Crypto & Web3

Zodia Custody CEO Julian Sawyer Steps Down, Moves to Advisory Role

Julian Sawyer has stepped down as CEO of Zodia Custody, the institutional crypto custody firm. Rather than transitioning into a leadership role at Zodia Solutions as had been previously announced, Sawyer will instead serve as a strategic adviser. The change marks a shift from his earlier expected trajectory within the Zodia group. No replacement CEO has been publicly named in connection with this announcement.

US Core CPI Rises 0.3% in August, Raising Odds of Fed Rate Hike

US core consumer prices rose 0.3% in August, exceeding analyst forecasts, according to the latest CPI report. The hotter-than-expected inflation reading has heightened speculation that the Federal Reserve may move to raise interest rates. The report carries particular significance after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh recently warned that the central bank could be forced to act if inflation fails to cool. Warsh made those remarks approximately two weeks before the data was released. The figures put the Fed in a difficult position as policymakers weigh their next move on monetary policy.

Rising yields, oil prices leave bitcoin vulnerable ahead of U.S. inflation report

Your day-ahead look for Sept. 11, 2026

Bitcoin Drops to $77,000 as Inflation Data Fuels Rate Hike Fears

Bitcoin fell sharply to $77,000, recording a 5% decline over the week as markets braced for the latest U.S. inflation report. The broader cryptocurrency market followed suit, with all major digital assets trading in negative territory. Zcash was among the hardest hit, tumbling 10% in a single day. The sell-off came as the probability of an interest rate hike climbed to nearly 70%, rattling risk assets across the board. Investors are closely watching the August Consumer Price Index print for further direction on monetary policy.

Bitcoin Climbs to $77,200 as Broader Crypto Market Shows Mixed Recovery

Bitcoin edged up 0.7% from midnight UTC to trade around $77,200, showing signs of a modest recovery. A majority of assets in the CoinDesk 100 index — 68 out of 100 constituents — posted gains during this period. Despite the short-term uptick, the broader CoinDesk 100 index remained 1.4% lower over the full 24-hour window. The recovery coincided with the unwinding of leveraged positions in Zcash, easing some pressure across the market.

Bitcoin Retreats After Golden Cross Signal Fails to Spark Rally

Bitcoin has pulled back in price following the formation of a so-called golden cross, a technical chart pattern typically seen as a bullish indicator. The golden cross occurs when a short-term moving average crosses above a long-term moving average, often interpreted as a signal of potential upside. However, historical data suggests that significant price gains tend to materialize before the signal appears, rather than after. This means traders who act on the golden cross may already be too late to capture the bulk of the rally. The latest instance has reinforced this pattern, with Bitcoin failing to sustain momentum following the signal.

Kalshi seeks US approval for 24/7 perpetual contracts on Tesla, Nvidia and 60 more stocks

Prediction-market platform Kalshi is planning to apply for US regulatory approval to offer perpetual contracts on approximately 60 stocks and ETFs. The move would bring one of cryptocurrency trading's most popular instruments — perpetual futures — into traditional equity markets. Kalshi's proposed products would allow round-the-clock trading on major names including Tesla and Nvidia. The initiative arrives amid an ongoing regulatory turf war on Wall Street over which authority should oversee such novel financial products.

India pilots tokenized corporate bonds settled via RBI's digital rupee

India's Securities and Exchange Board (SEBI) has launched a pilot program called Demat 2.0 that converts corporate bonds into digital tokens. Settlements under the initiative are processed using the Reserve Bank of India's wholesale digital rupee. The move targets India's corporate bond market, valued at approximately $620 billion. Secondary market trading and broader retail investor access are planned for subsequent phases of the rollout.

Bitcoin Slides Below $77,000 as Broad Crypto Selloff Grips Market

Bitcoin has dropped below $77,000, recording a loss of more than 5% over the past week. The broader crypto market has also taken a hit, with 95 out of the CoinDesk 100 tracked assets declining in the past 24 hours. Zcash was among the hardest-hit cryptocurrencies during this period. The selloff comes as traders appear to be pricing in expectations of a potential interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Rising rate expectations have historically dampened appetite for riskier assets like cryptocurrencies.

Ripple Integrates AI Agents Into Its $1 Billion Corporate Treasury System

Ripple has introduced artificial intelligence agents into its corporate treasury operations, which are valued at $1 billion. The AI software is designed to monitor cash flow, assess risk, and generate financial forecasts. It can also suggest potential financial moves to human operators. However, all AI-recommended actions require explicit human approval before being executed, keeping people firmly in the decision-making loop.

Republicans Release Updated Clarity Act Draft Ahead of Senate Vote

Republicans circulated a revised draft of the Clarity Act on Thursday in preparation for an upcoming Senate vote. The updated text includes tweaks to provisions related to decentralized finance (DeFi) and credit unions. The bill requires 60 votes to advance when the Senate returns from recess next week. Despite the revised draft, the path forward for the legislation remains uncertain.

SEC Proposal to Overhaul Transfer-Agent Rules May Simplify Tokenized Securities

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has put forward a new proposal to reform existing transfer-agent regulations. The plan targets the issue of duplicate off-chain shareholder records, which currently create significant reconciliation burdens. If adopted, the changes could reduce operational costs for firms dealing in tokenized securities. The proposal also aims to lower the legal uncertainty that has long complicated the tokenized securities space.

OKX Launches Pre-IPO Trading for OpenAI and Anthropic in Europe

Crypto exchange OKX has expanded its pre-IPO trading services to European markets, allowing users to bet on private companies including OpenAI and Anthropic. The platform offers leverage of up to 10x on private-company valuations, amplifying both potential gains and risks. Alongside pre-IPO products, OKX is also making 100 tokenized stocks and ETFs available to European users. The move reflects growing retail and institutional appetite for exposure to high-profile private firms ahead of potential public listings.

EU regulator ESMA flags legal concerns over Polymarket and Kalshi's European operations

Europe's top financial regulator, ESMA, has raised concerns about prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi operating within the European Union. The regulator warned that these platforms may lack proper authorization to offer their services to EU users. ESMA indicated that event contracts traded on such platforms could potentially fall under existing EU bans on binary options. The contracts may also be subject to crypto-asset regulations under the MiCA framework or national gambling laws depending on their structure. The regulator's scrutiny signals a significant compliance challenge for these platforms seeking to maintain or expand their European market access.

Polymarket appoints former Amazon finance chief Warren Jenson as first CFO

Prediction market platform Polymarket has hired Warren Jenson, formerly Amazon's chief financial officer, as its first-ever CFO. The appointment marks a significant leadership expansion for the company as it works to establish a regulated exchange in the United States. Polymarket is also simultaneously developing a global trading platform alongside its domestic operations. Bringing in an executive of Jenson's caliber signals the company's ambitions to scale and meet regulatory requirements in a maturing crypto and prediction market landscape.

Monument Bank delays retail tokenized deposits to November over UK regulatory hurdles

London-based challenger bank Monument Bank has postponed its retail tokenized deposits rollout due to regulatory challenges in the United Kingdom. The bank engaged a Canadian custodian to comply with requirements set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The decision to bring in the foreign custodian was driven by the need to meet the FCA's specific regulatory standards. Monument Bank now expects to launch the retail tokenized deposit service by November.

Bitcoin Bancorp acquires defunct Bitcoin Depot ATMs for $620,000

Bitcoin Bancorp has purchased a large batch of decommissioned Bitcoin Depot ATM kiosks for $620,000, according to court records. The acquired machines represent just over a quarter of Bitcoin Depot's total fleet of more than 9,200 kiosks. The sale price of under $1 million underscores the deeply discounted valuation of the defunct hardware. The transaction was recorded in court filings, suggesting the deal may be linked to insolvency or restructuring proceedings involving Bitcoin Depot.

Crypto for Advisors: Hyperliquid and the future of finance

MoneyGram Launches Visa Card Backed by Stablecoins for Everyday Dollar Spending

MoneyGram, the global remittance company, has unveiled a new Visa card that allows customers to hold and spend US dollars backed by stablecoins. The product bridges traditional payment infrastructure with digital asset technology, enabling everyday transactions from a stablecoin-backed balance. The move signals a broader push to bring stablecoin utility into mainstream consumer spending. It reflects growing momentum around digital dollars as practical financial tools rather than purely speculative assets.

Major exchanges urge EU to raise tokenization trial cap

A coalition of major financial exchanges, including Nasdaq and Boerse Stuttgart, has called on the European Union to remove or raise the existing cap within its tokenization pilot program. The group argues that the current limit is too restrictive and hinders the growth of digital asset markets in Europe. The coalition pointed out that several existing European blockchain-based financial projects already surpass the imposed threshold. The appeal highlights growing industry pressure on EU regulators to modernize rules to accommodate expanding tokenization activity.