Indonesia Implements New Crypto Tax Regulations
Starting August 1, 2025, Indonesia will enforce updated tax policies on cryptocurrency transactions. Domestic trades will now incur a 0.21% tax, up from 0.1%, while transactions on foreign platforms will face a 1% fee, increased from 0.2%. The Value Added Tax (VAT) for buyers is being eliminated, and the VAT on crypto mining will double from 1.1% to 2.2%. These changes reflect the nation’s growing crypto sector, which saw over 20 million users and transactions totaling 650 trillion rupiah ($39.67 billion) in 2024.
Kraken Seeks $500 Million Funding at $15 Billion Valuation
Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is reportedly aiming to raise $500 million in funding, valuing the company at $15 billion. This move underscores strong investor interest in digital asset firms, driven by increased regulatory clarity and institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. Kraken has been actively expanding, including a $1.5 billion acquisition of futures trading platform NinjaTrader in March.
President Trump Signs GENIUS Act into Law
On July 18, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act, establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins—digital currencies pegged to stable assets like the U.S. dollar. The bipartisan legislation aims to provide consumer protections and regulatory clarity, positioning the U.S. as a leader in the cryptocurrency industry. The act also prohibits members of Congress and their families from profiting from stablecoins, though this restriction does not apply to the president.
JPMorgan Considers Crypto-Backed Loans
JPMorgan Chase is evaluating the possibility of offering loans backed by clients’ cryptocurrency holdings, marking a significant shift in traditional banking’s approach to digital assets. The bank is considering accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum as collateral, indicating a broader acceptance of digital currencies by major financial institutions.
Trump Media Files for ‘Crypto Blue Chip ETF’
Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a new cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) named the “Crypto Blue Chip ETF.” The ETF plans to invest primarily in five major cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Ripple’s XRP, and Crypto.com’s token. This initiative aims to simplify crypto investment for the public without direct crypto purchases.
FBI Seizes $2.4 Million in Bitcoin from Chaos Ransomware Operation
The FBI’s Dallas office has seized nearly 23 Bitcoins, valued at approximately $2.4 million, from a cryptocurrency address linked to the Chaos ransomware group. This action is part of ongoing efforts to combat cyberattacks and extortion schemes targeting companies in Texas.
German Banks to Offer Crypto Services
Germany’s Sparkasse is set to launch cryptocurrency trading services for private clients, ending a long-standing prohibition. DekaBank will facilitate these services through the Sparkasse app, with plans to begin trading by summer 2026. This development signifies a growing acceptance of digital assets within traditional banking institutions.
Solana Staking ETF Expected to Debut Soon
A Solana staking ETF is anticipated to be listed this week, following REX Shares’ announcement of the ‘REX-Osprey SOL+Staking ETF.’ This ETF aims to track Solana’s performance through on-chain staking, offering investors exposure to the cryptocurrency’s staking rewards.
BitMine Immersion Raises $250 Million for Ether Treasury
BitMine Immersion Technologies has raised $250 million through a private stock placement to establish an Ether treasury. Following the announcement, the company’s shares surged 222% premarket. The financing included notable investors and appointed crypto expert Thomas Lee as Chairman.
Filecoin (FIL) Leads Market Gains
The CoinDesk 20 Index is up 2.5% to 3017.9, with Filecoin (FIL) leading gains at 7.3%, followed by Solana (SOL) at 6.2%. This upward trend reflects growing investor confidence in these digital assets.
Ethereum Approaches Key Resistance Level
Ethereum has surged to a critical resistance zone near $2,550, where multiple technical indicators suggest a potential rejection unless volume increases significantly. Traders are closely monitoring this level for potential breakout or pullback scenarios.
Metaplanet Receives ‘Buy’ Rating
Benchmark has initiated coverage of Metaplanet with a ‘Buy’ rating and a price target of ¥2,400, highlighting the company’s ambitious strategy to acquire 210,000 Bitcoins by 2027. This endorsement reflects confidence in Metaplanet’s long-term vision within the cryptocurrency space.
Ethereum Community Launches Anniversary Time Capsule
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Ethereum’s genesis block, the community will introduce an on-chain time capsule. This initiative allows users to store encrypted memories for a fee of $2.5 in ETH, commemorating a decade of Ethereum’s existence and innovation.
Eightcap Introduces CoinDesk 20 CFD for Retail Traders
Eightcap has launched a contract for difference (CFD) based on the CoinDesk 20 Index, available to retail traders in fiat and USDT pairs. This offering provides traders with exposure to a diversified basket of cryptocurrencies through a single instrument.
Kraken Launches Tokenized Stock Trading
Kraken has introduced xStocks, allowing users to trade over 60 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs, including major names like Nvidia and Apple. This service offers self-custodial options, bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.
Bitcoin Outperforms Gold
The BTC-gold ratio surged over 10% to 33.33 last week, indicating Bitcoin’s strong performance against gold. This breakout from a bullish flag pattern suggests potential for the ratio to reach 42.00, highlighting Bitcoin’s growing appeal as a store of value.
Blockchain Group Increases Bitcoin Holdings
The Blockchain Group has acquired an additional 60 BTC, raising its total to 1,788 BTC, valued at approximately €161.3 million. This accumulation reflects the company’s confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value proposition.
Interactive Brokers Explores Stablecoin Launch
Interactive Brokers is considering launching its own stablecoin as part of its expanding digital asset strategy. Founder Thomas Peterffy confirmed this exploration, indicating the firm’s commitment to integrating cryptocurrency services.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Experience Price Dip
Bitcoin and Ethereum have underperformed as altcoins recorded losses, resulting in the recent crypto rally stalling. Investors are assessing market conditions to determine potential recovery or further decline.
BTCS Expands Ethereum Holdings
Nasdaq-listed BTCS has increased its Ethereum treasury by 14,240 ETH through a $55 million investment, reaching total holdings of 70,028 ETH. This expansion underscores the company’s bullish stance on Ethereum’s future prospects.
SharpLink Gaming Invests $295 Million in Ethereum
SharpLink Gaming has purchased $295 million worth of Ether, bringing its total holdings to 438,000 ETH. This significant investment reflects the company’s strategic focus on Ethereum as a key asset in its portfolio.
FBI Seizes $2.4 Million in Bitcoin from Chaos Ransomware Operation
The FBI’s Dallas office has seized nearly 23 Bitcoins, valued at approximately $2.4 million, from a cryptocurrency address linked to the Chaos ransomware group. This action is part of ongoing efforts to combat cyberattacks and extortion schemes targeting companies in Texas.
New Linux Malware Targets Systems via Panda Images
A new Linux malware named Koske has been discovered, using seemingly benign JPEG images of panda bears to deploy malicious code directly into system memory. This sophisticated attack highlights the evolving nature of cyber threats in the cryptocurrency space.
BigONE Exchange Suffers $27 Million Crypto Breach
Cryptocurrency exchange BigONE announced a security breach resulting in the theft of various digital assets valued at $27 million. The incident underscores the importance of robust security measures within crypto platforms.
Malicious VSCode Extension Leads to $500K Crypto Theft
A fake extension for the Cursor AI IDE code editor infected devices with remote access tools and infostealers, leading to the theft of $500,000 in cryptocurrency from a Russian crypto developer. This case highlights
