Author: James Wilson

Prediction markets recorded $50.59 billion in combined monthly trading volume in July, setting a new high across Kalshi, Polymarket and Polymarket US, according to data published on Aug. 3. Summary Prediction markets generated $50.6 billion in July volume, rising 7.8% from June’s previous combined total. Kalshi led at $37.7 billion; Polymarket US volume climbed 54% to $5 billion during July. Open interest fell to $1.2 billion after the World Cup ended, signaling weaker post-tournament activity. The total rose 7.8% from the dashboard’s revised June figure of $46.95 billion. Kalshi remained the largest venue with $37.7 billion, while Polymarket’s international and…

Minnesota’s statewide crypto ATM ban took effect on Aug. 1, 2026, stopping operators from offering virtual currency kiosks after residents reported nearly $1 million in related scam losses.  Summary 134 complaints produced nearly $1 million in reported Minnesota crypto kiosk losses across three years. August 1 rules require every Minnesota crypto kiosk offline, with public removal due December 31. 2025 FBI data recorded 222 Minnesota kiosk complaints and more than $4 million in losses. Governor Tim Walz signed Senate File 3868 on May 5 after the measure cleared the state legislature. Minnesota’s ban on crypto ATMs goes into effect after…

Russia will extend its regional crypto mining ban to Moscow, the Moscow Region and parts of Kursk Region from Aug. 15, 2026. Summary August 15 restrictions cover Moscow, Moscow Region and nine designated territories within Russia’s Kursk Region. Resolution 936 bars cryptocurrency mining and mining-pool participation through December 31, 2032, citing grid risks. Mining demand already totals one gigawatt in Moscow’s power system, according to regional energy officials. The prohibition will remain in force through Dec. 31, 2032, under Government Resolution No. 936. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the measure on July 25. The government published it on the official…

BNB Chain said on Aug. 1 that it was pursuing legal action against a former employee who allegedly retained unauthorized access to a seed phrase and later used the associated wallet address with a new memecoin.  Summary BNB Chain says a former employee retained unauthorized seed phrase access after leaving the company. Four wallets allegedly bought 79.67% of ASTEROID’s supply for $10,000 before later selling most tokens. Lookonchain estimates 1,103 BNB in sales produced approximately $628,000 in profit for the alleged operator. The network said it was cooperating with authorities but did not identify the individual, jurisdiction, agency or court.…

Bloomberg Intelligence senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said on Aug. 2 that the Coldcard security failure strengthens the case for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, especially for investors who want long-term price exposure without managing private keys.  Summary Galaxy traced 1,367.05 BTC across 4,585 addresses, valuing observed Coldcard losses near $88.6 million total. Balchunas argued institutional custody makes Bitcoin ETFs preferable for investors seeking only long-term price exposure. ETF investors avoid seed management but surrender direct ownership, payments, and round-the-clock Bitcoin network access. His comments followed Galaxy Research’s estimate that three suspected attack waves drained 1,367.05 BTC, worth about $88.6 million,…

Ripple Director of Engineering Vijay Khanna urged XRP Ledger node operators on Aug. 2 to install xrpld version 3.2.1 after developers observed a validator manifest flood on July 31.  Summary July 31 manifest flooding prompted xrpld 3.2.1 while XRP Ledger continued closing ledgers normally throughout. Four safeguards now cap manifest size, message batches, outbound sharing and unknown-key cache growth network-wide. Operators should upgrade, verify xrpld is running, then restart again to clear persisted manifests safely. The hotfix limits how nodes process, store and share data received from unknown validator identities.  The XRP Ledger continued closing ledgers normally during the event,…

Dogecoin community contributor Mishaboar urged Coldcard users on Aug. 1 to move their Bitcoin to wallets controlled by newly generated seed phrases.  Summary 1,367.05 BTC worth $88.6 million was drained from 4,585 addresses across three suspected attack waves. Coinkite says firmware updates protect new seeds but cannot repair seed phrases from vulnerable versions. Mishaboar advised users never to reuse affected seeds or enter recovery phrases into computers online. The warning followed Galaxy Research’s estimate that three suspected attack waves drained 1,367.05 BTC, worth about $88.6 million, from 4,585 addresses. Mishaboar wrote, “If you have ever used a COLDCARD device of…

Strategy Inc. kept the annual dividend rate on its STRC preferred stock at 12% for August 2026, even though the Nasdaq-listed security ended July more than 10% below its $100 stated amount. Summary 12% annualized dividend remains unchanged for August despite STRC closing July at $89.46 per share. $3.75 billion reserve covers roughly 2.1 years of preferred dividends and debt interest payments currently. Strategy repurchased 288,930 STRC shares below par while retaining $975 million in remaining authorization capacity. The company’s official STRC information page confirms that the variable annualized rate for record dates beginning in August remains 12%. Executive Chairman…

Trump Media & Technology Group’s Truth API became available to institutional customers on Aug. 1, giving trading firms rapid, machine-readable access to posts from influential Truth Social accounts, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s account. Summary August 1 launch gives institutions millisecond access to influential Truth Social posts with continuous coverage. Schiff and Warren asked the SEC to investigate whether the paid feed violates securities laws. Trump’s trust holds 41% of Trump Media, linking the product’s revenue directly to his wealth. The launch followed a July 16 Form 8-K in which Trump Media said it had already signed customers and was…

Minnesota’s prediction market ban remained blocked on Aug. 2, one day after the law was scheduled to take effect.  Summary July 27 injunction keeps Kalshi and Polymarket operating while Minnesota’s preemption case continues in court. Walz barred state employees from using confidential information to trade prediction markets for private benefit. Fairshake reported $126.97 million cash on hand through June, amplifying crypto’s broader election influence nationwide. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez granted a preliminary injunction on July 27 to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Kalshi and Polymarket US. The order prevents Minnesota from enforcing its new statute against CFTC-registered designated contract…