Cryptocurrencies

US real estate firm embraces crypto transactions

Christie’s International Real Estate has established a dedicated team that specialises in cryptocurrency transactions. It has become the first major US brokerage to handle home sales exclusively with digital assets.

The unit emerged after several high-profile deals, including a $65 million purchase in Beverly Hills, signalling growing demand from buyers seeking privacy and faster payments.

The new division manages a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in properties available solely for crypto purchase. Notable listings include the Invisible House in Joshua Tree and La Fin in Bel Air.

Transactions often maintain buyer anonymity, with legal representatives verifying funds and many buyers using LLCs funded by crypto, reducing transparency compared to traditional bank-backed purchases.

Favourable US regulatory changes, such as the GENIUS Act and evolving policies from housing authorities, support this shift. Aaron Kirman, Christie’s Southern California CEO, predicts crypto may make up over a third of US home sales within five years, attracting wealthy digital asset investors.

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US stablecoin supply jumps $4 billion after new crypto laws

The recently passed GENIUS Act has sparked a $4 billion increase in the stablecoin market within a week, pushing its total value beyond $264 billion. The legislation offers clear federal rules, encouraging banks, asset managers, and crypto firms to launch new fiat-backed stablecoins.

Under the GENIUS Act, issuers must hold full reserves, undergo audits, and obtain licences to avoid SEC enforcement. Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC dominate this space with a combined market cap of over $227 billion.

Crypto-backed and algorithmic stablecoins remain less prominent and face distinct regulatory challenges.

Institutional involvement is rising quickly. Anchorage Digital teamed with Ethena Labs to launch a stablecoin platform, while WisdomTree introduced a regulated dollar-backed stablecoin.

Major banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan, and Citigroup, are also preparing to enter the market, signalling broader traditional finance engagement.

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Ethereum ETF by BlackRock crosses $10 billion

The iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), managed by BlackRock, has surpassed $10 billion in assets under management just over a year after launch. It now ranks as the third-fastest ETF in US history to reach the milestone, trailing only two Bitcoin-focused funds.

According to Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas, ETHA doubled from $5 billion to $10 billion in just 10 days. July brought a notable surge in inflows, with Ethereum ETFs outperforming Bitcoin ETFs on several occasions.

So far, monthly Ethereum ETF inflows have reached $4.7 billion, with ETHA leading in volume and growth.

The rapid growth has been driven by increasing institutional demand and investor confidence in Ethereum’s long-term prospects. BlackRock filed for ETHA in late 2023 and selected Coinbase Prime as custodian.

The fund tracks Ether’s market price, charges a 0.25% fee, and may soon introduce staking following favourable SEC guidance.

Analysts say ETH’s proof-of-stake model and its role in decentralised finance have made it increasingly attractive. While Bitcoin funds still dominate total assets, Ethereum ETFs are growing faster due to more substantial DeFi exposure and the potential for staking rewards.

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Crypto hacks soar in 2025 as security gaps widen

According to Hacken’s latest research, the crypto sector has already recorded more than $3.1 billion in losses during the first half of 2025. That figure already exceeds 2024, mainly due to access control flaws, phishing, and AI-driven exploits.

Access control remains the most significant weakness, responsible for almost 60% of recorded losses. The most severe breach was the Bybit attack, where North Korean hackers exploited a wallet signer vulnerability to steal $1.46 billion.

Other incidents include UPCX’s $70 million loss, a manipulated price oracle exploit on KiloEx, and insider fraud involving the Roar staking contract.

Phishing and social engineering continue to evolve, accounting for nearly $600 million in stolen funds. One victim reportedly lost $330 million in Bitcoin, while fake Coinbase support calls drained over $100 million from user wallets.

Meanwhile, AI-related hacks have exploded in volume, increasing by more than 1,000% compared to last year. Most of these incidents stem from insecure APIs and flaws in large language model integrations.

Experts warn that smarter attackers and Web3’s fragmented security practices demand a stronger approach. Hacken advises combining blockchain standards with off-chain protections and better training to stay ahead of threats.

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Nigeria opens door to stablecoin businesses

Nigeria’s top markets regulator is open to stablecoin ventures to revive the digital asset sector after last year’s Binance crackdown. At the Nigeria Stablecoin Summit, SEC Director-General Emomotimi Agama highlighted support for firms following evolving regulations.

He envisions Nigeria becoming a stablecoin hub in the global south, powering cross-border trade across Africa within five years.

The SEC has already onboarded stablecoin-focused companies through its regulatory sandbox, reflecting a broader strategy to lead digital innovation. Agama acknowledged stablecoins as vital to the crypto ecosystem but warned of national security risks, underscoring the need for careful regulation.

His comments come following the high-profile arrest and release of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan amid Nigeria’s previous crypto crackdown.

While the new stance suggests a regulatory easing, experts caution that rebuilding trust with global firms will take time. Industry leaders stress the need for clear legal frameworks, reliable fiat access, and consistent enforcement to attract investment and restore liquidity.

Nigeria’s path to becoming a stablecoin hub hinges on sustained policy stability and meaningful re-engagement with crypto players.

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Excitement builds around digital euro trial on XRP Ledger

The XRP community is abuzz after crypto influencer Amelie claimed Europe is trialling the digital euro on the XRP Ledger. Citing the Frankfurter Stock Exchange, she suggested institutional interest is growing rapidly, potentially leading to a sharp price increase.

In her tweet, Amelie included a video featuring analyst Oliver, who predicted XRP could reach $18 within weeks.

Oliver pointed to XRP Ledger’s speed and scalability as key factors that could meet the European Central Bank’s needs for a digital euro. He claimed successful testing would spark broader adoption and a surge in market value.

XRP was trading at $3.04 at the time of the post, meaning a rise to $18 would mark a 492% increase.

Such a leap would require strong capital inflows and confirmation of real-world adoption. Although no official statement has been released by the Frankfurter Stock Exchange, the speculation has fuelled excitement in the XRP community.

Amelie concluded that 2025 could be pivotal for XRP. Analysts believe the asset’s growing role in tokenisation and cross-border payments could soon extend into central bank digital currencies, potentially solidifying its institutional appeal.

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South Korea tells ETF managers to cut crypto exposure

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has advised domestic asset managers to scale back exposure to crypto-related stocks within exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The verbal guidance reminds firms that 2017 restrictions on institutional involvement with virtual assets remain in effect.

The warning comes amid a growing trend of adding cryptocurrency exchanges and blockchain firms—often called ‘coin theme’ stocks—into local ETF portfolios. Some products now hold over 10% in such assets, including companies like Coinbase and Strategy.

The FSS emphasised that despite global shifts toward deregulation, no new laws or formal guidance exist yet in Korea.

ETF providers raised concerns, particularly around passive funds tied to indices. These funds cannot easily alter holdings without creating tracking errors.

The FSS acknowledged this structural challenge, stating that the intent was to encourage caution in future ETF design until a new regulatory framework is in place.

Critics argue the guidance creates inconsistencies, as South Korean investors continue to gain exposure to crypto firms via foreign ETFs. Asset managers now face a compliance dilemma, balancing regulatory caution with investor demand and index constraints.

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Crypto market falls sharply amid institutional selling and Ethereum crisis

The cryptocurrency market faced a significant correction on Thursday. A broad selloff dragged Bitcoin down 2.3% to around $117,241.

Ethereum fell over 6% to test key support near $3,515, while XRP plunged 17%, breaking below the crucial $3.00 level. Dogecoin suffered the most significant loss among major altcoins, crashing 18.5% amid heavy institutional liquidation.

Analysts attribute the decline to coordinated selling by institutional investors, worsened by a surge in Ethereum validator exits and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.

Bitcoin showed relative strength compared to other tokens, demonstrating its role as a haven amid market stress. Despite the pullback, bitcoin’s dominance increased as investors rotated away from riskier altcoins.

Ethereum’s challenges are acute, with over $2.3 billion worth of ETH awaiting unstaking amid the longest validator exit queue in 18 months. While some validators are exiting, many are entering the staking system, suggesting complex market dynamics rather than outright abandonment.

The sharp declines reflect a mix of large-scale liquidations, institutional portfolio rebalancing, and geopolitical pressures driving risk-off sentiment. Speculative assets like Dogecoin were hit hardest, highlighting the vulnerability of meme coins during downturns.

Despite short-term volatility, major financial firms remain bullish on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, citing technological adoption and regulatory progress as drivers for 2025 growth.

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Stocks gain but Bitcoin remains flat after Japan trade deal

US President Donald Trump revealed a new trade agreement with Japan, described as ‘perhaps the largest deal ever made,’ involving $550 billion of Japanese investment in the United States.

The deal aims to boost trade in automobiles and agricultural goods, and is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Following the announcement, major US stock indices saw modest gains, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow rising by 0.26%, 0.09%, and 0.42% respectively. In contrast, Bitcoin fell by 0.55%.

Despite the positive stock market response, the wider cryptocurrency market declined, with the Coinmarketcap Altcoin Season Index dropping from 56 to 46. Expectations for an ‘altcoin season’—when most top tokens outperform Bitcoin over three months—may have been premature.

Bitcoin itself showed little movement, remaining below $120,000 and losing just under 1% over the past week.

Market metrics reveal that Bitcoin’s 24-hour trading volume dropped 11.5% to $67.28 billion, while its market cap declined by 0.78% to $2.35 trillion. Bitcoin dominance increased slightly to 61.57%.

Futures open interest decreased marginally, and total liquidations over 24 hours amounted to $51.23 million, with long positions accounting for the majority of liquidations.

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Elon Musk’s firm consolidates $153 million in BTC

SpaceX has moved $153 million worth of Bitcoin for the first time since 2022, consolidating 1,308 BTC from 16 addresses into a single SegWit wallet, on-chain data reveals. The reason behind the move remains undisclosed.

The company, founded by Elon Musk, currently holds 8,285 BTC—worth nearly $989 million—according to bitcointreasuries.net. Its last Bitcoin transfer involved over 3,500 tokens sent to Coinbase. A SpaceX spokesperson declined to comment on the latest activity.

The transfer coincides with increased scrutiny of the firm’s government contracts, following a clash between Musk and Donald Trump. Despite speculation, SpaceX may not be selling its Bitcoin, as it is reportedly preparing a $1 billion share sale that could value the company at $400 billion.

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