Crypto

Ethereum-focused firms BitMine and SharpLink Gaming have each surpassed $1 billion in ETH holdings. BitMine disclosed on July 17 that it now holds 300,657 ETH, valued at approximately $1.04 billion. The firm acquired its holdings at an average price of $3,461.89 per token. Conversely, SharpLink Gaming has also expanded its Ethereum position, purchasing an additional […] The post BitMine and SharpLink amass $1B stash amid Ethereum’s rising appeal as ‘digital oil’ appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The fourth day of the Tornado Cash developer’s criminal trial in New York kicked off with witnesses from the FBI. US Attorneys in New York’s Southern District continued presenting their case against Tornado Cash co-founder and developer Roman Storm, expected to last about a month. According to reporting from Inner City Press inside the courtroom on Thursday, Assistant US Attorney Thane Rehn said the prosecution expected to close its case against Storm by the end of next week, leading to the Tornado Cash co-founder’s lawyers calling their own witnesses. Storm said he expected the trial to last “3-4 weeks due to complex legal arguments and unforeseen witnesses and evidence.” Read more

Ethereum’s role in stablecoins, RWAs, and DeFi is fueling institutional interest, positioning ETH as a reserve asset, store of value, and digital oil. Key takeaways: ETH is increasingly viewed as a reserve asset for the digital dollar economy, with over 54% of stablecoins issued on Ethereum. Fidelity sees Ethereum as a sovereign digital economy, with ETH acting as both a store of value and a medium of exchange. Read more

Bit Origin has arranged up to $500 million in new capital to accumulate Dogecoin (DOGE) for its corporate treasury, becoming the latest public company to shift its digital asset reserves beyond Bitcoin.  The company stated in a current report on Form 6-K that accredited investors committed $400 million in Class A shares and $100 million […] The post Bit Origin lines up $500M to build Dogecoin treasury as corporate altcoin bets expand appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The price of XRP rose to a record high, soaring past a seven-year-old milestone amid broader momentum for altcoins in the crypto market.

Staking for crypto exchange-traded funds has been a feature long sought by traditional financial institutions and asset managers. The Nasdaq stock exchange filed an application with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday on behalf of BlackRock to add staking to the asset manager’s iShares Ether (ETH) exchange-traded fund (ETF). If the application is approved, the fund would give investors exposure to staking rewards accrued from using the underlying Ether as collateral security for Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus algorithm. In May, the SEC released guidance classifying staking rewards earned from validation services on proof-of-stake blockchain networks as earned income rather than securities transactions subject to capital gains tax. Read more

OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Agent can do complex tasks on behalf of users, but it comes with potentially greater risks.

Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company has agreed to merge with Cantor Equity Partners I (CEPO) in a SPAC transaction that will take the Bitcoin-focused treasury vehicle public on Nasdaq under the ticker BSTR once the deal is closed.  The parties signed the Business Combination Agreement dated July 16 and released the announcement today.  BSTR plans to […] The post Bitcoin Standard to go public on Nasdaq with 30,021 Bitcoin treasury following Cantor merger appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Violent attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders are on track to hit record highs in 2025, with Asia-Pacific among the hardest-hit regions. These "wrench attacks" involve criminals using physical violence to coerce victims into surrendering their digital assets. The post Asia-Pacific Faces Record Bitcoin Thefts and Deadly “Wrench Attacks”—Chainalysis appeared first on Cryptonews.

BlackRock aims to include staking in its spot Ethereum ETF, according to a rules change request filed to the SEC.

Maxine Waters has opposed the CLARITY Act in a new press release, calling it the 'CALAMITY Act' and warning it would cause investor harm as part of her Anti-Crypto Corruption Week initiative. Waters has also questioned Trump's crypto ties and conflicts of interest The post Rep. Maxine Waters Doubles Down On Crypto Legislation Crypto Criticism appeared first on Cryptonews.

Australia’s Block Earner has launched a Bitcoin-backed mortgage as a new path into the property market, following a regulatory win that cleared the way for crypto-backed lending. As home prices in Australia continue to outpace incomes, a company is rolling out a Bitcoin-backed mortgage, offering crypto holders a new way to access the property market without selling their assets. On Wednesday, Block Earner launched the country’s first Bitcoin-backed home loan after fighting with regulators in court for over two years. The product was made possible by an April Federal Court ruling that found that Block Earner’s crypto lending products did not qualify as “financial products” under the Corporations Act. The decision cleared the company from needing a financial services license in order to offer Bitcoin as collateral in home loans. Read more

The House passed the GENIUS Act in a 307‑122 vote and sent the bill to President Donald Trump, who plans to sign it at a White House ceremony tomorrow, according to Galaxy head of research Alex Thorn.  The 307‑122 tally showed that more than 100 Democrats joined most Republicans to advance the measure, which differed […] The post Congress moves forward on digital asset regulations with GENIUS, CLARITY Acts appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin mining firm Bit Origin is tapping Dogecoin for its crypto treasury, with its stock soaring after the move was revealed.

The start of a new altcoin season could play a key role in sending SUI toward $5. Key point: Growing interest in altcoins could push SUI above the stiff overhead resistance at $4.30, setting up a rally to $5. Bitcoin (BTC) has been consolidating after hitting the all-time high of $123,218. Although BTC has not given up much ground, its falling dominance of the total crypto market capitalization shows that money is flowing into altcoins. Read more

Former Deputy Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao has proposed integrating yuan-backed stablecoins into China's national financial system, citing shifts in U.S. policy. He described dollar-backed stablecoins as continuation of U.S. monetary dominance via digital channels. The post China Eyes RMB-Backed Stablecoins to Crack $250T Cross-Border Payment Market appeared first on Cryptonews.

Singapore High Court has set aside rejection of WazirX restructuring plan, ordering new creditor vote on amended scheme. Decision could clear path for exchange to reopen and distribute funds to users affected by $234 million hack in July 2024. The post WazirX Funds Recovery Back on Track as Singapore High Court Orders New Creditor Vote appeared first on Cryptonews.

The stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act passed the House with strong bipartisan support. A market structure bill also passed, and will now head to the Senate.

Coinbase launches its “everything app” called Base, merging crypto tools, a Farcaster feed, USDC payments, mini-apps, and tokenized posts.

The company's stock price has been in a negative trend in 2025, indicating that a Bitcoin strategy is not a “panacea,” according to an analyst. Semler Scientific bought another $25 million in Bitcoin to push its holdings to nearly 5,000 BTC, but investors aren't buying into the buzz. Even with its treasury strategy and big gains on its crypto investments, the medical technology company’s shares are down 22% year-to-date. Semler bought 210 Bitcoin (BTC) in the first week of July at an average price of $118,974 per coin, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company now holds 4,846 Bitcoin, acquired for almost $455 million and now worth $577.9 million. The shift from medical technology business to the Bitcoin treasury company is backed by a $175 million capital raise through an at-the-market (ATM) offering in April. The company plans to hold 105,000 BTC by 2027. If Semler achieves its goal, it would hold 0.05% of all BTC that would ever be produced. Read more