Blockchain.com wins Cayman custody license after MiCA and FCA approvals

Blockchain.com has secured a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority to offer custody services.  Granted on July 22, 2026, the license allows the cryptocurrency services company to provide regulated crypto custody services in the Cayman Islands, according to a Thursday announcement reviewed by Cointelegraph. The license followed a conditional approval issued by CIMA in December 2025.  The license also allows Blockchain.com to provide crypto-to-fiat and crypto-to-crypto exchange services. The company has held a VASP registration in the Cayman Islands since May 2022.  Lane Kasselman, co-CEO of Blockchain.com, said the CIMA license builds on the companys recent regulatory milestones, including obtaining a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation license in Europe and registering with the UK Financial Conduct Authority.  “We believe strong regulation is essential to the long-term development of digital assets, and these approvals further strengthen our ability to serve customers across the region,” Kasselman said.  Related: MiCA list expands with 12 companies in fourth post-deadline update

08-07Industry

Bitcoin price coils under $65K as US PMI data brings new ‘stagflation’ warning

Bitcoin (BTC) stayed motionless at Thursdays Wall Street open as analysis saw signs of reemergent US “stagflation.”  Key points:Bitcoin stays below $65,000 as Iran tempers expectations over the Strait of Hormuz oil route reopening.US PMI data analysis sees “stagflation” return as a potential future risk.BTC price indecisiveness means that the market still lacks a “genuine breakdown,” says Bitfinex.  Iran cools market hopes of Hormuz deal  Data from TradingView showed BTC/USD hovering above $64,000, down around 0.5% on the day, while US stocks opened flat.  BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView  Anticipation of a deal between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz oil route did little to spark volatility — in the absence of US participation, it remained uncertain whether international shipping would fully resume.  “This understanding does not, in itself, mean that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen,” Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in an interview with the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), quoted by CNN.  US WTI crude oil was little changed on the day at $76 per barrel, having hit three-week lows of $74.30 the day prior.  CFDs on WTI crude oil one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView  As markets awaited further geopolitical cues, trading resource The Kobeissi Letter turned to the latest US

08-07Industry

US Senate will vote on CLARITY crypto bill ‘without any question’ this week: Tim Scott

Senator Tim Scott, who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, said that the chamber would vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act before it broke for an August recess, giving lawmakers just a few days to take action on the crypto bill.  In a Thursday Fox Business interview, Scott said that the Senate “should have the first vote” on the CLARITY Act before lawmakers leave for state work periods this week. He added that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has the authority to set the agenda and schedule floor votes, still had time to announce a cloture vote on the crypto bill in the next few days.  “The good news is we have the time to get it done,” said Scott.  The South Carolina lawmaker‘s statement echoed comments from Senator Cynthia Lummis, who on Wednesday urged the Senate to take up a vote on CLARITY before the chamber’s August recess. Should Republican leaders schedule a vote, the bill would need support from 60 lawmakers to pass the Senate and advance in Congress.  Among the issues still under discussion as of Thursday were concerns from many Democrats regarding US President Donald Trump‘s crypto investments and heads of the banking industry calling for the

08-07Industry

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Makes SpaceX, Circle Top Holdings After Latest Buying Spree

In briefCircle and SpaceX are now among the 10 largest holdings in ARKK.SpaceX accounts for 4.73% of the portfolio, while Circle represents 3.90%.Recent purchases extended Arks buying streak in both companies.  SpaceX and Circle are among Cathie Woods largest investments, according to an Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) holdings report published Thursday.  SpaceX is ARKKs fifth-largest holding, with a market value of nearly $282 million and a 4.73% portfolio weighting. Circle ranks eighth at about $233 million, accounting for 3.90% of the fund.  The two companies join Tesla, Coinbase, Robinhood, OpenAI, Bitmine, and Palantir among ARKKs largest positions, reflecting Arks continued focus on artificial intelligence, crypto, fintech, and other technology companies.  Arks latest trading disclosure shows the firm continued adding to both holdings after the companies reported second-quarter earnings. It purchased 181,830 SpaceX shares across four exchange-traded funds, including ARKK, and 273,343 Circle shares across ARKK and two other funds. Based on the companies closing prices, the purchases were worth about $20 million and $17.3 million, respectively.  The news comes after Circle and SpaceX reported second-quarter earnings this week.  Circle shares were little changed after the stablecoin issuer reported $701 million in second-quarter revenue and reserve income, up 7% from a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA rose 8%

08-07Industry

MetaMask Launches Self-Custodial AI Wallet for Autonomous Crypto Trading

In briefMetaMask has launched Agent Wallet, a self-custodial wallet designed for AI-powered crypto trading.Users can set spending limits, allowlist protocols, and choose security settings before agents execute transactions.The wallet includes transaction simulation, threat scanning, MEV protection, and gas abstraction for supported transactions.  MetaMask on Thursday launched Agent Wallet, a self-custodial wallet that lets AI agents execute on-chain transactions within user-defined restrictions, expanding the companys push into AI-powered crypto trading.  According to MetaMask, the wallet is aimed at traders and developers using AI agents to monitor markets, identify opportunities, and execute transactions autonomously.  However, rather than giving an AI agent unrestricted access to a wallet, users can set spending caps, approve specific protocols, choose risk settings, and select between “Guard Mode” and “Beast Mode,” which offer different levels of automation. (Disclosure: MetaMask is a product of Consensys, one of numerous investors in an editorially independent Decrypt.)  Agent Wallet supports Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, Hermes, and OpenCode, along with Hyperliquid and Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible networks. It also supports gas abstraction, allowing users to pay network fees with the asset being transferred instead of holding a networks native token.  “Never worry about paying for gas,” the company wrote. “Agents can transfer and swap without holding a chains

08-07Industry

JPMorgan says Hyperliquid faces growing competition while HYPE ETF inflows stall

Quick TakeHyperliquid faces growing competition from regulated U.S. trading platforms and prediction market platforms, JPMorgan analysts said.They also noted that Hyperliquid ETF inflows stalled in July and this month so far, after posting record inflows in May and June.  Hyperliquids market share could come under pressure as regulated U.S. platforms expand and competition in prediction markets remains intense, according to JPMorgan analysts. Meanwhile, inflows in Hyperliquid exchange-traded funds have stalled.  “We see significant challenges to the market share of decentralized platforms such as Hyperliquid,” JPMorgan analysts led by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou said in a report. “Whether Hyperliquid eventually surpasses in market cap other tokens such as Solana and XRP remains to be seen.”  The first challenge is increasing competition from U.S.-regulated crypto perpetual futures trading platforms, while decentralized platforms face concerns over unlicensed derivatives activity, limited know-your-customer/anti-money-laundering controls, manipulation, attacks, oracle failures, and weaker consumer-protection safeguards, the analysts said.  “The launch of U.S.-regulated crypto perpetual futures products could accelerate a shift in liquidity away from offshore and decentralized venues to onshore venues,” the analysts wrote.  Secondly, competition from existing and new entrants in prediction markets remains intense while Hyperliquid is expanding into prediction-style markets to attract more activity on its platform. Hyperliquid launched “Outcomes,”

08-07Industry

Blocks spending rise despite 40% workforce cut leaves analysts weighing growth prospects

Quick TakeAnalysts remain bullish on Block following Q2 earnings beat, though Mizuho questioned why spending is rising despite a 40% workforce cut.Blocks stock was trading approximately 5% lower on Thursday morning.  Jack Dorsey-led Block Inc is expected to increase its operating expenses in the second half of the year despite cutting roughly 40% of its workforce in February, leaving analysts to question whether the spending will translate into real growth.  Mizuho estimates that Blocks adjusted operating expenses will rise from $4.48 billion in the first half to $4.56 billion in H2 based on the companys guidance. The banks analysts, led by Dan Dolev, said its own model suggested the workforce reduction alone could have lowered Blocks quarterly operating expenses by around 18%.  “Although Blocks second quarter was very solid, a key question regarding operating expenses is still open,” the Mizuho analysts wrote in a Thursday note.  Block (XYZ) tied the spending to initiatives it sees as offering potentially strong returns, including investments in sales, Cash App products and artificial intelligence infrastructure.  Mizuho maintained its Outperform rating and $100 price target but questioned whether further investments might be needed to boost stagnating Cash App monthly active user numbers.  William Blair analysts were a bit more bullish in

08-07Industry

Elizabeth Warren backs crypto rules, rejects CLARITY Act

Senator Elizabeth Warren supports establishing federal rules for digital assets but has rejected the CLARITY Act in its current form, citing unresolved concerns over corruption, consumer protection, national security and financial stability.  Warren says CLARITY Act falls short  According to CoinDesk, Warren said the U.S. crypto industry needs a clear regulatory framework but argued that the current proposal does not adequately protect investors or the wider financial system.  The Massachusetts Democrat identified several areas where she believes the legislation remains insufficient. These include safeguards against political corruption, protections for consumers and measures intended to limit national security and economic risks.  Warren has also warned that poorly designed crypto legislation could weaken regulators and allow large digital asset companies to exploit gaps between federal agencies. Her opposition therefore focuses on the terms of the CLARITY Act rather than rejecting crypto regulation altogether.  The bill seeks to establish clearer federal oversight of digital asset issuance, trading platforms and other market participants. It would also define how responsibilities are divided among agencies, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Supporters argue that those rules would reduce legal uncertainty for U.S. crypto businesses. Warren, however, maintains that regulatory clarity must not come at the expense

08-06Industry

BeInCrypto Stage at Rio Innovation Week: Where TradFi and Crypto Meet

The BeInCrypto Stage returned to Píer Mauá for the fourth year in a row at Rio Innovation Week 2026, turning Wednesday morning into a showcase of the agenda now drawing banks, exchanges, and card issuers closer together.   Executives from companies including Binance, Visa, Nubank, BNY, Crypto.com, Mercado Bitcoin, and Bitso, among others, shared the stage to discuss stablecoins, financial superapps, prediction markets, and the infrastructure underpinning the next phase of digital assets in the country.  BeInCrypto launches “The Exodus Economy” report  BeInCrypto opened its own chapter of the day by unveiling “The Exodus Economy,” the first edition of a research effort by BeInCrypto Intelligence that maps how Latin American money finds a new financial home. The study followed 12 years of dollar flows on-chain, wallet by wallet, and audited 60 billionaire addresses against their Forbes profiles.  Sponsored  Sponsored  The report puts hard numbers behind a phenomenon usually told through headlines about departing millionaires. According to the study, Brazilians hold US$ 654 billion abroad, by their own central banks count, and 26.9 million Latin Americans already live outside their home countries. It also shows that roughly US$ 63.2 billion was sent home to Mexico over the last 12 months, with a crypto rail beside it already

08-06Industry

Bitwise XRP ETF sees reported $3.58M redemption

A reported $3.58 million outflow from the Bitwise XRP ETF drew attention on Aug. 6 after social media accounts described the move as an unusual sale by the asset manager.  SummaryBitwise‘s XRP ETF reportedly recorded $3.58 million in net redemptions during Wednesday’s U.S. trading session.Official Bitwise data showed 293.9 million XRP held by the trust through August 4, 2026.ETF outflows reflect shareholder redemptions and do not establish a discretionary bearish decision by Bitwise.The trust may distribute XRP in kind or sell tokens to satisfy cash redemption orders.XRP traded near $1.07, remaining roughly 70% below its July 2025 record high of $3.65.  The available evidence supports a narrower conclusion: the fund reportedly experienced a net redemption during the Aug. 5 U.S. session.  No public transaction details show that Bitwise made a discretionary market call against XRP. The distinction matters because the fund is a trust holding XRP for shareholders. Bitwise Investment Advisers sponsors the product, while authorized financial firms handle share creation and redemption orders under the trusts operating documents.  You might also like:  XRP price risks $1 breakdown as ETF demand fades  Bitwise XRP ETF outflow is a shareholder redemption  The Bitwise XRP ETF creates and redeems shares in blocks of 10,000 through authorized participants. A net

08-06Industry
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