Lubin supports low Ethereum fees Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin defended the low-fee model. He wrote, “Ethereum L1 revenue fees should stay low to foster growth.” Lubin expects more companies to build across Ethereum mainnet, Layer 2 networks and private Ethereum-compatible chains in coming years.
His case focuses on wider ETH demand rather than immediate settlement income. More networks may use ETH for gas, collateral and staking. Mainnet transactions can also burn ETH. Still, the approach leaves an open question over whether Ethereum receives enough revenue from businesses operating above it.
Robinhood Chain records fast early growth Robinhood launched the public mainnet on July 1 as an Ethereum Layer 2 built with Arbitrum. The company designed the network for real-world assets, trading and decentralized finance. Uniswap, Chainlink, Morpho and other providers supported the chain at launch.
As previously reported, Robinhood Chain passed $70 million in bridged Ether and $100 million in total value locked. Daily Uniswap volume later reached about $500 million, while the network processed millions of transactions. Lending products and incentive-linked strategies supplied early liquidity.
Separately, a crypto.news review found that the network produced $570 million in early trading volume against about $21.7 million in launch-day liquidity. The figures showed strong initial activity while raising questions about liquidity depth and whether usage will continue after early rewards decline.
The debate separates direct fee capture from wider network value. Ethereum receives a small share of Robinhood Chain’s user fees, while Arbitrum and Robinhood retain more. Ethereum may still gain through ETH use, settlement demand and new onchain users, but those benefits depend on sustained activity.
Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin has emphasized the importance of maintaining low Layer 1 fees to drive adoption and enhance the long-term value of the Ethereum network. Lubin argued that low transaction costs, coupled with increased network activity, staking, and ETH burning, could strengthen Ethereum’s competitive position as a leading blockchain platform. This comes as Ethereum’s L1 fees have dropped to a historic low of approximately $0.09–$0.10 per transaction, partly due to the recent Glamsterdam upgrade and the shift of activity to Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Base. Lubin’s comments are seen as a strategic push to position Ethereum’s L1 as a low-cost settlement layer, supporting its deflationary potential during periods of high activity.
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Key Takeaways Lubin’s advocacy for low Ethereum L1 fees appears consistent with promoting broader network adoption. The reduction in transaction fees suggests a strategic emphasis on Ethereum’s scalability and deflationary potential. Pricing suggests market participants may view Lubin’s comments as supportive of Ethereum’s long-term value. What to Watch Markets will be observing the impact of Lubin’s comments on Ethereum’s adoption and price trajectory. Key indicators include changes in staking participation and ETH burning rates, which could influence perceptions of Ethereum’s deflationary potential. Any further upgrades or shifts in network activity to Layer 2 solutions may also provide insights into Ethereum’s scalability strategy and its implications for future price movements.
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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h December 31, 2026 1.7% — — View market → December 31, 2026 2.4% — — View market → December 31, 2026 3% — — View market → December 31, 2026 3.2% — — View market → December 31, 2026 5.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 9.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 15.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 2.1% — — View market → January 1 2027 2.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 3.1% — — View market → January 1 2027 4.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 7% — — View market → January 1 2027 62% — — View market → January 1 2027 7.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 2.9% — — View market → January 1 2027 24.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 31.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 12.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 70.5% — — View market →
Bitcoin's more balanced sentiment stands in contrast to the growing enthusiasm surrounding Ethereum and XRP.
ETH and XRP traders have become notably more optimistic, with market intelligence firm Santiment reporting the highest levels of fear of missing out (FOMO) for both assets in the past five weeks.
The change in tune has come even with prices struggling to build sustained momentum, raising the possibility that bullish sentiment may be running ahead of market performance.
XRP Leads Sentiment Spike While BTC Stays Balanced According to a July 13 X post by Santiment, XRP’s bull-to-bear ratio sat at 3.02, meaning that there were more than three positive posts online for every negative one. Ethereum wasn’t far behind at 2.31, placing it in what the analytics platform described as “slight FOMO territory.” As for Bitcoin (BTC), it posted a much lower 1.40, suggesting that traders were relatively neutral about it.
Both BTC and ETH opened relatively strong on Monday but faded as the day went on, with Santiment pointing out that crowds tend to get loud at the wrong moment.
“Crypto typically moves opposite to what the crowd is loudly expecting,” the firm wrote. “When traders get too bullish on XRP or ETH while prices are already dipping, it can create short-term downside risk or at least slow the rebound.”
However, it argued that Bitcoin’s flatter reading may give it more room for a rally since the crowd hasn’t fully bought into the “higher prices next” trade yet. This assessment was echoed by trader Xaif Crypto, who also argued that BTC’s calmer sentiment “means more room to run,” while the heavier optimism surrounding XRP and ETH could limit their immediate recovery.
Looking at the price actions of the three assets, XRP had slipped below $1.08, a resistance level highlighted by analyst Cryptorphic, and was trading around $1.07 at the time of writing, a roughly 5% drop in the last seven days and almost 7% over the past month. According to the analyst, the token is quite vulnerable as long as it trades beneath $1.08, with even lower prices seeming likely.
On its part, ETH has held up better and was trading closer to $1,800 than $1,700, having gained a modest 1% over one week and more than 6% in the last 30 days. It did move briefly above $1,800 over the weekend before pulling back, although several market watchers have expressed optimism that the current level could see the asset push up to $2,500.
You may also like: Here’s Why Robinhood Chain Is Ultra Bullish for ETH Despite Cannibalizing Revenue 3 Years After The Key Ripple-SEC Ruling: How XRP Went From SEC Target to Institutional Asset South Korea Stock Crash Could Drag Bitcoin Below Key Support: Analyst Meanwhile, Bitcoin dipped slightly in the last day after starting July rather strongly when it rebounded from around $57,700 to $64,000. It is currently changing hands below $63,000, with wallets holding between 10,000 and 100,000 BTC adding 11,000 BTC in the last week, suggesting that dip demand hasn’t dried up despite weeks of choppy trading.
Optimism Faces Mixed On-Chain and ETF Signals While traders have become excited about XRP, the asset has had to contend with cooling institutional and whale activity, marked by spot XRP ETFs recording their first week of net outflows in more than 2 months.
Furthermore, on-chain data also showed a significant drop in XRP transactions of more than $1 million, which have gone from 70 to only 2 in about a week, while wallet creation on the XRP Ledger has also slowed compared with earlier in the year.
While institutional investors continue to show interest in the cryptocurrency market, there has been a noticeable decline in individual investor engagement on social media. According to recent data, the volume of posts using the keywords “Bitcoin” and “Ethereum” on X (formerly Twitter) has fallen to its lowest level in the last 12 months.
Daily posts about Bitcoin have dropped to around 130,000, while posts about Ethereum have fallen to around 40,000. These levels represent the lowest social media activity seen since 2020, when institutional interest was just beginning to emerge.
Tweet volume is considered one of the key indicators measuring the level of interest of individual investors in the market. This metric reveals not the amount of capital entering the market, but how much investors are talking about specific assets. The current situation is noteworthy because, despite social media interest falling back to 2020 levels, institutional investors’ interest in cryptocurrencies is conversely accelerating.
In 2020, Bitcoin and Ethereum hadn’t yet fully entered Wall Street’s radar, spot ETFs hadn’t been approved, and holding crypto assets on corporate balance sheets wasn’t widespread. Today, the picture has changed dramatically. Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs manage billions of dollars in funds, and asset tokenization holds a significant place on the agenda of traditional finance conferences and major financial institutions.
Analysts believe this development could signal that institutional adoption may now be able to progress independently of individual investor interest. However, historical data shows that low levels of social media engagement often coincide with periods when prices are trading sideways or pulling back.
According to experts, as the crypto ecosystem matures, price movements and infrastructure investments may not require as much intense individual investor interest as in past bull cycles.
However, the renewed increase in individual investor participation remains a crucial factor in strengthening both trading volumes and market momentum. Therefore, social media data continues to be closely monitored as an indicator of market sentiment.
*This is not investment advice.
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Cardano’s biggest holders are loading up on ADA like it’s a clearance sale. And given the token’s price action over the past year, that comparison isn’t far off.
On-chain data from Santiment shows that wallets holding at least 1 million ADA have amassed a combined balance of roughly 25.1 billion tokens, accounting for approximately 67.5% of Cardano’s circulating supply. That’s the highest concentration since July 2020, more than five years ago, when the broader crypto market was still warming up for its next bull cycle.
Whales buy, retail sells The accumulation trend among major stakeholders has been consistent since December 2023. One cohort alone has added hundreds of millions of tokens even as ADA’s price cratered. The token has fallen more than 70% over the preceding nine months and dropped over 20% year-to-date in 2026, trading at approximately $0.27 in mid-May with a market cap hovering around $10 billion.
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Smaller retail wallets, meanwhile, have been doing the exact opposite. Net selling among these holders has accelerated, with larger wallets scooping up over 150 million ADA in early 2026 during the retail sell-off.
On-chain metrics tell a different story Total value locked in Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem stood at just $137 million as of mid-May 2026. That’s a brutal 80% decline from its December 2024 peak of $686 million. For context, $137 million in TVL puts Cardano well behind dozens of competing chains, including several that launched years after it.
Daily decentralized exchange volume on the network hovers around $2 million. That’s not a typo. Two million dollars in daily DEX volume for a blockchain with a $10 billion market cap suggests that very few people are actually using Cardano for trading or financial applications right now.
Low DEX volume means low fees, which means low revenue for the network, which means the fundamental value proposition of the chain as a productive DeFi ecosystem looks thin. The whale accumulation, then, doesn’t appear to be driven by current utility. It looks more like a long-duration bet, a wager that Cardano’s value will eventually catch up to the conviction these holders are expressing with their wallets.
What this means for investors Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem losing 80% of its TVL in roughly 18 months is not something that gets fixed by a handful of whales sitting on large bags.
The $137 million TVL figure is particularly noteworthy because it suggests capital is actively leaving Cardano’s ecosystem for other chains. In a multi-chain world where developers and users can easily migrate to Ethereum, Solana, or newer Layer 2 networks, declining TVL is a competitive red flag, not just a cyclical dip.
At $0.27, ADA is priced like the market has serious doubts about that timeline. The whales, apparently, disagree. Someone is going to be very right, and someone is going to be very wrong.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Cardano (ADA) continues to face selling pressure, despite fresh efforts to boost its ecosystem, as technical and on-chain indicators remain weak. The cryptocurrency is trading at $0.1585, representing a 2.22% decline over the past 24 hours. This comes as traders appear focused on a bearish market structure and falling participation.
Cardano’s price struggles despite new ecosystem initiativeThe Cardano Foundation, a non-profit organization behind the Cardano blockchain, has announced an upcoming partnership event with the University of Zürich, scheduled for July 21. The Cardano x University of Zürich Meetup aims to promote blockchain education and enhance developer involvement, with a series of talks on how student ideas can evolve into shipped projects.
This initiative highlights the foundation’s investment in long-term ecosystem development and the growth of real-world adoption through academic engagement. However, it has not yet had a noticeable impact on ADA’s price, as market participants continue to react primarily to short-term technical signals.
Cardano Foundation representatives emphasized the event will showcase “Four talks on turning a student idea into a shipped project,” aiming to connect students, innovators, and professionals in the blockchain space with hands-on experience from industry founders.
Collaborations between academic institutions and blockchain networks have become increasingly essential for driving research, nurturing the next generation of developers, and supporting the creation of innovative solutions within blockchain ecosystems.
Mini dictionary: Cardano Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Cardano’s technology, adoption, and ecosystem through research, education, and public engagement.
Bears sustain control as technical and on-chain signals softenTechnical analysis indicates that ADA continues to trade below key moving averages. The 50-day moving average stands at $0.1774 and the 200-day at $0.2610, both well above current price levels, reinforcing a broad bearish trend. Strong resistance appears between $0.1726 and $0.1774, while immediate support can be found at $0.1578.
Momentum indicators also show weakness. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram is shrinking, with the MACD and signal lines converging, pointing to fading bullish momentum. Sustained price recovery would likely require a decisive move above these technical resistance levels.
Derivatives market activity highlights a decline in trader conviction. According to CoinGlass, open interest in ADA has dropped to about $390 million, down from over $500 million earlier in July. Trading volumes have also decreased since the early-month surge.
DateOpen InterestTrading VolumeEarly JulyOver $500 millionHighCurrent$390 millionModerateOn-chain activity measured by DefiLlama also underlines a drop in network participation, with active addresses and total value locked (TVL) continuing a downward trajectory. Such trends signal reduced user engagement, complicating ADA’s path to price recovery for now.
For buyers to regain control, ADA must reclaim $0.1726 and cross above the 50-day moving average. Conversely, a fall below the $0.1578 support could accelerate selling pressure.
Long-term outlook remains focused on education and adoptionWhile the University of Zürich collaboration strengthens the long-term outlook for Cardano’s ecosystem, current sentiment remains subdued. Market participants are focused on weakening technical indicators and declining on-chain activity, rather than near-term catalysts.
The Cardano Foundation continues to invest in partnerships and educational initiatives, aiming to build future developer capacity and foster real-world blockchain adoption. However, market volatility persists and traders are advised to monitor developments closely before making investment decisions.
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 Highlights Cardano is currently priced at approximately $0.158, reflecting a weekly decline exceeding 14% Major holders with 100K–100M ADA have added 320 million tokens to their portfolios since early July Large stakeholder balances have reached their most elevated point since early 2023 Futures market indicators reveal bearish positioning through negative funding rates and subdued long positions A sustained move above $0.18–$0.20 is needed to shift momentum toward bulls Cardano (ADA) continues to face downward pressure on Monday, hovering around the $0.158 mark following a sharp weekly decline of over 14%. The cryptocurrency is currently positioned beneath critical moving average indicators, with near-term technical momentum showing weakness.
Cardano (ADA) Price However, amid the bearish price action, substantial wallet addresses are actively accumulating. According to analytics from Santiment, addresses containing between 100,000 and 100 million ADA have collectively acquired 320 million tokens starting from July 7. The aggregate balance held by these significant stakeholders has climbed above 25.6 billion ADA — marking the highest concentration since February 2023.
Meanwhile, smaller investors are heading in the reverse direction. Addresses holding under 100 ADA have reduced their positions by roughly 0.7% throughout the last four months.
Santiment’s official X account specifically addressed this divergence: “Strong hands are adding while the chart still looks uncomfortable.” Their analysis emphasized that whale and shark-tier wallets are absorbing available supply even as retail participants grow impatient, characterizing it as among the more constructive technical configurations ADA has displayed this year. The platform also referenced ongoing development momentum including Leios testnet initiatives, Hydra scaling enhancements, and Mithril advancement.
✍️ TL;DR: Cardano’s key stakeholder holdings reach a 3.5 year high
📊 Metrics Used: Supply Distribution
🔗 Live Chart: https://t.co/9lzM6kxdcb
🦈 Cardano’s 100K to 100M ADA wallets now hold more than 25.6B coins, their highest level since February, 2023.
📉 Retail is doing the… pic.twitter.com/7iHLl5xyHT
— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) July 13, 2026
Futures Market Indicators Show Bearish Sentiment The Open Interest for ADA futures contracts has declined to $385 million, marking an ongoing downtrend. The OI-Weighted Funding Rate transitioned into negative territory on Friday and currently stands at -0.0028% as of Monday, indicating that short position holders are compensating longs — a characteristic signal of bearish market positioning.
Source: Coinglass The long-to-short ratio has fallen to 0.79, approaching its lowest reading in more than 30 days. When this metric drops below 1.0, it reflects greater trader conviction in downward price movement compared to upward expectations.
The Relative Strength Index is currently positioned near 42, while the MACD indicator is drifting toward the neutral zero line. Overhead resistance levels include the 50-day EMA at $0.181, the 100-day EMA near $0.211, and the 200-day EMA at $0.280.
Critical Price Levels Under Market Observation Cardano is currently consolidating around the $0.16 level, which market participants are viewing as immediate support. Should this floor maintain, initial recovery objectives include $0.17 followed by $0.18. A decisive break above $0.20 would represent more substantial evidence that buyers are regaining market control.
Source: TradingView For downside scenarios, $0.150 represents the subsequent support threshold. A breach of that level would bring the $0.13–$0.14 range into consideration as a potential deeper accumulation zone.
Several technical analysts are tracking ADA’s movement within a descending channel pattern that may function as a consolidation phase preceding another upward attempt. A breakout above this channel formation would reactivate $0.18 and subsequently $0.20 as realistic targets.
The $6.8 billion market capitalization threshold is also drawing attention. Recapturing that valuation level is viewed as a significant catalyst for initiating a broader price recovery.
As of July 14, 2026, ADA’s major stakeholder holdings maintain their 3.5-year peak position.
Cardano (ADA) continued to come under pressure on Monday, trading near $0.158 after recording a steep loss of more than 14% in just one week. The coin is still positioned below key moving averages, as technical momentum indicators suggest that bearish sentiment prevails in the short term.
Major holders accumulate as price fallsDespite the recent price drop, large ADA holders have been actively increasing their positions. Blockchain analytics firm Santiment reported that wallets holding between 100,000 and 100 million ADA collectively acquired an additional 320 million tokens since July 7. As a result, this group’s total balance surpassed 25.6 billion ADA, marking its highest level since February 2023.
In contrast, smaller retail investors have trimmed their exposure. Addresses with less than 100 ADA reduced their holdings by approximately 0.7% over the past four months, reflecting a lack of confidence among retail participants as prices continue to slide.
Santiment commented that stronger hands are accumulating while the overall price chart remains challenging. The firm highlighted ongoing development activity within the Cardano ecosystem, citing the Leios testnet, Hydra scaling upgrades, and progress with Mithril.
Mini dictionary: Santiment is a blockchain analytics platform that provides data on cryptocurrency metrics, including on-chain activity, supply distribution, and investor behavior.
Holder CategoryRecent ChangeTotal HoldingsWhales (100,000–100 million ADA)+320 million ADA since July 725.6 billion ADA (highest since Feb 2023)Retail (<100 ADA)-0.7% in 4 monthsN/AFutures and technical signals remain negativeOn the derivatives front, indicators continue to reflect a bearish outlook. Open interest for ADA futures dropped to $385 million, continuing a multi-week decline. The OI-weighted funding rate turned negative Friday and reached -0.0028% by Monday, meaning traders holding short positions are paying their long counterparts—an indicator often associated with negative sentiment.
Cardano’s long-to-short ratio slipped to 0.79, marking its lowest reading in over a month. When this ratio falls below 1.0, it signals that more traders expect further downside, outweighing those who anticipate gains.
Other momentum indicators remain weak. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers near 42, a level often interpreted as neutral-to-bearish, while the MACD indicator is trending toward its zero line, suggesting a lack of clear upward momentum.
Key levels watched for potential reversalADA is consolidating around $0.16, regarded as crucial support by market participants. If this level holds, initial upside targets include $0.17 and then $0.18. A sustained move above $0.20 would provide a stronger signal that bulls are regaining the upper hand.
On the downside, $0.150 serves as immediate support, while a breach could open the path toward the $0.13 to $0.14 zone. Some analysts also monitor a descending channel pattern, viewing it as a possible base for a future reversal. Breaking out of this formation would likely reactivate resistance levels at $0.18 and then $0.20.
Cardano’s market capitalization, which currently sits below $6.8 billion, is also under scrutiny. Reclaiming this level may prove pivotal for triggering a broader recovery.
By July 14, 2026, major ADA stakeholders continued to maintain their largest combined holdings in three and a half years, defying the broader market’s negative trend.
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.
Bolivia is evaluating a framework to integrate USDT into its national payments system as a regulated alternative to the boliviano and U.S. dollar.Crypto usage has spiked in the country, with transaction volumes hitting $430 million in the year after the central bank removed restrictions in mid-2024.Official adoption will require rigorous anti-money laundering controls because Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force's grey list.Bolivia is considering adding Tether's USDT stablecoin to its national payments system, marking another step in the country's shift from banning crypto transactions to allowing regulated digital asset use.
Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza said at a press conference on Monday that the government is evaluating whether USDT could circulate alongside the boliviano, the country’s fiat currency, and the U.S. dollar.
The proposal remains under technical review and the government has not published implementation rules or granted the stablecoin legal-tender status, local news outlet La Razón reported.
Officials are developing a framework for banks, digital wallets and payment providers, according to Espinoza. Any rollout would require stronger anti-money laundering controls as Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force's grey list, which subjects the country to increased monitoring over shortcomings in its financial crime regime.
The proposal comes amid a sharp rise in crypto adoption after Bolivia's central bank lifted restrictions on transactions in June 2024. Central bank data shows that crypto transaction volume climbed from $46.5 million in the first half of 2024 to $294 million during the same period last year. Total transaction volume rose 630% after restrictions were removed, the central bank has said.
Demand has increased as businesses and consumers look for alternatives to scarce U.S. dollars in the country. Bolivia ended its long-standing fixed dollar peg and moved to a floating exchange rate earlier this year.
State energy company YPFB announced plans last year to use crypto for energy imports, while Bolivia's central bank has also looked to El Salvador for help with its crypto regulatory framework.
State-controlled Banco Unión and its Yasta wallet start letting customers buy USDT through EFY Finance in April for international payments and remittances.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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CASHCAT’s market cap briefly surpassed $200 million, rising over 20% in 24 hours.
According to GMGN market data, the Robinhood Chain meme coin CASHCAT briefly exceeded $200 million in market capitalization, and has now retreated to $192 million, posting a more than 20% 24-hour gain with a 24-hour trading volume of $40.3 million. BlockBeats reminds users that meme coins are subject to extreme price volatility, and investors should exercise caution regarding associated risks.
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Hyundai Motor's US and Mexican units completed a pilot cross-border treasury transfer using Tether's USDT stablecoin, settling a $20,000 payment in about seven minutes on the Avalanche blockchain.
According to Tether, Hyundai Motor America converted the funds into USDT, transferred the stablecoin to Hyundai Motor Mexico and converted it back into US dollars. The transfer and verification process took about seven minutes, compared with three to four hours or more for a traditional cross-border bank transfer.
Tether said the pilot used Axiym's settlement infrastructure, while Hyundai Card designed the remittance structure and oversaw the regulatory, compliance, accounting and operational requirements needed to support the proof of concept.
The pilot was designed to evaluate whether stablecoin-based settlement could be integrated into existing corporate treasury operations without changing governance, compliance or accounting processes. The next phase will expand testing to additional payment corridors and local currency settlements as the companies evaluate broader enterprise treasury workflows.
Corporate treasury emerges as key stablecoin use caseCorporate treasury has become an increasingly important focus for stablecoin companies, with firms rolling out products designed to support cross-border payments, liquidity management and intercompany settlement.
In April, treasury management software provider Kyriba partnered with Circle to integrate the USDC stablecoin into its enterprise treasury platform. The collaboration allows treasury teams to manage stablecoin balances alongside cash positions, settle eligible cross-border and intercompany payments in near-real time, and access liquidity outside traditional banking hours using existing treasury workflows and approval controls.
A Bitso Business report published this month found stablecoin transaction volumes processed on its platform increased 81% year over year in the first half of 2026, driven by demand for real-time settlement, treasury management and cross-border liquidity solutions. More than 60% of new business clients onboarded during the period were financial institutions, including banks and licensed payment providers.
Business surveys also point to growing enterprise adoption. A June Paybis report found that 22.5% of surveyed businesses already use stablecoins for international payments or plan to within the next 12 months. Citing McKinsey research, the report said business-to-business transactions accounted for roughly 60% of the estimated $390 billion in global stablecoin payment volume in 2025.
The enterprise push comes as the stablecoin market continues to grow. Total stablecoin market capitalization has climbed to about $312.3 billion, up roughly 21.5% from $257.1 billion a year earlier, according to DefiLlama, with Tether's USDT remaining the largest stablecoin by market value.
Source: Defillama
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Bolivia is considering making Bolivia USDT an official part of its national payment system, circulating the Tether stablecoin alongside the U.S. dollar and the boliviano. The move signals a dramatic policy shift as the country battles a prolonged foreign-currency shortage. Local banks Banco Unión and Banco FIE are already offering USDT-related services, suggesting the groundwork for wider adoption is firmly in place.
Bolivia’s Dollar Crisis Fuels the Case for USDT Bolivia has been under severe foreign currency pressures for the past few years. With the reduction in gas production and exports, dollar reserves have also been depleted, and businesses and importers are short of hard currency.
The first formal move by the government was in March 2025 when the state energy company YPFB was authorized to accept crypto payments for fuel imports during the severe dollar crisis.
Adoption of the USDT in Bolivia had penetrated further into daily use by June 2025. CEO of Tether Paolo Ardoino posted images of retail stores in Bolivia selling various consumer goods, including dairy products and chocolate, for USDT.
Crypto analyst CryptoPatel summed it up on X: “When your currency fails, bring in the stable one.”
When your currency fails, bring in the stable one
— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) July 13, 2026
The large number of USDT users in Bolivian retail stores demonstrated that, rather than regulation, economic necessity was driving people to opt for the digital dollar over the boliviano.
Bolivia’s current foreign currency reserves figure and the boliviano black-market premium vs. official rate Banks Already Onboard, What Official Status Would Mean Banco Unión and Banco FIE already offer services related to the USDT in Bolivia; therefore, the banking infrastructure is already well established.
Official circulation status would regularize the situation as it exists in practice, thus making remittance more rapid, transaction costs lower, and providing a tracking alternative to the black-market dollar trade.
That credibility argument is reinforced by Tether’s own push for institutional trust: in March 2026, the company engaged KPMG to conduct a full audit of its $185 billion USDT reserves.
The goal is to move beyond years of debate over its reserve support and make a statement about its efforts to construct transparency that is suitable for exactly that type of sovereign-level integration.
The strategic significance of Tether’s potential move is great for Bolivia. This would be the first Latin American nation to officially add USDT as a payment option at the same time as fiat currencies.
That focus is sharpening; Tether recently wound down its aUSDT product to concentrate resources on core USDT, underlining how central the flagship stablecoin is to its global expansion.
Other emerging-market economies with similar dollar shortages, such as sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Southeast Asia, will be closely observing Bolivia’s experiment, analysts note.
DATA POINT NEEDED: USDT total market cap and circulating supply figure for context on adoption scale
There is still a big question about regulatory clarity. There are no formal terms of integration confirmed by the Central Bank of Bolivia, nor is there any legislative framework confirmed.
But the government’s desire for this change seems greater than it has ever been in the country’s brief but fast-evolving crypto history.
See our picks for newly launched cryptos worth watching this month.
The central bank says data-analytics tools caught high-volume Tether transactions structured to dodge disclosure, and it has handed the cases to the securities regulator that oversees digital assets.
Posted July 13, 2026 at 1:14 pm EST.
Thailand’s central bank is targeting crypto transactions as part of a broader crackdown on illicit finance.
Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said over the weekend that the bank and the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission are using data-analytics tools to audit abnormally high-volume trades in stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT, according to local news outlet Thansettakij.
Early reviews have already flagged transactions that appear structured to conceal ownership or move money outside normal banking channels, Ratanakorn said, according to Thansettakij. The central bank has handed those findings to the SEC, which holds direct statutory authority over digital assets in Thailand, for possible enforcement.
“The measures we are implementing are not short-term fixes; they require the continuous deployment of multiple parallel strategies,” Ratanakorn was quoted as saying.
The stablecoin audit is one strand of a broad crackdown on what Thai officials call the grey economy, the flow of suspicious cash across the region. Since April, anyone withdrawing 5 million baht (about $150,000) or more in cash has had to give their bank a commercial reason for it, a step the BOT credits with reducing large withdrawals by about 35%. From the fourth quarter, depositors bringing in the same amount may have to declare where the money came from. Regulators have also tightened reporting on gold trading, where monthly withdrawals fell from about 4,000 kilograms to 700, and closed thousands of accounts used as “mules” for online-gambling flows.
Thai police in collaboration with Interpol recently identified a romance-scam laundering network in which a single wallet allegedly controlled by a suspect aged 20 moved more than $122.5 million in 10 months.
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AI-assisted content: This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and was reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by a member of the Unchained editorial team before publication.
Bolivia’s government is evaluating whether to integrate Tether‘s USDT stablecoin into the country’s national payments system. If adopted, USDT could be used alongside the boliviano and the US dollar for domestic transactions. As of now, USDT has not received legal tender status, and officials have not published rules for its rollout.
Government assesses potential for USDT adoptionEconomy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza stated that officials are performing a detailed technical assessment of the proposal to include USDT in the financial system. The Ministry of Economy is also drafting regulatory guidelines for banks, digital wallets, and payment service providers on how they might manage stablecoin payments in a controlled environment.
Authorities have not issued a timeline for potential implementation or outlined specific operating standards. Regulatory teams are examining how USDT transactions would comply with current financial, currency, and anti-money laundering regulations. These reviews will play a decisive role in determining the stablecoin’s integration into Bolivia’s payments infrastructure.
Espinoza emphasized that the government is reviewing both the technical and regulatory aspects of allowing USDT to function within the national financial ecosystem.
Integrating USDT would necessitate enhanced oversight and reporting standards for participating banks and payment processors. Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list due to existing gaps in its frameworks for combating financial crime. As a result, the government will likely require stronger controls on all cryptocurrency-related transactions.
Mini dictionary: Financial Action Task Force (FATF): An international organization that sets standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing worldwide.
Digital asset activity surges after regulatory changesBolivia’s central bank lifted previous restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions in June 2024. Following this move, digital asset activity in the country climbed significantly. Transaction volumes reached $294 million in the second half of last year, compared to $46.5 million during the first half of 2024. The central bank attributed a 630% increase in transaction volume to the end of these restrictions, reflecting a rising appetite for digital assets throughout the national financial market.
PeriodTransaction VolumeFirst half of 2024$46.5 millionSecond half of 2024$294 millionThe spike in demand for digital currencies has been fueled by ongoing foreign currency shortages and a transition from a fixed dollar exchange rate to a floating system earlier this year. As the availability of US dollars becomes restricted, businesses and individuals have turned to alternatives such as stablecoins for both domestic and cross-border payments.
Pilot projects from state companies and banksState-owned Banco Unión, a major Bolivian financial institution, expanded its Yasta digital wallet in April to include USDT purchase options. Through a partnership with EFY Finance, this service enables customers to use USDT for remittances and international transfers, marking one of the country’s first regulated avenues for stablecoin transactions.
The national oil and gas company YPFB last year revealed plans to utilize cryptocurrency for purchasing imported energy. Meanwhile, the central bank has sought technical advice from El Salvador, which implemented a national digital asset framework after recognizing Bitcoin as legal tender. These developments indicate a broader official interest in digital finance and managed crypto adoption. However, any further expansion will first require the completion of technical reviews and formal publication of operating standards for USDT.
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.
In brief Bolivia is assessing the potential to include USDT alongside other forms of payment in the nation. The nation removed a block on crypto transactions in 2024 and is still working on a way to regulate crypto assets. From July 2024 to June 2025, it facilitated more than $14.8 billion in crypto transaction volumes. Bolivia’s economy is stabilizing, and now it is investigating the potential inclusion of Tether’s dollar-backed stablecoin USDT as a form of payment in the nation, according to a local news report from La Razón.
The report stems from a Friday briefing from Bolivia’s Minister of Economy, José Gabriel Espinoza Yáñez, who highlighted the care that must be taken as part of the assessment.
“Remember that Bolivia is on the [Financial Action Task Force] gray list, yet another consequence of the problems they left us with in the past, and these crypto assets must be carefully evaluated,” he said in the press conference, per the publication.
“We are working on regulations to govern their use for those who have adopted them, in many cases out of necessity, and know how to use them properly,” he added.
The FATF lists, black and grey, identify nations that have deficiencies in their ability to counter money laundering and terrorist financing. On the grey list, Bolivia is under increased monitoring by the FATF, but it is deemed to be “committed to resolving” the issues quickly.
"The Bolivian economy today is considerably different from what we found eight months ago,” said Espinoza Yáñez in a statement. “The measures we implemented are part of a plan designed before we took office, and the results are beginning to validate that approach.”
The South American nation removed a block on crypto transactions in 2024, helping to fuel explosive crypto growth in Latin America, which recorded almost $1.5 trillion in transactions over a three-year stretch ending June 2025, according to data from Chainalysis.
During the period from July 2024 to June 2025, the nation ranked eighth among its Latin American peers with $14.8 billion in transactions, outpacing others like Ecuador and Puerto Rico in the process.
In October 2024, one of the nation’s biggest banks—Banco Bisa—kick-started its crypto custody services, allowing its members to store and transfer USDT, but no other crypto assets.
“USDT is more and more used as a cornerstone within several emerging markets economies,” Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino posted on X following news reports about Bolivia’s consideration.
The leading stablecoin by market cap, USDT ranks third among all crypto assets with a market capitalization of more than $184 billion.
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In brief Bolivia is assessing the potential to include USDT alongside other forms of payment in the nation. The nation removed a block on crypto transactions in 2024 and is still working on a way to regulate crypto assets. From July 2024 to June 2025, it facilitated more than $14.8 billion in crypto transaction volumes. Bolivia’s economy is stabilizing, and now it is investigating the potential inclusion of Tether’s dollar-backed stablecoin USDT as a form of payment in the nation, according to a local news report from La Razón.
The report stems from a Friday briefing from Bolivia’s Minister of Economy, José Gabriel Espinoza Yáñez, who highlighted the care that must be taken as part of the assessment.
“Remember that Bolivia is on the [Financial Action Task Force] gray list, yet another consequence of the problems they left us with in the past, and these crypto assets must be carefully evaluated,” he said in the press conference, per the publication.
“We are working on regulations to govern their use for those who have adopted them, in many cases out of necessity, and know how to use them properly,” he added.
The FATF lists, black and grey, identify nations that have deficiencies in their ability to counter money laundering and terrorist financing. On the grey list, Bolivia is under increased monitoring by the FATF, but it is deemed to be “committed to resolving” the issues quickly.
"The Bolivian economy today is considerably different from what we found eight months ago,” said Espinoza Yáñez in a statement. “The measures we implemented are part of a plan designed before we took office, and the results are beginning to validate that approach.”
The South American nation removed a block on crypto transactions in 2024, helping to fuel explosive crypto growth in Latin America, which recorded almost $1.5 trillion in transactions over a three-year stretch ending June 2025, according to data from Chainalysis.
During the period from July 2024 to June 2025, the nation ranked eighth among its Latin American peers with $14.8 billion in transactions, outpacing others like Ecuador and Puerto Rico in the process.
In October 2024, one of the nation’s biggest banks—Banco Bisa—kick-started its crypto custody services, allowing its members to store and transfer USDT, but no other crypto assets.
“USDT is more and more used as a cornerstone within several emerging markets economies,” Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino posted on X following news reports about Bolivia’s consideration.
The leading stablecoin by market cap, USDT ranks third among all crypto assets with a market capitalization of more than $184 billion.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
Bolivia has moved closer to recognizing Tether’s USDT as an official payment option alongside the boliviano and the U.S. dollar as the country continues to grapple with a prolonged shortage of foreign currency.
Summary
Bolivia is considering recognizing USDT as an official payment option alongside the boliviano and U.S. dollar. Local banks already support USDT services as the country struggles with a prolonged dollar shortage. Tether is expanding institutional use of USDT while pursuing stronger reserve transparency through a KPMG audit. According to reports from Bolivia, government officials are weighing a proposal that would allow USDT to circulate as part of the national payment system, a step that would formalize a practice already taking shape across parts of the country’s financial sector.
If approved, the move would make Bolivia the first Latin American nation to officially recognize USDT as a payment option alongside its domestic currency and the U.S. dollar.
Years of declining natural gas production and exports have steadily reduced Bolivia’s dollar reserves, leaving businesses and importers struggling to secure foreign currency. The shortage has pushed authorities to explore alternative payment methods, with crypto gradually becoming part of that strategy instead of remaining a niche financial product.
Dollar shortages have accelerated USDT adoption The government’s first major crypto-related measure came in March 2025, when state-owned energy company YPFB received authorization to use cryptocurrency payments for fuel imports during the country’s worsening dollar shortage.
Retail adoption followed soon after. In June 2025, Tether chief executive Paolo Ardoino shared images on social media showing Bolivian stores listing everyday products, including dairy goods and chocolate, with prices displayed in USDT.
The posts suggested stablecoins were already being used for ordinary purchases rather than remaining limited to investment activity.
Crypto analyst CryptoPatel later argued on X that economic conditions, rather than regulation, were encouraging people to move toward stable assets, writing, “When your currency fails, bring in the stable one.”
His comments accompanied growing evidence that many consumers were choosing the dollar-pegged stablecoin as access to physical U.S. dollars became increasingly difficult.
Meanwhile, Bolivia’s banking sector has already begun supporting the ecosystem. Local lenders Banco Unión and Banco FIE currently provide services linked to USDT, indicating that much of the financial infrastructure needed for wider adoption is already in place.
Formal recognition would instead establish a regulatory framework around an existing trend, potentially making remittances faster, lowering transaction costs and offering an alternative to informal dollar markets.
Tether expands institutional use of USDT Outside Bolivia, Tether has continued promoting USDT for larger financial transactions. As previously reported by crypto.news, Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Mexico completed a pilot cross-border treasury payment using USDT on the Avalanche blockchain.
According to Tether, Hyundai Motor America converted U.S. dollars into USDT before transferring the stablecoin to its Mexican subsidiary, where it was exchanged back into U.S. dollars.
The company said the $20,000 transfer, including verification, was completed in about seven minutes, compared with three to four hours or longer for a conventional bank transfer.
Institutional credibility has also become a focus for the stablecoin issuer. In March 2026, Tether appointed KPMG to conduct a full audit of reserves backing roughly $185 billion worth of USDT. The company said the audit is intended to strengthen confidence in the token’s reserve backing following years of scrutiny over its transparency.
Operationally, Tether has concentrated its stablecoin strategy around USDT after discontinuing its aUSDT product, reinforcing the flagship token’s role in its international business.
Despite growing momentum, Bolivia has not yet finalized the legal framework for integrating USDT into its payment system. Neither the Central Bank of Bolivia nor lawmakers have published formal implementation rules.
Still, reports indicate the proposal has advanced further than previous crypto initiatives in the country, while other emerging economies facing persistent dollar shortages are expected by analysts to watch Bolivia’s experience closely.
Bolivia is weighing the possibility of allowing Tether’s USDT stablecoin as an official form of payment, following recent steps to open its financial sector to digital assets. The move comes as the country’s government pursues broader regulation for crypto assets, after lifting a longstanding ban on cryptocurrency transactions earlier in 2024.
Government weighs integration of stablecoinsBolivia’s Minister of Economy, José Gabriel Espinoza Yáñez, addressed the topic in a press briefing on Friday. He explained that careful oversight is needed, as the country remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list,” which identifies states facing challenges in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism measures but committed to resolving such issues.
Espinoza Yáñez stated that new regulations are being developed to manage the use of crypto assets, especially for citizens who have already adopted such tools, often out of necessity. “We are working on regulations to govern their use for those who have adopted them, in many cases out of necessity, and know how to use them properly,” he said.
“Remember that Bolivia is on the [Financial Action Task Force] gray list, yet another consequence of the problems they left us with in the past, and these crypto assets must be carefully evaluated,” Espinoza Yáñez highlighted during the press conference.
He pointed to progress in economic management, noting improvements since the new administration took office. According to Espinoza Yáñez, these advancements result from plans implemented before the current government started, now yielding positive effects.
Crypto volumes reach multibillion-dollar levelsThe South American country’s gradual policy shift led to increased crypto transaction volumes. From July 2024 to June 2025, Bolivia facilitated more than $14.8 billion in crypto trading, according to current data compiled by blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.
These numbers place Bolivia eighth among Latin American nations for crypto usage, outpacing Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and several neighbors during the same period. Chainalysis recorded $1.5 trillion in cumulative crypto transactions across Latin America in the three years leading up to June 2025.
CountryCrypto transaction volume (July 2024 – June 2025)Regional rankBrazilTop-ranked1ArgentinaHigh2Bolivia$14.8 billion8EcuadorLower than BoliviaBelow 8Puerto RicoLower than BoliviaBelow 8In October 2024, major lender Banco Bisa, recognized as one of Bolivia’s largest financial institutions, launched crypto custody services limited to USDT. The service permits customers to store and transfer the stablecoin but does not cover other digital assets.
Mini dictionary: Banco Bisa – One of the largest commercial banks in Bolivia, providing a wide range of financial services, including banking, insurance, and, since 2024, crypto custody for USDT.
USDT’s rising influence in emerging marketsTether’s USDT, the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has become increasingly popular in emerging markets due to its dollar peg and liquidity benefits. The coin ranks third among all crypto assets, with a market capitalization exceeding $184 billion.
After reports on Bolivia’s potential adoption, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino commented that USDT is gaining ground as a financial mainstay in several emerging economies.
USDT is increasingly used as a cornerstone within several emerging markets economies, the Tether CEO posted on X.
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.
Bolivia’s government has begun exploring the possibility of integrating Tether’s USDT stablecoin into the national payments system, a move that would have been unimaginable just two years ago when the country maintained one of the strictest total bans on cryptocurrency activity in the hemisphere. According to the original report, this policy shift comes after crypto transaction volumes jumped to $430 million in the year following the central bank’s decision to remove restrictions in mid-2024. The figure signals a rapid reorientation of everyday financial behavior in a country where traditional banking access remains uneven and confidence in local monetary instruments is fragile.
The number isn’t just a headline—it reflects actual settlement flows in a dollarized informal economy that has long relied on physical cash and unregulated exchange houses. Stablecoins like USDT already function as de facto digital dollars across many emerging markets, but Bolivia’s consideration of a formal government-endorsed integration would be a first. It would place a sovereign payments apparatus squarely on top of a privately issued stablecoin, a concept that blurs the line between state-sanctioned rails and permissionless digital currency protocols.
The Road from Ban to Boom Bolivia’s relationship with crypto was aggressively hostile for nearly a decade. In 2014, the financial regulator issued a blanket prohibition on any cryptocurrency use, citing risks to monetary sovereignty and consumer protection. Banks were forbidden from facilitating crypto transactions, and even private peer-to-peer trading operated in a legal gray zone that exposed users to enforcement risk. That stance held firm even as neighbors like Argentina and Brazil saw explosive stablecoin adoption.
Then, in mid-2024, the central bank abruptly lifted the restrictions. The reversal wasn’t accompanied by a lengthy public debate or a major legislative overhaul—it was an administrative policy update. But the effects were immediate. Within twelve months, $430 million in crypto volumes moved through the economy, much of it channeled through USDT on low-cost layer-1 networks. The demand wasn’t speculative. It was transactional. People were paying for services, settling invoices, and moving remittance money across borders without using the conventional banking corridor.
The government’s current exploration of USDT integration is being treated as a natural next step. It mirrors other recent crypto payment integrations in emerging markets, such as Sui’s partnership with Nigerian fintech Paga, which aims to bring digital assets into everyday transactions for a population familiar with mobile money but excluded from dollar-denominated banking. Bolivia’s path is less about technology hype and more about practical necessity: the boliviano’s long-term depreciation has made foreign currency a household survival tool, and USDT offers a digital bypass.
Why Tether’s USDT Specifically? Tether dominates the stablecoin market in Latin America not because of marketing campaigns but because it’s already the preferred dollar substitute in informal economies. In Bolivia, users aren’t trading exotic derivative products; they’re using USDT on mobile wallets and peer-to-peer platforms to store value and move money. The coin’s liquidity depth and wide exchange support mean a street-level vendor in La Paz can accept a USDT payment and convert it locally with minimal friction. No central bank digital currency prototype has achieved that kind of organic penetration in the region.
The proposal being studied would elevate USDT from a parallel tool to a recognized component of the national payments system. That would mean payment processors, utility companies, and possibly tax collection systems could be wired to accept or settle in USDT. For a government that still struggles to maintain a unified exchange rate and grapples with dollar scarcity, this could stabilize daily commerce. But the legal architecture is untested. Tether is a private issuer domiciled outside Bolivia, and its reserves—while transparent—are not subject to local monetary authority oversight.
While Bolivia’s pivot toward stablecoins remains a domestic experiment, it contrasts sharply with the ongoing regulatory battles in the United States, where banks are fighting to kill a landmark crypto bill just days before a Senate vote. The difference in approaches reveals how advanced economies and developing nations are moving in opposite directions on stablecoin regulation. In Washington, the focus is on containing perceived systemic risk. In La Paz, the calculus is simpler: millions of people are already using USDT, and the state can either ignore it or build a bridge.
What This Signals for Stablecoin Adoption The real significance of Bolivia’s USDT exploration isn’t the $430 million figure—it’s the precedent of a government actively building infrastructure around a private stablecoin instead of fighting it. This hasn’t happened even in El Salvador, where Bitcoin is legal tender but not widely used for daily payments. If Bolivia moves forward, it would create a template for other dollarized economies: integrate what citizens already trust, and accept the trade-offs.
The broader tokenization of real-world assets, now exceeding $20 billion on-chain, has shown that stablecoins like USDT are foundational to the digital dollar ecosystem. But a national payments integration would move the asset class from a trading settlement layer into the real economy at scale. That brings new questions: what happens during a network congestion event? Who handles dispute resolution? And how does the government enforce anti-money laundering rules when value moves on public blockchains?
These are not insurmountable problems, but they require a regulatory posture that Bolivia hasn’t built yet. The central bank’s initial ban was a blunt instrument; the post-2024 openness has been driven largely by market reality. Now the hard institutional work begins. Treasury officials will need to decide whether USDT is treated like foreign currency, a payment instrument, or something entirely new. The answer will shape tax treatment, reporting requirements, and consumer protection frameworks—and it could influence how other Latin American regulators approach stablecoin policy in the next cycle.
What remains uncertain is whether Tether itself will need to register locally or provide real-time reserve attestation specific to Bolivia’s requirements. The company has navigated similar demands in other jurisdictions, but a national payments role would expose USDT’s operational infrastructure to direct government scrutiny in a way that peer-to-peer trading never did. How that negotiation unfolds will tell market participants whether Bolivia’s experiment becomes a model or a cautionary tale.
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Key Takeaways Bolivia’s government is examining regulations to grant Tether’s USDT official status as a payment method alongside its national currency and the US dollar The initiative stems from an acute scarcity of American dollars following the country’s decision to drop its decade-long fixed exchange rate Two domestic financial institutions, Banco Unión and Banco FIE, currently provide USDT-related services, establishing existing infrastructure Chainalysis data shows Bolivia processed $14.8 billion in cryptocurrency transactions during a 12-month period according to their 2025 Latin America analysis Approval would make Bolivia the first country in Latin America to officially integrate USDT into its payment ecosystem alongside traditional currencies Bolivia’s government is exploring a regulatory pathway that would grant Tether’s USDT formal recognition as an accepted payment instrument, positioning the stablecoin alongside both the boliviano and American dollar within the nation’s monetary framework.
Bolivia Considers Integrating USDT Into National Payment System
According to CriptoNoticias, Bolivia’s Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza said the government is technically evaluating whether to incorporate USDT into the national payment system, allowing it to circulate… pic.twitter.com/KqEdecODO0
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 13, 2026
During a Monday press briefing, Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza disclosed that authorities are evaluating a regulatory structure for implementation. According to Espinoza, USDT would function “as just another currency” for daily transactions, encompassing payments, savings accounts, and commercial activities.
The proposed framework remains in the assessment phase without formal implementation. Neither legislative ratification nor endorsement from the Central Bank of Bolivia has been publicly announced.
Currency Crisis Fueling Stablecoin Interest Bolivia faces mounting foreign exchange constraints that have intensified over recent years. Declining natural gas output has reduced export income, depleting dollar stockpiles and creating hardship for businesses and import-dependent sectors.
For nearly ten years, Bolivia upheld a fixed rate of 6.86 bolivianos to one US dollar before discontinuing the peg this year. Following abandonment of the official rate, an unofficial foreign exchange market materialized, where dollars command significantly higher prices than government rates.
This pricing disparity has driven Bolivian citizens toward dollar-equivalent options. USDT has increasingly served this function, with brick-and-mortar retailers now accepting the stablecoin for routine purchases spanning dairy items to confectionery, as highlighted by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino in June 2025.
The state petroleum enterprise YPFB received authorization to process cryptocurrency payments for fuel procurement in March 2025, representing the administration’s initial formal recognition of digital assets.
Financial System Already Supports Stablecoin Operations Banco Unión and Banco FIE, two Bolivian banking institutions, currently facilitate USDT-based services. This existing framework means substantial infrastructure for broader implementation is already operational.
Granting official recognition would legitimize current market practices. Benefits could include reduced transaction fees, accelerated remittance processing, and a transparent substitute for underground dollar exchanges.
Bolivia reversed its cryptocurrency prohibition in 2024. Following President Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s inauguration in late 2025, his administration committed to incorporating digital currencies into regulated financial channels, including authorizing banks to deliver crypto-based products.
Successful deployment would require robust measures against financial crimes. Bolivia continues under Financial Action Task Force enhanced monitoring due to identified deficiencies in combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
Tether commissioned KPMG in March 2026 for a comprehensive reserve audit covering assets exceeding $184 billion. Industry observers interpret this initiative as positioning for government-level adoption.
Chainalysis documented $14.8 billion in cryptocurrency transaction volume from Bolivia across a 12-month measurement period in their 2025 Latin America assessment, positioning the nation among the region’s significant crypto markets.
Should authorities proceed with adoption, Bolivia would establish precedent as Latin America’s first nation to officially recognize USDT as a payment instrument alongside government-issued currency.
Bolivia’s government is considering new regulations that would grant Tether‘s USDT stablecoin official status as an accepted payment method, placing it alongside the national currency, the boliviano, and the US dollar within the nation’s payment ecosystem.
Government evaluates integration of USDTSpeaking at a press conference, Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza announced that authorities are conducting a technical review of whether USDT can be adopted into the national payment system. Espinoza stated that USDT could function similarly to existing currencies, facilitating everyday transactions, commercial payments, and savings accounts.
Espinoza noted that the government is technically evaluating how USDT could be incorporated into the country’s payment system, allowing for its use in a range of financial activities.
The proposal is currently under internal review. No legislation or Central Bank of Bolivia approval has been finalized or made public regarding this initiative.
Currency crisis drives demand for stablecoinsBolivia continues to struggle with a shortage of US dollars, following years of declining natural gas exports and economic uncertainty. The country recently ended its long-held fixed exchange rate of 6.86 bolivianos per dollar, leading to the emergence of an unofficial market with significantly higher dollar prices than official rates.
As the gap between official and street exchange rates widened, residents increasingly turned to dollar-pegged alternatives such as USDT. In recent months, merchants in Bolivia have begun accepting USDT for routine purchases including groceries and confectionery items. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino observed this trend in June 2025.
Earlier in March 2025, YPFB, Bolivia’s state-owned petroleum company, received government approval to accept cryptocurrency payments for fuel shipments, marking the administration’s first move to formally recognize digital assets.
Banks and infrastructure supporting USDT adoptionBolivia’s banking sector is already adapting to the growing use of stablecoins. Banco Unión and Banco FIE, two leading domestic banks, have launched USDT-related services, providing an established foundation for wider stablecoin adoption in the financial system.
Granting USDT official payment status could legitimize widespread stablecoin use, reduce transaction fees, and improve transparency in exchange markets, particularly when compared to informal dollar trading in the shadow economy.
The Bolivian government reversed a nationwide ban on crypto assets in 2024. Following President Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s inauguration at the end of 2025, the administration committed to integrating digital assets into regulated financial channels by permitting banks to offer crypto-based products.
To ensure security, authorities would need to enforce strict measures to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing. Bolivia remains under Financial Action Task Force enhanced monitoring for gaps in its anti-financial crime regime.
Tether, the issuer of USDT, appointed KPMG in March 2026 to conduct a reserve audit covering over $184 billion in assets. Industry analysts view this as a move to prepare Tether for compatibility with formal government regulations.
Bolivia’s place in Latin America’s crypto landscapeChainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm, reported that Bolivia recorded $14.8 billion in cryptocurrency transactions over a 12-month period in its 2025 Latin America overview. This positions Bolivia among the region’s most significant crypto markets.
If Bolivia finalizes official approval for USDT, it would become the first country in Latin America to formally add the stablecoin to its payment system, allowing transactions alongside traditional government-issued money.
Mini dictionary: Tether (USDT) is a blockchain-based stablecoin whose value is pegged to the US dollar. It is widely used globally to provide a digital equivalent of cash, often serving as an alternative in countries facing local currency instability.
CountryOfficial Status of USDTAnnual Crypto Volume (12 months, 2025)BoliviaUnder consideration$14.8 billionOther Latin American countriesNo official recognitionVariesDisclaimer: 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.
Getting crypto into your bank account has always felt like one too many steps. You sell on an exchange, wait for the withdrawal, pay a fee somewhere in the middle, and hope nothing breaks. Oobit just cut out most of that process for TRX holders.
The Tether-backed payments app announced on March 1, 2026 that users can now send TRX directly from self-custodial wallets to bank accounts via SEPA in Europe, ACH in the United States, and Faster Payments in the United Kingdom. Transfers settle in seconds, with no swaps required and no third-party intermediaries involved.
What Oobit actually built here The feature connects crypto wallets directly to traditional banking rails, three of them specifically, covering the major fiat corridors in Europe, the US, and the UK.
SEPA handles euro-denominated transfers across most of Europe. ACH is the backbone of US dollar bank payments. Faster Payments is the UK’s near-instant pound sterling network.
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The architecture routes transactions through DTR and leverages a partnership with DePay for execution. The absence of an intermediate swap is the notable part. Most crypto-to-bank pathways require converting to a stablecoin or fiat on an exchange first, which adds time, fees, and counterparty exposure. Oobit’s approach removes that layer.
This TRX-specific announcement builds on a broader rollout Oobit made just days earlier. On February 24, 2026, the company launched wallet-to-bank transfers supporting multiple tokens including BTC, ETH, USDT, and TRX. The March 1 announcement zeroed in on TRX specifically, signaling a deliberate push to deepen the TRON ecosystem’s integration with traditional finance.
Why TRON and why now Oobit is not a new name in the TRON ecosystem. The two have worked together previously on Tap and Pay functionality and merchant spending features, meaning this wallet-to-bank integration is the next step in an existing relationship rather than a cold start.
Oobit operates across more than 80 countries and supports transactions in over 180 countries. A wallet-to-bank feature that spans SEPA, ACH, and Faster Payments simultaneously covers most of the world’s retail banking population.
What this means for TRX holders and the broader market For investors holding TRX, the practical upgrade is straightforward. Liquidity becomes easier to access. You no longer need an account on a centralized exchange to convert your position to spendable fiat.
The Tether connection also deserves a mention. Tether, the issuer of USDT and one of the most influential entities in crypto infrastructure, backing Oobit gives the company both credibility and a natural distribution channel. USDT is already the dominant stablecoin on TRON. Having Tether-backed tooling that makes TRX more spendable and more liquid reinforces the network’s position as a payments layer.
The risk worth watching is regulatory. Direct crypto-to-bank transfers sit at the intersection of two heavily regulated industries. Banking regulators in the EU, US, and UK all have views on how fiat exits from crypto should be structured, and those views are not always consistent. Oobit will need to maintain compliance across all three payment rail jurisdictions simultaneously.
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.
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Solana has emerged as the leader in 24-hour decentralized exchange (DEX) volume, recording a staggering $4.15 billion, according to Cointelegraph. This figure places Solana ahead of other prominent blockchains, with BNB Chain and Robinhood Chain trailing behind. The surge in Solana’s DEX volume is attributed to increased speculative activity, particularly in memecoins, and reflects Solana’s growing dominance in the sector. Despite this impressive performance, Solana’s token price remains 57% below its Q4 2025 high, standing at $75.82. The current market activity suggests potential implications for Solana’s price trajectory in the coming weeks.
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Key Takeaways Solana’s leading position in DEX volume suggests robust market activity and growing interest in its platform. Current market pricing appears consistent with a moderate increase in the likelihood of Solana reaching $90 by the end of July. The high DEX volume reinforces Solana’s status as a major player in the non-Ethereum smart contract platform space. What to Watch Market participants will be closely monitoring Solana’s performance to see if it can maintain its momentum and reach higher price targets. Key indicators such as further increases in transaction volume or positive developments in the broader crypto market could be supportive of a YES outcome for Solana reaching $90. Conversely, any sustained drop in volume or negative market sentiment may suggest challenges in achieving this target. Observers should also watch for any announcements from Solana Labs or regulatory developments that could impact Solana’s market dynamics.
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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h August 1 2026 13% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 2.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.9% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 3.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.7% — — View market → August 1 2026 12.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 1.4% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 55% — — View market →
Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM) remain under pressure, extending their correction on Tuesday amid broader risk-off conditions following US-Iran tensions. XRP slips below $1.070, while XLM hovers near the critical support at $0.177; both altcoins suggest deeper correction amid geopolitical risks and a deteriorating technical outlook.
Risk-off sentiment weighs on XRP and XLMThe United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday that US forces completed new strikes on Iranian military targets, adding that more than 50,000 US service members are currently deployed across the Middle East, Reuters reported.
The source said that it struck military targets across Iran, including Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas.
Meanwhile, Iran's Nournews confirmed that areas of southern Iran's Bushehr were hit in a renewed US attack.
In addition, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on the same day that two "offending supertankers" were hit and disabled in the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC said that the tankers ignored warnings, turned off their navigation systems, and tried to pass through a 'mined route.’
The Iranian military said that cooperation with the 'aggressor enemy' in the critical waterway will delay reopening of the waterway and create a global energy crisis.
Global markets continued the week on a risk-off footing as renewed tensions between the US and Iran dampened investor sentiment. Rising geopolitical uncertainty pushed West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices above $80 per barrel, while risk assets such as XRP and XLM came under pressure, slipping below $1.070 and $0.180, respectively, on Tuesday.
Derivatives data shows a bearish biasDerivatives metrics show a bearish bias for Ripple and Stellar. XRP’s futures Open Interest (OI) dips to $2.35 billion on Tuesday, having fallen steadily since a mild rise in early July and now remaining in a broader downward trend.
During the same period, XLM’s OI drops to $180.95 million, having fallen steadily since a sharp rise in June. These declines in OI alongside falling prices suggest a bearish outlook.
XRP open interest chart. Source: Coinglass
XLM open interest chart. Source: CoinglassIn addition, XRP and XLM funding rates flipped negative on Monday, reading -0.0031% and -0.0021%, respectively, and remained negative on Tuesday, indicating bearish sentiment.
XRP funding rates chart. Source: Coinglass
XLM funding rates chart. Source: CoinglassXRP technical outlook: Bears aiming for the $1 psychological supportXRP trades at $1.065 on Tuesday, extending its decline below all key Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) and retaining a bearish near-term bias. The 50-day EMA at $1.157, together with the 100-day EMA at $1.257 and the more distant 200-day EMA at $1.463, sit overhead as successive trend resistances that cap the upside.
Momentum is mixed but tilted lower, as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 39 remains in bearish territory, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator hovers just above zero with a marginally positive line, suggesting only tentative stabilization rather than a clear recovery.
On the topside, initial resistance is seen at the 50-day EMA near $1.157, followed by the 100-day EMA at $1.257 and the horizontal barrier at $1.300; beyond that, the 200-day EMA at $1.463 and the major resistance zone around the $1.900 mark are deeper recovery targets.
On the downside, immediate support emerges around the current trading area, with the parallel channel level clustered near $1.050. At the same time, a break lower would expose the psychological and structural floor at $1.000, where buyers are likely to attempt to reassert demand.
XLM technical outlook: Momentum indicators turn bearishXLM trades at $0.179 on Tuesday, holding below the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day EMAs at $0.190, $0.186 and $0.196, respectively, which keeps the near-term bias bearish.
The RSI at 41 suggests weak momentum, while the MACD remains in negative territory, hinting that rallies are likely to be capped by the clustered EMAs and Fibonacci resistance overhead.
On the downside, initial support appears at the horizontal level around $0.177, followed by the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $0.173, with a deeper floor near $0.142.
On the topside, a first hurdle is the 100-day EMA at $0.186, ahead of the 50-day EMA at $0.190 and the 200-day EMA at $0.196; above these, the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement at $0.200 and the mid-range 50% retracement level at $0.218 define subsequent resistance, before $0.237 and $0.260 come into play as higher Fibonacci barriers.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Even as altcoin prices remain under heavy pressure, the number of unique wallets holding Chainlink (LINK) on Ethereum has quietly climbed to a new all-time high. Data from the Santiment update shows that non-empty LINK wallets on Ethereum have just crossed 900,000 — a record for the oracle network’s native token. More than 20,000 new holders were added in the past month alone, a signal that market participants are accumulating exposure even without a price breakout.
The growth in holders is unusual against the current backdrop. Altcoin prices broadly remain suppressed, and LINK itself has not seen a sustained rally. Typically, holder expansion of this magnitude is accompanied by rising prices or at least improving sentiment. The fact that it occurred during sideways market conditions points to conviction-driven accumulation rather than speculative chasing. That dynamic is often interpreted by on-chain analysts as a proxy for longer-term confidence in a project’s fundamentals.
Holder Growth Without Price Momentum The Santiment chart highlights a persistent trend: LINK’s holder count has been grinding higher for weeks, even as price action remained flat. Historically, such divergences between network adoption and price can precede a repricing when broader market conditions improve, but they are not a standalone timing signal. Liquidity conditions across crypto are still tight, and risk appetite remains concentrated in a handful of assets. Nevertheless, the steady addition of 20,000 wallets in 30 days suggests that a subset of market participants is positioning ahead of expected catalysts.
What remains unclear is the composition of these new wallets. They could represent small retail holders buying in increments, or they could reflect institutions and protocols deploying LINK for oracle services and staking. Without granular entity labeling, the data simply confirms that more addresses are choosing to hold LINK than ever before. The trend aligns with broader evidence of infrastructure token accumulation amid real-world asset tokenization efforts, a topic explored in a recent tokenization roundup.
What This Means for Chainlink’s Infrastructure Role Chainlink’s expanding holder base mirrors its deepening integration into DeFi, tokenized assets, data oracles, and cross-chain settlement. The project’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has gained traction among institutions exploring capital markets use cases, and the network remains the dominant provider of price feeds across lending protocols and decentralized exchanges. As traditional finance experiments with on-chain real-world assets, demand for reliable oracle infrastructure becomes structural, not cyclical.
Developer activity across major blockchains continues to be a closely watched metric for gauging where the next wave of adoption may emerge. While LINK’s holder count focuses on investors and users, the health of the underlying chains that Chainlink supports is equally important. The latest developer activity rankings provide a snapshot of which ecosystems are attracting the builders who may eventually integrate oracles like Chainlink more deeply. That symbiosis between infrastructure providers and active developer communities remains a quiet but critical engine for sustained adoption.
The on-chain signal from Santiment does not offer any price target or timeline, but it frames the current market clearly: behind the flat price action, a base of committed holders is steadily expanding. Whether that translates into upward price movement will depend on macro conditions, overall risk appetite, and tangible progress in institutional tokenization. For now, the data suggests that someone is buying, and they are not waiting for confirmation from the charts.
AUTHOR
Mushumir Butt is a seasoned crypto journalist with over three years of experience reporting on the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency. At Blockchain Reporter, he delivers insightful news, in‐depth project reviews, and precise price analysis and predictions. With a strong background in SEO and digital marketing, Mushumir excels at breaking down complex trends into clear, accessible content, ensuring readers stay ahead in the fast‐paced crypto space.
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.
Leading cryptocurrencies slid alongside stocks on Monday after President Donald Trump floated full U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz and a reimbursement fee on all cargo passing through.
Increased Selling PressureBitcoin tumbled below $62,000 as trading volume doubled over the last 24 hours to $37.15 billion.
Ethereum also experienced high volatility, with the second-largest cryptocurrency fluctuating between a low of $1,749.35 and a high of $1,812.94. XRP and Dogecoin extended their losses.
Over $360 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, predominantly in bullish long positions, according to Coinglass data
Bitcoin’s open interest, meanwhile, rose 2.24% over the last 24 hours. An increase in open interest combined with a price decrease indicates a short build-up, meaning new traders are actively shorting the asset.
"Extreme Fear" sentiment prevailed in the market, according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24 Hours)
Stocks Stutter On Iran DevelopmentsStocks ended in the red on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 138.37 points, or 0.26%, to close at 52,498.64. The S&P 500 lost 0.79% to end at 7,515.34, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.55% to finish at 25,873.18.
Tensions worsened after Trump reinstated the blockade of Iranian ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He also stated that the U.S. is considering taking control of the critical oil shipping point permanently in exchange for a 20% fee on cargo.
Whales Are Scooping Bitcoin?Ali Martinez, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, highlighted that Bitcoin’s Accumulation Trend Score—an indicator measuring whether entities are buying or selling BTC—has stayed near 1 since June.
“A reading near 1 suggests that whales—or a large share of the network—are actively accumulating Bitcoin,” the analyst added.
“A healthier distribution of USDT and USDC can make crypto markets more resilient,” Santiment added. “Rather than idle capital waiting for a few whales to act, it’s a sign that stablecoin firepower is becoming more decentralized.”
Photo: KateStock / Shutterstock
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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.
Solana (SOL) is presently trading around $76.33, holding just above a significant short-term support zone defined between $73 and $76. Despite a modest 0.41% gain over the past 24 hours, the overall market direction remains uncertain, drawing close attention from traders and analysts alike.
Key price levels and resistance targetsThe $73–$76 price range is widely recognized by SOL traders as a pivotal battleground. Holding above this band is considered critical to preserving the potential for further upward price momentum. Should SOL fall below $73, analysts warn that the token could face renewed selling pressure and risk a slide toward recent low points.
On the upside, market participants are eyeing $80 as the next challenge for buyers. If SOL manages to break through this level, the path toward $87.20, seen as a major daily resistance point, could open up. A daily close above $87 would represent a notable technical shift and pave the way for further increases.
Technical analyst Jesse Peralta has identified a descending trendline that Solana is currently testing from below. This trendline has limited upward moves for months, and market watchers believe a breakout above it could shift momentum in favor of buyers.
Mini dictionary: Descending trendline, a downward-sloping line connecting falling peaks, often used in technical analysis to identify resistance levels.
Following a breakout confirmed above this trendline, price targets at $90 and then $100 have been cited by analysts as key milestones. However, analysts caution that a lack of confirmation could trigger another downward move, especially if the support at $73 gives way.
Trader Michaël van de Poppe noted the current region is a decisive moment for SOL, stating that defending $73 could initiate a rapid upward move, while a failure might lead the token to revisit its recent lows in the coming weeks.
In addition to these short-term moves, chartist Seth has pointed to signs of a Wyckoff accumulation pattern in SOL’s recent action, suggesting a period of consolidation could be underway after a prolonged distribution phase.
Correction zones and accumulation opportunitiesCrypto Patel has shared a three-week chart showing SOL’s correction from its $240 high and its positioning below notable resistance bands at $95–$100 and $140. According to Patel, if current levels do not hold, long-term accumulation opportunities could emerge in the $30–$52 territory—zones historically associated with low-risk entry points for position traders.
To achieve a substantial recovery, analysts emphasize that SOL must regain and maintain the $95–$100 range. Moving above this region could provide the momentum needed for an eventual attempt at the $140 level.
Price LevelSignificance$73–$76Critical short-term support$80Initial upside target$87.20Major resistance$95–$100Recovery milestone$140Key long-term resistance$30–$52Potential accumulation area Analysts highlight that any sustained move above $95–$100 could signal the end of the correction and start a fresh bullish phase, while a return to $30–$52 would reflect a continued drawdown.
Network developments and transaction activitySolana, an open-source blockchain known for supporting high-performance decentralized applications, continues to attract notable activity on its network. In a recent development, digital assets firm Circle minted 250 million USDC on Solana, reinforcing strong liquidity conditions for the ecosystem.
The substantial USDC issuance points to ongoing adoption and transaction activity, bolstering sentiment among network participants even as the price faces uncertainty. Some market participants have also referenced $150 as a long-term upside goal, while cautioning that progress to this level depends on clearing several intermediate resistance levels: $80, $90, and $100.
On the daily chart, SOL remains supported by an ascending trendline, with a secondary support “cloud” noted in the $74–$77 range, providing additional technical backing for the token at current prices.
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.
JCB has partnered with Circle to test USDC for internal treasury transfers and merchant payments in Japan, extending stablecoin use into cross-border corporate settlement and retail transactions.
Summary
JCB and Circle will test USDC for cross border treasury transfers and merchant payments in Japan. The first pilot will focus on JCB’s internal fund transfers before expanding to retail payment use. The agreement extends Circle’s institutional payments push following its U.S. trust bank approval and expansion across Asia. A July 14 statement from JCB said the Japanese payments company has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Circle affiliate to develop payment services using USD Coin (USDC), Circle’s dollar-backed stablecoin.
The first phase of the partnership will focus on a proof of concept for JCB’s internal cross-border treasury operations. The companies also plan to evaluate stablecoin payments at physical stores for merchants and international visitors travelling in Japan.
Alongside the pilot, the two firms said they will assess other payment services that combine Circle’s stablecoin infrastructure with JCB’s merchant network to support cross-border transactions and new payment options for businesses and consumers.
Coming days after Circle secured a key U.S. banking approval, the agreement adds another institutional payments partnership to the stablecoin issuer’s recent expansion efforts.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted final approval for Circle National Trust, placing the company’s national trust bank under federal supervision. Circle said the institution will initially provide fiduciary digital asset custody services for the company and its affiliates, while future plans could include managing reserves backing USDC, although no timeline has been announced.
Outside the United States, Circle has also continued building relationships with regulated financial institutions. Standard Chartered recently introduced a service through its Dubai International Financial Centre operations that allows eligible institutional clients to mint and redeem USDC directly through the bank’s platform. BNY has also added USDC to its digital asset custody platform, enabling institutional clients to mint and redeem the stablecoin through its infrastructure.
Japan agreement follows Asia expansion The JCB partnership comes as Circle continues pursuing new institutional relationships across Asia.
Later this month, the company will host its invitation-only Current Seoul event, bringing together executives from banks, crypto exchanges, payment companies and technology firms to discuss digital asset regulation, cross-border payments and industry partnerships.
During an April visit to South Korea, Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire met executives from KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Upbit, Bithumb, and several payment companies to discuss potential cooperation through the Circle Payments Network for international payments.
Competition in the stablecoin sector has also intensified in recent weeks. Open USD, a competing dollar-backed stablecoin model, launched with a revenue-sharing structure that distributes reserve income among participating members.
However, several South Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, Dunamu, Shinhan Financial Group, and K Bank, later told local media they had not formally agreed to join the consortium despite being listed as participants.
According to an official announcement, Binance will delist and halt trading for four spot trading pairs—GLM/BTC, KNC/BTC, ONT/BTC, and XAI/USDC—at 03:00 UTC on July 17. The exchange stated that this adjustment is based on results of its regular reviews, with key factors including trading pair liquidity and trading volume. Corresponding spot trading bot services will also be terminated at the same time; users are required to update or cancel their related strategies in advance to avoid potential losses. Binance emphasized that only the above-mentioned spot trading pairs are being delisted, and the move does not affect trading of the relevant tokens on other spot trading pairs available on Binance.
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Global crude oil prices continue to rise, with both U.S. WTI and Brent crude up 3% on the day.
According to Bitget market data, Brent crude oil rose 3.00% intraday to $85.31 per barrel. WTI crude oil rose 3.00% intraday to $80.14 per barrel. Trump posted a statement yesterday saying that the US will immediately resume the blockade of Iran and impose a 20% fee on cargo transportation.
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Goldman Sachs: Hong Kong's market has entered the AI era, and equity financing volume is expected to reach a new high this year.
Wang Yajun, Head of Equity Capital Markets for Goldman Sachs Asia (ex-Japan), noted that Hong Kong’s market has entered the AI era, yet major stock indices have not fully reflected the impact of AI-related enterprises. This explains the contrast between this year’s red-hot IPO fundraising and the relatively lackluster performance of secondary market indices. Wang forecasts that Hong Kong’s total equity financing and IPO fundraising scale will both reach new highs in 2026. Since the start of this year, AI has become the most active investment theme in Hong Kong’s stock market: the most actively traded, best-performing, and largest fundraising stocks are all AI-related, though index constituent adjustments lag behind. Regarding AI industry valuations, Wang believes that sustained growth in AI demand will drive continued expansion of capital expenditures on infrastructure such as computing power, chips, and storage, and the industry still has room for growth in capital spending. As China’s AI industrial chain continues to improve, more AI enterprises are expected to list in Hong Kong or on the STAR Market in the second half of the year.
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The funding rate of SK Hynix-related contracts on Hyperliquid surged more than 130% within one hour.
Hyperliquid platform’s SK Hynix-linked contracts SKHX and SKHY have seen extremely robust trading activity, with a combined 24-hour trading volume of $1.836 billion, surpassing Bitcoin (BTC) to become the platform’s most active asset by trading volume. SKHX alone notched a 24-hour volume of $1.63 billion and open interest (OI) of $635 million, while SKHY posted a 24-hour volume of $206 million and OI of $101 million. SKHY still trades at a roughly 26% premium to SKHX. Notably, SKHX’s funding rate surged sharply in just one hour: it jumped from +0.0064% to +0.0151%, a rise of over 130%. Concurrently, the contract’s trading volume dipped slightly from $1.663 billion to $1.604 billion, and its open interest fell from $638.6 million to $627.1 million. A sharp spike in funding rates typically signals a rapid rise in bullish sentiment, as long positions flood the market—traders holding long positions face higher costs to maintain their bets, reflecting intensifying long-short battles in SKHX contracts and growing speculative enthusiasm for SK Hynix’s US-listed assets.
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The United States launched a five-hour continuous air raid on Iran, in retaliation for Iran's bombing of a U.S. military base in Jordan.
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Analysis: AI data centers have pushed U.S. electricity prices up by $23 billion, and the costs are likely to continue being borne by residents.
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Key Takeaways Circle secured final OCC clearance to launch First National Digital Currency Bank as a federally chartered trust bank Shares climbed 5% Friday on the regulatory approval but retreated 4.7% to $63.03 by Monday’s close Mizuho maintained its Neutral stance, citing concerns that the charter won’t address fundamental USDC challenges USDC’s circulating supply has contracted approximately $7 billion since March, dropping to roughly $74 billion Baird reduced its CRCL price target from $138 down to $100 while maintaining an Outperform rating Circle Internet Group (CRCL) achieved a significant regulatory milestone last week. However, investor enthusiasm proved short-lived.
The company secured final authorization from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to launch First National Digital Currency Bank. Shares surged 5% Friday when the news broke. That optimism evaporated quickly—by Monday’s session, the stock had surrendered nearly the entire rally, closing down 4.7% at $63.03.
Circle Internet Group, CRCL
The weak follow-through signals growing doubt among institutional investors about whether the banking charter addresses the company’s core challenges.
Mizuho maintained its Neutral rating with an $85 price objective, stating bluntly: “While a positive development, we believe the market reaction is likely overly optimistic, as this does not resolve fundamental issues that have been hurting the stock of recent.”
The federal charter grants Circle the authority to operate under direct national banking supervision, concentrating on digital asset custody, reserve operations, and fiduciary activities. That regulatory achievement is clear-cut. The more pressing concern centers on USDC’s underlying performance.
USDC Circulation Contracts Significantly USDC’s total supply in circulation has declined by approximately $7 billion from its March 2026 high to around $74 billion by July. This represents the most substantial monthly decline since 2022, with redemptions consistently exceeding new token creation.
The broader stablecoin sector experienced its steepest monthly contraction in years during June, coinciding with cryptocurrency markets hovering near 2026 lows. While blockchain transaction activity remains robust, the shrinking supply threatens Circle’s revenue from both transactions and reserve interest income.
Mizuho specifically highlighted this trend, noting that USDC’s market capitalization decline since March creates legitimate concerns regarding the stablecoin’s expansion potential.
Emerging Rivals Intensify Market Dynamics The competitive landscape has evolved considerably. Open USD, a recently introduced stablecoin that complies with GENIUS Act requirements, emerged from a consortium exceeding 140 financial services and technology firms, including Mastercard, Stripe, and Coinbase.
Mizuho cautioned this development increases the likelihood that stablecoins become increasingly commoditized products, complicating Circle’s efforts to maintain market dominance despite possessing a national trust bank charter.
“We remain on the sidelines,” the research team concluded.
Baird adopted a more constructive long-term perspective but still lowered its price objective from $138 to $100. The firm retained its Outperform rating, highlighting Circle’s pioneering position as a GENIUS Act-compliant stablecoin provider and expanding stablecoin adoption as positive factors.
Baird anticipates Q2 revenue will fall marginally short of Wall Street projections, though EBITDA should align with consensus expectations. The firm kept its 2027 earnings estimates intact, noting that reduced USDC circulation levels are balanced by elevated reserve interest rates.
Wolfe Research continues to rate the stock Underperform with a $65 price target.
CRCL shares have declined 65% over the trailing twelve months. The stock was last quoted at $63.00 according to recent market data.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KuCoin Web3 Wallet today announced support for Robinhood Chain, further expanding users’ access to onchain finance and tokenized real-world asset ecosystems through a self-custodial Web3 wallet experience.
As real-world assets, tokenized stocks, ETFs, and other traditional finance-linked products continue moving onchain, Web3 wallets are evolving beyond basic asset storage. They are becoming an essential interface for users to discover, manage, and interact with new forms of digital finance, supporting the broader shift from crypto-native asset holding to more programmable, multi-asset financial access.
Against this backdrop, KuCoin Web3 Wallet’s support for Robinhood Chain marks another step in its continued expansion across tokenized assets, real-world assets, and onchain financial applications. Following recent developments including expanded access to tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs, xStocks support, in-wallet Perps, and multi-chain ecosystem access, the update strengthens KuCoin Web3 Wallet as a unified entry point for users exploring the convergence of crypto and traditional finance.
Through this update, users can add and access Robinhood Chain through KuCoin Web3 Wallet, view and manage compatible Robinhood Chain assets, and explore related ecosystem applications where available. As one of the early Web3 wallets to support Robinhood Chain, KuCoin Web3 Wallet enables users to access the network at an early stage and explore RWA, Stock Token-related, and onchain finance scenarios within a self-custodial environment.
The integration also extends KuCoin Web3 Wallet’s access layer from individual tokenized assets to broader tokenized finance ecosystems, where assets, applications, and financial use cases are increasingly connected onchain. Beyond tokenized assets, Robinhood Chain has seen early community-driven activity, including community-created assets and initial onchain interactions, reflecting growing attention around the ecosystem.
For Web3 users, Robinhood Chain support opens another path to explore emerging RWA and Stock Token-related ecosystems within a self-custodial wallet environment. For traditional finance investors exploring Web3, it offers a more accessible way to understand how familiar market exposure can be represented, managed, and connected within onchain environments. By reducing fragmentation across networks and applications, KuCoin Web3 Wallet helps users access Web3 and TradFi-linked onchain ecosystems through one wallet, supporting a more open, accessible, and user-driven financial future.
About KuCoin Web3 Wallet
KuCoin Web3 Wallet is a decentralized, non-custodial wallet that supports multiple blockchains. Designed with security and on-chain alpha at its core, it features a built-in cross-chain swap aggregator DEX for seamless trading across networks, along with Smart Money tools to help you spot early opportunities. With access to over 1,000 DApps and a dedicated airdrop hub featuring trending and newly listed tokens, KuCoin Web3 Wallet serves as your ultimate all-in-one gateway to the Web3 world.
Robinhood Chain has been live for barely a week, and USDG liquidity on Uniswap has already doubled. The Paxos-issued stablecoin’s total value locked on the protocol climbed past $8.5 million, up from roughly half that just seven days ago.
Robinhood Chain’s first week, by the numbers Robinhood Chain, an Arbitrum-based Layer 2 network, officially launched its public mainnet on July 1, 2026. Uniswap deployed as the primary automated market maker from day one, essentially serving as the chain’s liquidity backbone.
The entire chain’s TVL crossed $100 million within days of going live, and Uniswap alone has captured over $30 million of that liquidity.
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Trading volume on Uniswap reportedly reached as high as $500 million during the first week.
USDG now represents around 65% of the total stablecoin supply on Robinhood Chain.
Why USDG is growing so fast Ethena made a $50 million deposit into a USDG vault curated by Steakhouse Financial.
Robinhood Earn, a yield product built around USDG, offers an estimated 7% APY through structured vaults managed by Steakhouse Financial.
What this means for investors When a single stablecoin accounts for 65% of a chain’s stablecoin supply, the ecosystem’s health becomes tightly coupled to that one asset. If USDG faces a de-peg event, regulatory challenge, or liquidity crisis, the ripple effects across Robinhood Chain would be disproportionately severe.
Uniswap’s position as the flagship AMM on Robinhood Chain gives it a first-mover advantage, with over $30 million in liquidity already captured and $500 million in first-week trading volume.
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Uniswap [UNI] has opened community voting on a proposal that could introduce the protocol’s first sustained UNI burn mechanism. The initiative spans three governance votes.
They include protocol fee activation on Robinhood Chain, v4 deployment, and bridge infrastructure across all other chains.
If Uniswap members approve the proposals, the protocol will begin depositing fees into TokenJar accounts. At press time, the voting stood at 74% in support of the proposal.
Once there, users can acquire an amount of UNI sufficient to burn it completely and in turn collect their UNI from the TokenJar account.
Source: X The proposal will link the supply of UNI with the actual use of the protocol rather than just providing incentives through governance.
Protocol revenue strengthens UNI value capture That potential shift becomes more meaningful when viewed alongside Uniswap’s growing protocol revenue. Every increase in trading activity would generate additional fees, creating more opportunities to remove UNI from circulation through the proposed burn mechanism.
Currently, according to DefiLlama data, Uniswap generates approximately $5 million per day in fees. Moreover, its annual protocol revenue stands near $50 million.
As v4 deployments and Robinhood Chain attract more trading volume, fee generation could continue expanding.
Despite that, the projected burn rate remains modest relative to UNI’s total supply. Still, the mechanism introduces a lasting connection between protocol usage and token scarcity.
If network activity continues growing, UNI’s long-term value could increasingly reflect organic protocol demand rather than governance incentives alone.
Robinhood Chain tests Uniswap’s growth strategy Whether the burn mechanism delivers meaningful results now depends on user adoption rather than governance alone. Robinhood Chain has quickly become an early test of that thesis after surpassing $1 billion in cumulative swap volume within days of launch.
That momentum suggests Uniswap’s ecosystem is reaching users beyond its traditional base. Rising wallet interactions and swap activity further indicate participation extends beyond speculative interest.
However, sustained success will depend on retaining those users over time. If daily transactions and liquidity continue expanding, Robinhood Chain could become an increasingly important contributor to Uniswap’s long-term protocol growth.
Final Summary Uniswap could link long-term token value to protocol usage through its proposed fee-funded burn mechanism. Uniswap adoption on Robinhood Chain will determine whether sustained burns meaningfully strengthen token scarcity.
