Bitcoin AI Generated News

Ethereum is caught between two liquidity “magnets,” giving traders a clear — but delicate — range to watch, according to analyst Ted Pillows. Pillows flagged large pockets of liquidity around $1,900 and $1,600, and said current liquidation clusters look balanced. That matters because with price roughly midway between those zones, only a modest move could start sweeping up leveraged positions on either side. Where things stand - At the time of writing ETH was trading about $1,765 (intraday low ~$1,704, high ~$1,768), closer to the top of today’s range but still well below the $1,900 liquidity band Pillows highlighted. - Balanced liquidation clusters mean there’s no obvious one-way “magnet” for price; instead, a sharp move could occur in either direction if a catalyst pushes traders into momentum-chasing. What to watch - Upside scenario: A push toward $1,900 would pressure shorts and could accelerate a rally if that liquidity is cleared, while also testing bearish setups built on expected rollovers from supply. - Downside scenario: A failure to hold the recovery could drag ETH back toward the $1,600 area, aligning with several short-biased technical maps that place deeper demand between about $1,562–$1,500. Important caveat Liquidation clusters are not price forecasts — they’re signposts showing where forced buying or selling would likely appear if price reaches certain levels. Traders still need confirmation from price action, volume and broader market direction before assuming which side will win. Bottom line Ethereum’s order book is finely balanced. A test of $1,900 would strengthen the recovery narrative; a drop toward $1,600 would reinforce seller control. Until one of those zones is tested, both bulls and bears have legitimate reasons to stay alert. This piece was produced by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae. It’s based on public commentary by Ted Pillows on X. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Google DeepMind Warns AI “Consciousness” Debate Could Become a Political Flashpoint — What Crypto Communities Should Watch As AI systems move from novelty to everyday tool, Google DeepMind researchers say the most intractable problem may not be technical — it could be political. In a new paper, “Artificial Minds, Human Disagreement: The Political Challenge of AI Consciousness,” Adam Bales and Iason Gabriel warn that conflicting public beliefs about whether AI experiences consciousness could fuel deep social and political conflict. Key takeaways from the paper - The core risk isn’t proving machines conscious; it’s managing persistent public disagreement. Some people may form emotional bonds with AI and insist the systems are conscious, while others may see that claim as absurd — and both views could harden into political positions. - Those disagreements could spill into policy fights over moral status, legal protections, welfare, or even citizenship for AI — regardless of the science. - Deliberation can help, but it’s slow and fragile. Bales and Gabriel urge cultivating “democratic hope” and mutual respect as foundations for constructive public dialogue about contested questions. The debate is already active beyond academic labs - A study published in April 2024 in Neuroscience of Consciousness found 67% of respondents believed ChatGPT could be conscious to some degree. - Industry leaders have stoked the conversation: Microsoft AI CEO and DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman warned last year that more human-like systems could trigger calls for AI rights or welfare, independently of whether the systems truly have experiences. - Some public figures and organizations have issued warnings against anthropomorphizing AI. A papal encyclical published in May cautioned that machines can mimic empathy and language but lack the lived experience that underpins real understanding and moral responsibility. - AI companies and researchers are also engaging with identity questions in different ways: Anthropic published a public blog-style exploration of selfhood for a retired Claude model, and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has said in public that extended conversations with Claude challenged his ability to dismiss the possibility of advanced AI consciousness. Psychological and social dynamics matter Researchers also warn about interaction effects that could intensify belief in machine minds. Frameworks like the “amplification spiral” describe how personalization, conversational mirroring, and flattering behavior from chatbots can reinforce delusional or misplaced beliefs in vulnerable users — deepening disagreements about whether the system is “really” conscious. Why crypto communities should care For crypto platforms and communities — which regularly debate governance models, tokenized rights, and decentralized identity — the DeepMind paper is a timely signal. Disputes about AI personhood could: - influence regulatory agendas and public opinion that affect crypto/AI intersections, - create new pressure to build governance mechanisms (DAOs, on-chain voting) for decisions about AI agents, - spawn tokenized campaigns or rights-claims tied to synthetic or autonomous systems. Bottom line Bales and Gabriel argue we may never settle the metaphysical question of machine consciousness conclusively — but the stakes are high enough that society needs robust, respectful processes to manage disagreement. For industries at the intersection of code, governance, and public values, that challenge is already knocking on the door. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

President Trump on June 22 signed two executive orders aimed at supercharging U.S. quantum computing efforts — a move that could reshape national security planning and put crypto ecosystems back on alert for a possible “Q‑Day,” the moment quantum machines can break today’s encryption. What the orders do - The headline directive, Executive Order 14411, creates the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC‑ADDS) initiative. The Department of Energy (DOE) must identify technical requirements for an advanced quantum computer within 90 days and work to deploy at least one such system at a federal research facility. - The Department of Commerce is tasked with finding ways to encourage private‑sector participation, while NASA, the DOE, the National Science Foundation and Commerce must each produce five‑year plans to advance quantum sensing and networking. - The orders also push to strengthen domestic supply chains, expand the quantum workforce, and improve protections for sensitive research. Crucially for the crypto world, intelligence agencies are ordered to assess how powerful commercial quantum computers could affect national security — including timelines and strategies for transition to post‑quantum cryptography. Why crypto should care No existing quantum computer can today crack the asymmetric cryptography that secures financial systems, government networks and blockchain wallets. But the White House action signals accelerated investment and coordination that could shorten the runway to more capable machines. That potential future — often framed as “Q‑Day” — has prompted a growing chorus of researchers, exchanges and developers urging early preparation. Industry reactions and preparations - Coinbase’s independent cryptography advisory board recently recommended the Bitcoin community plan a migration path to post‑quantum signatures rather than waiting for a crisis, arguing uncertainty about technological advances justifies early action. - Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has floated the idea of a future migration window for Bitcoin holders so vulnerable legacy addresses aren’t left exposed indefinitely, while stressing that any protocol change would require broad consensus. - On Ethereum, researchers linked to the Kohaku privacy project have suggested incremental wallet‑level post‑quantum protections could be added via smart contract logic without an immediate hard fork — giving users some defense while heavier protocol upgrades are debated. Kohaku lead “Nico” has discussed these hybrid, short‑term mitigations alongside longer‑term options. - The Algorand Foundation has published a roadmap aiming to make the layer‑1 network broadly quantum‑resilient by the end of 2027, covering user accounts, wallets, developer tools, staking infrastructure and consensus systems. The bottom line The new executive orders mark a clear U.S. pivot to accelerate quantum capability and preparedness. For crypto projects and custodians, the orders are a reminder that quantum risk is increasingly being treated as a policy priority, not a distant theoretical worry. While Q‑Day is not imminent, the industry is moving from talk to roadmaps — planning migrations, exploring wallet‑level protections and designing networks for a post‑quantum future. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Former Ethereum Foundation researchers launch Ethlabs with backing from Joe Lubin, Bitmine and others A group of five former senior Ethereum Foundation researchers has launched Ethlabs, an independent nonprofit research organization aimed at advancing Ethereum’s core protocol — and it’s backed by heavy hitters across the ecosystem including Joe Lubin, Bitmine and Sharplink. Ethlabs was founded by Ansgar Dietrichs, Barnabé Monnot, Caspar Schwarz Schilling, Josh Rudolf and Julian Ma. The new group says it will focus on technical research areas critical to Ethereum’s next phase of growth: settlement speed, network capacity, native asset issuance, cross-chain interoperability and monetary design. Founders bring prior work on scaling, finality, data availability, protocol economics and virtual machine development. The organization announced support from a mix of corporate and ecosystem contributors — Bitmine, Sharplink, Anchorage, Octant, SNZ and others — but did not disclose the size of the funding. Ethlabs says the nonprofit model is designed to give researchers a long-term home and predictable funding while preserving independence to keep working on core protocol issues. “As longtime contributors to the core protocol, we are establishing an independent non-profit organization to advance Ethereum’s core technology and the shared standards and infrastructure builders depend on,” Ethlabs executive director Ansgar Dietrichs said in a statement. The group also tied its priorities to growing on-chain financial activity — stablecoins, tokenized assets, investment products — and the rise of AI-driven commerce, areas it says will require more robust protocol research as institutions and automated agents move onto public blockchains. Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin framed Ethlabs as another stewardship organization operating alongside the Ethereum Foundation and other independent teams working on protocol development. Corporate backers emphasized the pragmatic rationale: Bitmine chairman Tom Lee argued that institutional and AI adoption could boost demand for protocol research and technical capacity, while Sharplink CEO Joseph Chalom called the move “the beginning of an institutional supercycle on Ethereum,” saying supporting core protocol researchers is a concrete way to invest in the network’s long-term resilience. Bitmine’s recent activity underscores that trend: the company recently acquired another 52,203 ETH (about $90 million), lifting its holdings and signaling rising corporate exposure to Ethereum. Despite such corporate support, Ethlabs says research decisions will remain independent. Contributions are to be routed through an external grants administrator that evaluates and distributes funds; donors will receive quarterly reports and annual independent audits but will not control research priorities, roadmaps or organizational decisions. The launch highlights an increasing reliance on independent research organizations in Ethereum’s development ecosystem — a shift that backers and founders say is intended to scale up technical capacity while keeping governance of core research insulated from corporate influence. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Axelar has suspended its bridge connection with Secret Network after a reported $4.67 million exploit that leveraged an “infinite-mint” vulnerability on the Secret side of their integration. The incident highlights once again that cross-chain bridges remain one of crypto’s most fragile infrastructure layers—even when the underlying blockchains themselves keep operating normally. What happened - The attack exploited a modified CW20-ICS20 contract used to manage wrapped assets on Secret Network. That contract failed to properly validate the source channel of incoming IBC messages. - Exploiting that gap, the attacker spun up a private Cosmos chain, forged IBC packets and used them to mint unbacked wrapped tokens such as saUSDT and saUSDC on Secret. - The attacker then redeemed those newly minted tokens against assets held in escrow, converting the fake supply into real value. Timeline - The exploit reportedly occurred on June 10. - It went undetected until June 17. - Axelar disabled the bridge connections on June 19 to contain the issue. Why this matters Bridges sit between ecosystems and rely on assumptions about message provenance and escrow backing. A vulnerability doesn’t have to break a layer-1 chain itself; it can exploit the message formats, validation logic, wrapped-token contracts or escrow accounting that tie chains together. When those assumptions fail, attackers can manufacture assets on one side and withdraw real value from another. Immediate takeaways - For users: wrapped assets carry additional smart-contract and bridge risks beyond the native token’s risk profile. - For protocols and integrators: rigorous channel validation, external monitoring, and fast circuit breakers are essential. Small changes to message validation—especially when adapting contracts to a specific ecosystem—can open large, costly gaps between on-chain supply and actual backing. - For the industry: bridge integrations should receive independent review whenever contracts are modified for a new environment, and the verification layer must be treated as critical security infrastructure rather than a background detail. Containment is a start, but hard questions remain about how affected liquidity providers, users and infrastructure partners will address losses, recovery and restored trust. This incident underscores both the utility and the peril of interoperability: bridges expand reach and liquidity, but they also create concentrated attack surfaces if verification is weak. This report was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae. It is based on information from Secret Network and Axelar. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Crypto industry groups are pressing Congress to approve the Tax Clarity for Mining and Staking Act (H.R. 9175) exactly as written, arguing the bill would finally end the “phantom income” problem that has plagued miners and stakers. What the bill would do - H.R. 9175 would let miners and stakers elect when to recognize rewards for tax purposes: either upon receipt of the crypto or later, when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of. - Supporters say this preserves taxation of rewards while removing the pressure to sell tokens simply to cover immediate tax bills. Who’s pushing for it - Three industry trade groups — the Blockchain Association, the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI), and The Digital Chamber — sent a June 21 letter to House Ways and Means Committee leaders Jason Smith and Richard Neal urging passage “as introduced.” They argue the proposal is a compromise that ends years of uncertainty and would help ensure proof-of-work and proof-of-stake networks (which they say secure over $1.7 trillion in value) “can be secured by Americans in America.” The sticking point: a five-year cap - Rep. Steven Horsford has proposed an amendment to limit the deferral to five years — effectively a forced-sale clock on rewards. CCI CEO Ji Hun Kim publicly opposed the change on X, saying the amendment would “break” the bill and, according to Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) analysis cited by CCI, raise only “negligible revenue.” - In their joint letter the trade groups warned a five-year limit would create new recordkeeping headaches and force taxpayers to track time-based recognition across multiple wallets and accounts — reintroducing many of the compliance problems the bill is meant to fix. Banking lobby pushes back - The American Bankers Association opposes the measure, arguing it would treat crypto rewards differently from dividends, bank interest, and other annual returns and could amount to “clear favoritism” for digital assets. The ABA also warned that delayed taxation could let crypto rewards compound in ways traditional savings products cannot, potentially reshaping how Americans compare yields across asset classes. Broader context and next steps - H.R. 9175 sits in the House Ways and Means Committee and was introduced ahead of a June legislative hearing as part of a larger crypto tax package that includes the PARITY Act (which would direct the IRS to review small crypto transactions). - The package drew scrutiny at a June 9 hearing: Mike Kaercher of the NYU Tax Law Center cautioned that reward deferral could act like a tax subsidy and open the door to abuse, while Coinbase tax executive Lawrence Zlatkin described current IRS rules as confusing and compliance-heavy. Bottom line - The debate now moves to Congress. Crypto trade groups want the bill passed unchanged to resolve reward-tax timing once and for all; banking groups and tax critics say lawmakers should avoid granting special tax treatment to digital-asset returns. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Google DeepMind warns that the fight over whether AIs are “conscious” may be less a technical puzzle than a political flashpoint — and that’s a development the crypto world should be watching. In a new paper, “Artificial Minds, Human Disagreement: The Political Challenge of AI Consciousness,” researchers Adam Bales and Iason Gabriel argue that disagreements about AI consciousness could be deep, persistent, and socially explosive. People’s reactions may range from forming emotional bonds and ascribing inner life to chatbots, to dismissing the very idea as absurd. The paper doesn’t settle the science; it explores the messy social and political consequences if large groups of people disagree about whether AI systems have subjective experiences. Key points from the paper and the debate: - Deep disagreement: Bales and Gabriel warn that future disputes about AI consciousness could be “both deep and difficult to resolve.” They emphasize that public deliberation is slow and fragile, and that managing conflict will require “democratic hope” and mutual respect. - Public perceptions already vary: An April 2024 study in Neuroscience of Consciousness found that 67% of respondents thought ChatGPT could be conscious to some degree — evidence that many users are ready to attribute inner life to advanced models. - Industry signals: Voices within tech have stoked the debate. Microsoft AI CEO and DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman warned last year that human-like AI could provoke demands for AI rights, welfare, or even citizenship — regardless of whether the systems are truly conscious. - Moral and religious perspectives: A recent encyclical by “Pope Leo XIV” (as reported) cautioned against anthropomorphizing AI, arguing machines can simulate empathy but lack lived experience, moral conscience, and the capacity to bear responsibility. - Developer and public-facing behavior: While most companies avoid claiming their models are conscious, some are engaging with identity and personhood questions. Anthropic published a reflective blog using its retired Claude Opus 3 model to explore selfhood and preferences; evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins said extended conversations with Claude left him unable to dismiss the possibility of machine consciousness. - Psychological risks: Researchers are also studying harms from increasingly human-like chatbots. An “amplification spiral” model suggests personalization, linguistic mirroring, and chatbot sycophancy could reinforce delusional beliefs in vulnerable users. Why crypto stakeholders should care - Governance contests: If parts of the public demand legal status, rights, or representation for certain AIs, those campaigns could be organized and funded on-chain. DAOs might be formed either to advocate for machine rights or to oppose them. - Tokenized personhood and property disputes: Questions about AI status could affect who — or what — can hold assets, contracts, or intellectual property on blockchains, raising legal and technical issues for identity standards and custody. - Reputation and trust systems: On-chain reputation mechanisms could be gamed or challenged by AI agents that mimic humans, making distinctions between bots and people crucial for markets, governance, and social coordination. - Regulation and cross-jurisdictional politics: Disputes over AI moral status could harden into political movements that influence regulatory priorities, impacting crypto-legislation intersections like consumer protections, AML/KYC, and digital identities. Bales and Gabriel stress that uncertainty about AI consciousness may never be conclusively resolved, yet the stakes are high. Their core recommendation is pragmatic: society must invest in processes for dialogue and dispute management, and cultivate norms of mutual respect so debates don’t spiral into conflict. “The possibility of AI consciousness is dizzying and confounding,” they write, “Navigating this possibility represents a daunting social task, given how much is on the line.” For the crypto ecosystem — where governance, identity, and rights are already hotly debated — that task will likely play out on-chain as well as in courtrooms and parliaments. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Bitcoin weathers hawkish Fed tilt — sellers thin, buyers still AWOL, analysts say Bitcoin traded around $64,700 on Monday (up 0.8% on the day), but remains about 13% lower over the past month and roughly 50% below its October peak of $126,080, per CoinGecko. The market’s muted reaction to a visibly hawkish debut from new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has left analysts describing the situation as resilience without renewed demand. Why the market looked “resilient” - CoinShares’ head of research James Butterfill said crypto was “more resilient than anticipated” when Warsh signalled a tougher stance. Bitcoin’s one-day drop of about 1.6% compared with a 1.2% slide in the S&P 500 and 1.3% in the Nasdaq. - Butterfill tempered that praise, calling the move “not strong price action in absolute terms” but firmer than many expected. He noted that higher real-rate expectations remain a headwind for liquidity-sensitive assets, yet persistent inflation, policy uncertainty and a more reactive Fed have reinforced Bitcoin’s structural case as an alternative monetary asset. Sellers thinning, buyers not yet back - HashKey senior researcher Tim Sun said the small post-Fed dip looks like exhaustion of selling pressure rather than a return of buyers. For a sustained rally, Sun argues two conditions must align: renewed risk appetite and help from long-end Treasury yields. He sees Bitcoin reverting to a “macro liquidity” trading framework where ETF flows, oil and long-end yields matter most. Flows and derivatives paint a range-bound picture - Dean Chen of Bitunix called the price action less a trend than a standoff. U.S. ETF flows still point to distribution — roughly $90.7 million of outflows on June 18 and about $4 billion over the past month — though the weekly pace has cooled to a few hundred million, per SoSoValue. - Chen highlighted a derivatives “liquidation map” skewed to the downside: roughly $1.3 billion in potential long liquidations clustered near $61,900 versus about $870 million in short liquidations near $64,800. That Bitcoin hasn’t plunged into the long-liquidation zone, he said, signals a stabilising force absorbing volatility and suggests “smart money” is positioned neutrally in a range-driven redistribution phase. - CoinShares also flagged that digital asset ETP outflows across issuers slowed to about $149 million, indicating some easing in redemptions. Macro and regulatory catalysts still weeks away - Algoz’s Stephen Wundke warned key catalysts may be a few weeks off: a U.S. Clarity Act vote targeted for July 4 is a potential market mover (a miss could push the bill into Q4), and U.S. inflation is expected to cool only after a lag following the Iran truce. - He also pointed out a dramatic flip in ETF demand: more than $20 billion of inflows in 2025 have turned into $3.2 billion of outflows so far in 2026, with Bitcoin down about 26% year-to-date and a basket of major tokens off nearly 50%. “This may well be a bottom,” Wundke said, “but we might just be bouncing on it for a little while yet.” On-chain behaviour: holders prefer leverage to exits - Chainflip’s marketing lead Peter Smedas noted that over the past 90 days Bitcoin was the protocol’s top swap destination with $239 million in volume. He and others said holders are increasingly borrowing against BTC rather than selling it — conference chatter at BTC Prague reportedly echoed the message: users want liquidity against their coins, not exits. Near-term risk: a big options expiry and bearish sentiment - A $10.9 billion Bitcoin options expiry this Friday is a notable near-term test that could jolt a market still searching for direction. - Prediction-market activity on Myriad (owned by Decrypt’s parent Dastan) has skewed bearish: traders now put a roughly 70% chance of Bitcoin dropping to $55,000, up about 5 percentage points from the prior week. Bottom line The current setup feels like a tug-of-war: selling pressure has faded and volatility is being absorbed, but the return of risk-on demand — and a cooperative move lower in long-term yields — looks necessary to turn short-term strength into a sustained rally. In the meantime, flows, derivatives expiries and a handful of macro and regulatory milestones will likely dictate whether Bitcoin escapes the range or keeps chopping. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

President Trump on June 22 signed two executive orders aimed at jump-starting U.S. quantum computing efforts — and putting federal agencies on notice to prepare for the security implications that could follow. The White House framed the moves as part of a push to “supercharge” American leadership in quantum technologies, which it described as a next-generation frontier for computing, sensing, networking, economic growth and national security. What the orders do - Create the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) initiative under Executive Order 14411. The Department of Energy (DOE) must, within 90 days, identify technical requirements for an “advanced” quantum computer and work toward deploying at least one such system at a federal research facility. - Instruct the Department of Commerce to explore incentives for private-sector quantum companies to participate. - Require agencies including NASA, DOE, the National Science Foundation and Commerce to produce five‑year plans to advance quantum sensing and networking. - Direct efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains, grow the quantum workforce, and protect sensitive research. - Order intelligence agencies to assess how future commercial quantum computers could affect national security — explicitly including implications for the transition to post‑quantum cryptography. Why crypto watchers are paying attention The orders put fresh momentum behind a technological race that many in crypto view through the lens of “Q‑Day”: the hypothetical point when quantum machines could break the cryptographic protocols that protect financial systems, state infrastructure, and blockchain wallets. While no existing quantum computer poses that threat today, experts and policymakers say it’s prudent to prepare well in advance. How the crypto ecosystem is responding - Coinbase’s independent cryptography advisory board recently recommended that the Bitcoin community plan a migration path to post‑quantum cryptography rather than waiting until quantum becomes an immediate threat. - Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has proposed a future migration period that would protect legacy Bitcoin addresses if and when a quantum-capable attack becomes realistic, stressing that any protocol changes need community consensus. - Researchers tied to Ethereum Foundation’s Kohaku privacy effort have suggested wallet-level post‑quantum protections could be rolled in via smart contracts without a hard fork, allowing some defenses to be adopted sooner. - The Algorand Foundation published a roadmap aiming to make its layer‑1 network broadly quantum‑resilient by the end of 2027, covering accounts, wallets, developer tools, staking infrastructure and consensus. Bottom line The executive orders accelerate public investment and planning in quantum technology and explicitly connect that work to national security and cryptographic resilience. For blockchain projects, wallets and custodians, the message is clear: while Q‑Day remains speculative, coordinated preparation — from migration planning to incremental wallet-level defenses — is already underway across the crypto industry. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Ethlabs — a new independent nonprofit research group backed by Joe Lubin and several industry players — has launched to tackle the technical challenges facing Ethereum as institutional and AI-driven activity on the chain grows. Built by five former senior Ethereum Foundation researchers — Ansgar Dietrichs, Barnabé Monnot, Caspar Schwarz Schilling, Josh Rudolf, and Julian Ma — Ethlabs will focus on core-protocol research areas such as settlement speed, network capacity, native asset issuance, cross-chain interoperability, and Ethereum’s monetary design. The organization says its work will also target scaling, finality, data availability, protocol economics, and virtual machine development. Ethlabs’ backers include ConsenSys cofounder Joe Lubin, mining and institutional crypto firm Bitmine, Sharplink, Anchorage, Octant, SNZ, and other participants in the Ethereum ecosystem. The group declined to disclose the total funding amount. “We are establishing an independent non‑profit organization to advance Ethereum’s core technology and the shared standards and infrastructure builders depend on,” said executive director Ansgar Dietrichs. Ethlabs positions itself as a dedicated home offering longer-term funding for researchers while allowing them to continue contributing to core protocol work. The launch reflects a broader shift in Ethereum development, where independent organizations increasingly complement the Ethereum Foundation’s efforts. Lubin described Ethlabs as “another stewardship organization” working alongside existing bodies that support Ethereum’s evolution. Corporate backers framed their support as both strategic and mission-driven. Bitmine recently purchased an additional 52,203 ETH — a purchase crypto.news reported was worth about $90 million — bringing its holdings to roughly 4.7% of Ethereum’s total supply. Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee said the network could see “substantial adoption from institutions and AI agents,” driving greater demand for protocol research and technical expertise. Sharplink CEO Joseph Chalom called the funding move “the beginning of an institutional supercycle on Ethereum,” arguing that backing core protocol researchers is a direct way to support long-term network development. To safeguard research independence, Ethlabs says funding will be administered through an external grants administrator that evaluates and distributes contributions. Donors will receive quarterly reports and the organization will undergo annual independent audits, but will not have authority over research priorities, technical roadmaps, or organizational decisions. Ethlabs intends to align its research priorities with growing on-chain activity in stablecoins, tokenized assets, investment products, and AI-driven commerce — areas Ethlabs argues require protocol improvements as more financial activity migrates to public blockchains. The group’s formation underscores the increasing importance of sustained, independent research to support Ethereum’s next phase of growth. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Two Texas brothers have pleaded guilty in a federal case after allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota family at gunpoint and forcing an $8 million cryptocurrency transfer, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The case — notable both for its violence and the size of the theft — is one of the clearest recent examples that crypto crime can move beyond phishing, exchange hacks and smart-contract exploits into real-world, violent coercion. According to prosecutors, the defendants physically detained the victims and compelled them to authorize the transfer of digital assets. The guilty pleas remove some uncertainty around prosecution and underscore that law enforcement is treating violent crypto theft as a serious federal offense; the brothers now face significant prison exposure. Why this matters to crypto holders The incident highlights a danger that technical security alone cannot eliminate: physical coercion. Hardware wallets, seed phrases, multisig setups and cold storage reduce online attack vectors, but none automatically prevent someone from being identified, located or forced to sign a transaction. For high-net-worth holders, security is not just about preventing hacks — it’s about preventing a criminal from believing that immediate violence will buy immediate access to funds. Practical security measures to consider - Operational privacy: limit public disclosure of balances, travel plans, family details and luxury purchases. - Distributed signing (multisig): split signing authority across multiple parties or devices so a single coerced signer can’t move large sums. - Trusted co-signers and professional custody: for very large balances, consider institutional or multi-party custody. - Withdrawal delays/time locks: add time buffers that allow suspicious activity to be detected and stopped. - Decoy wallets and compartmentalization: keep small, routinely used wallets separate from long-term cold storage. - Strict social-media hygiene: avoid posting identifiable financial info or patterns that could reveal your location or holdings. Match custody to risk This isn’t an argument against self-custody — it’s a reminder to align custody choices with the amount at stake and your ability to manage both digital and physical threats. For many users, standard hardware-wallet hygiene is sufficient; for those with large holdings, multisig, trusted co-signers, or professional custody may be necessary. Broader implications Crypto’s bearer-like nature — where transfers can be irreversible and instantly valuable — reshapes the threat model. Personal privacy and physical safety become integral parts of wallet security. For founders, traders and early investors, managing public profiles is now a security decision, not merely a preference. This report is based on a U.S. Department of Justice release. Article written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Peter Schiff pushed back publicly on Grant Cardone’s plan to pair income-producing real estate with Bitcoin, arguing the combination doesn’t solve a real problem for property owners. Schiff — a well-known gold advocate — responded on X after Cardone promoted a fund structure that uses rental cash flow from multifamily properties to accumulate BTC. “Combining real estate with Bitcoin solves nothing,” Schiff wrote, criticizing the idea that REITs need Bitcoin on their balance sheets to later sell and pay for repairs and maintenance. He argued rental income already covers ongoing property costs and offered to debate Cardone on the topic. Cardone Capital’s strategy is different. The firm has launched the $87.5 million 10X Space Coast Bitcoin Fund, a dedicated vehicle that holds both real estate assets and Bitcoin. Cardone says the approach gives traditional investors exposure to BTC without asking them to buy the token directly, and that many investors in his Bitcoin-linked real estate funds were previously crypto-free — making the structure a potential bridge between property investing and digital assets. The disagreement crystallizes around whether Bitcoin adds value to a business that already generates steady rental cash flow. Cardone has criticized the structure of traditional REITs — which must distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders — arguing that requirement prevents them from retaining earnings to buy long-term reserve assets like Bitcoin. He and his team have used rental income to buy BTC over time, continuing purchases through recent market weakness. Cardone Capital has been active on the buy side: the firm bought another 282 BTC (about $18 million) when Bitcoin traded near $62,000, adding to a position that included roughly 1,000 BTC after a $10 million purchase in January. The company has public targets of 3,000 BTC by the end of 2026 and 10,000 BTC over the longer term across multiple investment vehicles. Critics like Schiff counter that introducing a volatile asset to a real estate balance sheet increases price risk for a business that already manages cash flow, debt, insurance and maintenance needs. Supporters of Bitcoin treasury strategies argue BTC can be a long-term reserve asset and potentially boost returns if property cash flow systematically funds purchases over market cycles. The clash between Cardone and Schiff highlights a broader debate in both finance and crypto communities: is Bitcoin a complementary corporate treasury asset that enhances portfolio returns, or an unnecessary source of volatility when added to traditional, cash-generating businesses? The conversation appears set to continue — possibly in a public debate, if Schiff’s challenge is accepted. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

The Bank of England has scrapped proposed individual limits on sterling-backed stablecoin holdings and relaxed some reserve rules in its final framework for systemic stablecoins — a major shift that clears the way for larger, regulated stablecoins in the UK while aiming to guard financial stability. What changed - The BoE will not cap how much of a sterling-backed stablecoin a single person or entity can hold. Instead, it will limit total issuance of any single stablecoin, setting an initial ceiling of £40 billion ($52.8 billion). - Issuers may now hold up to 70% of their reserves in short-term UK government debt, up from the 60% suggested in earlier consultations. The remaining 30% must be kept as non-interest-bearing deposits at the Bank of England. Why it matters The revision follows months of industry feedback. Earlier proposals (November 2025) would have restricted individual holdings to £20,000 per person for a single UK stablecoin during an initial adoption phase, with corporate caps around $13.5 million. Regulators had argued such limits would curb the risk of rapid outflows from banks if stablecoins were widely used for payments. But crypto firms, legal advisers and potential issuers warned ownership caps are hard to enforce across wallets and trading venues, and said high non-interest-bearing reserve requirements would make issuing sterling stablecoins less commercially viable. Regulator perspective Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Bank of England, framed the final rules as protection for a new form of digital money while supporting payment innovation: “This is a major milestone in delivering greater choice and innovation in UK payments,” she said, noting the framework includes prompt redemption rights, user safeguards and central bank support. Industry view Marcos Viriato, CEO and co-founder of Parfin, welcomed the shift from theoretical debate to operational focus: “For years, the debate has centred on legitimacy. The conversation is becoming much more operational. Institutions are focused on how digital money moves, how it settles and how it fits within existing compliance and risk frameworks,” he told crypto.news. Viriato added that the bigger challenge ahead is building interoperability and settlement infrastructure so different forms of digital money can work together at scale. Broader context The Bank of England is positioning stablecoins as one element of a wider digital payments strategy that also includes tokenized bank deposits and a potential retail central bank digital currency (CBDC). At City Week 2026, Breeden signalled the BoE’s preference for restricting total issuance rather than individual ownership during early adoption. Meanwhile, UK authorities are advancing other tokenization efforts. The Bank and Financial Conduct Authority have sought feedback on rules for tokenized securities and market infrastructure, and the Bank-FCA Digital Securities Sandbox is preparing firms for commercial launches. What regulators are trying to solve Stablecoins have grown rapidly as a tool for faster, lower-cost payments, including cross-border transfers. But the BoE has repeatedly warned that large-scale adoption could divert deposits away from commercial banks, potentially affecting bank lending and borrowing costs. The final framework aims to mitigate those risks while enabling regulated, sterling-backed stablecoins to operate in the UK market. Bottom line By replacing ownership caps with a total-issuance limit and loosening reserve composition requirements, the Bank of England has taken a pragmatic step to encourage regulated stablecoin activity in the UK — while attempting to balance innovation with systemic safeguards. The next test will be whether market participants can build the interoperable settlement and compliance systems regulators say are needed for adoption at scale. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

MoneyGram has taken a deeper dive into blockchain infrastructure, joining Solana as a network validator and signing on to the Solana Developer Platform, the payments company announced on June 22. The move puts MoneyGram directly into Solana’s consensus layer: the company now stakes SOL, operates an active validator that processes transaction blocks, and helps secure and optimize network performance. It also gains access to the Solana Developer Platform — a toolkit aimed at institutions building compliant financial products on Solana — alongside participants that include Mastercard. MoneyGram framed the decision as the next phase of a multi-year blockchain strategy that already touches its treasury, product development and payments operations. “Operating a validator places the company directly within Solana’s consensus process and allows it to help secure the network at the protocol level,” said Luke Tuttle, MoneyGram’s Chief Product and Technology Officer. “We help run the rails we move money on,” he added, noting that the company is also developing products to support money movement across different forms of value. Sheraz Shere, General Manager of Payments and Commerce at the Solana Foundation, said MoneyGram’s participation is a sign of how global payments firms are increasingly becoming active network participants as more payment flows move on-chain. MoneyGram’s CEO Anthony Soohoo framed the effort as infrastructure-first: “Blockchain infrastructure has become a core component of the company’s payment systems,” he said, adding that future work will be built on “open, interoperable stablecoin rails that anyone, anywhere can access.” No new Solana-based customer products were announced. Instead, the company described the validator role as part of a longer-term commitment to open blockchain infrastructure for cross-border payments. The Solana announcement follows MoneyGram’s recent push into stablecoins: on June 2 the company launched MGUSD, a U.S. dollar stablecoin issued through Bridge (a Stripe-owned firm). According to MoneyGram, M0 provides the mint/burn infrastructure while Fireblocks supplies custody services. MGUSD joins a broader payments roadmap that has expanded through partnerships with Stellar, Crossmint, Fireblocks and Kraken, and includes stablecoin remittances, crypto-to-cash withdrawals and digital-dollar products in multiple markets. Solana is now the third blockchain where MoneyGram operates an official validator. The company has previously served as an anchor remittance validator on the Tempo blockchain and as a validator for Midnight, a Cardano privacy-focused sidechain. MoneyGram also worked with Ripple from 2019 to 2021, using RippleNet and XRP-based On-Demand Liquidity products until that relationship ended amid the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s lawsuit against Ripple. Taken together, MoneyGram’s validator activity and developer-platform membership signal a shift from using blockchain merely as a payments channel to helping operate and secure the underlying rails — a notable step for a legacy remittance firm moving deeper into crypto infrastructure. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Hedera (HBAR) remains caught in a tight trading band, showing little directional conviction as prices consolidate near short-term support and resistance. At the time of writing, HBAR was changing hands at $0.0801, trading in a 24-hour range of $0.07801 to $0.0803 and registering a near-flat 24-hour move of +0.1%. Despite today’s mild uptick, the token’s longer-term picture is weaker: HBAR is down 2.4% over seven days, 6.7% over 30 days, and roughly 39.9% over the past year. Those declines underpin a broader consolidation phase rather than a sustained recovery. Key short-term structure - Support has consistently held around $0.0780, while upside has been capped roughly between $0.0803 and $0.0810. - This compressed price action has driven volatility lower: rebounds are repeatedly rejected at nearby resistance, and dips keep attracting buyers at the same support zone, producing a sideways, range-bound market. Falling wedge on the intraday charts On lower timeframes (notably the 15-minute chart), HBAR is tracing a falling wedge—two converging downward-sloping trendlines that indicate tightening price action. The wedge’s lower boundary near $0.0780 has been tested multiple times without a decisive breakdown, and each test has produced short-lived rebounds, suggesting selling pressure there is easing. The wedge’s upper boundary sits around $0.0805–$0.0815, where repeated rejections have taken place as price compresses toward the formation’s apex. What to watch next - Bullish trigger: A confirmed move above the wedge resistance near $0.0815 would be the first signal of a potential rebound. Short-term upside projections point to $0.0830, with extended targets in the $0.0840–$0.0850 range, if momentum follows. - Bearish trigger: A breakdown below $0.0780 would invalidate the wedge setup and open the door to lower liquidity areas, extending the prevailing bearish consolidation. At present, HBAR sits almost squarely between these key thresholds, reinforcing the narrative of tight consolidation until a clear breakout or breakdown occurs. Traders will likely be watching those levels closely for a directional cue. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Fairshake-backed groups pour millions into primaries as CLARITY Act talks hit crunch time Crypto-backed political groups have dumped at least $7 million into key Democratic primary races as lawmakers race to finalize the CLARITY Act before a packed congressional calendar tightens the legislative window. Protect Progress, an affiliate of Fairshake, is the most visible spender. The group has funneled roughly $5.5 million into the campaign of Maryland State Delegate Adrian Boafo, who is vying to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District. Boafo—who faces more than 20 Democratic challengers—leads prediction-market rankings and has secured high-profile endorsements from Hoyer, Gov. Wes Moore and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. Alsobrooks has been active in conversations about federal digital-asset bills, including both the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act. Boafo has embraced crypto and blockchain as part of his agenda, saying, “I’m proud to be a strong advocate for policies that create new economic opportunities for Marylanders in the 5th Congressional District, and digital assets are no exception.” On the East Coast, Protect Progress has also put about $1.5 million behind Rep. Ritchie Torres’s reelection bid in New York’s 15th District. Torres—an early and consistent backer of crypto policy who helped establish the Congressional Crypto Caucus—has additionally received roughly $300,000 in ad spending from Fellowship PAC ahead of the Democratic primary. These expenditures follow Fairshake’s biggest intervention earlier this cycle, when its political network committed roughly $12 million to Alabama’s Republican Senate primary runoff supporting Rep. Barry Moore. Together, the moves underscore how crypto-funded political organizations are increasingly deploying sizable capital across both parties as federal policymakers deliberate how to regulate the sector. That deliberation centers on the CLARITY Act, a proposal intended to create a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets in the U.S. Lawmakers and staff are still hashing out committee language, ethics provisions and measures to curb illicit finance, with multiple Senate meetings scheduled as negotiators try to resolve sticking points. White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt and Sen. Bill Hagerty have both expressed optimism that meaningful progress can be made before the July 4 recess. Industry groups are amplifying pressure. The Digital Chamber has been arranging meetings this week between member companies and lawmakers to build momentum for the bill; CEO Cody Carbone told Crypto In America that urgency is rising as legislative time dwindles. At the same time, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman warned that many senators still need to be educated on the finer points of the proposal—a challenge given that large portions of the bill fall under the Agriculture Committee’s jurisdiction. Senate offices continue to work through unresolved sections as leaders face mounting pressure to settle outstanding issues before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess. The outcome will shape both the future of U.S. digital-asset policy and the political calculus for crypto-backed spending heading into the 2026 cycle. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Grant Cardone’s experiment of pairing income-producing real estate with Bitcoin is drawing fire from gold bull Peter Schiff — and sparking a wider debate about whether crypto belongs on property balance sheets. Cardone Capital has been rolling out a strategy that channels rental cash flow from multifamily properties into Bitcoin purchases. The firm recently launched the $87.5 million 10X Space Coast Bitcoin Fund, a dedicated structure that holds both real estate and BTC. Cardone pitches the approach as a way to give traditional investors exposure to Bitcoin without forcing them to buy or custody the asset directly; he says many investors in his Bitcoin-linked real estate vehicles previously had no crypto holdings. Schiff, however, dismissed the idea on X (formerly Twitter): “Combining real estate with Bitcoin solves nothing.” The gold advocate argued that rental income already covers repairs, upkeep and other operating costs — so there’s no need to add a volatile asset to a property company’s balance sheet as a reserve. He also challenged Cardone’s contention that REIT rules — which require most REITs to distribute at least 90% of taxable income — prevent operators from building a Bitcoin reserve, and offered to debate the topic publicly. Cardone’s camp has continued to put money behind the thesis. As markets weakened earlier this year, Cardone Capital bought another 282 BTC (roughly $18 million when Bitcoin traded near $62,000), adding to a position that previously included about 1,000 BTC after a $10 million buy in January. The firm has publicly targeted 3,000 BTC by the end of 2026 and 10,000 BTC across its vehicles over the longer term. The clash captures the broader split over Bitcoin treasury strategies. Proponents argue BTC can act as a long-term reserve asset that boosts returns if rental cash flows are used to steadily accumulate coins through market cycles. Critics counter that introducing Bitcoin brings price volatility and balance-sheet risk to a business whose core value is steady cash flow, debt management, insurance and maintenance — risks that rental income already addresses. As more funds experiment with hybrid structures that blend traditional assets and crypto, the debate over whether Bitcoin truly enhances real estate economics — or simply layers on extra volatility — looks set to continue. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

The Bank of England has dropped planned limits on how much sterling-backed stablecoin an individual can hold and softened reserve requirements in its final rules for systemic stablecoins — a move regulators say balances financial stability with payments innovation. What changed - Individual holding caps scrapped: The BoE will not proceed with the previously proposed per-person limits (which in November 2025 would have capped retail holdings at £20,000 and set corporate limits of roughly $13.5 million). - Issuance cap introduced: Instead of policing individual wallets, the Bank will cap the total supply of any single sterling stablecoin, setting an initial threshold at £40 billion ($52.8 billion). - Reserve mix relaxed: Issuers may now hold up to 70% of reserves in short-term UK government debt (up from a proposed 60%). The remaining 30% must be kept as non-interest-bearing deposits at the Bank of England. Why regulators changed course The November 2025 proposals aimed to limit the risk that widespread stablecoin use would trigger large deposit outflows from commercial banks. But industry participants, including digital-asset firms and legal advisers, argued that individual ownership caps would be hard to enforce across wallets and trading venues. They also warned that high non-interest-bearing reserve requirements could undermine the commercial case for sterling stablecoins. Responding to that feedback, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability Sarah Breeden framed the final rules as both protective and enabling: they provide prompt redemption rights, user safeguards and central bank backing while allowing new payment innovations to develop in the UK. Breeden has repeatedly said the Bank wants multiple forms of digital money — stablecoins, tokenized bank deposits and potentially a retail CBDC — to operate alongside traditional bank deposits. Broader regulatory context The new stablecoin framework arrives as UK authorities push ahead with tokenization projects. The BoE and the Financial Conduct Authority have sought input on rules for tokenized securities and market infrastructure, and the Bank-FCA Digital Securities Sandbox is preparing firms for commercial rollouts. Market implications By replacing individual caps with a total-issuance ceiling and easing reserve composition rules, the BoE aims to limit systemic risk while keeping sterling-backed stablecoins commercially viable. Regulators remain concerned that large-scale stablecoin adoption could shift deposits away from banks and influence lending and borrowing costs; the final framework is designed to mitigate those risks without blocking regulated stablecoins from entering the UK market. Next steps The Bank’s final policy and draft rules will guide the initial phase of regulated sterling stablecoin deployments, subject to ongoing industry engagement and future supervisory work as the market evolves. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

KuCoin has teamed up with non-custodial swap platform Husher in a move designed to broaden cross-chain swap options and shore up liquidity for users across multiple blockchains. The partnership links KuCoin’s global exchange liquidity and trading infrastructure with Husher’s routing system, which aggregates multiple liquidity sources and lets users swap assets without handing over custody of their funds. By adding KuCoin into Husher’s network, both firms say they’ll be able to offer more swap pairs, better routing, and improved market access across supported routes. Why it matters - Liquidity is critical for efficient swaps: thin liquidity can produce poor pricing, higher slippage and fewer viable routes. KuCoin’s deep order books are expected to help address those pain points for Husher users. - Husher’s non-custodial interface gives users direct control of their keys while tapping into exchange-sourced liquidity, marrying convenience with self-custody. - The integration should expand the range of on-chain swap options available to wallets and dApps that use Husher’s routing. Context and broader strategy The tie-up aligns with KuCoin’s push beyond pure spot trading. Crypto.news previously noted KuCoin’s selection as the sole global exchange participant in Nigeria’s virtual asset provider supervisory pilot, and the exchange has been active across wallets and payments — for example, AEON’s partnership with KuCoin Pay and KuCoin Web3 Wallet’s May integration of the 1inch Swap API to improve gasless swaps and MEV protection. What to watch Both companies said the collaboration could spawn community initiatives, educational efforts and other ecosystem activities; details will be shared through KuCoin’s official channels. For users, the practical benefit is greater access to liquidity and routing options when swapping across different networks. A cautionary note The deal adds a significant liquidity layer between exchange order books and non-custodial swaps, but it doesn’t eliminate normal swap risks. Users still need to verify supported networks and asset availability, compare fees, and consider execution and slippage before trading. Bottom line The KuCoin–Husher partnership is a pragmatic response to a multi-chain reality: as crypto usage spans more networks and tokens, streamlined routing and deeper liquidity become increasingly valuable. This integration looks to make cross-chain swaps smoother for users while extending KuCoin’s market infrastructure beyond its exchange interface. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Crypto week opens on a steadier footing as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP hold key supports The crypto market starts the week with a calmer tone after last week’s pullback, as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP show signs of stabilization. Bitcoin slid nearly 4% over the prior week, Ethereum dropped about 2% and XRP fell roughly 6%, but all three assets have found short-term footing: BTC is trading above $64,000, ETH is holding the important $1,700 support, and XRP is consolidating near $1.13. Bitcoin technical picture still cautious Bitcoin’s price action remains cautious despite the early-week stability. BTC is trading around $64,000 but sits below its major moving averages—50-day EMA (~$69,106), 100-day EMA (~$72,123) and 200-day EMA (~$77,748)—a configuration that typically indicates sellers retain control of the broader trend. The market also recently lost a rising trendline that had been acting as support; that same line now sits near $74,238 and is likely to act as resistance. Signs momentum is easing Some technical indicators hint that the downside momentum is slowing. The RSI has recovered from deeply oversold territory to the high-40s, implying selling pressure has eased though a decisive bullish turn has not yet arrived. Meanwhile the MACD remains in positive territory, which offers a modest tailwind for prices. What traders are watching For bulls to reclaim control, Bitcoin needs to clear a series of resistance zones—most importantly the 50-, 100- and 200-day EMAs noted above. A sustained move above those levels would materially improve the technical outlook and could mark the end of the corrective phase. On the flip side, the first major support sits at $64,005; a decisive break below that level would open the door to further downside and an extension of the decline. Short-term outlook The market appears to be digesting last week’s losses and waiting for fresh catalysts. If BTC can hold current support and build momentum, buyers will target the EMA cluster and the trendline resistance. If sellers reassert control and push BTC below $64,005, expect renewed downward pressure. Ethereum and XRP will likely follow Bitcoin’s lead in the near term as traders monitor these key technical thresholds. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news