Brazil’s House of Representatives will convene on 20 August to evaluate a bill proposing the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve. If approved, the legislation would allow up to 5% of the nation’s treasury reserves, equivalent to nearly $15 billion, to be invested in Bitcoin.
The hearing will involve several key institutions, including the Central Bank of Brazil, the Ministry of Finance, a crypto advocacy group, and financial sector stakeholders.
Supporters of the bill claim that a Bitcoin reserve would shield Brazil’s foreign reserves from currency volatility and geopolitical threats. They also argue it would encourage broader adoption of blockchain technologies.
The proposal follows similar global movements. India and Sweden are also rumoured to be exploring similar strategies.
Reactions in Brazil are mixed. While Vice President Alckmin’s chief of staff praised the initiative, calling Bitcoin’ digital gold,’ officials at the Central Bank have cautioned against integrating crypto into official reserves.
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The crackdown follows the discovery that organised criminal groups are operating scam centres across Southeast Asia, hacking WhatsApp accounts or adding users to group chats to lure victims into fake investment schemes and other types of fraud.
In one case, WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI collaborated to disrupt a Cambodian cybercrime group that used ChatGPT to generate fake instructions for a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme.
Victims were enticed with offers of cash for social media engagement before being moved to private chats and pressured to make upfront payments via cryptocurrency platforms.
Meta warned that these scams often stem from well-organised networks in Southeast Asia, some exploiting forced labour. Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, enable features such as WhatsApp’s two-step verification, and be wary of suspicious or unsolicited messages.
It should be mentioned that these scams have also drawn political attention in the USA. Namely, US Senator Maggie Hassan has urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to act against transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia that use Starlink satellite internet to run massive online fraud schemes targeting Americans.
Despite SpaceX’s policies allowing service termination for fraud, Starlink remains active in regions where these scams, often linked to forced labour and human trafficking, operate.
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On 3 August, social media platforms buzzed with claims that China had introduced a fresh ban on all crypto assets, including trading, mining, and related services. These reports reignited a familiar narrative, as similar rumours have emerged repeatedly over recent years.
Many users quickly reminded the community that China imposed a comprehensive ban on crypto transactions and mining back in September 2021.
The 2021 ban was driven by concerns over energy consumption linked to mining and the use of cryptocurrencies in illegal activities and capital flight. Although official crackdowns pushed many mining operations abroad, illegal activities persist within China.
Despite these facts, there has been no new official ban announced since then.
Rumours about China’s crypto regulations often cause strong reactions in the global market, given China’s large economic influence. However, many traders outside China do not verify these reports, which allows false information to spread rapidly.
Social media engagement and sensationalism continue to fuel the cycle of recurring ban rumours.
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Qatar Financial Centre calls for greater international coordination on tokenisation regulation, revealing plans to integrate real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation into the investment sector. The announcement came during the Digital Assets Policy Roundtable at the Qatar Economic Forum.
The report, created with Global Stratalogues and the Global Blockchain Business Council, urges global regulatory alignment, collaboration, and infrastructure support. It argues that tokenisation can boost financial inclusion when backed by strong policies.
Although Qatar restricts cryptocurrencies, the report confirms stablecoins will feature in the country’s strategy, focusing on regulated use in private equity, Islamic finance, and venture capital. The regulatory sandbox was also recognised globally.
Qatar is working with firms like R3, SettleMint, and The Hashgraph Association to launch a $50 million Digital Assets Venture Studio. Meanwhile, regional progress includes the first MENA-regulated tokenised money market fund from QNB (Singapore) and DMZ Finance.
RWAs are increasingly viewed as a bridge between traditional and decentralised finance, with their value expected to hit $19 trillion by 2033.
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The VINE coin experienced a notable surge following Elon Musk’s announcement about restoring access to the old Vine video archive. Musk’s post about restoring Vine sparked renewed interest, boosting the token by over 8% in a day.
Musk’s push to revive Vine ties into a broader vision for X, his rebranded social media platform. The app aims to become an AI-driven ‘super-app’ with features including cryptocurrency-powered payments.
Other tokens linked to Musk, such as Dogecoin and Grok-related coins, have also enjoyed gains following his recent social media activity.
Vine, once a pioneering platform for viral six-second videos, was discontinued in 2017 but remains fondly remembered. Though launched independently, the VINE coin has gained from speculation linked to Musk’s revival plans.
Market watchers expect Musk’s influence could fuel further altcoin momentum linked to the app’s comeback and his crypto endorsements.
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Cash will stay central to the eurozone’s financial system, the ECB confirmed, as work on the digital euro moves forward. A board member Piero Cipollone said euro banknotes and coins will be supplemented, not replaced, by a digital version to protect payment autonomy in Europe.
The ECB’s commitment follows a surge in the use of private digital currencies and stablecoins, which are increasingly used for daily transactions and international transfers. They see the digital euro as a secure answer to the rising influence of foreign stablecoins, especially US dollar-backed ones.
Despite the digital push, Cipollone stressed cash is vital, especially in crises when digital systems might fail. The ECB wants Europeans to have access to physical cash and digital euros alike, all with legal tender status and full usability.
Meanwhile, the ECB has acknowledged lukewarm interest from the public. A March study revealed Europeans were reluctant to allocate significant funds to a digital euro.
Separately, ECB adviser Jürgen Schaaf warned that Europe must implement unified regulation to avoid dominance by US dollar-backed stablecoins and preserve monetary sovereignty.
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The UK’s designation of data centres as Critical National Infrastructure highlights their growing strategic importance, yet a pressing concern remains over vulnerabilities in their OT and IoT systems. While IT security often receives significant investment, the same cannot be said for other technologies.
Attackers increasingly target these overlooked systems, gaining access through insecure devices such as IP cameras and biometric scanners. Many of these operate on outdated firmware and lack even basic protections, making them ideal footholds for malicious actors.
There have already been known breaches, with OT systems used in botnet activity and crypto mining, often without detection. These attacks not only compromise security in the UK but can destabilise infrastructure by overloading resources or bypassing safeguards.
Addressing these threats requires full visibility across all connected systems, with real-time monitoring, wireless traffic analysis, and network segmentation. Experts urge data centre operators to act now, not in response to a breach, but to prevent one entirely.
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Traditional banks have invested over $100 billion in blockchain projects from 2020 to 2024, showing that digital assets are going mainstream. A report by Ripple, CB Insights, and the UK Centre for Blockchain Technologies reviewed over 10,000 deals and surveyed 1,800 finance leaders globally.
Despite regulatory uncertainty and market volatility, banks are boosting custody, tokenisation, and payment infrastructure investments.
Payment infrastructure attracted the most funding, followed by crypto custody and on-chain foreign exchange. About 25% of investments target firms supporting settlement and asset issuance rails.
Over 90% of finance executives expect blockchain and digital assets to have a significant impact on finance by 2028.
Banks focus on digital asset custody, stablecoins, and tokenised real-world assets, while consumer-facing crypto services remain less critical.
The report highlights that investment aims to modernise finance systems rather than fuel speculation. Many banks plan digital asset initiatives within three years, from tokenised bonds to interoperable layers for CBDCs and stablecoins.
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Eight long-dormant Bitcoin wallets from the early days of the network moved a combined 80,000 BTC in early July 2025. Each wallet sent roughly 10,000 BTC to new SegWit addresses, which offer enhanced security against future quantum computing threats.
These transfers mark the most significant single Bitcoin transactions ever recorded, attracting intense speculation across the crypto community.
Shortly after the transfer, around 28,600 BTC were sent to Galaxy Digital, with about 9,000 BTC sold, likely contributing to a 5% price drop from Bitcoin’s recent all-time high of $123,000.
Experts believe the security upgrade was a precaution against quantum computing risks, threatening Bitcoin’s cryptographic foundations in the coming decades. Developers are working on proposals to protect vulnerable wallets and strengthen network security.
Blockchain analysis shows all eight wallets belong to one entity, with some suspecting Roger Ver, aka ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ because of his early role and recent legal troubles. Around that time, OP_RETURN messages appeared on the blockchain, possibly a spam campaign pressuring the wallet owner to prove control.
While no evidence of hacking has emerged, these events have heightened attention on dormant Bitcoin holdings and quantum security.
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The US Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced ‘Project Crypto,’ a Commission-wide effort to update securities regulations and establish America as the world’s leading crypto market.
The announcement was made by SEC Chair Paul Atkins at the America First Policy Institute in Washington D.C. on 31 July. Atkins highlighted the rapid evolution of financial markets and stressed the need for the US to take a proactive role in the crypto revolution.
Project Crypto builds on recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, focusing on clear rules for crypto custody, trading, and distribution.
The initiative marks a significant change in SEC policy, moving away from the strict enforcement tactics of the previous administration under Gary Gensler. Recent months saw the SEC drop lawsuits and ease probes, signalling support for innovation and urging crypto firms back to the US.
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