Telegram’s crypto journey has taken a significant leap as its built-in TON Wallet is now available to users in the United States. For the first time, a major messaging app in the US market integrates a self-custodial crypto wallet directly into its interface.
The move comes after a lengthy delay due to regulatory uncertainty. Telegram previously viewed the US as a difficult environment, but recent changes in the regulatory landscape have improved the situation.
According to The Open Platform CEO Andrew Rogozov, the SEC’s recent decisions to narrow enforcement and drop certain cases contributed to a more predictable climate.
Now built into Telegram, TON Wallet lets users manage assets, send stablecoins, and swap tokens—no extensions, seed phrases, or extra apps needed. Onboarding uses a split-key system, linking recovery to the user’s account and email—all within the app.
The wallet is integrated with MoonPay, enabling zero-fee purchases, debit card on-ramps, and seamless crypto transactions while outsourcing compliance-related processes. Rogozov said the goal is to offer a crypto experience that feels as natural as sending a message.
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Western Union has begun exploring stablecoin use for remittances, viewing the technology as an opportunity amid rising competition and regulatory clarity. CEO Devin McGranahan revealed that the firm is testing new cross-border settlement processes in regions such as South America and Africa.
Stablecoins could enhance speed, lower costs, and offer value-storing options for customers in weaker-currency markets.
The move follows the recent passage of the GENIUS Act in the US, which provides a formal legal framework for issuing and trading stablecoins. The law is already prompting banks, retailers, and financial service providers to experiment with stablecoin applications.
Western Union is reportedly considering crypto wallet services and partnerships to act as a crypto on- and off-ramp.
According to OwlTing CEO Darren Wang, interest in stablecoins has surged, with monthly business inquiries rising significantly since May. He believes regulatory frameworks like the GENIUS Act and Europe’s MiCA will help stablecoins reach widespread adoption by 2026.
He emphasised that stablecoins can cut remittance costs below the UN’s 3% target, while providing instant, round-the-clock settlements.
Global interest for stablecoins continues to grow, with firms like Walmart, Amazon, JD.com, and Alipay reportedly exploring stablecoin integration.
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A leading cybersecurity expert has raised concerns that Bitcoin’s underlying cryptography could be broken within five years. David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol, warned that quantum computers could soon break the cryptography securing Bitcoin transactions.
He believes the threat could materialise sooner than most anticipate, urging immediate action.
Carvalho pointed to Shor’s algorithm as the core concern. Once sufficiently advanced quantum machines are deployed, they could crack Bitcoin’s defences in seconds.
Roughly 30% of all Bitcoin—around 6 to 7 million BTC—is currently held in wallets with exposed public keys, making them especially vulnerable.
He also referenced major breakthroughs in the field, including Microsoft’s Majorana chip and IBM’s planned release of a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029.
With over 100 quantum systems already active and thousands more expected by 2030, Carvalho advised investors to migrate funds to quantum-secure wallets and update their security protocols.
However, Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and an early Bitcoin contributor, believes the technology is still decades away from posing a real threat. He did acknowledge that future advancements may force even early adopters to move their coins to quantum-resistant addresses.
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Over 913,000 ETH, worth around $3.43 billion, has been lost permanently due to user errors and contract flaws, according to Coinbase director Conor Grogan. The losses represent over 0.76% of Ethereum’s circulating supply and show the risks of human error in decentralised systems.
Among the largest losses cited are 306,000 ETH lost by the Web3 Foundation through a Parity multisig wallet vulnerability and 60,000 ETH locked in a smart contract by the now-defunct QuadrigaCX exchange.
An additional 11,500 ETH was destroyed by NFT project Akutars during a failed minting process.
Grogan also noted that more than 25,000 ETH has been sent to burn addresses directly by users.
He stressed that the $3.4 billion figure is a conservative estimate, excluding ETH lost due to forgotten private keys or dormant wallets. He noted Ethereum’s EIP-1559 burn has destroyed 5.3 million ETH, worth over $23 billion, removing more than 5% of all ETH from circulation.
These figures reveal a growing issue within the Ethereum ecosystem, where both technical flaws and irreversible design features have led to a significant amount of permanently inaccessible capital.
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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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