Crypto

AI agents are beginning to act as autonomous customers, paying for data, computing power, APIs and online tools. Stablecoins, led by USDC in early measured activity, are gaining traction for small machine-to-machine payments while card networks work to adapt.

South Korea has ordered local access to Polymarket blocked, citing alleged violations tied to gambling activity. The move places the country among a growing group of jurisdictions restricting the prediction market platform.

Erebor Bank is in advanced talks to raise about $1.5 billion in fresh capital at a valuation of about $9.5 billion. The bank’s deposits climbed from $1.1 billion at the end of March to $4.6 billion by the end of July as it expanded services for crypto, artificial intelligence and defense-linked clients.

Large XRP holders have continued to accumulate through the token’s drop from about $2.40 in January to the $1.00 to $1.20 range. Ether’s market price near $1,900 versus a realized price around $2,450 leaves holders underwater on paper, giving it the strongest valuation case among the major tokens tracked.

Polymarket is reportedly pursuing a new funding round at a $20 billion valuation, months after closing capital at a $15 billion valuation. The move comes as prediction markets draw deeper interest from crypto platforms, brokerages and regulated competitors.

South Africa’s National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank are advancing draft rules for crypto used in cross border transactions. The proposal would require offshore crypto transfers to go through authorized providers and be reported to FinSurv.

Australian regulators have launched legal action against Telegram over allegations that the messaging platform failed to remove terror-related content, including material tied to extremist attacks. The case adds to mounting international scrutiny of Pavel Durov’s platform, which remains a major communications hub for crypto communities, trading groups, bots and blockchain-based mini apps.

Zcash extended its decline to around $510, leaving the privacy coin vulnerable after losing momentum from a recent local high near $590. Technical traders are watching a triangle breakdown, weakened moving average structure, and an ascending channel pullback that could put sub $500 levels in focus.

Russia’s State Duma has approved a comprehensive cryptocurrency framework that will regulate exchanges, depositories, mining and digital asset services. The law keeps domestic crypto payments banned but allows limited use of digital currencies in foreign trade and other specified transactions.

U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs have posted two straight weeks of inflows, drawing $273 million after an eight-week outflow streak of more than $8 billion. The turnaround has improved sentiment, but the scale remains modest compared with the recent exodus from the funds.

Zcash is testing a decisive resistance zone near $525 after gaining 25% over the past 30 days despite a recent drop of more than 6%. Social activity, shielded supply trends, and chart structure point to a pivotal moment for ZEC, with traders watching for either a breakout toward recent highs or a slide toward $390.

Paradigm has raised a $1.2 billion venture fund aimed at artificial intelligence and robotics, broadening its investment mandate beyond digital assets. The firm has already backed companies including Zipline International and True Anomaly while maintaining that crypto remains central to its strategy.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy says he is sticking with bitcoin despite buying near $100,000 and facing steep losses. His comments spotlight the difficulty of timing BTC in a market known for sharp rallies and painful reversals.

TRUMP memecoin holders are sitting on combined losses of $3.81 billion, with nearly two-thirds of wallets that bought the token now in the red. WLFI secondary-market buyers are also under pressure, with about 85% of tracked wallets underwater after the token’s sharp retreat.

XRP has gained about 8% over the past week to trade around $1.14, even as onchain data show holders sitting on historically deep unrealized losses. Market participants are watching whether depressed MVRV readings signal capitulation, improved risk-reward, or simply another volatile phase before broader conditions stabilize.

Bitcoin climbed back above $61,000 after weak U.S. labor data eased rate-hike fears and lifted risk assets. Ether led derivatives liquidation pressure, while Uniswap, Solana and select AI tokens posted notable gains.

U.S.-listed bitcoin ETFs recorded $221.7 million in net inflows on Thursday, ending a bruising 10-day run of withdrawals. Fidelity’s FBTC led the rebound even as BlackRock’s IBIT posted an outflow.

Bitwise argues that STRC’s sharp drop looks like a late-cycle deleveraging event rather than a warning of imminent liquidation at Strategy. The firm says the next major wave of Bitcoin demand may come from institutional buyers, not Strategy itself.

JPMorgan says Strategy’s new bitcoin sales policy creates “two-way” flow risk and adds avoidable uncertainty to crypto markets. The bank also wants the company to build larger cash reserves to cover dividends.

Bitcoin moved back above $61,000 after remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh suggested inflation risks were easing and reduced pressure for more hawkish policy. The rebound came even as tech shares fell sharply, with South Korea’s Kospi sliding nearly 8% on renewed AI chip demand concerns.

Cantor says bitcoin appears to be in the late stages of its current bear cycle, with historical patterns suggesting a possible bottom around October. The bank also says future crypto leaders will be networks that turn real usage into lasting token demand.

Aave recorded its biggest daily jump in new Ethereum wallets since October 2021, even as the wider crypto market softened. The spike has revived interest in DeFi, but analysts say fresh addresses must turn into real usage to support the rally.

Bitcoin remains under pressure below key resistance while Ethereum struggles near major support. Rising rates and dollar strength continue weighing on crypto markets.

Bitcoin and ether are pressing into important support zones while derivatives markets signal persistent caution among traders. Stellar and LIT are among the few tokens outperforming in an otherwise weak crypto session.