Summary
gm, The CFTC initiated a "crypto sprint" to implement recommendations from the Trump administration, collaborating with the SEC on "Project Crypto" to enhance regulatory clarity. Bitcoin experienced a 5% weekend dip to $112,300 before recovering, with notable institutional activity as Japanese firm Metaplanet acquired 463 BTC for $53.7 million, positioning itself as the seventh-largest corporate Bitcoin holder. Meanwhile, the SEC's decision to raise position limits for Bitcoin ETFs from 25,000 to 250,000 particularly benefits BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, which holds $85.5 billion in assets, potentially enhancing market structure through in-kind creation and redemption capabilities. In the altcoin space, Cardano's community approved a $71 million treasury spend for network upgrades, while Ethereum "mega whales" actively accumulated during the weekend dip, with one address purchasing $300 million worth of ETH.

News Headlines
🤖 David Sacks Says AI Job Loss Fears Overhyped

  • David Sacks, the White House AI and crypto czar, has countered anxiety about AI-induced job losses, stating that the narrative is exaggerated. Despite a Microsoft study listing jobs at risk of AI replacement, including crypto sector roles, Sacks emphasized that AI still requires human oversight to drive business value.
  • The Microsoft Research study analyzed 200,000 Bing Copilot chats, identifying news analysts and customer service representatives as most vulnerable. However, Sacks aligns with former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan's view that AI functions as a productivity tool rather than a job replacement mechanism.

🏛️ Former UK Chancellor Osborne Warns UK Is 'Left Behind' on Crypto

  • Former UK Chancellor George Osborne has criticized Britain's cautious approach to cryptocurrency regulation, warning that it jeopardizes the country's position in financial innovation. In a Financial Times op-ed, he argued that the UK is lagging behind jurisdictions like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi.
  • The criticism coincides with industry concerns about restrictive regulations like FCA cooling-off periods and advertising bans, despite 12% of UK adults holding crypto. Trade groups are calling for clearer stablecoin recognition in UK law and better access to financial services for digital asset companies.

🐳 Metaplanet Kicks Off August with First Big Bitcoin Buy

  • Japanese investment firm Metaplanet acquired 463 Bitcoin worth $53.7 million, becoming the first public company to capitalize on Bitcoin's recent price dip. This purchase increases their total Bitcoin holdings to 17,595 BTC, valued at over $2 billion.
  • Metaplanet remains the seventh largest corporate Bitcoin holder and aims to accumulate 1% of Bitcoin's total supply by the end of 2027. The company also plans to issue approximately $3.73 billion in preferred stock to fund additional Bitcoin purchases, mirroring Michael Saylor's strategy.

⚡ Blockchain Technology Can Help Decentralize the US Energy Grid

  • Blockchain technology is poised to transform the US energy grid by creating decentralized infrastructure, according to Cosmo Jiang from Pantera Capital. He explains that blockchain enables new ways to incentivize unused resources and labor, resulting in a more resilient energy system.
  • Protocols are encouraging individuals to install solar panels and home batteries using token incentives, contributing to a decentralized grid architecture. This initiative aligns with the Trump administration's AI strategy, which prioritizes upgrading energy systems to support future demands for AI and high-performance computing.

🔒 Quantum Threat to Bitcoin: 80,000 BTC Just Moved After 14 Years

  • On July 4, 2025, eight wallets from the Satoshi era moved 80,000 BTC to more secure SegWit addresses, suggesting a security upgrade to address potential quantum computing vulnerabilities present in older Bitcoin address formats. The movement occurred shortly before 28,600 BTC was transferred to Galaxy Digital.
  • Approximately 5.9 million BTC are estimated to be vulnerable due to outdated address formats, highlighting the urgency for network upgrades to address quantum security risks. The wallets had been dormant for 14 years, raising speculation about the identity of the whale.

Market Metrics

Fundraising & VC
1. OpenMind (Undisclosed, $20M) - Open-source, decentralized operating system for intelligent machines
2. Kuvi AI (Seed, $700K) - AI-powered crypto interface that turns text or voice commands into secure, cross-chain transactions

Regulatory
💵 Yield-Bearing Stablecoins Surge Despite GENIUS Act Restrictions

  • The supply of yield-bearing stablecoins has dramatically increased following the GENIUS Act, with Ethena's USDe and Sky's USDS reaching 9.49 billion and 4.81 billion in circulation respectively.
  • These stablecoins now rank third and fourth in market capitalization, with USDe offering an 8.16% annual yield and USDS providing 2.05%.

🏦 Coinbase and PayPal Continue Offering Stablecoin Rewards Despite Ban

  • Coinbase and PayPal continue to offer 3-5% yields on stablecoin deposits despite the GENIUS Act's prohibition on stablecoin issuers providing such yields.
  • Both companies assert they don't issue stablecoins themselves but offer rewards programs, which they claim are legally distinct from interest payments.

🔐 ECB Reaffirms Cash Commitment Alongside Digital Euro Development

  • The European Central Bank has reiterated that cash will remain an integral part of the financial landscape despite the development of a digital euro.
  • ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone emphasized that the digital euro is intended to complement, not replace, physical currency, maintaining payment autonomy in Europe.

💼 France's Rassemblement National Party Backs Bitcoin Mining with Nuclear Energy

  • France's Rassemblement National (RN) party is proposing to use surplus energy from nuclear power plants for Bitcoin mining, marking a significant shift from its previous anti-crypto stance. RN leader Marine Le Pen has endorsed this initiative, emphasizing the importance of converting wasted energy into profitable digital assets.
  • The bill, introduced by RN lawmaker Aurélien Lopez-Liguori, aims to establish mining infrastructure at facilities operated by Électricité de France (EDF) as part of a broader effort to embrace Bitcoin for economic sovereignty, despite some internal party dissent.

🚫 Trump Preparing Executive Order to Protect Crypto Firms from Banking Discrimination

  • President Trump is set to sign an executive order directing banking regulators to investigate violations of equal credit laws where financial institutions terminate crypto company accounts.
  • The order addresses what critics call "Operation Chokepoint 2.0," describing alleged systematic denial of banking services to crypto firms during the Biden administration.

Technical Analysis
Bitcoin - Bitcoin has broken the floor of the rising trend channel in the short term, which indicates a weaker initial rising rate. The price has reacted back after a false break of the rectangle formation. A significant penetration of 114242 will again give new negative signals to the currency, while a break of the opposite side of the formation will be a strong positive signal. The currency has support at points 110000 and resistance at points 120800. Volume tops and volume bottoms correspond badly with tops and bottoms in the price. Volume balance is also negative, which weakens the currency. The currency is overall assessed as technically negative for the short term.

Ethereum - Ethereum has broken through the floor of a rising trend channel in the short term. This indicates a slower rising rate at first, or the start of a more horizontal development. The currency is approaching resistance at 3870 points, which may give a negative reaction. However, a break upwards through 3870 points will be a positive signal. The currency is assessed as technically neutral for the short term.