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Bitcoin hits record weekly close as stocks and gold fall on tariff delay

Bitcoin hits record weekly close as stocks and gold fall on tariff delay

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BitcoinCrypto Coin Show News Team·July 7, 2025·4 min read

Bitcoin posted its highest weekly close ever as institutional ETF inflows accelerated, while stock and precious metals markets buckled under tariff uncertainty tied to a Trump administration delay in implementation. This divergence underscores the crypto market’s independence from traditional risk-asset behavior during periods of fiscal policy shock.

  • Bitcoin closed above $109,000 on Sunday, marking its highest weekly finish in history.
  • Nearly 50,000 BTC flowed into US spot ETFs over the past month, signaling sustained institutional demand.
  • Tesla, the S&P 500 and gold all declined Monday as tariffs were delayed to August 1 instead of July 9.
  • $109,000 Bitcoin’s closing price Sunday, highest weekly close on record
  • 50,000 BTC Net inflow to US spot Bitcoin ETFs over the past month
  • $315.35 Tesla opening price Monday, down 0.095% on tariff uncertainty

Bitcoin surged to its highest weekly close ever as equities and metals retreated, splitting risk markets along an unusual fault line. The divergence stemmed from a tariff announcement by President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Sunday evening, which pushed the implementation date to August 1 instead of the market’s expected July 9 start. Tesla fell to $315.35 on Monday, the S&P 500 futures dropped 0.39%, and gold retreated from near-record highs, while Bitcoin closed the week above $109,000 and institutional flows into spot ETFs continued to build, according to cryptocurrency data provider CoinGecko.

Bitcoin posts record weekly high as institutional buyers accelerate accumulation

Bitcoin managed to stay above $108,500 through Sunday’s session before closing at over $109,000, marking the highest weekly finish in the asset’s history. The move reflected sustained demand from institutional investors, with nearly 50,000 BTC flowing into US spot ETFs over the preceding month, a pace that underscores conviction among large buyers even as equities stumbled.

Market analysts attributed the accumulation to what some are calling “whale games,” where large institutional buyers quietly accumulate positions while retail investors remain on the sidelines.

According to flow-to-price models developed by crypto strategists, Bitcoin’s next major target sits at $117,000, with these models having tracked closely to price action during previous cycles of aggressive ETF inflows.

The divergence between Bitcoin strength and stock weakness was sharp: while the Dow Jones fell 146 points (0.32%) and Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 0.42%, Bitcoin’s institutional bid remained intact.

Trump delays tariffs to August 1, upending equity and precious metals markets

President Trump, accompanied by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, announced Sunday evening that new tariffs would take effect August 1 rather than July 9, a two-week delay that caught markets flat-footed. Lutnick told reporters: “Tariffs go into effect Aug. 1.

But the president is setting the rates, and the deals, right now.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the new timeline on CNN, adding that if no trade agreement materializes with the European Union, duties could reset to April 2 levels, potentially reaching 50% on EU goods.

If there’s no deal, tariffs go back to April 2 levels on August 1.

Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary

The announcement invalidated weeks of investor planning around tariffs beginning in early July and crushed a rally that had built on optimism that Trump would not follow through on his most extreme threats. An original 90-day pause from April’s “reciprocal” tariffs had been set to expire Tuesday, with an EU agreement deadline hitting Wednesday.

Gold, which had gained nearly 2% the prior week, retreated to around $3,325 per ounce on Monday as short-term traders pulled back from risk positions. Despite this dip, gold remains up over 25% year-to-date and sits just under $170 shy of its April record high, supported by ETF inflows and central bank demand.

Silver surges to 14-year high as currency markets show mixed signals

Silver proved an outlier in the broader selloff, ripping to $37.225 on Monday, the highest price in nearly 14 years. That move stood out sharply against a market dominated by selling pressure in equities and near-term weakness in gold.

Currency markets showed scattered movement. The US Dollar Index dipped slightly to 96.90, while China’s Renminbi fell 0.07% to 7.1656, and the Japanese Yen slipped to 0.0069. The euro, pound, and ruble all traded just below neutral as traders waited for clarity on whether the August 1 tariff delay would yield deal-making or represent a hardening of Trump’s negotiating posture.

The CCS read. Bitcoin’s institutional accumulation, 50,000 BTC into US spot ETFs in one month, suggests large holders are treating tariff noise as an equity and dollar issue, not a crypto one. If tariffs do hit August 1 without a deal, we should watch whether that confidence holds or whether Bitcoin follows traditional risk-off behavior for the first time since the tariff timeline shifted.

The critical test arrives Wednesday, when the EU trade negotiation deadline hits. If no deal is reached, tariffs up to 50% on European goods are expected to take effect August 1, a move that could reignite equity selloff pressure and challenge the premise that large Bitcoin buyers are hedging against tariff-driven currency and inflation concerns. Watch whether institutional ETF flows into Bitcoin accelerate or pause if equities break decisively lower in the week ahead.

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Spot Bitcoin ETFs attract $50B as implied volatility sinks to 20-month low

Spot Bitcoin ETFs attract $50B as implied volatility sinks to 20-month low

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BitcoinCrypto Coin Show News Team·July 6, 2025·3 min read

Bitcoin’s implied volatility has fallen to a 20-month low even as US spot ETFs approach $50 billion in cumulative inflows, signaling institutional capital flowing into the market while retail on-chain activity stalls. This divergence, falling transaction volume paired with record ETF holdings, suggests a structural shift in how investors access and hold bitcoin.

  • US spot Bitcoin ETFs hold $137.6 billion worth of BTC and drew over $1 billion in net inflows across two days last week, nearing $50 billion cumulative total since launch
  • Bitcoin’s implied volatility hit its lowest level since October 2023, despite BTC trading at roughly three times the price from that period
  • Monthly on-chain transactions fell 15% in June versus May, forcing miners to include abnormally low-fee transactions in blocks
  • $137.6B Record ETF holdings of Bitcoin, up from $50B cumulative inflows to date
  • 20 months Duration since implied volatility last fell this low, in October 2023
  • 65,000 BTC Amount publicly traded companies purchased in June, worth roughly $7 billion

Bitcoin entered the second half of 2025 with muted on-chain activity and tightening price swings, even as institutional investors accelerated their accumulation. According to reporting from Cryptopolitan, the US spot Bitcoin ETF complex has drawn a surge of capital in recent days, with cumulative net inflows approaching $50 billion as of mid-June 2025. The funds now hold approximately $137.6 billion worth of BTC, a record high, compared with roughly $90 billion at the start of the year. This flow of institutional capital has coincided with the flattest price volatility the market has seen since October 2023, when bitcoin traded near $27,000.

ETF inflows hit record pace as miners dig into mempool

The two-day surge that pushed total inflows past $49 billion underscores Wall Street’s sustained appetite for spot exposure to bitcoin. Public companies echoed this institutional interest, purchasing around 65,000 BTC in June alone, valued at roughly $7 billion, according to BitcoinTreasuries. This activity contrasts sharply with the network itself: monthly transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain fell 15% in June compared to May, marking the lowest count since October 2023.

The transaction slowdown has become pronounced enough that miners have been forced to include abnormally low-fee transactions in blocks, suggesting retail users have stepped back from active on-chain movement.

A Glassnode analysis cited in the reporting suggests that network dominance is shifting toward institutional investors and whales, as high-value transactions grow more common relative to smaller transfers. Bitcoin futures volume has also declined, reinforcing the picture of a summer lull in retail engagement.

The separation between institutional capital inflows and retail on-chain activity signals a structural realignment: wealthy investors and firms are consolidating holdings through spot ETFs and direct purchases, while smaller users have retreated.

Kiyosaki dismisses crash warnings as bitcoin holds near $109,500

Against this backdrop of diverging institutional and retail flows, prominent investor Robert Kiyosaki has pushed back against bearish calls for a bitcoin correction. With BTC struggling to break through $109,500 resistance, some traders have positioned for a pullback toward $90,000. Kiyosaki wrote on X that crash warnings are “click bait” and “fear tactics aimed at shaking out weak hands,” reaffirming his long-term bullish conviction on the asset.

CLICK BAIT Losers keeps warning of a Bitcoin crash. They want to frighten off the speculators. I hope Bitcoin crashes. I will only buy more. Take care

Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad Poor Dad author

Kiyosaki maintains his 2030 target of $1 million per bitcoin, treating any dip as a buying opportunity rather than a capitulation signal.

The author’s comments arrive as macroeconomic conditions provide a tailwind for assets like bitcoin. A falling US Dollar Index typically supports upside pressure on dollar-denominated commodities and currencies, though near-term technical resistance at $109,500 has held.

Kiyosaki has stated separately that he favors silver in the immediate term, forecasting a potential 3x move to $105 by year-end, though he views bitcoin weakness as a long-term accumulation opportunity.

The CCS read. We see the ETF infrastructure absorbing what would once have been retail-driven volatility; institutions are building positions at lower velocity than markets might expect given the capital deployed. The combination of record ETF assets, flagging on-chain volume, and a 20-month volatility trough suggests that spot funds have become the default settlement layer for new bitcoin entrants, leaving the network itself quieter and older on average.

Watch whether the $109,500 resistance level holds or breaks in early July. If bitcoin closes decisively above that level, the next technical target sits near $120,000 and would open a path toward new all-time highs; a sustained break below $100,000, conversely, would test whether institutional ETF demand is sufficient to absorb selling pressure without retail participation spiking first.

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Metaplanet raises $208M in zero-interest bonds to fund Bitcoin accumulation strategy

Metaplanet raises $208M in zero-interest bonds to fund Bitcoin accumulation strategy

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BitcoinCrypto Coin Show News Team·July 2, 2025·5 min read

Metaplanet’s $208 million zero-interest bond issuance to accumulate Bitcoin exposes a fundamental leverage risk: the Tokyo-listed firm has no revenue stream to service debt if Bitcoin stalls, yet institutional demand for yield-free crypto plays remains robust, creating a test case for how far market enthusiasm can fund speculative balance-sheet engineering.

  • Metaplanet issued ¥30 billion ($208 million) in 0% bonds to buy 1,005 BTC, raising total holdings to 13,350 coins valued at $1.4 billion.
  • The company aims to accumulate 210,000 BTC (1% of all Bitcoin ever) by 2027 through a $5.4 billion “555 Million Plan” via bonds and capital raises.
  • CEO reports 349% year-to-date yield from Bitcoin strategy, but critics warn the debt-funded model risks insolvency if Bitcoin price declines sharply.
  • $208M Zero-interest bond issuance by Metaplanet in June 2025
  • 13,350 Bitcoin holdings after latest purchase, up from 3,350 three months prior
  • $5.4B Capital target through 2027 to reach 210,000 BTC accumulation goal

Metaplanet, a publicly traded Tokyo Stock Exchange company, issued zero-interest bonds to fund what may be the most aggressive corporate Bitcoin accumulation strategy yet attempted by a debt-financed firm. In June 2025, the company raised ¥30 billion ($208 million) through ordinary bonds carrying no interest, using the capital to purchase 1,005 additional Bitcoin at an average price of $107,601 per coin. The move, first reported by Cryptopolitan, reflects a broader shift in institutional attitudes toward crypto-backed leverage, yet it also crystallizes a structural risk that mirrors patterns seen in previous financial implosions.

EVO Fund’s entire subscription signals institutional appetite for zero-cost leverage in Japan

The entire bond offering was subscribed by EVO Fund, a private institutional investor, at 0% interest, a fact that underscores growing institutional hunger for alternative yield strategies in a Japanese market where ultra-low interest rates and yen weakness have eroded traditional savings returns.

The willingness of a major investor to deploy capital at zero carry cost on a crypto-heavy firm suggests confidence in Bitcoin’s structural value and in Metaplanet’s execution, or at minimum, a conviction that the bet is worth taking on principal appreciation alone.

Before deploying the capital toward Bitcoin, Metaplanet used a small portion of proceeds to retire ¥1.75 billion ($12 million) in bonds carrying a 0.36% annual rate. This refinancing move, swapping a positive-carry obligation for zero cost, illustrates the financial engineering at the core of the strategy. The remaining $196 million went directly into Bitcoin purchases.

Metaplanet now holds 13,350 BTC, surpassing Tesla and Galaxy Digital

The bond issuance accelerated what was already an aggressive accumulation curve: Metaplanet’s holdings quadrupled to 13,350 BTC from 3,350 BTC in the prior three months, positioning the firm as the world’s third-largest corporate Bitcoin holder after MicroStrategy and Marathon Digital.

That trajectory is set to steepen further. Metaplanet’s stated “555 Million Plan” targets $5.4 billion in capital raises through 2025 and 2026, intended to fund purchases reaching 100,000 BTC by year-end 2026 and 210,000 BTC by 2027, equivalent to 1% of all Bitcoin that will ever exist.

At current prices, that target would represent a $23 billion position, a venture that would rank Metaplanet as a top-five holder globally and redefine it from a trading company into a macro Bitcoin fund with leverage.

CEO claims 349% year-to-date return, but the balance sheet carries no income to service debt

CEO Simon Gerovich has publicly stated that Metaplanet’s Bitcoin strategy has delivered a 349% year-to-date yield, a figure that reflects the rally in Bitcoin price rather than operational revenue. This is the critical flaw in the capital structure: Bitcoin generates no cash flow, pays no dividend, and produces no intrinsic income unless sold.

Metaplanet holds debt obligations that mature at fixed dates and must be repaid in full, yet the only way to service that debt is to liquidate holdings into a volatile, uncontrolled market or to access new capital from increasingly skeptical investors.

The firm is not a productive enterprise borrowing to expand capacity or infrastructure; it is a balance-sheet levered bet that Bitcoin will appreciate enough to cover principal repayment and generate net gains.

That model works in a rising market. If Bitcoin were to decline 20% or 30%, moves that have occurred multiple times in the asset’s history, the paper losses would accelerate. Metaplanet would face pressure to liquidate holdings at depressed prices, destroying the narrative that justified the original bond raise and eroding investor confidence rapidly.

The parallel to Archegos Capital’s leverage collapse in 2021, Terra-Luna’s implosion in 2022, and earlier financial blowups is instructive: aggressive borrowing to fund non-productive assets masked fragility that only became visible when external conditions shifted.

Regulatory scrutiny and refinancing risk loom as debt obligations grow

Metaplanet’s near-term stock performance has been robust, the share price rose roughly 10% immediately after the bond announcement, suggesting that market sentiment remains bullish on Bitcoin price appreciation and on the firm’s ability to execute its accumulation plan. That confidence is real but contingent: it reflects a bet on Bitcoin, not on Metaplanet’s operational resilience.

Longer-term risks compound as the debt stack grows. Japanese financial regulators have not yet moved to restrict zero-interest leverage for crypto-heavy firms, but that tolerance may not persist if Metaplanet’s debt obligations reach multi-billion-dollar scale or if Bitcoin volatility spikes.

Capital markets could also tighten, making it harder for Metaplanet to refinance maturing bonds or to access the $5.4 billion in fresh funding it requires to reach its 210,000 BTC target by 2027.

Even small operational missteps, missed targets, regulatory warnings, or shifts in institutional appetite for zero-cost debt, could trigger a rapid reassessment of the firm’s balance sheet and a sharp reversal in equity valuation.

The CCS read. We read Metaplanet’s bet as a stress test for how much leverage institutional capital will tolerate in service of crypto narratives. The 0% bond structure works only if Bitcoin price momentum persists and refinancing windows remain open. If either condition breaks, the firm could face a liquidity crunch or forced asset sales at losses. The real question for holders: is the stock pricing Bitcoin appreciation, or is it pricing execution risk that the market has yet to price into the valuation?

Watch for Metaplanet’s Q3 and Q4 2025 bond issuances under the “555 Million Plan”, whether institutional investors continue to subscribe at 0% rates, or whether spreads begin to widen. Any shift in EVO Fund’s appetite, a regulatory warning from Japan’s FSA, or a 20%+ Bitcoin decline would signal a broader repricing of leverage-funded crypto strategies. Metaplanet’s success or failure over the next 12 months will influence how aggressively other public firms pursue similar structures.

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Senator Lummis proposes $300 exemption for crypto mining and staking transactions

Senator Lummis proposes $300 exemption for crypto mining and staking transactions

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AI NewsCrypto Coin Show News Team·July 1, 2025·4 min read

Senator Lummis is pushing for a $300 de minimis exemption and tax timing reform for crypto miners and stakers in the Senate reconciliation bill, addressing long-standing double-taxation issues that institutional participants face. The amendment’s inclusion depends on passage through both chambers by Friday, with crypto advocacy groups actively lobbying lawmakers.

  • $300 de minimis threshold would exempt small mining and staking transactions from immediate reporting requirements
  • Lummis’ proposal aligns taxation with actual economic gain rather than block reward receipt, reducing cash flow burden
  • Senate must vote on amendment this week; bill must clear House before reaching Trump’s desk by Friday
  • $300 Proposed de minimis threshold for exempt mining and staking transaction reporting
  • 1,000+ Page count of Senate reconciliation bill under current consideration
  • $3.3T Congressional Budget Office estimate of debt increase from Trump tax and spending measures

Senator Cynthia Lummis is leveraging the Senate reconciliation process to address what crypto advocates describe as punitive taxation of miners and stakers, seeking relief through targeted amendments to the sprawling fiscal package now under consideration. According to reporting first published by Cryptopolitan, the Wyoming Republican has outlined two distinct reforms: a de minimis exemption set at $300 and a timing realignment that defers taxation until miners and stakers realize actual economic benefit by selling their rewards rather than taxing them at receipt. The distinction matters to institutional participants because current Internal Revenue Service practice requires reporting the fair market value of block rewards on the day they are earned, creating what advocates call double taxation when those same assets are taxed again upon sale.

Lummis proposes $300 exemption and deferred taxation for mining rewards

A briefing document obtained by industry reporters details the Wyoming senator’s core argument: miners and stakers face cash flow strain when required to pay taxes on assets they have not yet sold and may struggle to liquidate quickly.

Under Lummis’ proposal, taxation would align with the moment taxpayers gain economic benefit, the point of sale, rather than forcing them to estimate values on volatile dates with uncertain market pricing.

The de minimis threshold of $300 would exempt transactions below that value from immediate reporting, reducing compliance burden for small-scale participants while preserving revenue collection on larger mining operations.

Crypto advocacy organizations have mobilized behind the amendment. Matthew Pines, Executive Director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, posted on X calling for constituents to contact Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Finance Committee ranking Republican Mike Crapo to voice support.

Kristin Smith, president of the Solana Policy Institute, framed fair staking taxation as essential for US competitiveness in digital assets, arguing that tax clarity would drive job creation and local growth.

Congress votes this week as Trump demands Friday deadline

The Senate is currently voting on multiple proposed amendments to the reconciliation bill, with President Trump demanding Republicans pass the legislation by Friday (September 19). The measure must survive House approval before reaching the president’s desk.

The timing pressure creates both risk and opportunity for Lummis’ proposal. Reconciliation bills typically move quickly through procedural stages and face a lower amendment threshold than standard legislation, but the compressed schedule and size of the package, over 1,000 pages, mean only amendments with broad support are likely to survive.

No crypto amendment has yet cleared both chambers in a reconciliation process, making the political pathway uncertain despite support from industry groups.

Double taxation issue affects institutional mining and staking operations

Institutional miners and professional stakers operating at scale face annual tax bills on unrealized gains that can exceed the cash proceeds from selling rewards. A mining operation earning $1 million in block rewards would owe federal income tax on the full $1 million value at receipt, then capital gains tax again when those rewards are sold weeks or months later at potentially higher prices.

Lummis’ proposal would defer the income tax event to the sale date, collapsing the two taxable events into one and creating a clearer alignment between taxable income and actual cash flow.

This structural problem has driven institutional capital toward mining jurisdictions outside the United States, including El Salvador, Iceland and parts of Canada, where tax treatment is more favorable.

The CCS read. We see the amendment’s real target as institutional mining operations planning multi-year capital deployment in the US. A $300 de minimis threshold is symbolic, most meaningful mining occurs well above that, but timing reform would genuinely lower the cost of US mining operations by 20 to 30 percent, depending on reward volatility. That’s enough to shift capital allocation decisions and anchor institutional hash rate domestically.

Senate amendments vote Thursday (September 18), with final passage targeted for Friday morning. If Lummis’ proposal survives the Senate floor and clears the reconciliation process, the House will vote on the complete bill by late Friday; any amendments rejected by the House would require a second Senate vote before Trump can sign. Pines and Smith have both urged constituents to contact Crapo, whose Finance Committee controls the bill’s tax language and holds implicit veto power over amendments that reach the floor.

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Spanish Coffee Chain Vanadi approves €1B Bitcoin bet

Spanish Coffee Chain Vanadi approves €1B Bitcoin bet

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The board of directors of Vanadi Coffee, a publicly traded coffee chain headquartered in Alicante, Spain, has just signed off on a plan to see the company invest up to €1 billion — roughly $1.17 billion — in Bitcoin. 

The move, approved by shareholders on June 29, signals a significant departure of the company from previous financial policies, pushing it to the vanguard of corporate adoption of Bitcoin in Spain.

A new solution for Bitcoin adherents, the firm has so far purchased 54 BTC, worth around €5.8 million at current prices, and is also eyeing wider expansions. In a recent filing with BME Growth — Spain’s growth division for small- and medium-sized enterprises — Vanadi hinted that they wished to become the largest business holder of Bitcoin in Spain.

Vanadi’s stock price went parabolic following the company’s Bitcoin play, increasing more than threefold in June. The increase marks an apparent increase in investor appetite for companies leveraging digital assets as a treasury strategy.

Vanadi had said in its translated announcement:

“Similar to companies such as Strategy or Metaplanet, Vanadi Coffee redefines its business model and will use Bitcoin as its main reserve asset and accumulate large amounts of Bitcoin as part of its treasury.”

The company is looking to replicate the high-wager Bitcoin treasury models of Strategy, which holds over 200,000 BTC, and Metaplanet. The Japanese firm has recently tweaked its balance sheet policy to the pro-Bitcoin side.

Vanadi struggles to recover with a Bitcoin bet

Vanadi’s had been struggling financially and operationally; its 2024 financial statement lists that it was operating at a loss of €3.3m, an increase of 15.8% from the previous period.

Competition and operating costs have eaten away at profitability bit by bit as the cost of coffee has risen ever higher, dragging the firm further into financial strain.

Meanwhile, Vanadi was looking for more money to build long-term. It received two large investment offers in May. One was from a tiny local software consultancy, a one-man outfit in Alicante, and he offered 50 million euros. The other was Alpha Blue Ocean, an international firm that announced it would back 15 companies in 15 countries with over €1.5 billion in investment.

Critics raise concerns over Vanadi’s ambitious Bitcoin move

Vanadi’s daring foray into Bitcoin is not risk-free. The company has a handful of stores serving espresso and pastries, and it is now dipping a toe in the complex world of crypto treasury management.

But analysts and sceptics have raised red flags. They also note that Vanadi’s small size, slim operating margins and inexperience in crypto could be left open to volatility and then to scrutiny by regulators.

Unlike Strategy, whose tech-focused leadership team has many years of experience navigating capital markets, Vanadi’s management has a steep learning curve ahead.

And the regulatory climate for digital assets in Spain is also conservative. It’s not part of an activist group, but it is dynamic, and screwing any of this up in compliance or implementation would be expensive.

Vanadi is not alone, though. Companies worldwide are adding Bitcoin to their treasury, which is becoming a trend. US-based crypto firm Bakkt recently revealed its intentions to purchase as much as $1 billion of Bitcoin. Tesla and Coinbase are among the companies that have pursued comparable treasury strategies.

What sets Vanadi apart, however, is the scale of its ambition relative to its core business. A €1 billion Bitcoin bet on a café chain with six locations and persistent losses is an aggressive bet by any measure.

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Robinhood expands on crypto futures launched earlier this year

Robinhood expands on crypto futures launched earlier this year

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Robinhood Markets is deepening its crypto push with the launch of micro-futures contracts for three major digital assets: Bitcoin (BTC), Ripple (XRP), and Solana (SOL). Announced on Friday, the move marks a significant expansion of the company’s crypto derivatives offerings.

The new contracts are part of Robinhood’s larger mission of bringing complex financial products to the masses of retail traders.

Micro futures allow traders to bet for or against the price action of digital assets with much less of an upfront investment. Each contract contracts at a smaller size than the standard size of a futures contract, thus allowing for smaller individual retail trading positions and a relatively low risk and lesser investment.

Per the announcement, micro Bitcoin Friday futures, micro XRP futures, and micro Solana futures are now listed on the platform. All contracts are cash-settled and traded almost 24 hours a day, five days a week.

“These products are intentionally built to be intuitive and user-friendly,” Robinhood said. “They help to democratize access to crypto futures markets for the everyday retail investor.”

With these new futures, Robinhood is looking to cater to an increasing portion of retail traders hungry for more flexible and diversified crypto trading options but do not want to jump to more sophisticated and expensive platforms like Binance or CME.

Robinhood expands on crypto futures launched earlier this year

Introducing these new futures comes on top of Robinhood’s derivatives products already on the market. In early 2024, Robinhood introduced crypto futures, with Bitcoin and Ethereum the first to be offered. Those were followed by micro Bitcoin and Friday futures — weekly contracts designed to capture Friday price volatility.

The new XRP and Solana futures offer Robinhood’s futures to four crypto assets. XRP and Solana are two of the most actively traded altcoins on the market. Their debut is an indication that there is an appetite for more diverse crypto derivatives than just Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Robinhood’s crypto futures contracts are fully cash-settled, so no actual crypto is delivered. This gives traders exposure to price without taking responsibility for wallets or custody.

The company has also slowly stepped up its futures offerings beyond crypto. The firm now enables trading in futures tied to indices, currencies, and commodities — all part of an overall shift to become a one-stop shop for modern investing.

Robinhood pushes global expansion after Bitstamp acquisition

And Robinhood’s push into crypto is also part of its broader global strategy. Previously, in June, it finalized its purchase of Bitstamp, one of the world’s oldest, most respected crypto exchanges, for about $200 million.

Bitstamp has a solid infrastructure, a growing international customer base, and relevant regulatory licenses in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Robinhood received over 50 active licenses and registrations with the acquisition, equipped to expand its crypto operations outside the US.

This is largely interpreted as a reaction to increasing competition in the global crypto sector. Large exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance have widened internationally, especially in more crypto-friendly regulatory environments.

Robinhood is also considering the purchase of WonderFi, a Canadian digital asset platform backed by the investor and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary. This particular takeover would further solidify their footprint in Canada and bring some DeFi to their existing offerings.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has been emphatic that his company views crypto as a long-term growth focus. Lately, he has described Robinhood’s vision to become a “financial super app” that does everything from stock trading to banking, crypto, and financial education.

Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon – A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More

Brian Armstrong declares weekly Bitcoin buys as Coinbase hits All-Time High

Brian Armstrong declares weekly Bitcoin buys as Coinbase hits All-Time High

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Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, has publicly declared that they buy Bitcoin weekly, reaffirming his bullish stance on the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

The announcement on X (formerly Twitter) came as Coinbase shares hit an all-time high of $375.07, surpassing its previous record from November 2021.

The comment suggests Armstrong and his company’s strong belief in Bitcoin as a long-term store of value. On multiple occasions, Armstrong has suggested that Bitcoin’s price could someday go into millions of dollars.

Armstrong also suggested it won’t be long before nations start putting Bitcoin on their balance sheets, a shift that could redefine global demand and establish the asset as a player in world politics. Some dismissed it as overly speculative, but others pointed out that countries like El Salvador and the Central African Republic have already moved in that direction.

Whether symbolic or strategic, Armstrong’s consistent Bitcoin purchases reflect a growing trend among crypto leaders and institutional investors who see BTC as a hedge against inflation, currency volatility, and systemic risk.

Market confidence drives Coinbase to a new peak

Coinbase Global Inc. shares closed at the highest level ever, capping off a rally fueled by the growing acceptance of the cryptocurrency industry on Wall Street and Washington.

The crypto-exchange operator’s stock rose 5.5% on Thursday to $375.07. The previous high was $357.39 in November 2021, just months after the company went public through a direct listing.

Coinbase shares have surged more than 1,000% from a record low in late 2022, which came as the collapse of FTX raised questions about the future of digital assets. The stock’s comeback occurred as cryptocurrency prices rebounded and the industry won powerful new allies, including US President Donald Trump. Just last month, Coinbase was added to the prestigious S&P 500 Index.

This extraordinary revival comes after a dark period in the crypto industry. FTX and other heavyweights crashed in 2022, leading to the absurdly high skepticism rate about digital assets. Few of the largest exchanges were left unscathed, and Coinbase was one of the few that didn’t get whacked, leaving it as a safe player in a chaotic industry.

Now, renewed optimism is back. Institutional capital is moving in, retail traders are coming back, and financial giants like BlackRock and Fidelity are plowing ahead with crypto products. Coinbase recently joined the S&P 500 Index, a sign of increasing legitimacy in traditional finance.

Analysts say the wider recovery in Bitcoin and Ethereum prices and greater regulatory clarity are helping lift investors’ confidence in Coinbase. The exchange’s various revenue streams, including trading fees, custody services, and institutional partnerships, have also contributed to its stock performance.

US lawmakers boost crypto sentiment with policy shift

The return of Coinbase also coincides with growing regulatory clarity and political support of digital assets in the United States. Washington is warming to crypto after years of hostility and uncertainty.

Legislation on the horizon on stablecoins and clearer signals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are also helping the sector lay down the law. Bipartisan backing in Congress has added fresh momentum to bills that could provide transparency and oversight, particularly in critical functions including custody, staking, and decentralized finance.

President Donald Trump has publicly supported crypto innovation, unlike previous administrations. Under his rule, there has been a huge policy expansion in the domain of crypto, such as creating a crypto reserve for the country.

Coinbase, a longtime advocate for reasonable regulation, has been one of the most vocal in communicating with legislative staff and regulatory agencies. And it is paying off.

Investors, analysts, and crypto enthusiasts these days see Coinbase as not just an exchange but also a bridge between the digital economy and the traditional financial system.

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Zak Folkman highlights growing interest in World Liberty Financial's stablecoin

Zak Folkman highlights growing interest in World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin

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World Liberty Financial Inc., a decentralized finance platform linked to the Trump family, is attracting significant interest from public companies exploring using its token as a treasury asset, according to co-founder Zak Folkman.

Speaking at the Permissionless crypto conference in New York on Wednesday, June 25, Folkman also announced the launch of the new World Liberty Financial App.

Folkman anticipates USD1 becoming the biggest stablecoin by market cap

Crypto treasury firms have become popular since the success of Strategy, the company Michael Saylor leads. The firm has over $60 billion worth of Bitcoin on its balance sheet and a market capitalization surging to over $100 billion.

Folkman noted that several companies admire Michael Saylor and his accomplishments. This is particularly true of his strategy and his promotion of companies keeping their crypto reserves.

Goodfood Market Corp., Semler Scientific Inc., and Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. are some companies that have revealed plans or started their own efforts to hold cryptocurrency. 

Meanwhile, companies are changing the Strategy Playbook by using alternative tokens instead of Bitcoin when implementing their plans. 

For instance, Upexi raised $100 million to purchase the Solana token last week to keep in its treasury, while Sharplink Inc. holds $425 million worth of the second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether.

Folkman also weighed on the future potential of World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin, valued at approximately $2.1 billion. Notably, the largest stablecoin is USDT, from Tether, which has about $156.8 billion in circulation.

Based on Folkman’s speculations, they have tackled the challenges that a company will encounter, and now it is just a matter of time before USD1 becomes the biggest stablecoin by market cap.

He further anticipated that everyone would come to this conclusion when they witness several developments in the upcoming months.

With the Genesis Act, one of the main US stablecoin laws, set to pass into law, digital dollar-pegged assets have become even more attractive to investors.

Fintech firms adopt the growing trend of launching stablecoins 

Apart from public companies showing interest in stablecoins, fintech firms have adopted this trend and aim to follow World Liberty Financial’s lead in launching stablecoins.

Fiserv announced that it plans to release a stablecoin, amid increasing interest in the token from US companies as the cryptos move toward the mainstream.

The announcement followed the US Senate passing a milestone stablecoin bill that analysts said could represent a turning point in the crypto oversight debate and a breakthrough for a sector stuck in regulatory limbo for years.

The fintech company said its stablecoin, FIUSD, will be embedded into its existing banking and payments platform by the end of the year. The company added that FIUSD will use stablecoin infrastructure delivered from Paxos and Circle Internet.

Shares of Circle, the issuer of the second-largest stablecoin by market value, were up 15%, and Fiserv and PayPal were up 2.3% and 1.7% respectively.

Stablecoins are tied to currencies such as the US dollar and are meant to maintain a consistent value from reserves held. Once a niche corner of crypto, they have become popular for their ability to protect from price swings.

Fintech companies and traditional banks use stablecoins more frequently to make cross-border payments easier, speed up transactions, and expand access to digital finance. 

Analysts at TD Cowen mentioned that they view the launch as a sign of Fiserv’s skill in quickly innovating and utilizing its central role between banks and merchants to connect old and new payment systems.

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BitGo’s assets under custody jumped to $100B in H1 2025

BitGo’s assets under custody jumped to $100B in H1 2025

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The value of digital assets under BitGo Inc.’s custody has surged. BitGo’s vice president for its Asia-Pacific business, Abel Seow, said it had seen its assets under custody (AUC) rise from $60B to $100B in the first six months of the year.

It represents a 66% increase, demonstrating the growing appetite among institutional and retail players to participate in the crypto-economy. Seow said that the rise was driven by “peak retail interest” in crypto, increasing asset adoption, and greater regulatory clarity in major jurisdictions.

Crypto confidence is growing among investors, as is evident in the demand for secure and regulated custody services.

One big driver of the increase in BitGo’s assets is “staking,” which involves crypto holders locking up their tokens to help validate blockchain transactions and, in exchange, earn passive income.

Today, assets in BitGo Staking represent 50% of BitGo’s total holdings, where yield-based strategies are a core investment theme for modern digital asset holders.

BitGo expands into global markets

BitGo, which was established in 2013, initially offered secure wallets but has since developed into a one-stop shop crypto bank. In addition to custody, BitGo provides clients with the capabilities to trade, borrow, and lend digital assets. It has clients that include institutional investors and firms born on the blockchain.

Over the past year, the company has been growing quickly internationally. BitGo Korea was released in September 2024 with Hana Financial Group and SK Telecom, two of South Korea’s largest financial and telecommunications companies.

Seow said the joint venture is “progressing well” and has begun offering its services to high-net-worth clients and regional institutional participants.

Also, in early 2025, BitGo officially seeded its Dubai operations, entering the region’s growing digital asset ecosystem. Crypto stronghold Dubai has established itself as a burgeoning hub in its own right on the backs of business-friendly regulation and investor appetite.

BitGo’s growing reach reflects a larger trend in the industry; crypto firms no longer want to concentrate only on the US and Europe in traditional markets. Instead, they seek to go global to service local demand, particularly in areas where regulation is favorable and smartphone penetration rates are high.

BitGo plans IPO as crypto market heats up

Riding the wave, BitGo is getting ready for a potential public listing as soon as the second half of 2025, reports Bloomberg. The move would make the company part of an emerging wave of crypto-native firms seeking to tap into public markets, with renewed investor confidence and a more friendly regulatory environment pushing these firms into the spotlight.

BitGo’s IPO strategy is part of a wider trend related to a change in the US approach under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been particularly friendly to crypto since returning to office.

BitGo was last valued in 2023 at $1.75 billion in connection with a $100 million capital raise. Returning to the underwriters, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., DRW Holdings, Redpoint Ventures, and Valor Equity Partners are all backers of the digital asset custody powerhouse, which means that it doesn’t exactly take a crystal ball to guess which four banks might be involved in the IPO.

During his tenure, there have been appointments of crypto-friendly regulators, an attempt to slide through stablecoin legislation, and even Trump’s projects into the digital asset arena.

There has been so much change in political tone compared to past governments, which makes it easier and more predictable for crypto companies planning to grow and compete for institutional money.

In its most recent round of financing, in 2023, Bitgo was said to have a value of $1.75 billion, according to reports, in connection with raising $100 million in capital. And back to the underwriters, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., DRW Holdings, Redpoint Ventures, and Valor Equity Partners are all backers of the digital asset custody powerhouse.

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NYSE Arca to list Truth Social Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs

NYSE Arca to list Truth Social Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs

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The New York Stock Exchange’s digital arm, NYSE Arca, has filed with regulators seeking to list a new Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF). 

The filing, dated Tuesday and filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is for listing the Truth Social Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF, a fund that would invest 75% of its assets in Bitcoin and 25% in Ethereum.

The ETF filing from Trump Media comes just eight days after the firm behind the SPAC filed its prospectus with the official CT attorney general, Yorkville America, representing a significant ramp of the company’s crypto strategy.

Trump Media, which is majority-owned by President Donald Trump, has recently shifted into high gear in promoting financial products tied to blockchain technologies that can afford the public a taste of crypto via regulated investment vehicles.

If approved, the filing would be the second related to a Truth Social-branded ETF in less than a month. The first, Truth Social Bitcoin ETF, submitted its filing in early June, and it was Bitcoin only. 

Both filings emphasize TMTG’s goal to establish itself as more than a social media and media streaming brand, betting instead that it can be taken seriously in the crypto finance space.

Crypto.com to manage and secure ETF operations

TMTG and Yorkville America have partnered with Crypto.com, a top-tier exchange, to manage the ETF’s deep-tech infrastructure. Crypto.com will provide digital asset custody, act as the execution agent for crypto transactions, and ensure liquidity for smooth fund operations.

In the filing with the SEC, NYSE Arca explained that the proposed listing would attempt to comply with the relevant regulations. “The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the shares will be listed and traded on the exchange under the initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE,” the filing read.

This proposal falls under the SEC’s 19b-4 rule change process, which exchanges use when they propose to offer new financial products. The filing is a key regulatory milestone, but does not guarantee approval. The SEC decides whether to allow or reject a listing, typically following public comment and internal review.

Trump influence shifts SEC crypto stance

The SEC’s position on digital currency seems to be changeable under the incumbent administration of President Donald Trump. The agency, which was once seen as cautious and sometimes skeptical of digital assets, has started to take that more positive view.

That tone change comes after several senior SEC positions have been filled, with several appointees seen as sympathetic to the development of crypto markets and increased investor access more generally.

Even President Trump has transformed his outlook dramatically. He criticized cryptocurrencies in his first term but has become one of their most outspoken political supporters. Indeed, during recent campaign speeches and public appearances, Trump referred to digital assets as instruments of “financial freedom” and has since integrated blockchain solutions into public policy projects.

The increasing political support also gives momentum to Trump Media & Technology Group’s (TMTG) accelerating push into the crypto space. In collaboration with Yorkville America and Crypto.com, it announced the launch of a new suite of blockchain-based financial products under the ”America First.”

Some offerings it is considering include the America First Bitcoin Fund, America First Blockchain Leaders Fund, and the America First Stablecoin Income Fund.

But so far, just two products, the Truth Social Bitcoin ETF and the Truth Social Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF, have been formally filed with the SEC. The rest are conceptual and have not yet made any regulatory submissions.

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