At the SALT 2026 conference, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty highlighted the growing integration of cryptocurrencies into everyday American life, noting that more Americans now own crypto than own pet dogs. The statement, reported by The Block, underscores the mainstream adoption of digital assets and their increasing economic significance. Context and Significance Alderoty’s remark
Mitsubishi UFJ is increasing its exposure to Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. The Japanese financial giant now holds 360,613 shares of MSTR after adding 53,430 shares. Its stake has grown by 17.4% compared to the previously reported 307,183-share position. The latest holding is valued at roughly $35 million based on the disclosure.
In news that will shock anyone who’s been involved in the crypto industry for any significant amount of time, Tether announced last week that it had finally received the audit it had been promising for almost a decade. While traders celebrated and critics scoffed, the audit, which was certainly a step in the right direction,
Ripple Prime, Ripple’s non bank prime brokerage, has closed an upsized $275 million private placement of senior unsecured notes to support the expansion of its US business. Advertisement The offering attracted institutional investors across major financial markets, according to Ripple. Proceeds will support working capital and general corporate purposes as Ripple Prime expands its clearing,
Hong Kong’s newest regulated stablecoin is already being put to work. HashKey Exchange, Hong Kong’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is set to settle cross-border trade transactions with the UAE and the wider Middle East region using HKDAP following the stablecoin’s debut six days ago. The total cross-border trade transactions between Hong Kong and the UAE were
U.S. President Donald Trump has provided an update on the U.S.-Iran war, stating that there are no ongoing talks with Iran. He also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is open and operating despite Iran’s counterclaim. Bitcoin is up today even as uncertainty remains over the Hormuz Strait, with oil prices edging higher.
Crypto companies raised $1.36B across 41 VC rounds in July. Investment fell only 6.8% from June, but round count dropped 28%, and one $400M strategic round supplied almost a third of the total. Key Takeaways $1.36B was invested across 41 VC rounds. Investment slipped 6.8% from June, while round count fell 28.1% to a 12-month
Etched is already eyeing a fresh funding round that will more than double the AI inference chips startup’s valuation at around $21 billion, barely one month after its late July Sequoia-led $300 million Series C round that valued the firm at $10.3 billion. The new numbers cited in the Wall Street Journal’s August 18 report
Crypto’s accelerating wave of shutdowns is less a mystery than the delayed consequence of how the industry funded itself during the boom years, according to Ryan Kirkley, CEO of Global Settlement Network. More than 100 crypto projects have shut down, filed for bankruptcy or effectively disappeared in 2026, according to RootData figures cited by CoinDesk,