As the crypto landscape rapidly evolves, centralized exchanges like Binance and KuCoin are seeing trading volumes dip as users migrate to decentralized platforms, while Kraken makes waves with the launch of its U.S.-regulated derivatives platform following the NinjaTrader acquisition. Meanwhile, Fairshake’s crypto super PAC has amassed $141 million ahead of the 2026 midterms, and Coinbase has soared past a $100 billion market cap amid a sector-wide rally.
US President Donald Trump announced that key House members have pledged to support the GENIUS Act, with a vote expected as soon as Wednesday. Trump stated that congressional leaders reached a breakthrough following an Oval Office meeting, reviving hopes for sweeping digital asset regulation after earlier setbacks. Lawmakers are moving quickly to pass the GENIUS Act and other crypto-related legislation during what has been dubbed "Crypto Week," though there is uncertainty over whether the accelerated timeline will be met. Trump emphasized that the GENIUS Act could give the US an edge over China and Europe in the global digital asset race.
The U.S. is on the verge of passing landmark crypto legislation that could profoundly impact the industry by unlocking growth and significantly reducing risk, according to asset manager Bitwise. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan stated that if pro-crypto bills pass in Congress, it would mark a point of no return for the mainstream adoption of crypto assets.
Major centralized cryptocurrency exchanges including Binance, KuCoin, and Upbit have experienced significant drops in trading volumes, as traders increasingly move to decentralized exchanges. This trend highlights a notable shift in market dynamics during the summer of 2025.
Kraken has launched its U.S.-regulated crypto derivatives trading platform, marking its entry into the American derivatives market. The debut follows Kraken's acquisition of futures platform NinjaTrader earlier this year and includes the offering of CME-listed crypto futures via Kraken Pro. The company also indicated plans to expand into commodity and stock futures, reflecting a broader industry trend toward unified access to multiple asset classes.
Standard Chartered has opened a UK branch to allow institutional clients to directly trade bitcoin and ethereum on its existing platforms. The bank has launched spot trading for these cryptocurrencies and plans to introduce non-deliverable forwards for digital assets soon, expanding its digital asset offerings amid growing regulatory and investor focus on stablecoins.
The U.K. government announced on Tuesday its intention to enable the wholesale market to identify the most effective use cases for distributed ledger technology (DLT) and to implement tokenization solutions as part of its wholesale strategy.
Citigroup is considering issuing its own stablecoin to facilitate digital payments and is actively exploring tokenized deposits, according to CEO Jane Fraser during the bank's Q2 2025 earnings call. The bank is also looking into custody solutions and reserve management for other stablecoins, signaling a broader push into digital asset services.
Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England and recently appointed chair of the Financial Stability Board (FSB), stated in a letter to the G20 that assessing the role of stablecoins in payments and settlements will be a top priority for the FSB ahead of the upcoming G20 meeting.
The stablecoin market could begin to significantly impact traditional finance, particularly the U.S. Treasury market, if its size reaches approximately $750 billion, according to Geoff Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered.
Fairshake, a bipartisan cryptocurrency-focused super PAC, has announced it has secured more than $141 million in funding ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections. The war chest, which includes a recent $25 million contribution from Coinbase and support from major digital asset firms and executives, positions Fairshake as a significant force in the upcoming election cycle as key crypto legislation is set to be debated in Congress.
Coinbase has reached a market capitalization of over $100 billion, fueled by renewed momentum in the cryptocurrency sector. According to Google Finance data, shares of Coinbase (COIN) hit a new all-time high of $398.50 during trading hours on July 14, prompting speculation about the potential for trillion-dollar valuations in the industry.
Katherine Dowling, general counsel and chief compliance officer at Bitwise Asset Management, discussed on "Bloomberg Tech" that the Trump administration has reduced its focus on crypto investigations. She noted this regulatory environment has contributed to some capital remaining on the sidelines in the crypto market.
Crypto exchange BigONE suffered a security breach resulting in the loss of over $27 million in user funds after attackers gained unauthorized access to its hot wallets. According to blockchain security firm SlowMist, the attackers breached BigONE's production network and modified servers to withdraw funds. The stolen assets include BTC, ETH, USDT, SHIB, SOL, DOGE, and others.
Hackers exploited a vulnerability in Arcadia Finance's Rebalancer contract on the Base blockchain, draining approximately $2.5 million in cryptocurrency. The attack occurred by manipulating arbitrary swapData parameters to execute unauthorized swaps. Certik reported that crypto users and DeFi protocols lost a total of $302 million to hacks and scams in May.
Adam Iza, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles known as “the Crypto Godfather,” allegedly employed sheriff's deputies to harass his adversaries. Two of his accomplices pleaded guilty to fraud charges today.
The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector has matured beyond its early experimental phase, with projects increasingly concentrating on developing tools that address specific issues. According to Nikola Vukovic of DeFi Saver, this shift reflects a greater emphasis on intentional design and user feedback within the industry.
Programmable regulation, which embeds compliance directly into code, is being highlighted as a potential solution for outdated regulatory frameworks that are unable to keep up with the fast-changing decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. Advocates argue that this approach could provide legal clarity, reduce risk, and promote innovation within DeFi ecosystems.
Marc Vanlerberghe argues that while the crypto industry has long promoted decentralization, transparency, and self-sovereignty, gated communities can actually be beneficial for the sector. He suggests that these principles, though noble and essential, may be complemented by more exclusive or controlled environments within the crypto space.
DeFi stakeholders have voiced strong opposition to the CLARITY Act, a crypto market structure bill set for a vote as soon as tomorrow, warning that its passage could effectively eliminate decentralized finance in the United States.
Jack Shaw, Executive Director of the American Blockchain Council and a leading technology futurist, is highlighting the potential of blockchain technology beyond its use in cryptocurrency. Drawing on decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and Web3, Shaw emphasizes blockchain's role in enhancing competitive advantage, operational agility, and digital trust.
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