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Edition · 2026-07-26
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Bitcoin’s price has fallen about 50% since its peak near $126,000 in October 2025, prompting several digital‑asset treasury companies to sell Bitcoin to repay debt, fund operations or invest in artificial‑intelligence infrastructure.
The digital‑asset treasury (DAT) model, introduced by Strategy in 2020, led a wave of publicly listed firms that borrowed heavily to purchase Bitcoin as the price rose. Since the decline, multiple companies have announced sales of their Bitcoin holdings.
Satsuma Technology shareholders approved the liquidation of 668 BTC and the company’s delisting from the London Stock Exchange, returning capital to investors.
Smarter Web Company sold 178 BTC to repay a convertible instrument, and its CEO Andrew Webley said the firm no longer views Bitcoin‑denominated convertible instruments as the appropriate capital solution.
Sequans Communications sold 1,025 BTC before disposing of nearly 80% of its remaining holdings to repay convertible debt, and has ruled out further purchases while planning to monetize the remaining 658 BTC.
Nakamoto, whose shares have dropped 99% since its May 2025 SPAC deal, sold around 284 BTC to raise $20 million for working capital and sold roughly 40 BTC from a derivatives program. About 70% of its remaining 5,342 BTC are pledged against a Kraken loan maturing in December.
MARA Holdings and Bitdeer, both Bitcoin mining companies, have sold Bitcoin to finance debt repayment and to repurpose energy and computing resources for AI data centers.
Empery Digital has sold nearly half of its Bitcoin to fund buybacks and debt repayment, while Strategy has sold about 3,620 BTC in recent weeks and authorized additional sales to support its U.S. dollar reserves. Strategy remains the largest publicly listed holder with more than 840,000 BTC, and CEO Michael Sayler said the company may sell some Bitcoin to fund a dividend.
Leadership changes and a failed merger also reflect sector volatility: Jack Mallers stepped down as CEO of Twenty One Capital, and Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company’s proposed merger with Adam Back’s firm was abandoned due to market conditions.
Market data show Binance held about 55% of user funds and 24% of spot assets in early July, drawing net inflows while the broader market experienced outflows.
The shift underscores uncertainty about the longevity of DAT strategies as Bitcoin’s price remains volatile and regulatory and market conditions evolve.
USDT0, the omnichain version of Tether's USDT, launched in January 2025, allows the stablecoin to function on blockchains where Tether does not have a native contract. The system uses LayerZero's Omnichain Fungible Token standard, locking USDT in an Ethereum smart contract and minting an equivalent amount of USDT0 on the destination chain. Transfers are executed by burning USDT0 on the source chain and minting it on the target chain via verified messaging, rather than moving liquidity through bridge pools. Everdawn Labs, operating under a Tether license, runs the system. The trust stack consists of Tether's reserve risk, the Ethereum lockbox contract, LayerZero's Decentralized Verifier Networks, and Everdawn's operational execution. Since launch, the platform has processed more than $50 billion in cumulative transfers, with daily volumes reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. USDT0 has been deployed on multiple chains, including Arbitrum, Berachain, HyperEVM, Plasma, and Stable, and serves as the native gas token for Stable's payments chain. Risks involve the integrity of the lockbox, the configuration of the LayerZero verifier set, and the competence of the operator, in addition to the standard reserve exposure. While the peg has remained stable under normal conditions, temporary divergences can occur if messaging or verification fails. Users should verify the official contract address and the specific DVN configuration for any chain they use, and assess exit liquidity before transacting.
EU adopted its 21st sanctions package on July 23, adding Huobi Global S.A., the entity behind the HTX exchange, to a transaction ban that will take effect on August 23. The measure prohibits EU operators from transacting with HTX but does not freeze its assets.
The action follows Britain’s May 26 designation of Huobi Global and related platforms for alleged support of Russian sanctions evasion. UK authorities said they had reasonable grounds to suspect the exchange facilitated financial flows to entities linked to Russia’s A7 cross‑border payments network, which they said moved more than $1.5 billion to Kremlin‑linked parties. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs identified HTX as the exchange involved.
After the UK sanctions, HTX rotated its on‑chain wallets across Tron, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain and Solana, replacing addresses frequently and often within hours. TRM Labs reported that this rapid turnover made static sanction lists outdated quickly and complicated compliance screening, which now must track transaction patterns and wallet relationships rather than fixed addresses.
ZachXBT, a blockchain investigator, said the UK action reduced the usefulness of certain compliance signals, describing the resulting “tainting” of on‑chain activity as severe. He noted that HTX serves a large retail user base in Asia, differentiating it from previously sanctioned platforms such as Huione, Blender and Hydra.
The EU’s new package also introduces a mechanism that could prohibit transactions between EU crypto providers and services operating in third countries where platforms are used to evade Russia sanctions. For the first time, the bloc listed 14 crypto‑related platforms based in Georgia, Panama, the United Arab Emirates, the Marshall Islands, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus, including firms such as EXMO, BitPapa and Rapira. It also added designations tied to the A7 network, which the EU says has expanded into Nigeria and Africa and is linked to Moldovan politician Ilan Shor and to Promsvyazbank, a Russian state‑owned lender connected to the defense sector. A7 operates a ruble‑backed stablecoin, A7A5, that has become a major settlement tool within the network.
The expanded sanctions reflect a broader trend of crypto activity shifting after individual exchanges are targeted, and they give the EU the ability to follow those flows beyond single platforms.
In South Korea, a 27‑year‑old warehouse worker died of a heart attack after working overnight shifts for Coupang, the country's largest online retailer, raising concerns about t...
By · 89d ago · Source: bbc
In South Korea, a 27‑year‑old warehouse worker died of a heart attack after working overnight shifts for Coupang, the country's largest online retailer, raising concerns about the health impacts of night‑time delivery work.
The delivery sector has expanded rapidly, with companies guaranteeing delivery by 7 a.m. for orders placed before midnight and relying on large numbers of warehouse staff and drivers. The Korean Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (Comwel) recorded 46 work‑related deaths from stroke or heart disease between 2020 and May 2026, though the extent to which overwork contributed remains unclear.
Park Mi‑suk, the mother of the deceased worker, said her son worked more than 60 hours per week for over a year, lost weight and reported fatigue. He died in 2020; Comwel attributed his death to overwork after an investigation. The union has called for a ban on overnight deliveries, while Coupang drivers have indicated a preference for night shifts because of higher pay and family responsibilities. A sub‑contracted driver identified only as Kim earned about 7 million won per month, nearly double the national average, and worked from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. five to six days a week without breaks, saying the income justified the health risks. The union filed a criminal complaint against Coupang over alleged cover‑up of evidence, and police opened an investigation in December 2025. Another case involved Oh Seung‑yong, 34, who died after a truck collision while delivering; Comwel classified his death as occupational. Coupang said it has the best safety record in the global logistics industry, though the union disputes enforcement. Parliament summoned Coupang CEO Harold Rogers in December 2025 to address the deaths and a data breach affecting 37.5 million users, which resulted in a $410 million fine.
Park continues to seek accountability and compensation, while the government has set a 52‑hour weekly work limit and considered legislation to penalize executives for workplace deaths, but unions and advocacy groups argue that broader reforms are needed to address the health risks of night‑time delivery work.
The Senate has four working days to pass the CLARITY Act, a comprehensive crypto market‑structure bill, after Galaxy Digital lowered its estimate of passage to about 30%. Senate Republicans released an updated 616‑page bill on July 24 that merges prior committee measures with new ethics restrictions, law‑enforcement provisions and revisions to the GENIUS Act. The legislation expands fraud and illicit‑finance provisions, strengthens CFTC registration and custody requirements, and modifies stablecoin oversight. Seven Democratic senators, including Mark Warner, Angela Alsobrooks, Cory Booker, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ruben Gallego, John Hickenlooper and Raphael Warnock, said the proposal still falls short. They called for stronger ethics, consumer safeguards, illicit‑finance protections, conflict‑of‑interest rules and market‑integrity measures. Republicans control 53 seats and need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Galaxy Digital estimates roughly 50 Republican votes are likely, based on public statements rather than a confirmed whip count. Galaxy Digital said an agreement by July 30 is needed to permit cloture filings, procedural votes and floor debate before senators leave Washington. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he would like to begin consideration of the bill but will wait to see the vote count. The Digital Chamber, Crypto Council for Innovation and the Blockchain Association sent a joint letter to Senate leaders urging priority floor consideration. They said the revised bill strengthens tools to combat illicit finance and creates broader consumer safeguards for digital‑asset markets. They argued the legislation could support innovation while enhancing national security. The National Fraternal Order of Police, representing more than 382,000 officers, endorsed the revised legislation. President Patrick Yoes said the changes address the group’s concerns and preserve authorities needed to investigate financial crimes involving digital assets. The group highlighted provisions covering state and local enforcement, anti‑money‑laundering compliance, sanctions adherence, fraud involving crypto kiosks and seizure of illicit assets. The National Black Church Initiative, representing 150,000 faith communities with 27.7 million members, urged Thune and Schumer to pass the bill before the August recess. President Rev. Anthony Evans said the church cannot afford to be late to the future of finance and must protect its members from digital‑asset fraud. The group said clearer oversight could expand access to financial services, entrepreneurship and investment. Jake Chervinsky, chief executive of the Hyperliquid Policy Center, said the bill’s compromises remove serious objections and called for a floor vote to force senators supportive of crypto to take a public position. Senate leaders say they will assess the remaining disputes and decide whether to begin floor proceedings before the August recess, leaving the final outcome of the CLARITY Act uncertain.
At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Apple TV held its first Hall H panel, featuring the cast and creators of Widow's Bay, a series that received 19 Emmy nominations.
The two-hour session provided background on the series premise and its critical reception and announced plans for a second season.
Creator Katie Dippold and actress Dale Dickey discussed audience reactions, with Dickey recalling an initial response of surprise at the show's popularity.
Director Hiro Murai described the series as presenting an unsettling environment that also conveys a sense of comfort.
Stephen Root, who portrays Wyck, said he approached the role to emphasize humanity in a town character.
Jeff Hiller, who plays Dale, noted that ongoing feedback helped guide the series' tone.
Kevin Carroll, portraying sheriff Bashir, said his character questions whether he wishes to remain in the position while balancing family responsibilities.
K Callan, who plays Ruth, said she learned about her character's role only after reading the pilot script and relied on the creators for development.
Kingston Rooney Southwick highlighted the secretive relationship between his character Evan and Tom, played by Matthew Rhys.
The panel displayed a scene in which the character Rosemary presents genealogical research to other characters, a moment Dippold said resonated with viewers.
Apple TV announced that the series had been renewed, that the writers' room would begin work within weeks, and that filming is scheduled for early 2027.
Additional announcements included a second season for Dark Matter, a Mayday film starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, a Neuromancer series slated for early 2027, and a Matchbox movie trailer featuring John Cena discussing his approach to stunts.
The series is set to begin production in early 2027, and the second season will comprise ten episodes.
Marvel Studios returned to Hall H at Comic‑Con 2026 and announced four new projects that raise questions about upcoming MCU releases.
After a one‑year hiatus, the studio presented its slate to a crowd of thousands at the annual convention.
President Kevin Feige said Ryan Gosling will star in a Ghost Rider film scheduled for 2028 and will be directed by Shawn Levy, who previously collaborated with Gosling on Star Wars: Starfighter. The announcement did not include details about the plot, the antagonist, or the specific Ghost Rider identity that Gosling will portray. Industry analysts have noted that Johnny Blaze, the original character, and his brother Danny Ketch are the most likely candidates, while other versions such as Phantom Rider or Cosmic Ghost Rider have also been mentioned.
The first full‑length trailer for Avengers: Doomsday was shown at the panel. The footage, narrated by Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, depicted a version of Doctor Doom played by Robert Downey Jr. that appears to have been a caring individual before a personal tragedy. The clip suggests a family connection to a planet, a woman, and a child shown in a mural, but no official explanation has been given about the cause of Doom’s change in demeanor.
Ryan Reynolds appeared on stage wearing a gray version of the Deadpool costume. He asked several questions about previous Deadpool‑related scenes, the start of filming for Doomsday, and the involvement of Wolverine, but Feige or other panelists did not confirm that his character will appear in the film. The panel included other cast members such as Downey, Chris Evans, and Hayley Atwell.
Feige concluded the presentation by confirming that Ryan Coogler will return to direct Black Panther III, which is set for a December 15 2028 release. Letitia Wright and Winston Duke are slated to reprise their roles as Shuri and M’Baku. The announcement that David Jonsson, known for his work in Alien: Romulus, has been cast as an adult version of T’Challa’s son, Toussaint, who was a child in the post‑credits scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, raises timeline questions. Some observers have suggested that the events of Secret Wars may create a new timeline in which an alternate version of Toussaint exists.
Marvel has not provided further details about the plot or character arcs for any of the announced projects. Fans will await additional information before the 2028 releases.
Marvel Studios announced at its San Diego Comic‑Con panel that a third Black Panther film is in development, slated for theatrical release on December 15, 2028. Ryan Coogler will direct the project and intends to shoot it on celluloid, with David Jonsson cast as T'Challa's son, the new Black Panther. The sequel follows Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which earned $859 million worldwide and saw Letitia Wright assume the Black Panther role after Chadwick Boseman's death. Coogler previously expressed interest in a third installment while working on other projects, including an X‑Files reboot and the film Sinners. The panel did not reveal plot details, but production timelines suggest filming may begin after the completion of Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December 18, 2026. Denzel Washington mentioned in 2024 that he might appear in Black Panther 3, though his involvement has not been confirmed. Shuri's character will also appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which is set for release before Black Panther 3. Marvel has not announced a plot for Black Panther 3, and the release date follows Avengers: Secret Wars and precedes Ghost Rider. The film's release schedule positions it after Avengers: Secret Wars and before Ghost Rider, and further production details are expected in the coming months.
At the Hall H panel of San Diego Comic‑Con on July 25, Marvel unveiled a new poster for Avengers: Doomsday showing Victor Von Doom. The clip presented the character raising an army of dormant Sentinels. A voice‑over by Sue Storm described Doom’s past. The panel also featured brief shots of Thor, Shang‑Chi, Shuri and Gambit. Reed Richards asked Doom a question. Doom replied that the heroes had taken lives and now must return them. A short segment showed Punisher and Spider‑Man confronting a version of the Hulk described by a reporter as a hybrid who could speak in Banner’s voice. Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider in an upcoming film and that Black Panther III will be led by David Jonsson, scheduled for a December 15, 2028 release. Avengers: Doomsday is set for theatrical release on December 18, 2026. IGN’s news editor Virginia, who has ten years of experience covering entertainment, reported on the event.
Marvel announced that Black Panther 3 will be released on December 15, 2028, confirming the date during its panel at San Diego Comic Con 2026. The film is the third entry in the Black Panther MCU series, following Wakanda Forever, which earned $859 million worldwide after the death of Chadwick Boseman. At the Hall H presentation, Marvel introduced British actor David Jonsson as the character who will inherit the Black Panther mantle as T'Challa's son. Jonsson has appeared in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk. Letitia Wright returns as Shuri and Winston Duke reprises his role as M'Baku. Director Ryan Coogler previously said Denzel Washington was written into the script, and Kevin Feige confirmed the project's development. The previous two films have combined gross revenue of more than $2 billion. The announcement continues the franchise after Boseman's passing and sets a 2028 theatrical release.
This edition was assembled from neutral, agent-rewritten summaries of the day's aggregated news.
Why it matters: Every article was reviewed for loaded language, partisan framing, and missing attribution before publication.
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