Crypto & Web3

Bitfinex Securities raises $50M to launch tokenized nickel trading product

Bitfinex Securities has raised $50 million as part of an initiative to offer tokenized nickel trading. The company plans to list a new security tied to a Luxembourg-based industrial metals platform. That platform is built around a $1.6 billion stockpile of high-purity nickel wire. The move represents Bitfinex Securities' push to bridge traditional commodity markets with blockchain-based financial instruments.

BlackRock Digital Assets Head Bullish on Bitcoin After IBIT Hits Record Volume

BlackRock's head of digital assets expressed a strengthening macroeconomic case for bitcoin following a record-breaking trading week. The comments came after BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF, known as IBIT, recorded its highest-ever trading volume. The positive week for IBIT coincided with renewed investor interest in bitcoin as a macro asset. BlackRock's senior digital assets executive suggested that broader economic conditions are increasingly favorable for bitcoin adoption.

Nvidia Earnings Beat Sends Shares Up 8%, Boosting Tech Stocks and Bitcoin

Nvidia reported earnings that exceeded market expectations, triggering an 8% surge in its share price. The strong results and positive forward outlook had a broad ripple effect across financial markets. Technology stocks and AI infrastructure companies saw notable gains following the announcement. Bitcoin also rose alongside the broader market rally sparked by Nvidia's performance.

UK Plans to Give Bank of England Formal Stablecoin Oversight Role

The British government is planning to assign the Bank of England a new official objective related to stablecoins. Financial stability would continue to be the central bank's primary responsibility under the proposed framework. The new mandate would require the Bank of England to submit annual reports to Parliament on its stablecoin-related activities. The move reflects the UK's broader effort to regulate the growing digital assets sector within its existing financial institutions.

Bitcoin ETFs log eight consecutive inflow days as August haul nears $3 billion

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded eight straight days of inflows, accumulating approximately $2.8 billion during the streak. Ether ETFs have mirrored this positive trend, posting inflows on each of the same trading days. August is shaping up to be a strong month for crypto ETFs, with three trading sessions still remaining. If the momentum holds, August could become the best month for these funds since October 2025.

SHRINCS Proposal Aims to Make Bitcoin Quantum-Resistant Without Clogging Network

Bitcoin researchers have put forward a new proposal called SHRINCS to address the threat posed by quantum computing to the Bitcoin network. The design would allow Bitcoin transactions to adopt larger, quantum-resistant cryptographic signatures without significantly reducing network capacity. This sets it apart from existing post-quantum signature schemes, which tend to consume more block space and crowd out regular transactions. The proposal represents an effort to future-proof Bitcoin's security while maintaining its transaction throughput efficiency.

Binance Co-Founders CZ and Yi He Used Simpsons Aliases in Company Meetings

Binance co-founders Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Yi He reportedly adopted the cartoon aliases 'Homer' and 'Marge' from the popular animated series The Simpsons for use during internal company meetings. Yi He, who now serves as co-CEO of Binance alongside Richard Teng, continues to use the name 'Marge' in meetings and internal chats to this day. The unusual practice highlights the informal and unconventional culture within one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. CZ, who stepped down from his CEO role following legal troubles, had used the alias 'Homer' during his tenure at the company.

Bitcoin Slips Below $79K, XRP Leads Crypto Losses Amid Fed Hike Bets

Bitcoin has fallen below $79,000 as most major cryptocurrencies traded flat or in the red over the past 24 hours. XRP led the losses among top tokens, even as it still holds a notable 28% gain on a weekly basis. Bitcoin, despite the short-term dip, retains a strong 14% weekly gain. Solana and BNB were exceptions, managing to hold their ground while the broader market slipped. The downturn coincides with traders beginning to price in the possibility of a future Federal Reserve interest rate hike.

Key Bitcoin Capital Flow Indicator Signals Credibility Behind Recent Price Surge

A lesser-watched Bitcoin market metric is currently showing a bullish signal, lending support to the cryptocurrency's recent price momentum. The indicator tracks whether substantial capital is consistently flowing into the market to sustain upward price movement. Analysts consider this measure fundamental to distinguishing genuine rallies from short-lived price spikes. Its positive reading adds credibility to the possibility of Bitcoin reaching the $80,000 level in August. This development has drawn attention among market watchers who monitor underlying market structure rather than price action alone.

SEC Revives Crypto Custody Rule That Stalled Under Previous Administration

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is working to revive a crypto custody rule that failed to pass under the previous administration. The original 2023 proposal sought to limit where investment advisers could hold clients' crypto assets. The new regulatory effort is still in early stages and details of the updated approach have not been made public. It remains unclear how the revised rule will differ from the earlier, narrowly scoped attempt.

Nvidia Beats Earnings Estimates, Projects $108B Revenue Next Quarter

Nvidia reported its fiscal second-quarter financial results after market close on Wednesday. The tech giant surpassed analyst earnings expectations, continuing its strong performance streak. Looking ahead, Nvidia provided forward guidance projecting approximately $108 billion in revenue for the next quarter. The results reinforce Nvidia's position as a key bellwether for the broader technology sector.

Shinhan Financial and Visa to Pilot Stablecoin Payments and B2B Settlements in South Korea

South Korea's Shinhan Financial Group has partnered with Visa to explore stablecoin-based financial services. The collaboration will involve testing stablecoin issuance, remittance, and redemption using Visa's platform. The pilot also aims to develop AI-driven payment models as part of the initiative. The partnership reflects growing interest among traditional financial institutions in integrating blockchain-based payment infrastructure.

Tokenized Equities Boom Masks Key Differences in Holder Rights and Risks

Demand for tokenized equities has surged dramatically, with perpetual futures growing from $16 billion to over $590 billion in a single year, according to CoinDesk analyst Joshua DeVos. Despite the impressive headline figures, DeVos argues the rapid growth obscures a more fundamental question about what these tokens actually represent. Two tokens can share the same ticker symbol while granting holders entirely different legal and financial rights. The critical distinction lies in whether a token conveys genuine ownership of an underlying asset or merely a synthetic claim that mimics its price. This structural difference ultimately determines the real risks and protections available to token holders.

Ethereum Developers Draft Plan to Make ETH Staking Quantum-Resistant

Ethereum developers have put forward a draft proposal aimed at protecting ETH staking from potential quantum computing attacks. The plan would allow validators to deposit funds using quantum-resistant cryptographic keys. As part of the transition, the network would eventually stop accepting the current key format used by validators today. This represents an early but significant step toward future-proofing Ethereum's staking infrastructure against emerging quantum threats.

The evidence doesn't support the banks' case against stablecoin rewards

Dallas Fed warns tokenized deposits may cut US bank lending by $700 billion

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has raised concerns about the potential impact of tokenized deposits on the US banking system. According to the Dallas Fed, programmable deposits combined with AI agents could allow customers to instantly and automatically shift funds to higher-yielding accounts. This automated bank-switching behavior could significantly drive up funding costs for traditional banks. The resulting financial pressure could strip as much as $700 billion from US banks' lending capacity.

ECB Promises Digital Euro Privacy Protections as Civil Society Raises Concerns

The European Central Bank has claimed that the digital euro will provide the highest possible level of privacy for its users. ECB officials stated that the Eurosystem will be architecturally designed so that it cannot link individual users to their transactions. Despite these assurances, civil society organizations remain doubtful about the extent of these privacy guarantees. The debate reflects broader public concerns over potential government surveillance through a central bank digital currency.

The 3 catalysts that could define bitcoin's next move

Your day-ahead look for Aug. 26, 2026

Bitcoin dips to $79,000 after 23% weekly surge as ETF inflows top $3 billion

Bitcoin's price pulled back to $79,000 on Wednesday following a strong seven-day rally of approximately 23%. The decline marks a pause in momentum after a significant short-term price run-up. Despite the price dip, demand for Bitcoin exchange-traded funds remained steady, with August inflows surpassing $3 billion. The sustained ETF interest suggests continued institutional appetite for Bitcoin exposure even as spot prices cooled.

Strategy Reduces Net Leverage to Near Zero with Strong Cash Position

Bitcoin treasury company Strategy has cut its net leverage to near zero as its cash holdings now nearly match its convertible debt obligations. The company has accumulated close to four years' worth of preferred-dividend coverage, signaling a conservative financial posture. Strategy has also been actively repurchasing its STRK preferred shares below par value, suggesting confidence in its balance sheet. The moves reflect a deliberate effort to strengthen financial stability while maintaining its bitcoin-focused treasury strategy.