Crypto security risks escalated as thefts hit a record $2.1 billion in the first half of 2025, with North Korea-linked hackers responsible for a significant share of losses and the Financial Action Task Force warning of rising crypto use by sanctioned states. Meanwhile, investors are shifting from altcoins to crypto stocks like Coinbase, which led the S&P 500 with a 43% surge in June, outpacing major tokens.
Amid a prolonged downturn in altcoin prices, investors are increasingly turning to crypto-related stocks such as Coinbase, Circle, and Robinhood. These corporate crypto firms are currently outperforming all major tokens, including Bitcoin, which is lagging behind companies that regularly acquire it. This shift comes as the US and China reach a deal impacting the broader market.
More than 25% of South Koreans in their 20s to 50s currently own cryptocurrency, according to a recent report. Additionally, 70% of these crypto holders intend to increase their investments, as virtual assets play an increasingly significant role in retirement planning.
Emerging markets are not only adopting cryptocurrencies but also redefining their use, as people in high-friction economies set new standards for the global crypto ecosystem.
Bolivia's central bank has confirmed a significant increase in digital asset transactions, with activity up more than 530%. This surge follows a Reuters report highlighting that more Bolivians are using crypto exchanges such as Binance and stablecoins like Tether to protect their savings as the local boliviano currency continues to lose value.
Crypto cards are now competing with traditional banks for everyday purchases in Europe, with nearly half of their transactions being for amounts under $12. Additionally, online spending with crypto cards is significantly higher than the eurozone average, according to a recent report.
KraneShares, an asset management firm, has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch the Coinbase 50 Index ETF. The proposed ETF would track the 50 largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, as defined by the Coinbase 50 Index.
Bitvavo, a leading European digital asset trading platform and the largest euro spot exchange, has received a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). This license, granted under the new European MiCA regulation, allows Bitvavo to expand its services across all 30 nations in the European Economic Area under a unified crypto regulatory framework. Bitvavo joins other major exchanges such as Coinbase and Kraken in obtaining a MiCA license, while Gemini is reportedly in the final stages of securing one from Malta. Bitvavo's chief risk officer, Jeetan Patel, noted that the licensing process progressed efficiently.
Shares of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (COIN) rose 43% in June, making it the top-performing stock in the S&P 500 since joining the index at the end of last month, according to CNBC.
Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood has endorsed a proposed mortgage policy that would allow cryptocurrency to be used as collateral, suggesting it could significantly benefit digital asset holders seeking to buy homes. Wood believes the change could remove a major obstacle for crypto investors and help bridge the gap between the cryptocurrency and real estate sectors.
Coinbase now holds custody over 81% of the $140 billion in crypto assets stored by US-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to CEO Brian Armstrong. Eight of the top 10 bitcoin-holding public firms rely on Coinbase for custody services, highlighting the company's dominant position in the crypto custody market.
Crypto exchange Gemini has launched tokenized stock trading in the European Union, beginning with shares of Strategy (formerly known as MicroStrategy, ticker MSTR). The rollout, announced on Friday, is enabled through a partnership with RWA startup Dinari, allowing EU customers to buy fractional, on-chain tokens backed by real securities. Strategy (MSTR) is currently the only tokenized stock available, with Gemini planning to add more tokenized stocks and ETFs in the coming days.
Galaxy Asset Management, the venture arm of Galaxy Digital Inc., has completed the final close of its first Galaxy Ventures Fund I, securing over $175 million in committed capital. The fund exceeded its original $150 million target by more than 16 percent and will focus on supporting early-stage blockchain startups.
Tokenized stock platform Dinari has received approval from FINRA to operate as a broker-dealer, as industry experts at the Permissionless conference discuss the potential for on-chain real-world assets (RWAs) to transform access to US stocks.
Hong Kong's new policy assigns cryptocurrency licensing responsibilities to the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), depending on the type of entity. The roadmap includes making tokenized government bonds a regular offering and aims to expand tokenization to a broader range of asset classes. Industry leaders say the plan offers greater clarity for the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) and investment funds in financial markets.
The Bank of Korea has temporarily paused its central bank digital currency (CBDC) trials, including the digital won project, as participating banks show increased interest in stablecoins following government signals to allow them. The suspension comes as stablecoin regulation becomes a key priority for the country's President and stablecoins gain political and market momentum.
Hong Kong will introduce new stablecoin regulations in August, aligning its fintech strategy with China's de-dollarization efforts. The upcoming laws are expected to challenge the dominance of US dollar-backed stablecoins and may deter larger players from the market.
A recent survey indicates that two-thirds of Koreans want to invest more in cryptocurrency, coinciding with rising enthusiasm for won-based stablecoins. This trend has driven a surge in stablecoin-related stocks, making Circle the most popular overseas stock among Korean investors.
Momentum is growing for the "dual-stack thesis," which envisions Bitcoin serving as the unit of account and stablecoins as the medium of exchange. While this approach remains in its early stages, it is gaining increased attention within the financial sector.
Stablecoins have become the “default settlement layer for the internet,” according to Alchemy, with their onchain transaction volume now exceeding that of traditional payment networks like Visa and Mastercard.
The founder of an African stablecoin association endorsed BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes' assertion that one-third of Nigeria's GDP is conducted in USDT. He highlighted stablecoins as a crucial economic lifeline for emerging markets and marginalized communities.
Stablecoins are entering the mainstream as Fortune 500 companies, Wall Street banks, and major payment firms begin issuing their own crypto tokens.
San Francisco-based checkout and payments platform Bolt announced it has added support for stablecoin payments. The move is intended to make cross-border transactions easier for marketplaces and merchants using its network, as competition in digital dollar solutions intensifies.
Zohran Mamdani has defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City's mayoral election. As the race moves forward, digital assets and crypto policy are expected to become significant topics, with crypto backers viewing the election as a new battleground.
New York City is intensifying efforts to position itself as a global cryptocurrency hub, with the mayor advocating for the removal of the state's BitLicense regulations and promoting the integration of blockchain technology across the city.
In the UAE's complex crypto landscape, founders who prioritize legal and regulatory structuring as a central part of their go-to-market strategy are more likely to succeed, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Countries that ban crypto payments often have no restrictions on using cryptocurrencies for payments abroad, creating legal overlaps that may attract scrutiny from global regulators such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Kenya's Finance Committee has proposed the creation of a multi-agency group to jointly supervise virtual asset service providers (VASPs), marking a significant step toward formal cryptocurrency regulation in the country. Members of Parliament have backed the government's plan for increased oversight of the crypto sector.
Crypto thefts surged to an unprecedented $2.1 billion across at least 75 attacks in the first half of 2025, according to TRM Labs. This figure surpasses the previous first-half record set in 2022 by about 10% and nearly matches the total stolen throughout all of 2024. The surge was driven primarily by front-end and private key exploits, with state-backed hackers—particularly groups linked to North Korea—responsible for a significant share of the losses. The spike highlights deepening vulnerabilities in the crypto ecosystem.
North Korea-linked hackers, identified as the Lazarus Group, have intensified their attacks on the cryptocurrency sector, carrying out a scam valued at $3.2 million. Recent investigations highlight the group's evolving tactics in targeting digital assets.
North Korean hackers, impersonating IT staff, exploited a vulnerability in Web3 projects by reopening a mint contract with a single click. Within an hour, they dumped thousands of NFTs, resulting in losses totaling $1 million.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has warned that sanctioned states, including North Korea and Iran, are increasingly using cryptocurrencies to bypass international sanctions and fund weapons programs. In a report published on June 20, the global financial crime watchdog described an "exponential" surge in such activity and urged countries to address regulatory gaps that enable illicit finance in the digital asset sector.
Hackers and threat actors have exploited remote work arrangements to infiltrate companies, blockchain projects, and Web3 firms, resulting in over $1 million in cryptocurrency losses across NFT protocols, according to blockchain investigator ZackXBT.
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