Crypto & Web3

Bitcoin Tops $81,000 as Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease; Zcash Surges 15%

Bitcoin climbed back above $81,000 on Friday as broader crypto markets saw gains across all major tokens. The rally coincided with traders scaling back expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in September, with odds falling to roughly 50-50. Zcash outperformed the market, posting the sharpest rise among notable cryptocurrencies with a 15% jump. Despite Friday's positive momentum, most major tokens remained relatively flat when measured across the full week.

OCC Grants Provisional Charter to Crypto-Native Bank OpenReserve

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has given blockchain-focused bank OpenReserve initial approval to operate as a full-service bank. The provisional charter marks a significant regulatory milestone for the crypto-native institution. OpenReserve joins a growing list of digital asset-oriented banks receiving formal recognition from U.S. banking regulators. The move reflects a broader trend of crypto-focused financial institutions gaining legitimacy within the traditional banking framework.

AMC CEO Distances Company from Robinhood's Tokenized Stock Offering

AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron publicly criticized Robinhood over its tokenized AMC shares, clarifying that the company has no affiliation with the product. Robinhood had offered blockchain-based tokens representing AMC stock without any direct involvement from the company itself. The incident has reignited debate around how synthetic or tokenized versions of equities are created and traded onchain. Such instruments raise questions about transparency, shareholder rights, and corporate consent in the growing tokenized securities space.

Standard Chartered Launches Institutional Spot Crypto Trading on Dubai FX Platform

Standard Chartered has introduced spot cryptocurrency trading for institutional clients through its Dubai-based foreign exchange platform. The service covers Bitcoin and Ethereum, making them accessible via the same electronic FX infrastructure used for traditional currency pairs like the US dollar and euro. The move marks a significant step in integrating digital assets into mainstream institutional trading workflows in the region. By leveraging existing eFX rails, the bank aims to offer a familiar and efficient trading experience for institutional participants entering the crypto market.

Crypto for Advisors: Why crypto earnings reports can be misleading

Memecoin App Pons Tops Crypto Fee Charts, Surpassing Pump and Hyperliquid

Pons, a memecoin creation and trading application, generated nearly $6 million in user fees within a single day. This figure surpassed fees collected by well-known platforms including Pump.fun and Hyperliquid during the same period. Notably, Pons also outearned Robinhood Chain itself in fees, despite the surge in activity on that network. The milestone highlights growing retail appetite for memecoin tools amid a broader spike in on-chain trading volumes.

Bitget in Talks with BlackRock and Wall Street Firms for Asian ETF Distribution

Crypto exchange Bitget is in discussions with major Wall Street institutions, including BlackRock, to support the distribution of tokenized ETFs across Asia. Bitget CEO Gracy Chen named BlackRock as one example of the large asset managers seeking regional expansion. The talks reflect growing institutional interest in leveraging crypto platforms to reach Asian investors. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is among the firms looking to broaden the reach of its tokenized financial products in the region.

Kraken Partners With SoFi to Bridge Crypto and Traditional Banking

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken and digital personal finance company SoFi have announced a new partnership linking their respective platforms. As part of the deal, Kraken will join SoFi's settlement network, deepening ties between the two firms. SoFi's stablecoin, SoFiUSD, will also be listed on the Kraken platform as part of the arrangement. The collaboration reflects a broader trend of crypto exchanges and traditional financial institutions moving into each other's territory.

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Your day-ahead look for Sept. 3, 2026

Yen Surge Weakens US Dollar, Giving Bitcoin and Gold a Boost

The Japanese yen has been rising sharply, putting broad downward pressure on the US dollar. This weakness is reflected in a declining Dollar Index, a key measure of the greenback's strength against major currencies. Bitcoin and gold, both often seen as alternatives to the dollar, are benefiting from this shift. Analysts note the positive impact on these assets, though the gains may be temporary depending on how currency markets evolve.

Bitcoin Recovers Above $77,500 Despite Weekly Losses as Yen Strengthens

Bitcoin climbed back above $77,500 on the day, with most major cryptocurrencies posting gains. However, the asset remains in negative territory on a weekly basis. The recovery comes amid broader global market movements, including a rally in the Japanese yen. Meanwhile, global investors are holding their lowest levels of currency hedging on U.S. assets in roughly ten years, signaling reduced confidence in dollar-denominated holdings.

Bitcoin Climbs Toward $78,000 as Dollar Weakness Lifts Crypto Markets

Bitcoin gained 0.76% from midnight, edging closer to the $78,000 mark during the latest trading session. A softer US dollar provided broad support across multiple asset classes, lifting equities, metals, and cryptocurrencies simultaneously. Altcoins ARB (Arbitrum) and PONS also extended their gains, each rising for a third consecutive session. The rally in ARB and PONS was notably linked to momentum around the Robinhood Chain. The wider market uptick reflects growing investor appetite as the dollar loses ground.

Australia Tightens Crypto Rules Ahead of October 1 Regulatory Deadline

Australia is intensifying its oversight of cryptocurrency businesses as a key regulatory deadline approaches. Crypto firms operating in the country are required to comply with new financial services regulations before October 1. Companies that fail to meet the deadline risk violating Australian financial services law. Non-compliant businesses could face serious consequences, including civil or criminal penalties.

CFTC urges court to dismiss CME's lawsuit over crypto perpetual futures

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by CME Group challenging the regulator's stance on crypto perpetual futures. The CFTC argued that the dispute amounts to little of substance, describing it as 'much ado about nothing.' The regulator clarified that its existing order already permits any designated contract market, including CME itself, to list perpetual futures products. The agency's position suggests it sees no genuine regulatory barrier preventing CME from offering such instruments. The move signals the CFTC's confidence that the legal challenge lacks sufficient grounds to proceed in court.

Catastrophe Bonds Could Be Tokenized on Blockchain by 2027

A law firm and a tokenization platform are jointly developing a structure to bring catastrophe bonds onto the blockchain. The proposal aims to give investors direct legal ownership of these instruments in an on-chain format. A test issuance is being planned for 2027, marking a potential milestone for the asset class. One key benefit of the structure is that it could significantly lower the minimum investment threshold for cat bonds, broadening investor access.

Bitcoin Nears Golden Cross Signal With USDT Lending Bullish Support

Bitcoin is approaching a golden cross, a technical chart pattern widely watched by traders in cryptocurrency markets. The golden cross occurs when a short-term moving average crosses above a long-term moving average, traditionally considered a bullish signal. Historically, this pattern has shown a mixed track record of predicting sustained price gains in crypto. However, analysts suggest that rising USDT stablecoin activity may reinforce the bullish outlook this time around. The combination of the two indicators is drawing renewed attention from market observers.

Remixpoint sells altcoins for Bitcoin, takes loss on Dogecoin

Japanese listed company Remixpoint has restructured its cryptocurrency portfolio by consolidating holdings into Bitcoin. The firm recorded profits on its sales of Ether, Solana, and XRP during the process. However, Dogecoin proved to be the exception, with Remixpoint selling its DOGE holdings below the value recorded at the start of the fiscal year. The move reflects a broader strategy by the company to concentrate its crypto exposure in Bitcoin rather than maintaining a diverse altcoin portfolio.

Bitcoin rebounds above $77,500 as Fed rate hike odds ease to 62%

Bitcoin climbed back above $77,500 over the past 24 hours, joining a broad recovery across the cryptocurrency market. XRP outperformed other major digital assets during the same period. The rally coincided with a decline in market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike, with odds falling to 62%. Despite the short-term gains, most major tokens remain in negative territory on a weekly basis. Zcash and Hyperliquid were the only assets maintaining gains over the full week.

DOJ: FBI seized $560,000 in Hamas crypto, took over fundraising domains

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that cryptocurrency seizures linked to Hamas have reached $560,000. FBI agents took control of domains and servers, including Alqassam.ps, which were being used to solicit donations for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. The operation was aimed at intercepting incoming funds and shutting down the group's online fundraising infrastructure. The seizure reflects ongoing U.S. law enforcement efforts to disrupt terrorist financing conducted through digital assets.

Kraken Owner Payward Pushes IPO Timeline to Q2 2027 at Earliest

Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, has delayed its planned initial public offering to the second quarter of 2027 at the earliest. The company had confidentially submitted its U.S. listing paperwork in November of last year. This marks a further postponement, as Payward had already paused its IPO ambitions due to challenging market conditions. The delay reflects broader headwinds facing crypto firms seeking public listings in the current environment.