The Conversation (0)
Crypto Market Update: Markets Pull Back After Fed Opts to Keep Current Interest Rate
Bitcoin and Ethereum price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$16,964, down by 0.5 percent over the last 24 hours. Its highest valuation on Wednesday was US$118,644, while its lowest valuation was US$116,079.
Bitcoin price performance, July 30, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Markets rallied briefly following the release of the White House's crypto policy report, which called for greater SEC clarity and new legislation to regulate digital assets, but pulled back after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and warned of slowing economic growth.
Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$3,764.26, down by 0.1 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$3,708.13, and its highest was US$3,820.17.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$176.09, down by 2.9 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$173.22, and its highest was US$179.83.
- XRP was trading for US$3.10, down by 0.6 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.04, and its highest valuation was US$3.15.
- Sui (SUI) is trading at US$3.77, down 1.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.66, and its highest was US$3.81.
- Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7600, down by 2.3 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$0.7414, and its highest was US$0.7759.
Today's crypto news to know
Ethereum marks a decade since launch
Ethereum marked its 10th anniversary on July 30 with growing corporate interest in Ether as a potential treasury reserve asset.
The Ethereum network launched in 2015 and has since maintained uninterrupted uptime, becoming the backbone of the decentralized finance (DeFi) movement. In the lead-up to the anniversary, Ether’s price approached US$4,000, driven in part by renewed institutional inflows and growing confidence in the asset’s long-term utility.
The Ethereum Foundation will commemorate the milestone by issuing celebratory NFTs and organizing more than 100 events globally.
A live broadcast featuring Vitalik Buterin, Joseph Lubin, and Tim Beiko will also be hosted to reflect on the network’s origins and future direction.
SEC greenlights in-kind ETP creations and redemptions
On Tuesday, July 29, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave its approval for in-kind creations and redemptions by authorized participants for crypto asset exchange-traded products (ETPs).
“It’s a new day at the SEC, and a key priority of my chairmanship is developing a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto asset markets,” said Chairman Paul Atkins in the announcement. “Investors will benefit from these approvals, as they will make these products less costly and more efficient.
“Today’s approvals continue to build a rational regulatory framework for crypto, leading to a deeper and more dynamic market, which will benefit all American investors. This decision aligns with the standard practices for similar ETPs.”
Authorized institutions can now directly exchange crypto assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum for shares of a crypto ETP, and vice versa, making these products more efficient and potentially cheaper to manage than when only cash transactions were allowed.
Senator Lummis proposes bill to allow digital assets for mortgages
In a Tuesday notice, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced the 21st Century Mortgage Act, a law that could compel mortgage purchasers to consider digital assets in applications.
Lummis said her proposed bill would initiate congressional action following a June order from the US Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) that mandated US mortgage purchasers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac “consider cryptocurrency as an asset for single-family loans.”
“This legislation embraces an innovative path to wealth-building, keeping in mind the growing number of young Americans who possess digital assets,” said Lummis.
A similar crypto mortgage proposal, the American Homeowner Crypto Modernization Act, was introduced by Republican Representative Nancy Mace on July 14. Mace’s proposed bill would mandate that mortgage lenders incorporate the value of a borrower's digital assets held in cryptocurrency brokerage accounts into their mortgage credit evaluations.
The bill is one of three that the US Senate may consider after a month-long recess, alongside a digital asset market structure bill and a bill aimed at barring the Federal Reserve from launching a central bank digital currency.
eToro expands 24/5 trading and tokenizes US stocks
Trading platform eToro has announced plans to expand its current 24/5 trading for 100 popular US stocks and ETFs, meaning customers can now trade these assets five days a week, almost around the clock, even outside regular market hours.
Co-founder and CEO Yoni Assia spoke with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi about the move on Tuesday (July 29).
“We're expanding a lot of the trading universe and trading hours on the eToro platform. Announced today, more 24-hour stock trading on the platform, as well as near 24/5 trading on exchange CME traded futures, a new type of futures product,” Assia said.
“That's very exciting for our users worldwide. And very excited also about revamping tokenization in eToro, launching those 100 stocks that trade 24/5 on the eToro platform as tokenized assets, gradually available to people with the eToro crypto wallet.”
The company also announced the launch of tokenized versions of these same US stocks as ERC20 tokens on the Ethereum blockchain.
This will eventually enable true 24/7 trading and transfers, and is part of eToro's strategy to tokenize all assets on their platform and integrate them into the broader decentralized finance world. They're also rolling out spot-quoted futures with CME Group, a simpler futures product, currently in Europe, with plans for wider availability.
Trump Working Group calls for aggressive federal action on crypto markets
A White House-appointed working group on digital asset markets has released a sweeping set of recommendations to overhaul US crypto policy, according to a preview.
The group, established under an executive order by Donald Trump in January, urged Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act and called on regulators to use existing powers to support immediate crypto market growth.
The report recommends that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission be granted broader oversight over spot markets for non-security tokens and that safe harbor provisions be used to accelerate product launches.
It also advises federal banking regulators to clarify permissible crypto-related bank activities and modernize capital rules to reflect token-based risks.
The Trump administration said the proposals would help ensure US leadership in the “blockchain revolution” and usher in a “Golden Age of Crypto.”
JPMorgan to let Chase customers buy Crypto via Coinbase
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM)has announced a major partnership with Coinbase that will allow Chase credit card users to purchase cryptocurrencies directly from the exchange.
The service is expected to roll out in fall 2025, with full account-linking functionality available by 2026. Customers will also be able to redeem Chase credit card reward points for USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar.
The move marks a notable shift in the firm's stance toward crypto, going from a cautious observer to an active participant in retail-focused blockchain infrastructure.
With crypto’s total market cap recently crossing US$4 trillion, large banks are now racing to integrate digital asset capabilities into their core offerings.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Ethereum Price History: A Decade of Disrupting Finance
How did Ethereum go from a white paper drafted by a 19-year-old to a billion-dollar ecosystem that reshaped global finance?
Read on to find out more.
What is Ethereum and who invented it?
Co-founder Buterin said in a 2016 interview that Ethereum was born out of admiration for Bitcoin’s decentralized structure and frustration at its limited capabilities.
“I thought [those in the Bitcoin community] weren’t approaching the problem in the right way. I thought they were going after individual applications; they were trying to kind of explicitly support each [use case] in a sort of Swiss Army knife protocol,” Buterin said, summarizing his motivation to build something more adaptable.
From this foundational idea, Ethereum emerged as a decentralized, programmable blockchain — a “world computer” that would host smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), cutting out middlemen and enabling new forms of coordination.
The foundation of the fledgling project was laid between 2013 and 2014. After releasing his white paper in late 2013, Buterin attracted a handful of co-founders, including Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, Joseph Lubin, Anthony Di Iorio, Jeffrey Wilcke, Mihai Alisie, and Amir Chetrit. Together, they spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign in mid-2014 that raised over US$18 million, one of the earliest and most successful Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in crypto history.
Despite this momentum, the Ethereum blockchain didn’t launch until July 30, 2015. That release, dubbed “Frontier,” was a basic, raw, and developer-focused version of Ethereum designed for building the infrastructure that would follow.
ETH, Ethereum’s native coin, initially traded for under a dollar. The early months saw little market movement as ETH hovered between US$0.70 and US$2.00, supported mainly by enthusiasts and developers interested in dApp potential.
When was Ethereum’s first major peak?
Ethereum’s first major price rally came during the 2017 crypto bull run, when rising global interest in blockchain technology and the initial coin offering (ICO) boom brought ETH into the mainstream.
After beginning the year at just barely US$8, Ethereum surged to a then-record high of around US$1,400 by January 2018, capping off one of the most explosive price increases in the history of digital assets. This more than 17,000 percent rise was driven by a combination of speculative demand and the emergence of Ethereum as the preferred platform for launching new tokens via ICOs.
By early 2018, however, the market began to reverse. A sweeping crypto correction saw Ethereum’s price fall back below US$100 by the end of that year. The drawdown exposed Ethereum’s technical bottlenecks, such as high gas fees and slow confirmation times during network congestion.
What was the DAO Hack, and how did it influence Ethereum’s trajectory?
Ethereum’s ethos of decentralization was also tested early on. In 2016, an experiment in decentralized governance — the Decentralized Autonomous Organization or DAO — raised about US$150 million in ETH from the community. The idea was to create a venture capital fund governed entirely by smart contracts and token-holder votes.
But just weeks after launch, a vulnerability in the DAO’s code that allowed for recursive call exploit was discovered, draining 3.6 million ETH or about a third of the fund.
At just ten months old, Ethereum was now facing a crisis that tested its fundamental principles, chief among them the immutability of the blockchain and the inviolability of smart contracts.
Three primary responses were debated. One option was to do nothing, honoring the hacker’s actions as legitimate under the rules of the code and accepting the theft. Another was to implement a “soft fork” that would blacklist the child DAO’s address, effectively freezing the stolen funds.
The most radical option was a “hard fork” that would roll back the ledger and return all stolen Ether to the original investors, which would undo the hack entirely.
Ultimately, the hard fork went ahead, and Ethereum split into two chains: the main Ethereum chain (ETH), where the funds were returned to investors, and a new chain called Ethereum Classic (ETC), which preserved the original ledger including the DAO hack.
How has Ethereum performed post-2020?
Ethereum price performance July 30, 2015 - June 30, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
Ethereum reached its all-time high price of US$4,878 on November 10, 2021, during the peak of the 2020–2021 crypto bull run. The rally was driven by a convergence of factors: institutional adoption of crypto, a massive expansion of decentralized finance (DeFi), and explosive interest in NFTs, most of which were built on Ethereum’s ERC-721 standard.
By late 2021, Ethereum was settling billions in daily transaction volume and powering thousands of decentralized applications, cementing its position as the leading smart contract platform.
However, the peak was short-lived. Inflation fears and global risk aversion in early 2022 triggered a sharp correction across risk assets, including crypto. Ethereum’s price dipped below US$1,000 in June 2022 amid cascading liquidations and platform collapses like Terra and Celsius.
Still, even through the drawdown, Ethereum remained the backbone of DeFi, NFT markets, and layer-2 innovation, setting the stage for its long-planned transition to proof-of-stake later that year.
In the years that followed the fork, Ethereum faced growing pressure to scale and reduce its environmental impact, particularly as DeFi and NFT activity surged.
These challenges set the stage for a major protocol overhaul: Ethereum’s transition from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) was considered to be one of the most ambitious technical feats in blockchain history. Officially known as “the Merge,” the upgrade combined Ethereum’s execution layer (the mainnet) with the Beacon Chain, which introduced staking-based consensus.
The Merge took place in September 2022 and the environmental impact was immediate: Ethereum’s energy consumption dropped by over 99 percent.
While the Merge had little short-term effect on price, it marked a crucial moment for Ethereum’s long-term viability. At the time of the upgrade, ETH was trading at around US$1,600, which was a sharp decline from its all-time high of US$4,891 in November 2021 during the height of the crypto bull market.
That price peak had been driven by unprecedented network demand as NFTs and decentralized finance exploded in popularity, both largely built on Ethereum. By mid-2022, however, macroeconomic tightening, rising interest rates, and a series of high-profile crypto failures, including the collapse of TerraUSD and the insolvency of major lending platforms, had triggered a broad downturn.
After the Merge, ETH remained volatile. It already lost ground by as much as 70 percent against crypto leader Bitcoin since the Merge, and the introduction of EIP-1559 in 2021 had already created a more deflationary pressure on ETH supply through base fee burns.
Despite this setback, ETH showed relative resilience compared to many altcoins. In 2023, Ethereum hovered mostly between US$1,200 and US$2,100, with price movements closely tracking investor sentiment toward regulatory developments, Bitcoin’s performance, and broader market liquidity. Institutional interest in Ethereum also grew during this period, with more funds launching ETH products and staking services expanding.
Entering 2024, Ethereum gained momentum amid improving macroeconomic conditions and renewed optimism about real-world applications for blockchain technology. The network saw moderate success in sectors like tokenized assets, layer-2 infrastructure, and decentralized identity.
ETH briefly reclaimed the US$4,000 level in early March 2024 before retreating again due to renewed regulatory scrutiny in the US. Despite the pullback, Ethereum remained the second-largest cryptoasset by market capitalization and retained the majority share of developer activity across all chains.
The 2025 Swing
Ethereum 1-year price performance, July 28, 2024 - July 28, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
Ethereum, as well as the rest of the crypto landscape, saw a full positive swing in 2025 as regulatory clarity dominated the first half of the year.
In June, the US Senate approved the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act with bipartisan support. President Donald Trump, now serving his second term, publicly backed the bill, calling it “a win for American innovation and financial leadership.”
The GENIUS Act establishes a regulatory framework for US-pegged stablecoins, requiring full reserve backing, independent audits, and federal licensing for large issuers. It also clarifies that qualifying stablecoins are not securities, pulling them out of the SEC’s jurisdiction and instead aligning oversight with banking regulators like the OCC and Federal Reserve.
Crucially, the law defines “payment stablecoins” as a new category of digital cash, and Ethereum has emerged as one of the largest beneficiaries of this policy shift. The majority of dollar-backed stablecoins, which include USDC, USDT, and newer entrants like PayPal USD, are issued and transacted on Ethereum.
The GENIUS Act’s legal recognition of stablecoins has given institutional players more confidence to engage with Ethereum-based infrastructure.
As a result, capital inflows into Ethereum have accelerated, with analysts noting a sharp uptick in demand for ETH as a “platform asset” powering tokenized dollars and digital settlement rails.
ETH’s price also soon followed. Following the Senate’s approval of the GENIUS Act in June 2025, ETH jumped over 25 percent in two weeks, briefly reaching US$3,824 — outperforming Bitcoin and breaking out of a multi-month consolidation range.
The act has also prompted strategic shifts among financial institutions. BlackRock, Fidelity, and JPMorgan have expanded their Ethereum-based offerings, including on-chain fund administration, tokenized treasuries, and collateralized lending protocols that rely on smart contracts.
Several US banks are also piloting internal payment rails using tokenized dollars on Ethereum rollups.
What’s next for Ethereum?
Buterin himself has acknowledged that Ethereum’s current roadmap is not the end. Speaking in late 2022 before the Merge, he noted that “Ethereum is 55 percent complete.”
The long-term vision includes greater privacy features, zero-knowledge proofs for secure scalability, and expanding the reach of dApps to a billion users.
As of mid-2025, Ethereum currently trades around US$3,400, buoyed by strong institutional adoption, continued growth of layer-2 networks like Arbitrum and Base, and early signs of real-world asset tokenization gaining traction among banks and fintech firms.
While Ethereum’s price remains well below its 2021 peak, its performance since 2020 reflects growing maturity, with fewer speculative surges and more interest anchored in a more crypto-friendly environment.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Crypto Market Update: Ethereum Funds Draw US$2.12 Billion in Record-breaking Week
Bitcoin and Ethereum price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$116,854, down by 1.2 percent over the last 24 hours and its lowest valuation of the day. The highest valuation today was US$119,100.
Bitcoin price performance, July 21, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
The signing of the GENIUS Act, which will regulate stablecoins with one-to-one reserves, sparked renewed investor confidence in stablecoins, while Bitcoin pulled back slightly.
Last week's spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows reached roughly US$2.2 billion, supporting market momentum. Analysts note institutional interest remains strong but still has room to grow.
Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$3,733.95, down by 0.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation as of Monday was US$3,731.27, and its highest was US$3,848.92.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$193.61, up by 6.3 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Monday was US$191.12 as the markets opened for the day, and its highest was US$198.29.
- XRP was trading for US$3.54, up 0.2 percent in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency's lowest valuation was US$3.53 as the markets opened, and its highest was US$3.64.
- Sui (SUI) is trading at US$3.95, up by 0.1 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.96 and its highest was US$4.09.
- Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.8794, up by 0.6 percent over 24 hours, and its lowest violation of the day. Its highest was US$0.9295.
Today's crypto news to know
Crypto funds record all-time high weekly inflows
Digital asset investment products posted an impressive US$4.39 billion in inflows last week, marking the highest weekly total on record, according to data from CoinShares.
This eclipses the previous high of US$4.27 billion set in late 2024, highlighting a fresh wave of institutional demand.
Ethereum products accounted for US$2.12 billion — their strongest weekly showing ever — nearly matching the US$2.2 billion inflow into Bitcoin funds. Analysts have attributed the spike to increasing confidence in the cryptocurrency, bolstered by improving US regulatory clarity and ongoing ETF demand.
Altcoins like Solana and Avalanche also saw gains, but ETH led the market by volume and momentum. The current 14 week streak of inflows has now pushed 2025’s year-to-date total beyond 2024’s full-year inflows.
CoinShares notes that Ethereum’s US$6.2 billion year-to-date figure now represents 23 percent of total ETH assets under management, underscoring a shift in portfolio allocation trends.
Ether Machine set to raise over US$1.6 Billion in Nasdaq debut
The Ether Reserve, a new institutional vehicle holding Ethereum, is going public via a merger with energy investment firm Dynamix (NASDAQ:DYNX). The deal, which will list the combined entity under the name "The Ether Machine” on the Nasdaq, is expected to raise more than US$1.6 billion and launch with 400,000 ETH on its balance sheet.
This would make it the largest publicly traded Ethereum-holding entity to date.
Shares of Dynamix surged over 100 percent in premarket trading following the announcement.
Investors backing the deal include major industry names such as Blockchain.com, Kraken, and Pantera Capital, who have committed over US$800 million through an upsized common stock offering.
Ether has climbed steadily amid regulatory clarity around stablecoins and new institutional inflows.
Andrew Keys, formerly of ConsenSys, will chair the board. Once finalized, the company will trade under the ticker “ETHM,” with deal closure expected by Q4 2025.
BitGo submits IPO filing
Digital asset custodian BitGo announced that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a proposed IPO of its Class A common stock.
The filing adds the company to a growing list of crypto companies seeking public exposure. Bullish, a crypto exchange, recently filed for an IPO with the SEC, with plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange, and crypto asset manager Grayscale also submitted a filing to the SEC earlier this month.
GameSquare expands digital asset treasury
Building on its previously outlined ETH strategy, GameSquare Holdings (NASDAQ:GAME), a next-generation media and technology company, has expanded its digital asset treasury, with its board of directors approving an increase in the program’s authorization from US$100 million to US$250 million.
In an press release, the company explained that this expanded framework now includes a new NFT yield strategy, allocating an initial US$10 million. The company aims to deploy capital into high-quality Ethereum-based assets to generate sustainable stablecoin yields, targeting a 6- to 10 percent return.
CEO Justin Kenna emphasized that this initiative, developed over months of planning, represents “the future of capital strategy for modern media companies,” focused on generating “real on-chain yield that funds innovation.”
"We are excited to be among the first public companies to include NFTs as part of a diversified digital asset strategy, Kenna added. “This reflects the innovative approach to our treasury management initiatives. With deep experience building in-game and real-world creative environments, GameSquare is uniquely positioned to understand the cultural and economic value of these digital assets.”
Aave to launch centralized services
Major crypto lending platform Aave will soon launch a centralized version of its services on Kraken’s Ink blockchain.
An Aave request for comment for the deployment of a whitelabel version of Aave v3 for the Ink Foundation, the organization behind the Ink blockchain, was approved with 99.8 percent of the votes cast in favor. An Aave Improvement Proposal (AIP) will be drafted next, followed by an on-chain vote. This partnership aims to expand Aave’s reach into institutional lending, generating new revenue for the Aave community.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Crypto Market Update: GENIUS Act Becomes First Federal Stablecoin Law in the US
Bitcoin and Ethereum price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$117,488, down by 1.3 percent in the last 24 hours. The day's range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$117.409 and a high of US$119,529.
Bitcoin price performance, July 18, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
After hitting new highs this week, supported by optimism around US crypto legislation and continued institutional inflows, Bitcoin is consolidating. The crypto market is currently seeing a capital rotation from Bitcoin to altcoins, with Ethereum's token, ETH, exhibiting an exceptionally strong run.
Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$3,555.99, up by 3.9 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$3,541.70, and its highest was US$3,657.81.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$117.28, up by 1.6 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$176.32, and its highest was US$181.52.
- XRP was trading for US$3.44, up 3.1 percent in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency's lowest valuation was US$3.36, and its highest was US$3.52.
- Sui (SUI) is trading at US$3.80, down by four percent over the past 24 hours and its lowest valuation of the day. Its highest was US$4.01.
- Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.8176, up by 1.9 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest violation was US$0.8152 while its highest was US$0.8591.
Today's crypto news to know
GENIUS Act becomes law
US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law on Friday, establishing the first federal regulatory framework for stablecoins in the US. This marks a significant development for digital assets.
The act will take effect 18 months after the date of enactment, or 120 days after the primary federal payment stablecoin regulators issue any final implementing regulations.
In a statement, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins congratulated the House on the accomplishment, which was preceded by a tumultuous period on Tuesday (July 15) that saw a procedural vote fail.
This was followed by a successful bipartisan vote on Wednesday (July 16) to advance the bill, culminating in its overwhelming passage on Thursday (July 17). Atkins added that he will look forward to watching the market leverage the regulatory framework provided by the GENIUS Act” over the coming months and years.
Stablecoins are used to facilitate trading, payments, and transfers within the crypto ecosystem without the volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent recently suggested that the law could help grow the stablecoin market to US$3.7 trillion by 2030.
Two other bills also passed the House during the so-called “Crypto Week”: one defining which crypto assets are securities or commodities, and another barring the Federal Reserve from launching a US central bank digital currency.
These bills will now proceed to the Senate, but the Genius Act's passage alone is already being hailed as a defining moment in the evolution of US crypto regulation.
Crypto market soars past US$4 trillion
The global market capitalization of the crypto sector has topped US$4 trillion for the first time, spurred by optimism following the US House’s passage of federal stablecoin legislation.
Investors are piling into altcoins and crypto-related equities as momentum builds behind Crypto Week in Washington. Ether led the charge with a 22 percent jump over five days, while Bitcoin soared to an all-time high of US$123,205 and continues to make up over half of the market’s total value.
The gains reflect confidence that a regulatory framework is finally taking shape in the world’s largest economy.
Analysts predict that the stablecoin sector alone could balloon to US$3.7 trillion by 2030, especially with state and federal guardrails in place. Exchange-traded fund inflows have been particularly strong this month, with US-listed Bitcoin and Ether funds attracting a combined US$8.4 billion in July.
SharpLink to raise US$6 billion for ETH acquisition
Following a 16,370 ETH acquisition on Sunday (July 13), a prospectus supplement filed with the SEC by online performance marketing company SharpLink on Thursday revealed the company increased the amount of common stock it can sell by an extra US$5 billion. Added to the US$1 billion in its initial May 30 filing, this brings the total offering to US$6 billion. SharpLink said it would use the funds to acquire more ETH.
Executive order will reportedly allow crypto in 401(k)s
Trump is reportedly expected to sign an executive order allowing American 401(k) retirement plans to include alternative assets like cryptocurrencies, as well as gold and private equity.
This development was reported by the Financial Times on Thursday, citing three individuals briefed on the plans, who added that the order would direct regulatory agencies to investigate the remaining hurdles preventing alternative investments in professionally managed funds.
In response, SEC Chair Paul Atkins expressed openness to the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in 401(k) retirement plans during an appearance on Bloomberg Talks, but emphasized the critical need for investor education.
Atkins has also indicated that the SEC is considering an innovation exemption within its regulatory framework. This exemption would aim to facilitate new trading methods and offer targeted relief to foster the growth of a tokenized securities ecosystem.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Crypto Market Update: House of Representatives Advances Motion to Consider Crypto Bills
Bitcoin and Ethereum price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$119,299, up by 2.4 percent in the last 24 hours. The day's range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$118,433 and a high of US$119,676.
Bitcoin price performance, July 16, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
Institutional demand also fueled the rally, as Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued to attract significant capital, marking sustained interest from both large and retail investors alike.
21Shares strategist Matt Mena says Bitcoin is unlikely to see a prolonged pullback thanks to surging demand and historically low supply — spot ETFs have absorbed more BTC than will be mined this year, while exchange and OTC balances are at all-time lows. In addition, Bitcoin is setting new highs during the most illiquid part of the year, signaling strong momentum. Short-term corrections are possible, but the broader outlook remains bullish.
The ETH-BTC ratio hit a four month high, breaking out of a bull flag pattern and supported by its 200 day exponential moving average (EMA). Analyst Michaël van de Poppe has noted the 0.02425 breakout's significance for altcoin momentum. Holding above the EMA could see ETH rally 30 percent to 0.035 BTC by August/September.
Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$3,369.15, up by 10.7 percent over the past 24 hours and its highest valuation today. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$3,173.01.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$173.62, up by 8.4 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$166.40, and its highest was US$174.52.
- XRP was trading for US$3.04, up 6.4 percent in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency's lowest valuation was US$2.96, and its highest was US$3.06.
- Sui (SUI) is trading at US$4.01, up by 1.1 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation was US$3.99, and its highest was US$4.06.
- Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7614, up by 5.6 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest violation was US$0.7462 while its highest was US$0.7693.
Today's crypto news to know
US lawmakers advance crypto legislation
In a 215 to 211 vote, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution to move three crypto bills toward a full floor vote. This development occurred after an earlier vote on Tuesday (July 15) was delayed due to lawmaker concerns about the GENIUS Act and its lack of central bank digital currency (CBDC) provisions.
Przemysław Kral, CEO of zondacrypto, said in an email, “‘People deserve to know if their government plans to track how they spend their money. Even if you support digital currencies, this debate needs to happen.’”
House Republican leaders later passed resolutions on the crypto bills after a record-long procedural vote, ending a nine hour stalemate with a 217 to 212 vote late on Wednesday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that Republicans will now add a CBDC ban to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act.
The push for clarity extends to specific areas, with Representative Max Miller announcing during a Wednesday House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing that he will soon introduce draft legislation to clarify the taxation of staking and rules for digital asset contributions to charities, retirement plans and loan.
Industry leaders have been closely watching the implications of this vote.
Bitwise’s Matt Hougan expressed optimism in his weekly newsletter, saying that while strong crypto legislation won't eliminate volatility, "if these bills pass, I doubt we will ever see a 70 percent+ drawdown in crypto again."
In correspondence with the Investing News Network, Ignacio Palomera, CEO and Founder of Web3 professional networking and job platform Bondex, highlighted the potential for growth driven by the vote's outcome.
He noted that "The CLARITY and GENIUS acts have the potential to electrify the US digital assets industry, driving the sort of investment that will supercharge demand for workers with crypto proficiency, similar to what we are currently seeing with (artificial intelligence)." Palomera also suggested they could "tempt greater numbers of top-tier traditional finance and tech talent to enter the Web3 space." However, he cautioned that overly burdensome regulations resulting from this process could lead to a "brain drain of US talent" to other jurisdictions.
Liquid Collective expands with Solana staking token
Liquid Collective has expanded its offerings with Liquid Staked SOL (LsSOL), a new liquid staking token on the Solana blockchain. The move builds upon its established success within the Ethereum ecosystem, where its Liquid Staked ETH (LsETH) has already achieved substantial traction, boasting over US$1 billion in total value locked.
The launch of LsSOL is supported by a consortium of prominent industry players, including Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN), Kraken, Galaxy Digital (TSX:GLXY,NASDAQ:GLXY), Anchorage Digital and Fireblocks. These partnerships are crucial for facilitating broad institutional access to LsSOL, ensuring that a diverse range of professional investors can seamlessly participate in Solana's staking opportunities while maintaining liquidity.
Collaborative efforts with key industry participants are expected to drive significant adoption and further solidify Liquid Collective's position as a leading provider of liquid staking infrastructure.
Bitlayer launches smart contract bridge BitVM on Mainnet
Bitlayer, a Bitcoin decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure startup backed by Franklin Templeton, has launched its smart contract bridge, called BitVM, on the mainnet.
The bridge enables users to deposit Bitcoin into a smart contract, where it is held in escrow and converted into Peg-BTC (YBTC), a tokenized version of Bitcoin that can interact with smart contract platforms.
The company describes the bridge as a trust-minimized bridging solution for Bitcoin holders. According to Bitlayer, Peg-BTC is designed to facilitate programmability and cross-chain compatibility. The company has already secured partnerships to integrate the bridge with networks including Sui, Base and Arbitrum.
Taproot, a Bitcoin upgrade activated in 2021, enhances Bitcoin's scripting capabilities and privacy, which is crucial for BitVM as it allows for more complex, off-chain computations and multi-party interactions to be anchored and verified on the Bitcoin blockchain more efficiently and privately.
Tether acquires US$600 million in farmland in stablecoin push
Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has acquired 70 percent of Adecoagro (NYSE:AGRO), a major South American agricultural producer, for around US$600 million. Reuters reported that the move represents a new strategy to connect stablecoin payments with physical commodities like rice, sugar and ethanol.
Tether aims to embed its dollar-pegged digital currency into global trade flows, allowing cross-border payments to settle in seconds instead of days and at significantly lower costs. The company believes controlling hard assets can provide inflation-resistant revenue and bolster confidence in USDT’s reserve backing. Adecoagro operates across Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, producing food and energy-related commodities critical to trade in the region.
Tether’s broader plan appears to be building a vertically integrated ecosystem where crypto finance and traditional supply chains converge. With US$149 billion in reserves and US$143 billion in USDT in circulation, the company is using its financial heft to push deeper into real-world infrastructure. Executives say the long-term goal is for USDT to become a settlement layer in markets traditionally dominated by fiat and slow payment rails.
Citigroup CEO says bank exploring stablecoin launch
Citigroup (NYSE:C) is weighing the launch of a proprietary stablecoin as part of its broader push into blockchain infrastructure, CEO Jane Fraser confirmed during the bank’s Q2 earnings call.
While tokenized deposits remain the bank’s immediate priority, Fraser said a Citi-backed digital dollar could play a key role in future client solutions for cross-border transactions.
The bank’s digital asset strategy centers on four pillars: tokenized fiat deposits, reserve management for stablecoins, custodial services for digital assets and fiat-to-crypto on- and off-ramps.
Citi’s interest comes amid broader momentum for stablecoins in 2025, with the market expected to reach US$3.7 trillion by 2030 according to internal projections. Fraser emphasized that these innovations aim to modernize banking infrastructure and serve client demand for 24/7, multi-currency, compliant payment systems.
The potential Citi stablecoin would likely be dollar-pegged and integrated into corporate treasury services.
Citi joins a list of traditional finance heavyweights, even rival and formerly crypto skeptic JPMorgan, now exploring blockchain-based products as regulation for stablecoins gains clarity.
Polymarket cleared by DOJ and CFTC after years of scrutiny
Federal authorities have ended their investigations into Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market platform, effectively closing a multi-year regulatory saga.
The US Department of Justice and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) notified the company this week that it will face no further enforcement actions.
This follows a dramatic period in late 2024 when FBI agents raided the Manhattan penthouse of Polymarket’s CEO, Shayne Coplan, seizing devices amid suspicions of continued US user access.
The company previously settled with the CFTC in 2022 for US$1.4 million after being accused of offering unregistered event-based options. Despite the settlement, regulators remained concerned Polymarket had violated terms by still allowing US residents to place bets. The closure of the case comes amid shifting regulatory winds, as the White House advances more structured digital asset legislation under President Trump’s administration.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.