Bhutan’s unique naming culture and values of sovereignty make it a strong candidate for adopting blockchain-based identity systems. Opinion by: Ezra Reguerra, journalist at Cointelegraph The Kingdom of Bhutan’s openness to dive into Web3 technology creates an opportunity to build a blockchain-based identity infrastructure and modernize the nation’s approach to digital identity. Bhutan is a Himalayan country where modernization is paced and driven by its culture and values. Its Gross National Happiness (GNH) development philosophy pushes the country to take a cautious approach to tourism and technology. Because of this, Bhutan has historically chosen sovereignty over scale. Read more
Aplus and SBI VC Trade launch Japan’s first point-to-crypto program, letting users earn XRP, BTC and ETH from everyday spending. On July 8, 2025, Aplus, a credit card and financial services company under Japan’s Shinsei Bank Group, collaborated with SBI VC Trade, the cryptocurrency exchange division of SBI Holdings, to introduce a pioneering rewards program. For the first time, cryptocurrencies have been incorporated as redeemable assets within the Aplus Points program. If you are an Aplus credit cardholder, you can now convert your reward points into cryptocurrencies, including XRP (XRP), Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). This makes Aplus the first major Japanese loyalty program to enable direct conversion of points to cryptocurrencies. Read more
ETH continues its “up only rally” after breaking $3,000, as an Ethereum trader says the price could top between $7,000 and $10,000 this cycle. Key takeaways: Ether price has climbed to a six-month high, driven by record ETF inflows and rising network activity. The RSI buy signal at 40 in April, historically tied to major ETH price rallies, suggests a potential price target of $7,000-$10,000 in 2025. Read more