cryptocurrency

Openbank adds cryptocurrency trading for German customers

Openbank, Grupo Santander’s fully digital bank, now allows customers in Germany to buy, sell, and hold major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, Polygon, and Cardano.

The service integrates seamlessly with existing investments, removing the need to transfer funds to other platforms. It also provides the protection of MiCA regulations and the backing of Santander.

Competitive fees of 1.49% per trade apply, with no custody charges, and the service will soon be available to customers in Spain. Over the coming months, Openbank plans to expand its portfolio and introduce new features, such as direct conversion between different digital assets.

The launch strengthens Openbank’s investment offerings in Germany, complementing its Robo Advisor and thousands of stocks, funds, and ETFs. It also includes an AI-powered broker platform providing target prices for European and US stocks.

Grupo Santander emphasises that the new crypto trading service responds to customer demand while broadening the bank’s range of innovative, technology-driven investment products.

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Bitcoin rallies above 116k on rate cut hopes

Bitcoin climbed nearly 4.42% over the past week, trading at $116,031 on Monday as investor optimism grows ahead of an expected US rate cut. Analysts say the rally is driven by technical factors and expectations of a 25bps Fed rate cut.

Edul Patel, CEO of Mudrex, highlighted that Bitcoin is holding above $115,400, with $117,100 acting as key resistance and $113,500 providing strong support.

Other cryptocurrencies are showing mixed trends, with Solana breaking out at $242 and potentially reaching $261 if buying momentum continues, while Ethereum consolidates around $4,600–$4,700.

The broader crypto market capitalisation stood at roughly $4.06 trillion, with institutional flows via ETH ETFs and shrinking exchange reserves tightening sell-side pressure. Analysts warn that high long-term Treasury yields may limit gains despite rising speculative demand ahead of the Fed decision.

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CoreWeave scales rapidly to meet AI growth

Nvidia-backed CoreWeave says peak AI investment is still far off, as demand for compute capacity from OpenAI, hyperscalers, enterprises, and governments continues to surge. CEO Michael Intrator said CoreWeave is rapidly scaling to meet soaring global GPU demand.

CoreWeave shares have fallen around 20% despite strong market interest over the past month. The decline follows a higher-than-expected Q2 net loss, $1 billion in capital expenditure, and a projected $500 million this quarter, raising debt concerns.

Since the IPO lockup expiry, insider stock sales have added to the downward pressure.

Intrator defended the company’s strategy, describing debt as the most efficient way to fund growth. Analysts warn CoreWeave shares could stay volatile, though strong AI infrastructure demand supports long-term optimism.

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South Korea to grant crypto firms venture company status

South Korea will grant cryptocurrency firms ‘venture company’ status from 16 September, giving them access to tax breaks, financing support, and other incentives. The move follows a partial revision of the Venture Business Act removing restrictions on crypto trading and brokerage.

The regulatory change aims to stimulate growth in the crypto and blockchain sectors. Advantages include research and development grants, credit guarantees, and the ability for existing venture companies to expand into crypto without losing their status.

Minister Han Seong-sook said the measure will help create a transparent and responsible ecosystem for venture capital and innovation.

Crypto firms were first restricted in October 2018, and the ban’s removal reflects industry maturity and better user protections. Officials expect the change to accelerate growth in virtual asset trading, blockchain technologies, smart contracts, and cybersecurity.

South Korea’s crypto industry has already benefited from a friendlier environment under President Lee Jae-myung. The market is projected to reach $1.1 billion in revenue in 2025 and $1.3 billion by 2026, with exchange users surpassing 16 million, over 30% of the population.

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Japan considers stricter crypto rules under securities law

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has proposed moving cryptocurrency regulation under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), which would align oversight with securities law and impose tougher rules on the industry.

The regulator noted crypto issues such as unclear disclosures, scams, unregistered operations, and exchange security weaknesses. Applying the Act could bring stricter disclosure requirements, regulation of brokerages, and enforcement tools such as emergency injunctions.

The report, though non-binding, highlights crypto’s growing role in Japan. Over 12 million exchange accounts have been opened, with deposits exceeding 5 trillion yen ($33.7bn).

Around 70 per cent of users are middle-income earners, and most expect long-term price gains. Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato recently acknowledged that cryptocurrencies could be part of diversified portfolios despite volatility risks.

If adopted, the proposed changes would reshape Japan’s regulatory landscape by treating crypto more like traditional financial instruments, aiming to reduce risks while strengthening investor confidence.

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Analyst warns AI will make stocks obsolete in favour of Bitcoin

Analyst Jordi Visser warns AI could make traditional stocks obsolete by speeding up innovation, making public companies inefficient investments. He said Bitcoin is a longer-lasting investment, based on belief rather than fleeting corporate ideas.

Visser suggested that AI could compress a century of innovation into just five years, reshaping finance and capital markets. He believes investors will prefer belief assets like Bitcoin, noting its long-term resilience mirrors gold’s role as a store of value.

Momentum behind Bitcoin adoption is also gathering elsewhere. Eric Trump told the Bitcoin Asia 2025 conference that the cryptocurrency could reach $1 million as nation states, companies, and wealthy families add it to their reserves.

Public firms are shifting business models to hold Bitcoin directly, diverting capital from traditional equity markets.

Bitcoin’s market capitalisation currently exceeds $2.1 trillion, and some analysts predict it could surpass gold in the decades ahead. Its global, yield-generating design in DeFi could help Bitcoin surpass gold as a store of value.

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Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by late 2025

Analysts suggest Bitcoin’s current bull cycle may reach new highs of $150,000 by December 2025, driven by supply scarcity and sustained institutional holdings. The growth is expected to be slower than previous cycles but could extend into early 2026.

Technical analysis shows that each successive cycle delivers smaller gains. While early cycles saw increases of 61%, 42%, and 35%, the current cycle may peak at 27%.

Experts argue that a deceleration in growth often results in longer-lasting uptrends rather than signalling an end to momentum.

Liquidity data points to further upside potential. Bitcoin held in long-term storage has returned to historically high levels, reducing the amount available for trading. Analysts warn that scarcity may boost prices, but sudden large sell-offs could push Bitcoin down to $90,000–$100,000.

The debate continues over the timing and duration of the cycle. Some experts say the bull run is nearly over, while others believe institutional activity is changing the traditional four-year halving cycle.

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ChatGPT guides investors through crypto research

AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming essential for researching cryptocurrencies before investing. The platform can simplify white papers, explain tokenomics, and summarise use cases to help investors make informed decisions.

Evaluating the team, partnerships, and security risks remains critical. ChatGPT can guide users in identifying potential scams such as rug pulls, pump-and-dump schemes, or phishing attacks.

It also helps assess regulatory compliance and whether projects have working products. Comparing coins with competitors further highlights strengths and weaknesses within categories like DeFi, NFTs, or Layer 1 blockchains.

Although ChatGPT cannot give real-time data or investment advice, it helps by suggesting research questions, summarising content, and organising insights efficiently. Investors should use it to complement traditional due diligence, not replace critical thinking or careful analysis.

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UAE emerges as major Bitcoin holder through mining operations

The UAE has emerged as a major player in the global crypto landscape, with recent data revealing Bitcoin holdings worth $700 million linked to Citadel’s mining operations. Citadel, owned mainly by the UAE Royal Group via IHC, has boosted the country’s influence in digital assets.

These holdings reflect the UAE’s strategic efforts to establish a robust crypto ecosystem, particularly in Dubai.

Enforcement actions against fraudulent investment schemes and high-profile Ponzi operations have helped the UAE accumulate approximately 420,000 BTC. Governments worldwide own roughly 463,000 BTC, equivalent to around 2.3% of Bitcoin’s total supply.

While some nations maintain secrecy over their holdings, others openly report their Bitcoin accumulation.

Several countries have obtained BTC through mining initiatives. El Salvador continues to expand its reserve with daily purchases under the ‘1 Bitcoin per day’ programme. At the same time, Bhutan has used hydroelectric resources to mine between 12,000 and 13,000 BTC, representing up to 40% of its economy.

Iran has recognised Bitcoin mining as a government-controlled enterprise, requiring licensed miners to sell directly to the Central Bank.

Other nations have acquired BTC primarily through seizures. The US leads with nearly 200,000 BTC from high-profile cases like Silk Road and ransomware takedowns.

China, the UK, and Bulgaria also hold significant amounts from fraud and cybercrime investigations, while smaller nations such as Finland, Georgia, and Venezuela maintain modest reserves.

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Brazil examines legislation for national Bitcoin reserve

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Economic Development Commission will hold its first hearing on 20 August to examine a proposal to establish a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. The legislation aims to diversify Treasury assets and protect reserves from currency and geopolitical risks.

Deputy Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança requested the hearing to gather expert input from government agencies and financial institutions. Lawmaker Eros Biondini highlighted global examples such as El Salvador, the US, China, Dubai, and the EU to support the initiative.

The bill assigns custody responsibilities to Brazil’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry and requires biannual reports on RESBit performance and risk assessments.

Brazil leads Latin America in crypto adoption, ranking 10th globally, with nearly $76 billion in crypto traded last year. The proposal positions the country among nations exploring digital asset reserves as hedges against traditional currency.

Following the hearing, the proposal will undergo review by four Chamber committees before full consideration and Senate approval. Expert and monetary authority input will guide committee reviews and amendments, supporting a strong legislative framework for Brazil’s proposed Bitcoin reserve.

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