The latest developments in cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital finance.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $1.7 billion in inflows this week, their strongest performance in two months, while Ether ETFs bounced back with $230 million after last week’s sell-off. The crypto market cap also reclaimed $4.1 trillion, drawing comparisons to Nvidia’s $4.3 trillion valuation.
Polymarket has partnered with Chainlink to integrate its oracle infrastructure, aiming to improve the speed and accuracy of market resolutions on the Polygon blockchain. The move strengthens confidence in prediction markets while setting the stage for more complex and subjective markets in the future.
Metaverse-related NFT sales rose 27% in August, suggesting a possible revival of interest in virtual worlds. Platforms like Sandbox, Mocaverse, Otherside and Decentraland are focusing on infrastructure and creator tools, while new entrants such as Infinite Reality and Trump’s DTTM Operations continue to push forward with metaverse projects.
Bitcoin bounced back to $116,000 this week, but CryptoQuant warns that eight out of ten bull market indicators are now bearish, signaling cooling momentum. Analysts remain divided — some expect the correction to deepen, while others predict an extended bull market into early 2026.
Coinbase researchers say the era of “easy money” for crypto treasuries has ended, pushing firms into a competitive phase that could ultimately strengthen markets. They downplayed seasonal myths like the “September effect” and predicted Fed rate cuts would give crypto “room to run” into Q4.
Bitstamp has overtaken Robinhood in monthly crypto volumes for the first time since its $200M acquisition, posting $14.4B in trades against Robinhood’s $13.7B. The milestone highlights Bitstamp’s growing role in institutional markets, even as Robinhood joins the S&P 500 and expands its blockchain and derivatives products.
RWA tokens jumped 11% this week as total tokenized asset value surpassed $29 billion, nearly doubling since January. With Ethereum leading the space and BlackRock exploring tokenized ETFs, institutional adoption of real-world assets is accelerating rapidly.
A UK government petition calling for a pro-innovation blockchain and stablecoin strategy has gained traction after Coinbase urged its users to sign. The petition seeks stablecoin regulation, blockchain adoption in government, and a dedicated crypto policy leader. It has passed 5,000 signatures and needs 10,000 for an official response, with 100,000 triggering a parliamentary debate.
Joseph Lubin, founder of Consensys, hinted that Linea token holders may receive future rewards from Consensys or partner projects, following its recent token launch. The comments came amid criticism from users about the token’s utility, with suggestions for staking, lending, or buybacks. Linea’s price dropped 20% in 24 hours after debuting, trading at $0.024.
A new Ethereum token standard, ERC-7943, has been introduced to address industry fragmentation in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Proposed by Brickken co-founder Dario Lo Buglio, the standard provides a minimal, vendor-agnostic interface for compliance that works across Ethereum layer-2s and EVM chains. Backed by multiple Web3 and fintech firms, ERC-7943 aims to make tokenized assets easier to integrate while meeting institutional compliance needs.
Bubblemaps has alleged the largest Sybil attack in crypto history on MYX Finance’s airdrop, flagging 100 wallets that claimed $170 million worth of MYX tokens under suspicious conditions. MYX denied wrongdoing, citing trading activity and anti-Sybil measures, but Bubblemaps dismissed the response as vague. The case highlights growing concerns over large-scale airdrop farming operations, such as massive phone farms used to exploit token giveaways.
Binance has teamed up with Franklin Templeton to launch tokenization ventures, combining securities with blockchain-based trading infrastructure. The collaboration aims to boost efficiency in settlement, collateral management, and portfolio construction while expanding institutional access. Binance will provide its global reach, while Franklin Templeton contributes tokenization expertise.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is holding back on comprehensive crypto regulations, warning that formal rules could legitimize digital assets and create systemic risks. While India currently imposes a 30% tax on crypto gains and strict registration requirements for exchanges, it still leads the world in crypto adoption, according to Chainalysis. Despite strong adoption metrics, officials and industry leaders say India faces a paradox between rising interest and limited real-world usage.
The first-ever US Dogecoin ETF, the Rex-Osprey Doge ETF (DOJE), is set to begin trading on Thursday, marking a major milestone for memecoins in regulated markets. Dogecoin rallied nearly 13% ahead of the launch, while analysts note this ETF signals growing institutional interest in speculative digital assets. The SEC’s approval comes as dozens of other crypto ETF applications, including Solana and XRP, remain under review.
CoinShares is set to go public in the United States through a $1.2 billion SPAC merger with Vine Hill Capital, allowing it to list on the Nasdaq Stock Market later in 2025. The European asset manager, which oversees $10 billion in assets and leads Europe’s crypto ETP market, aims to tap into the world’s largest investment market. Backed by a $50 million anchor investment, the deal is expected to accelerate CoinShares’ global expansion.
Backpack EU, which acquired the former FTX EU earlier this year, has launched a regulated perpetual futures platform in Europe after settling with Cyprus’ financial regulator and securing a MiFID II license. The firm, led by Solana developer Armani Ferrante, refunded former FTX EU customers before relaunching operations under CySEC oversight. With approvals in Europe, Dubai, and Japan, Backpack is pushing to expand as a global player in regulated crypto trading.
NFT sales volume fell to $91.9 million in the first week of September, the lowest since mid-June, according to CryptoSlam. Unique NFT buyers dropped 58% from June peaks, while sellers fell 43%, and average sale prices slid 30% in just two weeks. Despite the slowdown, total transactions remained high at 1.27 million. Earlier momentum in July and August was fueled by adoption drivers such as Coinbase’s Base network and cultural showcases like Ibiza’s permanent NFT art gallery.
HSBC and ICBC are preparing to apply for stablecoin licenses under Hong Kong’s new regulatory regime, which took effect on Aug. 1. Reports suggest ICBC and Standard Chartered are likely to receive first-round approvals, giving them a head start. The licensing framework sets strict requirements for issuers, making unlicensed stablecoins illegal for retail investors. Regulators have also warned that speculation around the rollout increases the risk of fraud, urging investors to remain cautious.