Buckle up, blockchain buffs—it’s been a wild week in the cryptosphere and beyond 🚀. From the U.S. Senate stepping in to tame stablecoins, to Thailand handing out crypto tax breaks like candy, the global regulation wave is in full motion 🌍.
Meanwhile, heavy hitters like Michael Saylor and Elon Musk are back in the headlines (surprise!) with bold bets and big lawsuits ⚖️. And if that’s not enough, AI decided it wants in too—from smart glasses to Gemini-powered Chromebooks and even courtroom drama starring xAI 😅. Whether you're holding, building, or just here for the popcorn 🍿, we’ve rounded up the must-know stories to keep your wallet and your brain in the loop.
The U.S. Senate approved the GENIUS Act with a 68–30 vote, mandating that payment stablecoins must be fully backed, audited, and compliant with AML rules 📊. It aims to bring digital dollars into mainstream finance while protecting consumers and boosting transparency.
Critics caution this could flood Treasuries with reserves and introduce systemic risks ⚠️. Supporters see it as a crucial milestone to position the U.S. as a global crypto leader 🌍. Now it's headed to the House—stakeholders are watching closely!
Startup Ubyx raised $10 million in seed funding—from Galaxy Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Founders Fund, VanEck, Paxos, and more—to build a frictionless stablecoin redemption platform 🔁.
Launch is planned for Q4 2025, aiming to make redeeming stablecoins as easy as using an ATM 💳. The service lets banks and fintechs cash out at face value with no hidden fees. Investors believe a standard redemption network is key to mass adoption 💡. If this click-works, everyday use of digital dollars will feel seamless.
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest sold about 300,108 Circle shares—a chunk worth $44.7 million—dropping CRCL to around $149 per share 📉. This adds to their massive sell-off, totaling roughly 643,000 shares over two days. Despite the recent regulatory tailwinds, ARK is booking profits while the hype lasts 💼.
It’s a perfect crypto paradox: positive news triggers strategic selling 🎢. Traders beware—volatility rules even amid optimism.
Bitmain, Canaan, and MicroBT—who make over 99% of Bitcoin ASICs—are setting up production facilities in the U.S. to avoid Chinese tariffs 🏭. This shift helps them sidestep duties, shorten supply chains, and improve access in North America. Notably, Canaan is exiting its AI chip business to focus entirely on crypto hardware 🛠️.
It marks a major evolution in the global Bitcoin mining supply chain, with geopolitics steering the direction. Expect more innovation as U.S.-based operations scale.
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission has launched an investigation into transaction fees charged by domestic crypto exchanges to protect retail traders 🧐.
The probe will evaluate whether fees are excessive and could lead to imposed limits if needed. It aligns with President Lee’s agenda to reduce costs for young investors. This regulatory move reflects growing scrutiny of exchange practices in Seoul. Lower fees may soon benefit everyday crypto users.
Elon Musk’s platform, X, is developing X Money—a super-app for payments, investing, and perhaps credit cards, targeted for 2025 💸. Beta testing has already started, with CEO Linda Yaccarino stressing “extreme care” since users’ savings are at play ⚠️. This move echoes WeChat-style multifunctionality, with whispers of crypto integration like DOGE or stablecoins 🔄.
If successful, X could become the go-to hub for social and financial activity. Exciting times ahead for app-powered finance!
Parataxis is investing KRW 25 billion (~$18.5M) into Bridge Biotherapeutics to create South Korea’s first publicly traded company with a Bitcoin-native treasury 🧪.
Bridge Bio will pivot to holding BTC on its balance sheet, offering institutional crypto exposure. Think of it as combining biotech and blockchain in one stock. The move follows MicroStrategy’s success in merging treasury strategy with Bitcoin reserves. It’s a novel blueprint for regulated BTC adoption in Asia.
Coinbase achieved a MiCA license from Luxembourg’s regulator, allowing it to serve all 27 EU member states 🌍. The exchange also named Luxembourg as its European headquarters to leverage the region's crypto-forward policies. This milestone follows OKX and Bybit into EU compliance, improving investor confidence.
Coinbase stock jumped ~5% after the news, signaling its readiness to expand across Europe 📈. It's the first major U.S. crypto player to nail MiCA approval—big win for EU crypto regulation.
Thailand announced a five-year tax exemption on capital gains from crypto trading to incentivize local investment and innovation 🛡️. The exemption is part of efforts to position Thailand as a crypto-friendly hub in Southeast Asia.
While specific asset and threshold rules aren't out yet, the policy is a major win for traders. This move could entice blockchain startups and investors to Bangkok 🌏. Fingers crossed for concrete implementation details soon!
Real Vision CEO Raoul Pal notes that macroeconomic patterns and on-chain data are eerily similar to the 2017 cycle, suggesting today's bull run could stretch into mid‑2026 📈. He points out trends like steady Bitcoin growth in the first year followed by a sharp surge—just like last time 🔄.
Unlike 2021, this cycle features a weaker dollar and more institutional investment, possibly leading to a more prolonged yet stable rally. He advises watching macro indicators to understand timing and market intensity. If 2017 is a guide, we may still be in the early innings!
Michael Saylor doubled down with an ambitious forecast: Bitcoin will reach $21 million per coin in the next 21 years, coinciding with its 21 million supply cap 🧮. Speaking at BTC Prague 2025, he explained how global money trends and scarcity align with this symbolic price target.
His previous projection was $13 million by 2045, so this is a major upgrade 🔝. Saylor argues that institutional adoption and favorable policy could fuel this meteoric rise. Whether optimistic or outlandish, his forecast has the crypto world buzzing.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 21, creating the nation’s first publicly funded Bitcoin strategy—backed with an initial $10 million 🎉. The reserve, managed by the state comptroller, treats BTC as a long-term asset and inflation hedge. By placing Bitcoin on its balance sheet, Texas sets a bold precedent for state finance innovation.
Supporters call it forward-thinking; critics say it's risky tax-dollar exposure ⚠️. All eyes are on Texas to see if this becomes a new model for public asset management.
Michael Saylor recently teased another Bitcoin purchase for Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), even as shareholders sued over a $5.9 billion unrealized loss in Q1 📉.
The lawsuit alleges the company failed to properly disclose the impact of new accounting rules. Saylor posted a chart on X with the phrase “Nothing Stops This Orange,” echoing past BTC buys 🔥. Despite legal and financial headwinds, he remains committed to growing the Bitcoin treasury. The dual narrative of loss and ambition makes for a high-stakes saga.
JPMorgan launched JPMD, a USD-denominated deposit token on Coinbase’s Base chain, in a pilot for institutional clients 💰. It represents real bank deposits on-chain, with 24/7 settlement, compliance, and potential interest.
Though still permissioned, it's a leap into tokenized institutional finance. JPMD may earn deposit insurance and open new channels for internal money movement. But like stablecoins, utility is limited unless there’s broad adoption across institutions.
Japan’s Metaplanet bought 1,111 more Bitcoin (about $118 million), pushing its treasury to 11,111 BTC—just 398 shy of Tesla's holdings 🚀.
That purchase makes it one of the top corporate BTC holders globally. With plans to keep buying, Metaplanet could overtake Tesla in the next month. The firm now holds over $1.1 billion in crypto assets. It’s proof that corporate treasuries are racing to stack BTC on their balance sheets.
Anthony Pompliano’s ProCap Financial raised $750 million (with $500 m equity + $250 m convertible notes) via a SPAC to build a bitcoin-native treasury firm 💼.
Tied to a $1 billion merger, ProCap aims to hold up to $1 billion BTC and generate yield through lending and derivatives. It wasted no time, buying 3,724 BTC soon after—around $386 million at $103,785 per coin. Investors like Susquehanna, Jane Street, and Pantera backed it. This SPAC is the largest ever for a public bitcoin treasury and signals strong institutional crypto interest.
Meta has unveiled Oakley Meta HSTN, its new smart glasses made for athletes and fans alike, featuring open-ear speakers, integrated AI, and a hands-free 3K camera 🎥. They pack twice the battery life of Ray‑Ban Meta models—about 8 hours active and 19 hours standby—with quick charge support via the included case 🔋.
Built on Oakley’s performance frame, they’re water-resistant and stylish fusion of sport and smarts. Pre-orders start July 11 at $499 for a limited edition, with standard versions at $399 rolling out later 🌍. This marks Meta’s next step in wearable tech, going head-to-head with rivals like Google and Snap in the AR/AI glasses race.
Google has loaded its Chromebook Plus lineup, like Lenovo’s sleek 14″ model, with Gemini AI features such as select-to-search, text simplification, NotebookLM support, tab organizing, and image editing tools ✂️.
Users with a 2025 purchase also get a free year of AI Pro, including Gemini 2.5 Pro, Veo 3 video tools, and 2 TB of cloud storage 🧠. On-device AI ensures responsive performance, while smart grouping keeps tabs and docs organized. It’s a major upgrade for productivity-focused Chromebooks powered by MediaTek’s new 50 TOPS AI chip 🌐. Starting at $649, it’s a compelling bundle for students and professionals alike all year.
Andy Konwinski, Databricks and Perplexity co-founder, has pledged a whopping $100 million from his own pocket to fund AI researchers via the Laude Institute 🧬. This initiative acts more like a grant fund than traditional VC, with a flagship $3 million/year grant over five years to UC Berkeley’s AI Systems Lab, led by Ion Stoica 📚.
Backed by AI luminaries including Jeff Dean and Joëlle Pineau, it aims to power both ambitious “Moonshots” and early-stage “Slingshots.” The goal? Keep groundbreaking AI research out of purely profit-driven labs and push for open, societal advancements 🌟. It’s a bold bet on academia’s future role in shaping intelligent systems.
Google brought its AI Mode—an interactive Q&A-style search powered by Gemini 2.5—to India via Search Labs, enabling users to ask longer, multi-turn questions and get context-aware responses 🤖. Available in English for now, it includes voice and image search support catering to India’s diverse linguistic landscape.
This marks Google’s first expansion of AI Mode beyond the US and tests its capabilities with 870 million users 🌏. It also generates AI insights and links, helping users dig deeper without hopping across sites. How it impacts publishers and search habits is something to watch closely!
Image-generation leader Midjourney has released its first AI video model, V1, allowing users to animate still images into four 5‑second clips directly within Discord 🎞️. With a $10/month plan, it competes with tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Adobe Firefly, offering creatives a cost-effective way to produce short videos.
CEO David Holz regards this as a stepping stone to real-time interactive environments and 3D simulations. However, the launch is shadowed by legal challenges: Disney and Universal allege Midjourney used copyrighted content in its training set ⚖️. Still, fans can now turn static art into motion—and the roadmap looks promising!
Elon Musk’s xAI is facing a lawsuit from SELC and NAACP for allegedly operating over 400 MW of gas turbines at its Memphis data center without the necessary federal or local permits 🏭. The complaint states that 35+ turbines have been running without proper air pollution controls, emitting nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde that threaten community health.
Critics say this reinforces systemic environmental injustice in nearby Boxtown, while xAI asserts it’s in compliance and investing in infrastructure 🚧. The Shelby County Health Department is expected to decide soon. This case spotlights tensions between AI infrastructure expansion and environmental justice.
As the crypto and AI worlds continue to collide like two high-voltage blockchains, one thing’s clear: innovation isn’t slowing down—it’s putting on rocket boots 👟💨.
From state-sponsored Bitcoin to $21 million Saylor prophecies and lawsuits over turbine fumes, it’s never just another week in Web3 or tech. Stay curious, stay cautious, and don’t forget to HODL your humor 😎. Catch you in the next edition of Crypto Weekly Digest—where the blocks are hot and the takes are hotter 🔥.
