Trump Media and Technology Group, backed by $2.5 billion in funding, has acquired around $2 billion worth of Bitcoin as part of an investment plan announced earlier this year. The company behind Truth Social used stock sales and bonds to buy Bitcoin and plans to keep acquiring crypto assets as markets allow.
The announcement followed the US House of Representatives passing three cryptocurrency-related bills during what Republicans and Trump called ‘crypto week.’
Among these, the GENIUS stablecoin bill was signed into law, while two others related to crypto market structure and central bank digital currencies await Senate approval. Bitcoin’s price briefly surged to over $120,000 amid the legislative developments.
Trump’s family-backed crypto firm World Liberty Financial saw its stablecoin governance token more than double last week. Additionally, the president’s memecoin, Official Trump, rose about 10% during the same period, with Trump controlling 80% of its supply through affiliated companies.
In March, Trump signed an executive order proposing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile for the US. While initially expected to hold seized crypto assets, advisers suggested alternative ideas like revaluing government gold certificates are under consideration.
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Coinbase has launched perpetual futures trading for eligible users in the United States, marking a major step in the platform’s regulated offerings. Starting 21 July, traders can access nano Bitcoin (BTC-PERP) and nano Ether (ETH-PERP) perpetual futures via their Coinbase Financial Markets accounts.
The offering follows Coinbase’s approval to operate as a futures commission merchant under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Perpetual futures, accounting for nearly 90% of crypto derivatives volume, were previously inaccessible to US users due to regulatory constraints.
These contracts differ from traditional futures by offering five-year expiration terms and no monthly rollovers. Users can trade with up to 10x leverage and enjoy low fees from 0.02%.
While this boosts capital efficiency, it also increases potential risk, especially during volatile market conditions.
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Major US banking and credit union associations are pressuring regulators to delay granting federal bank licences to crypto firms. These include companies such as Circle, Ripple, and Fidelity Digital Assets.
In a joint letter, the American Bankers Association and others called on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to halt decisions on these applications, raising what they described as serious legal and procedural issues.
The groups argue that the crypto firms’ business models do not align with the fiduciary activities typically required for national trust banks. They warned that granting such charters without clear oversight could mark a major policy shift and potentially weaken the foundations of the financial system.
The banks also claim the publicly available details of the applications are insufficient for public scrutiny. Some in the crypto sector see this as a sign of resistance from traditional banks fearing competition.
Recent legislative developments, particularly the GENIUS Act’s stablecoin framework, are encouraging more crypto firms to seek national bank charters.
Legal experts say such charters offer broader operational freedom than the new stablecoin licence, making them an increasingly attractive option for firms aiming to operate across all US states.
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Crypto builders face growing pressure to design systems that protect fundamental human rights from the outset. As concerns mount over surveillance, state-backed ID systems, and AI impersonation, experts warn that digital infrastructure must not compromise individual freedom.
Privacy-by-default, censorship resistance, and decentralised self-custody are no longer idealistic features — they are essential for any credible Web3 system. Critics argue that many current tools merely replicate traditional power structures, offering centralisation disguised as innovation.
The collapse of platforms like FTX has only strengthened calls for human-centric solutions.
New approaches are needed to ensure people can prove their personhood online without relying on governments or corporations. Digital inclusion depends on verification systems that are censorship-resistant, privacy-preserving and accessible.
Likewise, self-custody must evolve beyond fragile key backups and complex interfaces to empower everyday users.
While embedding values in code brings ethical and political risks, avoiding the issue could lead to greater harm. For the promise of Web3 to be realised, rights must be a design priority — not an afterthought.
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering the sale of over £5 billion in seized Bitcoin to help reduce the UK’s growing fiscal deficit. The Treasury is under pressure to find alternative revenue sources amid soaring borrowing costs, high inflation, and sluggish growth.
The Bitcoin in question was mostly confiscated in 2018 during a crackdown on a Chinese Ponzi scheme. Since then, its value has risen dramatically, with initial holdings worth around £300 million now estimated at more than £5 billion.
The assets were linked to convicted money launderers, including Jian Wen, and are currently held by UK law enforcement.
While the sale could help avoid tax increases or spending cuts, critics warn of repeating past mistakes. Comparisons have already been drawn to Gordon Brown’s heavily criticised gold sales in the early 2000s, which resulted in billions in missed profits.
There are also unresolved legal concerns about returning funds to victims of the fraud.
Some observers argue the UK should consider holding the Bitcoin as a strategic reserve, in line with countries like El Salvador. Analysts note that the US also sold off seized Bitcoin from 2014 to 2021, missing out on a potential $21 billion gain.
If the UK follows through with the sale, many believe it could prove to be one of the most short-sighted fiscal moves in recent history.
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President Donald Trump has officially signed the GENIUS Act into law, marking a historic step in establishing a legal framework for stablecoins in the US. The act, passed with bipartisan support on 18 July, introduces the first rules for the $250 billion stablecoin market.
While Trump hailed the bill’s passage as a major achievement, backlash has emerged from both politicians and crypto insiders. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene condemned the bill, arguing it could secretly enable the rollout of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
She warned that stablecoins under state control may function like a surveillance tool and criticised the absence of a clause banning CBDCs from the legislation.
Outside Capitol Hill, concerns were echoed by prominent Bitcoin advocate Justin Bechler, who likened the act to a covert power grab by central authorities. He claimed that fully compliant, state-enforced stablecoins effectively amount to CBDCs in practice.
Jean Rausis of SmarDex also described the bill as a ‘CBDC trojan horse’.
However, some believe the criticism is misplaced. Journalist Eleanor Terrett noted that the GENIUS Act includes language that prohibits the Federal Reserve from launching a retail CBDC.
Senator Tim Scott supported this view, stating the act does not expand the Fed’s powers in any direction resembling a digital currency for the public.
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The passage of the GENIUS Act in July has brought renewed focus on the relationship between digital asset firms and traditional financial institutions. Mastercard signalled readiness for a new era in digital assets, highlighting efforts to integrate stablecoins with conventional payment systems.
Mastercard’s collaboration with blockchain firms such as Ripple, Consensys, and Fireblocks was highlighted in a presentation shared by crypto researcher SMQKE.
The slide underscored Mastercard’s involvement in central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiatives alongside Visa and other partners, reflecting a commitment to making digital currencies as easy to use as cash.
Ripple’s presence in Mastercard’s network indicates its rising importance in regulated, institutional-grade solutions. Known for its work on real-time cross-border settlements, Ripple is well placed to benefit from the clearer regulatory landscape established by the GENIUS Act.
The legislative certainty encourages more traditional finance players and crypto firms to form lasting partnerships and expand compliant stablecoin applications.
The new law defines who can issue stablecoins and under what conditions, providing financial institutions with confidence to explore innovative payment models.
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The cryptocurrency industry faces a record-breaking year for theft in 2025, with losses surpassing $2.17 billion by mid-July, according to a Chainalysis report. The amount stolen so far has surpassed the total for all of 2024, highlighting a concerning increase in digital asset crime.
A large proportion, around $1.5 billion, stems from the North Korea-linked Bybit hack, which accounts for nearly 70% of thefts targeting crypto services this year.
While centralised exchanges remain prime targets, personal wallets now represent almost a quarter of stolen funds. The report highlights a rise in violent ‘wrench attacks,’ where criminals coerce Bitcoin holders into revealing private keys through threats or physical force.
Kidnappings of crypto executives and family members have also increased, with 2025 expected to double the number of such physical assaults compared to previous years.
Sophistication in laundering stolen crypto varies depending on the target. Hackers focusing on exchanges use advanced techniques like chain-hopping and mixers to obscure transactions.
Conversely, attackers targeting personal wallets often employ simpler methods. Interestingly, criminals are holding stolen assets longer and are willing to pay fees up to 14.5 times higher than average to swiftly move illicit funds and avoid detection.
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Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, is preparing to offer custody services for cryptocurrency assets, providing security and safeguards against hacking. The bank has proposed treating Bitcoin and digital assets like traditional bank accounts to Russia’s central bank.
These proposals include measures to freeze assets if law enforcement suspects illegal activity.
The central bank has eased its stance, supporting digital assets for international trade to bypass Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. Sberbank’s executive director highlighted the growing global trend of banks offering custody services and expressed a desire for Russia to keep pace.
In addition to custody, Sberbank has launched Bitcoin-linked structured bonds and plans to roll out Bitcoin futures and similar investment products on the Moscow Exchange.
Industry experts emphasise that establishing local custody services is vital to reduce reliance on foreign companies and strengthen the security of Russia’s crypto market.
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The pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, is now wealthier than Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Dell founder Michael Dell, with an estimated fortune exceeding $130 billion.
The rise in net worth follows Bitcoin’s surge to new all-time highs, gaining over 14% in the past month.
Satoshi’s fortune, believed to stem from 1.1 million BTC mined during Bitcoin’s earliest days, puts him just $12 billion shy of surpassing Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett, who once infamously likened Bitcoin to ‘rat poison.’
If Bitcoin’s price climbs slightly above $128,000, Satoshi will overtake Buffett on the global wealth list.
While the exact identity of Satoshi remains unknown, theories have pointed to developers such as Hal Finney and Adam Back, as well as public figures like Elon Musk.
None have been confirmed, and the wallets linked to Satoshi have never moved any funds, fuelling speculation he may no longer be alive, or is committed to never selling.
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