Author: James Wilson

Keel Infrastructure has shut down all of its U.S. Bitcoin mining operations as the former Bitfarms business redirects its American power portfolio toward artificial intelligence and high performance computing data centers.  Summary Keel ended all U.S. Bitcoin mining operations on June 29 to prepare sites for HPC. Q2 revenue fell 50% yearly to $30 million as mining activity and Bitcoin prices weakened. Keel sold 1,085 BTC for $75 million, leaving 1,861 BTC on its balance August 7. $819 million in liquidity includes $698 million cash and $121 million in unencumbered Bitcoin reserves. U.S. sites in Washington and Pennsylvania have not…

Ethereum’s updated roadmap adds native rollups, stronger privacy, and post-quantum scaling as advances in cryptography and AI reshape the network’s long-term technical priorities, according to co-founder Vitalik Buterin. Summary Quantum security has moved higher in Ethereum’s priorities compared with its 2023 roadmap. New areas include native rollups, stronger privacy, and blob and gas futures. Ethereum may use specialized scaling mechanisms for transfers, trading, and privacy applications. STARKs and AI-assisted formal verification could support upgrades across all three protocol layers. Ethereum (ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin compared the network’s 2023 roadmap with its current Strawmap in an Aug. 10 X post, identifying…

Ripple has voted to support two XRP Ledger amendments designed to introduce single-asset vaults and fixed-term institutional lending directly at the network’s protocol level. Summary Ripple’s validator voted “yes” on XLS-65 and XLS-66, supporting native vaults and lending. XLS-65 has reached 40% validator support, while XLS-66 has secured more than 37%. Both amendments require over 80% support for two consecutive weeks before activation. The framework could support loans funded with XRP, RLUSD, and other XRPL-issued assets. Ripple backs XRP Ledger lending amendments Ripple’s validator has backed the Single Asset Vault and Lending Protocol amendments as voting continues among trusted XRP…

A federal judge has paused the CFTC’s civil case against a US Army soldier accused of using classified information to earn more than $400,000 from Polymarket contracts tied to Nicolás Maduro’s removal. Summary Judge Andrew Carter stayed the CFTC’s civil enforcement case until the related criminal proceeding concludes. Prosecutors allege Gannon Van Dyke earned about $409,881 from 13 Venezuela-related Polymarket trades. Van Dyke pleaded not guilty and has challenged whether the event contracts legally qualify as swaps. The prosecution could shape how US commodities and fraud laws apply to prediction-market insider trading. CFTC case paused until criminal proceedings conclude US…

Crypto industry leaders are voicing frustration after the U.S. Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act before its August recess, leaving the market structure bill facing a crucial procedural vote weeks before the 2026 midterm elections. Summary Senate leaders filed cloture, setting up a Sept. 15 procedural vote on the CLARITY Act. Coinbase executives and Sen. Cynthia Lummis called the pre-recess failure disappointing and frustrating. Ethics restrictions and stablecoin rewards remain unresolved as the bill seeks 60 Senate votes. Polymarket traders give CLARITY a 25% chance of becoming law during 2026. CLARITY Act faces a Sept. 15 procedural vote Senate…

Bitcoin Policy Institute and more than 40 digital-asset organizations have called on leading AI laboratories to give qualified open-source security researchers controlled access to frontier models as AI-assisted cyberattacks grow more capable. Summary More than 40 organizations signed the appeal for trusted access to advanced AI models. The coalition requested early model access, computing power, secure environments, and direct communication channels. Block, Coinbase, Strategy, MARA, Galaxy, BitGo, Brink, and Trezor were among the signatories. The request follows several AI-assisted attacks and major Bitcoin security failures reported in 2026. Bitcoin coalition asks AI labs for controlled access Bitcoin Policy Institute announced…

Coinsbuy has offered a $100,000 reward for information identifying those behind unauthorized withdrawals that reportedly drained more than $7.9 million from its Ethereum and TRON wallets. Summary Coinsbuy offered a $100,000 identification bounty and an additional asset-recovery bonus. The company said all affected client funds were covered using its reserves. Investigators traced stolen assets through exchanges, with some funds reportedly converted into Monero. Coinsbuy restored deposits and withdrawals but has not disclosed the attack method. Coinsbuy launches $100K identification bounty Coinsbuy announced the reward after confirming that unauthorized withdrawals affected several platform wallets on Aug. 9. The Panama-incorporated crypto payments…

BitMart is facing a new insolvency allegation after an OpenGradient co-founder said his market-making team could no longer withdraw funds locked on the exchange. Summary An OpenGradient co-founder said his market maker’s BitMart withdrawals remain frozen. He alleged BitMart encouraged token holders to lock assets shortly before restricting services. BitMart is winding down operations but maintains that withdrawals remain available. Founder Sheldon Xia denied misusing funds, but BitMart has not published a full proof-of-reserves report. Market maker questions BitMart’s solvency Matthew, a co-founder of decentralized AI network OpenGradient, said his market-making team has funds trapped on BitMart and questioned whether…

France’s National Gambling Authority has ordered internet service providers to block Polymarket, escalating a regulatory dispute that began in 2024. Summary France ordered internet providers to block Polymarket after earlier geoblocking failed to restrict local access. ANJ cited illegal gambling, absent identity checks, and concerns that weather sensors may be hacked. Czech and EU actions show prediction markets face growing pressure across several regulatory frameworks worldwide. The Autorité nationale des jeux, known as the ANJ, said the prediction market platform promotes gambling services that are not authorized under French law. France ordered the block on July 16 after the ANJ…

SpaceX stock has fallen nearly 5% to a post-IPO low of $125 after the company aborted Starship’s 13th test flight shortly before liftoff. Summary SpaceX stock fell nearly 5% to $125, slipping below its $135 IPO price. SpaceX aborted the Starship launch after two Super Heavy booster engines failed to ignite. Elon Musk confirmed engine replacements ahead of another launch attempt scheduled for July 20. SPCX has slipped below its $135 initial public offering price and lost about 35% over the past 30 days. The decline extends a losing streak that began after enthusiasm surrounding SpaceX’s public debut cooled and…