Summary
gm, Bitcoin suffered a flash crash that erased over $900 million in liquidations. Major institutional movements are reshaping the market landscape, including Strategy's purchase of $357 million in Bitcoin and reports of multiple firms, including Galaxy Digital, Multicoin Capital, and Jump Crypto, collaborating on a $1 billion treasury fund focused on Solana. Meanwhile, a strategic partnership between SBI Group and Chainlink aims to develop blockchain-based tools for financial institutions across Asia, potentially accelerating the adoption of tokenized real-world assets, which have already surged to an all-time high of $26.5 billion, representing a 70% increase since the beginning of the year.

News Headlines
📊 RWAs Surge to $26.5B All-Time High, Vast Growth Potential Ahead

  • Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) have reached an all-time high of $26.5 billion, growing 70% since the beginning of the year. Researchers from Animoca Brands highlight the massive $400 trillion traditional finance market as the addressable opportunity.
  • Ethereum dominates RWA tokenization with a 55% market share (76% when including its layer-2 networks), though analysts predict future growth will involve a multichain ecosystem requiring greater interoperability among blockchain platforms.

🔄 LayerZero Wins Stargate Acquisition in 4-Way Bidding War for $110M

  • LayerZero has successfully acquired the cross-blockchain platform Stargate for $110 million after a competitive bidding process involving three other bidders. The Stargate community voted overwhelmingly in favor with 95% supporting the acquisition.
  • After addressing concerns over the original deal's fairness, LayerZero amended its proposal to offer Stargate token holders half of the platform's revenue for six months, significantly enhancing its appeal and securing the acquisition despite interest from competitors like Wormhole and Axelar.

🌐 Metaplanet Joins FTSE Japan Index, Continues Bitcoin Accumulation

  • Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed hotel group turned Bitcoin treasury firm, has been included in the prestigious FTSE Japan Index and All-World indices, elevating its status from small-cap to mid-cap. Following the announcement, they purchased an additional 103 Bitcoin.
  • The company now holds 18,991 BTC and aims to accumulate 210,000 BTC (1% of Bitcoin's total supply) by 2026, with Eric Trump serving as a strategic adviser since March and expected to attend their upcoming shareholder meeting.

📱 Solana Seeker Phone Offers More Affordable Crypto Alternative

  • The Solana Seeker smartphone provides a $500 alternative to the earlier Saga model, offering improved display quality while using a less powerful processor. The phone includes crypto-specific features like the Seed Vault for secure private key storage.
  • While the Seeker's dapp ecosystem remains limited and its camera performance is lacking, especially in low light, the device represents a safer investment than its predecessor with the promise of future ecosystem enhancements.

💰 Japan's Finance Minister Endorses Crypto as Portfolio Diversifier

  • Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato has publicly endorsed cryptocurrencies as important components of diversified investment portfolios. During the WebX 2025 conference in Tokyo, he emphasized the need for a proper trading environment to manage crypto volatility.
  • Japan's Financial Services Agency has proposed changing crypto tax classification to a flat rate of 20.315%, similar to stocks, down from rates that could reach 56%, reflecting the country's increasingly supportive stance toward crypto adoption.

Market Metrics

Fundraising & VC
1. Trepa (Pre-seed, $420K) - Web3 precision-based prediction platform
2. StableStock (Seed, Undisclosed) - TraDeFi platform built around the on-chain stock ecosystem

Regulatory
🏛️ AUSTRAC Orders Binance Australia Audit Over AML Concerns

  • AUSTRAC has ordered Binance Australia to appoint an external auditor within 28 days due to severe deficiencies in its anti-money laundering controls, including inadequate oversight and high staff turnover.
  • This action is part of AUSTRAC's broader crackdown on crypto platforms, with exchanges like Kraken and Bitget also facing recent regulatory scrutiny.

📊 Global Exchanges Call for Crackdown on Tokenized Stocks

  • A coalition of global stock exchanges is urging regulators to take action against tokenized stocks, arguing these blockchain-based assets jeopardize investor protection and market stability.
  • The World Federation of Exchanges highlighted that tokenized equities mimic shares without granting legal ownership or shareholder rights, potentially misleading investors and concerning companies whose shares are replicated without consent.

💰 Trump Family Went Pro-Crypto After Being "Debanked"

  • Eric Trump revealed his family's shift toward cryptocurrency came after multiple accounts at major financial institutions were closed following the January 2021 Capitol riots.
  • The Trump Organization now relies on regional banks and is exploring tokenizing real estate assets, with family ventures like World Liberty Financial and American Bitcoin expanding their crypto involvement.

⚠️ CBDCs Close Orwell's "1984 Loop Perfectly," Warns Think Tank

  • Bitcoin Policy UK CEO Susie Violet Ward described CBDCs as the "weaponization of money" where spending habits could be manipulated, including potential expiration dates for personal savings.
  • A transatlantic divide is emerging as Europe advances toward its digital euro launch in October 2025, while the U.S. government seeks to ban CBDC creation following concerns about privacy and financial stability.

🧠 SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Advocates for Financial Accessibility in Crypto

  • SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce emphasized the importance of bringing back Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) as a vital element for the crypto industry's growth and financial accessibility.
  • Peirce noted that the current bull market under SEC Chair Gary Gensler presents unique challenges given his cautious approach to issues like ETFs and staking services.

Technical Analysis
Bitcoin - Bitcoin is in a falling trend channel in the short term. This signals increasing pessimism among investors and indicates further decline for Bitcoin. The currency has marginally broken down through support at points 110000. An established break predicts a further decline. Volume tops and volume bottoms correspond badly with tops and bottoms in the price. This confirms the trend. The currency is overall assessed as technically negative for the short term.

Ethereum - Ethereum has broken the floor of the rising trend channel in the short term, which indicates a weaker initial rising rate. The currency has support at points 3880 and resistance at points 4800. The currency is assessed as technically neutral for the short term.